Airbus A340 of Mahan Air at the tarmac at Dubai's International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Sept. 14, 2017. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)

Dubai Man Arrested in Vancouver Is Wanted by FBI for Allegedly Aiding Iranian Airline Dodge US Sanctions

A Dubai man was detained in Vancouver for allegedly helping an Iranian airline evade U.S. sanctions, one month after the high-profile arrest of Huaweis senior executive.

When Seyed Abood Sari arrived at Vancouver International Airport on Jan. 17, 2019, claiming to be on a trip to visit his sons, he was flagged and detained by border agents, Global News reported.

A Canadian official said at a hearing four days later that Sari, a citizen of Iran and resident of the United Arab Emirates, was under investigation for allegedly aiding a U.S.-sanctioned Iranian airline that provided services to terrorist organizations.

The Tehran-based Mahan Air was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2011 for providing transportation, funds transfers, and personnel travel services for the Quds Force branch of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC-QF).

Mahan Air is also on Canadas sanctions list.

Once confirmed that Sari was wanted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested him for being the general manager of Mahan Airs Dubai office, an allegation he has denied.

Mr. Sari is sought for extradition on the basis that he made misrepresentations to U.S. financial institutions to cause them to unwittingly conduct international U.S. dollar transfers on behalf of Mahan Air, the B.C. Supreme Court said, according to Global News.

A court hearing for Saris extradition is scheduled to begin in the B.C. Supreme Court on April 14.

Mr. Sari is being afforded a fair process before the British Columbia Supreme Court in accordance with extradition law and our treaty with the United States, said Ian McLeod, spokesperson for the Canadian Justice Department.

Defence lawyer Michael Bolton told Global News that said his client was contesting whether there is any basis for the U.S. extradition request.

Money Laundering via Front Companies

U.S. charges alleged that Mahan Air routed its international payments through front companies to evade sanctions.

Mahan Airs international payments were made using other companies established in the UAE, Turkey, Russia and elsewhere that had no apparent connection to Mahan Air, to fraudulently conceal from banks the fact that the payments violated the sanctions and the banks compliance policies, according to a RCMP affidavit cited by the court.

A 2016 FBI probe into email accounts found evidence that Sari was directly involved in some of those transactions, and an arrest warrant was issued in 2018, Global News reported.

Business and financial records sent to or from email accounts used by Mr. Sari and other Mahan Air officers show that a major responsibility of the Mahan Airs Dubai Office is to make international payments to Mahan Airs suppliers and service providers, the affidavit stated.

While being questioned in Vancouver, Sari told Canadian officials that he knew about the sanctions, but did not care what they were doing, because he needed the money, the Canadian official testified at his detention hearing.

Sari said at his detention hearing on Jan. 21, 2019, that he was never employed by Mahan Air, but instead worked for Jahan Destinations Travel and Tourism, which was a Dubai company that served as the general sales agency for Mahan Airlines, according to the Canadian official.

Sari said he had conducted only limited functions at the Dubai airport on behalf of Mahan Air and did not play a principal role in the banking transactions in question.

Jahan Destinations was added to the U.S. Treasury sanction list in December 2019 for its alleged ties to Mahan Air.

Mahan Air has played an integral role in supporting the Quds Force, and even provided transportation for its former commander, Qassem Soleimani, according to the U.S. Treasury.

Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq on Jan. 3, 2020.

While Saris case has largely escaped headlines, its similar in a number of ways to Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhous arrest at a Vancouver airport a month earlier.

Like Meng, Sari has alleged that the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) had questioned him and searched his electronic devices in an attempt to assist with the gathering of evidence of the U.S. charges, which he claimed was an abuse of process.

In January, Sari asked the B.C. Supreme Court for copies of documents held by Canadian authorities, claiming that they could prove the evidence against him was unreliable.

The judge granted his request for documents.

Sari was released on bail in July 2019.
Mechanical removal of blood clots causing a stroke is increasing, yet racial differences in treatment persist, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2021. The virtual meeting is March 17-19, 2021 and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.

Mechanical clot-removal or endovascular therapy is a non-surgical treatment that uses tiny tubes, or catheters, to remove a blood clot. In 2015, several major clinical trials confirmed that endovascular therapy effectively treated stroke caused by a blockage in a large blood vessel (ischemic stroke). In 2018, the American Heart Association's stroke treatment guidelines were updated to recommend endovascular therapy to improve the odds that certain stroke patients could have functional recovery. However, previous research has indicated members of some under-represented racial/ethnic groups are less likely to receive recommended treatments such as endovascular therapy.

This study compared the use of endovascular therapy and post-stroke recovery among patients of different races/ethnicities before and after 2015. Between April 2012 and June 2019, investigators also reviewed data in the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines- Stroke program, which includes a large, database of information about stroke treatment at hospitals across the U.S. Since 2003, over 2,000 hospitals have entered more than 5 million patient records into the program's database.

Researchers found:

Overall, 14% of 302,965 potentially eligible patients received endovascular therapy and, in all groups, endovascular therapy increased over the course of the study.

However, Black patients were 32% less likely to receive endovascular therapy before 2015 and still 17% less likely to receive it after 2015 when compared to non-Hispanic white patients.

Differences also emerged related to stroke recovery. In terms of short-term outcomes, patients from under-represented racial and ethnic groups fared better than non-Hispanic white patients. In addition, Black, Hispanic and Asian patients were more likely to return home and less likely to die while hospitalized or to be discharged to hospice care.

Three months later, however, Black patients were 16% less likely and Asian patients were 30% less likely to be able to function independently, compared to non-Hispanic white patients.

It is reassuring that the treatment gap for Black patients has narrowed since 2015, yet it remains significant and is concerning. The most surprising finding was the discrepancy between short- and long-term outcomes in non-Hispanic white patients versus the patients in other race and ethnicity groups. There is a lot of work that remains in terms of figuring out the root causes for these differences and how best to improve equitable access and care for all patients." Faheem G. Sheriff, M.D., Study Lead Author, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center of El Paso, Texas

Sheriff continued, "Once these root causes are identified, we can focus on formulating an action plan to reduce these differences, for both access to endovascular therapy and recovery afterwards, particularly post-discharge care."

According to the American Heart Association's Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -- 2021 Update, when considered separately from other cardiovascular disease, stroke ranks No. 5 among all causes of death in the U.S., causing 147,810 deaths in 2018. Stroke occurs when a blood vessel to or in the brain either becomes blocked or bursts, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching all of the brain. Treatment to quickly restore blood flow to the brain is essential to improve outcomes and survival.

To recognize stroke symptoms requiring immediate treatment, the American Stroke Association recommends everyone remember the acronym F.A.S.T. for face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 9-1-1. Fortunately, most strokes are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices: not smoking; eating healthy foods; being physically active; maintaining a healthy body weight; and controlling high blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure.
Mahadayi row: GFP seeks SC intervention over violations during site inspection

India

pti-Deepika S

Panaji, Mar 20: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Saturday sought the Supreme Court''s intervention alleging that officials from Karnataka had reportedly stopped their Goa counterparts from conducting an inspection at the proposed dam site on Mahadayi river.

Goa and Karnataka are in a dispute over sharing water from Mahadayi river, and the states have filed special leave petitions before the Supreme Court in the matter.

In a letter to the Chief Justice of India, GFP president Vijai Sardesai raised the issue of the alleged gross violation and misbehaviour by the Karnataka police against members of the Goan delegation in a joint inspection committee for the Kalasa dam project in Karnataka.

Highlighting the media reports, Sardesai said some personnel from the Karnataka police had restricted the entry of Goan officers, the technical staff of the department of water resources, from inspecting the site as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The Goa government had filed a contempt petition against the Karnataka government on the issue of diversion of water from Mahadayi river and breach of orders of the Mahadayi Tribunal.

Following this, the apex court on February 22 directed that a joint inspection committee, comprising officers from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, be formed to inspect the Kalasa project and submit a report within four weeks.

"The Goan delegation in the joint inspection team were made to wait outside the Kalasa project, while the joint inspection was being carried out, and their lDs had been confiscated by the Karnataka police," Sardesai said.

The GFP president said the Goan delegation was exercising its responsibilities as prescribed by the apex court, and the behaviour and disrespect they were shown was highly unacceptable.

"By obstructing the Goan delegation from performing and inspecting their due diligence at the Kalasa project, the Karnataka government and the Karnataka police force have violated the Supreme Court''s order and we urge that the apex court look into this matter," the letter reads.
Scott Morrison took plenty of heat for spurning an invitation to attend the March 4 Justice rally in Canberra, but he had good reason not to.

Before we get into that I should say that any event that seeks to highlight violence against women is a worthy one, and thousands of decent Australians in nearly 40 cities and towns should be congratulated for embracing the campaign for justice and marching with their homemade #EnoughIsEnough posters.

Their motives were honorable.

Brittany Higgins addressed the March 4 Justice rally in Canberra on March 15, 2021

However, some of the demonstrations had a decidedly ugly tone, especially in Canberra and Melbourne, where the protests seemed to be hijacked by the unions, the sniveling left, Get-Up! and assorted Green/Labor aligned whingers.

Perhaps Extinction Rebellion put in an appearance.

If you watched the television news footage, you will agree that the professional Coalition haters attempted to seize control from the genuinely concerned, and very nearly did. The Prime Minister was well-advised not to attend. He would have been met with heckles and abuse.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and fellow Labor MPs attended the Canberra rally

A masked protestor at the March 4 Justice rally held at Sydney Town Hall on March 15

'Scotty from Marketing' and other put-downs would have filled the air, as his critics lashed out a leader they constantly accuse of inaction, but whose every deed they scorn and ridicule.

The protesters were egged on by the ALP and the ABC after Attorney-General Christian Porter revealed he was the subject of a 1988 rape allegation, which he strenuously denies.

The alleged rape in a ministerial office of Brittany Higgins, a former political adviser, had also fuelled public anger.

She addressed the rally in Canberra even though her rape case is pending. This was ill-advised, in my opinion.

Women's rights rallies come in waves, and trace their origins back to the suffragette marches in the UK in the 1860s. There were a series of Reclaim the Night marches across Britain in the 1970s after a series of rapes and murders.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during Question Time two days after the Canberra rally

As the marchers gathered around the nation for the March 4 Justice, ScoMo told Parliament the rallies were a 'triumph of democracy'. Perhaps.

Sexual assault in the workplace - or anywhere else for that matter - is unacceptable. But sexual harassment does not know political boundaries, so the attempts to portray recent scandals on partisan lines were unfair.

Bushie Susan McDonald, an LNP Senator from Queensland, provided clarity.

She said: 'Sexual assault in the workplace is abhorrent and I have always had zero tolerance for it.

'It is for these reasons that I will observe today's march at Parliament House against sexual assault.

'But I cannot participate in what has turned into a nasty political witch-hunt organised by unions and the Greens.'

McDonald was right.

The day before the march one of the organisers told The Australian newspaper that she was excited to accept Scott Morrison's invitation to meet with him and described it as a 'great moment in history'.

The next day she had mysteriously changed her mind and rejected the offer of a meeting. Then she denounced Morrison far and wide on social media and television and the digital media.

A protestor makes her voice heard at the Brisbane edition of the March 4 Justice rallies.

There was little doubt the radical Left had succeeded in persuading the marchers to see the sexual assault issue through a partisan lens and attack the Coalition.

'Liberals are rapists,' read one sign, proving the point.

It's hard to understand how demonizing a party that has the support of roughly half the voters can advance a cause, until you recognise that for too many, the cause was really just an avenue for their political vitriol.

Scott Morrison knew that, and he stayed inside.

Des Houghton is an respected journalist, editor and columnist who has been working in the media for 50 years.
HCM City University of Technology (HCMUT) has said that Phan Thanh Son Nam, as head of the research team, should have rechecked the research articles before sending them to academic journals. Errors still existed in the articles after submission.

Prof Phan Thanh Son Nam receives Ta Quang Buu Awards

On March 18, HCMUT officially spoke about the errors in international publications by Prof Phan Thanh Son Nam, Dean of the Chemical Engineering Faculty at the school.

The Chemical Engineering Scientific Council on March 15 held a meeting with universitys leaders to discuss the issues related to Nams articles.

At the meeting, Nam gave official explanations about the errors and received many comments from the scientific council members.

The meeting concluded that there were some repeated data (spectrum images) in some scientific articles of the research team led by Nam. The data were implemented by the research team over a long period of time.

The research team includes many members in charge of different works, from carrying out experiments to collecting and classifying data. Prof Phan Thanh Son Nam, as the head of the research team, took the responsibility of checking articles before publishing.

However, mistakes were still made during the process. These were scientific errors which needed to be amended in accordance with procedures set by the journals.

Soon after discovering the errors, the research team immediately contacted the editorial board of the journals which published the articles to report the errors and got approval for amendments.

The research team has been checking and collecting data to amend the content with errors as soon as it can. The team is also conducting an overall review of the published articles to ensure the quality and accuracy of publications. If mistakes are discovered, they will contact the editorial boards of journals to fix the mistakes in accordance with procedures set by the journals.

The research team has made reasonable changes to its procedures on creating plans and implementing and examining research content before publishing. It will use more PhDs to make more careful checks and cross-checks among sub-teams.

Meanwhile, HCMUT has requested that the science-technology and project department ask research teams and lecturers at the school to check their scientific publications and the procedures of publications to minimize possible mistakes.

Some days ago, an entry was posted on open Wikipedia which denounced Prof Phan Thanh Son Nam for cheating on scientific research results by reusing the same magnetic resonance spectra of one measurement for many different results in different unrelated articles.

Nam, in an entry on his personal page with 5,000 followers, calls the scandal his bloody lesson.

Phan Thanh Son Nam was the youngest Vietnamese professor at the time when he was granted the title of Professor in 2014.

Le Huyen

Young professor admits mistakes in published research work Facing scandal for the first time in his life, Prof Phan Thanh Son Nam, Dean of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering of the HCM City University of Technology, has said the incident has been a "bloody lesson" for him.
An Taoiseach Michael Martin gave a strong commitment to the Narrow Water Bridge and the Newry Southern Relief Road when he addressed the Dundalk and Newry Chamber's 5th Annual Cross Border Conference, which looked at the post-Brexit challenges for businesses in the region.

He told those who attended the virtual conference last Thursday that the Government would do all it could through LEO/ Enterprise Ireland to support the businesses in Louth and along the Border in dealing with Brexit, referring to the Shared Island Fund of 500 million and the replacement of Interreg and Peace 4 with enhanced Peace Plus funding.

The Taoiseach also commended the work done over many years by the two Chambers and the local authorities, who had signed the Memorandum of Understanding in 2011.

Northern Ireland Finance Minister Conor Murphy urged businesses to use the NI Protocol and the supports of his Department to overcome the difficulties of Brexit and said that the region of Newry Dundalk must fight for its share of investment and infrastructure in order to compete with the twin threats of Belfast and Dublin.

The conference was jointly opened by the chairwomen of the two local authorities, Cathaoirleach Dolores Minogue and Councillor Laura Devlin and concluded with the two Chief Executives, Joan Martin and Marie Ward.

Other speakers included Deirdre Maguire of InterTrade, Thomas McEvoy of Louth LEO, Oliver Mangan of AIB, Emma Kerins of Chamber Ireland, and Robert McConnell of Pinnacle.

In the final session, Joan Martin and Marie Ward Chief Executives of Louth County Council and Newry, Mourne and Down Council repectively, outlined the collaborative work which has taken place on tourism including the ferry and the cycle way.

They saw scope for enhanced cooperation through the 2040 National Development Plan and the (Belfast) City Deal and they highlighted the opportunities offered by the Eastern Corridor of Belfast Dublin and the role of the two councils.
Alyssa McGrath, an aide in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos office, accused the governor of sexual harassment in interviews with the New York Times after multiple other women have come forward with harassment and misconduct claims against him.

Why it matters: McGrath is the first current aide of Cuomo's to speak publicly about allegations of harassment and the governor's eighth accuser. Another current aide, who has remained anonymous, alleged last week that Cuomo groped her in the Executive Mansion.

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McGrath told the Times that Cuomo had looked down her shirt to compliment her necklace, told her in Italian that she was beautiful, asked about her lack of a wedding ring and the status of her divorce.

She also corroborated the accusation from the unidentified aide, saying that person had confided in her about the alleged incident and told her the governor had asked the person not to talk about the supposed interaction.

McGrath did not allege that the governor touched her inappropriately, but said she believed Cuomo's actions amounted to sexual harassment and promoted a "demeaning office culture," the Times writes.

Rita Glavin, a lawyer for Cuomo, responded to McGraths allegations by telling the Times that the governor has greeted men and women with hugs and a kiss on the cheek, forehead, or hand. Yes, he has posed for photographs with his arm around them. Yes, he uses Italian phrases like ciao bella.

To date, Cuomo has denied all claims of wrongdoing.

The big picture: All congressional Democrats from New York have called for the governor to resign or said if Cuomo cannot continue to govern effectively, he should step down.

President Biden, a long-time friend and ally of Cuomo, told ABC News on Tuesday that the governor should step down if the allegations of sexual misconduct against him are confirmed.

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Independence for Scotland would be like Brexit on a rocket to Mars, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has said.

Speaking at the UK Liberal Democrat spring conference, Mr Rennie said now is not the moment for the long, divisive, argumentative, exhausting, all-consuming event of another referendum on the issue.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has indicated such a vote could be held towards the end of this year if his party is re-elected at Holyrood in May.

But Mr Rennie said the priority of the Liberal Democrats for the next five years will be to put recovery from the pandemic first.

He said: Reasonable people would agree, no matter what they think about independence, that this is not the moment for another referendum.

But they see in the news that the SNP want a vote by this Christmas. In the middle of a pandemic, when thousands have lost their lives, thousands more have lost their job and our normal freedoms have been taken from us.

Now is not the moment for that long, divisive, argumentative, exhausting, all-consuming event.

An event that would suffocate our country, snuff out debate on other important matters and split our country asunder.

We dont have to guess what it would be like. Weve had an independence campaign before. Families were split, friendships were broken, business was lost.

And we had Brexit. The scars are deep. Independence would be Brexit Mark 2. Independence would be like Brexit on a rocket to Mars.

It would take a lot of energy, the journey is very long and there is no way back.

That is why I want people in Scotland to put aside our differences on independence and focus on the recovery.

Mr Rennie said the party must build momentum for change (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA)

Mr Rennie told delegates they must win votes back from the SNP in Mays Holyrood election by attracting moderate, progressive people.

He said: Our MSPs have punched above their weight. With more MSPs we can achieve so much more.

Look at what we have planned next: Plans to get our education system back up to the best in the world again. To tackle the climate emergency, bringing green jobs to the country.

To create jobs with a youth guarantee. Work in partnership with others to build a case for progressive change in Scotland. Make the case with the new Labour leader Anas Sarwar on issues like reform of the UK.

Because in this time of crisis we must work together with like minds to attract votes back from the SNP and the cause of independence.

We must build the momentum for change to be attractive to the moderate, progressive people in Scotland who are appalled by Boris Johnson but dont want to spend the next five years arguing about independence.

Mr Rennie also said the Scottish Lib Dems equalities spokeswoman Caron Lindsay has proposed a commission to look into violence against women and girls, to consider ways to make society more hospitable.

She has invited all major parties to commit to it, to examine the issues and make recommendations within the first year of the new Scottish Parliament.

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said every vote for Mr Rennies party was a vote for Boris Johnson to strip powers from the Scottish Parliament, put workers rights and NHS protections under threat, and deny people who live here the right to choose a better future.

He added: This is the most important election history  every single vote will count in May. Scotlands future must be in Scotlands hands  and giving both votes to the SNP is the only way to protect that right.
I dont understand. Biden is welcoming illegals to cross over into our country. What does illegal mean? Dont we have legal immigration also?

Minersville



The Democrat plan for the country is pretty simple: Flood the country with illegal aliens, pay all the illegal aliens expenses and then make them voters so they always vote Democrat.

Frackville



Nice story about the smell in Saint Clair. Maybe the Republican Herald can do a story about Donaldson and the stench they put up with. We smell the same thing, but yet it is good for us? Headaches, stuffed nose. Yeah, thats nice to smell that stench in your house all night long and nothing is done.

Donaldson



Congratulations to Sleepy Joe Biden on his massive $1.9 trillion stimulus package. It will definitely help the country get out of the hole it is in because of Donald Trump.

Pottsville



If you want to know all the pork in the stimulus package, you have to listen to conservative talk radio. That is the only place you will learn about what is really going on in this country.

New Ringgold



I have the perfect solution for the crisis at the border since Joe Biden and the Democrats want all these people here illegally: For every one that crosses the border, we should have to send five Democrats back. That would make America great again. Get rid of these Democrats that want to give everything away.

Pottsville



The Republicans tout themselves as the working man party, yet none of them voted for the relief package, which targets the working man. I suggest the Republicans are only the party of QAnon and Trump.

Pottsville



The COVID package cost every single American $5,750 and they give some people $1,400. Chuck and Nancy are laughing at you.

Pottsville



Great article in the Sunday paper by John Usalis, Phone books aint what they were, and the Songs of Hope give me hope that politicians will stop trying to change history. Wake up, America, and see what is being taught in our schools. Dont change history.

Barnesville



Please dont call it a COVID relief bill when other items are tacked on, such as the Seaway International Bridge, underground rail in Silicon Valley, libraries, museums and Native American language preservation, national endowment of the arts, environmental justice grants and Planned Parenthood. Just pass a bill for coronavirus issues.

Hegins



I see Joe Biden signed an executive order giving more voting rights to criminals. So, lets see. We make Narcan available for drug addicts, give criminals more rights and then bash the police departments when they do something wrong. This is todays Democratic Party for you.

Hegins



The absolute and most dumb commentary on the COVID virus is the printed article by Greg Maresca. The vaccine has been proven effective and will save lives. Only the under-educated will deny its use and place them and their families at risk.

Minersville



Listen to that. Silence. No tweets, no nonsense, no nothing. Isnt this nice? Having a president, a full grown man who doesnt have to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and act like a child. This is such a different world and it is so, so nice.

Pottsville



I would like to know what happens to the people on Social Security. We work all our lives and all we get is a check. We dont get help monthly. We have to scrimp and scrape. Some only get $800 a month. That is not easy to live on. We need a better raise and a better system.

Mahanoy City



Concerning the sale of the Shenandoah Municipal Authority, I dont believe a few people on the borough council should have the power to decide the fate of the assets of that authority. The assets belong to the residents and taxpayers of the borough of Shenandoah and the sale of over $12 million in assets should be approved or not by the residents in a referendum vote. Let the people decide.

Shenandoah
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An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a student who died in his mothers arms after being fatally stabbed on a busy north-east London street.

Hussain Chaudhry, 18, a first-year law student, was stabbed in the neck in an attack in Walthamstow during rush hour on Wednesday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after police and paramedics were called to Lea Bridge Road at around 5.20pm.

The Metropolitan Police said that an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday evening and was taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody.

The force previously said that a post-mortem examination on Thursday gave Mr Chaudrys cause of death as hypovolemic shock and a stab wound to the neck.

In a statement shared by police, his family said: We are deeply grieved by the loss of our beloved Hussain and respectfully ask for the privacy and space to come to terms with this tragic situation.

We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for their kindness, compassion, condolences, prayers and goodwill. We have no other comment at this time.

His sister Afia Chaudhry earlier said on an online fundraising page that her beautiful baby brother left this world the same way he came in, cradled in my mothers arms.

Mr Chaudhrys friend Wahab Ahmed, who set up the page to build a mosque in his memory, described him as an incredibly kind and beautiful soul.

More than 27,000 in donations has been raised by the GoFundMe page set up in Mr Chaudrys memory at gofund.me/e98c8e95.

Soas University of London said in a earlier statement it was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Mr Chaudhrys death.

Relatives previously said his mother and brother were also injured in the attack.

The Met said a man in his 20s and a women in her 40s, both related to Mr Chaudhry, had suffered slash injuries to their hands and were taken to an east London hospital for treatment.

The woman is still in hospital, but the man has since been discharged, the force said.

A 16-year-old boy who was arrested in connection with detectives investigation on Wednesday has been released under investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Perry Benton, from the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: A young man has lost his life in tragic circumstances and my thoughts remain with his family and friends at this awful time.

I am continuing to appeal for any witnesses to come forward and speak with my team. Any piece of information could prove to be vital.

Anybody with information can call the police on 020 8345 1570 or 101 and quote reference CAD 5697/17Mar or tweet to @MetCC.

Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Eighty-one lawmakers, including representatives of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians majority My Step alliance and several deputies not affiliated with any faction, voted in favor of the bill, with 15 lawmakers representing the opposition rejecting it in the second and final reading.

The parliament discussed the draft amendments submitted by My Step during a special session convened today.

My Step MP Vladimir Vardanian, who co-authored the bill, said the amendments will ensure a reasonable examination of judicial processes by giving additional powers to the Supreme Judicial Council that guarantees the independence of judges. In particular, the pro-government lawmaker said that the body will be able take a case from one judge and assign it to another, examine the reasons for protracted trials, etc..

With the adopted changes, a citizen will be entitled to lodge a complaint with the Supreme Judicial Council about the judge examining his or her case. Also, the amendments limit the number of petitions that parties to the trial can submit.

Courts should be independent of the executive, other bodies, of any kind of external pressure, but not of the law. A judge must be guided by his or her own conviction and by law, Vardanian said.

The opposition Bright Armenia faction, however, claimed that the amendments create opportunities for the government to influence judges.

If they see, for example, that some judge wants to administer justice by passing a ruling in favor of a citizen [against the government], they will be able to replace that judge with someone who will pass a ruling [suitable for the government], Edmon Marukian, the leader of Bright Armenia, said, stressing that he could not vote for a bill that also restrict the rights of lawyers.
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The Government of the United States of America is seeking to have more Nigerian students study in American tertiary institutions.

This was made known during the formal opening of the EducationUSA Centre at the American Space, on Friday in Calabar.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Centre, Aruna Amirthanayagam, Country Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, Abuja, disclosed that EducationUSA was an arm of the U.S. Government promoting education in the U.S.

According to Mr Amirthanayagam, there are about 4,500 educational institutions in the U.S, making it one of the greatest educational destinations in the world.

He said We really want more Nigerians to come and take part in our educational system. Through our EducationUSA Centre in Calabar, we hope to have more students from Cross River going to the U.S. to further their education.

The Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, Stephen Ibelli, said the centre helps to facilitate the movement of Nigerian students to tertiary institutions in the U.S.

Mr Ibelli said through arrangement, no fewer than 14,000 Nigerians had gained admission into schools in the U.S.

At present, we have over 14,000 Nigerian students studying in the U.S and we hope to grow that number and further strengthen the ties between both countries.

This is where the EducationUSA Resource Centre comes in. So, we urge the residents of Cross River to visit the centre and learn about the educational opportunities in the U.S. free of charge.

We are also opening centres in Benin, Awka, Enugu to provide this information, so that students dont have to travel all the way to Lagos Abuja or other big cities, he said.

In his remark, the Cross River States Commissioner for Education, Godwin Amanke, said the state was proud to identify with EducationUSA.

Mr Amanke said the state would take advantage of the centre to ensure that its students get first-hand information on scholarships and empowerment programmes.

The information given here is the information that people pay for but through the EducationUSA Resource Centre, it is free.

However, as much as it is okay for Nigerian students to travel to the U.S. to study, all I ask for is for them to come back and develop our country when they are done, he said.

(NAN)
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BUDAPEST, Hungary  Hungarians on Monday awoke to a new round of strict lockdown measures aimed at slowing a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths that are among the worst in the world.

A rapid rise in pandemic indicators since early February prompted Hungary's government to announce the new restrictions, including closing most stores for two weeks and kindergartens and primary schools until April 7. Most services are also required to cease operations, and the government urged businesses to allow employees to work from home. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and tobacconists can stay open.

Hungary's high schools have been remote learning since November and its bars, restaurants and gyms have been closed since then as well.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that the strain on the country's hospitals will soon surpass any other period in Hungary since the pandemic began, and that failing to impose harsher restrictions now would result in a tragedy.

The next two weeks will be difficult ... but if we want to open by Easter, weve got to close down, Orban said Friday on a Facebook video.

The number of patients on ventilators in Hungarian hospitals has more than doubled in the last two weeks, with 806 patients on Monday compared to the previous peak of 674 in early December.

Deaths have also risen sharply. With nearly 16,000 confirmed deaths in a country of fewer than 10 million, Hungary has the 8th worst death rate per 1 million inhabitants in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals is also likely to break its previous record on Tuesday.

We can see that the third wave is spreading very forcefully, mainly due to (virus) variants, Hungarys chief medical officer Cecilia Muller said Sunday. We cant do anything else now but break the chain of infections.

The new restrictions came as many Hungarian businesses were already struggling to make ends meet as shoppers stayed at home amid the surging cases. Zoltan Suto, the founder and owner of Hungarian fashion brand Griff Collection, said revenues were down 70% through the winter thanks to cautious consumers avoiding crowds at shopping malls.

Story continues

I can't pay rent. I can't pay salaries or social contributions, not to mention the taxes, Suto said, adding that a 50% commercial tax break offered by the government meant little in the absence of revenues.

Last year's pandemic-induced economic recession, which saw a 5.1% decrease in Hungary's GDP, led to the shuttering of five of Griff Collection's 10 stores in Hungary, which employ around 80 people. Suto says his business suffered a loss of 200-300 million Hungarian forints ($645,000-$968,000) in 2020, and that the crisis will only deepen if the two-week closure that begins Monday is extended further.

Such economic pain has made Hungary's government, which is facing an election next year, reluctant until now to introduce restrictions on businesses, even as COVID-19 cases and deaths have skyrocketed since early February.

Many parents scrambled over the weekend to alter work schedules and arrange for childcare, including Gyongyver and Szilard Brasnyo, a couple in Budapest who have two young daughters.

We are lucky, my parents are coming over to help us out with the kids, said Gyongyver, adding that her parents live in Serbia, which has one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe, and have already received two vaccine shots.

Szilard, who works from home, said they felt exhausted after a year of raising the children during a pandemic. But he was optimistic that Hungary's ambitious vaccination program - which has given more than 1 million Hungarians a vaccine shot, the second-highest vaccination rate in the 27-nation European Union  would soon bring life back to normal.

Hungary has obtained vaccines from Russia and China as well as those approved by the EU.

We're really looking forward to having a much safer environment for all of us," Szilard said.

___

 Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic,https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Justin Spike, The Associated Press
A 20-foot-long US Air Force drone briefly caused a scare in Florida on Friday after washing ashore at a local beach.

The massive orange drone, which are used as aerial targets for fighter pilots, was discovered by beachgoers at Ocean Hammond Park near Boynton Beach, authorities said.

Ocean Ridge Police officers were called to the scene after bystanders feared the aircraft could have been a missile or a bomb.

The area of the beach was evacuated and remained closed until the afternoon, when officers were able to remove the drone and returned it to the Air Force, Police Chief Hal C. Hutchins said.

A military drone was discovered at Ocean Hammock Park, Florida on Friday after washing ashore

The unmanned aircraft briefly caused a scare after beachgoers feared it was a bomb or missile

Air Force officials confirmed the BQM-167A drone belonged to the 53rd Wing and had been launched remotely from Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City

US Air Force officials later confirmed the unmanned vehicle was a BQM-167A drone that belonged to the 53rd Wing.

The drone had been shot down in target practice after being remotely launched from Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, public affairs spokeswoman Lt. Savannah Bray said.

'This is not the first time this has happened,' Bray said. 'We are able to retrieve the vast majority of them, but every so often weather or winds pick up, and we are unable to recover it, and they later wash up on shore.'

The 690-pound drone, which can travel at speeds up to nearly 700mph, was shot down in the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base, she said. Bray added that the downed drone eventually made its way to the Atlantic Coast.

Bray confirmed the $570,000 piece of military equipment was not dangerous to handle.

The drone was removed on Friday afternoon and returned to the Air Force. Officials confirmed the piece of military equipment was not dangerous to handle

The drone was removed from the beach before being towed to Boynton Beach Inlet

Beachgoer Jeremiah Gonzales told news station Local 10 he had been walking down to the beach when an officer warned him to stay away.

'He comes running back up and he's like, "Hey, there's a bomb on the beach or there's a missile on the beach." I was like, what do you mean?' he said.

Chief Hutchins said the public was later informed that the area was deemed safe and that 'there is no danger to anyone going near it.'

'It's a drone, so it is fuel and [people] were concerned about the fact that it is a piece of military equipment and there's fuel in it,' Hutchins told the station.

'That's why we went through our protocols to make sure there was nothing that was going to harm anybody.'

The drone was removed from the beach before being towed to Boynton Beach Inlet, WPTV reported.

Officials didn't immediately know when the drone had been launched.
By the early 1970s, following in the steps of the US movement, Australian women were angry  and motivated. What followed was the rise of second-wave feminism  one of the biggest social movements of the 20th century.

While Australia was at the forefront of womens rights at the dawn of the 20th century, with Australian women the second in the world to be given the right to vote (after New Zealand), by the 1960s, the lot of women had barely progressed.

This feature documentary from first-time director Catherine Dwyer is a compelling film, and in light of recent events, its a must-watch, offering an often-shocking history of the Australias womens movement.

Five years in the making, Brazen Hussies features some extraordinary archival footage  some not seen before, much not seen for years  as well as interviews with more than 25 of the movements key players, tracked down by Dwyer in her research.

The result is  bizarrely, given much of the action here took place 50 years ago  the first comprehensive chronicle of the Australian movement. Watching it, viewers are likely to experience a similar turbulence to the times. Brazen Hussies is a rollercoaster  informative, yes, but also angry, emotional and often shocking.

While some of the acts of activism in the doco will be widely known  Merle Thornton chaining herself to the bar at Brisbanes Regatta Hotel to protest against the fact that women couldnt drink in public bars, and unionist Zelda DAprano locking herself to the Commonwealth building during the 1969 protests for equal pay  Dwyer has uncovered footage from the movements earliest years, such as the consciousness raising meetings that proved turning points for many women. Women who had no access to childcare, who couldnt work after they got married, or open a bank account without a husbands signature.

While the movement gathered pace into the 1970s, Australia suddenly  briefly  raced back to the forefront of progressivism when, in 1973, academic Elizabeth Reid was appointed adviser on womens affairs to Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, the first such role anywhere in the world.

Reid, who is interviewed in the film, achieved extraordinary advances for women  funding for health services, childcare and rape crisis centres among them  yet even working within the government, she was mocked by the press for not smiling enough, not wearing make-up, and even not wearing a bra.
The risk of being bullied at work is twice as high if you were born abroad. And if you come from a culture that is culturally dissimilar to Sweden's, the risk is even higher. These are the results of a Swedish study from Linkoping University that was recently published in The International Journal of Human Resource Management.

Employers in Sweden have a duty to ensure that the workplace is safe, with a healthy atmosphere. Despite this, some employees are treated poorly, excluded and ignored. When such treatment has continued for a longer period, it is defined as bullying.

Researchers at Linkoping University wanted to see if people born abroad run a greater risk of being bullied at work.

"Our results show an increased risk of bullying for people who work in Sweden but were born in another country. The results also show the importance of addressing these issues. Bullying can cause serious problems for a person, and for the workplace where it occurs", says Michael Rosander, associate professor in psychology at Linkoping University's Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning.

Michael Rosander's research investigates what happens at different types of workplaces and how different organisational factors affect individuals, working groups and the organisation as a whole. He conducted the study together with Stefan Blomberg, doctoral student at Linkoping University.

Excluded from the work community

In this study, the researchers investigated two types of bullying: work-related and person-related bullying. In work-related bullying, one is subjected to negative actions related to one's work, for example having responsibilities taken away, being given trivial work duties, or having one's work monitored excessively.

Person-related bullying, on the other hand, is being subjected to negative actions related to one's person. It can include being humiliated, ridiculed, or ignored and excluded from social contexts.

The results show that people who are born abroad are subjected to more person-related bullying than people born in Sweden. For foreign-born, the risk of being bullied at work is twice as high as for natives. And for people from cultures dissimilar to the Swedish, the risk is quadrupled. Most exposed are people born in Asia.

However, for work-related bullying the researchers found no increased risk for foreign-born, compared to Swedish-born.

Thus, the person-related bullying that foreign-born are subjected to is based on who they are - not on work-related factors.

"They are subjected to what we call predatory bullying. It doesn't matter what they do. Their very presence, the way they look, can be a reason for the negative treatment. It became clear in the study, says Michael Rosander.

To measure the experience of being bullied, the researchers used the Swedish version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R), where the respondents estimate their exposure to bullying at work in various situations on a five-point scale. Using register data from Statistics Sweden, the researchers sent the questionnaire to a representative selection of the Swedish workforce. The questionnaire was completed by 1856 people from workplaces of 10 people or more. The majority of respondents (1625) were born in Sweden, while 229 were born abroad.

Because it was already known that poor working conditions can be a breeding ground for bullying, the researchers also looked at certain work-related factors, in order to ensure that the responses concerned bullying specifically, and were not just general workplace dissatisfaction. But the analysis showed that these people don't have worse work environments - they are at a greater risk of being bullied.

The study is part of WHOLE, a research project studying how different organisational factors are related to the organisational and social work environment. The aim is to analyse how different organisational factors affect how people perceive their employment, health, well-being, and their vulnerability at work.
When the Argus spoke to Miami based Dr. Sidhbh Gallagher at the onset of the Covid pandemic last year, she revealed the frightening scenes from her apartment window, as cruise ships were held out at sea, unable to dock in Florida in case passengers brought the virus onto the mainland.

Now, a year on, the Louth woman tells how things have vastly improved, at least in the state of Florida, as more and more people get the Covid vaccine, and normal life is beginning to return.

A specialist transgender surgeon, Sidhbh told how she had offered her medical experience if needed when the pandemic worsened

'But it never came to that here in Miami. They have huge resources, compared to back home, over here in healthcare so in most states it wasn't needed.'

New York had been the worst affected city in the United States, and became the epicentre of the disease in America.

'A couple of friends of mine in New York City had to go work in the units but it was only for a few weeks,' she adds. 'For me, it was just two months of down time while the operating rooms were shut down for elective cases.'

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At the beginning of 2020, Sidhbh had been working to set up her own clinic in Miami, for transgender patients.

Although the pandemic delayed the launch, she has since worked through an 'incredibly busy few months.

'We got going at the start of June and things are going great! So far we have treated over 1000 patients. The majority of those are gender affirmation surgeries.'

She added that it hasn't just been US patients eager to get surgical procedures underway.

'We have even had a few patients manage to come over from Ireland. Strangely enough plastic surgeons here have seen a huge surge in work. People seem to be using the pandemic downtime to undergo surgeries.'

With the successful vaccine roll out, entirely different, she acknowledges, from what she is hearing back home, medical and hospital staff have been fortunate to be vaccinated early.

'I was impressed with the vaccine push here - within days of the Pfizer vaccine release most other healthcare providers I know had the first dose. I was lucky enough to get it as a doctor back in December last.'

The sunny Miami climate has helped, says Sidbh, with a typically more outdoors lifestyle being more effective at preventing the spread of the virus than in colder parts of the country.

'I am extremely lucky to be in Florida for many reasons. The winter was very easy on us as the temperature stays in the 20's. Restaurants didn't close because outdoor dining is the norm year round.'

And with many of the US states deciding their own lockdown or opening up Covid plans, Sidhbh added that Florida was ahead of the curve.

'For better or for worse the governor of the state aggressively re-opened early. The numbers were scary for a bit and I feel like so many people I know caught it but they have since settled.'

She added: 'Things are going back to normal here. The economy in Florida is doing Ok. Us lucky vaccinated people are now allowed socialize, as per the CDC (Centres for Disease Control) which is a huge relief.'

'However I have to say I feel pretty bad knowing what people are still suffering through back home.'

Sidhbh's plans for her new surgery in Miami included her sister Neasa, who unfortunately got stuck back at home in Louth Village during the first lockdown of 2020.

Although she still hasn't managed to make it to Miami, Neasa is working from the even more idyllic setting of Sidhbh's Mexico office!

'My sister still can't get her immigration processed until the embassies re-open so can't move back to the US just yet. Immigration has been a complete mess since the embassies shut a year ago - basically nothing has been done. However she is instead living in Mexico to be in the same time zone and working away pretty seemlessly just 400 miles south of here, where the beaches are even prettier, so she is not doing so badly!'
This village in Maharashtra is COVID-19 free, thanks to its youngest sarpanch

Maharashtra government has no right to continue even for a minute: BJP

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 20: The BJP on Saturday demanded an independent probe into former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh's corruption allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and said such a "criminally-minded" government has no right to continue even for a minute.

After Singh made an explosive allegation that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore per month, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said it is "one of the darkest moments" in Indian democracy when a dispensation duty-bound to protect people has indulged in "government-monitored and controlled extortion racket".

Bhatia demanded the immediate resignation of Deshmukh and a probe by a central agency or one monitored by a court.

Anil Deshmukh asked Waze to collect Rs 100 crore for him per month: Parambir Singh tells CM Thackeray

The BJP also asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to speak on the issue, and alleged that he ran a "corrupt and criminally-minded government". Nothing can be more shameful for a government that these allegations, and still Thackeray has not spoken on the matter, Bhatia said.

The continuation of such a government amounted to throttling democracy, he said. Singh has claimed that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect at least Rs 100 crore from bars and hotels every month, a charge which Deshmukh has denied.

Senior IPS officer Singh, who was transferred to the low-key Home Guards earlier this week following the arrest of police officer Sachin Waze in the case related to the bomb scare near Mukesh Ambani's house, claimed that he was made a scapegoat.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 22:13 [IST]
Her friends back home may have settled into marriage and motherhood, but 41-year-old Sarm Heslop preferred the freedom of travel to a life of domesticity.

So when the opportunity to leave Britain and sail across the Atlantic in 2019 arose, she grabbed it.

In the Caribbean, she learned to raft and jump off waterfalls. She embarked on a career as a chef and fell in love with American yachtsman, Captain Ryan Bane.

Surrounded by azure sea and white sand, she had never seemed happier.

But on Sunday, March 7, Sarm vanished from Ryans 47ft yacht, the Siren Song, moored off the coast of St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands  and she hasnt been seen since.

According to Bane, the couple had been for dinner in a restaurant, leaving at 10pm in line with the local Covid curfew and taking their dinghy back to the three-berth, 500,000 vessel, anchored 120ft from secluded Frank Bay.

They went to sleep, Ryan says, and when he woke at 2am after his yachts anchor alarm sounded, Sarm had gone.

Free-spirited Sarm Heslop vanished from 47ft yacht, the Siren Song, on March 7, while it was moored off the coast of St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands  and she hasnt been seen since

A search of land and sea was undertaken by the police and an army of local volunteers. Their efforts have dredged up no discoveries as to Sarms whereabouts, however.

Instead, the investigation raises more troubling questions with every day that passes.

How, in the crystal clear, shallow waters in which Ryans boat was moored, could an overhead helicopter and countless divers have failed to detect any sign of Sarm?

Who emitted a scream heard by a dog walker at 1am on the night Sarm vanished? And why havent police searched Siren Song?

The boat could, of course, hold vital clues as to Sarms whereabouts. But yesterday  after days of refusing to confirm whether theyd entered the vessel or not  Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) had still not searched the boat.

It has been widely reported that Ryan, 44, who is still on board Siren Song, waited almost ten hours to report his girlfriend missing.

His lawyer, David Cattie, has said this is categorically false and that, in fact, Ryan called the police at 2.30am after discovering she had disappeared.

But while Sarms friends have launched desperate appeals for information, Ryan has yet to speak publicly about her, save for a brief statement that was released through his lawyer.

Mr Banes only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well, it read.

His thoughts and prayers are with Sarm and her family... Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm, and will continue to do so. Ryan is devastated that Sarm is missing.

Sarms friends insist they are not pointing fingers at Ryan but are calling on the American, who moved to the Caribbean in 2015, to provide as many details as possible.

So why hasnt the boat been searched? And how on earth has Sarm, 5ft 8in and a strong swimmer with an eye-catching tattoo on her left shoulder, managed to vanish without a trace, reportedly leaving behind all her possessions, including her mobile phone and passport?

Did she fall overboard? Did she deliberately abandon the Siren Song? Or has she been harmed or taken her against her will?

The friends who have known her the longest paint a picture of a sensible woman who would never have left the yacht without letting someone know where she was going.

Shes not ditzy or stupid. She wouldnt just have disappeared, says her friend Laura Taylor, 33, originally from Doncaster but who now lives in Malta.

Shes smart, and was always in contact.

She was on board the Siren Song with American yachtsman, Captain Ryan Bane. He has yet to speak publicly about her, save for a brief statement that was released through his lawyer

Certainly, Sarm, whose shocked and distraught parents, Peter and Brenda, await news at home in Britain, was a seasoned traveller.

After working as a flight attendant with the now defunct airline Flybe until she was in her mid-30s, Sarm worked in call centres to fund trips to Europe and Australia.

She wasnt a 9-to-5 kind of girl, says friend Victoria Mogridge-Percy, 39, a councillor and youth worker from Sarms hometown, Southampton. She wanted experiences and sunshine.

Sarm was working in a restaurant in Southern Spain in her late 30s when one of her friends suggested she sail across the Atlantic with her and her boyfriend.

Although a novice sailor, Sarm jumped at the chance. She didnt live for getting married, having children and buying a house  all those societal norms, says Victoria.

After arriving on the Caribbean island of Grenada in December 2019, a friend introduced Sarm to Flora Pickard, 42, a Brit who works as a chef on a chartered yacht and invited Sarm to stay on her boat.

Flora observed a change in Sarms personality as the weeks passed. I think shed been restricted before, she explains.

I saw a difference in her  she started doing more adventurous things.

She met Ryan on the dating App Tinder last July.

He was smitten, says Flora, adding that the feeling was soon mutual: I think she fell in love with him. They literally did everything together.

But with Covid-19 grinding much of the Caribbean tourist industry to a halt, Sarm couldnt find work.

Last October, she moved temporarily to Malta, where she had friends, lockdown restrictions were lighter, and she found a job in a call centre.

Flora says Ryan was in tears after dropping Sarm at the airport. He turned reclusive because he missed her so much, she adds.

Her other friends seem equally adamant Sarm was serious about Ryan, and expressed no concerns about the relationship. Sarm fell deeply, quickly, says Victoria of her friends love-life.

As she saved money in Malta, Ryan sailed 400 miles north from Grenada to the island of St John, home to little over 4,000 residents.

The couple agreed that on Sarms return, she would work as a chef on Ryans yacht.

The plan, Flora says, was for them to live together and have that dream life cruising round the world.

The yachting lifestyle  with its whirlwind of parties, spur-of-the-moment trips, heavy drinking and late-night yacht hopping  was something the couple embraced when they were reunited last month.

They partied hard  just the two of them sometimes, says Flora. Ryan would usually pass out but Sarm would carry on because she could handle it better.

Had Sarm gone off the rails? I wouldnt call it going off the rails, says Flora. Id say she came alive.

On the night Sarm disappeared, she and Ryan had finished a day charter together. When they arrived back at the boat after dinner, Ryan says they watched a film before he fell asleep.

It wasnt uncommon for Sarm to be out until 4 in the morning while Ryan was in bed, says Flora.

So what happened after Ryan fell asleep? A dog-walker claims to have heard a scream from the bay at 1am but police would not confirm or deny this, adding: There are always noises, and it could have been from any one of the vessels in the harbour.

Sarm, a smoker, may have gone onto the deck for a cigarette as Ryan slept, and fallen overboard.

But there were other boats moored nearby, none of whose inhabitants are believed to have seen Sarm that night.

As a strong swimmer, would she not have been able to make it to their vessels, if not her own?

That Siren Songs anchor alarm went off at 2am  indicating the boat had moved  suggests that someone could have passed close to the vessel in their own boat and taken Sarm with them.

Victoria says that if she were to have left of her own volition, she would have made sure she had her phone and money with her.

David Woody was in a group whose boat was moored 100ft from Siren Song, and was surprised Ryan didnt ask them for help to find Sarm after he woke up alone.

I would be trying to find out if (anyone) saw or heard anything, Mr Woody said. He could have spoken from his boat to our boat, or motored the dinghy.

Although it has been widely reported that Ryan didnt report Sarm missing for ten hours, until 11.45am on Monday, March 8, his lawyer now says he contacted police at 2.30am and took his dinghy to shore to give a statement.

He claims that at the request of Ms Heslops family, we turned over personal belongings to the police, including her cell phone, iPad, passport, etc.

Ryan is devastated by Sarms disappearance, says Flora.

He has no answers, she adds.

The truth is, he went to sleep, he wakes up, shes not there and his only explanation is I dont know. Hes not in the right frame of mind to speak to anyone at the moment  hes a broken mess.

She insists Ryan, a graduate from Michigan who worked as an account manager for a technology firm before moving to the Caribbean, has got nothing to hide  and says he is still on board Siren Song because thats his home, his business, his everything.

Investigations have been hampered by the fact the boat that would normally have been used in the search is out of action, and is being fixed this week by a mechanic.

The polices apparent failure to conduct a comprehensive fingertip search has angered Sarms family and friends.

If youre going to do a thorough investigation, you need to search where she last was. It doesnt make sense, says Victoria.

Although the VIPD have insisted detectives are thoroughly investigating, holidaymaker Angel Starr, from Minnesota, who arrived on St John two days before Sarm went missing, is unconvinced.

A search of land and sea was undertaken by the police and an army of local volunteers. Their efforts have dredged up no discoveries as to Sarms whereabouts, however

She saw no missing posters in the area until Friday, March 12, and says neither she nor her five friends were questioned by police.

There was, she adds, no one looking for witnesses. We saw a helicopter on Thursday but that was it.

Meanwhile, David Woody, moored on the boat nearby, says he was called by Ryan on March 8, and advised to give a statement to the police.

He says the detective he spoke to said he was busy and would call back later, but never did.

The editor of a local news site perhaps summed up the authorities disinterest, saying Sarms disappearance happened offshore, with no sign of local involvement. We have our own crime to deal with.

Nonetheless, scores of worried locals have conducted their own search, along with tourists such as Angel.

The bay is shallow and the water is clear, so you would be able to see if a body washed ashore or got caught in the rocks, she says.

We were shocked at the lack of police activity. Im sure theyre anxious about the effect on tourism as this is not good publicity.

Yet arguably worse is the mounting criticism theyre facing, not least because police recently failed to find another missing tourist.

In September 2019, American Lucy Schuhmann, 48, who bears a haunting resemblance to Sarm was reported missing after failing to return to her holiday let.

Her backpack was found in a remote area of the islands National Park, but she hasnt been seen since.

Flora claims its not uncommon for people to go missing in this area and adds: After a week, the police stop searching.

When asked about criticism they were not taking Sarms disappearance seriously, a police spokesman said Commissioner Trevor Velinor has spoken to Sarms family virtually, adding that police were still doing multiple searches, looking at hours of surveillance video to see if we can find anything.

Sarms friends havent given up hope she is still alive. Flora believes she could be in another country  that island-hopping among yachties without a passport is possible thanks to their contacts and myriad vessels.

After sightings of Sarm on neighbouring island St Thomas four miles away, police are believed to have extended their search.

For her friends, not knowing is the worst part. Its awful because were not even beginning to deal with what were feeling. We just want the investigation done thoroughly, says Victoria.

As they wait in agony, the Siren Song bobs under the Caribbean sun in its picture-perfect bay, revealing nothing.
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.


The biggest creature In the world swims through the centers of the oceans, though 50 million years ago four legs whales walked the land. Northeast Ohio Medical University's professor discloses that the enormous creatures are offspring of an old aged tiny deer called Indohyus.



Through the study of cetaceans evolution, which involved hippopotamus to whales, Hans Thewissen found a 47-million-year-old fossil in Pakistan that had a stocky, fox-sized animal with an elongated tail and body. The bones stuck in a sheet of mud mirror traits of present-day whales - a bone across the skull structure and middle-ear space.

The Fossil Discovered in Pakistan

Indohyus walked through water like a hippopotamus looking for food and a way to avert predators, which ultimately led them to migrate from land to a completely aquatic lifestyle. Researchers since Darwin, have understood whales came from mammals that one-time wandered on land, but which one had stayed a secret.

Still, the absent link pined together when Hans and his colleagues discovered the fossil in Pakistan. It was solidified in a sheet of mudstone uncovered in the Kasmir area of India that had hundreds of bones from an Indohyus.



The researchers depict the skeleton as being a fox-size mammal that appeared somewhat like an imitation deer. Observing deeper examination, researchers discovered resemblances between the ears and skull of both the whales and Indohyus.

ALSO READ: Blue Whales of Antarctica Seen Again in South Georgia After Near Extinction

The Bones of Indohyus Skeleton

They concluded that the bones of the Indohyus skeleton had a firm outside covering, much stronger than in other mammals of this size. This trait is sometimes noticed in mammals that are sluggish aquatic waders, particularly the present-day hippopotamus.

Hans explained that they believed the animals sat in the water and paused for prey to drink, like crocodiles. Aquatic Indohyus habits are confirmed more by the chemical texture of their teeth, which disclosed oxygen isotope ratios like those of aquatic creatures - all of which shows that the creature spends much of its time in the water.

The Existence of Indohyus

Prior to this discovery, it was assumed that whales came from carnivorous ancestors that changed from an aquatic lifestyle to feed on ocean-dwelling fish. The existence of Indohyus could imply the point when several mammals vacated life on land to spend time in oceans, lakes, and rivers - before growing into the giant sea creatures we presently know.

Its bones had a firm outside covering - a trait usually observed in wading animals such as hippos, where the additional weight enables them to withstand fast currents. It has a slim snout similar to a crocodile, an extended body, and a high tail.

The levels of distinct nitrogen and carbon isotopes in the tooth enamel of animals that lives on land is different from those that lives in water because of the distinct composition of isotopes in the water and food they eat

RELATED ARTICLE: LOOK: Deer Spotted Eating Human Remains for the First Time Ever

For more news, updates about whales, deers, and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
The apps on our mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. A lot of us heavily rely on a variety of these apps to perform various tasks. It also goes without saying that apps have evolved a lot over time. They are getting bigger in size, thereby putting more stress on your phone's resources. Google has been trying to combat this to make apps more stable and easy for us to use.

According to reports, it looks like the company is now working on something called 'app install optimization', which will study what part of an app is used when it's initially fired up. It will then use that info to improve the update and app-launch process.

This particular feature isn't live yet, but the folks over at 9to5Google have spotted a support document detailing the feature. Essentially when you download and open an app, Google will study what part of the app is used first. In the case of apps like Snapchat, a user will spend a good chunk of time setting it up for the first time after downloading it. So Google will download only that part of the app first so that it is ready for the user as soon as possible.

The rest of the app's functions will be downloaded later. This is just an example, of course, but that's just the gist of what this feature does. This data could also be used to improve RAM management on your device. So instead of loading the entire app into the memory, Google will only load the parts that you use the most, reducing the load on the processor and RAM.

The support document highlights that all this will be done while conforming to Google's existing privacy policy. So the apps are just as secure and none of your personal data is used. The feature, while it reads and collects a lot of data about how an app is used, will not collect any information about what is downloaded or uploaded. So none of what you post or view on, say, a social media platform will be read by Google.

It is also worth pointing out that Google is not making it mandatory for all users to use the app install optimization feature. When it becomes available, the company will give you an option to opt-out of the process. You will be able to do that by simply opening the Play Store settings page and turn the feature off.
This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here.

Elliot Pages new profile in Time magazine, the first since his coming out as trans in December, is bringing much-needed visibility to the experiences of transmasculine people. In it, the actor opens up about the pain his gender dysphoria had long caused him, and the relief he experienced after deciding to live openly, to undergo masculinizing chest surgery, and to dress in clothes that dont make him feel, as he puts it, so unwell. Page now says, I was finally able to embrace being transgender, and letting myself fully become who I am.

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Alongside this welcome exposure, however, has come an amplification of harmful messages that are only too familiar to trans men and transmasculine nonbinary people. (Page has not explicitly said where he falls on the binary/nonbinary continuum.) These are messages of infantilization and diminishment, where a grown adultPage is 34can be spoken of as though he were an impulsive teenager.

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One noxious, illustrative example can be found in an article for the Federalist, which describes Pages transition in the headline as a cry for help. The first paragraph declares: Elliot Page appears to be the model for rapid-onset gender dysphoria. For those unfamiliar, ROGD is a proposed but as-yet-unsupported diagnosis, which is believed by its proponents to affect adolescents. The idea, essentially, is that teen girls (discussions almost never use boys or trans women) are somehow lured into erroneously (and rapidly) identifying as trans by too much transgender acceptance in online culture.

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Of course, it should go without saying that a 34-year-old who has experienced dysphoria symptoms since he was 11, as Page relates in the profile, would not be a candidate for this unproven, speculative diagnosis, even if it described a real phenomenon. But accuracy is not the point of this piece or of the larger anti-trans rhetoric of which it is just one part.

(Indeed, the author himself acknowledges, way down in the text, that Page is an adult who cannot be barred from making his own decisions.) The point is to spin out a bunch of words hand-wringing about the impact of Pages coming out might have on trans boys (though theyre referred to as teenage girls throughout the piece) in an attempt to discredit transmasculinity writ large.

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In these aims, the Federalist article is representative of a particular prejudice that trans men face. Transphobes who discuss trans men almost never refer to us as men at all. They dont even use the word women, which, though it would be insulting and misgendering, would at least show a baseline recognition that we have agency and make our own decisions. Instead, anti-trans activists discussions of top surgery or of the effects of testosterone therapy are forever talking about girls, teenage girls, vulnerable girls, young girls, and daughters.

This is a marked difference from the language used to oppress trans women. If youve paid attention to the debates around bathroom bills or the recent legislative campaign against inclusion in womens sports, youll know that trans women are invariably described as predatory adult men. In fact, however young a trans girl is, shes never too young to be described by a transphobe in such terms: Even in kindergarten shes a threat to other girls if she so much as uses the bathroom. Meanwhile, a trans man is never too old to be described in infantilizing terms as young, impressionable, victimized, and vulnerable to social contagion. Trans men are rarely even described as actively transitioning; instead, theyre being transed, in the parlance of extreme transphobia.

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J.K. Rowling spent hundreds of words in this vein in an essay last year, describing her fears about teenage girls falling victim to transness and imagining that she too might have been trans-ed if her teenage struggles with sexism and body image had happened a little later. Another common manifestation of this infantilizing impulse is certain medias obsessive focus on stories about detransitioners, highlighting the tiny number of women who transition in adolescence or young adulthood only to detransition laterif these women were wrong about themselves, the implication goes, how can any trans man be believed when he speaks about his gender dysphoria or transition?

The infantilizing impulse is rooted, of course, in sexism based on trans mens birth-assigned gender. A foundational insight of feminist thought is that cis women are routinely infantilized, undermined by being spoken about as if they were mere children. Transandrophobia (transphobia directed at trans men) emerges from this, bringing with it sexist notions about cis women: their inherent childlikeness, their vulnerability, their lack of agency, and their need to be controlled by a strong patriarchal figurea husband, a doctor, or a father. This dynamic makes it very difficult for trans men to speak up for ourselves and advocate for our own rights, and that is no coincidence. By design, if transphobes are talking about teenage girls, they dont have to reckon with adult trans men as decision-makers in our own lives.

Elliot Page is a high-profile example of this prejudice in action, but hes far from the first, and he wont be the last. Trans men need our allies to be aware of this dynamic, and to help us push back against itwe are not little girls who need saving, but grown men who are worthy of respect.
New Delhi, March 20 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives caused by an explosion at a factory in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Saddened by the loss of lives due to an explosion at a factory in Ratnagiri district. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon." At least four people were killed and one other person was critically injured after an explosion at a chemical factory in an industrial area in Ratnagiri district on Saturday.

The incident was reported at around 9.15 a.m. from the factory of Gharda Chemicals Ltd. in the Lote-Parshuram MIDC complex in Ratnagiri city. Several fire-tenders and firemen were rushed to the spot to rescue the labourers working there. More than three-dozen workers were rescued by the firemen and police personnel following the blasts that triggered a massive fire in the factory.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Israeli to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just days ahead of the country's fourth general election.

Tel Aviv [Israel], March 21 (ANI): Thousands of people took to the streets throughout Israel to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just days ahead of the country's fourth general election in less than two years, Haaretz reported.

More than 20,000 people gathered at Paris Square, near the prime minister's official residence. This was the largest anti-Netanyahu protest since the weekly demonstrations began in July 2020.

Nationwide demonstrations have been taking place since July last year, with people demanding Netanyahu's resignation over alleged corruption scandals.

Next week, Israel is set to have its fourth snap election to the 24th Knesset, a unicameral national legislative body, following the collapse of Benjamin Netanyahu's center-right coalition.

The series of elections to the Israeli Knesset has been ongoing since April 2019. Twice the winning parties failed to form a majority coalition and create a government. After the last election in March 2020, the government was formed but ceased to exist half a year later.

Israel might have to hold a fifth consecutive snap election, as chances are extremely low that candidates in the upcoming vote manage to form a coalition, Sofi Ron-Moria, a candidate from the New Hope center-right party, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"I feel like we're going to a fifth-round if everything is going to happen according to the polls," Ron-Moria said, adding "we have a situation in which none of the parties can create a coalition." (ANI)
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Burma French Energy Giant Halts Myanmar Hydropower Project Over Human Rights Concerns

Anti-coup protesters carried a protester who was wounded during a crackdown by security forces in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy

French energy giant Electricite de France has suspended a hydropower project worth more than US$1.5 billion (2.11 trillion kyats) in Myanmars Shan State over human rights concerns as the military regime continues to use lethal force to crack down on anti-coup protesters across the country.

As of Friday, more than 230 civilians had been killed by the juntas security forces in their crackdowns on peaceful pro-democracy protesters in the country.

Electricite de France (EDF) notified human rights groups on Friday that it has halted development of the Shweli-3 Project, including the activities of its subcontractors. Led by EDF, the 671 MW project was being jointly developed with Japans Marubeni Corporation and locally owned Myanmar Ayeyar Hinthar Company.

The companies received a Notice to Proceed in 2018 under the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government. It was expected to generate 3 billion kWh of electricity annually for the national grid and supply power to more than 8.5 million residents across the country.

In February, coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said the regime would continue to implement existing hydropower projects. Since the Feb. 1 coup, however, human rights concerns among foreign investors have cost Myanmar the opportunity to implement billions of dollars worth of projects. In early February, work on a $1-billion modern industrial hub backed by Thailands largest industrial estate developer, Amata Corporation, was suspended due to fears that sanctions would be imposed by Western countries.

Japanese beverage giant Kirin also ended its beer business partnership with a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate, Myanma Economic Holdings Public Co. Ltd. (MEHL), following the coup. Moreover, prominent Singaporean businessman Lim Kaling pulled out of a joint venture with ties to MEHL that operated the countrys most popular cigarette business.

EDF said it adheres to fundamental human rights principles and the conventions of the International Labor Organization, as well as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in every project in which it takes part. The company said it is following developments in Myanmar in close collaboration with French and European Union authorities.

Human right groups Justice for Myanmar and France-based Info Birmanie welcomed EDFs decision, saying proceeding with the project would have involved doing business with the military junta, whom they described as criminals and said were deliberately killing peaceful protesters in what amounted to crimes against humanity.

Sophie Brondel, coordinator of Info Birmanie, said EDFs decision to suspend the Shweli-3 hydropower project is a milestone and indicates the way forward for French companies in Myanmar.

We especially call on all companies with ties to the junta to cut those ties. Businesses have a responsibility to stand on the side of democracy and to make sure they are not fueling the junta. Status quo is not an option, Brondel said.

Human rights groups are putting pressure on international businesses to cut ties with the military regime over concerns that their investments would fund the regimes brutal treatment of its citizens.

Recently, rights groups and the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), a committed formed by elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy government, have repeatedly urged major foreign-owned oil and gas companies including Frances Total SE, Malaysias Petronas, Thailands PTT and South Koreas POSCO to suspend business ties with the military regime.

You may also like these stories:

Indonesia, Malaysia seek ASEAN summit to discuss Myanmar
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson have been at the top of the multimillion-dollar Sydney commercial FM breakfast radio pile for so long no one can quite recall the last time they werent the king and queen of the airwaves.

And they sound pretty confident they will be there for quite some time yet. Or will they?

On top: Jackie Henderson and Kyle Sandilands are the toast of FM breakfast. Credit:Facebook

Last month a smug Sandilands told his sidekick on KIIS FM: Every journalist keeps asking me, Have you listened to Hughesys show? I go, Nup, why would I? Im on air at the same time.

Everyone over at 2Day FM thinks Erin Molan  we know her, we like her, shes nice enough  they think shes Miss Sydney, Kyle said. I dont think thats right.
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As many developed and even emerging nations aggressively pursue renewable energy targets with a focus on winding down the extraction of fossil fuels, strife-torn Colombia reaffirms that fossil fuel production is crucial to its economic development. In a recent statement, Minister for Mines and Energy Diego Mesa declared that the extraction of thermal coal was an important driver of Colombias economy. The minister went on to state that coal mining was responsible for 120,000 jobs and generating 85% of all mining revenues earned by the central government in Bogota. This makes it an important source of revenue for a government struggling to broaden its tax base, boost income and restart an economy severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. That speech came on the back of the national governments desperate attempts to reactivate Colombias economically crucial hydrocarbon sector, which for 2020 generated 17% of fiscal revenue (Spanish), 3% of GDP, and 28% of exports by value during 2020. Dwindling hydrocarbon production, a lack of proven crude oil as well as natural gas reserves, and ballooning budget deficits are causing the post-pandemic economic recovery to falter. This is applying considerable fiscal pressure to a cash-strapped and increasingly debt-dependent Bogota. The governments 2021 budget deficit is expected to blowout to 8.6% of GDP, which is not only higher than the 7.8% reported for 2020 when the economy shrank 7.8% but is particularly worrying because it will occur during a year where the economy is forecast to expand by 4%. Those considerable economic and financial pressures are a key reason for Bogota talking up the prospects of coal mining in Colombia, with it already an economically crucial industry. During 202 the fossil fuel was responsible for around 1% of Colombias GDP and 13% of exports by value. Thermal coal is a more important export than either coffee or cut flowers for which Colombia is internationally renowned. Government statistical agency DANE reported that during 2020 coal exports earned $4.2 billion, almost double the $2.5 billion generated by coffee, and roughly half of the $8.8 billion earned by crude oil.

Related: Rarely-Used Recovery Method Could Unlock Billions Of Barrels In Alaska

Despite Colombias planned extensive commitment to mining and exporting thermal coal, there are considerable headwinds. Historically, Europe was a key market for Colombian coal receiving 50% of all exports between 2011 and 2013. That has plunged to around 10% because members of the European Union are aggressively shuttering coal-fired power plants and decarbonizing their economies to meet emission targets set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change. At the start of 2019 Germany, Europes largest economy chose to shutter all 84 of its coal-fired power plants by 2038. France, the third-largest economy, plans to phase out coal-fired electricity by the end of 2022 and enacted a ban, commencing in 2040, producing fossil fuels on its territory. Other European countries have implemented similar policies with some such as Belgium having already ceased producing coal-fired electricity. Countries around the world have taken similar steps to eliminate thermal coal, long considered the dirtiest fossil fuel, which according to the U.S. EIA produces up to 42% more carbon emissions than diesel.

This doesnt augur well for a Colombian national government seeking to boost thermal coal production and exports to buoy a fragile economy. Bogota hopes that China and possibly India will become key export markets for Colombias thermal coal, with those countries being the first and second-largest consumers globally. That, however, could be wishful thinking. Beijings climate pledges coupled with an aggressive push to reduce chronic pollution and high levels of airborne particulates in cities indicate that coal-fired electricity needs to be phased out by 2050. The push to significantly reduce pollution combined with the shutdown of unprofitable state enterprises will see many inefficient and obsolete coal-fired power plants shut down. The transition from thermal coal to natural gas forms a key part of Beijings strategy to reduce pollution.

Regardless of Beijings efforts to reduce thermal coal consumption, Chinas imports are massive, it is the single largest importer of fossil fuel followed by India. This coupled with Beijings ban on Australian coal imports is responsible for sparking Bogotas hopes that Colombia can fill the gap. This appears forlorn because Chinas government is determined to rein in thermal coal exports to shore-up domestic producers. Shipping coal from Colombia is also more costly than either Indonesia or Australia, Chinas first and second-largest suppliers. India is also focused on restricting thermal coal imports and boosting domestic production, while Australia and Indonesia can ship the fossil fuel more cheaply than Colombia.

Related Video: Why The Oil & Gas Rig Count Matters

Growing global pressure to eliminate thermal coal from the energy mix combined with falling demand because of the pandemic, which resulted in substantially softer prices, saw Glencore place its Colombian coal mines in care and maintenance. Glencore, which is the worlds largest exporter of thermal coal placed its Calenturitas and La Jagua mines, operated by subsidiary Prodeco, into care and maintenance in March 2020. When Colombias National Mining Agency rejected Glencores request for an extension to care and maintenance in early 2021 it elected to relinquish its contracts for those mines on the basis it would be uneconomic to restart operations. The Switzerland-based miner has committed to capping its thermal coal output in response to climate concerns and the drive to decarbonize the world economy.

Glencore, BHP Billiton, and Anglo American each own a third of Colombias largest thermal coal mine Cerrejon in the department of La Guajira. The mine has a troubled history that has impacted its operations, the latest being a four-month strike that ended in December 2020 and prevented coal production for its duration. Aside from the significant headwinds faced by thermal coal, there is the threat of an OECD probe into Cerrejons operations after serious allegations of human rights abuses and environmental destruction. There is the potential for that investigation to force the mines progressive closure, which comes after a UN expert called for a halt to mining at Cerrejon in September 2020. BHP is seeking to sell its interests in several thermal coal mines, due to the considerable headwinds facing the fossil fuel, including Cerrejon.

For these reasons, it is difficult to understand the latest statements from Colombias Minister for Mines and Energy nor Bogotas desire to ramp-up thermal coal mining. It will be the first fossil fuel to be removed from the global energy mix, and Colombias thermal coal mines will become stranded assets in a relatively short time, a threat also being faced by the Andean nations struggling petroleum industry. Oil industry consultancy Rystad Energy anticipates peak oil demand will arrive in as little as seven years, while for thermal coal that point was reached some time ago. This will have a marked impact on Colombias economically crucial oil industry where relatively high breakeven prices, compared to other nearby jurisdictions, heightened security risk and environmental concerns are weighing on investment. If Bogota proceeds with its plans to boost thermal coal mining it will magnify the vulnerability of Colombias fragile economy to the commodity price cycle, with it already highly levered to crude oil prices. Such extensive plans will also act as a distraction taking resources and attention away from Colombias hydrocarbon sector as well as the push to allow fracking, which is key to boosting crude oil and natural gas reserves as well as production.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
California Teacher Sues Union Over Push to Defund the Police

A California teacher this week sued his local teachers union because of its push to slash funding to the police.

Glenn Laird, a longtime graphic design teacher at Eagle Rock High School, has been a member of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) for almost 40 years.

But Laird took issue with how the union last year joined calls to defund the police, releasing a paper that said authorities must shift money from policing to education and other essential needs such as housing and public health.

After learning what his union had done, Laird resigned and sought to stop paying dues.

I couldnt in good conscience be a member and pay dues, knowing my money was supporting an anti-police agenda, Laird said in a video statement.

Before signing and returning his membership application, Laird crossed out an opt-out window provision that restricted ending membership to a two-week period every year. That should have enabled him to leave the union and stop paying dues, but the union kept taking money from him, which is against the law, the lawsuit charges.

UTLA told Mr. Laird that pursuant to the terms of his membership application, he was unable to immediately resign his membership, ignoring the deleted agreement to the window. The District and UTLA, empowered and authorized by state statutes and the [bargaining agreement], continued to confiscate Mr. Lairds money without his affirmative consent until the inapplicable opt-out window period was reached, it said.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, asks the court to order the union to return wages that were allegedly seized unconstitutionally and to vindicate his First Amendment rights.

Under the First Amendment, the government cannot take money from public employees wages to pay union dues or fees without the employees voluntary and informed affirmative waiver of their First Amendment right to be free of compelled funding of objectionable speech, demonstrated by clear and compelling evidence, it said.

Plaintiffs point to a 2018 Supreme Court decision, Janus v. AFSCME, that ruled unions cannot collect dues to engage in political speech.

The union didnt return a request for comment.
Thinking back on the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Melvin Lockett remembers challenging moments.

As a restaurant owner, we didnt know what was happening, said Lockett, who owns Khi and Elis Food for the Soul in Holyoke and Springfield, restaurants named for his oldest sons.

In March 2020, Gov. Charlie Baker issued an emergency order mandating all non-essential businesses to close temporarily.

Three weeks became three months, Bob Luz, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said of the industry limited to only takeout with the closure of bars, on-site dining and events.

Lockett shifted his focus to offering takeout and delivery and looked towards small business support programs.

We werent able to access PPP, he said of the federal Payment Protection Program which offered loans or grants via the Small Business Administration.

A new federal effort gives him and thousands of other restaurant owners in Massachusetts hope.

Within the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package - through which millions of Americans have already received stimulus checks - is $28 billion for restaurants and bars.

Massachusetts is going to get the help it needs for our restaurants, Sen. Ed Markey said Saturday on a call with reporters and restaurant owners from across the state. The $28 billion will be distributed as grants, not loans business owners need to pay back, with priority given to minority- and women-owned businesses, many of whom found themselves at the back of the line in the paycheck protection program, Markey said.

Restaurants have the highest number of minority and women owners of any industry in Massachusetts.

Of the $28 billion, Markey estimates hundreds of millions in grants coming to Massachusetts.

Im hopeful that this package will deliver the boost that businesses need, Markey said, sharing that hes optimistic it get businesses through the spring, into summer when vaccination efforts in the United States could result in herd immunity.

Sen. Ed Markey. (Benjamin Kail/MassLive)

The industry was among the hardest hit nationwide and in Massachusetts.

There were over 16,000 restaurants in Massachusetts prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Luz.

Since restaurants were ordered to close last spring, 3,400 in the commonwealth have yet to reopen.

Over the past 12 months, 255,000 Massachusetts workers have been furloughed. Of those, almost 90,000 have yet to be recalled to work.

Revenue for restaurants plunged down $7 billion in 2020, when compared to 19.1 billion in revenue statewide the year prior.

That impact is felt in waves within their communities, says Jody Adams, owner of Porto in Boston.

Of every dollar earned, 90 to 95 cents goes back into the community, Adams said, through wages, local vendor sales and taxes.

Adams compared the industry to a canary in a coal mine, explaining restaurants are often the first industry to be courted into a developing community with their openings leading to other industries to invest in the neighborhood.

Their closures are felt just as strongly, Adams said, speaking of the unease felt walking through areas with boarded-up businesses.

They are the glue of our communities, Markey said, of restaurants serving as gathering spaces.

In coming weeks, Luz said the Massachusetts Restaurant Association will work with the Small Business Administration to explain the application process for American Rescue Plan grants directly to restaurant owners.

Weve learned a lot in the last year, Luz said of PPP and other programs. Were hoping to create a training session to walk people line-by-line through the application process.
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But the out-of-pocket donation represents the surest sign yet of his intention to seek a second term. Additionally, with the departure of embattled former House Speaker Michael Madigan from his post in government and as chairman of the state Democratic Party, Pritzker will be counted upon more heavily to help fund party efforts to maintain Democratic supermajorities in the Illinois House and Senate.
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Asia

India: Delhi University teachers protest over non-payment of salaries

Thousands of Delhi University teachers hit the streets on March 15 to protest the non-payment of salaries to the staff at 12 Delhi government-funded colleges.

The demonstration was organised by the Delhi University Teachers Association with marchers walking from Delhi University vice-chancellors office to the Delhi chief ministers office. Teachers said they had not been paid salaries and pensions on time for the past six months.

Jawaharlal Nehru University cleaners strike

Library cleaning workers at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi went on strike on March 15 to demand outstanding salaries. All 23 cleaners at the Central Library, who are employed by contractor Max Maintenance, have not received any salary for the past four months. Most of these workers live in rented accommodation and are facing eviction because they cant pay the rent. Some of the cleaners said they have had to vacate their homes and are living on the streets with their kids.

Childcare workers protest in Karnataka

Anganwadi (childcare) workers mobilised near the Mysuru Deputy Commissioners office on March 15 to protest the state governments failure to allocate adequate funds to improve wages and conditions in its latest budget.

The childcare workers said the Karnatakas Women and Child Development Minister had previously promised to investigate workers demands but the latest state budget provided no additional funding.

The demonstrators demands include an increase in honorary fund payments and in line with workers seniority; a lump sum payment for almost 7,300 volunteers who had retired after 2015; a fixed 5,000-rupee ($US69) monthly pension for retired volunteers and helpers; proper training for all volunteers and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for all other employees.

Telangana transport workers oppose Modi government privatisation and new farm laws

Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) workers demonstrated outside various bus depots on March 15 to demand the Modi government end its privatisation of public sector enterprises, repeal three planned farm bills and electricity laws, and stop allocating public money to big business corporations.

The TSRTC employees decided to protest in solidarity with national strike action by bank employees unions which began on the same day. TSRTC workers said that privatising state-sector enterprises will destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs and undermine essential public services.

Haryana employees hold state-wide rally

State Public Works Department (PWD) employees held a state-level protest rally in Karnal on March 14 to demand pay parity with Punjab state employees and withdrawal of the Modi governments privatisation and restoration of a previously existing pension program.

The protest was organised by the Haryana Government PWD Mechanical Workers Union. Union members tried to surround the Chief Ministers office in Prem Nagar but were stopped by the police. The following day they staged a sit-down protest over their demands. They told the media that the government is planning to privatise irrigation, PWD and public health services to various civic bodies.

Junior College lecturers in Telangana protest non-payment of salaries

Lecturers working at Sri Chaitanya and Narayana Junior Colleges demonstrated at the Dilsukhnagar Sri Chaitanya NEET campus in Hyderabad on March 16 over the non-payment of salaries. Protesters alleged that over 4,000 lecturers at the colleges had been paid for COVID-19 lockdown which was imposed in March last year.

The lecturers said management had collected full fees from students but not paid the lecturers, some of whom were giving online classes during lockdown. Some lecturers said they had been transferred to new college facilities, far away from their current locations.

MGM medical college and hospital sanitation staff at Jharkhand walkout indefinitely

Over 75 contract sanitation workers from state-run MGM Medical College and Hospital began an indefinite strike on March 11 over the non-payment of their regular salaries and yearly bonus. The protesters said that they received their salaries for the last three months, despite organising several protests.

Although most of the sanitation staff had been working at the facility for the past 18 years, none had been given permanent jobs. The workers were employed through Shiva Protection Force, a labour hire agency.

Pakistan: Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health workers demand pay rise

Lady Health Workers (LHW) program employees in Punjab are continuing a sit-down protest they began in Lahore to demand a 25 percent pay increase. Similar demonstrations were held by LHW workers in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 11.

Following a previous protest last October, the government agreed to introduce a service structure and resolve pay issues. The government promises have been ignored.

LHW program employees are one of the most exploited sections of the working class in Pakistan, despite providing crucial vaccination and other health services in rural and low-income urban areas of the country, where there are few, if any, health facilities. The rail workers have threatened to strike again in management refuse to withdraw its punitive measures.

Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

Australia: Hungry Panda food delivery riders reinstated

Two Hungry Panda food delivery riders sacked for protesting against pay cuts have been reinstated after six weeks in a settlement with the company. Jun Yang and Xiangqian Li from Sydneys inner-west were notified of their dismissal on the same day that they had organised a protest over a company decision to reduce wages in their area.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) which filed unfair dismissal cases at the Fair Work Commission on behalf of the workers, proclaimed the reinstatement to be a historic win.

The workers, however, were not given any compensation for the six weeks of lost income. In the settlement the company has agreed to obtain insurance to cover its riders in the event of injury or death, something that is standard in other industries.

Five delivery riders were killed last year in Australia as a result of the ruthless exploitation of these workers in the unregulated gig economy. A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry is currently investigating widespread complaints from delivery drivers. The TWU is appealing for the establishment of a tribunal which would provide only a minimum of standards, protections, safety and wages for delivery workers.

Community Health Workers in Papua New Guinea threaten strike

MORE than 5,000 community health workers (CHWs) across Papua New Guinea have threatened to strike if the government continues to ignore their awards review submission. CHWs work in the countrys health facilities from aid-posts to hospitals, mainly in rural areas. They are frontline workers in the escalating COVID-19 pandemic.

PNG CHW Association president Dec Isaac said the workers have waited for 13 years for the 2007 and successive awards to be reviewed. The awards include allowances for overtime, risk service, uniforms, housing, mental health, shift work, radiation and clinical.

The association has called on the government, Department of Personnel Management and the Health Department to fast track the review submission on the terms and conditions of employment of CHWs. This is for all CHWs working in government-run public health facilities, non-governmental organisations, churches, universities and the forces.

CHW Association branch executives from Oro, Morobe and West New Britain are currently in Port Moresby to prepare for a strike. Isaac said failure to address the issue will result in mass withdrawal of the work force after March 15.

New Zealand bus drivers preparing to strike

Bus drivers in Wellington, New Zealands capital, are preparing to strike after reaching an impasse in pay negotiations with NZ Bus. The Tramways Union has cited April 19 as a deadline day, which could trigger industrial action. A drivers strike would impact commuters across most of Wellington city, the eastern parts of the city, where NZ Bus runs a lot of routes.

Negotiations come one week after drivers struck a deal with Greater Wellington Regional Council and NZ Transport Authority that would see the government top up wages to lift the base rate for drivers from $19.40 an hour to the so-called living wage, which is promoted by the unions as $22.10, itself totally inadequate.

NZ Bus wants to move Wellington drivers on to the same collective agreement as its Auckland drivers, which has a higher base rate but lower penal rates and one week less annual leave.

Tramways Union declined the offer, saying drivers were prepared to strike in April if the proposed agreement was not dramatically improved. Drivers in Wellington are fiercely protective of existing conditions, including double pay after midnight, time and a half on weekends, and strict controls around hours of work without additional compensation.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 31.

New Zealand care workers continue picketing

Homecare support workers employed by Lifewise picketed the organisations Auckland headquarters on Friday over its continual refusal to offer liveable pay and better conditions. Workers have been striking and picketing since December for increased sick and bereavement leave and fair hours of work in the collective agreement.

Lifewise has threatened workers with three separate lockout periods since February and reneged on improved leave and conditions agreed on before the first COVID-19 lockdown.

One worker said, Its like theyre not listening, theyre not really taking our needs into consideration. Its the necessities were asking forits not going to break the bank.

A spokesperson for the E TU union said the moves by the employer are some of the most aggressive shes ever seen against workers in the homecare sector. The union, however, has kept the workers isolated and sought to enter a mediation process. Lifewise is a charitable trust which is a part of the Methodist Church.
From whiskey and tea, to a day out for unionists in Fermanagh, Andrew Madden and Gareth Cross take a closer look at some of the more unusual things in the Assembly and further afield this week.

Monday: Health Minister Robin Swann voiced his disappointment when he revealed that he only learned of the Republics decision to pause the roll-out of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine from media reports the previous day.

Sinn Feins Caral Ni Chuilin said she had been offered a vaccine in Fermanagh, however, she hopes to have it administered in her home city of Belfast. In response, Robin Swann said he has heard from another member that Fermanagh is a good day out... well, for unionists.

He added that, given the current travel restrictions, he would expect Ms Ni Chuilin to take any day out she can get.

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The SDLPs Matthew OToole took aim at the Department of Finance over the lack of research into funding for businesses in Northern Ireland.

He said research will be critical to understanding the state of the economy. The South Belfast MLA said representatives are flying blind in terms of the issues our high streets may face in the future.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy acknowledged that it is not an ideal way to be spending money.

In a heated debate on abortion, during which topics ranging from loyalist paramilitaries to Brexit were mentioned for one reason or another, First Minister Arlene Foster compared aborting babies with Downs Syndrome to eugenics.

She told the Assembly: No ones life is less valuable and this standard should apply to lives inside and outside the womb. We are entering into the realms of eugenics and you can deny that all you like but we are on a very slippery slope.

Everyone should be very careful about that because it is Downs Syndrome and non-fatal disability today, what is it in 10 years time that we are deciding is appropriate for abortion?

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Tuesday: Economy Minister Diane Dodds took to the floor of the Assembly to update members on Covid support for students on Tuesday, among other issues.

After some members criticised gaps in support available to some groups, her party colleague Christopher Stalford rose in the ministers defence.

He said Ms Dodds had brought forward more economic packages than any minister in the Executive.

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Former Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt, however, pointed out that it would be a strange situation if other ministers who do not have the economy portfolio brought forward economic packages. Indeed.

During a discussion on welfare support, DUP MLA Alex Easton said he had seen estimates that around 60,000 new claimants (are) expected.

He expressed concern about the staffing numbers involved in processing claims and blamed the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, for failing to provide the funding for more staff.

Communities Minister Deidre Hargey admitted there was unprecedented demand for Universal Credit.

We cant run it like a democracy in other countries that you look to because we have one and sometimes often two arms tied behind our back where Westminster are making these decisions, she said.

DUP MP Gavin Robinson spoke out against the UK Governments controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, saying the loose and lazy way the legislation is drafted would make a dictator blush. While the DUP abstained on the vote, appearing remotely Mr Robinson said the party oppose, in the strongest possible terms the overarching, sweeping and draconian provisions on protest.

The DUP have, of course, been involved in some of the biggest protests Northern Ireland has ever seen.

Protests will be noisy. Protests will disrupt and no matter how offensive we may find the issue at their heart, the right to protest should be protected, the East Belfast MP said.

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Wednesday: It emerged on Wednesday that several tobacco companies have lost their puff over Brexit and are withdrawing some brands from Northern Ireland due to extra costs as a result of the Irish Sea border.

Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers, who runs a supermarket, said he was informed about the problem by suppliers, however, he made clear he personally will not be affected.

I made myself very sick puffing on a clay pipe of discarded butt tobacco aged eight, thus tobacco free since, so this news does not affect me, he tweeted.

Cigarette makers are withdrawing a number of brands from NI due to Protocol forcing them to print a different health message than UK stock.

To mark St Patricks Day, UUP MLA Doug Beattie posted a video on Twitter appealing for everyone to celebrate in their own way.

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The former British Army Captain said he had celebrated St Patricks Day all his life, including his time in the military.

Mr Beattie said his tradition was to be awoken by gunfire, not from bullets, but a mixture of tea and Irish whiskey and to wear a sprig of Irish shamrock, a military tradition started by Queen Victoria for Irish soldiers.

He wished everyone slainte - an Irish language toast meaning good health.

UUP leader Steve Aiken wrote to US President Joe Biden to mark St Patricks Day. He told President Biden that the Northern Ireland Protocol is undermining the very peace that we all seek to support and protect. Mr Aiken said the protocol had destroyed the principle of consent at the heart of the agreement.

The former submarine commander also revealed that 50% of his family are US citizens. He said a foreign power being able to dictate internal borders between states wouldnt be acceptable in Delaware (or especially in Georgia), so why should be acceptable in Northern Ireland?

Thursday: A row erupted on Twitter between Alliance leader Naomi Long and NI-born former Labour MP Kate Hoey. Ms Hoey, now a peer, wrongly accused the Alliance Party of rejecting plans by unionists for a stone commemorating Northern Irelands centenary to be placed in the grounds of Stormont.

If they didnt support a stone with a map of Northern Ireland being erected then they have clearly shifted to being pro-nationalist, Ms Hoey said.

Firing back Justice Minister Mrs Long - the Alliance leader - said maybe, just maybe, instead of taking to Twitter to speculate, wrongly as it happens, you could do some actual fact checking?

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After the Alliance leader called for an apology, Ms Hoey said it was amazing how defensive Alliance get when I asked a question. No need for any apology when just asking a question or is that not permissible?.

In the Assembly, Education Minister Peter Weir faced a grilling from MLAs regarding the details of the reopening of schools.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll questioned how schools are safer now than they were in December and said the minister had been too slow to act to close schools previously.

In response, Mr Weir rounded on the West Belfast MLA, stating he was constantly amazed by his negative approach. Taking a swipe at Mr Carrolls socialist credentials, he said he was surprised by the members interest in keeping the proletariat uneducated.

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Friday: TUV leader Jim Allister responded to reports that Secretary of State Brandon Lewis was planning to compel Stormont to commission abortion services for women across Northern Ireland on Friday by asking what would be the point in continuing with devolution if it could be so easily overridden.

He noted that for many, control over abortion laws justified for some paying the price of Sinn Fein rule in a flawed system.

If we can be subject to direct rule when it suits on the moral issues which matter to many, then this highly retrograde step does indeed throw up searching questions as to what devolution is contributing, especially when it comes at the price of Sinn Fein rule on everything else, he noted.

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Following the Irish Sea border controversy, the move by Mr Lewis represents another black mark against the Conservatives in the DUPs book, with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson going as far as to say it is a threat to devolution. This is despite Westminster pushing through the new abortion laws over the heads of the DUP and without the input of the Assembly back in 2019.

In the first instance we will of course oppose these regulations because we think it is wrong for Westminster to go over the head of a fully functioning Executive and Assembly, Sir Jeffrey said.

It represents a fundamental breach of the devolution settlement, we will engage with the other political parties to see how we respond to this but we are very clear - we will need to consider carefully what this means for the future operation of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland.
Lenders have urged Andrew Bailey to relax tough rules on small banks to unleash an extra 28billion of lending.

TSB, the Co-operative Bank, and Metro Bank are among those that have written to the Governor of the Bank of England, calling for the rules to be made fairer.

In the letter, seen by The Mail on Sunday, the banks warn that small lenders are hit hardest by the regulation, putting them at a massive disadvantage to their biggest high street rivals.

Plea: TSB, the Co-operative Bank, and Metro Bank are among those that have written to the Governor of the Bank of England

The rule requires banks to have a bigger capital safety net once they reach a certain size, in case they collapse, to avoid a repeat of the financial crisis. It means banks have to issue special bonds with high interest, making it expensive.

This kicks in once banks have made 15billion of loans or have more than 40,000 current accounts.

The letter, also signed by digital start-up Monzo, said the rules 'harm competition and the ability to deliver for customers and businesses'.

It said easing the rule slightly 'could unlock between 24billion to 28 billion in additional lending capacity over the next five years.'

The banks warn that the UK's regime is tougher than those in the US and Europe, making it less attractive to build a bank in Britain. They are urging the Bank of England and Treasury to ease the rule, and focus more on 'competition' to give customers choice in banking.
To the Editor:

A Year of Accelerated Unraveling, by Katie Engelhart (Sunday Review, Feb. 21), about the impact of the pandemic on people with dementia, both in and out of nursing homes, clarified and validated my experience.

My father has been in a memory care facility for two years. Before Covid, my mom, one of my sisters or I would visit my dad almost every day. In March, when his facility shut down for three months, I worried constantly that he would not remember my mom when we would finally be allowed back to see him. He already did not recognize my sisters or me.

Earlier this year, at a weekly visit through a window, he asked if this was a dream. My mom has to explain, repeatedly, about the masks and about not being able to come inside. She refers to Covid as a flu so he can somewhat understand. His condition was bound to deteriorate, of course, but the isolation caused by the pandemic does, indeed, seem to have accelerated the decline.

Jeanne Isaacson

Ocean, N.J.

To the Editor:

My mother lives in an assisted care home with a good management team and caring employees. As an essential caregiver, I was allowed to visit my mother as long as my Covid test came back negative within 72 hours of my visit. Both my mother and I have been fully vaccinated. All staff members at the facility were offered the vaccine; I was told that half declined. Recently, the facility closed to visitors because one staff member tested positive.
Jo Whiley has said she 'could not be happier' as her disabled sister Francis is set to receive her first Covid-19 vaccination, a month after the virus left her 'fighting for her life'.

The Radio 2 presenter, 55, revealed her excitement at the news that her younger sibling Francis, 53, will get her first dose of the vaccine this weekend, weeks after Jo herself got her own jab before her sister.

Francis, who has a rare genetic syndrome called Cri du Chat, and diabetes, was left seriously ill last month after an outbreak at her care home, with her family even discussing 'end of life' care.

Finally: Jo Whiley has said she 'could not be happier' as her disabled sister Francis is set to receive her first Covid-19 vaccination, a month after the virus left her 'fighting for her life'

Speaking on her radio show on Thursday, Jo said: 'My sister gets her vaccination this coming weekend. It has been a long time coming.'

She continued: 'You have to wait a month after you have had Covid but it finally comes this weekend so we could not be happier about that as well.'

In February, Jo revealed her heartbreak that she was offered the vaccine while her sister was desperately ill in hospital with the virus.

Relief: The Radio 2 presenter, 55, revealed her excitement at the news that her younger sibling Francis, 53, will get her first dose of the vaccine this weekend, weeks after Jo got her own jab

Speaking at the time, she said: 'I would give up my vaccine in a heartbeat, if I could, for my sister and any of the residents in her house to have their vaccine it does not feel right.

'Shes fighting for her life in hospital. It couldnt be crueller.'

Meanwhile, last month she claimed Frances 'refused to talk to [her]' or her family when she was offered the Covid-19 vaccine first.

Making an appearance on This Morning, the BBC Radio DJ said her sibling's reaction was 'the cruellest twist' and detailed how the situation was like 'the worst disastrous movie'.

Battle: Francis, who has a rare genetic syndrome called Cri du Chat, and diabetes, was left seriously ill last month after an outbreak at her care home, with her family even discussing 'end of life' care

Happy news: Speaking on her radio show on Thursday, Jo said: 'My sister gets her vaccination this coming weekend. It has been a long time coming' (pictured last month)

Frances has a rare genetic syndrome called Cri du Chat - a chromosomal condition that results in delayed development.

She explained to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: 'It played out like the worst disastrous movie. I got offered my vaccine, which felt like the cruellest twist, she refused to take our calls.

'She refused to talk to me, she refused to talk to my mum and dad, we were calling the home and that showed the impact on her mental health.'

'Could not be happier': 'You have to wait a month after you have had Covid but it finally comes this weekend so we could not be happier about that as well'

At the time she was offered the vaccine, 'fit and healthy' Jo said it was 'mind boggling' she was offered a jab before her younger sister Frances.

Adults with learning disabilities will now all be offered Covid vaccines as part of the top six priority groups, Britain's health chiefs said in February after a campaign by Jo Whiley to get her sister jabbed.

The JCVI, which decides on who gets the life-saving jabs first, said people with learning disabilities of any kind should be bumped up the pecking order.

They will be added into priority group six, which includes all adults with a long-term health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness.

Anguish: In February, Jo revealed her heartbreak that she was offered the vaccine while her sister was desperately ill in hospital with the virus

Jo called for people with learning disabilities to get vaccines sooner after her sister, who has a developmental disorder and lives in residential care, was hospitalised with Covid-19.

Of her sister's battle with coronavirus, Jo went on: 'We got the news that she had tested positive for Covid, all the people on the care home tested positive and many of the carers, so it was catastrophic.

'It got very serious, this time last week, the next 24 hours we thought we were gonna lose her. I would say to everyone you need to get a oxymeter, that's how we knew she was dangerously ill and we couldn't get the mask on her.

'It was the cruellest twist': Jo claimed This Morning last month that her sister 'refused to talk to her' when the DJ was offered the Covid-19 vaccine before her

Struggle: Jo explained, 'I got offered my vaccine, which felt like the cruellest twist, she refused to take our calls. She refused to talk to me, she refused to talk to my mum and dad'

'Because we couldn't get the oxygen in her, and then we ended up 4am on Friday night, Saturday AM, discussing end of life care.

'I woke up on Saturday just imagining this Christmas without my sister, and my mum saying "this is our worst nightmare come true" and it was the thing in the last 12 months we had dreaded.'

Heaping praise on the NHS staff who helped take care of Frances, Jo gushed: 'The staff have been incredible, and that proves how challenging it is for people with learning disabilities as they're all so different.

'And staff will try and do whatever they possible can. I Tweeted does anyone know what we can do, and they did put an oxygen tent around Francis, we couldn't sedate her anymore because she reacted in the opposite way.

Unfair: At the time she was offered the vaccine, 'fit and healthy' Jo said it was 'mind boggling' she was offered a jab before her younger sister Frances, who then contracted Covid-19

Upset: Last month Jo shared her dismay and highlighted the 'irony' at being offered a vaccine before Frances

'You put so much sedatives in her body, they took the sedation away and we just watched, and she fought it on her own.'

She claimed NHS staff believed it was thanks to Frances having a loud voice that she was able to boost her oxygen levels, and she felt they had been 'extremely lucky' as one person in Frances' care home sadly died from the virus.

Frances was moved into residential care in Northamptonshire in 2015 after her 'challenging behaviour' resulted in her needing specialist care.

She was released from hospital mid-February, with Jo taking to Twitter to give an update on her sister's condition, while also thanking NHS staff for their efforts.
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No, people can continue swimming at their own risk

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High blood sugar linked to higher risk of death in patients with and without diabetes

WASHINGTON--Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have worse outcomes if they have high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, regardless of whether they have diabetes, a new study finds. The researchers will present their results, of the first known study of the impact of hyperglycemia on a largely Black patient population with the novel coronavirus, at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting.

The investigators found that patients with COVID-19 who had hyperglycemia on admission to the hospital were more likely than those with normal glucose (sugar) to require a breathing machine or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). These patients also were reportedly likelier to have kidney injury and to die in the hospital.

"COVID-19 patients presenting to the hospital with hyperglycemia require closer observation, as they are likely to require more aggressive therapies," said the study's lead investigator, Samara Skwiersky, M.D., M.P.H., an internal medicine resident physician at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Although a few prior studies have identified hyperglycemia or diabetes as an independent risk factor for worse COVID-19 outcomes, Skwiersky said they did not take place in a predominantly Black population. The virus has disproportionately affected Black people, including higher rates of hospitalization and death than in white people, she noted.

Their study included 708 adults with COVID-19 admitted to SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 89 percent of whom were Black. About half were men, and 54 percent of patients had a history of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes on admission.

The researchers studied patient outcomes by the presence or absence of diabetes and by their blood glucose values on admission. Because guidelines recommend that hospitalized patients with diabetes maintain blood glucose levels between 140 and 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), the investigators divided patients into groups by glucose levels less than 140 and less than 180 mg/dL.

Patients with diabetes whose blood glucose values on admission exceeded 140 mg/dL had a 2.4-fold increased odds of ICU admission and intubation--needing a breathing machine--versus those whose glucose levels were lower, the researchers reported. Furthermore, patients with diabetes whose admission glucose levels were higher than 180 mg/dL had an approximately twofold increased odds of in-hospital death, their data showed.

However, Skwiersky said the odds of death also were increased twofold for patients who did not have diabetes and whose glucose values exceeded 140 mg/dL. Additionally, these patients had a 3.5-fold raised odds of ICU admission and a 2.3-fold higher odds of intubation and of experiencing acute kidney injury.

According to Skwiersky, patients without diabetes whose blood glucose levels topped 180 mg/dL had a fourfold greater death risk, a nearly threefold increased odds of ICU admission, and a 2.7-fold higher odds of intubation.

"The results from our study," she said, "reiterate the importance of regularly monitoring blood glucose in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, even without a prior diagnosis of diabetes."

It is unclear whether hyperglycemia is the result of or a cause of more severe COVID-19 illness, Skwiersky stated. Still, she said their results suggest the need for intensive glucose control in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with high blood sugar. This is consistent with the current Endocrine Society guidelines, which recommend that all patients with blood glucose above 140 mg/dL be monitored with point-of-care glucose testing and treated with appropriate therapies.

"More frequent glucose monitoring and treatment with insulin therapy to a target glucose value less than 140 mg/dL could improve outcomes in these patients," Skwiersky said.

###

Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A third of France's population was under a new partial lockdown Saturday to stop the spread of COVID-19, as some European countries resumed AstraZeneca vaccinations following an all-clear from EU regulators and the WHO.

The pandemic is still speeding up worldwide, with the number of new global coronavirus infections rising by 14 percent over the last week compared to the previous week, according to AFP data.

Fighting to prevent yet another wave of the virus, several countries in Europe went back into partial lockdown on Saturdaywith Poland, parts of Ukraine and some French regions all waking up to tight new restrictions.

Parisians packed trains leaving the capital and crammed into shops ahead of the new restrictions coming into force, which will apply to Paris and several other regions for a month.

The mayor of Yerres, just outside Paris, told AFP he had told businesses there to remain open, defying the "totally incomprehensible" restrictions.

"Why would we catch COVID more in a shoe store than a bookshop?" he asked.

Bookshops are considered essential under the new measures, and later Friday the government added florists, chocolate shops and cobblers to the list.

Signs of lockdown weariness abounded in cities across the world, with protests against restrictions popping up in Vienna, Sofia and Montreal.

Some 20,000 people were expected at a demonstration in the German city of Kassel on Saturday, raising fears it would turn into a superspreader event.

Infection rates are once again rising exponentially in Germany, with the vice president of the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases warning of signs of a return to "many severe cases and deaths, and hospitals that are overwhelmed".

Belgium and Switzerland, where cases are also soaring, put off lifting restrictions on Friday too.

AstraZeneca jabs resume

Worries that AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine may cause blood clots had seen countries pause its use recently.

But after the European Medicines Agency said it was "safe and effective", Germany and Italy announced they were using the jab again as of Friday.

France also brought it back into usebut just hours later, the national health regulator recommended its use only for over-55s, given the reported blood clots were only seen in younger people.

World Health Organization vaccine safety experts said "available data do not suggest any overall increase in clotting conditions" among vaccinated people.

The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Indonesia are also ending their suspensions, while Ireland's advisory committee is recommending following suit.

Seeking to reassure their populations, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his French counterpart Jean Castex received their first AstraZeneca dose on Friday.

"I literally did not feel a thing. It was very good, very quick," Johnson said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also committed to get the AstraZeneca vaccine soon.

'We're not scared'

While political leaders were enthusiastic, some members of the public remain reluctant.

"I'm a bit anxious of course, but what can you do? We have to do this," said 42-year-old teacher Valentina at a vaccine centre at Rome's Termini station.

In Spain, 22-year-old medical student Florentino Quinteiro said he wasn't worried after receiving an AstraZeneca dose last month.

"The population isn't always familiar with the situation, but we're not scared," he said of his colleagues.

"In pharmacology there's always a trade-off between benefit and risk," he added.

Denmark, Norway and Sweden are yet to bring the jab back into use, pending further review, while Finland said Friday it would pause for at least a week "until there is more information".

However, use and production of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has been ramping up, with the Philippines becoming the latest country to give it the green light Friday, and Indian drugmaker Stelis Biopharma signing on to produce 200 million doses.

Germany said it would order the Sputnik vaccine if the EU authorises its use.

'Not stopping now'

The United States marked a major milestone in its inoculation drive on Friday, administering its 100 millionth vaccine dose to meet President Joe Biden's goal weeks ahead of schedule.

"We did it in about 60 days," he said. "We're not stopping now."

With infection rates falling, there are hopes that the world's worst-hit country, which has seen more than 540,000 deaths, is headed for a powerful rebound.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the former president has been living since leaving the White House, was partially closed after some staff members tested positive for COVID.

In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro's famed beaches will be closed as the city's mayor said the situation was "very critical," with a 95-percent occupancy rate in intensive care units at public hospitals.

President Jair Bolsonaro, who has railed against stay-at-home measures and face masks, criticised the measure.

"Vitamin D is a way to prevent the virus from seriously affecting you. And where do you get vitamin D? From the sun. Such hypocrisy," said the far-right leader.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has emphasised the need for the two main political parties in the country to work together for the common good of the country and further help Ghanas democracy to grow.



He said having played a role to build Ghanas democracy to this level, many Ghanaians were no longer interested in the partisan politics.



He said the people expected the two main political parties  the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)-- to put the interest of the country ahead of their parochial interests by collaborating more for national development.



Courtesy call



Mr Bagbin made these comments when the US Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Stephanie Sullivan, paid a courtesy call on him last Wednesday.



She used the visit to congratulate the Speaker on his ascension to the high office of Speakership.



The two spoke about a number of key issues pertaining to the development of their respective countries. The conversation was also centred on health, agriculture and environmental issues.



The meeting also had in attendance, the leadership of Parliament including the Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Andrews Amoako Asiamah, the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, as well as the Clerk to Parliament, Mr Cyril Kwabena Nsiah.



Strengthening the Legislature



Mr Bagbin also spoke about the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of the legislative branch of government, to ensure that the democracy thrived and stressed the need for Members of Parliament to be given offices and personnel in their constituencies for ease of consultation and work in the constituencies."



Mr Bagbin expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for the visit and expressed the hope that the good relations between Ghana and the United States would be further strengthened.



Congratulations



Ambassador Sullivan, while congratulating the Speaker on his appointment, also commended the Appointments Committee of Parliament for the good work it did in vetting the various ministerial appointees of the President.



She said the way the committee conducted its business during the vetting process sent a strong signal that Parliament's work would not be business as usual.

"Parliament now takes its scrutiny duties very seriously," the US Ambassador said.



Trader partnership



Mrs Sullivan also spoke about the need for strong trade relations between the USA and Ghana, making reference to an earlier statement by the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, which stressed the need to strengthen the private sector since it was the engine of growth.



Majority Leader



Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu spoke about the benefits of the many exchange programmes between the two countries and emphasised the need for improved trade relations.



The Majority Leader stressed the need to further strengthen the private sector as the engine of growth for any economy.



Minority Leader



Mr Iddrisu also expressed concern about the indicators used for measuring child labour and child trafficking, which portrayed Ghana in a bad light.



He, therefore, urged the US to posit the phenomenon in its proper context, saying that "by our culture, Ghanaian children do assist their parents and relatives in their economic endeavours and this, by no means, has nothing to do with child labour, he said.



The Minority Leader further spoke about the menace of money laundering and called on the US to help state institutions to block illicit transfer of funds.

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 aerial photo of Dundalk looking from the Castletown Bridge into St Nicholas Quarter. Picture Ken Finegan / Newspics

The huge potential for Dundalk's north end, following the announcement of over 7 million funding emerged this week.

Senator John McGahon, who has been leading efforts to secure the funding, held a virtual meeting with local businesspeople and residents to discuss the ambitious plans for the St. Nicholas Quarter.

He outlined the history of the project, which although had been turned down for funding three years, was given the green light by the department after a new submission was made last year

He welcomed the decision by Louth County Council to set up a project management team to oversee the regeneration of the area.

'The council are very clear that the project really has to re-energise and transform the north end of town. This is not a plan to simply give this area a face lift, but really is to completely regenerate these streets, and make it a stand out part of Dundalk.'

He described how in the past Bridge Street was one of the busiest parts of the town, where people went to shop, work and live.

'This project is about bringing that same energy back to the area again.'

He emphasised the extensive consultation which is set to get underway.

'There is going to be a lot of engagement with the local community and Louth County Council, and councillors. There will be a lot of opportunities to feed into these plans, particularly because we will have a local project management team, which the community will become familiar with.'

He unveiled the proposed 'vision' for the area, which illustrated how backlands, areas at the rear of existing buildings, would be used to create a new pedestrianised 'streetscape' with new office, retail and residential space created.

'They also want to redefine the junction off the Newry Road bridge as it is the gateway into the town, and open up the Peace Park to make it more inviting for families and children.'

'It really is a physical and visual transformation of the area.'

The 'vision' document also proposed that St. Nicholas Quarter would be a continuation of the public realm created in the completed Clanbrassil Street scheme.

Through the purchase of specifically selected properties via the compulsory purchase order process, the St Nicholas' Quarter will have the opportunity to become a thriving hub for the community. It is aimed that the redevelopment of the area will be 'an organic process with the initial infrastructural and opening up interventions by Louth County Council allowing the community to take ownership of the area.'

Senator McGahon added that the plan was 'essentially to make this a destination part of Dundalk.'

Cllr. Maeve Yore, who has been instrumental in pursuing funds for the redevelopment of the area told the meeting; 'I'm delighted with the funding, and that the application has been approved. It has been a long road, and we are very appreciative of the input from businesses and residents with the application.'

She said it will be a 'long process' but added that there will be ample opportunities for local people and business owners to meet councillors and discuss any issues relating to the project.

Meanwhile, Dundalk councillor Sean Kelly also welcomed the funding announcement, saying, 'This is a new dawn for Dundalk's Northend. After so many years of neglect, we are finally turning a corner.'

He added: 'Being from the area and knowing the struggles that businesses and residents have faced over the years I am over the moon for them, it's their day. We can finally showcase the area and all that it has to offer with this much needed investment. Brighter days are ahead for Bridge Street and Linenhall Street.'
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police carried out searches on Friday at the Moscow offices of a media outlet and an opposition group associated with Kremlin critic and former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the media outlet's editor-in-chief said.

The searches of Open Russia and MBKh media followed a crackdown on anti-Kremlin activists after protests calling for the release of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who has been jailed on parole violation charges he said were trumped up.

Veronika Kutsyllo, editor-in-chief of MBKh media, said the police had mistaken the outlet's offices for the premises of a British-registered entity called Open Russia that Russia banned as "undesirable" in 2017.

"There is no Open Russia here and never was. This is the editorial office of MBKh media," said Kutsyllo.

Both MBKh and Open Russia were founded by Khodorkovsky, who was once Russias richest man but fell out with the Kremlin and now lives abroad.

Kutsyllo said that law enforcement officers seized written requests for comment that its reporters had filed to the authorities, as well as special vests worn by reporters when covering street protests.

Separate searches were carried out at the Moscow and St Petersburg offices of Open Russia and the property of one of its staff, its employees said.

The searches were carried out in connection with a criminal case against an entrepreneur accused of cooperating with a banned "undesirable" group, they said.

The Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia's communications watchdog demanded on Wednesday that Twitter delete MBKh media's account for what it said was a violation of Russian law. MBKh said it was accused of posting content from Open Russia.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Tom Balmforth; Editing by Timothy Heritage)
The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 21:16:58|Editor: huaxia

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Two women cry when paying tribute to former Tanzanian President John Magufuli at Uhuru stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 20, 2021. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Saturday led her fellow citizens in paying the last respects to former President John Magufuli at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Magufuli, 61, died from a heart condition on Wednesday at the Emilio Mzena Hospital in the country's commercial capital. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Saturday led her fellow citizens in paying the last respects to former President John Magufuli at the Uhuru Stadium in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Magufuli, 61, died from a heart condition on Wednesday at the Emilio Mzena Hospital in the business capital.

Others who paid their last respects to their fallen leader were Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, the widow of Tanzania's founding president, Maria Nyerere, heads of defense and security forces and senior government officials, including ministers, deputy ministers and permanent secretaries.

They were joined by tens of hundreds of citizens, many of whom broke into tears on seeing the body of the former head of state.

The body of the late Magufuli will lie in state in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Zanzibar, Mwanza and Chato from Saturday until March 25 to enable people to pay their last respects before he is buried in his native Chato home on March 26.

Speaking on Friday after she was sworn in as president, Hassan appealed to Tanzanians to be patient during this difficult period.

"We should take over from where President Magufuli has accomplished. We should stop pointing fingers at each other. We need to forge ahead as a nation," she said.

President Hassan said Tanzania will remain calm as it has always been. Enditem
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Por Ricardo Alexandre 20 Marco, 2021  15:46 Partilhar este artigo Facebook

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In an article you wrote in late December to the Moscow Times, you wrote that Putin faces a more diverse and strong opposition... who is that opposition besides Navalny?

Well, definitely Navaly is the opposition leader number one. Actually, the recent events led to consolidation of the Russian opposition voters and the opposition politicians around Navalny. Previously, nobody could speak of him as an unconditional leader of the Russian opposition. Now, we can talk about this already, the process of unification of all the Russian opposition public behind Navalny has just started, it's not over yet. But it's definitely moving in that direction. And since he's in prison, it's definitely going to lead to all the Russian voters who are displeased with the current situation in the country, rallying around Navalny. Because when you put him in prison, you are like pointing with your index finger at the person "I'm telling He's my opposition". Navaly is in prison now. So, there is a big chance that sooner or later he will become somebody like Mandela in the South African case, he will become the undisputed leader of the Russian opposition. The situation is deteriorating for Putin. I don"t mean that many new opposition leaders are appearing, but the general mood in the country. The regime is getting little by little delegitimized, the social base on which it was grounded for 20 years, it's getting weaker, diluted, and more and more oppositional.

The general ratings of the authorities are decreasing. The rating of Putin is below 50%. His political party, United Russia, it's rating something like 30% now, and in half a year, we are going to have parliamentary elections. Previously, there was opposition in Russia, but it was mostly located in urban centers, in big cities, like Moscow, St.Petersbourg and some others; and then the province was very loyal to Putin. Recently, this started changing. First, it became visible half a year ago when we had protests in Khabarovsk, which is a province located far away, on the other side of the country, closer to Japan. And it's deep rural Russia. And all of a sudden, it exploded and it was a political process.

Previously, there were some protests similar in Russian regions, but they were mostly non political. It was either ecological or economical protests. And, all of a sudden, it became political, and anti Putin slogans were heard there. It was very strong. And during the recent protests, which were organized after Navalny arrived and got in prison in Russia, this process became visible. Again, not only Moscow came out into the streets, not only big provincial cities where you have millions of residents, but also people in small towns with populations like 100,000. For Russia it's small. It never happened before like this in 20 years. So, this is the new dimension. Obviously, Navalny is expanding his reach, he has high rating. You can"t tell that he is universally popular, but obviously he is advancing, he went into a ground, which previously was controlled, or totally controlled, by the government.

Is there any information about the conditions of detention at the prisional colony nr2 in Pokrov?

Well, there is information, yes, a lot. The Russian public is watching the situation very closely. It's considered to be one of the toughest Russian prisons, where all the prisoners are subject to very tough conditions. They're not beating people there, but like every hour, the person is coming to you, and you are not allowed to change your position, you should be sitting for the whole day on the chair, with your head bolted down. And once every hour, the official is coming and you should answer his questions showing that you're under total control. And I think that every two hours, at night, they're waking you up, and you should report your name, your legal status and things like this, just to show that you're under control. So it's a constant psychological pressure on the person. The main point is that the person is totally cut out from the outside world.

Their main point now is to make sure that Navalny cannot communicate with his supporters. From other prisons, you can organize communication with the outside world, there are legal and illegal mechanisms, which allow you to communicate through lawyers, or sometimes with the help of bribes, which is very popular in Russia. But still, you can do it. In this prison, in Pokrov where Navalny is now, that is basically impossible. It's out of question. So, the main point why they put him there, is to cut out all his communication with the outside world because the parliamentary elections are coming. And, as I told you, the Putin"s party United Russia rates, it is just 30%. It might be okay for a parliamentary democracy, but it's absolutely not enough for the authoritarian government in Russia.

Out of each 1/3 votes, they should make two thirds of mandates. To achieve this, you really have to use a lot of efforts. It's not easy, you should get the whole administrative machine of the country working to get control over the parliament, should be no opposition there. The only person actually who is able to destroy the government plans is Navalny, because he is popular enough among the opposition voters and he has his system.

They call it smart voting. Navalny is choosing in each electoral district a person who is not a member of Putin"s party. It might be just a mere figure head, the so called systemic opposition, people who are not extremely oppositional, it's mild opposition. But still, they are not United Russia candidates and Navalny is choosing, in each electoral district - we have 225 of them - one candidate who is capable of winning over United Russia candidate, and he's pointing out this person: "I'm telling all my supporters, please vote for this particular person". So the opposition voting, it's not getting spread between several different candidates. It goes very focused into the direction of one candidate and this candidate is winning. Navalny has got enough popularity and he can mobilize his voters. Other opposition leaders, they cannot mobilize their voters, they're usually staying at home thinking "well, it's useless anyway, they will steal our votes". Navalny has enough of charisma and drive, to infuse it into upon his supporters. He's making this vote mechanism work, and they're going and defeating the United Russia candidates. One year and a half ago, we had elections for Moscow parliament.

There were 45 electoral districts. In 20, out of 45, people that Navalny pointed, they won over United Russia candidates. Even among weak candidates, they managed to win almost half of the districts; out of 45, he won 20. So this system really works. And it's really a nightmare for Kremlin. So I'm sure that's why they arrested him. Actually, for many years, they didn't arrest Navalny because they did not want to make him a hero. They understood that as soon as they put him to prison, his popularity would start grow. Because personal drama appears, sympathy appears, this emotional aspect appears, they all give strength to Navalny.

But from the perspective of those in power, at this point there was no alternative...

This year, they didn't have the alternative because otherwise they would lose the parliamentary elections. And what kind of authoritarian system is it if you don't control, one of three branches of government, the legislative, the lower legislative chamber? The Kremlin didn't have any other way out, they had to make this step, which, in the long run is not good for Kremlin. But it still had to do it, otherwise it would lose the parliamentary elections.

Is there a chance that Navalny can be released before the parliamentary elections?

No, definitely. It's out of the question. They just put him to prison for him not to appear before the parliamentary elections. After the elections, theoretically speaking, they might let him out and then close him back again a bit before the presidential elections which are coming in 2024, or they might prefer to simplify the matter and just keep him in prison. They might decide, like, "we"ve already done it, we put him into prison, so let him stay there till 2024, till we make the presidential elections" Because, definitely, if Putin goes for the next term, what might happen in Russia might be something which we saw last year in Birelorussia in Minsk, the protests might be very strong, for the Russian public is really getting disappointed and displeased with Putin.

Who is the Russian opposition at this point besides the Communist party and Navalny? Is it this Party of New People?

Well, that is another thing. The Russian opposition is divided into systemic and non systemic. So, Navalny is non systemic opposition, they are never registered as parties or candidates, they are treated like real enemies. They are not allowed to take part in elections. So, they are like American spies in terms of how they are treated by Russian propaganda. The party of New People, it's another thing, this is systemic opposition, so to say, and they're really a big name among this systemic opposition. Actually, the only new name, as soon as the demand for new names, new ideas, new people is very strong, it's getting stronger and stronger. Actually, this is the main problem of the Putin"s regime, that people got tired of the same person, as head of the country, as the same elites, the same Members of Parliament, the same ideas spoken out. It's the same conservative traditionalist style, they probably got tired of this. So the demand for new people is very strong, and this new party, New People, they even named themselves like this, they really managed to hit this target. There's demand for the New People, but not among the supporters of the non systemic opposition. There are like 20% of people, roughly speaking, who totally reject Putin, and they're in favor of Navalny. So for them, New People, is not a good thing. For them, it's still part of the Kremlin game, what they call the system. But there are 20 or 30% or more, which are also against Putin, they don't like United Russia, but they're still not ready to make this revolution. Because Navalny is viewed by the public like a revolutionist, a person who's like Lenin, he is trying to make a revolution. So the majority of the Russian public, even if they don't like Putin, they don't want to make a revolution, they want this somehow to be solved without revolution, systematically, so to speak, like... through elections. So this New People is really making good among those people who are against the idea of revolution.

Is it too early to even imagine a Russia post-Putin?

Well, we can imagine, why not? I can tell you what might happen when the center of the system disappears. And, as the whole system is holding on to the center, it falls apart. So, definitely, what will have after Putin goes away? well, a sharp increase in social and political conflicts. Putin he's like the judge who is regulating this conflict, and the majority of people with the exception of Navalny supporters, so to say still 80% of the Russian people, they really believe that Putin has the right to regulate those conflicts. Whatever Putin says is like, the final say, so to say. After he speaks, the conflict is more or less solved. When this person disappears, there will be no longer authority to regulate those conflicts. All the social tensions, and contradictions, - we have a lot of them in Russia -, and they're actually increasing, between the center and the rural territory, between elites and regular population, rich and poor. So, all those conflicts will start coming into the open, nobody will be able to regulate them.

All the conflicts between clans of elites, when Putin disappears, no one will regulate those wars, and they will start waging wars with the help of the institutions they control. The main problem of Russia is that there are no fully political institutions, actually; they formally exist, but everybody knows nobody is trusting them, everybody knows that their main task is not to do what it is officially said they should do: the main task of the courts is not to impose justice, but to support Putin's rule. So, the main task of the law enforcement is not to fight crime, it's to fight opposition. So all institutions, even schooling and medical institutions look like this. They officially exist, but in reality, they are not functioning as proper institutions, they are all controlled by different members of different elites. Now they are functioning as a more or less unified system, because there is Putin who regulates this thing. But as soon as Putin disappears, this factor which creates this unified system will disappear as well. One of the oligarchs would control the courts, the other would control the police, the third would control the secret police FSB, and the fourth would control mass media, TV, and journalists, and there will be regional groups.

I'm simplifying now, but there will be much more of those groups. And those big groups will be split into smaller ones too. Like, one of them will control one part of FSB, the other will control the second part of FSB, the third one will control the third part of FSB, and so on. All these clans will start fighting for the full control over post Putin in Russia.

But that was what somehow happened in the last days of Boris Ieltsin...

That"s what we had, at the end of Boris Yeltsin in what we call in Russia the criminal nineties, the awful nineties, something like this. So, people are recalling those years and they're really scared. That's why, although they're really sick and tired of Putin, still don't want this revolution, they are hoping that somehow we would manage to get over this and somehow keep the system more or less well functioning, not falling into pieces like it was during the 90s. This is the main reason why Navalny"s appeal is limited. Otherwise, he would have his rating like 40, 50, 60%. Russians are really afraid of this all falling apart. But now they're less afraid of this than five years ago. Because the current situation is really making them sick. They really hate it already. And so, the prospect of future problems is not so scary because today it is already awful, their living standards are decreasing. They feel their rights are not protected, they already have these problems, actually.

What was your biggest learning from being speechwriter to Vladimir Putin?

My biggest learning? It"s not easy to tell... Well, no, yeah, I can tell about him personally, what I know. I never dealt with him directly. I was just a member of the team, and not the chief one, but that said, of course I saw him many times, like hundreds of times when he was having some meetings and sessions, even closed ones from the journalists, so I saw a lot of him. Personally he produces a really favorable impression. He is never authoritarian with the people with whom he's working. He's very attentive, he is listening to them. He is changing his mind, quite flexible, when it's necessary. He's really going into deep details. I worked for him twice. For one year, I worked for him Kremlin when he was just beginning, 20 years ago, I was very young at the time, it was 2001 or 2002. And then for two years, I worked when he was Prime Minister, it was much later on. So I entered his speechwriter"s team twice. When I worked with him for the first time, it was the beginning of his first term. Within the first year, his eyesight got much worse. I remember that we were ordered to make the letters on the documents much bigger. He was working so hard within the first year, that his eyesight got totally spoiled. I remember that. He was reading like tons of documents. And when I was working for him for the second time, when he was the Prime Minister, he was also very industrious. He was holding up to three, four public meetings a day when it was necessary and he was really going into deep details when discussing some particular subject like pensions, how they should be paid, so that the prosecutor's office doesn't object to what the local governments are making when they're trying to increase their payments to the elderly people, for example. Like for two hours, you're sitting and discussing this thing. It was of no political importance, actually, a pure legal issue. Being a authoritarian leader, who totally controls the country, he could have easily left to his ministers to solve these problems. No problem politically, if he had done this, but he didn't do it. He preferred to go into detail and find a solution. No matter what he was discussing, drilling oil, processing petrol, pensions, schooling, like, tourism, whatever, no matter what he was discussing, he was really going into deep detail. So he was very industrious. Personally, I like to have quite favorable impression of him. But politically, this system which he created, It's horrifying, of course. So there is a very interesting paradox: how a good person can create a bad system. This philosophic contradiction is probably the main thing which I have after I worked for him.

Why did you decided to leave that job?

Well, because you always want to move further. I was offered a more interesting job. Because I was one member of his team, but I was not the top official. And later, one of the regional governments, wanted me to come and work there as a deputy governor, responsible for the political process. And for me as a political scientists, as political consultant, It was like a good experience.

Because when you're working for Putin, you're not working on the ground, you are very high. And then all of a sudden, I got a chance to go down and work making the real essence, so to speak. So now I know much more about the Russian elections after I work there, because when you work for Putin, you don't know the details, you're making big game. But when you want to learn and grow professionally, you've got to know the details, how it's done on the ground, right? So I went down to the ground; usually people are getting from bottom up. In my case, it was vice versa. Just accidentally, It happened. When I was young. I happened to be on top and then I had to go down. Now, I'm just an independent political consultant.
The first hour or so was fairly pleasant. It was a sunny day and plucking weeds from between the rows of tiny carrot seedlings wasnt really hard work. The next hour was less pleasant, and then I made a big mistake.

I stood as straight as my aching back would allow and scanned the field. I had weeded maybe a quarter of one row. By a rough calculation if I continued at this rate Id be drawing my old age pension by the time Id finished.

This was the introduction to my dream of becoming an organic farmer. Weeding by hand in my allotment as a youngster was all very well but a 12-acre field of organic carrots on my Welsh farm was another matter. My dream did not survive its first contact with reality.

Prince Charles had something to say about modern agriculture this week in a piece for the Future Healthcare Journa

The Prince said many families chose low-quality meals because theyre much cheaper than healthy options

That was 40 years ago. Last week I stood in a field in Hampshire that made my 12 acres look like a pocket handkerchief.

The crop was beans and they were being grown both for food and to improve the fertility of the soil. The field had not been ploughed, nor will it be.

The vast drilling machine was controlled by satellites so accurate the operator could drill a row stretching around the planet and end up within an inch of where it started.

This is the face of modern agriculture. Prince Charles had something to say about it this week in a piece for the Future Healthcare Journal. He said many families chose low-quality meals because theyre much cheaper than healthy options.

Possibly  but its not as if they weigh up the different options. They buy what they can afford and what their children demand. And, yes, crisps and cola may be rubbish food and extremely unhealthy but if youre a single mother living on benefits youve got to be pretty tough to force nourishing home-made soup down your kids throats.

Where hes absolutely spot on is the link between good food and health. In a perfect world wed all be dining on the finest produce his own organic farm can deliver, but the families hes referring to dont have that option. Nor will they ever  short of winning the Lottery.

So who is his message aimed at? Essentially the same targets he has been attacking for most of his adult life: Manufacturers of highly processed food. The system that encourages supermarkets to offer less healthy food because it is cheaper. Above all, farmers who have increased the yield from their land by drenching it in toxic chemicals, destroying the precious ecosystem in the process.

The trouble is, its worked. Arable farmers today deliver yields their fathers, let alone their grandfathers, could not have dreamed of.

But not for much longer. The reckoning is near. Our soil is almost dead. The uncountable trillions of microscopic creatures and worms that created it aeons ago are being wiped out. Even cautious scientists believe we have only a limited number of harvests left.

Within the lifetimes of our children our soil will be dead. Unless we do something now.

The obvious solution is to ban intensive agriculture and embrace an organic system. Obvious and unworkable. It would deal with Charless worries about cheap food. Prices would go through the roof as yields collapsed.

Two of my oldest friends, Patrick Holden and Peter Segger, bear the blame for my own quixotic but doomed attempt at organic farming. They succeeded where I failed and became pioneers of what was then a moribund organic movement. Thanks to them and a few others we can buy organic food across the country. But even they acknowledge that we cannot simply ban all agro-chemicals.

And that takes us back to my high-tech farmer in Hampshire. Before he took over five years ago it was a typical arable farm producing a lot of grain with a lot of chemicals. Generous subsidies bolstered the balance sheet. In the past five years he has cut his use of chemicals by nearly a third without reducing his harvests, using a blend of technology and tradition.

The technology comes from the satellites up there in space, the ability to plant crops without a plough, and the robots yet to come. There are four: Tom, Dick and Harry. Tom will scan the fields as it trundles across them, identifying weeds and undesirables. Dick will use an electric zapper to kill the weeds and Harry will plant next years crop.

Oh . . . and then theres Wilma, who is the artificial intelligence brains of the operation because she pulls everything together and tells the farmer what to do.

No chemicals. No heavy tractors compacting the earth. No ploughing the soil and releasing vast amounts of carbon into our dangerously over-heating atmosphere. Covering the soil while it waits to be sown with crops is a dense mat of little plants which act like mini solar panels. They capture the sunlight and turn it into sugar to be gobbled up by grateful worms.

And while that happens underground, sheep wander above, grazing on the cover crops and depositing copious amounts of vital dung. It is what nature, left to her own devices, has been doing since agriculture began. It is what gives good food its nutritional value.

The fashionable term for it these days is regenerative agriculture. Critics say it does not go far enough and theyre right. Farmers can still, for instance, use Roundup, which includes the deadly chemical glyphosate. It kills weeds, but also kills countless micro-organisms in the soil which affects the health of the plants and ultimately the people who eat them.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has found it can cause cancer in humans, too.

But there are two big signs of hope. The days have gone when organic farmers were sneered at by the conventional farming industry as sandal-wearing hippies. At least in public. Dinosaurs who thought good farming began and ended with the nozzle of a chemical sprayer know they lost the argument. And the Government finally recognises the link between good food and good health.

Henry Dimbleby leads the National Food Strategy initiative. Its aim is to deliver safe, healthy, affordable food regardless of where people live or how much they earn.

Its final report will lead to a White Paper by the end of the year. But Dimbleby has a huge job on his hands. NHS figures show about two-thirds of us are overweight or obese. Hospital admissions directly attributable to obesity approached 12,000 in the year before Covid.

A third of children are classed as overweight or obese. The poorest are three times as likely to be obese as the better off. Factor in diabetes and heart disease and a dozen more ailments and the link between good food and good health is irrefutable.

So whats next? An easy win is to ban waste. Forcing farmers to dump perfectly good carrots that are too long or beetroot thats a funny shape is an obscenity. We should boycott any supermarket that does not stock ugly veg.

We should come down hard on manufacturers whose processed food is about as nutritious as a slab of cheap chocolate. Or its wrapper. And help that hard-pressed mother in the tower block who struggles to give her children decent food.

Economists say its better to subsidise consumers than producers so lets do more of it. Poor parents can claim Healthy Start vouchers to exchange for milk, yoghurt, fruit and vegetables, but only until a child is four. Why not make it 14 instead?

Yes, it will cost taxpayers a few quid. But the real cost of obesity to wider society including the NHS, is reckoned to be 27 billion. You can buy an awful lot of organic carrots for that. Even if I couldnt grow them myself.
Biden talks on China, Russia as he heads to Atlanta

President Joe Biden left the White House for Atlanta Friday, where he'll offer solace to grieving Asian Americans, three days after a white gunman killed eight people in metro-area spas. Biden stumbled several times as he boarded Air Force One.
What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday
Veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan was recently honoured with the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) award. The award was bestowed on him by renowned Hollywood filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan via a virtual ceremony.

Big B is the first Indian to receive the award for his sustained efforts towards the advocacy of preservation of India's film heritage for the benefit of the present and future generations. While accepting the honour, Sr Bachchan said that he was "deeply honoured". Further talking about the dark glasses that he had worn for the event, the actor said they were not a fashion choice but he wore them as a protection post his recent 'urgent eye surgery.'

Post the event, a happy Amitabh Bachchan shared a picture from the ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the award on his Instagram page.

The Brahmastra actor wrote, "I am deeply honoured to have been conferred with the 2021 FIAF Award. Thank you to FIAF and to Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan for bestowing the award on me in the ceremony today. Our commitment to the cause of saving India's film heritage is unshakeable and Film Heritage Foundation will continue its efforts to build a nationwide movement to save our films."

Big B later blogged, "The nobility of the cause is of course much larger than the award and I am privileged that we have been able to make an impact through the good services of the Film Heritage Foundation headed by Shivendra Singh who has tirelessly and with immense determination pursued this very vital exercise ..The element and the sense of 'documentation' has been a bane as far as our films are concerned .. and the effort being made by the Foundation of preserving our creativity is most laudable and immediate and necessary ..There is no record or facility in the Country of preserving our films .. now over a hundred years of its existence .. and some of our most valuable and immensely legendary works have been lost or been destroyed through time and garbaged."

During the award ceremony, the previous receipents of this award, filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan, were all praise for Big B. While Scorsese said the organisation "could not have chosen a more deserving candidate for the award", Christopher recalled a meeting with the veteran actor a few years ago.

The Tenet director said, "I had the privilege of meeting this living legend of Indian cinema a couple of years ago at an event hosted by the Film Heritage Foundation and it's, as an ambassador for the Film Heritage Foundation, that Mr. Bachchan has done so much advocacy for the vital cause of film preservation in India. It's for this reason that the FIAF Executive Committee unanimously voted to give Mr. Bachchan this year's award. Mr. Bachchan, I hope that you realize the importance of everything that you have done for this vital work for the development of proper infrastructure for the preservation of India's incredible film heritage. This is unbelievably important work and your voice, your reputation behind this cause adds so much and makes so much more possible."

Workwise, Amitabh Bachchan is currently awaiting the release of his upcoming film, Rumi Jaffery's Chehre which also stars Emraan Hashmi in a prominent role.

ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan Reacts To Fans Expressing Concern Over His Health After Undergoing A Surgery

ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan To Be Honoured By Martin Scorsese & Christopher Nolan With 2021 FIAF Award
"This is not acceptable to Mizoram," Chief Minister Zoramthanga told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a strongly-worded letter on Friday while objecting to the recent directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs that asked the states bordering coup-hit Myanmar to deport Myanmarese nationals who took shelter and sought asylum.

"Mizoram shares a 510-km-long border with Myanmar, and every day terrified Myanmar citizens are struggling to cross over to Mizoram in search of shelter and protection. Myanmar areas bordering Mizoram are inhibited by Chin communities, who are ethnically our Mizo brethren with whom we have been having close contacts throughout all these years even before India became Independent. Therefore, Mizoram can not turn a blind eye to this humanitarian crisis unfolding in front of us in our backyard," Zoramthanga said in the letter.

Also read  Exodus from Myanmar to Mizoram: NGO seeks NHRC's intervention on asylum requests

According to officials in Mizoram, more than 300 Myanmarese nationals including some police personnel crossed over with their families fearing "political persecution" and sought shelter and asylum. DH had earlier reported that Falam district administration in Myanmar had written a letter to Mizoram's Champhai district with a request to handover them to Myanmar.

Days later, the MHA issued directives to chief secretaries of all states in the Northeast bordering Myanmar (Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland) and also to security agencies like Assam Rifles and the BSF for taking action to prevent illegal influx from Myanmar into India in the current internal situation and initiate the deportation process expeditiously and without any delay.

"This is not acceptable to Mizoram. I understand that there are certain foreign policy issues where India needs to proceed cautiously. However, we can not ignore this humanitarian crisis," Zoramthanga said.

Also Read | Mizoram urges Centre not to deport Burmese taking refuge from military coup

"India as the largest democracy in the world and Myanmar's immediate neighbour needs to do more and open up more in this matter. I, therefore strongly urge you to intervene to that the political refugees from Myanmar are given asylum and provided food and shelter here in the country," Zoramthanga said to Modi in the letter.

A four-member delegation of the Mizoram government including 2 MPs met the union minister of state for home, Nityanand Rai in New Delhi seeking steps for extending assistance to the "victims of violence and brutality by the military ruler" in Myanmar.

Ruling out the possibility of deporting these refugees until the situation in Myanmar gets back to normal, the team requested the central governments intervention for providing necessary relief measures to refugees staying in Mizoram. They also hoped that India will take a more proactive role and raise a stronger voice in support of people fighting for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, said an official statement issued by the Mizoram government.
It was an interesting day in the world of technology today. On one hand, Lava launched new student-centric tablets. On the other hand, Amazon announced that Luna had gained support for Galaxy S21 series smartphones.

So, here's what happened in tech today:

Lava launches 3 student-centric tablets

Lava today launched three tablets for students in India. Lavas e-Education series of tablets include Magnum XL, Aura and Ivory. They are priced between 9,000 and 15,000.

Twitter's Undo Send button could be a paid feature

Twitter is currently testing Undo Send button and it has been spotted as part of the subscription service making it one of the paid features. This was spotted by Jane Manchun Wong who posted a screenshot showing Twitters subscription page with Undo Tweet listed under Feature Settings.

Amazon Luna is now available on Galaxy S21 series smartphones

Amazon today announced that support for Luna was arriving on Samsungs 2021 flagship smartphones. This includes Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone.

Beware of this fake Clubhouse app for Android with BlackRock malware

A fake Clubhouse app for Android has been discovered on the Google Play Store, and it actually contains the infamous BlackRock malware. This malicious app can get access to login credentials from more than 450 apps, and also bypass SMS-based two-factor authentication.

WhatsApp to offer WhatsApp Web Beta program soon

WhatsApp is planning to offer a WhatsApp Web Beta program for iOS and Android beta users soon. This program will be compatible with both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business apps and it will enable users to use WhatsApp Web without having to keep their phones connected to the internet.
Some of the week's mining-related stories in snapshot

Ferro (LON: FAR), the vanadium mining and processing company with operations based in Southern Kazakhstan, entered into a subscription agreement for up to US$12.6mln with Vision Blue Resources, a company led and founded by former Xstrata chief executive Sir Mick Davis and a limited number of co-investors.

Sir Mick Davis will join the Ferro Alloys board as chairman following completion of the initial raise.

( ) posted a better-than-expected increase in underlying profits in 2020 as lower costs and higher copper and gold prices outweighed a decline in production. EBITDA rose 12.3% to US$2.7bn, beating analysts' expectations of US$2.6bn, on higher revenue and lower unit costs due to the weaker Chilean peso, lower input costs and continued tight cost control.

( ) is to acquire a 60% stake in an existing royalty stream from the Thacker Pass project, the largest lithium reserve in the US. Orion Finance is selling the royalty for US$28mln, which Trident will meet through cash of US$26mln and US$2mln in shares.

The cash element is being largely funded by a placing and subscription of Trident shares at 34p per share to raise 20.2mln with a retail offer through .com to bring in a further 0.5mln. Alan Davidson. Trident's chief executive, said the placing was oversubscribed and completed without a discount to the market price, underlining the strength of Trident's investment case.

( ) said it expects to increase production levels from 2020 and proposed a further special dividend following a strong year. Iron ore pellet production is likely to be higher in the second half of 2021 as pelletiser upgrade work is planned for the first half of the year, which will deliver between 500,000 and 1mln tonnes per annum of additional full year pelletiser capacity in the second half of 2021.

Shanta Gold Ltd ( ) announced encouraging results from a 22-hole drilling programme at the New Luika gold mine in Tanzania, the West Kenya project and the Singida gold project.

BlueRock Diamonds PLC ( ) has unearthed a further three gem-quality stones from its Kareevlei operation in the Kimberley region of South Africa. The trio weighed in at 10.6 carats, 9.8 carats and 8.4 carats respectively. It sold a 14.8-carat stone for US$167,000 in January.

( ) noted the Government of India has introduced a new bill (MMDR2021) into the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Government of India's Parliament, to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 2015 (MMDR2015).

( ) raised 3.5mln through an oversubscribed share placing that it says will be used to support exploration, drilling and development activities at its flagship Bougouni lithium project in Mali.

PLC (LON:CMRS) has made a good start to life as a listed company as its shares rose on its first day of trading on the standard segment of the LSEs main market.

( ) said multiple high-grade lithium targets were identified adjacent to the Ewoyaa lithium project (ELP) in Ghana.

Premier African Minerals Limited ( ) said the meteoric rise in its share price this month has improved the prospects of retaining full ownership of the Zulu lithium project.

(LON:THR, ASX:THR, OTCQB: THORF) said three priority targets have been identified for drilling at its Wedding Bell and Radium Mountain project in Colorado.

( ) announced encouraging initial results from airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys flown over its interests in the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana.

( ) said drilling has started on the copper-gold Magellan project in Cyprus. Diamond drilling by joint venture partner Venus Minerals Ltd began at the Kokkinoyia sector of the project

PLC ( ) said it raised 2.3mln via a share placing  funds that will be used to develop the Gold Ridge gold project in Arizona. New shares were sold at 6p each and come with a warrant attached on a one-for-one basis.

( ) (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL) said it is to be included in the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners (GDXJ) Index for the first time on March 19 following the indexs first quarter 2021 review.
A lockdown-dodging driver was clocked at speeds of 122mph while speeding back to England while high on drugs after getting a haircut in Wales.

Avon and Somerset Police spotted the car near Junction 23 of the M5, near Glastonbury, on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the force said: 'The occupant was travelling back from Wales after getting a haircut. A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs after failing a roadside test. Enquiries ongoing.'

Avon and Somerset Police recorded a driver reaching speeds of 122mph on the M5, near Glastonbury, on Wednesday. Officers revealed he had returned to England after getting a haircut in Wales, where restrictions were eased earlier this week

Covid-19 rules across Britain urge everyone to stay within their local area to prevent the spread of the virus.

Hairdressers and barbers in England are not expected to reopen until next month.

However, the Welsh government allowed for them to reopen on Monday.

Welsh Government regulations say that hairdressers can only serve customers with an appointment, and that their services will be restricted to haircuts only.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said on Friday that hairdressing businesses would be allowed to reopen because they have 'gone through everything that is needed in order to operate safely'.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs after failing a roadside test. File photo

It comes after Wales' 'stay-at-home' restrictions were lifted last Saturday, as the country moved to a 'stay local' period, with travel restrictions expected to be eased further in time for Easter.

Hairdressers and nail salons will open as part of Step 2 of England's easing of lockdown measures, with the earliest possible date set as April 12.
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GEORGETOWN  Union troops didn't destroy a once-magnificent house of worship in Georgetown County, but the Civil War played a pivotal role in its ultimate demise.

For Prince Frederick Church, it was "just terrible timing," county historian Mary Boyd said.

To establish the church's name, it all started in 1721, long before colonists revolted against their English king and still named buildings and places after royalty.

The parish of Prince George, the future King George II, was established, and it extended from the North Santee River to south of the Cape Fear River near what is now Wilmington, N.C., and from the Atlantic Ocean to as far west as the king's inhabitants could be found.

In 1726, construction of a small wooden chapel began at Winea Plantation on a bluff overlooking the Black River off what is now Browns Ferry Road. At the time it was the center of population near a Native American trading post.

By 1729, the new town of Georgetown was established. With it becoming an official port of entry in 1732 and imports and exports able to bypass the normal port of Charleston to the south, the center of population moved to the town on the Sampit River next to Winyah Bay.

A new parish

Two years later, the Church of England decided to build a parish church in Georgetown, and, at the same time, split Prince George Parish. The chapel at Winea fell under the new parish, named for Prince Frederick, the Prince of Wales, and heir to the throne as George II's son.

The tiny church held its own until the Revolutionary War, when the British stopped paying a bounty for the indigo produced in the colonies and turned to India for their cravings of blue dye yielded by the crop.

Gradually after the war, coastal river plantations in the area replaced indigo with rice as their main cash crop and shifted production to more ideal conditions on the lower Great Pee Dee River.

With planters moving to where rice brought them riches, by 1810 the small wooden church  said to be quite ornate and also called The Black River Church in Prince Frederick Parish  was abandoned and fell into disrepair. It no longer exists.

Unfortunately, Prince Frederick didn't outlive his father, George II, to become king, but the Episcopalian plantation owners and church vestry living between the Black and Great Pee Dee rivers decided to keep his name alive, even after the Revolutionary War, with a new church in the parish that bore his name.

As rice plantations flourished along coastal rivers in the early 1800s, Episcopalians were holding services near Plantersville in the spring of 1827 in a "universal" chapel when the vestry met to consider the best means of erecting a new church, one named for the Prince of Wales who died before ascending the throne.

Though money was raised and a building committee appointed, the vestry could not agree on a suitable location for the new house of worship, and nothing happened for several years.

In 1834, the Rev. Hugh Fraser, a former parish rector, donated a bit of land and a building committee was appointed with the power to contract for a church "of convenient dimensions."

Completed in 1836, the wooden chapel soon became too small for the growing congregation of plantation owners and their families along the Great Pee Dee River, and, in 1857, they decided they needed a larger place to worship.

A princely church

Seeking something more ornate to symbolize their prosperity, the Episcopalian planters wanted a brick church and were willing to spend $12,650, the equivalent of more than $380,000 in 2021.

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Construction started in 1859, but the work ran into major headwinds that delayed the church's completion and would ultimately lead to its destruction.

Soon after work started, one of the contractors, either Philip or Edward Gunn, (it's unclear which one) was killed after falling from the roof and gave the structure its nickname of "the old Gunn Church."

The country was also on a war-footing over slavery, and in 1861 the Civil War erupted. Furnishings and finishings for the church ordered from abroad never made it because of the Union's naval blockade of Southern ports during the war.

With resources funneled to the war effort and the Southern economy is shambles after the fighting stopped, the church sat unfinished until 1876, when John Earle Allston of New York, a relative of the former plantation owners in the area, donated $1,700 to have it completed. That's about $30,000 today.

With repairs made and the Gothic Revival church building finished, the smaller wooden chapel built in 1836 was put on rollers and moved a couple of miles north on Plantersville Road to a site near what became U.S. Highway 701. Now known as Prince Frederick Summer Chapel, it still stands there and is used for special services.

'Never meant to be'

As for the newly finished brick church, even its completion could not save it.

With the plantation system of enslaved, free labor gone, rice planting diminished and many landowners were no longer able to farm their lands or afford their properties. Most people moved away to find other means of making a living.

"After the war, there were very few of the congregation left, so the church never achieved the greatness it could have," Boyd, the county historian, said. "They went from millionaires supporting the church to those who were impoverished."

With the flock falling off, money for upkeep was hard to come by and, though valiant efforts were made in the 20th century to save the building, final services were held there in 1936, according to Boyd.

In 1966, the once-grand church had fallen into such disrepair, it was deemed unsafe and the main body of the building was demolished. In 1974, the ruins were listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

"I like to call it 'the church that was never meant to be,'" Boyd said. "It happened at the worst possible time."

Now, only the weathered facade and tower remain behind a chain link fence to keep out trespassers, and more than half a century of being at the mercy of the elements has taken a toll.

Though it still stands as a silent sentinel to the past, seedlings have taken root atop the building's remnants and cracks have formed in the remaining walls. Eventually, the roots will grow and further compromise what's left of the once-elegant structure.

Now, standing quietly along a little-traveled road, it's just a showpiece of the past, where visitors sometimes like to breathe life into the crumbling ruins.

"The locals say they can walk past the church on a warm summer evening and hear the choir singing," Boyd said. "It's actually the wind blowing through the pines."

Tales of Gunn's ghost in the tower also abound, but if he's there, the contractor is probably just keeping watch on what's left of the imposing church he started constructing two years before the Civil War came along and its aftermath ultimately finished off his unfinished work.
24 More Charged in Voter-Fraud Probe, Prosecutors Say

Federal prosecutors in North Carolina said Friday that 24 additional people have been charged in an ongoing probe into voter fraud, including two who are accused of illegally voting in the 2016 presidential election.

Gabriela Guzman-Miguel, 26, and Jose Abraham Navarro, 42, both of Mexico, are accused of having voted despite lacking the legal status to do so, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said in a list of defendants obtained by The Epoch Times. The list described both as aliens.

A slew of other defendants were charged with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote. Some also engaged in naturalization fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents relating to voter registration, officials said.

Defendants hailed from 15 countries, including Honduras, Iraq, and Canada. The charges date back to the fall of 2019, though the cases were just unsealed. The most recent arrest was March 16.

Those charged face jail time and fines of up to $350,000 if convicted.

Each defendant was charged separately and there are no charges of conspiracy, the prosecutors office said.

Robert Higdon, who headed the office until recently, had aggressively pursued illegal voting cases, subpoenaing records from the state board of elections, and 44 county boards in 2018.

The state board called the subpoena overly broad, unreasonable, vague. It advised North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, to quash the subpoenas.

Stein eventually directed the board to acquire records associated with approximately 789 people who had registered to votefar less than Higdon, a Trump appointee, had sought.

Higdon in 2018 announced charges against 19 foreign nationals for voting in the 2016 election and last year another U.S. attorney in the state unveiled voter fraud charges against 19 others.

The right to vote is a precious privilege available only to citizens of the United States. When a non-citizen votes in a federal election it serves to dilute and devalue the vote of American citizens and places the decision making authority of the American electorate in the hands of those who have no right to make those choices, Higdon said in a previous statement.

An audit by the state board of elections after the 2016 election found 41 individuals had acknowledged voting despite not being U.S. citizens. Sixty-one others who may have voted illegally did not respond while another 34, identified in the audit, provided proof of citizenship.

Information obtained from those who are not citizens illustrates the complexity of this work. A number of non-citizens said they were not aware that they were prohibited from voting. Interviews and evidence show that some non-citizens were misinformed about the law by individuals conducting voter registration drives or, in at least one documented case, by a local precinct official, the audit stated.

One registrant in her 70s has lived in the United States for more than 50 years and believed that she was a citizen because she had been married to a U.S. citizen.
Liev Schreiber recently wrapped on movie in picturesque Venice, Italy.

And the eight-time Emmy nominee has been enjoying some family time since returning home to the United States.

He kept warm in a sharp navy blue jacket Friday, as he stepped out with girlfriend Taylor Neisen and his kids to get tested for COVID in the Soho neighborhood of New York City.

Family outing: Liev Schreiber kept warm in a sharp navy blue jacket Friday, as he stepped out with girlfriend Taylor Neisen and his kids to get tested for COVID in the Soho neighborhood of New York City

The 53-year-old layered the buttoned-up jacket over a black t-shirt with brown corduroy pants, black Nikes and a baby blue trucker hat from Balsam Farms.

He held hands with his children Sasha, 13, and Kai, 12, as they were joined by Neisen, 28, all masking up for the outing.

Schreiber shares Sasha and Kai with ex Naomi Watts, with whom he was in a relationship from 2005 to 2016, after starring together in the 2006 movie The Painted Veil.

He recently returned from Venice, where he starred in the feature adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1950 novel Across the River and Into the Trees.

Dad vibes: The 53-year-old layered the buttoned-up jacket over a black t-shirt with brown corduroy pants, black Nikes and a baby blue trucker hat from Balsam Farms

Co-parenting goals: Schreiber shares his kids Sasha, 13, and Kai, 12, with ex Naomi Watts, with whom he was in a relationship from 2005 to 2016, after starring together in the 2006 movie The Painted Veil (pictured in March, 2015)

On location: He recently returned from Venice, where he starred in the feature adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1950 novel Across the River and Into the Trees

Love story: The San Francisco-born actor plays Colonel Richard Cantwell, who finds himself in a star-crossed romance in the final days of World War II, partially based on Hemingway's friend Colonel Charles T Lanham

The San Francisco-born actor plays Colonel Richard Cantwell, who finds himself in a star-crossed romance in the final days of World War II, partially based on Hemingway's friend Colonel Charles T Lanham.

The Paula Ortiz-helmed movie also stars Danny Huston, Josh Hutcherson, Laura Morante and Matilda De Angelis.

Schreiber will next revive the titular role of his popular Showtime series Ray Donovan, starring in a feature film, which takes place where season seven abruptly left off.

He starred as a professional 'fixer' who was known to call in some illegal favors for his high profile clients in the drama, which ended last year.

Also returning for the finale film are Jon Voigt as Ray's father Mickey Donovan, as well as Kerris Dorsey as Ray's daughter Bridget.

He's baaack: Schreiber will next revive the titular role of his popular Showtime series Ray Donovan, starring in a feature film, which takes place where season seven abruptly left off

Shady dealings: He starred as a professional 'fixer' who was known to call in some illegal favors for his high profile clients in the drama, which ended last year

Familiar faces: Also returning for the finale film are Jon Voigt as Ray's father Mickey Donovan, as well as Kerris Dorsey as Ray's daughter Bridget

Schreiber will star and cowrite the script with series showrunner David Hollander, who will also direct the film.

Showtime head Gary Levine said in a statement: 'When Ray Donovan went off our air after seven great seasons, we heard from so many of its loyal fans that they were not ready to say goodbye to Ray and the wonderfully dysfunctional Donovan clan.

'And so, for them, we are delighted that Liev and David are creating a thrilling new chapter of this iconic series.'

Schreiber previously wrote to fans on Instagram, after the show was unexpectedly cancelled last February: 'It's hard to describe how amazing it feels to those of us in the Ray Donovan family who have been lucky enough to experience the overwhelming love and support that you all have expressed for our show since the news broke that Ray would not return.

'What's even more incredible is that it seems your voices have been heard. Too soon to say how or when, but with a little luck and your continued support, there will be more Ray Donovan. So to all the Donofans who got their bats out and beat the odds. Thank you.'
In George Orwells 1984, the nations of Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia are perpetually at war  a conflict that isnt really meant to be won, but is required for the generation of propaganda to solidify Big Brothers power and justify his regimes iron grip. The war, therefore, is meant to be continuous.

The Assemblys newborn impeachment inquiry into the alleged misdeeds of Gov. Andrew Cuomo isnt exactly a war, but it doesnt look like its going to be much of an inquiry, either. It has been chartered and structured to go on, if not forever, at least as long as it might take a battered governor to reforge his political armor and make it to the end of his third term, and perhaps even survive Houdini-like into a fourth.

The inquiry was launched after a memorable March 11 meeting of the Assemblys Democratic majority, with Speaker Carl Heastie serving as the brake on members who were pushing for more immediate action in the aftermath of allegations reported in the Times Union that Cuomo had groped a female aide at the Executive Mansion late last year  the most serious charges made against him as of my typing this.

According to audio of the meeting obtained by Hunter Walker of Yahoo News , Heastie informed the chambers Democrats he decided to hand the matter to the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Long Islands Charles Lavine, and then took questions and comments.

He was asked how long the Judiciary Committee would take to do its work. I have no idea what the time frame is, he said.

Thats a problem right there, especially considering that Lavine is the former chair of the Assemblys Committee on Ethics and Guidance, which took almost 18 months to investigate, take action and go public with its findings regarding a sexual harassment charge lodged in June 2016 against then-Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin.

T he committees work was so pokey that the sanctions it imposed on the Republican (who denied the allegations) werent released to the public until three weeks after he was elected to his current post as Rensselaer County executive  a resolution that worked out pretty well for Heastie, inasmuch as the Assembly would no longer be troubled by McLaughlins ugly, clownish behavior. Too bad for the people of Rensselaer County, though.

Remember: That was an inquiry into a single sexual harassment charge, albeit one later complicated by the allegation that McLaughlin had improperly blabbed about it. Cuomo faces multiple credible allegations.

Add to that the two other matters the Assemblys impeachment inquiry has been tasked with exploring: the Cuomo administrations handling of nursing homes during the pandemic and  another Times Union investigation  the cover-up of broken bolts during the construction of the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. In comparison to those two mammoth and complex issues, the sexual harassment allegations are the investigatory equivalent of a walk in the park. In the audio obtained by Yahoo News, Assemblyman John McDonald of Cohoes summed up the committees ambit as three major buckets of s__.

Further complicating the legislative committees work is the fact that these major buckets are currently being studied by competing investigations or legal actions: the sexual harassment allegations by a team assembled by state Attorney General Letitia James, and the nursing home scandal by the FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn (because why in the world would federal prosecutors based in Albany think to look into corruption in state government?); the bridge matter is detailed in a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2017 and recently resolved in state Supreme Court, though the matter remains under seal, and lawmakers have asked the federal Department of Transportation to launch a probe.

The mind reels: Each of these is enough to keep four or five legislative committees busy from now until doomsday, even if there werent competing probes that will complicate the Assemblys efforts to call witnesses and demand documents.

The biggest winners here are the employees of Davis Polk & Wardwell, the law firm selected by Lavine and Heastie to handle the inquirys legal work and the proud new owners of the biggest honey pot of billable hours in recent legislative history. The selection of the firm came as a surprise to many Judiciary Committee, members, several of whom were discomfited to learn that, in a remarkable coincidence, its retired former head of litigation, Dennis Glazer, is married to state Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who was nominated by Cuomo to her current job as well as her former role as the chair of the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics.

As for Cuomo, he made it clear in a Wednesday conference call he wont be answering questions pertaining to matters under the review of the Assembly meaning the nursing home scandal, the bridge and the sexual harassment allegations.

Which means that, if he can stick to that policy as long as the Assemblys impeachment inquiry proceeds, Cuomo can keep ducking embarrassing questions, and Heastie can act like hes actually taking action.

So do not look for this probe to be fast-moving, or informative, or robust. But definitely expect it to be continuous.

cseiler@timesunion.com
Don't even think about heading to Denton's Legends Diner if you're not planning to wear a mask. The fee is $50 if "we have to explain why a mask is mandatory," Legends Diner owner Wayne LaCombe told Chron.

Posted right outside LaCombe's restaurant is a bright pink sign with the rules: "Our new surcharge: $50 if I have to explain why masks are mandatory; $75 if I have to hear why you disagree."

LaCombe and his wife, Kat, have asked their customers and employees to continue to wear masks after the Texas mask mandate was lifted on March 10.

"Customers laugh at the sign and think it's great," LaCombe told Chron. "I just wanted to get the message out. The sign has served its purpose. We had more trouble before than we do now."

DOCTOR'S NAME CLEARED: Texas Medical Board clears Houston-area doctor accused of stealing COVID-19 vaccine

Legends Diner co-owner Kat is a retired nurse who worked 28 years in oncology. In a Facebook post, she underscored the real threat of the virus and her desire for customers to stay vigilant.

"All we ask is that customers wear a mask as they walk past another person that is eating and not wearing a mask," Kat posted. "Sure doesn't seem like a lot to ask...but apparently it is. I with my husband try to protect and respect the people who come to our restaurant. The sign was a sort of joke....it was aimed at the people who feel the need to try to argue (and of course they're not wearing masks at the time)."

The tongue-in-cheek sign has actually brought in brisk business for the restaurant.

"We had a record day yesterday. About 500 came into our restaurant," LaCombe told Chron. "I'm getting calls from all over the country. I got a call today from Virginia, saying 'Thank you!' We even got flowers. It's awesome."

It's not just Texans supporting Legends Diner's message, but Americans all across the nation have weighed in on their safety-conscious decision.

"Thank you for standing up for intelligence and science and the CDC," Jerm Tzu wrote on Facebook.

"I LOVE your sign! I wish we lived down there--we'd be regulars for sure!! Thank you for being responsible," Jan Hood added.
China may be the world's biggest market for electric vehicles and as such, one of the biggest markets for Tesla. But Tesla cars have may have raised a lot of concern in the military circuits within China and have now been banned from military complexes and housing compounds here.

According to a Bloomberg report, the primary cause of concern pertains to potentially sensitive data being collected by cameras that are integrated into Tesla electric vehicles. There is suspicion that since Tesla may be collecting the data from the in-car cams and that this isn't under the control of the Chinese government, it could prove to be risky to have such vehicles inside sensitive zone from a military perspective.

As such, residents in such military housing complexes have been issued directives which ask them to park their Tesla EVs outside military properties in order to ensure that confedential military information is kept safe.

Tesla cars are fitted with a number of cameras which help owners make use of functionalities like guided parking, autopilot and self-driving capabilities. Sentry Mode is also one feature found on many Tesla EVs sold worldwide which allows an owner to keep a check on what's happening in the close vicinity of his or her vehicle when he or she is not around it.

Tesla Model 3, in particular, is a popular choice among many buyers in the country. It is the most affordable EV from Tesla and since its local manufacturing began in Shanghai, sales have been even stronger. But there have been concerns within the Chinese military about internal cameras which are being used to monitor what Tesla terms as full self driving beta testers. This despite the fact that Tesla representatives have stated previously that the in-car cams on Tesla vehicles sold in the country aren't operational or even part of the tests.




The pandemic has seen priests shut their church doors to their flocks, hold funerals via Zoom, and enforce a cap on grieving mourners. Some believe the Church authorities know nothing of the reality of life for priests on the frontline.

Fr Tim Hazelwood is the parish priest in Killeagh, Youghal, Co Cork. He says priests have spent the last 12 months trying to be pastoral and responsible.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Fr Hazelwood, who is also a spokesman for the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), laments the pressure from those screaming to reopen churches. He is appalled by recent statements from the bishops calling on the Government to allow churches to reopen for public worship.

They say they are preparing a synod and will consult people. There has been no consultation with priests about reopening churches. I wonder who is putting pressure on them to ask for this? There are people in my parish who are hairdressers and publicans and their jobs are gone. Are we asking for privilege over them? How far away from the reality of life the bishops are. We should be the ones supporting the Government, telling people to be careful and to look after people. I am just baffled by it.

According to Fr Hazelwood, some priests in the ACP caught Covid-19. So that fear of the virus is there all the time when you are trying to do your job  who has it and who hasnt?

He suggests this disconnect between the priests doing their jobs on the ground and the bishops is similar to the disconnect between priests ministering to gay people and their families and the Vaticans hurtful statements on gay unions.

A lot of priests opinions on this would be miles away from what the Vatican says. We know the families. I know parents and grandparents of gay people who appreciate the supportive words of priests to them. When a grandmother tells you how much it means that not everybody in the Church condemns their grandchild, it is awful to hear that.

Funerals have been another hugely challenging aspect of the past year.

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We have had terribly sad funerals, Fr Peter Byrne of Balally parish in Dublin says. In the first lockdown, Fr Byrne came up with the idea of displaying crosses on the wall of his parish church for every person who had died of Covid-19 in Ireland. Thousands of crosses adorned the redbrick church walls by summertime.

But winter storms, Fr Byrnes own ill health, and the huge jump in the deaths during the third wave took their toll and today there are just a few willowy crosses still clinging to the church building.

The hardest funerals, according to Fr Byrne, were those of parishioners who went into hospital for ordinary procedures, got Covid in the hospital, and were basically given back in a coffin.

Fr Byrnes pastoral innovations for the lockdown included a daily evening prayer service in which a candle was lit for every person who died. Some of those days were just so dark. There was one day we put out 70 candles. I remember the shock.

In Clonmel, Fr Michael Toomey, administrator of the parishes of Ardfinnan, Newcastle and Fourmilewater, had to cope with the upheaval of changing parishes during the pandemic. I have five churches now, rather than the one church I was curate in.

For me, the biggest challenge has been not meeting people. The only time Im actually meeting people, sadly, is at funerals.

He said the loss of human contact for many priests, especially older priests who live alone, sometimes in very secluded places, has been very difficult.

I think the mental health issue is going to be a massive problem for Irish society and I dont think we are prepared for the fallout. Some of the letters Ive received have left me really heartbroken.

Funeral restrictions capping the number of mourners to ten are crazy, he believes. I had a funeral one day and there was 11 family members.

Online masses have been a lifesaver for funerals. But he is critical of the Governments off-hand instruction to churches to go online, with no financial support for those parishes that dont have webcam facilities.

We are providing a frontline service. Priests are still being called out to accidents. I was called out to two suicides in the last couple of months. Priests are still calling to homes when there is in an emergency.

We have been there, constantly supporting people, with no financial support.

The financial cost of the pandemic is a worry for Fr Tomas Walsh, parish priest of Gurranabraher in Cork city.

When lockdowns are lifted and the world returns to some kind of a normal space again, then a good number of churches in Ireland may not be viable anymore, he says.

His north Cork parish put a new roof on the church in 2018.

We got a very substantial loan from the bank and we were doing great. Our bingo was bringing in money, so that has been a huge financial loss to us. We havent had to go to the bank yet, but by April or May Id say we could be in trouble.
The company owned by a Gloucester County produce farmer charged in the Jan. 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol received a loan through the federal governments Paycheck Protection Program in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, records show.

Ezekiel Zeke Stecher, of Mantua Township, was charged recently with five crimes related to the riot, including assault on a federal officer and violently entering the Capitol.

He is the principal of Stecher Farms, LLC, on Bridgeton Pike (Route 45), in the Sewell part of Mantua.

The business received $190,080 in April 2020 through the paycheck program, commonly referred to as PPP, according to multiple listings of companies that received the federal funds, including NJ Advance Media.

The PPP is credited with saving countless jobs and keeping businesses afloat as the pandemic shut down major sectors of the countrys economy.

The Stecher Farms loan retained 21 jobs, the listings show, and was funded through Republic Bank.

Businesses apply for the money through local banks and lenders, and they are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Borrowers may be eligible for loan forgiveness.

As of the end of last year, the PPP disbursed more than $13.7 billion to nearly 156,000 businesses and entities in New Jersey.

An SBA spokesman said the agent does not comment on individual applicants.

An attempt to reach Stecher was unsuccessful, and a woman who answered the phone at the farm this week said he was not there. A public defender represented Stecher at his hearing last week in Camden, but no current lawyer is listed for him in court records. He will be prosecuted in Washington, D.C.

The FBI alleges Stecher stormed into police lines at the Capitol and is seen in videos repeatedly pushing against police as the rioters squeeze and push through a narrow tunnel.

The agency learned of his presence at the Capitol from a video that was uploaded to an FBI tip line on Jan. 18, authorities said. Someone asks a man, What is your name? Where are you from? and he replies, Zeke Stecher from New Jersey, according to the complaint against him.

The FBI matched images of him at the Capitol with New Jersey motor vehicle records, including the drivers license it had on file for Stecher, an agent wrote in the complaint.

Agents then conducted an in-person interview with a local Sewell farmer who purchased produce from Stecher who said theyd known him for over 10 years. An agent showed the person still images from the video and the person identified Stecher as the man they know as Zeke, the FBI says in the complaint.

In 2013, NJ Advance Medias South Jersey Times featured the Stecher farm. It described how Zeke and his wife Hillary Stecher worked together with their three children. Theyd both grown up on farms; Zeke on their land, which had been his family since 1905, and Hillary on one in Burlington County.

Still images from videos that show Ezekiel "Zeke" Stecher during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Photos from the FBI)

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
The Kremlin said yesterday that President Vladimir Putins offer to speak by phone with US President Joe Biden was intended to prevent bilateral ties from completely falling apart over the Americans remark that the Russian leader was a killer.

Mr Putin made it clear that it makes sense to have a talk to maintain Russia-US relations instead of trading barbs, and he wanted to make it public to help defuse tensions over Mr Bidens very bad remarks, said his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.

In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, Mr Biden replied I do when asked if he thought Mr Putin was a killer. Russia responded by recalling its ambassador in Washington for consultations and Mr Putin on Thursday pointed at the US history of slavery, slaughtering Native Americans and the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II in an it-takes-one-to-know-one response.

At the same time, Mr Putin noted that Russia would still cooperate with the US where and when it supports Moscows interests.

He proposed the phone call with Mr Biden in the next few days to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, regional conflicts and other issues, and he suggested that the conversation be open to the public.

Mr Peskov said Mr Putins offer to make the call public was intended to prevent Mr Bidens statement from inflicting irreparable damage to the already-frayed ties.

Since Bidens words were quite unprecedented, unprecedented formats cant be excluded, Mr Peskov said.

The spokesman said the Kremlin hasnt heard back from the White House on the call offer, adding that it wasnt going to repeat the proposal.

The lack of response would mean a refusal to have a conversation, he added.

In taking a tough stance on Russia, Mr Biden has said the days of the US rolling over to Mr Putin are done.

And he has taken pains to contrast his style with the approach of former President Donald Trump, who avoided direct confrontation with Mr Putin and frequently spoke about him with approval.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Mr Biden would still look to cooperate on efforts to stem Irans nuclear plans and, more broadly, nuclear non-proliferation.

But she said Mr Biden did not regret referring to Mr Putin as a killer.

On Wednesday, the US national intelligence directors office released a report finding that Putin authorised influence operations to help Trumps reelection bid.

The Biden administration warned that Russia would face sanctions soon over its attempt to influence the election and the massive SolarWinds hacks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan weighed in the controversy, saying Mr Bidens statement about Mr Putin was unbecoming of a head of state.

Mr Erdogans comments came as Turkeys efforts to reset of its troubled relations with the US remain unanswered. Since Mr Bidens inauguration in January, he has not spoken with Mr Erdogan.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  The health care system in Metro Manila is being stretched thin by the continued spike in coronavirus infections, with close to 1 in 3 hospitals hitting critical level in terms of COVID-19 bed occupancy.

The latest data from the Department of Health tracker showed 50 hospitals in the National Capital Region have reached over 85% utilization of its beds for infected patients as of March 30. This is out of 152 medical facilities in the area which accommodate COVID-19 cases.

Below is the list of hospitals at critical level as of March 30:

1. A. Zarate General Hospital (Las Pinas City)

2. Air Force General Hospital (Pasay City)

3. Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center - Pateros

4. Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center - Valenzuela

5. Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (Marikina City)

6. Bernardino General Hospital I (Quezon City)

7. Bernardino General Hospital II (Quezon City)

8. Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (Manila City)

9. Commonwealth Hospital and Medical Center (Quezon City)

10. Diliman Doctors Hospital (Quezon City)

11. Dr. Fe Del Mundo Medical Center (Quezon City)

12. E. Zarate Hospital (Las Pinas City)

13. East Avenue Medical Center (Quezon City)

14. F.Y. Manalo Medical Foundation (Quezon City)

15. Fatima University Medical Center (Valenzuela City)

16. FEU - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (Quezon City)

17. Las Pinas Doctors Hospital

18. Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center

19. Lung Center of the Philippines (Quezon City)

20. Makati Medical Center

21. Mandaluyong City Medical Center

22. Manila Doctors Hospital

23. MCU-FDT Medical Foundation Hospital (Caloocan City)

24. Medical Center Manila

25. Medical Center of Taguig City

26. Metro North Medical Center and Hospital (Quezon City)

27. Metropolitan Medical Center (Manila City)

28. National Kidney and Transplant Institute (Quezon City)

29. Novaliches District Hospital (Quezon City)

30. Ospital ng Makati

31. Ospital ng Muntinlupa

32. Ospital ng Sampaloc (Manila City)

33. Ospital ng Tondo (Manila City)

34. Pasig City Children's Hospital Child's Hope

35. Quezon City General Hospital

36. Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital (Quezon City)

37. San Juan De Dios Educational Foundation Hospital (Pasay City)

38. Seamen's Hospital (Manila City)

39. St. Luke's Medical Center (Quezon City)

40. St. Lukes Medical Center - Global City (Taguig City)

41. Sta. Ana Hospital (Manila City)

42. Taguig-Pateros District Hospital

43. The Medical City (Pasig City)

44. Unihealth Paranaque Hospital and Medical Center

45. University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center (Las Pinas City)

46. UP-Philippine General Hospital (Manila City)

47. Valenzuela Citicare Medical Center Timog Hilaga Providence Group (Valenzuela City)

48. Veterans Memorial Medical Center (Quezon City)

49. Victoriano Luna Medical Center (Quezon City)

50. World Citi Medical Center (Quezon City)

A number of these facilities have already declared full capacity over the past weeks. The OCTA Research group projected on March 20 that intensive care units of hospitals in Metro Manila may reach 100% capacity by the first week of April.

Treatment czar and Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega has asked for public patience as the One Hospital Command Center, the government's referral system, has been overwhelmed with calls. Those who need assistance in finding a healthcare facility may reach the command center through the following numbers: 0919-977-3333; 0915-777-7777; and (02) 886-505-00.

To help decongest hospitals, the government also said it is reopening three mega quarantine facilities in Metro Manila, namely the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, and the Quezon Institute. They were closed when cases started to decrease months ago.

On Wednesday, March 31, the Philippines listed 6,128 new COVID-19 cases  the lowest in eight days. The DOH clarified, however, that the count does not yet include data from several testing laboratories. Prior to this, the country recorded over 9,000 cases for five straight days and hit a record-high six times in a span of less than two weeks.

The capital region and nearby provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal have been placed under a week-long enhanced community quarantine until April 4,. The government's task force will meet this weekend to assess if this hard lockdown status will be extended.
The Lufkin Roundtables scholarship fundraising  generated through sales of their trademark ribeye sandwiches  was hurt by the cancellation of last years Angelina County Fair and changes to events like the Texas State Forest Festival; smaller and private events, though, helped the men of the Roundtable continue fundraising this year, Brown said. Citizens will have an opportunity to help raise scholarship funds by purchasing ribeye sandwiches at this weeks county fair.
Visiting United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he and his Indian counterpart had discussed India's planned purchase of Russia's S400 air defence system, adding that Washington had asked all its partners to stay away from Russian equipment to avoid U.S. sanctions.

There has been no delivery of S400 systems to India and so the possibility of sanctions was not discussed, Austin told reporters in New Delhi on Saturday.

Austin is making the first visit by a top member of U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to India as part of efforts to forge an alliance of countries seeking to push back against China's assertiveness in the region.

Also Read: US senator asks Lloyd Austin to warn India of possible sanctions over S-400 deal

Also read: Biden administration paves way for citizenship for H1B visa holders' children, other immigrants
The name "Salomon" may mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but probably just for one of them it stands for a customized Harley-Davidson Street Glide. We're talking about a customer of German custom shop Thunderbike, who asked for a 2014 model-year machine to be converted into the thing you see before your eyes.

13 photos
Bhubaneswar, March 20 : President Ram Nath Kovind, accompanied by First Lady Savita Kovind, arrived in Bhubaneswar on Saturday for a three-day state visit.

The President arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here in a special plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday evening.

The President and the First Lady were welcomed by Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi, and other officials of the state government.

Kovind will spend the night at the Raj Bhawan, said official sources.

The President will grace the 18th annual convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Rourkela on Sunday. He will also inaugurate a super specialty hospital of Rourkela Steel Plant on the same day.

On Monday, the President will visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri besides visiting the Konark Sun Temple and the India Oil Foundation Trust Interpretation Centre in Konark.
A volcano erupted just 40 kilometres from Iceland's capital Reykjavik on Friday, with red lava spewing out of the ground and a crimson glow lighting up the night sky as a no-fly zone was established in the area.

AFP

"Volcanic eruption has begun in Fagradalsfjall. Flight colour code is red but very little turbulence is seen on seismometers," Iceland's Meteorological Office (IMO), which monitors seismic activity, wrote on Twitter.

Taliban Vow To Restore Islamic Rule In Afghanistan

The Taliban warned Washington on Friday against defying a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of American and NATO troops from Afghanistan, promising a "reaction," which could mean increased attacks by the insurgent group.

AP

The Taliban issued their warning at a press conference in Moscow, the day after meeting with senior Afghan government negotiators and international observers to try to jumpstart a stalled peace process to end Afghanistan's decades of war.

More Than 40,000 New COVID-19 Cases In India After 111 Days

India's daily cases of Covid-19 crossed the 40,000 mark for the first time in 111 days as the sharp surge in the pandemic continued on Friday, with as many as 17 states and Union territories adding the highest number of infections since January or earlier.

BCCL

Active cases had risen to nearly 2.9 lakh on Friday, having surged by more than 54,000 in the past three days. Over 19,000 active cases were added to India's count on Thursday, the highest single-day rise since September 10, when the pandemic was at its peak with over 90,000 daily cases being recorded.

Government Asks Delhi High Court WhatsApp Privacy Policy Change

The Centre Friday urged the Delhi High Court to restrain Facebook-owned WhatsApp from implementing its new privacy policy and terms of service which are to take effect from May 15.

Representational Image/iStock

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology made the statement in its affidavit filed in response to a petition challenging the new privacy policy of social networking platform WhatsApp.

For How Many Generations Will Reservation Continue, Asks Supreme Court

For how many generations would reservations in jobs and education continue, the Supreme Court sought to know during the Maratha quota case hearing on Friday and raised concerns over "resultant inequality" in case the overall 50 per cent limit was to be removed.

PTI

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was vehemently told by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Maharashtra, that the Mandal judgement on capping the quota needed a re-look in changed circumstances.
Renewed energy is supercharging the lithium mining industry in Manitoba as the push for action on climate change continues to pick up speed around the world.

Renewed energy is supercharging the lithium mining industry in Manitoba as the push for action on climate change continues to pick up speed around the world.

Lithium is a critical component of most modern batteries and batteries are seen as a critical piece of the policy puzzle to help lower reliance on fossil fuels for energy.

New Age Metals CEO Harry Barr

New Age Metals Inc. is a publicly-traded Canadian company that is set to start drilling for lithium in an area near Cat Lake (roughly 180 km northeast of Winnipeg) in mid-April. It will be the first of their seven projects in the province to progress to this point, but the company has the largest area staked in the southeastern region of the province for lithium mining.

"Lithium didnt really kind of get exciting again until it was almost January, February of this year. Part of that is the need around the world. Part of it is the fact that lithium prices have increased fairly dramatically this year again, and all the talk of both battery storage and more importantly, electric vehicles," New Age Metals CEO Harry Barr told the Free Press.

In 2016, Canada was estimated to have approximately 4 per cent of the worlds known lithium reserves, and yet no lithium mines were operating in the country. To this day, there is no active lithium mining in Manitoba despite its known wealth of the resource.

Various land claims held by New Age Metals dot the landscape from the western side of Nopiming Provincial Park south all the way to Greer Lake, on the parks southern edge. Two other projects are considered drill ready but are awaiting final permits from the province.

Agriculture and Resource Development Geological map of Manitoba showing the locations of lithium-bearing pegmatite fields.

Barr said he is expecting 2021 to be the companys most aggressive year to date since they started staking claims in Manitoba in 2016. He says the capital investments needed to continue the exploration ebbs and flows from year to year but the push by car manufacturers has been a game changer since the election of the U.S. President Joe Biden.

"Big companies like GM and Ford, literally every car company in the world now says theyre either going to stop making internal combustion engines in the next few years, or slow it down, and certainly (theyre) adding new electric lines. So all of that is kind of adding a new financing era, which were happy to have. It allows us to get out and do work on all the projects we have. So itll be our most aggressive year. Were financed to do it," he said.

In the years where funding has been on the slow side, Barr said its been all the company can do to keep the land claims valid, so the change of pace is greatly appreciated.

Carey Galeschuk, a geological consultant working with New Age Metals, said the wealth of lithium resources in southeastern Manitoba has been known about for years but the market has never encouraged its production locally.

However, Galeschuk explains that the largest mine currently operating in the region is the Tanco mine, owned by a Chinese company (Sinomine Resources Co. Ltd.) since 2019, and that company has mined for the same mineral that holds lithium since 1969.

"The main mineral that the lithium is derived from in hard rock is the mineral spodumene," Galeschuk explained. "Tanco mined spodumene for pyroceramics. You know your white Corningware cookware? That was all made with Tanco spodumene."

It is still possible to stake claims on the land surrounding that one well-known source of spodumene, which proves Galeschuk says, how lackluster the lithium business has been in the province to date.

In the fall of 2019, the PC government established a $20 million Mineral Development Fund to help support businesses looking to expand the mining industry in the province.

"The fund, administered by the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, has supported more than a dozen new projects so far including funding for New Age Metals," said Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development Blaine Pedersen.

New Age Metals first drilling project is located within Nopiming Provincial Park. In Manitoba, certain areas are designated for logging and mining purposes, so long as the proper provincial approvals and permits are obtained. The Wilderness Committee, an environmental non-profit organization, has advocated for years to end this practice.

Galeschuk said the geography of the Canadian shield provides Canada with a wealth of lithium mining opportunities that stretch all the way into Quebec. New Age Metals largest project is in northern Ontario near Sudbury.

In central Manitoba, theres also excitement around exploration happening in the Snow Lake region. Snow Lake Resources Ltd., a Manitoba-based company, announced in January that it would be pursuing an initial public offering sometime soon.

Speculation has run rampant for years that a lithium boom could be on the horizon for Manitoba, but it could be there is finally cause for excitement in the industry.

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik
DACA recipients and their supporters rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington on June 18, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

A Look Inside H.R. 6, the Bill That Would Provide Legal Status to Minors Brought to US Illegally

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed H.R. 6 on Thursday in a 228-197 vote, with nine Republicans joining them. The bill includes two main provisions, one of them, The Dream Act and The America Promise Act, would, if enacted, grant legal status to children who were brought to the United States illegally.

Advocates for the reform say it would give children brought to the country through no fault of their own, a path to citizenship. But opponents say the bill sends a message that illegal entry to the United States will be rewarded and encourages trafficking of minors to take advantage of loopholes in the immigration system.

The first section, called The Dream Act would give illegal immigrants conditional permanent resident status for 10 years, and cancel removal proceedings if they have been continuously (illegally) physically present in the country on or before Jan. 1, and were 18 years old or younger on when they were brought to the United States.

They are eligible even if they have taken part in illegal activities, such as smuggling, student visa abuse, ineligibility for citizenship, polygamy, international child abduction, unlawful voting, or are former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxation; and have not participated in persecution; marijuana or a minor traffic violation.

The bill states that they are not eligible if they pose a national security threat.

However, they may be ineligible if any federal or state law punishable by a jail sentence of more than one year has been broken; if they have three or more federal or state offenses for which the person was convicted on a series of dates and imprisoned for a total of 90 days or more; or if they have a domestic violence offense.

But the domestic violence crime can be waived if the alien is a victim themselves of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse or neglect, elder abuse or neglect, or human trafficking, having been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty, or having been a victim of criminal activity.

Further eligibility requirements include graduating from high school, obtaining a GED or industry-recognized credential, or being enrolled in a program assisting students in obtaining a high school diploma, completing an apprenticeship program, being registered for selective services, and passing security and law enforcement background checks.

Additionally, children of temporary workers who arrived in the United States at the age of 18 or younger are also eligible for the status change.

Border Patrol agents process three unaccompanied minors from Honduras (center) while an adult male (L) from Honduras looks on in Hidalgo County, Texas, on May 26, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

In order to gain full lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, illegal immigrants have to fill one of these requirements: Obtain a degree from a higher education institute; complete at least two years in a bachelors or higher degree program (with good grades) in a college or in a technical education program at a post-secondary level; complete at least two years of military service with an honorable discharge; or be employed for periods totaling at least three years.

The bill also repeals Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which would allow illegal immigrants to access federal financial aid and work-study programs.

The bill would also permit illegal immigrants who were deported from the United States by the Trump administration to apply for legal status from abroad.

The second section, The America Promise Act, lays out the requirements for granting individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) with lawful permanent residence (LPR).

The provision states that illegal immigrants would have to have been continuously present in the United States for a period of no less than three years and were eligible for or had TPS on Sept. 1, 2017, or were eligible for DED status on Jan. 20.

The bill would require the secretary of Homeland Security to provide an explanation of a decision to terminate a TPS designation.

There are also a number of provisions that protect illegal immigrants during their LPR application process, including requiring the secretary of Homeland Security or the attorney general to provide a person, who on the surface appears eligible for removal, with a reasonable period of time to apply instead.

The protections also include exempting illegal immigrants from paying a fee if they are under the age of 18, received an income that is below 150 percent of the poverty line, are in foster care, do not have support, or cannot care for themselves due to disability.

The bill also authorizes the secretary to waive certain inadmissibility markers for humanitarian reasons such as family unity, or if the waiver is otherwise in the public interest. Making these waivers that are applied largely at the secretarys discretion.

H.R. 6 will now move to the Senate for their consideration and vote, where it needs 60 votes to pass. This means that 10 Republican senators would have to join their Democratic colleagues.
Union on Saturday informed that twenty states have completed the "Ease of Doing Business" reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure.

The states which have implemented the reforms get additional borrowing permission of Rs 39,521 crore through Open Market Borrowings.

Five more States namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Meghalaya and Tripura have completed the "Ease of Doing Business" reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, said the Ministry.

"States completing reforms are eligible for additional borrowing of 0.25 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)," it said.

"Accordingly, on receipt of recommendations from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Department of Expenditure has granted permission to these 20 States to raise additional financial resources of Rs 39,521 crore through Open Market Borrowings. State-wise amount of the additional borrowing permitted to these 20 States is annexed," read a statement by the Ministry.

"The is an important indicator of the investment-friendly business climate in the country. Improvements in the ease of doing business will enable faster future growth of the state economy. Therefore, the government of India had in May 2020, decided to link the grant of additional borrowing permissions to states who undertake the reforms to facilitate ease of doing business," the ministry said.

According to the statement, the reforms stipulated in this category are completion of first assessment of the 'District Level Business Reform Action Plan', elimination of the requirements of renewal of registration certificates obtained by businesses under various Acts and implementation of computerised central random inspection system under the Acts wherein allocation of inspectors is done centrally, the same inspector is not assigned to the same unit in subsequent years, prior inspection notice is provided to the business owner, and inspection report is uploaded within 48 hours of inspection.

"In view of the resource requirement to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India had on May 17 2020 enhanced the borrowing limit of the States by 2 per cent of their GSDP. Half of this special dispensation was linked to undertaking citizen-centric reforms by the States. The four citizen-centric areas for reforms identified were Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System, Ease of doing business reform, Urban Local body or utility reforms and Power Sector reforms," the statement 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.)
Ben Affleck cut a low-key figure when he surfaced from lockdown in Los Angeles this Friday.

The smoldering 48-year-old Hollywood heartthrob was California casual in a dark sweater he threw over a white T-shirt.

He rolled up his sleeves to show off his enviably toned forearms and complemented his top with a pair of dark blue jeans.

Stepping out: Ben Affleck was spotted looking dashing as ever when he surfaced from lockdown in Los Angeles this Friday

Meanwhile Ben's upcoming movie The Tender Bar in which he plays the titular bar's owner Uncle Charlie has begun shooting.

George Clooney is directing the movie in Ben's native Massachusetts and was seen in the Boston suburbs this week at work on the project.

The movie is based on the 2005 memoirs by Pulitzer-winning author J.R. Moehringer who used to spend time at his uncle's Long Island bar in search of a father figure.

J.R.'s memoir reveals his father was a DJ who left when his son was a baby prompting the author to search for a stand-in among the barflies.

Mover and shaker: The smoldering 48-year-old Hollywood heartthrob was California casual in a dark sweater he threw over a white T-shirt

Ben like George is a movie star who has turned director in a number of previous films and is set to assume the same position again.

In fact after The Tender Bar Ben's docket includes directing and starring in a World War II movie that is entitled Ghost Army.

His latest sighting comes shortly after his ex-wife Jennifer Garner changed her mind on one of her famous quotes from the early days of their separation.

The 48-year-old actress told Vanity Fair in 2016 that 'I lost the dream of dancing with my husband at my daughters wedding.'

Meanwhile: Ben's upcoming movie The Tender Bar directed by George Clooney (pictured in 2019 in Milan) has begun shooting in Boston

However in a recent Hollywood Reporter interview she smiled and said: 'When our kids get married, we'll dance, I know that now.'

The onetime couple tied the knot in 2005 and over the course of their marriage welcomed Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, nine.

After they separated in 2015 they sustained a co-parenting relationship that was so friendly that it led to frequent reunion rumors.

When they first separated in 2015 Ben was amid a swirl of reports about his affair with the family's nanny Christine Ouzounian.

Amends: His latest sighting comes shortly after his ex-wife Jennifer Garner changed her mind on one of her famous quotes from the early days of their separation; they are pictured in 2014

However Jennifer clarified to Vanity Fair in that 2016 interview: 'Let me just tell you something. We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny.'

The 13 Going On 30 actress continued: 'She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes. Its not great for your kids for [a nanny] to disappear from their lives.'

Since the split from Jennifer he has had long-term relationships with Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus and his Deep Water co-star Ana De Armas.
Boris Johnsons Conservative UK government is rushing the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill through Parliament. The legislation prepares a massive crackdown on the right to protest.

Under the new anti-democratic laws, which update the Public Order Act of 1986, the police are empowered to place the same restrictions on static public assemblies as they currently can on moving public processions. These include restrictions on the location and start and finish times of protests, and the noise being made by protestors.

Home Secretary Priti Patel (left) and Prime Minster Boris Johnson [Credit: Hannah McKay Pool via AP]

The laws governing the restriction of noise are expanded to include where police reasonably believe the noise generated by persons taking part may have a significant detrimental impact on persons in the vicinity or cause a serious disruption to the running of an organisation, according to the bills explanatory notes.

In case these definitions are not broad enough for the polices purposes, the home secretary is empowered to decide what constitutes serious disruption to the activities of an organisation which are carried on in the vicinity of a public procession or serious disruption to the life of the community and restrict protests accordingly.

An entire section of the Bill is dedicated to allow[ing] the police to impose conditions on one-person protests. In Kafkaesque fashion, the bill states that, in the case of a one-person demonstration, a senior police officer may lay down conditions as to the route of the protest.

Where protestors are found guilty of violating these laws, they face a fine of up to 2,500. Anyone who organises a protest deemed illegal or who incites others to participate in it can receive a fine of 2,500, or a year in prison.

The Bill makes obtaining convictions significantly easier. The police no longer need to prove that a protestor knowingly failed to comply with a condition. A person is guilty if, at the time the person fails to comply with the condition the person knows or ought to know that the condition has been imposed [emphasis added].

Even more serious punishments are set out for those found guilty of Intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance, which can include an act which obstructs the public or a section of the public in the exercise or enjoyment of a right that may be exercised or enjoyed by the public at large. The punishment for such a broadly defined act is up to 10 years in prison.

Damaging memorials, including everything from statues to trees, also carries a potential 10-year sentence.

The Bill adds to the Spy Cops legislation, the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act, enacted on March 1. The Act authorises conduct by officials and agents of the security and intelligence services, law enforcement, and certain other public authorities, which would otherwise constitute criminality, including serious crimes. Signalling the judiciarys willingness to enforce these anti-democratic laws, the Court of Appeal ruled on March 9 that MI5 is legally allowed to authorise its agents to commit serious crimes.

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources Act was passed with only 34 Labour MPs voting against. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also intended to whip the party to abstain on the Police Bill, only switching to oppose it in the wake of the police attack on a vigil for Sarah Everardmurdered two weeks ago, with a Metropolitan police officer due to stand trial for her killingsure in the knowledge that the legislation will pass anyway.

These draconian measures are aimed squarely at the working class and the political left. The sections of the Bill dealing with protests are based heavily on a review commissioned by Home Secretary Priti Patel last September. Patel asked the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services to find ways of making permanent the severe restrictions on protests implemented under emergency coronavirus legislation.

The review, Getting the balance right?, concludes that the balance tips too readily in favour of protestors because police do not accurately assess the level of disruption caused, or likely to be caused, by a protest. A long section is titled Businesses and the private sector. It states that the police do not consistently assess the impact protests have on businesses and suggests they consider both the direct and indirect impact on businesses when deciding how to balance protesters rights with the rights of others. The word business is mentioned 16 times throughout the report and the word businesses 42 times.

The review calls for an improvement in the quality of police intelligence on protests, particularly intelligence about those who seek to bring about political or social change, in an allegedly unlawful way. This may sometimes involve covert sensitive intelligence-gathering methods, which include surveillance and the use of CHISs [covert human intelligence sources]undercover officers and spies.

Patels review and the Police Bill are a response to mounting social tensions, escalated by the pandemic crisis. The legislation was first conceived in response to the Extinction Rebellion protests of 2019 but was pursued with increased urgency after the international George Floyd protests last summerwhich the ruling class recognised as anticipating a far broader eruption of the class struggle.

Now that this process is beginning to unfold in a wave of strikes across the UK, the government is stepping up its agenda. Its police-state response is indicated by the break-up of a small protest of NHS workers in Manchester on March 7, and the 10,000 fine of its organiser. On Wednesday, a picket of SAICA Packaging workers in Edinburgh was dispersed by police.

The license being given to police was summed up by the violent attack on the Everard vigil. Government ministers were forced to show concern for the scenes, but a Telegraph editorial cut to the chase. Noting that police have been empowered to clamp down on peaceful gatherings, the editorial insisted that the means to enforce them must be provided. That includes supporting the police when they are criticised for breaking up the meetings.

Every government in the world is pursuing the same strategy, strengthening the police in preparation for confrontations with the working class during a crisis which has led to millions of deaths, job cuts and trillions in lost wages, while the billionaires have seen their fortunes rocket. In just the last week, police forces in Greece and South Africa have cracked down brutally on student protests, using batons and rubber bullets. An explosion of police violence was unleashed across the America last year in response to peaceful George Floyd protests.

Countering the turn to dictatorial forms of rule demands the rejection of the reactionary politics of identity which portrays the violence of the state as the product of endemic racism and/or misogyny. The claim was made by Black Lives Matter during the George Floyd protests that police violence is the result of white privilege. With the murder of Everard, feminist groups have identified the patriarchy as the cause.

That large sections of the police are racist and misogynist is hardly a revelation. But this is an aspect of their essential class function, which is to violently suppress opposition to the capitalist state and the major corporations, and to terrorise working class neighbourhoods. The police must recruit from among the most backward and prejudiced layers of the population to fulfil these roles.

By holding toxic masculinity, institutionalised misogyny or male privilege responsible, identity politicspropounded by an affluent middle-class layer deeply hostile to the working class and entirely comfortable with its suppressionobscures the irreformable class function of the police and divides workers against themselves, in this case along gender lines.

It also lays the ground for an increase in the powers of the state in the name of protecting women. On Wednesday, Green Party member Baroness Jones of Moulescoomb suggested to the House of Lords an amendment to create a curfew for men on the streets after 6pm. I feel this would make women a lot safer, and discrimination of all kinds would be lessened.

The Financial Times wrote that Curbing violence against women could be aided by the Police Bill which provides an opportunity for reform, though it needs amendment.

Johnson has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, promising greater use of CCTV and to expand Project Vigilant, a strategy pioneered by Thames Valley Police which places undercover police officers in pubs, clubs and bars.

The bankruptcy of this politics was summed up by the comments of Anna Birley, representing feminist group Reclaim These Streets, to ITVs Good Morning Britain in the aftermath of the police attack on the Sarah Everard vigil in Clapham. Birley opposed calls for Metropolitan Police chief Dame Cressida Dick to resign, explaining, We are a movement of women seeking to support and empower other women, and as one of the most senior women in British policing history, we do not want to add to the pile-on.

Cressida Dick (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Dick first came to national prominence when she led the operation which resulted in the cold-blooded police murder of Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005. She organised a wave of over 1,000 arrests of climate change protestors last April. By Birleys logic, not only Dick but Patel, the architect of the Police Bill, is also off-limits.

Not a single step can be taken in opposition to the governments authoritarian agenda along these lines. The struggle against police repression and violence is not a sectional issue to be fought out by separate identities, or even a coalition of separate identities, seeking reforms of police culture. It is a class conflict between the capitalist state, which is clear on its objectives, and the entire working class.

Workers and youth have already made their hostility to the Police Bill and Johnsons government clear. To defeat this assault requires a socialist programme and leadership that defends democratic rights through the mobilisation of workers internationally, on the basis of their common class interests, against their increasingly dictatorial governments.
Despite rising COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra a massive crowd was seen at Dadar Market and Shivaji Park in on Saturday morning.

The people in the market and the park were seen flouting social distancing norms and many were also seen without masks.

on Friday reported 3062 new cases and 10 deaths. With 1,334 recoveries, the city's cured tally has gone up to 3,232,81 Currently, has 20,140 active cases and 11,565 fatalities.

Maharashtra reported as many as 13,601 fresh COVID-19 cases and 58 deaths on Friday, the death toll has gone up to 53,138. Currently, the number of active cases stands at 1,676,37.

Earlier, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said that the government is aiming to vaccinate 3 lakh people daily amidst a surge in cases in the state. While speaking to reporters, he said that although numbers are increasing and the state is facing the second peak of infections, there is no need to panic.

The state government on Thursday decided to impose a lockdown in Nagpur district from March 15 to 21 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Only essential services such as vegetable and fruit shops and milk booths will stay open, according to the order issued by the district administration.

Districts like Amaravati, Yavatmal, and Latur have already been put under restrictions whereas the Aurangabad administration has imposed a complete lockdown on weekends till further orders.

(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| 2021-03-20 18:33:29|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied that there has been either a direct or indirect exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington over mutual thorny issues, the ministry's spokesman was quoted by the official Islamic Republic News Agency as saying on Saturday.

"Until now, Iran hasn't received any message, either direct or indirect, from the U.S. administration," said Saeed Khatibzadeh.

The problem is that Washington is not willing to change the course, said Khatibzadeh, adding that the United States has not taken steps to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Sanctions imposed by the former U.S. government are still in place, and Iranian diplomats in New York City remain restricted in their movements, he noted.

Khatibzadeh dismissed the continuation of pressure on Iran, saying that the U.S. policy of maximum pressure, adopted by the former U.S. administration, has failed and the recession in Iran is over.

The United States needs to stick to its own obligations, return to the JCPOA and lift sanctions that have been costly to the Islamic Republic, he said.

In response to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the re-imposition of sanctions, Iran has suspended implementing parts of its obligations under the deal.

The incumbent U.S. administration has said that if Iran returns to full compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States would do the same. But Iran insisted its compliance would only take place once U.S. sanctions were removed. Enditem
SAN FRANCISCO (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Department of Justice has informed Visa (V) of its plans to open an investigation into Visa's U.S. debit practices and is cooperating with the department, the company said in a regulatory filing. 'We believe Visa's U.S. debit practices are in compliance with applicable laws,' the filing added. Visa closed Friday's trading at $206.90, down 6.24%. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation into Visa Inc.'s practices regarding debit-card transactions. The department is looking into the network's rules for routing transactions both in stores and online, according to media reports. Representatives for the Justice Department declined to comment. The Wall Street Journal said the Justice Department's antitrust division was looking in to whether Visa limited merchants' ability to route debit-card transactions over card networks that are often less expensive. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
US authorities on Friday unveiled charges against 10 Iranians for allegedly evading American sanctions on Tehran by concealing more than $300 million in transactions over 20 years through front companies.

The individuals are believed to have conducted transactions on behalf of the Iranian government, including purchasing two $25 million oil tankers, through more than 70 front companies in the United States, Iran, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, the Justice Department said in a statement.

The suspects, who were also slapped with a money laundering fine of more than $157 million, are believed to be outside the United States.

"Through the use of front companies, money service businesses and exchanges throughout the world, the defendants worked to disguise hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of transactions on behalf of a state sponsor of terrorism," John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, was quoted as saying.

"Make no mistake, the Department of Justice will continue to deploy all tools necessary to curb the Iranian regime's ability to use the US financial system to support its malign endeavors," he said.

If convicted of the conspiracy charge, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Iran is subject to US economic sanctions, with previous president Donald Trump aggressively using the measures to punish the Islamic republic.

led/acb/jh
She just released a new swim collection with her brand Good American.

And Khloe Kardashian proved that she was more than bikini-ready while modeling one of the sexy new suits on her Instagram Friday.

The reality star, 36, put her bombshell body on display as she pulled down a pair of boyfriend jeans to reveal her slim waist and gym-chiseled abs clad in a taupe two-piece.

Looking good: Khloe Kardashian put her toned abs front and center while modeling a swimsuit and jeans from her brand Good American

Khlo's string bottoms were hiked high on her hips to emphasize her hourglass shape while a matching triangle top offered up just the right amount of skin.

The mother-of-one tossed her head to the side, letting beachy brown locks fall down but pulling most of her face out of the frame.

But her famously plump pout all-but proved it was the fashionista.

Amplifying the glamour, Khloe accessorized with a heavy, diamond-packed Cuban-link chain, sparkling studs and the giant diamond ring she's been wearing on her engagement finger as of late.

Work it, girl! Over on Khloe's social media she shared how she gets ready for swimsuit season, giving fans a look into her workout routine

Buff: 'The light of my life,' she wrote on top, adding: 'Summer is around the corner' and tagging her trainer lower down

'  x  90 ,' she wrote in the caption, letting fans know which collection each piece was from.

Earlier in the day Khloe gave fans a glimpse into her home gym, making it clear she was stocked for summertime.

The mother-of-one wowed, flaunting her taut tummy and a toned backside as she moved around in the mirror selfie.

'The light of my life,' she wrote on top, adding: 'Summer is around the corner' and tagging her trainer lower down.

Something for everyone: Talking about the collection, which is Good American's second swimwear release, Khloe said: 'This collection is incredible - we designed it to provide you with multiple levels of support + coverage to make you look and feel confident and sexy'

Talking about the collection, which is Good American's second swimwear release, Khloe said: 'This collection is incredible - we designed it to provide you with multiple levels of support + coverage to make you look and feel confident and sexy.'

She immediately made a fan out of sister Kim Kardashian, who modeled four looks from the collection online Friday.

After slipping into a classic black bikini the middle Kardashian sister raved, saying she was 'obsessed with' the look while telling her sis 'Khloe, you killed it!'

'This black one is everything. It is perfection,' said Kim.
Christian groups lament passage of bill requiring lessons on atheism, humanism in all Welsh schools

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Christian law firms have expressed concerns over the passing of a bill that would make it mandatory for all schools, including faith schools, in Wales to teach humanism on an equal footing with religions as well as broaden sex education themes and content.

The provisions of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, which is set to become law after passing all debate stages, amount to transferring the right of parents to decide their childs best interests about sex and religious education to the State, writes Elizabeth Francis, a legal officer for human rights group Alliance Defending Freedom, U.K., in an op-ed for The Conservative Woman.

The Bill would change the term religious education to religion, values, and ethics so that non-religious worldviews can be taught alongside Christianity and other religious beliefs. It would also allow humanists to be part of the bodies that oversee and develop the syllabus, according to The Christian Institute.

An initial proposal included giving atheists a veto over any religious teaching in schools, but the clause was later dropped. However, it still allows for disproportionate time to be spent studying Humanism or atheism. It also repealed key safeguards on the teaching of sex education, the Institute says.

The Welsh Government ignored two public consultations which clearly opposed these changes, the Institutes Wales Officer, Gareth Edwards, said. In the last census only 815 people said they were humanists in the whole of Wales. Why have they been handed such influence over the content of religious teaching in schools? he asked.

Kathy Riddick of Wales Humanists, a group that lobbied for the laws passage, celebrated the lawmakers decision.

We are absolutely delighted that the Senedd has passed this bill and that, after many years of campaigning by Wales Humanists, humanism will be put on an equal footing with religions throughout the curriculum, Riddick said in a statement. This is a huge success for inclusive education and Wales is very much leading the way. We congratulate the Government for its achievement.

Edwards added, While this is a setback, Christians will still be able to have a positive influence in schools by responding to the public consultation on the RSE code in due course, and parents should also expect to be consulted by their schools before changes are brought in.

Francis warned, however, that its likely "the Welsh law will act as the final pretext the Scottish parliament needs to move forward with plans to remove the current discretion given to faith schools when teaching sex education.

Particularly when it comes to sensitive topics, the primary role of parents has always been respected as they are best placed to determine what is age-appropriate for the background, culture, and developmental maturity of their children, she added.

Francis said the governments in England and Wales appear to be legislating deliberately to neglect parental rights  principles long upheld both domestic and internationally.

The reforms also show the speed at which education policy is shifting, she warned.
People throughout Enniscorthy were saddened recently to learn of the passing of Jenny Murphy (nee Doyle), from Rectory Road.

Born on September 9, 1931, Jenny was a daughter of Mary and Andy (Putty), Doyle, Rectory Road.

She was the youngest of 14 children and her last surviving sibling is her sister, Breda, who lives in London.

Jenny began a relationship with the man who would become her husband, Tom Murphy, in 1950 and they emigrated to England where they settled in Birmingham.

Jenny worked in an engineering firm as a machinist. Two years after emigrating, on October 1 1952, Jenny and Tom were married in St Mary's Church, Harborne.

The couple returned home to Enniscorthy and settled in Rectory Road where they had four children, Goretti, Andrew, Frank and Jennice.

Family was everything to Jenny and she adored her nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She worked in Chivers during the summer and in addition to looking after her family her main interests were knitting and cooking.

Jenny also loved bingo, pongo, and whist, and had a great love for, and knowledge of, history.

Ever-involved in her community, she ran pongo sessions on Sundays to raise money for the renovation of St Senan's Church and St Senan's Community Centre.

Jenny loved the social aspect of the bingo and pongo sessions she attended and she particularly enjoyed the whist sessions in the Legion of Mary Hall.

Jenny also had a great love for her country and its history and traditions. It was something reflected in her general love of history.

She was a woman of great faith and very strong religious belief.

Jenny, who was in her 90th year, passed away peacefully in the care of the staff of Ivy Ward, St John's Community Hospital, on February 11, surrounded by her family.

She is survived by husband Tom, her daughters, Goretti and Jennice, sons, Andrew and Frank, sister, Breda, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, relatives and large circle of friends.
Lee: One of the things we have to think about is, first of all, Asian-Americans have an enormous tent with so many diverse histories, so many countries of origin. What we often forget is that, within the countries of origin, theres certain stories of patriarchy that we dont want to talk about, histories of colonialism and imperialism. Thats incredibly informative when we think about sex workers, in particular, and working-class women because we have all these class issues. We also have ethnicity issues, we have regional issues. Its really complicated.

Tchen: I think its about otherness. It doesnt matter how long youve been here. I mean, I cant even speak Chinese and yet, I feel very othered, always feel it. Why did Minari win best foreign-language film even though its an American story? Its part of othering.

You layer on top of that the sexualization of Asian women  which has always existed and is fueling this. The law enforcement are sort of saying this has to do with his sex addiction, so therefore its not a hate crime or racially targeted. No, no, no  thats all together  all part of one piece.

I can remember when I was younger, just out of college in 1978, there were men who would come up to me in the street, drop their pants and say I reminded them of the girlfriend they left behind in Vietnam. Literally drop their pants and begin to touch themselves in the middle of downtown Chicago, and this happened more than once.

Lee: This happened to me, too. It happened to me several times. People would actually grope me in the street saying things like, You remind me of somebody in Vietnam. Very often, these are poor, homeless people. Its not as if I dont have sympathy for them  theyre maybe suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. But it doesnt mean that we dont deserve sympathy either.

Theres been so much of just swallowing the assault, all this repression, and we carry it forward, saying, Oh, its not a big deal, itll be OK. But now people are saying: No more. We are first among equals. This is not OK.
A Berkeley police officer was fired after an investigation determined that she violated department policies when she shot at a robbery suspect last summer, a nonprofit news outlet reported Monday.

The former officer, Cheri Miller, was found to have violated policies governing the use of deadly force in the July 30, 2020, shooting in a CVS parking lot, according to records obtained by Berkeleyside. Nobody was injured in the shooting, and Miller said during the investigation that she thought the driver of the suspect vehicle was going to run her over when she pulled the trigger, Berkeleyside reported.

The shooting was the departments first by an officer in eight years. An attorney who represented Miller during the disciplinary proceedings, Harry Stern, said Miller is exploring her options for a civil lawsuit to win her job back.

Cheri is a wonderful person, Stern said. She was an asset to the Berkeley Police Department, and she would be an asset anywhere.

While nobody was injured, the shooting took place two months after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, amid major protests against excessive force by police and heightened sensitivity surrounding the ways in which police fail to de-escalate potentially volatile situations.

Police said the incident began when three people stole merchandise from the pharmacy and retail store on Shattuck Avenue in July. Staff confronted the alleged thieves in the parking lot. Miller, who heard the disturbance while parked at a nearby Safeway, responded.

The Berkeley Police Department uploaded an eight-minute video to YouTube in September that included dispatch audio as well as footage from an in-store security camera, bystanders cell phone and Millers body-worn camera.

The cell phone footage shows three people hurriedly throwing merchandise into the trunk of a car as a police sport utility vehicle enters the parking lot and parks behind them. An officer later identified as Miller orders the driver, who is standing outside of the car, back into the vehicle and tells him to put his keys on top of the cars roof.

The driver starts the ignition, ignoring Millers orders to turn the car off. The car backs out of the handicapped parking space and turns left, toward where Miller is standing. Miller fires three shots while standing near the drivers side.

I know what I did wasnt perfect, Miller told the city, according to the records cited by Berkeleyside. Every time I watch this video its like, ugh, Jesus Christ! I could have done so many different things better.

Miller, who joined the Berkeley Police Department in 2018, was still completing a two-year probationary period, Berkeleyside reported. Because of her probationary status, the city did not have to specify a reason for her firing.

Stern, Millers lawyer, said he believes training and experience were issues in the case. Those issues were exacerbated by the pandemic, he said, because Miller did not get as much direct, in-person contact with her supervisors.

She candidly acknowledged that looking back, there were other ways and possibly better ways to handle the incident, Stern said. I think part of whats going on is that  and this is a positive in some ways  Berkeley isnt as high-crime as it used to be, so probationary officers dont necessarily get as many repetitions in handling in-process crimes.

Stern said he asked the city to give Miller additional training, or to extend her probationary period.

Instead, they decided to toss the baby out with the bathwater, he said.

The Berkeley Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.

The man accused of driving the getaway car, Brandon Owens, 20, was later arrested on a robbery charge. The results of his case are pending, court records show.

Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com
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Pfizer has urged the EU to back down on its threat to block vaccine exports to the UK, claiming Britain could hit back by impounding crucial UK-manufactured ingredients for vaccines produced in Europe.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen issued the warning this week amid the shambolic distribution of jabs on the continent.

She threatened to block exports of vaccines to Britain while complaining that the EU was 'still waiting' for Astazeneca doses to be delivered from the UK, where the vaccine drive is far outpacing efforts on the continent.

It comes amid criticism of European leaders for suspending the Astrazeneca jab over blood clot fears despite there being no evidence that the injection increases the risk.

Both European and British regulators have insisted the vaccine is safe and that the tiny handful of clotting cases - out of millions of jab recipients - is not linked to the injections.

It is thought there are currently 7.5million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine sitting un-used in Europe as a result of the bans.

However, von der Leyen's threat has sparked a response from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and partner BioNTech.

The firms have told Brussels of the potential power held by the UK, which could see officials preventing raw materials needed for the jab being shipped from northern England if the row continues.

A chemicals firm in the small town of Snaith, North Yorkshire, signed a five-year contract with the EU before Christmas and has since delivered 'fatty molecules' to Pfizer factories in the bloc, according to the Telegraph.

If Boris Johnson and his top team move to stop deliveries flowing across the Channel, it could see production at its main site in Belgium halted completely within weeks.

It comes as:

Boris Johnson received the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine last night after the row with the EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, 66, backed the Oxford jab and said she WILL have it after earlier claiming she was 'too old';

Britain's daily Covid cases drop by a quarter in a week to 4,802 while deaths fall by 42% to 101;

SAGE has warned that a resurgence of Covid in Europe could soon lead to a rise in infections in Britain, saying the country is at a 'more fragile point' than it was a few weeks ago

SAGE upgraded its estimate of the R rate - how fast the virus is spreading - in Britain, pushing it closer to one to a possible 0.9, meaning the outbreak is not shrinking as quickly as it was in February and late January.

Stats show Pfizer vaccine was used for just 200,000 new patients out of 2.2million in the first week of March as AstraZeneca's jab takes over;

68,000 Britons have now been fined for lockdown breaches including a young man dragged out of bed by cops and an 82-year-old questioned for having tea in a garden

The UK deal with Serum in India was announced on March 2 but Mr Poonawalla had warned ten days earlier that supplies were not running smoothly. Pictured: A map of vaccine manufacturing sites across Europe and India

Britain's Covid vaccine drive hit a record high today after 660,276 doses were dished out in 24 hours, official figures revealed

Supply figures for the vaccines were always expected to dip in April and May, according to projections published by the Scottish Government in January  before the UK had struck a deal for 10million doses from India. Therefore, the India delivery delay is believed to be separate from these figures

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives thumbs up after receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday afternoon

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen issued a block warning this week amid the shambolic distribution of jabs on the continent

Statistics from the MHRA show that while 78 per cent of all first doses were Pfizer jabs between December 8 and January 24, this split reversed between February 7 and March 7 so that it only accounted for 34 per cent. Just nine per cent of all first doses in the week to March 7 (200,000) were supplied by Pfizer

A senior Government source distanced themselves from the suggestion, but Pfizer and BioNTech are believed to have issued a private warning over the ramifications if Downing Street is provoked further.

Lipid nanoparticles - specialised fatty molecules used to encase the vaccine and make sure it is safely administered to human cells - are in short supply globally, and the drugmaker is said to be 'heavily dependent' on supplies from the UK.

Croda International is one of only a handful of companies in the world which can supply the substance and has quadrupled its factory capacity to meet demand, which it predict will generate more than 90m in sales.

A Pfizer spokesman told the Telegraph: 'We have been clear with all stakeholders that the free movement of goods and supply across borders is absolutely critical to Pfizer and the patients we serve.'

NHS England figures show 79 per cent of over-55s in the country had at least one dose of the vaccine by March 14, but London is significantly lagging behind in uptake

TOP 10 AREAS FOR VACCINE UPTAKE AMONG OVER-55s Isles of Scilly Stafford Mid Suffolk Wyre Forest Isle of Wight East Suffolk Wyre Babergh Malvern Hills Harborough 93.8 per cent 89.4 per cent 89.2 per cent 89.1 per cent 88.7 per cent 88.5 per cent 88.3 per cent 87.9 per cent 87.4 per cent 87.2 per cent Advertisement

BOTTOM 10 AREAS FOR VACCINE UPTAKE AMONG OVER-55s Hackney Newham Kensington and Chelsea Southwark Westminster Lambeth Hammersmith and Fulham Islington Lewisham Tower Hamlets 59.2 per cent 60.2 per cent 61.1 per cent 61.3 per cent 61.4 per cent 62.0 per cent 63.7 per cent 64.7 per cent 64.8 per cent 65.3 per cent Advertisement

It comes as official data suggests Britain has almost stopped giving out the Pfizer Covid vaccine to new patients so it can save supplies for second doses.

The NHS appears to now be rationing the jab, which was used to kick off the rollout in December, and only used it for one in 10 new patients in the first week of March.

In January, when AstraZeneca's vaccine was first approved, Pfizer's still accounted for three quarters of all first doses but this fell to just nine per cent in the first week of March, when only 200,000 new patients were given it.

MailOnline understands deliveries of the Belgian-made jab will be smaller from April because of a planned reduction and the ongoing EU block threat.

Ministers must be careful with the supply they do get because they're already over halfway through supplies planned up to June - and they owe around 10m people a second dose.

The Department of Health said everyone will get their second doses within 12 weeks as planned. Both the Department and Pfizer declined to comment on the delivery schedule but insist there is no problem with supplies, amid reports on social media of Britons being told there is a shortage.

AstraZeneca's vaccine, which is available in much larger quantities, is now taking over as the country's staple vaccine as medics rattle through the priority lists.

It is a promising sign that cases are still continuing to come down despite a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for Covid that came with schools reopening - there are now an average of 1.5million tests per day, up from 843,000 per weekday at the end of February

The number of people believed to be infected with coronavirus in England continues to tumble and is now at just 160,200, according to the Office for National Statistics. This equates to just three in every 1,000 people

The Covid Symptom Study, run by ZOE and King's College London , estimated there are now around 4,470 people becoming ill every day  down nearly a fifth from the 5,494 figure last week

But a hiccup in supplies of that because of a blocked shipment of 5million doses from India - combined with a need to reserve Pfizer stocks - means the number of people getting first doses will be 'significantly constrained' in April, the NHS has warned.

This means millions of people in their 40s will likely have to wait until at least May to get their first doses. But Whitehall insiders are still hopeful that some will get jabs ahead of schedule, amid claims under-50s would be invited by Easter.

In response to the row earlier this week, Health Secretary Hancock telling a Downing Street press conference that 'we fully expect' vaccine contracts to be delivered on.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that Ms von der Leyen's comments flew in the face of 'direct assurances' that contracts will be honoured and Tory MPs accused her of 'playing politics with people's lives'.

HOW BADLY WOULD UK'S VACCINE DRIVE SUFFER IF THE EU BLOCKED VACCINE EXPORTS? If the European Union blocked all exports of coronavirus vaccines made on its turf, Britain could remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population. However, it could come under pressure on second dose supply. EU president Ursula von der Leyen suggested this week that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly. WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU? The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium. AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales. Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction. The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan. Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case. CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA? The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone. And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations. WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES? The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU. This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected. And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered. Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April. The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January. The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May. This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government. The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May. If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time. Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).' Advertisement

Boris Johnson gets the AstraZeneca jab: PM backs Oxford vaccine after EU's humiliating U-turn over politicized 'blood clot' fears - as a record 660,000 doses are given today with HALF of adults inoculated

Boris Johnson today joined the millions of vaccinated Britons after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

The Prime Minister, 56, gave a triumphant thumbs up after having his inoculation at St Thomas' in central London - the same hospital he was admitted when struck down with Covid in April last year.

Encouraging others to also get jabbed, he said he 'literally couldn't feel a thing' when his nurse, Lily, injected him in his left arm.

By receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine himself, Mr Johnson is sending the strongest possible signal he believes it to be safe following hesitancy from European leaders.

Countries including France, Germany and Italy had suspended use of the jab after a handful of recipients - out of millions - experienced blot clotting.

Faced with comparably sluggish rollouts and low take-up, their action was widely condemned as a political calculation which has now been reversed after the regulator declared it safe. Italian PM Mario Draghi tonight said he will have the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Taking a thinly-veiled swipe at his Continental counterparts, the Prime Minister added: 'Listen to the scientists, listen to what the European Medicines Agency had to say, to what the MHRA [the British regulator] has said.

'The risk is Covid - this is a great thing to do.'

Britain has now vaccinated over half of its adult population and the rollout yesterday hit a record pace after 660,276 doses were dished out.

Boris Johnson today joined the millions of Britons to be vaccinated after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab

The Prime Minister, 56, gave a triumphant thumbs up after having his inoculation at St Thomas' in central London - the same hospital he was admitted to when struck down with Covid in April last year

Taking to Twitter shortly after being jabbed, Mr Johnson said: 'I've just received my first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine dose. Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS staff and volunteers who helped make this happen.

'Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much. Let's get the jab done.'

Latest Department of Health data shows 528,260 first doses were administered on Thursday, on top of another 132,016 second shots.

Fellow cabinet ministers including Grant Shapps, Therese Coffey and Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi have also been jabbed.

The PM's jab will put him among the thousands of Britons expected to receive their vaccine today.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a 'mammoth team effort' had led to Britain hitting record pace, while health minister Lord Bethell pointed out it meant nearly 1 per cent of the country had been jabbed in a single day.

The programme had been steadily gaining pace this week, after 529,119 total doses were given out on Tuesday and 581,855 on Wednesday. Some 26.2million Britons have now received their first dose, the equivalent of half the adult population in Britain, and 2m have received both injections.

Despite the promising week, the NHS is gearing up for a significant shortage of vaccine doses next month due to supply issues in India.

A shipment of 4million AstraZeneca shots from has been delayed, for reasons that aren't totally clear, with No10 holding secret talks with New Delhi to get the roll-out back on track.

It means Britons aged over 40 who were expecting to be called for their appointments next month will need to wait until at least May while ministers prioritise current stock for over-50s and for people due their second doses.

Britain's daily Covid cases drop by a quarter in a week to 4,802 while deaths fall by 42% to 101 - but SAGE 'fears third wave battering Europe could spread to the UK' and England's R rate rises for first time since December to 0.9

Britain yesterday saw Covid cases fall again, dropping by a quarter from last week to 4,802 positive tests in a day while deaths also dropped by 42 per cent to 101.

Two other weekly studies, by the Office for National Statistics and the Covid Symptom Study, showed cases are still coming down significantly, and the country had its best ever performance in the vaccination drive on Thursday when it administered a massive 660,276 jabs including 528,260 people getting their first.

But SAGE has warned that a resurgence of Covid in Europe could soon lead to a rise in infections in Britain, saying the country is at a 'more fragile point' than it was a few weeks ago.

Cases are on the rise again in countries including France, Germany and Belgium and one of No10's top scientific advisers has warned that spikes on the continent tend to lead to a spike in Britain two to three weeks later without any obvious link to travel.

What ties the two together isn't clear, they said, but ministers and officials in the UK must watch closely in the coming weeks to make sure infections don't take off again.

The number of people believed to be infected with coronavirus in England continues to tumble and is now at just 160,200, according to the Office for National Statistics. This equates to just three in every 1,000 people

SAGE today upgraded its estimate of the R rate - how fast the virus is spreading - in Britain, pushing it closer to one to a possible 0.9, meaning the outbreak is not shrinking as quickly as it was in February and late January.

But SAGE cautioned the R rate is based on data too old to take into account the effects of reopening schools and experts say the rate is no longer a key measure of the country's outbreak because case increases don't have the same effect on hospital admissions or deaths - which will be the key warning signs in future - thanks to huge vaccination efforts.

It is a promising sign that cases are still continuing to come down despite a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for Covid that came with schools reopening - there are now an average of 1.5million tests per day, up from 843,000 per weekday at the end of February.

And positive data show that cases are continuing to come down in the UK, with the Office for National Statistics estimating the total number of people carrying the virus in England is down 20 per cent in a week, to 160,200. This is the equivalent of one in 340 people. For comparison, as many as one in 50 people were infected during the peak of the crisis in January.

The ONS report said cases were still clearly coming down in in the West Midlands, East of England, South West and London, but the decline may have stopped in other areas.

And the Covid Symptom Study, run by ZOE and King's College London, estimated there are now around 3,200 people becoming ill every day across the country  down nearly a quarter from the 4,200 per day last week.

But the speed at which the outbreak is shrinking has slowed, with the previous week seeing cases fall by a third. Experts behind the symptom-tracking app blamed the levelling off on schools reopening. Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist leading the study, said the levelling off was expected and insisted there was 'no reason to worry'.

SAGE estimated Britain's overall R rate was between 0.6 and 0.9 - meaning every ten people with the virus infect six to nine others. But this was up slightly on last week, when the rate was between 0.6 and 0.8.

It was crucial for the R value to stay below one, which means that not everyone who has the virus is passing it on, ensuring the second wave continues to shrink.

The R rate was below one in every region of England.

But every area was also estimated to have a value that could be as high as 0.9, above the levels last week and suggesting the outbreak's rate of decline had slowed.

The rate was lowest - between 0.6 and 0.9 - in the East of England, London, the Midlands and the South West.

And rate was highest - between 0.7 and 0.9 - in the North East and Yorkshire, the North West and the South East.

Professor Spector said scientists had expected the decline in infections would slow, and warned that it could begin to accelerate again in the future.

He said: 'After steady falls at the beginning of the week, we've seen cases levelling off in recent days, especially in Scotland, Wales and the North-East of England.

'This is to be expected after reopening schools across the country and is no reason to worry.

'We're keeping a close eye on cases in school-aged children and so far there's nothing alarming about the data. I believe we'll see case numbers holding steady for a little while before cases drop again.'

Professor James Naismith, a biologist at research centre the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxford, said the data showed lockdown had saved 'thousands of lives'.

'Today's ONS numbers bring reassurance that for the UK as a whole the prevalence of the virus has continued to decline (to around three per 1,000 people),' he said.

'Broken down, the ONS numbers by different parts of the UK tell slightly different stories. Of note is prevalence in Scotland may have increased but has certainly not decreased. Within England, East Midlands may also have shown a small uptick. The so called Kent variant is now dominant in UK.'

Rates were lowest in the South West of England, with 252 registering symptoms per day, and the East of England, where just 297 became ill each day

Today's ONS report, based on random swab tests of 160,000 people in the week ending March 13, predicted that 0.29 per cent of people would test positive for coronavirus if the whole country were tested.

The rate of infection was lower in Wales (0.23 per cent) but higher in Scotland (0.37 per cent) and Northern Ireland (0.32 per cent).

In England's regions the report said that cases were falling in most places but potentially flat or rising in others.

The ONS said: 'The percentage of people testing positive has decreased in the West Midlands, East of England, South West and London in the week ending 13 March 2021.

'The trend is uncertain for the rest of the regions, although, there may be early signs of an increase for the East Midlands. Caution should be taken in over-interpreting any small movements in the latest trend.'

Although there was concern some regions might be seeing cases increase, none of them had a rate of infection higher than 0.4 per cent - one in 250 people.

The positivity rate was 0.4 per cent in East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East; 0.3 per cent in the South East, North West and West Midlands; and 0.2 per cent in London, the South West and East of England.

The Covid Symptom Study estimates one in 823 people suffered from symptoms last week, with 3,226 people becoming ill per day in England, compared to 648 in Scotland, 172 in Northern Ireland and 424 in Wales.

Just one in 1,369 school-aged children developed Covid symptoms, the data suggested.
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian has addressed congratulatory letters to Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani on the occasion of the Iranian New Year  Nowruz, the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The friendly relations between our peoples have always served as a base for the constant development of the mutual partnership between Armenia and Iran.

The complex situation in the region forces to work on expanding the agenda of the bilateral political and economic relations.

I am sure that by understanding the current challenges we will make greater efforts for quickly implementing the ongoing programs and reaching new agreements, reads the Armenian Presidents letter addressed to Rouhani.

President Sarkissian wished his Iranian counterpart good health and all the best, and to the good people of Iran  peace and welfare.

***



The Armenian Presidents letter addressed to the Supreme Leader of Iran reads:

I warmly congratulate you and the good people of Iran on the Iranian New Year  Nowruz.

Let the coming year be a year of political and economic achievements for the people of Iran. The new problems and challenges facing the region make an imperative the further development and deepening of the Armenian-Iranian relations.

The continuation of constructive dialogue is important for the cooperation between Armenia and Iran in different areas, which is based on the respect of each others religion and culture.



Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Ministry of Education is discussing measures to increase the number of international students coming to India to pursue higher studies, officials said.

Education Ministry held a meeting with partner institutions for its 'Study in India' Programme on Friday.

Amit Khare, Higher Education Secretary, in the meeting, explained that the criteria for the 'Study in India' programme will soon be revised to make it more viable for institutions that have the necessary infrastructure and academic quality to join.

'Study in India' programme aims at attracting international students to pursue higher studies in the country. The programme was launched in 2018 and is currently partnered with 117 institutes across India.

"No distinction will be made between private and public institutions in matters of supporting internationalisation," Khare added.

Admissions to these institutions are merit-based and done through a common portal. As part of the programme, around 7500 international students from over 50 countries have come to India to pursue their higher education.

Khare added, "It is important to create a conducive, on-campus ecosystem for the international students, where they not only get quality academic inputs but can also feel safe, welcome, happy and hassle-free".

He called upon all partner institutions to set up world-class hostels for international students. There is a provision for financial assistance for this under the Champion Services Sector Scheme that supports SII, which can be provided to some institutions.

"In addition, there is an urgent requirement of setting up International Students'' Offices in every institution that takes in international students. This office should work as a single-window support for anything that the international students may need, right from the day they get selected to join the institution," he said.

"Besides this, avenues like networks of families, mentors etc should be developed, who can help the students to socialise so that they feel welcome in the country and have an enjoyable stay here, with memories that they can cherish, and positive experience to share with others," Khare added.

The ministry has also asked institutions that they should consider organising orientation for international students when they join, as well as orientation for the faculty to sensitize them to teach using contexts that these students can relate to.

"We are looking towards enhanced academic collaborations between Indian and international institutions under Twinning, Joint and Dual degrees with credit transfer mechanism. UGC has already brought out draft regulations in this regard that have currently been put up for stakeholder consultation. There regulations will give a boost to student exchange programmes and short programmes of one or two semesters," Khare said.

"There are plans to take up the issue of allowing internship for international students with the concerned department of the government. Many of the partner institutions pointed out that the absence of internship for international students was a big drawback for any programme of higher studies in India. The ministry will iron out other issues of concern for international students, for example visa issues, he added.

(With PTI inputs)

Also read: Not every person in the world will be vaccinated, says Harsh Vardhan

Also read: WHO approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 jab due to 'tremendous potential'
Apostle Paul Okikijesu of the Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry, has asked Nigerians to pray God to forgive Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, b...





Apostle Paul Okikijesu of the Christ Apostolic Miracle Ministry, has asked Nigerians to pray God to forgive Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, because, according to him, the VP has allegedly committed many sins.

He also said that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may lose the control of Lagos State because people are investigating and seeking his downfall.

Thus says the Lord, People should pray for Osinbajo, because he has committed many mistakes and sins that are not hidden from I the Lord., he said in a series of prophecies he forwarded to Daily Post on Saturday.

He went on to claim that some people of Yoruba dissent, who he described as saboteurs, connived with some individuals from the North to impeach the Vice President in order destroy his political career.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Some Yoruba saboteurs who connived with Hausa because of their selfish interests and corrupt attitudes, intend to impeach Osinbajo in order to ruin his political career.

Okikijesu said that Gods judgement will come upon former Presidents and Governors who are causing chaos in the country as from April 2021:

Those who put Nigeria in pitch darkness will be punished and disgraced, says the Lord God of hosts, he warned.

Thus says the Lord: Bola Tinubu may lose the control of Lagos. People are investigating and seeking the downfall of Tinubu.

Thus says the Lord: People are currently investigating him, and they are seeking his downfall. The people that are jointly controlling the government together said, Instead of him to climb the ladder, we will pull him down from the ladder.
Authority is so absent from our streets that bad people are worryingly unafraid, so the rest of us have to be afraid instead

If you really wanted to make women safer on the streets of this countrys cities, after dark or during the day, there is a very simple, logical thing that you would do.

We used to do it. When we did, the streets were indeed far less dangerous than they are now.

You would restore the regular foot patrols by uniformed constables, which were abolished from the 1960s onwards for no very good reason.

It is since that abolition, agreed on at a meeting of the Police Advisory Board, chaired by the then Home Secretary Roy Jenkins, on November 18, 1966, that policing in this country has gone down the plughole. It was this change that led directly to the closure of hundreds of police stations.

It also led to the transformation of the police themselves, from trusted, popular citizens in uniform, polite and friendly to the law-abiding, into the unloved, shouty, overbearing militia which for the past year has taken such obvious pleasure in bullying and handcuffing peaceful members of the public.

None of the excuses for this change work. Manpower is much higher now than it was then. No research of any kind showed that waiting for crime to happen was a better policy than preventing it.

A police presence on the street is not aimed at catching criminals, but at deterring them from committing crimes in the first place. It does not produce arrest figures, or other totals that look good in official statistics.

It produces a real result, peaceful, orderly streets where a woman can walk after dark without fear.

How often are we told that a prison sentence on a criminal will not bring back a murdered person, will not restore the peace of mind lost when a home is burgled, will not undo the injury and grief caused by crime? Detection is important, but it is nothing like as much use as prevention, the job the police were set up to do.

The case of Sarah Everard has been seized on by many causes, but I think we had better wait for the trial of her alleged killer to decide how justified they are in doing so. But the issue of safety on the streets was a real one before her death and it is still one now.

I should say women are not the only ones who sometimes slip their keys between their knuckles as they walk past or near menacing people or lonely, ill-lit places. Men do it too.

Authority is so absent from our streets that bad people are worryingly unafraid, so the rest of us have to be afraid instead.

Well, there is an easy answer to that. I think the recent behaviour of the police has dispelled much of the lingering goodwill, earned in a different time, which they used to enjoy. I think any political party which truly espoused a policy of prevention by regular, sustained foot patrol would gather so much support that it would be amazed.

And if the existing police dont like it, and prefer whatever it is they do now (how can we tell what it is, as we so seldom see them?), then we should dissolve them, and rehire only the ones who are interested in serving the public.

You would restore the regular foot patrols by uniformed constables, which were abolished from the 1960s onwards for no very good reason. It is since that abolition, agreed on at a meeting of the Police Advisory Board, chaired by the then Home Secretary Roy Jenkins, on November 18, 1966, that policing in this country has gone down the plughole

The model Caprice Bourret, right, is currently being praised for saying, on the Jeremy Vine Show a year ago, that we should all wear masks, that there should be travel restrictions and the country should be shut down

Wheres the proof Caprice was right?

The model Caprice Bourret, right, is currently being praised for saying, on the Jeremy Vine Show a year ago, that we should all wear masks, that there should be travel restrictions and the country should be shut down.

A doctor, Sarah Jarvis, who opposed her, is being called on by a Twitter mob to apologise.

Can I point out here that just because Ms Bourrets ideas were adopted by Her Majestys Government, it does not mean that they were right. Evidence for the effectiveness of lockdowns is still scant, to put it mildly. The same is true for face coverings.

I do not know what Dr Jarvis thinks now. But the interesting point is that when this disagreement took place there were still quite a few experts and media figures who opposed the wild, disproportionate measures with which we later wrecked our economy and strangled our former freedom.

It was not facts which caused so many of them to shift, as they remained the same. It was a stampede of conformism.

Hand us back our flag, Boris

The Johnson Governments attempt to muscle in on the Monarchy, and to hijack the flag, is nearly as bad as the Blair creatures. Not only do Ministers appear on TV with enormous Union Jacks in their spare rooms (which, of course, all normal people have), the ludicrous new Downing Street press room is also crammed with clusters of national flags.

This is plainly wrong. Government press briefings in a two-party parliamentary democracy are bound to be partisan. The Prime Minister may fantasise about having a White House, a West Wing and a personal jet, but he is not Head of State, and the flag represents the whole nation, not just the bit that voted for him. This is more presidential than the real president.

I am pretty certain that when I attended White House press briefings in the Clinton era, even they didnt display the Stars and Stripes in the small, scruffy room they used. This stuff matters. If it becomes unpatriotic to criticise the Government, you are not in a free country.

The Government is not the nation.

Hurrah for the BBC iPlayer, which means I can now watch the increasingly woke and boring quiz University Challenge in ten minutes flat, rather than enduring the full half-hour.

I just press the fast-forward button when asked to identify bits of garage music, or when the topic (yet again) is the moons of Jupiter, African flags, obscure women mathematicians, or the dense scientific puzzles Jeremy Paxman obviously doesnt understand and where the question itself can take a minute to ask.

General knowledge is stuff you could or should know, or are ashamed not to know, not this sort of thing. University Challenge is now so dull that someone in TV badly needs to develop a quiz format that is actually informative and entertaining.

Oxbridge fails the entry test

It looks very much from recent entry figures as if Oxford and Cambridge universities are turning their backs on the fee-charging public schools.

But is this really the radical widening of opportunity that some claim? No. They give preference instead to products of socially selective comprehensives in wealthy areas. They also favour schools and colleges with academically selective sixth forms.

Selection at this age, for some reason, is all right, whereas it is illegal to set up a new school which selects at 11 or 13.

That would give much more chance to bright children from poor homes, whose hopes are often destroyed by chaotic, low-grade education in dud comprehensives.

Back when this country had more than 1,300 state grammar schools, the Oxford intake from public schools fell from 62 per cent in 1939 to 45 per cent in 1965. In the same period, state grammars increased their share from 19 per cent to 34 per cent.

This revolution was based on merit not wealth, and the exams were much tougher.

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Mar. 19A 55-year-old Holland restaurant owner operating in defiance of a court-ordered closure and the state's COVID-19 restrictions, including Michigan's mask mandate, will remain in an Ingham County jail for up to 93 days.

Marlena's Bistro and Pizzeria owner Marlena Pavlos-Hackney is believed to be the first restaurant owner in Michigan to be arrested for non-compliance with COVID-19 orders, according to Attorney General Dana Nessel's office. Others have complied after receiving court orders.

Assistant Attorney General Eileen Whipple told Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes earlier this month that the restaurant would not allow inspectors on site and would not comply with social distancing or state mask mandates.

Pavlos-Hackney, arrested shortly before 6 a.m. Friday during a traffic stop in Ottawa County, will remain in jail until the state is assured her restaurant is closed down and she pays $7,500, Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said during a raucous Friday court hearing.

"We're in the midst of a pandemic," Aquilina said. "You have selfishly not followed the orders. You've not followed them for your own financial gain and apparently for the publicity that comes with it."

Pavlos-Hackney's lawyer, Robert Parker, said the owner was prepared to pay the fine and close the restaurant, but Aquilina said she wanted proof of the closure. The restaurant was boarded up Friday afternoon after shutting at its usual 2 p.m. closing time.

During Friday's hearing, Aquilina also ordered a man attempting to represent Pavlos-Hackney as "assistance of counsel" to be arrested for contempt of court because he allegedly had represented himself as a lawyer when he was not licensed to practice. Richard Martin, who described himself as a constitutional lawyer and is the founder of the Constitutional Law Group, was ordered to serve 93 days in jail.

Aquilina threatened supporters in the courtroom with contempt of court when they made noise during the court hearing. The judge gaveled down Pavlos-Hackney when the restaurant owner tried to interrupt the judge.

Story continues

"This isn't Burger King," Aquilina said. "When the sign changes to Burger King, you can have it your way."

After the hearing, two supporters of Pavlos-Hackney stood outside the courthouse with bullhorns, calling Aquilina a "tyrant judge."

Pavlos-Hackney was held in contempt of court earlier this month for continuing to operate Marlena's Bistro and Pizzeria after her license was revoked by the state for weeks and months of failing to comply with COVID safety protocol, including masks, social distancing and capacity.

Pavlos-Hackney was contacted by the state police on March 11 and told to turn herself in by March 18, Nessel's office said.

"This owner has continued to willfully violate the state's food laws, public health orders and the order of the court  a dangerous act that may have exposed dozens of diners and employees to the virus following the discovery that one of Marlena's customers tested positive for the virus within two days of eating there," Nessel said in a statement.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development suspended the restaurant's food establishment license on Jan. 20, but it has continued to operate since. An administrative law judge upheld the suspension Feb. 11, according to Nessel's office.

Pavlos-Hackney's supporters said she has been made an example by the state, but argued her actions were legal because of the Oct. 2 Michigan Supreme Court decision overturning Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive orders. The high court ruled that Whitmer failed to comply with an existing state law and decided a World War II era law was an unconstitutional grab of legislative power by the governor's office.

COVID-19 regulations have since been issued as epidemic orders under the state Department of Health and Human Services and have not faced any successful court challenges.

Pavlos-Hackney escaped communist Poland to achieve the American dream said Angela Rigas, a friend of the restaurant owner.

"The state of Michigan is oppressing the people and they've become tyrants," Rigas said. "We can operate our businesses as we see fit. The First Amendment gives us the ability to petition grievance against the government, to assemble and freedom of speech. All of these things here have been used against Marlena."

The Michigan Republican Party criticized Nessel's office for arresting the restaurant owner while refusing to investigate COVID-19 nursing home deaths in Michigan. About 35% of all COVID deaths have occurred among nursing home residents and employees.

"Nessel is eager to spend taxpayer-funded resources going after small business owners trying to stave off bankruptcy but refuses to investigate the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents potentially caused by policies implemented by her political-ally Gretchen Whitmer," GOP spokesman Ted Goodman said in a Friday statement.

"It's a massive abuse of power and shows what her priorities are."

But Whipple from the Michigan Attorney General's Office told Stokes that "Marlena's is not employing even the most basic COVID-19 mitigation measures."

"Marlena's has rebuffed repeated attempts by the Allegan County Health Department to work with them to bring the defendant's establishment into compliance," she said.

Pavlos-Hackney told WOOD-TV Thursday she had a constitutional right to remain open.

"We don't want in this country (a) communist regime who's going to dictate what we can do and what we can't do," Pavlos-Hackney said. "If I have to go to prison or jail, I'm willing to take the fight."

The restaurant owner's state representative also criticized Nessel's decision.

"Marlena simply wants to work to support her family and the families of her employees," said state Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township, in a statement.

"She reminds me of my dad, never wanting government handouts. Every one of her customers has chosen to eat in her restaurant. They refuse to let government dictate their lives. Gov. Whitmer must order her agencies to back down."

eleblanc@detroitnews.com
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Nicki Minajs mother has filed a lawsuit against the man charged with killing her husband in a hit and run last month.

Nickis 64-year-old father Robert Maraj died on February 12 when he was struck by a car between Roslyn Road and Raff Avenue in Nassau County, New York, with the driver of the vehicle that hit him allegedly fleeing the scene.

Charles Polevich, 70, later turned himself in to police in connection with the incident and was charged with two felonies, including leaving the scene of an incident involving death of a person, and tampering with or suppressing physical evidence.

And on Friday, Nickis now-widowed mother Carol Maraj filed documents to sue Polevich in state Supreme Court, where she is seeking $150 million.

Side by side: Nicki Minajs (right) mother Carol Maraj (left) has filed a lawsuit against the man charged with killing her husband in a hit and run last month

The news was confirmed by her attorneys, Ben Crump and Paul Napoli. Crump wrote on Instagram: 'Paul Napoli and I have filed a $150 million lawsuit in the hit-and-run death of Robert Maraj, @nickiminaj's father.

'He was fatally injured in a hit-and-run accident on February 12, 2021, when he was struck by a car being driven by Charles Polevich as Mr. Maraj walked along a Long Island road. After striking Maraj, Polevich left the accident scene and did not call for emergency services or render aid to Maraj.

'He was not only irresponsible and negligent, but more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help.

'Polevich's behavior was criminal, cowardly, and immoral. We will hold him responsible for his reckless actions that led to Robert Maraj's death!'

The suspect: Charles Polevich, 70, later turned himself in to police in connection with the incident and was charged with two felonies

According to the criminal complaint filed against Polevich, the man allegedly hit Robert with his 1992 white Volvo, and police say he 'then exited his vehicle, stood over the victim, asked him if "he was ok," walked and returned to his vehicle and fled the scene.'

Police also allege Polevich then drove to his home 'avoiding intersections and did conceal his vehicle in the detached garage at his residence.'

News of the lawsuit comes two days after Polevich turned himself in to the police and was arrested Wednesday morning.

Maraj, 64, was killed on Friday in Mineola, Long Island, after he was struck by a car heading northbound on Roslyn Road at the intersection with Raff Avenue, authorities said.

Cat's out of the bag: The news was confirmed by her attorneys, Ben Crump and Paul Napoli - Crump made this post on Instagram

The Nassau County Police Department announced the arrest of Polevich during a morning press conference.

Polevich surrendered to police after officers tracked him down to his home in Mineola and found his damaged car in the garage.

Detective Lt Stephen Fitzpatrick told reporters that Polveich was driving his 1992 white Volvo station wagon northbound on Roslyn Road when he struck Maraj, who was walking in the road, possibly due to snow pileups on the sidewalk.

Polevich is pictured in handcuffs after turning himself in to the Nassau County police on Wednesday morning, days after the fatal crash

Polevich, who spent a lot of time in Guam but has a home in Mineola, initially got out of his car, observed Maraj lying on the ground, then got back behind the wheel and drove to his home, where he then parked his Volvo in the garage and covered it up, according to police.

'He was absolutely aware of what happened,' Fitzpatrick said. 'He looked at the deceased and made the conscious decision to leave instead of dialing 911, instead of calling an ambulance for the man. He went home and secreted the vehicle, so he is well aware of what he did.'

Maraj was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.

An undated photo shows Nicki Minaj with her father Robert Maraj, 64, whom she struggled to forgive after her difficult childhood

Detectives used surveillance video from the neighborhood to track the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run crash to Polevich's home in the 160 block of Roselle Street in Mineola.

Officers then offered Polevich the opportunity to surrender at police headquarters.

He was charged with leaving the scene of an auto accident and tampering with evidence.

Police said that had Polevich stayed at the scene and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time, he would have avoided criminal charges.

Fitzpatrick told reporters police have been in constant communication with Maraj's family.

On Wednesday, a judge set Polevich's bail at $250,000, suspended his driver's license and ordered him to surrender his passport, reported Newsday. He is due back in court on Friday.

The crash took place on Friday evening at the intersection of Roslyn Street and Raff Avenue in Mineola, New York

Carol Maraj, Robert's estranged wife, told the paper she was 'very, very, very happy' with Polevich's arrest.

Polevich has no prior criminal record. His name appeared in an article published by Pacific Daily News in June 2016, when a former bookkeeper at the Guam-based environmental consulting firm he owned was sentenced to federal prison for stealing nearly $159,000 from her employer.

Polevich testified in court that his staffer's criminal actions nearly caused his small business to go under.

Minaj, 38, has not yet spoken out publicly about her father's death, but she has previously spoken out about her difficult childhood and Robert's substance abuse.

Minaj, 38, has not yet spoken out publicly about her father's death, and her publicist did not immediately respond to a phone message from DailyMail.com on Tuesday

Their relationship had its difficulties, with Minaj accusing her father of being an abusive alcoholic and crack addict in her youth, but eight years ago she said that he was trying to clean up his act.

'He's still with my mother. He went to rehab and cleaned himself up. Eventually they started going to church a lot, and he got saved and started changing his life,' she told the Guardian in 2012. 'He's away from drugs now. He doesn't instill fear in people any more.'

The family has rarely mentioned Maraj in recent years, and his relationship with Minaj and her mother Carol at the time of his death was not immediately clear.

Photos show that Minaj and her father, who also went by the name Omar, attended events together at times, evidently attempting to patch things up.

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.

Minaj's father Robert and mother Carol are pictured together in 2013

In a 2015 interview with the New York Times, Minaj said that she was never personally physically 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.'

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."'

Carol Maraj has launched her own music career, as well as a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting victims of domestic abuse.

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)

Robert Maraj had admitted to having anger issues, but said in a 2012 interview with TMZ that his daughter's account of his behavior was 'exaggerated'.

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'.
Mar. 20CUMBERLAND  Groups from 20 counties across Maryland on Friday asked Gov. Larry Hogan and State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon to use "more aggressive tactics" and push local education boards to send children back to school five days a week this spring.

The Coalition Of Maryland Parents and Students, which represents 22,000 families and 800,000 students across the state and includes the local Parents for Reopening Allegany County Schools group, said it sent a letter to state officials that says "full return is the only way to halt learning loss, improve student mental health, and bring back a sense of normalcy that our children richly deserve."

Maryland counties that returned students to classrooms "have reported great success, with seamless and safe reintegration, teachers beaming with pride and elated children who report a huge improvement in learning and morale," the COMPS letter states. "However, far too many counties are phasing-in at a snail's pace, dramatically inhibiting the days students will have in the classroom before summer break. In addition, barring guidance from the state, many school districts remain wedded to a hybrid format of learning, reducing those minimal in-person opportunities 50% further."

The letter also states that "slavish adherence to six-foot distancing in most counties has precluded the rest of Maryland's students from fully returning to school. Superintendents in several of these districts including Montgomery, Allegany, Cecil, Frederick, and Worcester have publicly expressed a willingness to use a three-foot rule in schools, but would only do so with explicit, written guidance from the state."

Hogan's office as of Friday evening had not responded to a Cumberland Times-News request for response to the COMPS letter.

State, local cases

At a press conference in Annapolis Thursday, Hogan said he agreed with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, that some states are moving too quickly with reopening plans.

Story continues

"We're just not one of them," Hogan said of Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Health on Friday reported 1,154 new COVID-19 cases, 18 additional deaths and 18 more hospitalizations across the state in the past 24 hours.

The statewide daily positive case rate was 4.16%, with Allegany County at 1.78%, Garrett County at 3.7% and Washington County at 6.45%.

The seven-day moving average case rate per 100,000 people was 15.17 statewide, with Allegany County at 4.87, Garrett County at 10.34 and Washington County at 20.71.

CDC updates distancing

Also on Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduced its school social distancing recommendations, and removed suggestions for plastic shields or other barriers between desks.

"In elementary schools, students should be at least 3 feet apart," the CDC stated. "In middle schools and high schools, students should be at least 3 feet apart in areas of low, moderate, or substantial community transmission. In areas of high community transmission, middle and high school students should be 6 feet apart if cohorting is not possible."

The CDC said 6 feet of distance should still be maintained in common areas, such as school lobbies, and when masks can't be worn, such as when eating.

Students should continue to be spaced 6 feet apart in situations where there are a lot of people talking, cheering or singing, all of which can spread droplets containing the coronavirus. That includes chorus practice, assemblies and sports events.

The CDC also said teachers and other adults should stay 6 feet from one another and from students.

'More reasonable' conditions

Allegany County Education Association President Kim Sloane on Friday issued a statement that asked local residents to email the Allegany County Public Schools Board of Education and superintendent and request "more reasonable learning and working conditions" for students and educators.

"(School officials) should return all students to full days of in-person instruction who want to return, and designate dedicated virtual only classrooms for those who cannot return due to health issues, as there are those educators willing and available," she said. "This is the only way our students will get the instruction in an equitable manner."

The ACPS education board recently voted 3-2 to transition students from half to full instruction days with a hybrid, alternating-day schedule beginning Monday.

At that time, BOE President Crystal Bender, Vice President Robert Farrell and member David Bohn were in favor of ACPS Superintendent Jeff Blank's recommendation for the split schedule.

Board members Tammy Fraley and Deb Frank opposed the move, and said they wanted students to return to school for full days.

The school board is set to meet at 1 p.m. Monday and anticipates closing the session to discuss matters privately with legal counsel.

At that time, the CDC's latest announcement will likely be added to the board's executive session agenda for discussion, ACPS Public Information Officer Mia Cross said via email Friday.

'Ensuring adequate ventilation'

The CDC's recent update also clarified that ventilation is a component of strategies to clean and maintain healthy facilities.

"Improve ventilation to the extent possible to increase circulation of outdoor air, increase the delivery of clean air, and dilute potential contaminants," the update states and added that ways to make that happen include using exhaust fans in restrooms and kitchens, and opening windows in buses and other transportation if doing so does not pose a safety risk.

"Even just cracking windows open a few inches improves air circulation," the CDC stated.

Dr. Judy Stone is an infectious disease specialist who spent 25 years in solo practice in Cumberland and is a Forbes.com senior contributor for health care issues.

"Ensuring adequate ventilation is not being emphasized enough and is critical to safely reopening schools," she said via email Friday.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The New Jersey Devils honor slain Capitol police officer and New Jersey native Brian Sicknick before the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins during the home opening game at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Jan. 14, 2021. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Watchdog Group Sues for Records on Death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick

A watchdog group filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia of Friday seeking records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act on the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

Conservative pro-transparency group Judicial Watch sued the district after its Office of the Chief Medical Examiner failed to produce records the group requested on Feb. 16.

Judicial Watch had asked for all records, including but not limited to autopsy reports, toxicology reports, notes, photographs, and OCME officials electronic communications, related to the death on Jan. 6, 2021, of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and its related investigation.

The unusual and unlawful secrecy about Officer Sicknicks death investigation undermines public confidence in the fair administration of justice, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.

Judicial Watch is also suing the U.S. Capitol Police for emails and videos related to the Jan. 6 riot and for House Speaker Nancy Pelosis communications with the Department of Defense in the days after the incident.

Initial media reports on the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol claimed that Sicknick died after being struck in the head by a fire extinguisher. The narrative has since shifted since no evidence has arisen to back the claim and investigators have shifted to the theory that exposure to an irritant contributed to Sicknicks death.

In a Jan. 7 statement, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) said Sicknick was injured while physically engaging with protesters.

Officer Sicknick was responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters. He returned to his division office and collapsed, USCP said in a statement. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The death of Officer Sicknick will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Departments Homicide Branch, the USCP, and our federal partners.

But Sicknick actually died from natural causes after suffering strokes, the D.C. Medical Examiners Office said on April 19.

According to the Judicial Watch lawsuit, the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner rejected its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records request on February 18. Judicial Watch filed an administrative appeal to the mayor, but has not received a determination.

Pursuant to FOIA, the Mayor was required to make a determination concerning Plaintiffs administrative appeal within 10 business days or by March 4, 2021, the lawsuit states. Plaintiff is being irreparably harmed by Defendants violation of FOIA, and Plaintiff will continue to be irreparably harmed unless Defendant is compelled to comply with the law.

Sicknick lied in honor at the U.S. Capitol last month.

Editors Note: This article has been updated with new information about Sicknicks cause of death.
The details of the attack are truly horrific. A 3-year-old boy mauled to death by two pit bulls as his screaming mother tried to fight them off in their own backyard. The boys 10-year-old brother watched from the window. Life will never be the same for the family, which only recently moved to Carteret from a city for a quieter life and more space.

Authorities are still investigating what led to the vicious attack, which also left the mother hospitalized, but relatives told ABC7 that the dogs dug under their fence from an adjoining yard. Several neighbors said they roamed the streets often and were a menace, while other relatives told CBS they had complained to the dogs owner before about his wild dogs.

Carteret spokesman Jon Solanis said the only past incident with the dogs reported to police was Oct. 23, when the dogs were loose and police picked them up. The owner retrieved them from the police station but its not clear if he was cited. No one had ever complained to the mayors office or the health department, he said.

Authorities have still not said if they found the owner to be responsible for what happened or if they expect to charge the person with any crime.

In terms of civil responsibility in cases like this, New Jersey law makes that pretty simple. The owner of the dog is liable for any damages  ranging from medical bills to mental anguish  if their dog bites a person, as long as the person didnt provoke the dog and was legally on a property, either private or public, said David J. Cowhey, a dog bite lawyer who has offices across the state.

You dont have to prove that the owner was negligent or that he was a bad animal, Cowhey said, as opposed to some states.

But its more complicated when it comes to criminal charges, according to lawyers who have worked on dog mauling cases. Unlike a crime where someone purposely fires a gun or robs a house, authorities will have to determine, among other things, what the owner knew or should have known about the dogs.

In New Jersey, there is no criminal charge specific to a dog attack. If authorities believe charges are warranted, theyll have to fit the circumstances into existing laws against recklessly causing death or injury.

Its one reason that some states have opted to pass legislation specifically addressing criminal charges for responsibility in dog attacks, said Kenneth M. Phillips, a California lawyer who represents dog bite victims and has authored books on the topic.

The laws that apply to homicides, murders and felony assaults can be difficult to apply to situations where a dog mauls or kills a person, he said.

He believes states should pass laws specifically addressing criminal liability in dog attacks.

One candle stayed lit through rains at a memorial outside a home where a three-year-old boy was killed by dogs on Tuesday, in Carteret, N.J. March, 18, 2021

But Robert Bianchi, a former Morris County prosecutor who now practices in Parsipanny, said the existing criminal statutes already allow owners whose dogs attack others to be charged with crimes up to manslaughter and even murder.

When something horrific and tragic happens, a lot of peoples gut reaction is to call for the person responsible to be thrown in jail, Bianchi said. And if the existing statutes dont spell out specifically that whatever happened is a crime, someone will invariably propose a new law to address it.

But he said people can already be charged with serious crimes as a result of dog attacks, in addition to the usual municipal offenses of dog running at large. Its just that the standard of evidence in criminal cases is different from the civil liability, he said, which is very straightforward.

Criminally, a prosecutor would have to prove that an owner of an attacking dog either set the dog on someone purposely or was so reckless as an owner that he or she allowed the attack, even without intending for it to happen. Recklessness is a higher standard than just negligence, he said, which is often the standard in civil court.

In cases where the owner did not intend for the attack to happen, Bianchi said the most serious charges that they would be likely to face, depending on whether the victim survived, would be aggravated assault with a deadly weapon  the dog  and manslaughter.

If a person is killed by a dog in a case where the owner was reckless  maybe by allowing the dog to wander or escape despite knowing it could be dangerous  he or she could be charged with manslaughter.

But determining what conduct by a dog owner counts as reckless could be more complicated. For instance, you could have an owner who lets their dog wander in violation of local rules, but there is no evidence the person knew their dog was dangerous. Or you could have another person who knows their dog has bitten people and so tries to keep it locked in a fenced-in yard, but someone accidentally leaves the gate open.

Either situation could result in a horrific attack, but a prosecutor has to consider whether it rises to the level of reckless criminal behavior, as opposed to just negligence or an accident, Bianchi said.

The details of what happened in Carteret have still not been confirmed by authorities, but Bianchi said hes sure authorities are canvassing the neighborhood and trying to find answers to questions like whether the dogs roamed often, were known to be vicious, had attacked before or were even trained to attack. All of those could go towards proving the owner was reckless, he said, if thats the case.

Phillips, the California dog bite attorney, said prosecutors, in his opinion, are often soft on dog bite cases, including in the frequent incidents when the family dog attacks one of the children.

Prosecutors assume too often that juries will side with the dog owner, either because the owner was a relative of the victim, or that members of the jury who own dogs wont vote to convict, he said.

Paul Clarke of Paterson with his bull mastiff Tigger that killed a 13-year-old on 2014.Facebook

One legislator has been trying unsuccessfully to create a law about dog ownership and attacks on children for years.

Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, D-Passaic, sponsored the Responsible Dog Ownership Act following the fatal mauling of a 13-year-old Paterson boy by a bull mastiff that reportedly jumped its fence frequently and scared neighbors.

The bill, which he has introduced every two years, would amend the endangering the welfare of a child statute to make it a crime if you recklessly allow your dog to be off leash and it kills or causes injuries to a child. The bill would also direct the Department of Health to create statewide rules about leashing and require certain types of enclosures for large dogs, which municipalities would have to police.

Tragically, the recent attack in Carteret is not the first time a child has been killed by a dog within their community. Every time a child is lost because an animal was improperly restrained or supervised, it is an unconscionable tragedy, Wimberly said in a statement Friday. Yet pet owners do not always face significant consequences for their irresponsible actions. Our state must establish clear, uniform standards regarding leashing and fencing of dogs, as well as consequences for not maintaining control over ones pet.

In that fatal attack in Paterson, the dogs owner, Paul Clarke, was cited locally for not licensing his dog and letting it roam free. Municipal court records show the case was transferred to Superior Court in 2015 because of an indictable charge being added, but its not clear what the outcome was because Passaic County court officials said they had no record of any charges related to the incident. The prosecutors office did not return a request for comment.

Cowhey, the civil attorney, said that because of the states strict liability law, the homeowner or renters insurance company of the dog owner will agree to a settlement outside of court, often within six months.

The problems come if the dog owner does not have insurance, because then they may not have the money to pay a settlement. In those cases involving renters, a victim could sue the landlord, but theyd have to prove that the landlord knew a vicious dog was living on the property, he said.

In one such incident in 2010, two dogs escaped an enclosure inside an Elizabeth factory and mauled the buildings security guard for an hour before police rescued him. The guard, who ended up intubated in a coma-like state for 10 days, sued the dogs owner and the landlord, and ended up with a $563,000 settlement.

Cowhey said he was contacted about an especially brutal attack recently: the man was in surgery in Cooper University Hospital Thursday, mauled so badly he is missing flesh, like he was bit by a shark. But the dogs owner did not have insurance, so he doesnt think the victim is likely to receive compensation.

When thats the case, theres really nothing you can do about it, he said. So a lot of these people go uncompensated for very serious and severe permanent injuries.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Trip: A still image from a video of US President Joe Biden falling on the steps to Airforce One on his way to Atlanta yesterday.

Joe Biden stumbled several times and fell on the steps of Air Force One yesterday, prompting renewed questions about the presidents health.

The 78-year-old, who is the oldest president in US history, appeared to struggle as he boarded the presidential plane. It was not clear what tripped Mr Biden up the first time, but shortly after recovering he fell twice more before dusting himself off.

The president recovered and gave a salute at the top of the stairs before departing to meet Asian American community leaders in the wake of the massage parlour massacre in Atlanta, Georgia.

Officials travelling with Mr Biden said it had been a windy morning at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where Air Force One took off.

The White House said he was 100pc fine.

American leaders have a history of struggling with the stairs used to board the aircraft but rarely have the ensuing falls been so spectacular.

The commander-in-chief suffered a hairline fracture to his right foot while playing with his rescue dog Major in November, requiring him to wear an orthopaedic boot for several weeks.

Mr Biden, who has said he uses a Peloton bike to keep in shape, often makes a point of jogging to demonstrate his fitness.

The Atlanta visit, during a nationwide spike of anti-Asian violence, had added resonance with the presence of Ms Harris, the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office.

And it came as Mr Biden yesterday expressed support for the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill that would strengthen the governments reporting and response to hate crimes and provide resources to Asian American communities.

Hate can have no safe harbour in America, Mr Biden said, calling on Americans to stand up to bigotry when they see it.

Our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit.

Mr Biden said it was heart wrenching to listen to Asian American state legislators and other community leaders discuss living in fear of violence during their meeting before he and Ms Harris delivered remarks at Emory University.

Read More

Racism is real in America. And it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America, and always has been. Sexism, too, said Ms Harris. The president and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs.

Their trip was planned before the shooting, as part of a victory lap aimed at selling the benefits of pandemic relief legislation.

But Mr Biden and Ms Harris instead were spending much of their visit consoling a community whose growing voting power helped secure their victory in Georgia and beyond.

Activists have seen a rise of racist attacks. Nearly 3,800 incidents have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based reporting centre for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and its partner advocacy groups, since March 2020.

Mr Biden and Ms Harris both implicitly criticised former president Donald Trump, who has repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the China virus.

For the last year weve had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans, said Ms Harris, people with the biggest pulpits, spreading this kind of hate.

Weve always known words have consequences, Mr Biden said. It is the coronavirus, Full stop.

In his first primetime address to the nation as president on Thursday of last week  five days before the Atlanta killings at three metro-area massage businesses  Mr Biden called attacks on Asian Americans un-American.



Though the originally planned political event to tout the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill has been delayed, the White House confirmed that the president would still meet with Georgia voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, Democrats likely 2022 candidate for governor, as Republicans in the state legislature push several proposals to make it harder to vote in the state.

It also confirmed he would meet with newly minted Democratic Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021)

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Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
A former Belfast priest living in Paris has told of the "huge weariness" on the streets as the French capital prepares for a fresh month-long Covid lockdown.

Fr Aidan Troy said many were "fed up" and angry at the latest measures.

Amid fears of a third wave, some 21 million people in 16 areas of France were placed under strict measures from midnight due to an increase in cases.

Under the new rules, non-essential businesses will be forced to close, but churches and schools will remain open, along with hairdressers if they follow a "particular sanitary protocol".

People will also be allowed to exercise outdoors within 10km (six miles) of their home but they are not permitted to travel to other parts of the country unless they have a valid reason.

A nationwide curfew from 6pm to 6am - which has been in place for two months - will now begin an hour later.

Those living in the affected areas, like Fr Troy, the former Ardoyne priest, will also have to fill out a form to explain why they have left their homes.

The 75-year-old, who won international respect for protecting children during the loyalist Holy Cross school protests of 2001, is now based in the English-speaking parish of St Joseph's in Paris.

He lives in a quiet suburb, two streets from the Champs Elysees.

The one saving grace for the Dublin-born Passionist priest is that despite the latest lockdown, churches across France will remain open this Easter.

"We can only allow a very limited number of people into churches by pre-registration.

"In our parish we will have two weekend masses instead of five with 90 at each instead of the usual 400, but at least we can still do that and transmit all the masses on YouTube," he said.

Unlike the UK and Ireland, churches there have largely remained open over the past year.

"I remember saying mass to an empty church for about 10 weeks but other than that we've been able to hold a limited number of masses," Fr Troy said.

"I'm fully supportive of the latest measures but everyone is tired. There is a huge weariness on the streets today and yet we all recognise that the figures here are terrifying," he added.

Some 35,000 new Covid-19 cases were reported nationwide in France on Thursday.

The numbers have steadily increased in recent weeks, and around 250 people are dying with Covid-19 each day.

Prime Minister Jean Castex has said the new measures will last for four weeks.

Fr Troy added: "We are all weary and I'm fed up to the teeth of this whole thing and having to be back in your home by 6pm - it's just like being four years of age again.

"I do recognise that something has to be done to get the numbers down but whether this will do it or not, with the churches and schools still open, I'm not sure. Of course there is obviously a bit of anger out there too and just like at home, there's always the fear of demonstrations against lockdown and violations of human rights by having to wear a mask etc, but so far that hasn't been substantial.

"People here will just knuckle down and get on with it over the next four weeks in the hope that the restrictions will be lifted rather than imposed again."

There have been 4,111,105 Covid-19 cases in France so far and 90,893 deaths, according to the WHO. The French government has also faced criticism for its slow vaccine roll-out.

Yesterday, France resumed vaccinating using the AstraZeneca jab following the EMA's confirmation that it was fit for use.

It had suspended the jab after a small number of people in Europe reported blood clots developing after the vaccine was administered.
A medical worker holds a vial of the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 on March 19, 2021 at the San Giovanni Bosco Hospital in Turin. Italy on March 19, 2021 again began administering AstraZeneca vaccines, five days after suspending the programme over safety fears despite the worsening coronavirus situation. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on March 18 declared the jab "safe and effective", and Italy's AIFA regulator subsequently lifted its nationwide ban.(Marco Bertorello / AFP)

It included 11 billion euros of grants to worst-affected firms that will be paid out by the end of April, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a news conference.

Draghi called the decree a "partial answer" to those who are struggling with the fallout from the pandemic, "but the best that we could do" given budgetary constraints.

Around 8 billion euros were earmarked for welfare support, including for furloughed and unemployed workers, and almost 5 billion euros for vaccinations and the health sector.

A freeze on job dismissals, expiring in late March, was prolonged until the end of June, with a further extension until late October valid for some industries.

The measures were funded by public debt, and Draghi said the government would borrow even more this year to finance more economic stimulus measures.

Friday's decree included an ammesty on unpaid tax bills, which was championed by Matteo Salvini's far-right League and opposed by leftists in the national unity coalition.

There were other measures for categories badly affected by mandatory shutdowns, including seasonal workers, theatre and cinema employees, and the ski industry.

Italy, which 13 months ago became the first European country to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic, has been plunged into its worst recession since World War II.

Last year, gross domestic product fell by 8.9 percent, while almost 450,000 people lost their jobs, with disproportionately high numbers among women, young people and the self-employed.

Draghi is hoping to provide some relief by ramping up a sluggish vaccination programme, and is drafting an economic relaunch plan to be funded by European Union grants and loans.

Italy is eligible for around 200 billion euros from the bloc's flagship virus recovery fund, but in return, it has to commit to an ambitious reform plan, subject to Brussels' approval.

Huge expectations are riding on Draghi, a former European Central Bank president famous for doing "whatever it takes" to save the euro, and installed as Italy's premier in February.

Since then, he has mostly worked behind the scenes, attracting some criticism. Friday marked his first news conference in more than a month in office.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. She can be reached at jmaschino@berkshireeagle.com.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.


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NEW YORK, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Cerberus Telecom Acquisition Corp. ("CTAC" or "the Company") (CTAC) relating to its proposed merger with KORE Wireless Group. Under the terms of the agreement, CTAC shareholders are expected to own 28.7% of the combined company.

The investigation focuses on whether Cerberus Telecom Acquisition Corp. and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, and 2) whether the transaction is properly valued.

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Here's a glimpse at activist outrage as metro relations with law enforcement continue to decline ahead of the Summer.



Read more . . .



KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Human rights organization More Squared held a drive-by protest in front of the Kansas City, Kansas, City Hall on Friday, calling for the indictment of former police officer Roger Golubski. More Squared alleges Golubski extorted sexual favors from women and coerced some into providing false information to convict innocent individuals.
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has made two key cabinet changes, evoking a strong response from his governing partner Abdullah Abdullah amid increasing pressure from the US to reach a peace agreement with the Taliban.

On Friday, the Afghan National Security Council issued decrees on behalf of Mr Ghani in which he dismissed interior minister Masoud Andarabi and appointed Hayatullah Hayat as caretaker minister.

In recent years, Mr Hayat has served as the governor of southern Kandahar province.

Army chief of staff Gen Yasin Zia was appointed acting defence minister, replacing Asadullah Khalid.

There was little explanation for the changes, but the moves angered Mr Abdullah.

This decision is against the interests of the country in the current situation and is unacceptable, he said.

In May 2020, Mr Ghani and his political rival Mr Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement, two months after both declared themselves the winner of the September 2019 presidential election.

Under the deal, Mr Ghani remained president of the war-torn nation while Mr Abdullah was named head of the countrys National Reconciliation Council, which has the authority to handle and approve all affairs related to Afghanistans peace process.

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Mr Abdullah was able to appoint half of Mr Ghanis cabinet and issue executive orders.

The changes come as a May 1 deadline nears for the withdrawal of US troops, and America has increased pressure on both the national government and the Taliban to end decades of fighting.

The cabinet changes could be a sign that Mr Ghani is pushing back against the US and oppositions increasing support for an interim administration. Mr Ghanis critics have accused him of clinging to power. He says he will leave office only through elections.

The statement from Mr Abdullahs office said the decision to remove Mr Andarabi came without consultation, without justifiable reason or reasons, was hastily (made) and in opposition to a political agreement between the two parties.

The new appointments come as Afghanistan experiences a nationwide spike in bombings, targeted killings and other violence amid stalling peace negotiations in Qatar between Taliban insurgents and the Afghan government.

The so-called Islamic State groups local affiliate has claimed responsibility for some of the violence, but many attacks go unclaimed, with the Afghan government putting the blame on the Taliban.

The insurgents have denied responsibility for most of the attacks.

On Thursday, Russia hosted the first of three international conferences aimed at jump-starting the peace process ahead of the May 1 deadline for the final withdrawal of US and Nato troops from the country.

The Taliban warned Washington on Friday against defying the deadline, promising a reaction if it does, which could mean increased attacks by the insurgent group.

The talks in Qatar between the Afghan government and the Taliban have stalled, but Russia voiced hope that the talks in Moscow could help reinvigorate them.
SPRINGFIELD  Summer school may be a way to address learning loss from remote classes, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

More than 460 Illinois school districts are still using some form of remote learning for students. Pritzker said his administration is suggesting school districts consider extending the school year.

This is going to take a comprehensive effort, Pritzker said. We are encouraging schools to think about summer as a time when they could have those kids still in class and expand their learning opportunity in class.

Bloomington District 87 Superintendent of Schools Barry Reilly said learning loss is an issue that is being addressed.

Those things will include conversations about extended school year, summer school, early start to the school year, providing some additional resources to kids in schools who may need that over the next several years, Reilly said.

Pritzkers comments came while touting the newly enacted Educational Workforce and Equity Act.

We need to make sure we are funding education properly in the state of Illinois, I have said that for some time now, Pritzker said during a Friday stop in Belleville.

Pritzker has been criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for keeping school funding flat in his $41.6 billion proposed budget for the year that begins July 1. For the second year in a row, Pritzker wants to forgo a $350 million increase in funding for elementary and secondary education.

Under the Educational Workforce and Equity Act, new graduation requirements will be added to better prepare students in computer literacy and foreign languages. Required Black history coursework will be expanded to include pre-enslavement of Black people, why Black people came to be enslaved and the American civil rights movement.

It also expands access to Illinois Early Intervention program by letting children who turn 3 years old between May and August continue receiving services until the start of the next school year.

In other education news last week, an Illinois House committee advanced a bill that would mandate all public school districts provide a comprehensive curriculum on sex education for all grades.

If the Responsible Education for Adolescent and Childrens Health Act, or the REACH Act, becomes law, Illinois would join 30 other states that require sex education.

The bill calls for developing three curricula:

 For students in kindergarten through second grade, it would focus on personal safety and identifying trusted adults.

 For grades 3-5, the focus would be on personal safety, healthy relationships, bullying prevention anatomy, puberty and sexual orientation.

 For grades 6-12, the curriculum would include instruction on sexual harassment, the benefits of abstinence, pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted disease prevention.

The bill allows parents to opt-out if they dont want their children to receive the instruction.

State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, said shes concerned the legislation is being rushed.

This is a really drastic departure from our current sex education requirements, and I think it deserves a much longer and more in-depth hearing than what weve been able to have today, she said.

The bill advanced to the full House, but will likely return to consider amendments that have not yet been drafted.
AWS Energy

A benefit of ground-mounted solar is the ability to optimally position the system to capture sun exposure as weather conditions change. When complete in 2022, the project will be among the largest aggregated movable solar energy systems designed and installed in Singapore, and it will contribute net-new renewable energy to the national electricity grid. The project is expected to generate 80,000MWh of clean energy annually, enough to power more than 10,000 homes in Singapore.

Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have been investing and growing in Singapore for more than a decade. The announcement today supports Singapores bold vision outlined in the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a 10-year plan with a whole-of-nation sustainable development agenda. Utility-scale solar energy projects, such as this Singapore project, align with the Green Plans key pillar of using cleaner energy and help Amazon meet its commitment to power its operations with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, a goal the company is on a path to meet five years early by 2025. This project will supply renewable energy for Amazon offices, fulfilment centres, and AWS data centres that support millions of customers globally.

In addition to adding net-new renewable energy to the electricity grids where it operates across the world, AWS has been, and remains, laser-focused on improving efficiency in every aspect of AWS infrastructure. From the highly available infrastructure that powers its servers to techniques AWS uses to cool data centres to the innovative server designs the company provides its customers, energy efficiency is a key goal of AWS global infrastructure. AWS scale allows the company to achieve much higher resource utilisation and energy efficiency than the typical on-premises data centre, and the AWS Global Infrastructure is built on AWS own hardware  purpose-built and optimised for workloads run by AWS customers.

According to a 451 Research report, AWS infrastructure was found to be 3.6 times more energy-efficient than the median of surveyed US enterprise data centres, with more than two-thirds of this advantage due to a more energy-efficient server population and higher server utilisation.

AWS also works with customers and partners to help them meet their own sustainability goals. By running their compute workloads in the cloud, customers and partners can benefit from AWS sustainability efforts and architect their workloads for high efficiency. 90 per cent of what AWS builds is driven by what matters for customers. To achieve their shared goals, the company focuses on four complementary areas: increasing energy efficiency in its facilities and equipment, continuous innovation in AWS data centres, advocacy to create a favourable environment for renewable energy, and working with various power providers around the world to increase the availability of renewable energy.

Investment in Asia-Pacific region

The Singapore project is AWS latest renewable energy investment in the Asia-Pacific region. Since 2019, it has announced three wind and solar projects in Australia and one solar project in China. Together, these projects contribute approximately 411MW of installed capacity and will supply more than 900,000MWh of additional renewable energy to local electricity grids.

To achieve its goals under The Climate Pledge, Amazon is committed to global investment in renewable energy generation to reduce carbon emissions from its worldwide operations.

Amazons Climate Pledge

In 2019, Amazon and Global Optimism co-founded The Climate Pledge, a commitment to becoming net-zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. Significant investments in renewable energy are a critical step to reducing Amazons carbon footprint globally.

Amazon is the worlds largest corporate buyer of renewable energy, and the projects it has enabled have the capacity to generate over 6.9GW and deliver more than 20 million MWh of energy annually. They include utility-scale wind and solar projects and solar rooftops on fulfilment centres and sort centres around the globe.

Over 50 other companies have already signed on and also committed to urgent action.

"Solving the worlds environmental and sustainability challenges is a task that no single organisation can take on alone, but working together, we can make a significant impact," said Amazon.
4.50: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

Galopin Des Champs ridden by Sean O'Keeffe crosses the line to win the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle during day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Michael Steele/PA

1 Galopin Des Champs (S F O'Keeffe) 8-1

2 Langer Dan (Lorcan Williams) 13-2

3 Floueur (Paul O'Brien) 33-1

4 Whatsupwithyou (Luca Morgan) 33-1

22 ran

Willie Mullins clinched the leading trainer title from Henry de Bromhead on countback as Galopin Des Champs won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, the final race of the meeting.

Sent off an 8-1 chance, the five-year-old benefitted from a fine ride by Sean OKeeffe to foil Langer Dans bid for a 50,000 bonus.

Dan Skeltons runner was in line for the windfall after winning last Saturdays Imperial Cup, but try as he might, Galopin Des Champs just had too many guns.

The meeting ended with Ireland taking the Prestbury Cup with 23 winners to just five from Britain.

4.15: Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase

Colreevy ridden by Paul Townend (right) on their way to winning the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase during day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Michael Steele/PA

1 Colreevy (P Townend) 9-4

2 Elimay (M P Walsh) 6-5 Fav

3 Shattered Love (J W Kennedy) 6-1

11 ran

The Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase was a new addition to the Festival this year and Willie Mullins dominated the inaugural running, with Colreevy (9-4) pipping stablemate Elimay (6-5 favourite) to glory.

The pair went toe-to-toe all the way down the straight, with Colreevy finding more for Paul Townend to edge victory.

Shattered Love was back in third, while newly crowned champion jockey's week came to an end as Cabaret Queen was pulled up.

Rachael Blackmore caps stellar Festival with top jockey title

Rachael Blackmore celebrates on Quilixios. Picture: INPHO/Mark Cranham

A stunning week for Rachael Blackmore at the Cheltenham Festival was completed on Friday as she became the first woman to secure the coveted top jockeys award.

Six wins  including a history-making victory aboard Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday  have seen the 31-year-old Tipperary jockey rocket to the summit of the sport, earning plaudits from the likes of Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh.

Her final afternoon started in a similar vein to the previous three days, as she steered the Henry de Bromhead-trained Quilixios to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle  and it so nearly climaxed with glory in the Gold Cup through A Plus Tard, who found only stablemate Minella Indo too good.

3.40: St Jamess Place Foxhunter Chase

Porlock Bay (left) ridden by Lorcan Williams on their way to winning the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Porlock Bay (Lorcan Williams) 16-1

2 Billaway (P Townend) 2-1 Fav

3 Staker Wallace (M P Walsh) 9-1

18 ran

Porlock Bay and Billaway fought out a thrilling finish to the St. Jamess Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters Chase, with the former just prevailing in a photo.

With amateurs currently unable to ride due to coronavirus restrictions, Lorcan Williams took the mount on Will Biddicks 10-year-old, who was having just his second start in Britain after previously running in France.

Porlock Bay (16-1) could be spotted travelling supremely well from some way out, but favourite Billaway  who was second to It Came To Pass last year  proved a tough nut to crack, matching strides after jumping the last.

It was nip and tuck all the way to the line, with Porlock Bay just grabbing the glory on the nod, with Staker Wallace back in third and pace-setting Latenightpass in fourth.

Jack Kennedy was out of luck aboard Mighty Stowaway, with that defeat ensuring Rachael Blackmore will claim the top jockey title at the Festival.

Blackmore is the first woman to be crowned leading rider at the meeting, with the victory sealing a fabulous week that yielded six victories overall.

3.05: WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Minella Indo ridden by Jack Kennedy after winning the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Minella Indo (J W Kennedy) 9-1

2 A Plus Tard (Rachael Blackmore) 10-3

3 Al Boum Photo (P Townend) 9-4 Fav

12 ran

Henry de Bromhead claimed a famous one-two in the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup as Minella Indo repelled the challenge of A Plus Tard.

With Rachael Blackmore opting to partner A Plus Tard, it was left to Jack Kennedy to steer home the winner in the Festival feature.

It marks a third big race win for De Bromhead, after winning the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase with Honeysuckle and Put The Kettle On.

It was a straight shootout between the stablemates from the top of the straight, with Minella Indo going for home first.

Blackmore tried to rally her mount after the last in a bid for another historic success, but A Plus Tard just could not catch the 9-1 winner.

Dual champion Al Boum Photo had to settle for third as the 9-4 favourite, with Native River fourth and Frodon fifth.

Leading British hope Champ was pulled up at an early stage after a series of jumping errors.

Kennedy said: I cant believe it, this is what Ive dreamt of since I was a child. Im just so grateful to Henry and (owner) Barry Maloney for giving me a chance and the opportunity to ride him. I cant thank them enough, Ill owe them forever.

This is what I live for. I just cant believe this is after happening, Im delighted.

I was there very soon on him, but I didnt want to disappoint him, he carried me into it and I didnt want to be taking him back.

I landed over the last and he pricked his ears, he was pulling up, but it wasnt out of tiredness and when he heard Rachael coming back at him, he took off again. Its unbelievable stuff.

De Bromhead said: Its unbelievable. Im delighted for all connections  the Maloneys, Barry and Mike and everyone.

Weve had so much fun with this guy, we werent beaten by much with Monalee and to go and do it with him, hes just an incredible horse.

He comes alive here and I suppose when you saw Allaho winning like he did yesterday, it gave us more confidence with him.

Hes amazing, he just comes alive. Hes like a different horse, a little bit like (Champion Chase winner) Put The Kettle On.

I think Im still in my hotel, its Monday evening and Im about wake up and nothings even started yet. Thats where Im at at the moment, its brilliant.

A Plus Tard was amazing, he ran a cracker for the Thompsons of Cheveley Park. Both jockeys were amazing, its just brilliant.

2.30: Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Grade 1)

Vanillier ridden by Mark Walsh on their way to winning the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Vanillier (M P Walsh) 14-1

2 Oscar Elite (Jonjo O'Neill Jr.) 40-1

3 Streets Of Doyen (S D Torrens) 10-1

16 ran

Vanillier galloped his rivals into submission in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.

Representing Gavin Cromwell, who won Thursdays Stayers Hurdle with Flooring Porter, Vanillier kicked for home a long way out under Mark Walsh and powered up the hill.

Oscar Elite, a 40-1 shot for Colin Tizzard, tried his best to get back on terms, but Vanillier had plenty in reserve and kept finding all the way to the line.

Streets Of Doyen took third, with Stattler fourth.

Walsh was teaming up with Vanillier for the first time as regular rider Jonathan Moore is currently sidelined following a fall.

The winning rider said: One mans loss is another mans gain. Thanks to Gavin for giving me the ride.

He won well, I watched his second at Limerick and all he seemed to do was stay on. Gavin said to me he can be a bit lazy, keep him to his work, he was the opposite.

He was in my hands early for the first circuit, I thought he was doing a bit too much.

I was always happy with how I was travelling and going, I knew he stayed well.

1.55: McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Belfast Banter ridden by Kevin Sexton after winning the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Belfast Banter (K C Sexton) 33-1

2 Petit Mouchoir (J C Gainford) 22-1

3 Milkwood (R T Dunne) 28-1

4 Eclair De Beaufeu (J W Kennedy) 11-1

25 ran

Belfast Banter finished with a flourish to lift the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle for Peter Fahey and Kevin Sexton.

Sent off a 33-1 shot, Belfast Banter was settled in midfield, with Sexton happy to let Milkwood and Third Time Lucki launch their challenges up the straight before delivering his mount approaching the last.

Belfast Banter found plenty on the run to line, fending off top-weight Petit Mouchoir, with Milkwood third and Eclair De Beaufeu fourth.

Sexton said: Im kind of in shock, to be honest. I dont know what just happened, but it happened.

It actually went very well. He jumped, he travelled  I was everywhere I wanted to be. When I went for him, he just kept going and I always felt I was going to get there.

(Its) unbelievable, to be honest with you. We had the favourite in the mares race yesterday (Royal Kahala) and she didnt run that well, so I kind of thought I was going home without a winner.

Thats a nice shock.

1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Quilixios ridden by Rachael Blackmore on their way to winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Quilixios (Rachael Blackmore) 2-1

2 Adagio (T Scudamore) 10-1

3 Haut En Couleurs (P Townend) 20-1

8 ran

Rachael Blackmore notched a remarkable sixth winner of the week as Quilixios claimed the JCB Triumph Hurdle, the opening event on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Trained by Henry de Bromhead, who is also enjoying an excellent week in the Cotswolds, Quilixios (2-1) was prominent throughout, settling on the heels of the pace-setting Talking About You before moving to the front two flights from home.

Adagio, representing the home team for David Pipe, tried his best to reel in Quilixios up the hill, but Blackmores mount galloped all the way to the line, with 20-1 shot Haut En Couleurs in third.

Favourite Zanahiyr and leading British hope Tritonic both failed to sparkle in the Grade One heat.

Quilixios only joined the Henry De Bromhead yard at the start of the month having previously been trained by the suspended Gordon Elliott, and Rachael Blackmore paid tribute to the horses former team.

She told ITV Racing: Its incredible. Henrys only had this horse a short time, so all the work went into him at Cullentra stables, so its thanks to their work, really.

Henry just had to get him here on the boat, so big thanks to all them. Hes a smashing horse. And thanks to Cheveley Park for putting me up, its brilliant.

Blackmore admitted her parents are thoroughly enjoying her exploits at home in Tipperary.

She added: Theyre getting a great kick out of it, so its brilliant. I know theyd have loved to have been here today, like a lot of people. Im just happy Im here and these horses are here.

De Bromhead said: Its been an incredible week.

Hes a lovely horse but weve only just got him. Hes a gorgeous horse and Im pleased for Cheveley Park, as they are great supporters of ours.

All credit to Gordon and his team as he looked amazing on joining us, weve done very little with him.

We knew he jumped really well, and had been really impressive before today and hes a lovely looking horse. Hell be a nice chaser in time.

I wouldnt know about next year, well have a chat and see what everyone wants to do.
Technical problems forced the launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket with 38 satellites on board to be postponed until March 22, the Russian space agency Roskosmos said.

The launch from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, originally scheduled to take place on March 20, was delayed after a surge in voltage was detected, space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin said.

"Having heard reports from the work managers, the State Commission decided to conduct the launch on the morning of March 22, 2021," Roskosmos said later in a statement.

The rocket was due to place in orbit 38 satellites from 18 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Britain, and Brazil.

The Japanese device is supposed to collect decommissioned satellites as part of an effort to clean up some of the debris threatening to take up available orbits.

Many of the other satellites, including the ones belonging to Saudi Arabia and South Korea, are for studying the globe and sending back data about the planet.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
Photo: Bc Ferries

BC Ferries spoke out Friday after a number of employees at its Horseshoe Bay terminal West Vancouver tested positive for COVID-19, confirming that the corporation has "experienced employee to employee transmission" of the coronavirus.



A spokesperson for BC Ferries wished affected employees "a safe and speedy recovery," telling Vancouver Is Awesome in a statement that it is working with Public Health Authorities to carry out contact tracing.



According to the company, B.C. health authorities confirmed that the risk to the general public is very low, "as the employees do not have close contact with the public."

The statement continued, "We have completed a deep clean of our employee areas at the terminal and all shared vehicles. BC Ferries continues to follow COVID-19 protocols, including increased cleaning at terminals and on board our ships, mandatory face coverings and encouraging customers to remain in their vehicles where possible to ensure customers travelling for essential reasons can continue to do so safely."



News of the cluster comes one day after the union representing B.C.'s ferry workers responded to reports that ferry workers would not be included among the employees set to receive the first release of extra AstraZeneca vaccine, a decision made by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.



"Our Union President Graeme Johnston has expressed his deep disappointment to the provincial government, stating it seems wrong that out members' diligence and efforts to minimize COVID-19 outbreaks would be used to support delaying our vaccine priority relative to other businesses and sectors that are receiving vaccination supplies because of their seemingly poorer [occupational health and safety] performance," wrote Jack Bruckman, executive director of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union in a bulletin to members.



Bruckman added that B.C.'s Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming had reached out to the union with his commitment "to fight for ferry workers and other transportation workers as a priority for COVID-19 vaccines," and said the union is reaching out to the province with its demands to see ferry workers prioritized as essential workers in B.C.'s COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy.

In a statement, BC Ferries said it understands that B.C.'s provincial health officer "faces difficult choices."

"We recognize the decisions are scientifically made and evidence-based," the statement continued. "We are pleased with the recent decision to include some of our crew living aboard a northern vessel to be placed on the priority list. We thank the PHO and government for their timely attention on this matter."



BC Ferries said that while it continues to work closely alongside the province "to evaluate all options to vaccinate additional groups within BC Ferries, especially those working in remote settings," it adds that "the health and safety of our employees and all British Columbians is our top concern.

"We feel this decision acknowledges BC Ferries is a low-risk site. BC Ferries workers continue to do an exceptional job of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, while keeping essential goods and services flowing to coastal communities in B.C. Their hard work has helped keep British Columbians safe. We are proud of our employees efforts and thank them for their continued dedication and service during the pandemic."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-18 17:51:57|Editor: huaxia

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REMBAU, Malaysia, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia on Thursday started to inoculate its people with the COVID-19 vaccine made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech as it pressed ahead with its national vaccination drive.

Malaysia's Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin became the first recipient of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine in Malaysia, who received the jab at the Rembau Hospital in Negeri Sembilan state.

Khairy told a press conference following his taking shot that he was feeling well.

The minister stressed that the Sinovac vaccine had been used in many countries and by state leaders including Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"This proves that many other countries recognized the safety, efficacy and stability of the vaccine for use and to be administered to their people," he said.

He noted that the Sinovac vaccine passed the requirements of Malaysia's National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and encouraged the public to participate in the government's national immunization program.

"So I want to tell the Malaysians, that if you get your appointment and you go to your vaccination center and that the vaccination center is giving you the Sinovac vaccine, please take it. It's a safe and good vaccine," he said.

Malaysia received a batch of finished Sinovac vaccines doses from China on Monday after Malaysia's regulators gave the vaccine a conditional approval. Another shipment is expected later this month.

Sinovac has also inked a partnership with Malaysia's leading pharmaceutical company Pharmaniaga to provide 14 million doses of its CoronaVac vaccine, which will go through a fill and finish process in Malaysia. The first delivery of the Sinovac vaccines in bulk arrived in Malaysia on Feb. 27.

The Sinovac vaccine is the second COVID-19 vaccine for use in Malaysia's vaccination drive after the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech.

The Malaysian government has planned to inoculate at least 80 percent of its over 31 million population in the national immunization program started in February, with 20 percent of the population being expected to receive the Sinovac vaccine.

According to the plan, Malaysia's vaccination program to go through February 2021 will be conducted in three phases, with the first phase for frontline workers covering about half a million people, the second phase for high-risk groups and the third phase for adults aged 18 and above.

The Southeast Asian country reported 1,219 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its total tally to 327,253 with 1,220 deaths. Enditem
A dog-like mobile robot named Dr. Spot could advance medical treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a new connection between patients in isolation and doctors who need to see them.

The four-legged robot is designed to help evaluations by having the canine machine with a video camera, which is connected to a physician, visit patients who need to be isolated, the New York Post reported.

Early on in the pandemic we wanted to help protect the health-care workforce from the virus by limiting their exposure to potentially COVID-infected patients, said Giovanni Traverso, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology assistant professor of mechanical engineering who worked on the project.

We wondered if we could do that by incorporating robotic systems in health-care environments, and if patients would be willing to engage with robots during their evaluations, he said.

In a new study published this month, Traverso and colleagues Peter Chai and Henwei Huang described how patients reacted to medical attention from robots.

People are very positive and accepting of robotic systems in health-care settings, particularly during the pandemic, Traverso said.

Dr. Spot, a robot built to help physicians see patients without direct contact during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

The robot developed by MIT and Boston Dynamics can perform minor procedures such as assessing vital signs, taking nasal swabs and placing intravenous catheters

The researchers conducted a nationwide survey of 1,000 people to analyze their thoughts on receiving medical services from robots.

We found that folks across the nation were willing to engage with robots, particularly systems that facilitate telehealth and systems that facilitate measuring vital signs like heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen levels, Traverso said.

Giovanni Traverso is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology assistant professor of mechanical engineering who helped develop Dr. Spot

The researchers then teamed with engineering and robotics design firm Boston Dynamics in nearby Waltham, Massachusetts, to build Dr. Spot.

Dr. Spot is made of aluminum, plastic and circuit boards and, like some other robotic doctors, can perform minor procedures including assessing vital signs, taking nasal swabs and placing intravenous catheters.

It takes a few months to build a robot, said Marco da Silva, a principal roboticist at Boston Dynamic, which is owned by SoftBank Group Corp.

The product offerings from Boston Dynamics start around $74,500, with the option of additional customizations that can cost more than $20,000 each, its website said.

Da Silva said another six weeks were needed to construct the specialized software and modifications needed to give Spot the abilities to perform patient assessments.

Marco da Silva, a principal roboticist at Boston Dynamic who worked on the Dr. Spot project

Researchers introduced Dr. Spot to 40 patients in the emergency department at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

The team mounted an iPad to Spots base, which displayed a real-time, person-to-person video allowing doctors and nurses to conduct telehealth interviews with patients while they operated the robot with a remote control.

The robo-doc's sophisticated cameras and computer systems that can identify a face even if a patient is wearing a mask. It can also assess body temperature, breathing and pulse rates and uses special lens filters to determine blood oxygen saturation.

People stand on the lawn outside Building 10 on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Boston Dynamics headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts. The robotics and engineering firm teamed with MIT to work on the Dr. Spot project

Overall, patients in the emergency department responded very favorably to Dr. Spot, especially because it reduces the risk of person-to-person exposure to COVID, Traverso said.

More than 90 percent of the patients reported their interactions with the robot were satisfactory and said they were willing to interact with more robotic systems, the study said.

Robotics, to some extent, are used in hospital settings already, Traverso said. But in the setting of COVID-19, were seeing that robotic systems really could play a significant role in health care based on peoples high acceptance.
REDDING, Calif.  This week the Redding Police Departments Community Work Program Officers worked to clean up nearly 30,000 pounds of trash in the City of Redding.

The CWPO said they were at the Churn Creek waterway north of the Old Alturas Road and Victor Avenue intersection and at Henderson Open Space.

Inmates from the Shasta County Sheriffs alternate Work Program and the City of Redding Parks Department all worked together cleaning up 29,000 pounds of trash from illegal camps.

The people contacted in these illegal encampments were offered resources to help get them off the streets, according to RPD. Some of the illegal campers, along with citizens in the area, also offered to help clean some of the sites with the crews.

Authorities said the two sites cleared out have been the source of several citizen complaints.
Senate confirms Xavier Becerra as Biden's HHS secretary; pro-life groups raise concerns

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California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will become the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, following a narrow confirmation vote by the United States Senate.

The Senate voted 50-49, largely along party lines, to confirm Becerra on Thursday.

During his confirmation hearing, Becerra told Congress that he was humbled by the task of responsibility for heading the HHS, but he was ready for it, despite not having any experience in healthcare.

I understand the enormous challenges before us and our solemn responsibility to be faithful stewards of an agency that touches almost every aspect of our lives, Becerra said.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was the lone Republican to vote in favor of Becerras confirmation, explaining that she was able to look past ideological differences in her decision.

Although there are issues where I strongly disagree with Mr. Becerra, I believe he merits confirmation as HHS secretary, Collins said. I look forward to working with the department to achieve bipartisan results on behalf of the American people.

Pro-life groups immediately sent out statements expressing disappointment and concern over Becerra's confirmation, pointing to his record as attorney general of California.

The National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, a network of pro-life pregnancy care centers, which successfully fought Becerra in court over a California law that forced their clinics to promote abortion, denounced the confirmation.

NIFLA President Thomas Glessner released a statement on Thursday afternoon via email in which he labeled Becerra an anti-life extremist.

Becerras fanatical support of abortion resulted in the state-sponsored persecution of female-founded organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor and pregnancy centers, Glessner said.

He fought these small nonprofits all the way to the Supreme Court. Becerra's bullying and bigotry were on display for all to see in the so-called Reproductive FACT Act, which targeted pro-life pregnancy centers and medical clinics by forcing them to promote abortion.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said in a statement that he took issue with the Senate confirming a man with zero training in medicine, science, pharma, or the healthcare world to work on leading our nation out of the worst pandemic in 100 years.

The only real experience he has with the industry is suing hospitals, pregnancy care centers, and other entities that aren't pro-abortion enough for his liking, Perkins said.

As Senator James Lankford noted, President Biden could have chosen a better secretary of Health and Human Services using LinkedIn. Instead, the man he chose is less than qualified for anything but aggressively targeting political adversaries.
Arizona Continues to Lead Nation in Education Freedom After 20 Years: Study

Over 20 years after the initial study, researchers still find that parents in Arizona have the most freedom in choosing what education is best for their children, compared to parents in the rest of the United States.

In 2000, the pro-school choice think tank Manhattan Institute created the Educational Freedom Index (EFI) to measure how much educational freedom parents in each of 50 U.S. states possessed at that time.

Specifically, the EFI judges each state based on various factors, such as whether parents have a wide selection of charter schools from which to choose, whether parents have access to private school options via vouchers or tax subsidies, whether parents can home school their children with relatively few restrictions, and whether school districts are small enough to make it easy for parents to transfer their children from one to another without having to move.

Arizona, which was undergoing a rapid expansion of charter schools, received the highest ranking in 2000. It maintains the lead in education freedom in the 2021 EFI (pdf), which was updated and released Thursday by the Manhattan Institute, partnered with the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas.

A great deal has changed since 2000, wrote Matthew Ladner, executive editor of education news site RedefineED and co-author of the 2021 Index. A state with the amount of choice exercised in the Arizona of 2001, however, probably would rank as middling in the 2021 rankings. While Arizona ranked first in 2001 and first in 2021, the amount of choice being exercised by Arizona families today is far greater than it was in 2001.

According to the study, Florida gained more than any other state in the rankings, climbing from the 35th place in 2000 to the seventh in 2021. It is followed by Georgia and Indiana (plus 23), Kentucky (plus 22), and Louisiana (plus 20).

Florida still has large countywide school districts, inhibiting intra-district choice, and few Floridians homeschool, the study explains. But lawmakers have actively pursued school voucher and tuition tax credit programs, and more recently passed the nations largest education savings account program.

By contrast, Texas experienced the hardest drop in all 50 states, slipping from the sixth place in 2000 to the 29th in 2021. The researchers noted that although the Lone Star States charter sector doubled during the period from three to six percent, its lawmakers didnt pass any private school choice law, and its availability of homeschooling options declined.

When it comes to whether high level of education freedom lead to improved academic outcomes, the researchers performed a regression analysis to find that high EFI score strongly and significantly associated with better results in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as Nations Report Card.

Not coincidentally, Arizona charter schools produce high levels of average academic achievement, the researchers note. Only charter schools that parents value strongly are likely to survive competition from local districts, other charter schools and private schools.

State officials do occasionally revoke an Arizona charter as part of a renewal process, but the parents far more commonly close schools based on their own prudential judgments, the report reads.
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This is definitely going to be something different, says TraRenee Chambers of her new show, Situations & Conversations With TraRenee, which premieres Sunday, March 21 on KATU-TV. The weekly show marks a return to KATU for Chambers, who spent four years as host of the KATU daytime show, Afternoon Live. Chambers also hosts the 3-7 p.m. weekday show on Portlands JAMN 107.5 radio.

When Chambers left Afternoon Live in August 2020, she said she considered signing up for another two years, but ultimately concluded it was time to move on, and explore other things, as she told The Oregonian/OregonLive.com.

As an African American woman, a media professional, and a licensed social worker, Chambers said she was also influenced by community calls for racial and social justice.

To that end, Chambers says she decided to revive the idea of a public affairs show she had originally created for radio in the early 2000s. In February, Chambers launched Situations & Conversations With TraRenee on YouTube.

It was a passion project, as Chambers says. When KATU management expressed interest in bringing her show to the ABC affiliate, Chambers partnered with Black Parent Initiative, an Oregon nonprofit organization that works to support Black families who have children 10 years old and younger.

Chambers says she intends for the show to combine lifestyle and community affairs topics, with a focus on subjects relevant to communities of color, and others whose concerns are sometimes overlooked. Chambers also plans to invite middle school students as guests, to help bring attention to their perspectives on issues.

I feel like its giving visibility and awareness to populations that are not often seen, Chambers says. As a show produced and hosted by a woman of color, Situations & Conversations With TraRenee also represents something rarely found in the Portland market.

We cannot grow until we see that things are possible, Chambers says, which is why she thinks its significant that voices of communities of color are being amplified on an ABC affiliate station.

Situations & Conversations With TraRenee will also, Chambers says, be an example of her primary goals, which she says are to elevate, educate, empower, enlighten and entertain.

Situations & Conversations With TraRenee is scheduled to premiere from 4:30-5 p.m. Sunday, March 21, on KATU. The show will also be available on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

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-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
Proponents of fully reopening schools got a major boost on Friday when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that elementary school students and some middle and high school students could be spaced three feet apart in classrooms.

The previous guidance of keeping most students six feet apart had in many school districts become a big obstacle to welcoming students back for full-time instruction because it severely limited capacity. Many experts now say a growing body of research shows that six feet is not much more protective than three, as long as other safety measures are in place, like mask wearing.

Public health experts, parents and school officials cheered the new recommendation. Teachers unions, which have used the six-foot guidance to oppose bringing children back for normal schedules, did not.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the nations second-largest educators union, said in a statement that she would reserve judgment on the new guidelines pending further review of research on how the virus behaves in schools, especially those in cities or that are under-resourced. Becky Pringle, president of the largest teachers union, the National Education Association, raised similar concerns.
Nearly a year and a half after a man's controversial death while in Mount Pleasant police custody, state authorities have cleared officers and county paramedics of wrongdoing.

On March 10, the S.C. Attorney General's Office sent a letter to the State Law Enforcement Division stating there was "insufficient evidence to merit criminal prosecution" in the death of James Britt.

The 50-year-old Mount Pleasant man died at a hospital on Oct. 16, 2019, about 2 weeks after he was arrested by officers and injected by county EMS paramedics with ketamine, an anesthetic thats commonly used in human and veterinary medicine and also injected as an illicit drug.

Officers were called to a report of a man urinating on a Mount Pleasant roadway and found Britt uncooperative once they arrived, according to a police incident report. After some time, a struggle ensued and officers held Britt face down on the ground for 15 minutes.

According to the police report, paramedics injected Britt with 500 mg of ketamine, the maximum dose allowed under county guidelines.

First-responders kept Britt face down on the ground for another three to four minutes before he became unconscious, according to the report. His heart stopped briefly when he was being transported in an ambulance and he never regained consciousness.

"The SLED investigation results support the town's position that our officers acted legally, professionally, and appropriately," Mount Pleasant officials said via a written statement issued to The Post and Courier. "We are pleased that this matter, along with the civil case handled by our insurance carrier, is now resolved."

A Charleston County spokeswoman declined to comment regarding the case's closure.

For Andy Savage, an attorney who represented one of the officers involved and Greg Carney, a county paramedic who injected Britt with ketamine after officers requested he administer the drug, the case's closure shows officers and emergency medical workers acted within the bounds of their training and existing regulations on the drug's use.

But the case still raises questions, Savage said.

"I think that while the SLED investigation thankfully did not lead to any further efforts against those who were present that day, it nonetheless brings to the public's attention the potential for misuse of ketamine," he said. "What the case did is bring to the attention of everyone that perhaps a more restrictive use of ketamine would be appropriate."

Savage said he hopes county officials reevaluate when and how ketamine should be used.

"Originally the concept was to employ ketamine as an alternative to physical force," he said. "On paper it looks good but perhaps they did not evaluate the medical complications in a certain situation where you had a person in Mr. Britts physical condition. What looked good on paper perhaps didnt turn out to be good in practice."

Savage also said the case continues to have an impact on the officers and paramedics, like Carney, who were involved in the call.

Carney, an experienced and decorated paramedic, hasn't gone back to the field, the attorney said.

In September 2020, town officials agreed to settle a wrongful death claim and pay $3 million to Britt's family. His widow and their son will receive the money from the South Carolina Municipal Insurance and Risk Fund  $2.7 million for the survival claim and $300,000 for the wrongful death claim. The family will use a third of the money for attorneys fees, records show.
President and Vice President on Friday (local time) met Asian American leaders in after the deadly shootings that claimed the lives of eight people, including six Asian women.

"Their families are left with broken hearts and unanswered questions and the investigation is ongoing. Whatever the motivation we know this, too many Asian Americans have been walking up and down the streets and worrying, waking up each morning the past year feeling their safety and the safety of their loved ones are at stake. They've been attacked, blamed, scapegoated, harassed. They've been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed," said Biden after the meet, reported CNN.

The President said that documented incidents of hate against Asian Americans have seen a 'skyrocketing spike' over the last year.

"With all the good that laws can do, we have to change our hearts. Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop. It's on all of us, all of together to make it stop," he said.

Meanwhile, Harris acknowledged the racist past of the in the aftermath of the shootings in

"The shootings took place as violent hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans has risen dramatically over the last year and more. Racism is real in America and it has always been; xenophobia is real in America and always has been; sexism, too," she said.

Harris further remarked that people in 'positions of incredible power' had scapegoated Asian Americans, and urged people to treat others with dignity and respect.

This comes after eight people were shot dead late Tuesday at massage parlours around the metropolitan area in the US state of Georgia. Police have taken the suspected gunman, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, into custody.

According to the New York Times, the incident caused outrage and fear in the Asian-American community as the shootings claimed the lives of six women of Asian descent, although the suspect denied racial bias once in custody.

(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.)
Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) exhorted the world to keep administering AstraZenecas COVID-19 shots on Friday (March 19), adding its endorsement to that of European and British regulators after concerns over blood clotting.

"We urge countries to continue using this important COVID-19 vaccine," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Geneva.

He was speaking after the global health bodys vaccine safety panel said available data about the AstraZeneca shot did not point to an overall increase in clotting conditions.

European and British regulators also said that the benefits of AstraZeneca's shot outweighed the risks, prompting various nations to lift their suspensions.

"The AstraZeneca vaccine is especially important because it accounts for more than 90% of the vaccines being distributed through COVAX," Tedros added, referring to a WHO-led global vaccine-sharing scheme.

"There is no question. COVID-19 is a deadly disease, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can prevent it. It's also important to remember that COVID-19 itself can cause blood clots and low platelets," said Tedros.

The WHOs global advisory committee on vaccine safety said in a statement that the AstraZeneca vaccine had a "positive benefit-risk profile" and "tremendous potential" to prevent infections and reduce deaths.

The WHO panel of 12 independent experts, who met virtually on Tuesday (March 16) and on Thursday (March 18), reviewed safety data from Europe, the United Kingdom, India, and WHOs global database.

Earlier, in the day, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson got his first shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

"While very rare and unique thromboembolic events in combination with thrombocytopenia, such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), have also been reported following vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Europe, it is not certain that they have been caused by vaccination," it said.

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State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT) today announced the appointment of Ann Fogarty to executive vice president and deputy head of Global Delivery with responsibility for State Streets custody, middle office, transfer agency and client service operations. Fogarty will report to Liz Nolan, executive vice president and head of Global Delivery. She will also join State Streets Management Committee.

Fogarty joins from BNY Mellon where she was most recently Executive Committee member responsible for leading the Global Operations organization and supporting every stage of the client investment lifecycle and overseeing a team of more than 20,000. She held a variety of senior positions since joining BNY Mellon in 1988, including head of EMEA Investment operations and managing director leading the provision of fund accounting, transfer agency and middle office services to mutual, ETF and alternative fund clients.

Ann brings significant global operations expertise across all ranges of complex fund structures and jurisdictions, said Nolan. She has a keen understanding of the needs of our clients and her depth and breadth of capabilities, particularly in the custody and fund administration space, will help us continue to scale our operating model while providing our clients with continued high quality service and delivery.

Fogarty has extensive experience in leading global, cross-business initiatives across all aspects of the trading lifecycle. She also has broad experience with the global regulatory environment having managed teams and projects across EMEA, Latin America and the APAC region.

I look forward to this next chapter of my career and working with the global teams and clients to continue to build on the strong foundation of innovation and service excellence that State Street has established, said Fogarty.

About State Street

State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $38.8 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $3.5 trillion* in assets under management as of December 31, 2020, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 39,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at www.statestreet.com.

*Assets under management as of December 31, 2020 includes approximately $75 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.

 2021 State Street Corporation - All Rights Reserved

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210319005348/en/
Controversial councillor Paddy Holohan has spoken out after it was revealed he is no longer a member of Sinn Fein.

The South Dublin County Council (SDCC) representative did not renew his membership and so will no longer represent the party on the council.

The party took disciplinary action against the councillor after it urged him to remove a Facebook post supporting a salon owner who reopened in breach of Covid-19 restrictions last month.

He said that C&N Beauty Room owner Christine McTiernan was "inspiring" after she was arrested by gardai for opening her business and appeared later in court.

However, Mr Holohan did not remove his posts, made on his Facebook profile.

"Paddy Holohan has chosen not to renew his membership of the party," a spokesperson for the party said.

"He is therefore no longer a member of Sinn Fein and no longer represents Sinn Fein on SDCC."

Mr Holohan was previously suspended from the party last year, when it emerged he made a string of offensive comments on a podcast.

He suggested "loads" of underage girls were having sex with men and blackmailing them for sums of money up to 10,000. He said some women were "f*****g scum".

He also said that Leo Varadkar's "blood ran to India" and insisted the person who is elected Taoiseach should be a family man.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said his comments were "vile" and "offensive".

He was later reinstated by the party and his name had been put forward for the Lord Mayor role on South Dublin County Council.

However, he lost the vote and Sinn Fein said they were not aware Mr Holohan had been nominated.

The party then moved to stand down the party's organisation in the Dublin South West constituency.

Mr Holohan will stay on as an independent councillor in South Dublin.

He took to his Instagram yesterday to confirm that he will not be renewing his membership of Sinn Fein.

In a video post he said that he found it "highly unfair" that findings of the investigation by the party, which took place last year, were not released to the public, media or party members.

He thanked his community for the "help and all of your suggestions and support".

Mr Holohan said he will work with his fellow councillors and elected members on the council.
More than a year after the pandemic first hit South Carolina, the state has tested nearly 6.5 million samples for the novel coronavirus.

As of Thursday, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control had logged 6,496,895 COVID-19 tests. Even as more people get vaccinated and the growth of new cases drops, authorities have encouraged South Carolinians to seek out testing if they have any symptoms or potential exposures.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 720 confirmed, 459 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 458,723 confirmed, 81,667 probable.

Percent positive: 4.9 percent.

New deaths reported: 9 confirmed, 3 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 7,928 confirmed, 1,049 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 69 percent.

How does S.C. rank in vaccines administered per 100,000 people?

42nd as of March 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hardest-hit areas

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In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (97), Charleston County (67) and Spartanburg County (60) saw the highest totals.

What about tri-county?

Charleston County had 67 new cases March 20, while Berkeley had 38 and Dorchester 28.

Deaths

Two of the new confirmed deaths reported were people age 35 to 64 and seven were patients age 65 and older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 560 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of March 20, 144 were in the ICU and 73 were using ventilators.

What do experts say?

Though the prevalence of COVID-19 in South Carolina is consistently declining, disease researchers are increasingly concerned about "long COVID," loosely defined as cases where someone doesn't recover from the illness within a few weeks.

"Information is still emerging on long COVID," Kelly, of DHEC, said. "We're seeing more cases than we initially anticipated."

She said some of the symptoms that can persist range from "peculiar"  such as the loss of taste or smell  to "concerning"  like shortness of breath.

There is no specific diagnostic test to confirm long COVID, Kelly added. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health announced an initiative in late February to further study the condition.
(ANSA) - TRIESTE, MAR 19 - Over the past five years, Italy has gone from 50th place to 25th in the World Happiness rankings, the president of the Ernesto Illy Foundation Andrea Illy told ANSA, noting that "thus I think something is changing".

"I think that there is a new sort of awareness," he added, "in part because of the crisis, since Italians express a great deal of solidarity among themselves in moments of difficulty." The latest World Happiness Report shows that, despite the severe consequences of the pandemic, in a single year the country rose three places in the rankings, from 28th to 25th place, and over the past five it halved the distance between it and first place.

The Ernesto Illy Foundation and IllyCaffe are among the supporters of the report, which is the result of an annual survey by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, chaired by the US economist and essayist Jeffrey Sachs.

Illy noted that he had previously stressed in a book of his published a few years ago the "markedly individualistic behavior of the Italian population, which does not manage to work as teams.

This creates problems in complex organizations like the public administration, as well as private enterprises, compared with the effectiveness in dealing with daily problems of other populations that, through altruism, manage to have a more collaborative attitude".

However, Illy said, "I also said that altruism is nothing but another form of egoism. In Italy, in serious crises, solidarity surfaces" and the country changes considerably. (ANSA).


Central Board of Film Certification has approved a film studio in AP for issuing required documents to a film for getting the censor board certification. (Photo: CBFC India)

VIJAYAWADA: In a pointer to the development of the Telugu film industry in Andhra Pradesh, Central Board of Film Certification has approved a film studio in AP for issuing required documents to a film for getting the censor board certification.

Telugu cinema director Dileep Raja pointed out that hitherto, lab letters and duration certificates were available only at film studios and laboratories in Hyderabad. But now, the same facility has been extended to Pedaravuru Film Studio in Tenali mandal of Guntur district.

Dileep Raja explained that whenever a film gets completed, it is essential that it get a censor certificate before its release. Duration certificate and lab letter are necessary before a film could be sent to the Central Board of Film Certification for receiving the censor certificate. The necessary documents can now be issued by Pedaravuru Film Studio too to get a censor certificate for new films, the cinema director informed.

He further said editing, dubbing, re-recording and other post-production facilities should be available to get the lab letter and duration certificate. All these facilities are now available at the Pedaravuru Film Studio.

Dileep Raja said Pedaravuru is the only film studio in 13 districts of AP, which has been given such recognition by Central Board of Film Certification.
(Photo : Pexels/Pixabay) Facebook antitrust investigation

Antitrust investigations are targeting tech companies, and this time it is coming after Facebook. The United Kingdom's competition watchdog is now preparing to open one against Facebook in the next few months.

Facebook under antitrust investigation

According to the Financial Times, the Competition and Markets Authority or CMA reportedly plans to look into whether the social media giant harnesses user data to give itself an advantage over its rivals in the social media and online advertising markets.

The UK may investigate the Marketplace classified ads service, which the European Commission has targeted too.

Also Read: Facebook Antitrust Lawsuit FTC: 48 States Push Social Media Giant to Divest Instagram and WhatsApp Amid Monopoly Allegations

The timing and the scope of the CMA investigation could eventually change. Facebook has declined to comment over the matter when Engadget reached out for a statement.

This year, the CMA has opened investigations into Apple's App Store fees and Google's plan to remove third-party tracking cookies. Meanwhile, a CMA department called the Digital Markets Unit or DMU will get up and running in April.

The DMU is tasked with creating and enforcing a code of conduct for major tech companies. The likes of Google, Facebook, and Apple are not safe from the antitrust scrutiny on the other side of the globe.

The Federal Trade Commission and dozens of attorneys general laid charges against Facebook last year. They are looking to unwind Facebook's purchases of WhatsApp and Instagram. The company has since filed to dismiss the charges.

Google is also facing multiple antitrust lawsuits from attorneys general and the Justice Department.

Meanwhile, Apple is battling Epic Games in another antitrust lawsuit.

What is an antitrust lawsuit?

Antitrust laws were created by Congress to preserve competition among businesses and prevent any one business from dominating its respective industry and creating a monopoly, eventually undermining the other businesses.

When businesses compete and monopolies are prevented from happening, companies have strong incentives to operate efficiently, keep the prices down and keep the quality up, according to the FTC.

Antitrust laws are the pillars that support the capitalism in the United States, and other countries in the world. The first antitrust law, called the Sherman Antitrust Act, was passed in 1890.

Today, the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act all work together to make sure that there is fair competition across the economy.

The Sherman Antitrust Act is a law that prevents groups of businesses from working together or merging to create a monopoly to control the pricing in a single market.

The Federal Trade Commission Act was passed in 1914 and this law made the Federal Trade Commission or FTC as an independent government agency that is tasked with enforcing consumer protection and antitrust laws.

The Clayton Antitrust Act was also passed in 1914 and the Clayton Act regulates business activities and it defines the unethical business practices, including the creation of monopolies.

When a company is suspected of behavior that infringes on any of the three laws, the federal government or state governments may file an antitrust lawsuit against the company. This is what Facebook, Google and Apple are currently facing.

Related Article: Facebook Leaks Defense Against FTC's Antitrust Enforcement and Break-up-Instagram and WhatsApp Are too Integrated to Split

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Government has provided details of how it intends to use the Covid-19 levy while refuting claims that the newly approved levy will be utilised in paying for free water and electricity expenditure of 2020.



This comes at the back of a series of reports to the effect that government has announced that the Covid-19 levy will be used in paying for the 2020 water and electricity freebies.



However, a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on Friday, March 19, 2021, refuted the claim outlining 7 key areas the government intends to spend the funds accrued by the levy.



According to the statement, the free water and electricity of 2020 ought not to be misconstrued to mean the new taxes of 2021 are a direct charge for those services.



Providing details on the appropriation of the levy, the statement noted that funds from the levy will be used in the procurement, distribution and administration of Covid-19 vaccines, establishment of 14 medical waste treatment facilities across the country for safe disposal of medical waste and the completion of 33 major health projects approved for implementation.



The statement also added that the levy will be used in the construction of 100-bed district hospitals in 101 districts with no hospitals, 7 regional hospitals for the new regions under the governments agenda 111 emphasising that the levy will also be used to recruit more health care professionals to fill the 111 district hospitals and to supplement the 100,000 health workers recruited so far under the current administration

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General Motors cold weather testing

Though you may not have heard of the small Northern Ontario town called Kapuskasing, named after the bordering river, theres a good chance that your car is familiar with the area  if its a GM.

A facility building. (Courtesy of General Motors)

Located about a nine-hour drive from Toronto, this community with a population of less than 9,000 also happens to be the home of General Motors Kapuskasing Proving Grounds: a full-scale permanent cold weather testing facility first opening its doors in 1941 catering to military vehicles, before switching over to production models in 1973.

The whole test track without snow. (Courtesy of General Motors)

Just how cold? Between December and February, temperatures have been known to drop as low as -40C, which is perfect for the type of work being done on the 272-acre property housing the facility. About 95 per cent of the automakers North American-bound portfolio is scrutinized here for sub-zero performance  more than 250 automobiles annually  for durability in extreme weather environments.

Exposing vehicles to Canadas harsh winter climate. (Courtesy of General Motors)

When the vehicles are here and on site, were testing them 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Connor Sutton, Cold Weather Engineering Test team leader, adding that putting them through their paces in such a harsh environment can lead to disastrous results like blown turbochargers and mangled engine cylinders.

Going around the snow-covered track. (Courtesy of General Motors)

Though it might sound counterintuitive, identifying these kinds of failures is crucial for ensuring the cars sold at dealerships can withstand the grind of daily driving, whether theyre of the traditional internal combustion variety or state-of-the-art EVs.

Testing new EVs. (Courtesy of General Motors)

The methodologies range from extended outdoor cold soak evaluation for batteries in a specialty lab, to laps around an advanced 3.6-km track to examine mechanical systems. The latter even features 30 cold cells capable of recreating weather conditions of -45C in case Mother Nature isnt cooperating.

Moving an Escalade into a cold cell. (Courtesy of General Motors)

The Kapuskasing Proving Grounds is under GMs Canadian Technical Centre umbrella that encompasses campuses in Markham and Oshawa as well.

Battery lab. (Courtesy of General Motors)

Benjamin Yong is a freelance writer from Vancouver, B.C. and a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Follow him on Twitter @b_yong.
The paper attempts to understand the two competing models of postcolonial modernity on the issue of the village, that is, one representing a Gandhian perspective and the other a liberal Western perspective led by B R Ambedkar. M K Gandhis idea of the village was developed through his imagination of an ideal state that had an appeal from the masses and was also sought as the rightful response to the British colonial rule, whereas Ambedkars idea of the village was derived from his existential experience of living in Western countries as well as in Mumbai. The idea of modernity as comprehended by Ambedkar envisioned the end of community and emergence of a society where anonymity of the individuals birth-based status would be the dominant feature of social life. These contrasting models of postcolonial modernity on the status of the village were apprehended and expressed by the members of the Constituent Assembly from 9 December 1946 to 26 November 1949.

The major focus of this paper is to understand two competing models of the postcolonial modernity with a special focus on the status of the village, which was perceived, articulated and voiced at the time when Indias Constitution was being drafted during the debates of the Constituent Assembly from 9 December 1946 to 26 November 1949.
Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has launched one of the most talked-about policies on phasing out old and defective vehicles. The fleet modernisation programme of the government aims to achieve multiple goals like reduction in air pollution, the fulfilment of India's climate commitments, improving road and vehicle safety, better fuel efficiency, and boosting the availability of low-cost raw materials for auto, steel and electronics industry. Going forward, private vehicles will be de-registered after 20 years if found unfit or in case of failure to renew registration. Enhanced re-registration will be applicable on private vehicles from the 15th year of original registration.

Here's what you need to know about the Modi government's scrappage policy:

According to the statistics, there are around 51 lakh light motor vehicles or LMVs older than 20 years in India. Around 34 vehicles are LMVs older than 15 years, while the number of medium and heavy commercial vehicles less than 15-year-old stands at 17 Lakh.

Also read: Budget 2021: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces vehicle scrappage policy

Those opting for the scheme will get scrap value of the old vehicle at the scrappage centre, which is about 4-6 per cent of the ex-showroom price of new vehicles and will get a road tax rebate of up to 25 per cent on personal vehicles and up to 15 per cent on commercial vehicles. They can also avail of a 5 per cent manufacturer discount against the scrapping certificate and also a waiver in the registration fee.

Also read: Government announces voluntary scrappage scheme for vehicles, Gadkari seeks GST rebate

There was a crying need to bring in such a scheme on the national level. The scheme aims to cut 25-30 per cent vehicular air pollution and ensure better fuel efficiency. As the old vehicles will vanish from the road, the service and manufacturing industry will get a boost with an increase in demand for new vehicles.

The government has set some deadlines to ensure the effects of the scheme on the ground could be seen as early as possible. Rules for fitness centres and scrapping centres will come into effect from October 1. While scrapping of government vehicles over 15 years can be done by April 1, 2022, heavy CVs and other category vehicles must be mandatorily tested fitness by April 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024, respectively.

Also read: Gadkari asks auto component manufacturers to increase localisation to 100%
Advocates urge transparency in Biden priest investigation View Photo

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)  A prominent victims advocate group on Friday urged Santa Clara University in Northern California to release details about unspecified allegations against its president, a Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden and is now under investigation.

The university said Thursday that the Rev. Kevin OBrien allegedly exhibited behaviors in adult settings, consisting primarily of conversations, which may be inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries. He is currently on leave from the Catholic university.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, released a statement Friday calling on university officials to be more transparent about the accusations so as to encourage others who may have experienced similar misconduct to come forward.

While we appreciate that action has been taken by the Santa Clara board of trustees, we think that the vague statement released by the university does no favors to either the university community or the alleged victims, the statement said.

Tracey Primrose, spokeswoman for the Jesuits West Province, which is overseeing the investigation, would not elaborate on the allegations in a statement to The Associated Press.

Jesuits are held to a professional code of conduct, and the Province investigates allegations that may violate or compromise established boundaries, she said. As with any organization, the Jesuits West Province has confidentiality practices, which is why I cannot provide any additional information regarding this matter.

OBrien gave the service at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, one of the most prominent Catholic churches in Washington, D.C., in January for Biden, who is the nations second Catholic president, before the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

The priest has known Biden for about 15 years, dating back to when he was serving at Georgetown University, and he also presided over services for Bidens vice presidential inaugurations.

The private Jesuit institution, located in the Silicon Valley, is ranked as one of the top 25 schools for undergraduate teaching nationwide. California Govs. Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown are among its alumni.
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday mocked Joe Biden for calling him a "killer" " saying "it takes one to know one" " as ties between Moscow and Washington sank to new lows.

US President Biden's comments sparked the biggest crisis between Russia and the United States in years, with Moscow recalling its ambassador for consultations and warning that ties were on the brink of outright "collapse".

But speaking during an event marking seven years since Russia's annexation of Crimea, Putin ruled out severing ties with the United States altogether and lobbed a jab at the 78-year-old US leader.

"We always see in another person our own qualities and think that he is the same as us," Putin said, referring to Biden's "killer" comment.

"It takes one to know one," Putin added, citing a saying from his Soviet-era childhood in Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Leningrad.

"That's not just a children's saying and a joke. There's a deep psychological meaning in this."

Putin added that he wished Biden health. "I'm saying this without irony, not as a joke."

In the interview with ABC News on Wednesday, Biden said Putin would "pay a price" for trying to undermine Biden's candidacy in the US election in 2020.

'Deal with it'

Asked if he thought Putin was "a killer", Biden replied: "I do."

His comments stood in stark contrast with his predecessor, Donald Trump, who was often accused of going soft on Putin.

In recent years Russia's relationship with Washington has gone from bad to worse, but there were calls in Moscow Wednesday for Russia to pause diplomatic relations with the US after Biden's comments.

Putin said on Thursday however that Moscow would continue working with the United States on terms "beneficial" to Russia.

"We can defend our interests," Putin said. "And they will have to deal with it," he said.

Story continues

Putin's spokesman Peskov earlier on Thursday described Biden's remarks as "very bad."

"It is clear that he does not want to get the relationship with our country back on track," Peskov said.

Moscow's embassy in Washington said ambassador Anatoly Antonov was set to depart for Russia on Saturday to discuss "ways to rectify Russia-US ties, which are in crisis".

The embassy warned that Washington had pushed bilateral ties to the brink.

"Certain ill-considered statements of high-ranking US officials have put the already excessively confrontational relations under the threat of collapse."

Moscow and Washington share a mutual distrust that flared after the Kremlin's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

Washington's ties with Moscow deteriorated further over Russia's alleged meddling in the US elections in 2016 and more recently when the West concluded that opposition figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned last summer with a Soviet-designed nerve agent.

'Watershed moment'

But the two countries have continued cooperation on issues of shared interest, including the Iran nuclear deal and the Afghanistan peace process.

The US Commerce Department announced this week it was toughening export restrictions imposed on Russia as punishment for Navalny's poisoning in August.

Konstantin Kosachev, a deputy head at the Russian parliament's upper house, described Biden's comments as "a watershed moment" and demanded that Washington apologise.

"Such statements are unacceptable in any circumstances and will inevitably sharply damage our bilateral ties," he wrote.

Over the past few decades, Russia has rarely recalled its ambassadors.

Moscow last summoned its envoy in the US in 1998 over a Western bombing campaign in Iraq.

In 2014, during the fallout after the annexation of Crimea, Putin refused to recall a Washington envoy even after then US President Barack Obama said that the Russian leader would pay for his Ukraine policies.

Putin at the time said recalling an envoy would be a "measure of last resort".

Political analyst Fyodor Lukyanov said that recalling the envoy in Washington was not enough.

"Putting ties on ice completely, apart from the minimally necessary technical aspects, would be logical," he wrote in Kommersant broadsheet.

Also See: Biden calls Putin 'killer' on TV: Moscow terms remark 'very bad', says US president has no interest in improving ties

Intelligence on Russian hand in US election was clear; it was not always presented that way

US will speak out forcefully against China committing 'genocide' of Uyghur Muslims, says Antony Blinken

Read more on World by Firstpost.
Apple has been fined nearly $2 million in Brazil for selling iPhones without a charger in the box, citing environmental reasons. The fine has been imposed by Procon-SP, the Brazilian consumer protection regulator in Sao Paulo.

Apple has been roughly fined R$10.5 million, which is roughly equivalent to US$2 million. Apple has also been accused of misleading advertising, selling devices with factory defects, and maintaining unfair terms in the contract with consumers, and not repairing a product that was under warranty.

Procon-SP asked Apple back in October last year whether the company has reduced the prices of the iPhone 12 lineup after removing the charger from the box. The regulatory body was not satisfied with Apples response and had issued this statement back in December:

Apple does not demonstrate in its response that the use of old adapters cannot compromise the charging process and safety of the procedure, nor that the use of third-party chargers will not be used as a refusal for eventual repair of the product during the legal or contractual warranty.

They also claimed that while Apple did inform consumers about removing chargers from newer iPhones, the company failed to demonstrate [any] environmental gain with this move.

The regulatory body has also accused Apple of disrespecting Brazilian law. The company refused to repair a product for a consumer within 30 days of its international purchase. Additionally, Apple was also fined for misleading advertising. The body had received complaints from many iPhone 11 consumers whose devices Apple refused to repair, citing water damage despite them being dust and water-resistant.

Our Take

Apple does have the option of appealing this decision in Brazillian court. Despite the fine, Apple removing the charger from newer iPhones has set the trend for other smartphone makers to follow.

Xiaomi, Samsung, and other OEMs have already launched phones without a charger in their box, and in the future, this is likely going to become the norm rather than the exception.

[Via Tilt
Some of the candidates for Bronx Borough President might look familiar  especially Council Member Fernando Cabrera, a veteran politico who worked in substance abuse counselling and city schools before serving three terms on the Council. Representing District 14 in the northwest Bronx, including University Heights and Kingsbridge Heights, he is a relatively moderate Democrat who dropped a previous attempt at unseating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Hes now competing against Assembly member Nathalia Fernandez, Council member Vanessa Gibson, retired NYPD lieutenant Samuel Ravelo,and state Sen. Luis Sepulveda.

City & State recently spoke with Cabrera about why he is running for the Bronxs top job, the issues he is focused on and his native borough. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

So, youre running for Bronx borough president. Why that position specifically?

We need leadership, in light of everything that we're going through in the Bronx. We see the highest unemployment rates in recent history. Our children right now are facing educational challenges. We have a housing problem that continues to permeate throughout the Bronx, and wider healthcare issues. I feel that I bring the competency and capacity due to all the experience that I had working as the longest Council member in the Bronx, the majority (whip) leader, the co-chair of the Gun Violence Task Force, the former chair to the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus, and even as a DNC delegate for President Obama.

I'm the only candidate that was, ironically, born in the Bronx in this race. Ive been doing the work longer than any other candidate, for 33 years. I've been working in the community in different roles, whether as a school counselor, college professor, or the graduate program at Mercy College for mental health and counseling programs, worked as a substance abuse counselor, pastor, so I wear many hats and I'm bringing those skill sets.

One last thing to me that is dear to me: My mom passed away last year in six weeks, as a result of COVID-19. And I have felt the pain that many of our fellow constituents in the Bronx are feeling right now. And I want to turn that pain into purpose and passion for our community and for the leadership that we so desperately need.

My condolences on your mother's death, first and foremost, I'm really sorry to hear that. What would you say are the most important issues in the Bronx right now that need to be addressed by the next borough president, and how do you plan on addressing them?

Let me start with jobs, because in our polling, we have seen that the economy and jobs is the foremost issue that we're facing right now I want to be able to have an apprenticeship program, and ask the big corporations doing business in the Bronx to provide that level of apprenticeship, especially for young people.

Health care is one of our biggest needs Until we change the way our young people are eating and create a culture of wellness, we're going to continue to see obesity; we're going to continue to see diabetes. I believe that we could turn that around. As the author and a co-sponsor of the Ban the Baloney resolution which we were able to get their administration to move away from having processed meats being given to our children, that's the kind of a path that I want to continue putting forth in our community.

And the mental health piece, you know, I'm a licensed mental health counselor, worked as a school counselor, even taught at the college level and ran the program. I want to have an on-demand (drug addiction) treatment center. When somebody wants to get off of drugs, you have to be able to receive treatment immediately.

I'm a UFT member, and the only candidate that worked in a public school. I know what happens inside of our schools now, brought more funding than any other council member into our school, funds for $70 million. I want to be able to have science labs in all the schools, bring back technical and vocational schools.

Public safety is an issue that keeps resonating here in the Bronx. I'm the co-chair of the Gun Violence Task Force, and right now it has the most effective Cure Violence Program, literally, in the nation. I challenged the first deputy mayor to double the amount of funding.

My district is one of only seven, according to the Furman Center at NYU, that didnt experience gentrification, and that didn't happen by chance. That was intentional, strategic approaches that we took here: funding affordable housing units, having rezonings that make sense, and bringing forward responsible development. The borough president has the debt capital funding that is going to be able, as myself being the next board president, to infuse a high level of affordable housing for people in our Bronx.

As the Chair on the Committee on Government Relations, what do you think of the rollout of ranked-choice voting?

We have seen some challenges. I would like to see more funding devoted towards ranked-choice voting education. At this point, the last time I checked, we are at $2 million. We should be $5.7 million, based on what we saw in our plan and based on what we saw in San Francisco and the investment they made in order for them to have an effective rollout. And so without that, we're not going to be able to communicate There should be a TV rollout like we have never seen before, because whoever wins now, its likely that they're going to be there for the next eight years. So it's crucial that we get this right the first time.

Do you think it matters if the Bronxs next borough president is Hispanic and/or Latino, or speaks Spanish?

I think that the first thing the Bronx is looking for is leadership. I think that cannot go unnoticed in terms of having a Latino. I am half-Puerto Rican, half-Dominican: I represent a large portion of the population in the Bronx. But at the same time, I want to be a borough president that represents everyone in the Bronx. When one community hurts, and one part of the Bronx is hurting, everyone else feels that because we're like the human body, we all need to connect.

One of the things that I have noticed is that our people who speak another language, they do get the information but they often get it late, and it is because of a language barrier. As someone whose first language was Spanish, I know the challenges, the fears, the forms of avoidance sometimes we take, and being able to inquire about certain things, because sometimes you'll be made fun of because of the accent or syntax. And so I think it is very helpful to have a borough president that speaks the language of many people in the Bronx, who prefer speaking Spanish as a first language, and also to be able to communicate that in the media.

Amongst other endorsements, youve received one from the Sergeants Benevolent Association. Especially given your platform goals surrounding fair criminal justice, why did you accept the endorsement, and do you think itll affect how people perceive your campaign?

I don't think it has affected it at all, because people know the work that I have done. They know the work that I had done regarding police and community relations. Our people are looking for somebody who's going to bridge the gap. I've done that. In my district, crime went down 66%, in the last 11 years. And the reason that happened is because I was able to work with a community with a Cure Violence program that I got started with a mentorship program to be able to work with local precinct and to forge those labor relations.

The Bronx is obviously home to Bronx Science, which has been embroiled for a long time with the debate on the SHSAT; much of the student body there does not hail from the Bronx or demographically line up with the city or borough. Whats your take on that?

We need to still keep the tests. You know, I went to a specialized school in Puerto Rico for science and math, and I also saw what happened when students were allowed to be there as a result of relationships with elected officials or somebody of influence. So you had a student there that was not qualified to be there. It was grueling to that poor student, but we need to balance this approach.

And I think I found the solution. Most of our students that don't get in, it's not because they're not smart enough to get in, its that they haven't been prepared for the test. I took the challenge to provide funding to one of our local middle schools who didn't have any student, for years, able to get into Bronx Science or Stuyvesant. So they conducted a class based on the funding that I gave them, and they took the test and we have students now who went to Bronx Science and Stuyvesant, so it only proved this. This city should make available to any student who wants to prepare themselves for that test, to learn how to take the test, because wealthy kids can afford it, that's the reality. They'll go to a private training place on how to take the test, and they'll have an edge. We should balance the equation here.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at the COVID-19 vaccination site at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, on March 8, 2021. (Seth Wenig/Reuters)

8th Woman Accuses New York Gov. Cuomo of Sexual Harassment

An eighth woman says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed her.

Alyssa McGrath, 33, is the first current staffer in the Democrats office to level accusations against him while revealing her name.

McGrath told The New York Times that Cuomo has ogled her, commented on how she looks, and made suggestive remarks.

He has a way of making you feel very comfortable around him, almost like youre his friend, McGrath said. But then you walk away from the encounter or conversation, in your head going, I cant believe I just had that interaction with the governor of New York.

The governors office didnt respond to a request for comment.

A lawyer for the governor told The New York Times that Cuomo has greeted men and women with hugs and a kiss on the cheek, forehead, or hand.

Yes, he has posed for photographs with his arm around them. Yes, he uses Italian phrases like ciao bella. None of this is remarkable, although it may be old-fashioned. He has made clear that he has never made inappropriate advances or inappropriately touched anyone, she added.

Lindsey Boylan attends an event in New York City on June 17, 2019. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Womens Forum of New York)

The first accusation came from Manhattan Borough President candidate Lindsay Boylan, 36, who said Cuomo touched and kissed her without her consent while she was working for the state government.

Charlotte Bennett, 25, another former aide, then said Cuomo sexually harassed her.

Anna Ruch, 33, Ana Liss, 35, Karen Hinton, 62, reporter Jessica Bakeman, 32, and an unnamed woman also came forward with allegations.

The unnamed woman, said to be a current aide, told The Times Union last week that Cuomo groped her at the governors mansion.

McGrath said the aide also described that encounter with her.

She froze when he started doing that stuff to her, Ms. McGrath said. But who are you going to tell?

Cuomo has denied the accusations, though he apologized last month for interactions that may have been insensitive or too personal, as well as comments that made others feel in ways I never intended.

I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that, he also said. To be clear I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers deserve answers to.

Investigators appointed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, are currently probing the allegations.

Bennett met via Zoom with investigators last week, telling them about her accusations and providing documents to back up her claims, a lawyer said.
Thank you for reading!

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Chairman of the Strandhill Maritime Board, Cllr Declan Bree has welcomed additional grant aid from Failte Ireland for the project.

Welcoming notification by Failte Ireland of an additional grant of 321,468 for the construction of the proposed new Surf Centre of Excellence in Strandhill, Cllr Declan Bree, said this is more positive news for Strandhill and for Sligo.

"The project had been delayed due to increased costs however this additional funding will now allow for the project to proceed as planned and will provide for the construction of a state of the art new national Surf Centre in Strandhill which will include facilities for the local community

"Strandhill has gained an international reputation as a surfing destination and in this context it was clear that a new and modern facility was required.

"The construction of the original Maritime Centre back in 2001 marked a significant milestone and was a testament to the vision and commitment of the surfing community and the people of the Strandhill community who worked with the County Council and other agencies to ensure its success.

"However, with the growth of interest and increased participation in surfing additional facilities were needed and a new and larger building required. Recognising this need the Board of the Maritime Company and the County Council decided to seek support for the development of a new National Surf Centre in Strandhill.

"There was extensive consultation with users and the local community and I wish to acknowledge the overwhelming support we have received for the project from all sectors of the Strandhill community.

"The new centre will be a significant facility for the people of Strandhill and the surf coast on the Wild Atlantic Way and will certainly attract increasing numbers of visitors to the region." Cllr Bree said.

Two weeks ago, Minister for Community Development, Heather Humphreys, that she agreed to allocate an additional 351,493 to The National Centre for Surfing Excellence in Strandhill to assist bringing the project to the construction stage in 2021. To date, funding of around 2m has been allocated.
Authorities and related units in Mui Ne City in the south-central Vietnamese province of Binh Thuan have completed a plan to salvage a ship carrying 1,500 metric tons of fly ash that sunk off the coastal city last Sunday.

The Bach Dang ship, with a capacity of 2,500 metric tons, drifted into waters off Hon Rom - Mui Ne in Binh Thuan Province on its way to carry the fly ash from Vinh Tan 2 thermal power plant in the province to the southern province of Dong Nai.

Rescue forces mobilized canoes, fishing boats and water scooters as soon as they received an SOS from the captain. They managed to rescue all of seven sailors aboard the ship.

About 2,200 liters of diesel oil remained in the ships fuel tank when it capsized.

The ship has since been lying upside down on the sea, 300 meters off Mui Nes shore, with neither oil spill nor fly ash spreading, according to the Binh Thuan Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

On Thursday, the department urged related units to promptly carry out the ship salvation plan, which had been completed by Vietnam Salvage JSC (VISAL).

According to VISALs plan, the salvation shall take place in 20 days, with the use of two crane vessels with capacities of 350 metric tons and 130 metric tons, respectively, a tugboat, a dredger, diving machines, an air compressor, and containment booms.

The rescuers will first eliminate goods from the ship, then pump oil, and relocate it to deep water.

After that, they will turn the capsized vessel over, pump water out of the ship, and tow it to the port.

The containment booms will be deployed in case of oil spill.

Related units are requested to ensure absolute labor safety and carefully check the technical condition of vehicles during the salvation process. It can be suspended in the conditions of bad weather or any request from the local authorities.

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The numbers of Americans getting infected with coronavirus appears to be leveling off with around 55,000 new infections each day.

Although figures on the whole have been on a downward trajectory for several weeks, that pace appears to be slowing, coming at a 'critical point' as the country's vaccination program continues apace.

Over the last week there has been an average of 54,183 cases per day. The figures are a decrease of 11 per cent from the start of March.

On Friday, 1,510 new deaths and 60,279 new cases were reported.

The numbers of people being infected have leveled off to around 55,000 a day but the country's vaccination program is managing to distribute around 2.5 million doses a day

Air travel across the country hit its highest level since the pandemic began as Americans satisfy their urge to travel once again. Miami airport is pictured on Friday

In many instances it is now a race between the virus and the vaccine with troubling new variants spreading which could threaten to weaken or evade the effectiveness of the injections.

'I think it is a race against time,' said Dr. Stephen J. Thomas, SUNY Upstate Medical University's chief of infectious disease to the New York Times. 'Every single person that we can get vaccinated or every single person that we can get a mask on is one less opportunity that a variant has.'

States along the East Coast appear to be struggling to reduce their cases.

This, coupled with the fact many governors are now relaxing state restrictions is placing added pressure on the effort to drive the infection rate down further.

Businesses including bars, indoor gyms and casinos are reopening and increasing capacity. Restaurants are also reopening and indoor dining is also making a return.

Some public health experts warn this could increase the risk of spread - especially with the new variants, though others - such as Florida officials - defend re-opening and say people can be trusted to be careful.

The numbers of people being infected have leveled off to around 55,000 a day

1,510 new deaths and 60,279 new cases were reported on Friday.

Current levels of deaths and infections are at levels well below the peak

Many governors are now relaxing state restrictions including those on indoor dining. Diners eat and drink at the Hungry Rhino restaurant in Windsor Locks, Connecticut

Carolyn Traub, an interpreter, reacts after receiving a vaccine while holding her dog, Phoebe, at a mobile coronavirus disease vaccine clinic for members of the deaf and blind community, organized by Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington

Air travel across the country hit its highest level since the pandemic began as Americans satisfy their urge to travel once again.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert is warning people not to be complacent.

'It's really quite risky to declare victory before you have the level of infection in the community to a much, much lower level than 53,000 cases per day.

'So it is unfortunate, but not surprising, to me that you are seeing increases in number of cases per day in areas, cities, states or regions , even though vaccines are being distributed at a pretty good clip of 2 to 3 million per day,' Dr. Fauci said.

Although states are far from their record numbers of 2020 there are still some troubling warning signs.

Michigan has seen case numbers rise by more than 80 per cent in the last couple of weeks, while in south Florida, where restrictions are virtually non-existent, infection levels are stubbornly high with around 1,000 new cases a day in Miami-Dade county alone.

In south Florida, where restrictions are virtually non-existent, infraction levels are stubbornly high with around 1,000 new cases a day in Miami-Dade county alone. Clearwater Beach, Florida during Spring Break is pictured

Elementary school students can be spaced closer together regardless of COVID-19 community transmission, but middle and high school students can only sit feet three apart if coronavirus spread in their area is not high (file photo)

In schools, students have been told they can now safely sit just 3 feet apart in the classroom as long as they wear masks but should be kept the usual 6 feet away from one another at sporting events, assemblies, lunch or choir practice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday in relaxing its COVID-19 guidelines.

The revised recommendations represent a turn away from the 6-foot standard that has sharply limited how many students some schools can accommodate. Some places have had to remove desks, stagger schedules and take other steps to keep children apart.

Three feet 'gives school districts greater flexibility to have more students in for a prolonged period of time,' said Kevin Quinn, director of maintenance and facilities at Mundelein High School in suburban Chicago.

In recent months, schools in some states have been disregarding the CDC guidelines, using 3 feet as their standard. Studies of what happened in some of them helped sway the agency, said Greta Massetti, who leads the CDC's community interventions task force.

'We dont really have the evidence that 6 feet is required in order to maintain low spread,' she said. Also, younger children are less likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus and don't seem to spread it as much as adults do, and 'that allows us that confidence that that 3 feet of physical distance is safe.'

Former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort has been partially closed after 'some' staff members were diagnosed with Covid-19

Meanwhile, former president Donald Trump's Florida resort Mar-a-Lago has been partially closed after some members of staff tested positive for the coronavirus, US media reported Friday.

'As some of our staff have recently tested positive for Covid-19, we will be temporarily suspending service at the Beach Club and a la carte Dining Room,' the club's management said in an email

It did not specify how many members of staff had been infected.

Now serving as the former president's official residence since he left the White House in January, the club said banquet and event services would stay open and that 'all appropriate response measures in accordance with CDC guidance' had been taken to sanitize the property.

Palm Beach County sent the club a formal warning in January that it had violated county code and could be fined after photos from a New Year's party showed many guests not wearing masks.

The club is to host events during the Republican National Committee spring retreat in Florida next month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and stressed the commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries amid rising tensions in the region and around the world with China.

Modi tweeted after their meeting on Friday, "Pleasure to meet U.S. @SecDef Lloyd Austin today. Conveyed my best wishes to @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and US are committed to our strategic partnership that is a force for global good."

Pleasure to meet U.S. @SecDef Lloyd Austin today. Conveyed my best wishes to @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and US are committed to our strategic partnership that is a force for global good. pic.twitter.com/Z1AoGJlzFX  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2021

Austin also met with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, according to the US embassy.

Soon after his arrival, Austin tweeted that his discussions in India would centre on cooperating to face "most pressing challenges" in the Indo-Pacific region where China's aggressive actions, from the Himalayas to the South China Sea are on the rise.

He is scheduled to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the delegations from the two countries are to hold discussions during his visit.

The first visit by a member of US President Joe Biden's Cabinet to India came as leaders of the US and China clashed at a meeting in Alaska symbolising the growing aggressiveness of China.

It is particularly highlighted in the Indo-Pacific region and the US is responding by working closely with allies and partners.

Lloyd Austin tweeted, "Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defense partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region."

Outlining Austin's agenda in India, Acting Assistant Defence Secretary for Indo-Pacific, David F. Helvey, said that he will "discuss operationalising the major defence partnership that we have with India, including through enhanced information sharing, regional security cooperation, defence trade, and cooperation in new domains."

The Indian Defence Ministry said that Singh and Austin "are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and exchange views on regional security challenges and common interests in maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region."

It added, "Discussions regarding defence cooperation would also focus on how both countries could consolidate military-to-military cooperation and defence trade and industry cooperation."

The US designated India as a major defence partner by the US in 2016 allowing it access to some defence hi-tech that would normally be available only to allies.

The visit reflects President Joe Biden's focus on the Indo-Pacific region to meet the Chinese challenge.

Last week Biden held a virtual summit with other leaders of the Quad nations, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India, Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan, at which they discussed security issues in the face of Chinese aggressive actions.

While on his way to India, Austin spoke to Australia's Foreign Minister Maria Payne, who also holds the defence portfolio.

Helvey said that Austin spoke to her about the "Quadrilateral process" of the four nations.

Before coming to India, Austin had visited two US treaty allies, Japan and Korea, on the frontlines of Chinese aggressiveness at sea in the region, and the military headquarters of the Indo-Pacific headquarters in Hawaii.

He and Secretary of State Antony Blinken held 2+2 ministerial meetings with their counterparts in Seoul and Tokyo.

The meeting of Blinken and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan with senior Chinese officials, State Councilor Wang Yi and Communist Party Foreign Affairs Director Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi, opened yesterday in Anchorage, Alaska, with open hostility.

Blinken said: "We will always stand up for our principles for our people, and for our friends."

Yi retorted that the US was trying to "obstruct normal trade exchanges, and incite some countries to attack China" -- a veiled reference to India, which hs defended itself against a by Beijing's army along the Line of Actual Control.
When the first wave of smart wearables came, it did bring along the excitement of novel and nifty features, however, it also brought high entry-level price points, homogenous design, limited choices and doubtful accuracy of those said features.

Today, the scenario has completely changed with smart wearables becoming a necessity more for a healthier lifestyle than luxury. With an increase in inclination towards health and fitness, growth in consumers who are open to adopting new and advanced devices that compliment and enhance their lifestyle has helped the wearable market expand manifold.

The smart wearables industry that started off with majorly fitness trackers has mushroomed into an industry that is helping individuals lead more efficient lives and is poised for further expansion. The global wearables market has seen a tremendous increase in shipments, with total shipments reaching 125 million units (IDC) with the Covid-19 pandemic acting as a strong catalyst for the industry.

While the coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown restrictions across the globe affected its supply chain and production facilities, multiple brands took that time to re-work and adapt their offerings. Moreover, the influx of global brands like Apple, Samsung, Amazfit, Fossil among others, are helping keep the pricing consistent while broadening the horizon of features and functionalities.

Here are some of the key trends that will define the evolution of smart wearables in the coming future:

Smartwatches gaining prominence

The smart wearable industry is expected to be propelled forward by increasing awareness regarding fitness, technological advancements, and the availability of high-speed internet connectivity. Coupled with the increasing demand for aesthetically appealing advanced devices that sync and manage daily activities seamlessly, many people are taking a leap from the regular fitness trackers to smartwatches.

The purchase of smart wearables is a phenomenon that is not just limited to Tier-1 urbanised cities, but sales are majorly being driven by emerging and developing cities, hinting at greater adoption and sustained demand for the wearables market.

The market today caters to every segment of the populus, both in terms of pricing and features: we have Apple and Samsung in the premium segment , as well as budget-friendly brands like Amazfit, Realme and Xiaomi dominating the mass market. The mere expanse of the smart wearables market today is testament to smartwatches truly breaking the barriers beyond smartphones.

Precedence of overall customer-experience

Smart wearable brands are also trying to make advancements in terms of performance, screen technology, features and functionalities. While the smart wearable segment is focusing on cost and features, hardware lead thought processes will shift to holistic customer experience.

Software and user experience-based solutions are laying the foundation of a successful future for smart wearables. Brands are investing heavily in R&D departments focused on improving app experiences. The breakup of user experience is mostly bracketed in smooth functioning, seamless integration, accurate data management and lag-free operations of their smartwatches.

LTE smartwatches on thefrontline

LTE-enabled smartwatches are leading from the front because what LTE technology really offers is the independence from routine of carrying your smartphone around at all times. While true LTE technology in smart wearables is a concept that is gaining stronger foothold , enabling you to control voice calls, messages and even music, the journey is far from over.

CES 2021 just saw the introduction of Fossil s Gen 5 LTE smartwatch, which comes with 4G LTE connectivity. 2021 may be the year where we see more brands like Garmin and Amazfit answer to the push of the industry, to incorporate LTE capabilities in a wider range of products.

Smart wearables for kids

A largely uncharted and unexplored territory is the smart wearables industry for kids which holds immense potential. The Covid-19 pandemic has given us a new perspective on the heath vulnerabilities that todays current environment poses for kids, and the smart wearable vertical can help bridge this gap with health technology customised towards children.

With schools reopening in a post-pandemic world, the rise in demand for smartwatches with 4G variants, GPS and video calling functionalities and health monitoring features is what we may see. These will also give parents easier and increased parental control over their childs overall health and well-being.

Smart data aiding smart health choices

Talking about data management, how wearables can help consumers in biohacking their lifestyle will also be the next big thing. For example, sleeping patterns can improvise circadian cycle or stress monitoring can biohack anxiety patterns or monitor sauna therapy impact on body heart rate, sweating and weight.

An emerging trend that is well on its way to fruition is, the marked popularity of personal wearable devices for not just tracking, but also prevention of many health-related occurrences. Wearable products are using highly advanced sensors to produce more and better data points delivering real-time healthcare measurements.

Putting this into perspective, in many reported instances, data which was based on the heart rate and sleep data collected from wearable devices, was used to predict the epidemic trend of Covid-19 in different countries and cities. This clearly indicates the evolution of smart wearables as health accessories to health aides.

Features like SpO2 sensors and body-temperature tracking are being introduced in various segments of smartaches from Apple, Samsung to Aamzfit, Realme and Garmin. Amazft recently unveiled its Amazfit GTR 2e and GTS 2e smartwatches with temperature tracking at CES 2021 and news on the block is that Samsung is planning to bring the same feature to their future smartwatch range.

Smart wearables promoting consumer IoT ecosystem

While talking about the future, the next step in progression is wearables converging with connected homes to drive efficiencies without having to tap a button on a screen. The global world today is working towards convergence at a mammoth level, with our electronic gadgets and appliances talking to each other at multiple levels.

Smartwatches are already on their way to double up as conversational platforms by bringing in speech recognition, and machine learning features to enable human-like voice interaction. Integration with AI interfaces like Apples Siri, Samsungs Bixby, and Amazons Alexa point towards an environment of IoT, with smart wearables sitting at the heart of it.

The boom in hearables market

Hearables are part of the latest generations of wearable devices, which offer a plethora of smart functionality beyond just an audio experience. Hearables today are equipped with health and tracking features, in-built voice assistance and GPS, wireless communication features and much more.

Hearables are also becoming an indispensable tool for people with hearing problems as they are packed with smart features such as assistive hearing. The expanding hearables market will also provide the impetus to the overall wearable industry, with brands like Boat and Fitbit pushing the market and accounting for 59.2% of the market share in the year 2020 (IDC Report).

What the future holds in store for the smart wearables market is more versatility, efficiency and prevalence - a device that is both needed and usable to every consumer. Smart wearable companies will emerge as purveyors of solutions that go beyond the landscape of fitness and health, leading and pioneering research into advanced software interface, innovative hardware designs and greater application and penetration of smart wearables in different facets of a consumers life.

This article has been written by Honey Singh, Amazfit Brand Advisor, CEO and Co-Founder of ARM Worldwide
Sinn Feins finances are being examined by the countrys ethics regulator.

The partys alleged use of funds raised abroad is key to the probe.

The purchase in cash of an office, used by Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty in Donegal, for a six-figure sum is the primary concern.

Sinn Fein insists its financial activities are conducted within the law.

The partys finances have been coming under increasing scrutiny.

Last year, Mary Lou McDonalds party received the largest ever donation to a political party on the island of Ireland.

A reclusive millionaire Englishman left an estate worth 4m to the party.

The politics watchdog has now received a detailed complaint about Sinn Fein funding from foreign sources and say they are looking into the matters.

Political donations from abroad can only be accepted from Irish citizens, under ethics laws.

The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) discussed the issue at two meetings of its board and says these matters require further examination.

The commission received a complaint about the use of funds by companies associated with Sinn Fein.

The first is a Sinn Fein company used to buy a constituency office for party TDs, Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn.

The second is a Sinn Fein company used to run commemorations for the 1916 Rising and 1981 hunger strikes.

Donegal Office Services paid 180,000 in cash without borrowing for the office building in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, in 2016.

The company had two directors, both Donegal-based Sinn Fein supporters.

At the opening of the office, Mr Doherty and Mr Mac Lochlainn thanked fundraisers from home and abroad who contributed towards the funding of the project. Speaking to Highland Radio in Donegal, Mr Mac Lochlainn said: Weve worked at this for a long, long time, not just Donegal people here but also abroad in Australia and America.

He later told The Sunday Times: Fundraising did not include direct donations from anyone, either here or abroad.

The party says fundraising for the purchase of the office went on for a decade and included church-gate collections, draws, a lotto, the sale of calendars and functions.

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Sinn Fein said raffle tickets were sold to supporters, including people who emigrated during the austerity years when they returned home. Sinn Fein has previously said Donegal Office Services is a company associated with Donegal Sinn Fein that was set up for the sole purposes of purchasing, refurbishing and managing an office.

Ireland 1916 Commemorations Company was set up by Sinn Fein to run an exhibition commemorating the Rising and the hunger strikes.

The company borrowed almost 110,000 from the partys fundraising organisation in the United States, Friends of Sinn Fein USA.

Sipo is being asked to probe if this was a bona fide loan as funds raised abroad cannot be used to support party political activity, under the law.

The complainant wants the commission to look at compliance with the Electoral Act 1997, in relation to two matters and whether there were foreign donations involved.

The seven-page complaint was made last October by Stephen Kearon, a Fianna Fail activist and former Government adviser from Wicklow.

The commission has now written back to Mr Kearon saying: I refer to previous correspondence from you in relation to the Sinn Fein political party and the Electoral Act 1997, as amended.

I wish to advise you that the Standards in Public Office Commission considered the matters raised by you at meetings in January and March of this year and is of the view that these matters require further examination.

Asked about the status of the probe, the commission would not provide any further details: It is the practice of the Standards in Public Office Commission not to comment on individual compliance matters.

Sinn Fein hasnt been notified of the matter yet by Sipo and only learned of the issue yesterday when contacted by the Irish Independent.

We have received no correspondence from Sipo in relation to these matters. Sinn Fein meets all of its legal requirements and we will be happy to provide Sipo with any clarification they require, should they contact us, a party spokesperson said.

The partys finances have recently come up on Sipos radar. Sipo wrote to Sinn Fein in 2019 seeking clarity about the execution of the will of William Hampton, the man who left 4m to the party.

The party will be required to give details of their political spending in Northern Ireland to Sipo following a new ruling by the watchdog last month.

Sipo is to issue new guidelines requiring parties with political operations on both sides of the border to provide financial reports on their activities in the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The public spending watchdogs new rules were revealed in a report presented to the Seanad on the 4m donation.

Sipo is in charge of enforcing the Electoral Act 1997, which regulates political financing, including donations and election expenses.


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By Matthew Tostevin and Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police used water cannon and charged toward protesters who had gathered near the King's Palace in Bangkok on Saturday to call for the release of protest leaders and demand reform of the monarchy.

Hundreds of police in riot gear and shields advanced on different fronts against protesters to push people away from the Grand Palace. In some places they faced off with protesters who threw firecrackers.

More than 1,000 protesters had gathered near the palace in Bangkok in an area known as Sanam Luang, or Royal Field.

"We will arrest anyone on the streets," police said over loudspeakers as multiple lines of police advanced, pushing people back.

Police used shields, batons, rubber bullets and tear gas and detained five protesters, police deputy spokesman Kissana Pattanacharoen told reporters.

"We repeatedly issued warnings before escalating our response," he said, adding that protesters used metal bars and threw stones and marbles.

The demonstrations comes after parliament this week failed to pass a bill to rewrite the military-backed constitution, one of the protesters' main demands.

A mass trial for protest leaders began this week against activists who were accused of sedition and insulting the monarchy.

Were demanding real democracy and not a government that says it is elected but comes from the army, said a man who gave his name only as Kung, 60. The world has changed and we want the same kind of monarchy as in Western countries.

A portrait of the king near the protest area was defaced.

Thailand's youth protest movement has posed the biggest challenge so far to Prime Minster Prayuth Chan-ocha. Protesters say he engineered a process that would preserve the political status quo and keep him in power after a 2019 election. Prayuth has rejected that.

Protesters also demanded reform of the monarchy, breaking a traditional taboo, saying the constitution drafted by the military after the 2014 coup gives the king too much power.

The Royal Palace has declined to directly comment on the protests, but Prayuth and government officials have said that criticism of the king is unlawful and inappropriate.

(Reporting by Matthew Tostevin and Chayut Setboonsarng. Editing by Christina Fincher, Frances Kerry and Mark Potter)
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday said he discussed the issue of of in India with the Union ministers here, while noting that partners need to be able to have such exchanges.

Replying to a question on the Sino-India border row in eastern Ladakh at a media briefing, Austin also said that the US never thought that India and China were at the threshold of a war.

When asked whether he discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the alleged violations of particularly against in India, Austin said he did not have the opportunity to talk about it with him.

"I did not have an opportunity to talk with him about that. Having said that I did have a conversation with other members of the cabinet on this issue," he told the select media briefing.

"I think we have to remember that India is our partner whose partnership we value. And I think partners need to be able to have those kinds of discussions. And certainly, we feel comfortable in doing that and you can have those discussions in a very meaningful way and still make progress," the US Defence Secretary said.

Earlier in the day, Austin held extensive talks with Defence Minister during which they resolved to further consolidate India-US defence ties through deeper military-to-military engagement with the US describing the partnership. Later, he met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

According to sources, during his one-hour meeting with Jaishankar, Austin said as the two largest democracies in the world, and values are important, and the US will lead with these values.

Jaishankar agreed and emphasised that a strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world.

Asked whether he shares concerns expressed by Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on democracy and human rights issues in India, Austin referred to President Biden's views on it.

"You have heard President Biden say that human rights and rule of law are important to the United States of America. We always lead with our values. As a democracy that is pretty important to us. India is a democratic country and you treasure your values as well. There are a number of things that we can and will work on together," he said.

While democracy and human rights issues do not come under the domain of the Pentagon, Menendez, in a letter, urged Austin to raise these concerns during his meetings with Indian leaders.

To a separate question on whether the US in any point of time thought that an war between India and China was imminent, he said never.

"No to my knowledge. We have never considered that India and China are on the threshold of war," Secretary Austin replied.

Asked about ways to counter China's aggressive behaviour, the US Defence Secretary said Washington will continue to work with like-minded countries like India, Australia, Japan and others in the region.

"We are doing the right things to promote peace and stability in the region. We really work together to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Working together with like minded countries who have shared interests is the way to check any aggression in any region. You can look forward to us to continue to do that," he said.

Austin flew into India on Friday as part of his three-nation first overseas tour that signalled the Biden administration's strong commitment to its relations with its close allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. He visited Japan and South Korea before arriving here.

On Friday, Austin called on Prime Minister Modi and held talks with Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The sources said discussions during Jaishankar-Austin meeting focused on the strategic situation in the Indo-Pacific. and the US side briefed about the recent visits in East Asia.

Jaishankar spoke about India's current security challenges and its long term strategic outlook.

Conversation also covered changing global scenarios, including Europe and West Asia, the sources said.

They said Afghanistan was addressed in some detail and assessments were exchanged on the peace process and the ground situation, as also the concerns and interests of regional powers and neighbours.

Jaishankar appreciated the Biden administration's engagement with India on this issue, the sources 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.)
I know folks have seen that President Biden slipped on his way up the stairs to AF1, but Im happy to report that he is just fine and did not even require any attention from the medical team who travels with him. Nothing more than a misstep on the stairs.  Kate Bedingfield (@WHCommsDir) March 19, 2021

A recent incident involving the President of the United States Joe Biden has gone viral. As he was climbing the steps to Air Force One for a planned visit to Atlanta, Georgia, POTUS, aka the most powerful man in the world, was knocked down three times in three seconds.You can see the video at the bottom of the page. As he jogs up the stairs, Biden trips and falls three times, each time apparently worse than the previous one. After the third stumble, he stops for a moment to check himself and apparently pat an injured shin, and then makes it all the way up at last.Despite the triple stumble, POTUS still does the obligatory twirl and salute at the top of the stairs, and then goes inside the Presidential plane. Commenters online point that he seems to be limping slightly of the left foot as he does so.Various media outlets point that the source of the stair trouble could be the November 2020 hairline fracture Biden suffered while playing with his dog Major. However, the fracture was in the right foot, and the one that seems to have caused all this trouble now is the left one.In reality, the trouble was the wind. White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tells ABC News that the President lost his balance because it was very windy. It's pretty windy outside, it's very windy. I almost fell coming up the steps myself. He is doing 100% fine, Jean-Pierre explains.Meanwhile, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield calls the incident nothing more than a misstep, with no mention of the powerful wind that might have caused it.The bottom line is that POTUS is fine and did not injure himself. And that, yes, in some cases, even the worlds most powerful men can be knocked down by a gust of wind.
COLUMBIA  With few exceptions, all long-term care facilities in South Carolina must open their doors to loved ones under new guidelines announced March 19.

And when they do, hugs and kisses are newly allowed.

Under new rules posted by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, nursing homes and assisted-living centers must allow indoor visits, unless fewer than 70 percent of their residents have been fully vaccinated and community spread is high. In that scenario, visits can be withheld from unvaccinated residents only.

Other exceptions include not allowing visits with a resident who has COVID-19 or is in quarantine for being a close contact of someone who's sick.

The lone circumstance in which the facility can bar all visitations is when a resident or employee newly tests positive. If so, everyone inside must be tested. The lockdown should continue only if testing discovers cases in other areas of the facility. Otherwise, the doors should reopen, according to the new rules, effective immediately.

While it's been necessary to protect the state's most vulnerable from a disease that preys on the elderly, it's time to open up, with safety protocols such as face masks and temperature checks still in place, said Nick Davidson, DHEC's senior deputy for public health.

"Residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, as well as their families and friends, benefit emotionally, mentally and physically from being able to see their loved ones," he said. "The exceptions are rather few, and they're quite limited."

DHEC's update follows the federal government further loosening rules that have kept loved ones behind locked doors for the past year.

Even after limited visits were allowed last fall, strict social distancing guidelines have mandated 6 feet of separation for the duration of time-limited, appointment-only interactions  whether indoors or out, unless a plastic "booth" kept them apart. However, exceptions have been allowed for dying patients and other "compassionate care" scenarios.

While the latest rules still don't bring a full return to pre-pandemic visitations, they do mark a big step in that direction, including specifically allowing a long-awaited embrace. Except for compassionate-care visits, rules previously posted by DHEC barred "hugging, kissing, holding hands, or any other physical contact."

Then the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services changed the rules.

"Facilities should allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except for a few circumstances," the federal agency wrote last week in guidelines adopted by DHEC.

While the federal update still recommended families adhere to 6 feet of separation as the "safest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19," the Medicaid agency acknowledged the toll taken by forced separation and isolation.

"We also acknowledge that there is no substitute for physical contact, such as the warm embrace between a resident and their loved one," the agency wrote.

That's why the new rules allow residents who are fully vaccinated to touch and be near their visitor, as long as they're "wearing a well-fitting mask" and washing their hands before and after. Visitors still must stay 6 feet away from everyone else in the facility.

And while each individual facility can set time limits on visits, they're no longer mandated by DHEC. Gone from DHEC's rules is the 30-minute clock for any visitor without a recent negative test result in hand, who had up to an hour to sit or stand 6 feet away. Also gone from the newly posted guidelines are restrictions keeping out children under 12.

Currently, some type of visitation  indoor, outdoor or both  is allowed at 82 percent of the 688 long-term care facilities regulated by DHEC, while 17 percent are completely closed to visitors. It's unclear what's happening at the seven facilities that did not submit their weekly status report to DHEC as required.

That's an improvement from a week ago, when 72 percent of the facilities allowed visitations of some kind.

The new rules should "greatly expand" on those allowing indoor visits, Davidson said.

As for the exceptions for those unvaccinated, not a single county in South Carolina is posting high community spread, which had been the chief reason cited by facilities not allowing any indoor visitation.

It's unclear how many have vaccination rates under 70 percent, Davidson said.

Vaccinating South Carolina's long-term care residents and staff began Dec. 28 through a federal contract with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies. Most have had the opportunity to get vaccinated, as the pharmacies have visited every nursing home and nearly all assisted-living centers twice. Third visits should wrap up by month's end, according to DHEC.

Nearly 36,300 residents and more than 22,000 employees have received at least their first of two shots. There are roughly 40,000 in each group, according to DHEC.

People aren't considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after their final shot.

Since October, DHEC's website has posted what kind of visits, if any, the facilities allowed. Newly added to the public reporting this week is the reason facilities are giving if they're not allowing visitation, as directed by Gov. Henry McMaster.

The governor said he believes that's an importance piece of transparency for South Carolinians who are eager to see their loved ones and told they can't. They should know why and be able to question whether the cited reason is accurate or an excuse, said his spokesman, Brian Symmes.

The weekly online reports will begin reflecting the new guidelines the week of March 30, according to DHEC.

DHEC officials invite anyone who thinks their loved one's facility isn't following the new guidelines to submit a complaint, either online or by phone, and the agency promises to follow up.

There have been 19,546 confirmed coronavirus cases in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, 62 percent of them residents, according to DHEC data. That's an increase in cases of less than 1 percent in recent days.

So far, 1,890 residents and 29 workers have died from the virus, collectively accounting for 24 percent of all South Carolinians who have died with COVID-19.

Of the 688 facilities DHEC regulates, there are active outbreaks at 95 of them, which means at least one case has been detected in the past two weeks. That's a 38 percent drop since the beginning of March.

Cleve O'Quinn contributed to this report from Charleston.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The people of Myanmar have huge expectations from the United Nations and the international community following the Feb. 1 coup, with many calling for sanctions and some urging the U.N. to send peacekeepers to stop the killings of peaceful protesters seeking a return to democracy, the top U.N. official in the country said Friday.

Acting resident and humanitarian coordinator Andrew Kirkwood said in a video briefing to U.N. reporters from Myanmars largest city Yangon that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other U.N. officials have been very consistent about whats really needed: collective member state actions in the Security Council.

Guterres echoed that message again on Friday, saying a firm, unified international response is urgently needed to stop the violence by security forces and return Myanmar to the path of democracy, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Many people will have seen people carrying placards saying, how many more bodies?" Kirkwood said. People are really looking for concerted international action in terms of sanctions. Frankly, some people here want to see peacekeepers."

Theres a huge expectation on the United Nations, with the entire international community," he said. We are doing everything we can in the current situation, and there is still frustration among the people that the international community hasnt done more to date.

The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. As the generals loosened their grip, culminating in Aung San Suu Kyis rise to power after 2015 elections, the international community responded by lifting most sanctions and pouring investment into the country.

The Security Council adopted a presidential statement -- one step below a resolution -- on March 10 calling for a reversal of the coup, strongly condemning the violence against peaceful protesters and calling for utmost restraint by the military. It stressed the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes and called for the immediate release of detained government leaders including Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

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The statement is weaker than the initial draft circulated by the United Kingdom, which would have condemned the coup and threatened possible measures under the U.N. Charter -- U.N. language for sanctions -- should the situation deteriorate further.

Diplomats said council members China and India, both neighbors of Myanmar, as well as Russia and Vietnam, which along with Myanmar is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, objected to provisions in the stronger earlier drafts of the statement.

Getting Security Council approval for U.N. sanctions or peacekeepers will be an uphill struggle. Thats because it will require support or an abstention from China, a veto-wielding council member that calls itself a friend of Myanmar and has a policy opposing sanctions.

The U.N. has also looked to ASEAN as the regional power to take the lead in trying to end the crisis.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the leader of Southeast Asias largest economy, urged an immediate halt to the violence on Friday and called for a summit of ASEAN leaders on the coup.

ASEAN, currently chaired by Brunei, also faces internal divisions in agreeing on significant action against Myanmar.

Without it, the death toll keeps mounting as protesters refuse to accept the coup.

Kirkwood said at least 211 people have been killed in the seven weeks since the military takeover, including at least 15 children, some as young as 14. He emphasized that many were killed by sniper bullets to the head.

At least 2,400 people have been arrested because of their suspected participation in demonstrations, he said. The vast majority of these people are held incommunicado still, and there are increasing reports of sexually based violence against them.

Before the coup, the U.N. was providing humanitarian aid to over a million people, Kirkwood said. As a result of the coup, were really very worried about an impending humanitarian crisis.

Two million people live in areas under martial law in the industrial suburbs, Kirkwood said. Just in the last few days, tens of thousands of people have fled those areas under martial law and there are desperate interviews of families carrying everything they can as they return to villages they left a decade ago to come to the city for a better life.

In addition, Kirkwood said, the government health system has practically collapsed, the security forces have occupied 36 hospitals around the country, and in some cases patients have been evicted from those hospitals.

Theres also a banking crisis that has caused major disruptions to supply chains and logistics, Kirkwood said, and in the last month food prices have increased about 20% in some places, the result mainly of growing fuel shortages and transportation difficulties.

What we may be looking at is a slow burning food crisis, he said. What we fear is that the situation will really deteriorate as transportation links and peoples access to agricultural inputs decreases, people are displaced from their normal homes and farms."

We havent seen a significant increase in the people in need of food yet, but this is a huge concern for us over time, Kirkwood said.

He said the U.N. has better access to Rakhine state, where some 600,000 Rohingya Muslims live in difficult conditions after more than 700,000 Rohingya fled a military crackdown in 2017 to neighboring Bangladesh.

"The protests and the violence havent really spread in Rakhine as they have in the rest of the country," Kirkwood said. And so in terms of humanitarian issues its a small bright spot in an otherwise quite dark picture.
Sofia Vergara has the distinction of being the highest paid actress in American television for seven consecutive years, from 2013 to 2020, behind the success of Modern Family.

And with some free time before she returns to her latest television job as a judge on America's Got Talent, the four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee headed out to do a little shopping in Beverly Hills on Friday.

The 5ft7in sitcom star, 48, played her own best advert by wearing a pair of distressed blue jeans from her collection from Sofia Jeans by Sofia Vergara.

Owning it: Sofia Vergara, 48, oozed casual chic when she headed out to do some shopping in Beverly Hills on Friday

With the sun glaring down on another beautiful Southern California day, the actress paired her skinny jeans with a black form-fitting shirt and matching open-toe platform heels.

The five-time Golden Globe nominee carried a black purse over her left shoulder and styled her lightened brown tresses long, straight, and flowing past the middle of her back with a part in the middle.

In adherence to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, she wore a black-and-white protective mask from Vistaprint over her mouth and nose.

Casual-cool: The Modern Family alum wore distresses jeans with a form-fitting black shirt and and matching platform heels

The Columbia-born actress carried a black purse and styled her lightened brown tresses long, straight, and flowing past the middle of her back and a center part

Vergara likes to tease her 21.2 million Instagram fans and followers with photos taken during her modeling years before she became a massive television star on Modern Family.

And she was back at it again the previous day: this time sharing a busty snap of herself in a white bikini top as part of her Throwback Thursday.

'#tbt Colombia the 90's,' the Colombian-born star wrote in the caption.

Reality world: Vergara has been in a midst of a break from her newest television job as a judge on America's Got Talent, which is set to premiere season 16 on June 1, 2021

In the photo, Vergara is accentuating her ample assets by crossing her arms in the skimpy top while flashing a seductive smile on her face.

The burgeoning actress, who was likely in her mid-twenties when the photo was taken, had her long tresses lightened in various shades of blonde along with a boost of volume to the texture.

Giving an added touch of the tropics, the Columbia-born star had a brown flower positioned around her right ear.

AGT will return for season 16 on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 on NBC.
EV

Foxconn, which is currently Apples number one partner for the production of the iPhone, is investing aggressively in the manufacturing of parts for electric cars, and its believed the company is currently in pole position to become a contract manufacturer for the Cupertino-based tech giant.In other words, Foxconn could be the one building the highly-anticipated Apple Car , especially after Apple failed to find a traditional carmaker that would be willing to manufacture its upcomingAccording to people familiar with the matter and analysts, Apple wants to launch its Apple Car in 2024 or 2025 at the earliest.A report from Reuters citing sources close to the talks reveals that Foxconn wanted to take over all EV production lines belonging to VinFast, a unit operating under Vingroups umbrella, all in an attempt to gain full control over the entire process. But the Vietnamese group is seeking a partnership with Foxconn, as it wants not only to grow its business using a collaboration with a foreign company but also to retain its EV business in the long term.Vingroup has confirmed that its currently discussing with Foxconn, but the talks are still in their early phases and no agreement has been reached just yet.Vingroup has received proposals from Foxconn but nothing is concrete yet. The partnership, if any, will focus on developing the batteries and electric car parts, a spokesman for Vingroup is quoted as saying. No decision on working together to produce EVs has been made yet.In the meantime, Foxconn is also getting ready to begin the production of electric vehicles at a new plant located either in Wisconsin or in Mexico. A decision on where the process would take place is projected to be made by the summer, company officials have indicated.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Critics are increasingly out of touch with moviegoers as films fall into categories like 'crowd pleasers' and 'critical darlings,' according to a new analysis.

So movies the critics liked - take 2019's AdAstra that starred Brad Pitt as an astronaut - aren't always fan favorites. While Venom, which fans loved, was panned by critics.

Stephen Follows, a film statistician and movie producer, released the study on his website

Stephen Follows, a film statistician and movie producer, released a study on his website that analyzed 10,499 movies released between 2000 and 2019 in an inquiry to the differences in how fans and critics perceive them.

Follows compared each film's IMDB score, an average of fan ratings, to those from the critic score aggregator Metacritic.

'We can see that there is a very rough trend in which audiences and critics do broadly agree. That said, many films show deviation from the trend line,' Follows wrote on his website.

He noted that the worse a film was reviewed by critics, the more deviation it may see from fan scores.

La La Land, a critical darling, received a Metascore of 94 from critics though nabbed just 8/10 stars from IMDB fans

ced a low Metascore of 35 while earning 6.7/10 stars from fans on IMDB

'It's interesting to see the agreement in the 'good' quadrant. It seems that the two groups agree most when they are talking about extremely good movies,' Follows wrote.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Follows for more information and additional comment on his analysis.

Follows noted that films beloved by fans, called 'crowd pleasers,' were often hated by critics. Movies that critics loved, 'critical darlings,' were often despised by fans.

The Times of London noted that one critical darling, Ad Astra, received a fan rating of just 6.5/10 with users calling it 'alarmingly bad' on IMDB while it received a Metascore of 80/100.

The film stars Brad Pitt as astronaut Roy McBride who goes on a mission across the solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father. New Yorker critic Richard Brody hailed it as 'an instant classic of intimate cinema.'

Other critical darlings include La La Land and Gravity, the Times of London reported.

The 2016 film La La Land received a Metascore of 94, though nabbed just 8/10 stars from IMDB fans. Meanwhile 2013's Gravity received a Metascore of 96, and seven Oscar wins, with just 7.7 stars from fans.

Sweet November, a crowd pleaser, got a rating of 6.7/10 stars on IMDB but has a Metascore of just 27

Crowd pleaser Snatch received 8.3/10 stars on IMDB with a Metascore of 55 from critics

The Dark Knight, which received a whopping 9/10 stars on IMDB , earned a low Metascore of 84

Some crowd pleasers include Sweet November, The Dark Knight, Venom, and Snatch, according to the Times of London.

In Venom, Tom Hardy stars a failed reporter who is bonded to an alien entity in a movie based on the Marvel comics. The movie's sequel, Venom: Let There Be Change, is scheduled for release in September.

It received a low Metascore of 35 while earning 6.7/10 stars from fans on IMDB.

Christopher Nolan's Batman sequel The Dark Knight, which starred Heath Ledger as the Joker, received a whopping 9/10 stars on IMDB with a Metascore of just 84.

Sweet November, the 2001 film which starred Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron, got a rating of 6.7/10 stars on IMDB but has a Metascore of just 27.

Follows' study concluded that there has been a strong correlation between audience and film critics scores in the past, but that 'a de-synchronization taking place fairly consistently over the past two decades.'

The Butterfly Effect, another crowd pleaser, earned 7.6/10 stars on IMDB and a low Metascore of 30

Critical darling Gravity received a Metascore of 96, and seven Oscar wins, with just 7.7 stars from fans

He determined that among factors that influence the discrepancies are a film's budget and genre.

According to Follows: action, thriller and sci-fi movies could be called 'crowd-pleasers' while westerns, historical films and documentaries are 'critical darlings.'

'In short, critics and audience are disagreeing more about low budget films, all while a greater number of low budget films are opening in cinemas,' he determined.

While Follows' study reviewed the differences between Metacritic and IMDB scores, past articles have examined the discrepancies between critic and audience scores on another site  Rotten Tomatoes.

In seeking to find the most divisive film of all time, RAVE Reviews determined that Knock Down The House, a documentary about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign for Congress in 2018, had the largest discrepancies between critics and audiences.

The critics consensus from Rotten Tomatoes reads: 'A galvanizing glimpse behind the scenes of a pivotal election, Knock Down the House should prove engrossing for viewers of all political persuasions.'

The 2019 film, which received a perfect 100% from critics, had received an audience score of just 18% - which has since fallen to 10% since that study was released.
(Natural News) Healthcare workers from six government hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) received Sinovac Biotech vaccines Monday, March 1, marking the start of the coronavirus vaccination program in the Philippines.

You truly are the heroes during this time of the pandemic so it is just right that you be the first in line to receive the vaccines, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told health workers.

The Philippines received its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines Sunday, Feb. 28, with the arrival of 600,000 doses of the vaccine donated by the Chinese government and made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company, Sinovac Biotech.

The Philippines has reported 576,381 cases of coronavirus as of writing, including infections with the more infectious British coronavirus variant, and has recorded 12,322 deaths.

It aims to inoculate 70 million of its 109 million people this year to achieve herd immunity and revive an ailing economy.

Carlito Galvez, a retired army general who heads the governments vaccine strategy, said the Philippines might not move forward unless everyone is immunized.

It is our moral obligation, said Galvez, who received his injection live on television and said the vaccines were doses of hope.

The country was the last to begin its immunization program among Southeast Asian countries. Its vaccination program has been delayed several times, with the latest setback a delay to the 525,600 doses of AstraZenecas vaccine that were supposed to arrive on March 1.

AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech want indemnification clauses included in sales agreements

The Philippine government has been in talks with major manufacturers of coronavirus vaccines for a combined 161 million doses but has struggled to conclude deals.

Makers of the other approved vaccines  AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech  wanted indemnification clauses included in their sales agreements with the Philippines. With an indemnification clause in the sales agreement, the companies would be free of liabilities resulting from any adverse consequences of using their vaccines. (Related: Jabbed at your own risk: Coronavirus vaccine manufacturers to be EXEMPT from liability claims in most countries.)

They were apparently afraid of suffering the same fate as the French drug company Sanofi.

Three Sanofi executives were ordered arrested by a Quezon City court after they failed to appear for an arraignment hearing on Jan. 27 in a case related to the rollout several years ago of the companys dengue drug, Dengvaxia  a vaccination campaign that allegedly resulted in the deaths of several children dating as far back as 2016.

The Paris-based Sanofi executives have been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

The industry is saying: I have to be protected. I dont want to be Sanofied,' said Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, a non-resident research fellow at the Ateneo School of Government and former health undersecretary.

Hartigan-Go is one of the former and current health officials facing charges in the Dengvaxia case along with the Sanofi executives.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon noted how drug companies suddenly required an indemnification clause following news of the arrest orders. Drilon told ABS-CBN News that Pfizer and AstraZeneca have submitted indemnification forms to the Philippines and are awaiting signatures.

Under the World Health Organizations Covax facility for lower-income countries, the Philippines would receive 5.5 million doses from AstraZeneca and 117,000 doses from Pfizer-BioNTech.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles related to online news service OneNews that the government had almost concluded negotiations with the two companies when they added the indemnification clause requirements. He said the government was under the impression that such clauses were not necessary.

The Philippines did not sign an indemnification clause with Sinovac Biotech.

Majority of Filipinos not willing to get inoculated against coronavirus

The indemnification clause requirements could further damage the publics trust in vaccines, which had already been dented by the Dengvaxia case.

That controversial case prompted hearings in both chambers of Congress from 2016 to 2018, during which Philippine health officials and drug company executives were summoned.

Sanofis French representative in Manila was forced to apologize for any misunderstanding when he had said there was no reason for alarm over Dengvaxia even when Sanofis own report stated that the drug could have adverse effects when administered to people who had never had dengue.

Families stepped forward to claim their children had died after receiving a Dengvaxia jab, a narrative pushed by the Public Attorneys Office (PAO) during the hearings. There were also reports that health officials advocated the use of Dengvaxia in exchange for commissions and kickbacks.

Memories of the Dengvaxia case still lingered among many Filipinos.

Many kids got sick after receiving that vaccine, said 62-year-old Crisanta Alipio. She said she was afraid of the coronavirus but even more afraid of vaccination.

Government officials acknowledged the difficulties. Messaging has to be very concrete and evidence-based to encourage people to receive the vaccines, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said.

Dr. Charles Yu, a pulmonologist, said that the public should not fear Chinas coronavirus vaccines because they are based on inactivated virus particles, a method that has a track record for safety.

One opinion poll showed less than one-third of Filipinos were willing to get inoculated against coronavirus. (Related: More than half of Americans dont want COVID-19 vaccine, survey shows.)

Vaccination programs will go to waste if people refuse to get the shots, said former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Apasrah Mapupuno, the head of the governments Lanao del Sur health team, said she had asked dozens of health workers and others if they would roll up their sleeves for a coronavirus vaccine.

Not one said yes.

That is the big problem, Mapupuno said. How can the health workers convince the community to get vaccinated if they themselves are not sold on COVID-19 vaccines?

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

Reuters.com 1

SCMP.com

Reuters.com 2
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The Alex Salmond inquiry has reportedly concluded it is hard to believe Nicola Sturgeon did not know of concerns about the former first ministers behaviour before November 2017, as she claimed.

In a further leak about the findings of the inquiry into Scottish Governments unlawful investigation of Mr Salmond, a majority of MSPs are understood to have concluded that Ms Sturgeon misled the Holyrood committee if she did have knowledge of the concerns.

Ms Sturgeon claims she was told about a media inquiry relating to the then-First Ministers alleged behaviour towards female Edinburgh Airport staff in November 2017 and that was the first she had heard of his potential inappropriate behaviour.

Sky News also reported that the committee believes Ms Sturgeon should have acted upon any information about her predecessors conduct.

On Thursday evening, she told Sky News: I stand by all of the evidence I gave to the committee, all eight hours worth of evidence.

Whats been clear is that opposition members of this committee made their minds up about me before I uttered a single word of evidence, their public comments have made that clear.

So this leak from the committee  very partisan leak  tonight before theyve finalised the report is not that surprising, Ms Sturgeon said.

A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman said the committee, which has four SNP members and five from other parties, is still considering its report. The result of the invesestigation is expected to be published on Tuesday.

The Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints was set up after a successful judicial review by Mr Salmond led to the Scottish Governments probe being ruled unlawful and tainted by apparent bias, with a 512,250 (596,000) payout being awarded to him for legal fees in 2019.

A spokesman for the First Minister said some opposition members appear intent on breaking every rule in the book in a blatantly transparent attempt to damage her before the coming election.

He added: The latest leak from the committee is not supported by a single shred of evidence. Sadly, she is not the first woman let down by a man she once trusted to face that charge, and regrettably she is unlikely to be the last.

Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross, has called for Ms Sturgeons resignation.

Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, said: I am not going to prejudge the outcome of the committee report.

But if it does conclude that the First Minister misled Parliament and potentially breached the ministerial code, then that is incredibly serious.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy early with thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 76F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
A PRISON inmate headbutted an officer in the face when he was asked to stop smoking on a landing, a court has heard.

Ruzmond Muwaniri (32) had previous assault convictions and was serving a three-year sentence when he lunged at the prison guard "out of nowhere" and attacked him.

Judge Bryan Smyth gave him another four-month sentence.

Muwaniri, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer at Mountjoy Prison on July 14 last year.

Dublin District Court heard the victim was on duty on a landing when he saw the accused walking towards him, smoking.

This was against the prison rules and the officer approached Muwaniri and asked him to put out the cigarette, Garda Aoife Scully said.

The accused ignored the request and kept walking.

The officer again walked over and repeated the request. The accused turned around and "out of nowhere" lunged at him and headbutted him to the face.

The victim attended a hospital emergency department, where he was treated for soft tissue and mild head injuries, Gda Scully said.

Muwaniri had 78 previous convictions, for offences including assault.

The accused was finding his prison sentence very difficult, his solicitor John Feaheny told the court.

Muwaniri had suffered from schizophrenia for a considerable amount of time, the solicitor added.

The accused was born in Zimbabwe and lived there for 12 years before coming to Ireland.

Moving from one culture to another was a "traumatic experience" for him and he had difficulties with that, Mr Feaheny said.

He was not taking medication for his condition and that "seemed to precipitate what happened".

Muwaniri also seemed to have psychological cognitive and memory problems, the court heard.

He was "fine if he's given the right medication at the right time" and "on a day to day basis, he's a gentleman", Mr Feaheny said.

Muwaniri was "very sorry for what happened".

The solicitor had been through the victim impact statement with him and the accused "thoroughly apologised" and knew the effect the assault had on the officer.




Fasten your seat belts, folks! exclaimed the excited television presenter. Our teams will be live for every moment.

If viewers had not known otherwise, they might have thought they were watching the build-up to a Super Bowl final.

But this was Court TV  and what was being shown was live coverage of the most compelling trial in the United States this century: a former Minneapolis police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd.

The death of Floyd  an African-American man begging for breath as the white officer kneeled on his neck  led to nationwide protests, global outrage and galvanised the Black Lives Matter movement.

At first, it seems disquieting that such a high-profile court battle is being covered with a pizzazz more suited to a major sporting event or even the Oscars.

It seems disquieting that such a high-profile court battle is being covered with a pizzazz more suited to a major sporting event or even the Oscars

Britain, after all, has laws stopping the media from reporting the jury selection process, judges jocular pre-trial asides or showing crucial video evidence before it is presented in court.

But they do things differently in the States, and Court TVs gavel-to-gavel coverage of The Trial Too Important To Miss  available online in this country  offers fascinating insight into American justice.

Over the past few days, Judge Peter Cahill has been probing a diverse group of potential jurors  male and female, black and white, young and old  over their suitability to sit in his Minneapolis courtroom.

Peering out from behind his Covid mask and spectacles, the grey-haired judge in his black robe asked about their careers, families, attitudes to the police and responses on a 16-page questionnaire each had completed.

This is the most historic case of my lifetime and I would love to be a part of it, said Potential Juror 52, a black man in his 30s who works in banking. He was selected.

Yet others, none identified on camera, spoke of fear. One described himself as a Christian family man and wondered whether his home would be attacked if picked to sit on the panel.

In the dock charged with murder and manslaughter is Derek Chauvin, the 44-year-old former police officer who was filmed last May with his knee on Floyds neck

Another man said his first thought on receiving jury service notice was deep breath, running my fingers through my hair, swearing, then his nerves grew worse after seeing heavy fortifications at the courtroom.

He added: Whichever way this case is decided, a lot of people are going to be angry.

He is right. For this is a potentially explosive trial and the circus has already started with lawyers who will soon be celebrities jousting over jury members.

As Court TVs sharp-suited silver fox Vinnie Politan  an ex-prosecutor who has gone prime time as their star presenter  repeatedly reminds viewers: The death of George Floyd...transformed... this... nation.

In the dock charged with murder and manslaughter is Derek Chauvin, the 44-year-old former police officer who was filmed last May with his knee on Floyds neck.

The incident lasted nine long minutes. Then the disturbing footage, captured by a teenage female bystander, sparked fury and fierce debate after going viral.

So first the horror show, now the tense trial  and it marks a huge moment for a nation bitterly divided over race, crime, politics and policing.

And just like Floyds fatality, the courtroom drama is playing out on cameras, computers and TV screens, placing not just an American ex-cop but the nations entire system of justice, even its history of racism, on trial before the world.

Peering out from behind his Covid mask and spectacles, Judge Peter Cahill in his black robe asked about potential jurors careers, families, attitudes to the police and responses on a 16-page questionnaire each had completed

For this is also Court TVs big moment, after winning a legal fight to let in cameras in a state with some of the toughest US restrictions on televising courts.

They are offering your front row seat to justice, promising our teams will be live for every moment inside THAT courtroom with their insights, perspective and analysis, even if some of the banal punditry makes the plodding Alan Shearer look incisive on Match Of The Day.

The Atlanta-based channel, which began in 1991 but made its name four years later with the OJ Simpson murder trial, has mobilised its entire 75-strong editorial staff to work on the case in anticipation of another huge hit.

Although the trials formal opening statements are not until March 29, the preliminary blanket coverage with jury selection, rulings on witnesses and even debate over the trial location has been riveting.

I watched as a potential juror, Number 91, a retired black woman with a degree in child psychology, was quizzed over voluntary work with disadvantaged children and then told by Judge Cahill that she had passed selection and made the team.

Court TV presenter Julie Grant turned to Eric Rudich, the stations jury specialist, for his opinion. We like to say there is no perfect juror, he responded gravely. I think she is even-handed.

The pair analysed the jurors psychology studies, her answers on the media, her coolness under questioning and her claim that she had not watched the infamous video of Floyds death.

That could play well for both sides, opined Rudich.

Like other jury candidates, this grandmother was asked about her view of Black Lives Matter. I am black and my life matters, she responded firmly. Yet intriguingly, she revealed also that she has a relative serving in the local police.

There was great excitement over Juror 89, a white cardiac nurse in her 50s. Weve got Number Ten! exclaimed Grant. Were getting closer to hearing this case.

Although the trials formal opening statements are not until March 29, the preliminary blanket coverage with jury selection, rulings on witnesses and even debate over the trial location has been riveting

The host said that she thought nurses make great jurors because they are so smart and strong, so clinical, before turning back to the channels jury pundit. Is that your experience?

Rudich  a social psychologist who has advised on more than 500 cases  replied that a nurse might be predisposed to lean towards the prosecution and that her clinical experience could feed into deliberations, influencing other jurors.

Grant, 38, describes herself as a trial expert, former prosecutor, award-winning journalist, encourager and retired pro cheerleader on her Twitter profile.

Needless to say, these presenters have active social media profiles. She shares cute pictures of her cat on Instagram, posts feelgood quotes such as Everyone smiles in the same language and name-checks her make-up artist while saying Glam is giving me life!

Meanwhile, her colleague Politans pinned Twitter post (fixed deliberately at the top of a users tweet stream to ensure attention) reads: IS THE THONG ILLEGAL. Imagine being detained & handcuffed by Police on a beach in the summer for wearing a Thong... it happened... tell me and EXPLAIN your thoughts about who is right and who is wrong on this one! The local laws prohibit nudity...

Yet for all the hype and hysteria, it is absorbing to see what has been dubbed the trial of the century unfold in real time.

It is also reassuring to observe the decency and honesty of most ordinary Americans pitched into this toxic maelstrom as potential jurors, suddenly tasked with such a weighty decision for their country.

It hinges on one key question: why did Floyd die after police stopped him for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 note in a nearby store? Was it because of lethal force used by an over-aggressive officer, or more down to Floyds poor health, inflamed by smoking and heavy drug use?

Their crucial verdict will have seismic consequences for a troubled country since the case delves deep into the heart of the American soul, and it will be watched by not just the gripped nation but the entire world.

As Court TV says: Fasten your seat belts, folks!
After Semi Fire, Trigg Co. I-24 Traffic Backing Up

By West Kentucky Star Staff

TRIGG COUNTY - A semi truck fire that had the westbound lanes of I-24 blocked in Trigg County this morning is still causing traffic issues.The accident happened about 7:30 am, near the 58 mile marker. Traffic is moving past the scene of the fire, but it's estimated that the westbound lanes will be restricted until about 7 pm for environmental clean-up work. The truck was hauling gear oil, so there is substantial clean-up involved.Because of the restriction and Spring Break travel on I-24, at just after 1 pm, traffic was a crawl and was backed up for about 4 miles.Eastbound lanes are not affected.The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recommends an alternate route for westbound drivers between Clarksville, Tennessee, and Paducah, Kentucky. They suggest getting off I-24 at the U.S. 68 Cadiz Exit 65 Interchange, following U.S. 68 West to Draffenville, then taking I-69 North to Calvert City Exit 25 interchange to get back onto I-24 West.
London, March 20 : Former "Coronation Street" star Charlie Lawson feels that the new generation of soap opera stars are more interested in fame than working on their acting skills.

"If you want to get into acting, stop being obsessed by fame. Most young actors I meet are more interested in being famous than practising their craft. Throw all that bad attitude away and go to drama school. It wasn't meant to be easy," Lawson told Daily Star newspaper.

The 61-year-old actor also complained about bad acting skills of several successful actors these days.

"I watch the actors of today on very popular and celebrated, familiar shows and some of them are just awful. Get in some work and learn your art," he said.

The veteran actor played the character of Jim McDonald on "Coronation Street", on and off from 1989 to 2018.
Innovative Teachers and the All Teachers Alliance Ghana have jointly petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the procurement of 280,000 laptops by the Ministry of Education (MoE).



The laptops, a TM1 brand costing GH1,550 each according to the Ministry, are meant for distribution to teachers on a 70/30 percent cost-sharing basis between government and the teachers respectively, however, the teachers suspect proper procedures and due diligence have been sacrificed, leading to a what they believe are inflated costs.



According to teachers, The request for investigation has become necessary due to the fact that the procurement of two hundred and eighty thousand (280,000) laptops ought to result in a significant reduction in the price for teachers and the taxpayer to pay.



The cost of each laptop is purported to be 1,550 cedis and we suspect that this amount is inflated. A thorough investigation into the procurement will vindicate our position.



The two teacher unions petition signed by Christian Aidoo, and Albert Dadson, secretaries for Innovative Teachers and All Teachers Alliance Ghana respectively, argue that in their estimation, the TM1 laptop should not cost more than GH600 given the specifications of this laptop and the colossal number of 280,000 laptops, adding also that It is trite knowledge that manufacturing of electronic gadgets in large quantities makes the price per item very low.



They wondered why private businessmen are able to procure products at good prices and at huge discounts but when it comes to the use of the taxpayers' money to procure same electronic gadgets the story is the direct opposite.



The petitioners requested CHRAJ to request the Ministry of Education to provide all documents concerning the procurement of the TM1 laptops and also for quotations from at least five companies in the country that the TM1 laptops are being produced.



We would like CHRAJ to weigh the response from Ministry of Education to our petition based on Procurement of Information Technology Products by the Public Procurement Authority issued in 2019 and the procurement Act as amended.



According to the teachers petition, they want the Ministry of Education to answer some 19 questions, along with any other questions the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice may deem appropriate in its investigation.



1. What is the name of the IT company or the IT consultant who worked on the procurement of the TM1 laptops?



2. Did the Ministry of Education contract a company to supply the TM1 laptops or signed the contract directly with the manufacturer of the TM1 laptops?



3. On which date was the tender invitation published and where is the copy of the tender invitation if the tender was through competitive tendering?



4. What is the name of the company that won the contract to supply the laptops if the procurement contract was given to a company?



5. Which year was the company that won the contract incorporated, the names of the Directors, Secretary, the company's valid business registration certificates, valid tax clearance certificate and VAT Registration certificate?



6. What is the name of the manufacturer producing the TM1 laptops?



7. Why did the Ministry of Education bypass Dell, Toshiba, Acer, hp, Lenovo and other established brands with reputation for producing quality laptops of global acclaim for this manufacturer?



8. In which country are the TMI laptops being manufactured?



9. Did a delegation made up of procurement officers from the Ministry of Education and technical experts visit the manufacturer to conduct due diligence to ascertain the competence of the manufacturer to produce the laptops?



10. What was the report of the delegation that visited the manufacturer if a delegation visited?



11. What is the name of a customer of the manufacturer who gave good testimonial about the performance of the TMI laptops since TMI is not a known brand?



12. What is the track record of this company in the manufacturing of laptops and how many years have they been manufacturing laptops?



13. Was the contract given through single-source tendering or competitive tendering?



14. If it was through single-source tendering did it meet the following conditions as set out in section 40 of the Public Procurement Act (663)

(a) Is the TMI laptop a proprietary product that is manufactured by that company only?

(b) What is the urgency in the procurement of the laptops for teachers?



(c) Has the Ministry of Education bought TM1 laptops from this company before and the company gave a good price for this laptop and as a result the company got this contract to manufacture?

(d) Has the Ministry of Education entered into a research agreement with this company to produce unique laptops with patented features to specifically aid teachers in teaching?

(e) Does the procurement of the laptops a National Security matter which must not go through competitive tendering?



15. If the Ministry of Education resorted to single-source tendering or competitive tendering we would like to request for a copy or copies of the contract bids from the Public Procurement Board pursuant to section 40(2) of the Public Procurement Act, 663.



16. Did the Ministry of Education write to Public Procurement Authority asking same to grant it the permission to single-source the laptops citing reasons based on the Procurement Act as amended and did Public Procurement Authority give authorisation for the single-source tendering?



17. What is the name of the IT company or the names of IT consultants who authorized the mass production of the TM1 laptops when the samples were brought to the Ministry of Education for examination?



18. Has the Ministry of Education signed services and maintenance agreement with the manufacturing company concerning the TM1 laptops in accordance with Procurement of information Technology Products?



19. Is there an invoice from the manufacturer detailing specific numbers of laptops with different prices? For example 10,000 laptops = y dollars 100,000 laptops = x dollars.









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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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20)  OCTA Research fellow Prof. Guido David said the recent record-breaking surges in COVID-19 cases have been surpassing the team's projections at a rate faster than expected.

"Alam natin umeepekto 'yung mga localized lockdowns pero ngayon kasi ang momentum nasa pandemic. Kasi sobrang bilis, medyo mahirap pabagalin ito. That's the reality," David told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend.

[Translation: We know the localized lockdowns had an effect but the momentum now is with the pandemic. Because it is so fast, it is difficult to slow it down.]

The Department of Health reported nearly 8,000 cases on Saturday, again breaking the country's all-time record of most new infections in a day.

David warned the country may reach 10,000 cases per day by the end of the month, with around 6,000 cases from Metro Manila. David added the National Capital Region had the highest number of new cases on Friday with nearly 4,000 infections. He reiterated his proposal to prioritize the NCR in the country's ongoing vaccination efforts.

"We made projections pero [but] this is even faster than the projections na ginawa namin [that we made]," the professor noted.

The national government earlier ordered the temporary closure of some businesses and reduced the number of personnel reporting to work physically in its offices.

David said while these measures may help by limiting the movement of people, he also urged the public to take the initiative of staying at home.

"Ang recommendation namin sa mga tao na pwede magpersonal quarantine, 'yung mga hindi kailangan lumabas bawasan ang paglabas nila," he said.

[Translation: Our recommendation to the people who can undergo personal quarantine, minimize going out, if it is not needed.]

Former Health secretaries Esperenza Cabral, Janette Garin, and Paulyn Ubial also warned that higher numbers are still expected, which calls for urgent testing and contact tracing.

"Analyze where the cases are coming from and put them on granular lockdown, make sure people are tested and contacts are traced promptly," Cabral said. "What we've needed to do from way back."

Garin said the current situation is similar to that of last year's when the crisis started, but the country should be more efficient this time. Ubial also pointed out that the growing numbers reflect ongoing community transmission.

"Going into lockdown is not worth the sacrifice if we don't aggressively test, isolate, and do vaccination in parallel," Garin said.

Cabral was the DOH chief from January to June 2010 while Garin headed the agency from December 2014 to June 2016. Ubial led the department from July 2016 to October 2017.
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SANTA FE  Evelyn Juarez has always kept herself busy.

Whether it was working to become co-valedictorian at Espanola Valley High School or winning the National Spanish Spelling Bee when she was 13, shes maintained a work ethic that has attracted the admiration of those around her.

Ive been stressed since I was in elementary school, she said laughing.

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................................................................

Now, the 23-year-old Espanola resident will take on a new task as Northern New Mexico Colleges student regent. The state Senate unanimously confirmed her appointment to the board on Thursday for a position she will hold for two years.

However, shes also believed to be the first student regent to be a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in New Mexico. The DACA program allows children of undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States.

Born near Chihuahua, Mexico, Juarez immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was 18 months old, she said, after which her family soon settled in the Espanola Valley.

She excelled in academics throughout her educational career and originally wanted to study at the University of New Mexico. However, DACA recipients dont receive federal aid, making it more difficult to afford certain colleges.

That, along with its proximity to her family, led Juarez to attend Northern New Mexico College, a decision she says turned out to be the right one. She currently has a 4.02 GPA and was selected for a prestigious fellowship at Georgetown University.

Its such a tight-knit community, she said of the NNMC campus environment.

NNMC President Rick Bailey described Juarez as a superstar who would succeed at representing the students of the college, noting her natural leadership capabilities.

The day I met Evelyn Juarez, I said to myself, I know I am going to work for this woman one day,  Bailey said. I didnt know it would be this soon, but I am thrilled nonetheless.

Juarez said she was nervous about taking on the position. She had served on Northerns student senate, but wasnt sure she had the experience to be a regent. But she eventually overcame that self-doubt.

Throughout that semester, I thought, You know, I really can do this,  she said. I know Ill have to stay as informed as possible to be the best student regent as I can, but Im all up for challenges.

Juarez plans on graduating from NNMC in May, after which she will start the process of applying to medical school. She said she hopes her undocumented status serves as an inspiration to other DACA students.

I hope that when people think of DACA, they think of someone whos hardworking and who put their heart and soul into everything they do, she said. Im very proud of my DACA status.

The Senate also confirmed Espanola schools board member Rueben Archuleta as a regent at Northern. In all, the Senate approved two dozen of the governors nominees for regents at state colleges and universities.
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" " A population of common murres photographed in Scotland; similar birds live off the California coast. Tim Graham/Getty Images

Eggs aren't a dime a dozen, but they aren't exactly in short supply, either. It's difficult to imagine fighting over an egg, right? This is exactly what happened in the Great Farallones Egg War of 1863, a time when people went to, ahem, great "eggstremes" to secure eggs.

They weren't fighting over ordinary chicken eggs, though. We're talking about the eggs of the common murre (Uria aalge) a penguin-like bird that nests on rocky cliffs and spends its winters at sea. During its breeding season, which runs May to July, the birds lay spotted, pointy eggs about twice as big as a chicken egg. The blotchy patterns make it easier for birds to identify their eggs among the thousands that dot the rocks, while the pointed design ensures the egg will spin in a circle if it rolls out of the nest, rather than falling into the sea.

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And it just so happens that 150 years ago, the common murres' favorite egg-laying perch in the Lower 48 was just off the coast of San Francisco. The Farallones Islands are a series of small outcroppings of jagged granite upshoots about 27 miles (43.5 kilometers) from San Francisco's coastline. The birds land by the thousands on the islands, nesting wing-to-wing and dotting the landscape with egg after egg.

By the time the California Gold Rush overburdened then-tiny San Francisco with a largely unsupervised milieu of hungry miners and equally profit-hungry businesses, the area's common murres numbered into the tens of thousandsperhaps into the millions. And their eggs were ripe for the picking.

Six men decided to profit from the birds' efforts. In 1851, they sailed to the islands and gave themselves ownership, complete with company shares. But it wasn't easy to gather the eggs. They had to climb steep cliffs slick with sea spray while being swarmed by murres and many other seabirds that called the islands home, but evened the odds by stomping on day-old eggs to ensure only the freshest were gathered. Still, they persevered and the Egg Company began making a sizable profit selling the freely collected common murre eggs to San Francisco bakers.

"Common murre eggs were an incredibly abundant resource at a time when San Francisco was overwhelmed by people flooding in," says Gerry McChesney, manager of the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge and its common murre program. "San Francisco not only lacked the infrastructure it needed, but there were no chicken farms to supply such a great need."

By the early 1860s, the Egg Company had some serious competition. Its hold on the islands was tentative at best. Four year earlier, U.S. president James Buchanan solidified the federal government's own claim to the land for a lighthouse. And then on a summer day in 1863, 27 armed challengers sailed toward the island. When their three boats attempted to land, the Egg Company foreman warned them off, but the interlopers declared they intended to land "in spite of hell."

" " The Farallon Islands are off the California coast near San Francisco. Tanner/Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

What came next? The Egg Company owners opened fire. And when the challengers fired back, one of the Egg Co. men was killed after being shot through the stomach and heart. The Egg Co. men then fired on and wounded five of the men in boats, who after 20 minutes of war, sailed back to home base. One of the injured men, shot near his throat, died a few days later.

" " An illustration of a man picking eggs on the Farallones Islands, published in the 1910 book "California." Ernest C. Peixotto/Wikimedia Commons

The post-Gold Rush tension, although not as dramatic, continued for years until commercial egging was banned in 1896 after the California Academy of Scientists successfully lobbied for its end. In the late 1960s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began managing the islands and protecting common murre breeding areas. Even so, the consequences of commercial egging still echo today.

"It had a long-term, devastating impact on the murre population," McChesney says. "It's still recovering."

There are now about 300,000 common murre that travel to the islands for nesting season, McChesney adds, still fewer than it had before the Gold Rush more than a century and a half ago.

"It is something I never get tired of watching," he says of the bird groups. "The islands themselves are beautiful, rugged and otherworldly. But to be out there during the peak of the breeding season? It's a spectacle to behold."

" " Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Members of the International Bird Rescue Center release rehabilitated common murres into San Francisco Bay in late 2015.

Now That's Interesting The highest point of the Farallones is Tower Hill, a 348-foot jagged rise of marble on the islands owned by San Francisco.
(Newser)  It is, writes George Black in the New York Times, "one of the last untold stories of the American war in Southeast Asia." He's referring to the scope of the United States' secret and illegal spraying of Agent Orangeand the even more toxic Agent Purpleon Laos during the Vietnam War. A comprehensive review of Air Force records reveals for the first time that the US military sprayed at least 600,000 gallons of herbicides on Laos, particularly concentrated on portions of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Black's story, however, focuses more on the lingering impact on families in the villages along the trail, specifically on continuing birth defects in the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who were exposed to the chemicals during the war.

story continues below

Black follows along with members of a nongovernment organization called the War Legacies Project as they visit remote villages and catalog the problem. "Club feet are commonplace," he writes. "So are cleft lips, sometimes accompanied by cleft palate. There are disturbing clusters: five babies born with missing eyes in Nong District; a family with five deaf-mute siblings; an inordinate number of short legs, malformed legs and hip dysplasia." And on and on. The group has so far documented 517 such cases, but they haven't come close to visiting all the affected villages. The hope is that once the documentation is complete, the governments of the US and Laos will for the first time acknowledge the problem and begin to help. (Read the full story, which is accompanied by Christopher Anderson's photographs of young victims and explains why the Lao government hasn't pushed to raise the issue with the US.)
The Templeshannon Regeneration strategy for Enniscorthy failed to secure any funding under the latest round of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

Meanwhile, the Trinity Wharf development in Wexford town received 18.4m in last week's funding round announced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD.

While welcoming the news for Wexford town, Minister James Browne expressed disappointment that the Enniscorthy plan didn't receive any funding.

'18.4m is a massive investment in the Trinity Wharf urban quarter project which includes a marina, a landmark cultural and events building, and office space,' he said.

'However, I am very dissatisfied that the Enniscorthy project was not considered eligible for the Minister's consideration,' said Minister Browne.

'The Enniscorthy application was a first-time application that had serious flaws in the bid and did not get passed to the independent board who judge the applications,' he added.

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'However, funding has been withheld to allow for second applications and I am insisting that Wexford County Council prepare a second application with a detailed socio-economic development plan to ensure the Enniscorthy application is viable in the next round of the URDF.'

Minister Browne said the Enniscorthy application wasn't ambitious enough for the town and he said it may also have been too engineering focused without enough emphasis on the social-economic impact on the area.

However, he expressed confidence that the plan will receive funding if the right steps are taken.

He also highlighted the fact that while the Enniscorthy application didn't meet the criteria it was also a first time submission and he also feels the town didn't miss out.

'There is still 200m in the fund and the Department of Housing will work with Wexford County Council to improve the Enniscorthy application,' he said.

Minister Browne pointed out that the Enniscorthy scheme doesn't have planning permission and therefore even if Enniscorthy received funding, it wouldn't be able to use it

'Funding wont be needed until the council has planning permission for the scheme, so there is plenty of time to get the necessary funding before it's actually needed,' he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Wexford County Council, Tom Enright, said that the Enniscorthy project was not at as advanced a stage as the Trinity Wharf plan, which did have planning permission.

'It's disappointing but it's not as advanced as the Trinity Wharf plan, and we own the site,' said Mr Enright.

He also pointed out that just because the application didn't receive funding in this round doesn't mean it won't be successful in a future application.

'We will acquire planning and make a new application and I am hopeful that, at that stage, it would be successful,' he said.

Mr Enright also said that there won't be a knock-on delay to the Templeshannon plan because, without planning, even if the application had received funding this time around, the local authority wouldn't have been able to spend it.

Mr Enright said that some CPOs (Compulsory Purchase Orders) might have to be applied for the local authority to acquire properties in the Templeshannon area, for some of the site, and then the county council could move forward with planning in place.

'The first step is to get planning approved and to acquire properties,' said Mr Enright.

'The fact we didn't get grant approval does not delay the project,' he added.

'I would be confident it will be successful, and this was a first time application.'

Mr Enright admitted it wasn't a surprise that the scheme didn't receive funding and he referred to the fact that the Trinity Wharf scheme didn't receive the full amount applied for in a previous application but was successful this time.

'We didn't get the full amount we looked for the first time and we went back again and this time we got a substantial amount,' he said.

Mr Enright said the issue of not having the land and planning in place was a big issue for the Enniscorthy application.

The Templeshannon plan didn't receive any tender applications when it was put out to tender recently and, when asked whether the fact a lot of the land and properties in question are not in ownership of the local authority was a factor in that, Mr Enright said that it doesn't matter to consultants who owns the properties.

'Consultants are very busy at the moment,' he said. 'We will keep making applications until we are successful.'

'We are competing with projects around the country and the Government wants to spend money and do it quickly and the Trinity Wharf plan is at a far more advanced stage than the Enniscorthy one.'

Mr Enright also said: 'The more we progress the Enniscorthy one, I would say we will get funding for it.'

When it was put to Mr Enright that some people might argue it was Enniscorthy being left out again, he pointed to the level of investment that has gone into the town in recent years including the Technology Park, the Flood Relief Scheme and the refurbishment of both the courthouse and the council offices.

'There are a lot of projects being done in Enniscorthy,' said Mr Enright.

'There are many more projects planned and it's our ambition to deliver on those,' he said.

He said there is no doubt the Templeshannon area of Enniscorthy needs investment and said it's been in a poor state for over a decade.

'It will not be turned around over night but I would have confidence we will be successful with it as we progress it,' he said.

With regard to the Trinity Wharf scheme, he said it will completely transform Wexford town and will benefit the county.

'It will double the quayfront and it's in a very scenic area,' he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Browne said the Trinity Wharf scheme has the potential to become the blueprint for the regeneration and enhancement of towns across Europe.

'The Government funding of 18.4m will give the project solid financial backing as it becomes an economic driver in the county for the next 10 years,' he said.

'This is the second largest investment through URDF outside the major cities and a real vote of confidence in County Wexford and it will secure the town's future,' he added.
The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
A former colleague of ousted Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Alexi McCammond is coming to the journalists defense after she was forced to step down over staffers objections to decade-old tweets mocking Asians and homosexuals.

Jonathan Swan, the chief national correspondent for news site Axios who worked alongside McCammond for four years, told Fox News on Friday that McCammonds apology should have sufficed and she should have been allowed to keep her job.

McCammond began working as a political reporter for Axios in 2017. While covering the Biden campaign last year, she developed a romance with TJ Ducklo, a Biden press aide.

She then informed her bosses at Axios, who reassigned her to cover Kamala Harris. Ducklo quit the Biden press shop after he made sexist and threatening remarks to a Politico reporter who asked him about his relationship with McCammond.

Earlier this month, it was announced that McCammond would take over as the new editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, but staffers at the online publication mounted fierce resistance to the move over decade-old tweets in which she disparaged Asians.

I was just really sad to see this happen, Swan told Fox News.

I worked with her for four years. She doesn't have a racist bone in her body.

If we can't as an industry accept somebody's sincere and repeated apologies for something they tweeted when they were 17 years old, what are we doing?

Swan added that his employers at Axios didnt fire McCammond after she first apologized for the tweets in 2019.

He said McCammond, a 27-year-old black woman, is an advocate for anti-racism.

Jonathan Swan (left), the chief national correspondent for news site Axios who worked alongside Alexi McCammond (right) for four years, told Fox News on Friday that McCammonds apology should have sufficed and she should have been allowed to keep her job as editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue

I was upset to see this because it really is just a very stark example of if we can't allow ourselves to forgive people when they did something or said something or tweeted something when they were 17 years old, and there is no indication in their current professional lives that they harbor these views, not a single indication, I don't know what we're doing here really, he said.

Swans comments on Fox News echoed his tweets from Thursday. Just after McCammond announced she was stepping down, Swan tweeted: Ive worked with @alexi for four years. I know her well and can say this unequivocally: The idea she is racist is absurd.

'Where the hell are we as an industry if we cannot accept a persons sincere and repeated apologies for tweets when they were a teenager?'

Other prominent media figures came to McCammonds defense, including CNNs Abby Phillip, who tweeted that the ousted journalist is obviously not who she was when she wrote those tweets.

I'm sorry to see that she won't be moving forward in this position, Phillip tweeted.

It's beyond fair to demand true remorse and accountability, but Alexi demonstrated those things and I wish she'd been given a chance.

Political pundit Bill Kristol tweeted: 'In what world does it make sense that Alexi McCammond is out of a job and Andrew Cuomo still has his?'

Cuomo, the governor of New York, has been accused by several women of sexual harassment. The governor has denied the allegations.

Bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell tweeted: 'The criminalization of black adolescent behavior is one of the bedrock principles of American racism.

'White people get a childhood and the privilege to make mistakes in the name of moral development.

'Black people dont.'

Gladwell later tweeted: 'Question for Conde Nast HR: have they also scrutinized the childhood statements of their white editors?'

McCammond (left) on Thursday resigned over racist, anti-Asian tweets she wrote as a teenager surfaced online. It emerged on Thursday that Conde Nast boss Anna Wintour (right) knew about the tweets but gave McCammond the job anyway

Swan replied to Gladwell's tweet, writing: 'Great question!'

Conde Nast is the media empire whose holdings include Vogue, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, GQ, and other outlets.

Political pollster Frank Luntz tweeted: 'Another career destroyed by the #woke mob. Alexi McCammond is a brilliant reporter and even a progressive, but she has been canceled for stuff she tweeted nearly a decade ago in college. The Robespierre Reign of Terror continues'

Earlier on Friday, it was learned that Anna Wintour tried to save McCammond but could not stop her from being forced out less than two weeks after taking the job.

McCammond, 27, was fired over anti-Asian tweets she wrote as a teenager, in 2011, which surfaced online and cost Conde Nast a seven-figure ad campaign.

McCammond's resurfaced tweets include one in which she wrote: 'Googling how to not wake up with swollen Asian eyes'.

Another now-deleted tweet read: 'Give me a 2/10 on my chem problem, cross out all of my work and don't explain what I did wrong thanks a lot stupid Asian T.A. you're great.'

Wintour, the chief content officer and the global editorial director of Vogue, was aware of the decade-old racist tweets and discussed them with leaders of color at Conde Nast before the job was offered, The New York Times reported.

They felt she had learnt from her mistakes, but they were not aware of homophobic tweets or a photo, also from 2011, that was recently published by a right-wing website showing her in Native American costume at a Halloween party. The vetting process did not turn up the additional material because it had been deleted, the executive added.

Wintour tried to build support for the would-be Teen Vogue editor, the paper said, and included her in team meetings.

McCammond met one-on-one with staff, to try and ease their concerns, and explained her actions in a note.

'You've seen some offensive, idiotic tweets from when I was a teenager that perpetuated harmful and racist stereotypes about Asian Americans,' she wrote in a note to her new colleagues, obtained by The Daily Beast.

'I apologized for them years ago, but I want to be clear today: I apologize deeply to all of you for the pain this has caused.'

Conde Nast's human resources department also met with the Teen Vogue staff, and the staff were reminded of a company policy requiring them to check with the communications team before making public statements.

The staff members were also told they should keep their criticisms 'in the family' - further adding to their anger.

On Monday a meeting, scheduled for Wednesday with Wintour and top Vogue executives, was abruptly canceled and not rescheduled, indicating to McCammond that her position was no longer tenable.

The Daily Beast reported that Conde Nast management called a meeting with staffers for Thursday afternoon to discuss the new editor's exit.

The offensive tweets were deleted in 2019, when McCammond was working as a political reporter for Axios.

They resurfaced after she was named as the new editor on March 5.

It's unclear if she ever started the job.

On March 9, the tweets had gone viral and she was apologizing for them.

Conde Nast initially stood by her and allowed her to keep the position.

Staffers were irate that she was allowed to keep her job and said it sent the wrong message during a time of increased attacks on Asian Americans, but she stayed on.

They also complained that she was inexperienced, having never worked as an editor or manager before, and that there were other black women within Conde Nast who would have been better suited to the job.

They wrote an open letter demanding that she be replaced and also complained directly to CEO Robert Lynch.

Beauty store chain Ulta then pulled a seven-figure ad campaign with Teen Vogue over the scandal. There were also talks among sales teams that it could cost the company even more in advertising revenues.

It has also emerged that in an email to staff around the same time Conde Nast HR boss Stan Duncan revealed that Anna Wintour and CEO Roger Lynch knew about the decade-old racist tweets but hired her anyway.

On Thursday, McCammond tweeted that she and the company were 'parting ways'.

It sparked a mixed reaction - some said it was appropriate given what she'd done but others called it cancel culture gone too far. They criticized Conde Nast for seemingly hanging her out to dry.

'I want to be fully transparent with you about our decision-making process regarding her appointment.

'When Alexi was was a teenager she made racially charged statements on social media about Asian people.

'Alexi was straight forward and transparent about these posts during our interview process and through public apologies,' HR boss Stan Duncan said in an internal memo.

'Given her previous acknowledgement of these posts and her sincere apologies, in addition to her remarkable work in journalism elevating the voices of marginalized communities, we were looking forward to welcoming her into our community.

'In addition, we were hopeful that Alexi would become part of our team to provide perspective and insight that is underrepresented throughout the media.

'We were dedicated to making her successful in this role and spent time working with her, our company leadership and the Teen Vogue team to find the best path forward.

'To that end, after speaking with Alexi this morning, we agreed that it was best to part ways, so as to not overshadow the important work happening at Teen Vogue,' he went on.

In a Twitter statement on Thursday, McCammond said she and the company had decided to 'part ways'.

McCammond's resignation also comes after her boyfriend was fired from his role as Deputy White House Secretary for threatening to 'destroy' a female reporter if they exposed their relationship.

Before working at Vogue, McCammond was working as a political reporter at Axios.

McCammond is dating disgraced former Deputy White House Secretary TJ Ducklo who was fired after threatening to destroy a reporter if she exposed their relationship. Before working at Vogue, McCammond worked at Axios

On Thursday, amid a swell of outrage over anti-Asian violence after a gunman killed six Asian women at three massage parlors in Georgia, she said: 'Hey there: I've decided to part ways with Conde Nast.'

'My past tweets have overshadowed the work I've done to highlight the people and issues that I care about - issues that Teen Vogue has worked so tirelessly to share with the world - and so Conde Nast an I have decided to part ways.

'I should not have tweeted what I did and I have taken full responsibility for that.

'I look at my work and growth in the years since, and have redoubled my commitment to growing in the years to come as both a person and as a professional,' she said.

McCammond issued a lengthy apology on March 9.

'What an awful introduction we've had to each other this week.

'This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life in large part because of the intense pain I know my words and my announcement have caused so many of you.

'I've apologized for my past racist and homophobic tweets and will reiterate that there's no excuse for perpetuating those awful stereotypes in any way,' she said.

The tweets were all written in 2011, when she was in high school, long before she took a job in journalism.

Before Axios, she also worked at MSNBC.

Originally after the tweets surfaced, she called them 'idiotic' and 'offensive' but not racist.

She then came under pressure to acknowledge that they are racist from stars including Olivia Munn.

On March 11, Ulta halted advertising with Teen Vogue.

'Diversity and inclusion have always been core values at Ulta Beauty.

'We stand against racism in all forms and as we've publicly shared in our social channels, we stand in unity with the AAPI community.

'We believe it's important that our partners share our values.

'Our discussions with Conde Nast are actively underway as we seek to better understand their next steps and determine ours,' the beauty brand said in a statement.

Now ousted Teen Vogue editor Alexi McCammond is pictured dressed as a native American after being forced to quit over old 'racist' tweets - despite already apologizing

Smiling for the camera in a Native American fancy dress outfit, this is the journalist who was forced to quit as editor of Teen Vogue in a race row.

Yesterday it was claimed that Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour desperately tried to save her protege Alexi McCammond even as staff led a revolt over her allegedly racist and homophobic tweets for which she has already apologised.

The Vogue editor-in-chief spent two weeks trying to build support for the journalist as scandal swirled, insiders said.

Alexi McCammond (right) pictured as a Native American, it comes as she is already under fire for a string of allegedly racist and homophobic tweets

Yesterday it was claimed that Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour (pictured) desperately tried to save her protege Alexi McCammond even as staff led a revolt over her allegedly racist and homophobic tweets for which she has already apologised

As complaints mounted, Miss McCammond was given the chance to meet with staff to apologise and listen to their concerns, The New York Times reported.

Her string of anti-Asian tweets from 2011 were known about in the upper echelons of Vogue but they were blindsided by a homophobic message and the photograph.

Insiders said they had not known about the picture from a Halloween party in 2011 because it had been deleted from her Twitter feed.

But The National Pulse found and published it this week.

The 27-year-old quit as editor of the online magazine on Thursday before her first proper day in the job after the row became public.

Prior to that, publisher Conde Nast reportedly tried to stop affronted Teen Vogue staff from speaking out and told them to keep criticism in the family.

The old tweets resurfaced after Miss McCammond was named as the new editor of Teen Vogue on March 5. In one tweet from 2011, when she was 17, she wrote how she was Googling how to not wake up with swollen Asian eyes.

In another from the same year, she blamed a stupid Asian teaching assistant for her failures during chemistry lessons.

Other tweets used the terms Asian, homo and gay in a derogatory ways.

Even amid a revolt from staff on the magazine, Dame Anna had stood by Miss McCammond, it was reported.

The editor-in-chief, 71, had tried to turn the tide for the former Washington political reporter because she thought she was an impressive candidate, it was claimed.

There are also questions about the vetting process before Miss McCammond was given the job.

The row has caused huge embarrassment for Conde Nast and Dame Anna, who is still reeling from claims by her own staff that Vogue has discriminated against minority groups on its pages and in the office.

And last week, Vogue US made an extraordinary claim that the Daily Mail was racist after a headline regarding the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of niggling worries.

Despite a complaint from this paper regarding the extremely serious and unfounded allegation, Dame Annas team have refused to correct it.

Prior to quitting, Miss McCammond had been given one-on-one access to individual staff members and said in a note to Teen Vogue colleagues that the tweets were offensive and idiotic.

She had previously issued a public apology in 2019 and it was thought she had learned from her mistakes, Conde Nast HR boss Stan Duncan said in a memo to staff.

The Daily Beast reported that the reaction from Teen Vogue staff was mixed and some thought Miss McCammond was remorseful while others did not think she should get the job.

Staff were told to keep criticism in the family, running any plans to speak through the company communications department. As well as publishing the controversial photo, The National Pulse wrote: This is what the Left calls cultural appropriation and they frequently attempt to cancel people for the crime.

The National Pulse abhors cancel culture and the constant churn of gotcha stories involving peoples lives. But we love pointing out the hypocrisy of the Left more. Hence this article.

Conde Nast refused to comment on the new allegations last night.

But a Vogue insider said: We hoped it would work out and thats why we had so many meetings over the last two weeks to discuss internally.
A former Phoenix politician already in prison on a six-year sentence for operating an illegal adoption scheme involving women from the Marshall Islands was ordered to serve another five years behind bars for defrauding Arizonas Medicaid system in a scam to get taxpayer-funded health coverage for the birth mothers, even though he knew they didnt live in the state.

Paul Petersen a Republican who was Maricopa Countys elected assessor for six years and worked as an adoption attorney, on Friday received the second of three sentences stemming from the adoption scheme. His five-year Arizona punishment is to be served after he completes his six-year federal sentence for conspiring to smuggle people in Arkansas.

Petersen, who is scheduled to receive his third sentence Monday in Utah for human smuggling convictions, was dressed in an orange prison suit in the Phoenix courtroom where he offered apologies and cried as he described hurting his clients, former co-workers and his own family through his practices. I have no one to blame but myself, Petersen said.

Authorities have said Petersen illegally paid women from the Pacific island nation to give up their babies in at least 70 adoption cases in Arizona, Arkansas and Utah. Citizens of the Marshall Islands have been prohibited from traveling to the United States for adoption purposes since 2003.

He was sentenced in Arizona for submitting false applications to the states Medicaid system so the pregnant Marshall Islands women could receive health coverage and for providing an affidavit to a court that contained false information about expenses paid to a birth mother.

Judges in these cases were given false information and that subverted the legal process by which judge made decisions in these adoptions, Judge Thomas Fink said shortly before sentencing Petersen.

Prosecutors say Petersen knew the birth mothers involved in the scheme didnt meet an Arizona requirement that Medicaid recipients reside in the state, yet he still instructed a woman working in his adoption practice to line up Medicaid coverage for them. In one case, authorities said a birth mother whose medical expenses were covered by Medicaid delivered her child a day after arriving in Arizona  and was flown out of the state about two weeks later.

Prosecutors also said Petersen regularly misrepresented in filings with a juvenile court how long he had been paying expenses for birth mothers, claiming in one instance five months of expenses for a birth mother who was in Arizona for less than a month. Petersen was accused of instructing the woman helping his adoption practice to submit a letter of residency for a birth mother who had already left Arizona in a bid to avoid having to cover her medical bills. Authorities said each adoption became more profitable for Petersen when those costs were covered by the government.

In a letter last year to the judge in the Arkansas case, Petersen said he is now ashamed, as a fiscal conservative, for sticking Arizona taxpayers with the pregnancy labor and delivery costs.

His attorney, Kurt Altman, has argued his client recognizes the wrongfulness of his actions, pleaded guilty to charges in three states, no longer has a license to practice law and has paid back $679,000 in health care costs to Arizona out of the more than $800,000 that prosecutors said the fraud cost taxpayers. Altman has argued authorities never asked Petersen to adjust or cease his adoption practice over the years and argued his clients practice wasnt at issue in the Arizona case, because those convictions pertained to fraud in both health care and in the filing of court records.

Prosecutors didnt specify the number of years in prison they were seeking for Petersen, but said he should have to spend more time behind bars on top of his Arkansas sentence. This wasnt a onetime situation, said prosecutor Scott Blake.

In the Arkansas case, Petersen was given a prison term that was two years longer than sentencing recommendations called for after a federal judge concluded Petersen misled or instructed others to lie to courts about adoptions that wouldnt have been approved had the truth been told to court officials. That judge also flatly rejected Petersens claims that he initially thought he was acting within the bounds of the law, but later realized what he was doing was illegal. Petersen has appealed the Arkansas sentence.

While Petersen was accused of misusing his position as an attorney, prosecutors said he didnt use his elected position to facilitate adoptions.

Petersen is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and earlier in his life completed a proselytizing mission in the Marshall Islands, a collection of atolls and islands in the eastern Pacific, where he became fluent in the Marshallese language.

After the allegations of adoption fraud emerged, Petersen kept working as the assessor for the most populous Arizona county for nearly three months amid heavy pressure to resign  and he did so in January 2020. He was responsible for determining property values in the county that includes Phoenix.

Petersen has said he helped people with hundreds of legal adoptions after he discovered a niche locating homes for vulnerable children from the Marshall Islands and helping needy mothers who wanted a more stable family life for their children.
It is a year of diversity and firsts for Oscar nominations.

The Oscars given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are widely considered the top awards for Hollywood and the movie industry worldwide.

This week, the academy honored two women with nominations for the best director Oscar, a big change from years past. Chloe Zhao was nominated for Nomadland and Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman. They were among 70 women who received a record 76 nominations.



Record nominations for actors of color

The nominees for acting awards also received special attention. Eleven of the acting nominees have never been nominated before. The decision by film studios to postpone big, costly movies in 2020 permitted new faces to be noted.

Six of those nominated for acting awards are Black including the late Chadwick Boseman for Ma Raineys Black Bottom and Andra Day for The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Other Black nominees include Viola Davis for Ma Raineys Black Bottom, Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield for Judas and the Black Messiah and Leslie Odom, Jr. for One Night in Miami.

Steven Yeun became the first Asian American to be nominated for best actor for his performance in Minari. Youn Yuh-jung, a South Korean actress, received a nomination for her supporting part in Minari. And Riz Ahmed became the first person of Pakistani descent to be nominated for an acting award as best actor in Sound of Metal.

Glenn Close was nominated for best supporting actress for her part in Hillbilly Elegy. It is the eighth nomination of her career, but she has never won.



Mank received the most nominations of any movie this year with 10, including best actor for Gary Oldman and best picture. The film tells the story of Hollywood writer Herman Mankiewicz who wrote the script for Orson Wells 1941 film classic Citizen Kane.

The seven other best picture nominees include The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Minari, Nomadland, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Difficult year for Hollywood

The year 2020 was especially difficult for the movie industry. The new coronavirus health crisis meant movie theaters were closed much of the year in America and in many other countries. As a result, moviegoers watched more movies on internet streaming services.

Two of the best picture nominees, Mank and Chicago 7, were seen on the streaming service Netflix. Netflix movies received 35 total nominations while Amazon films received 12.

Not everyone was satisfied with the choices for those nominated from the film industry. Boseman, who died of cancer at age 43, was not nominated for his part in Get On Up but was nominated for another movie. And director Spike Lee did not receive a nomination for his movie Da 5 Bloods, although it was nominated for best musical score.



This years ceremony for the Oscars will take place on April 25 in at least two places in Los Angeles. One will be Los Angeles train station Union Station, which has been seen in several films. The other is the Dolby Theater, formerly known as Kodak Theater. Other places may also be included. While unusual, it is not the first time the event has been split.

Usually held in February, this years Oscars were moved to April because of concerns over COVID-19. The Academy also eased rules to include films that were not shown in theaters and may not have been seen by many fans.

The Oscars ceremony is a big night for the movie industry, but expectations are not high for this Aprils event. Last year, a record low 23.6 million people watched the event on television. Some experts say people are showing less interest in awards shows generally. They say getting attention for films many people have not seen will be a difficult task for Hollywood.

Im Mario Ritter Jr. And I'm Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press reported this story. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

diversity n. the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization

studio n. a company that makes movies; a place where movies are filmed

classic adj. describing something considered to be one of the best of its kind

streaming n. played out continuously as data is sent to a computer over the internet

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Cliona Connolly and Gerry Forde from Wexford County Council with Mayor of Wexford Cllr Leonard Kelly (centre), launching the Green Estates pilot programme

Mayor of Wexford Leonard Kelly launched the the Green Estate pilot programme, encouraging residents to think about creating areas for nature within the public spaces on their estates.

Cllr Kelly who came up with the concept said it is the first step in increasing awareness about the importance of nature and the impact that our actions have on it.

'The current pandemic has made us realise how important where we live is and how we value and utilise green spaces. We know the importance of nature in building healthy communities. The green estate pilot programme is about residents pledging to take just three simple actions to improve the green area within their estate to benefit nature.'

He thanked the Wexford Environmental Network for their input and the Environment Section of the Council for taking his idea on board and developing the pilot phase of the initiative.

Gerry Forde, Senior Engineer in the Enviornment Section and Cliona Connolly Environment Education Officer attended the launch.

Mr. Forde thanked the Mayor for bringing the idea to the local authority and said the pilot phase of the programme is open to any housing estate within the Municipal District of Wexford.

'We would hope that following a successful pilot it will be opened to all districts and can be further expanded in different phases to include energy and waste management', he said. Information will be provided in further phases on how simple actions can be taken to help combat climate change.'

For more details on the pilot programme visit https://www.wexfordcoco.ie/environment/biodiversity-community-and-schools/green-estate-programme or contact Cliona Connolly, Environment Education Officer 053 91 96475.
Riot police detain a demonstrator during a protest against the coup in Yangon. Photo: Reuters

A BBC reporter has been detained in Myanmar, the broadcaster said yesterday, as it called on the military authorities to confirm that he was safe.

Aung Thura, an accredited journalist with the BBC Burmese language service, had been reporting outside a court in the capital of Naypyidaw when he and another journalist were taken away by men in plain clothes.

The BBC said the men arrived in an unmarked van at around midday local time and demanded to see him and another reporter, Than Htike Aung, who works for Mizzima, a recently banned local news outlet.

The two journalists were then taken away. The BBC said it has been unable to contact Mr Thura since then and was extremely concerned.

We are doing everything we can to find Aung Thura, the BBC said. We call on the authorities to help locate him and confirm that he is safe. Aung Thura is an accredited BBC journalist with many years of reporting experience covering events in Naypyidaw.

About 40 reporters have been arrested since the February 1 coup. Roughly half of them remain in detention.

The latest detentions came as security forces shot dead a further eight people yesterday in their ongoing attempt to contain widescale demonstrations. More than 230 people have already died in crackdowns on protesters.

Authorities have been escalating the use of force as they try to suppress protests that are calling for the junta to step down and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and detained members of her elected government.

The two journalists were at the court to cover the legal proceedings against Win Htein (79), a detained senior official from Ms Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party.

Read More

The coup has rolled back years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule.

The last independent newspaper closed this past week, marking an end to an eight-year period in which they were allowed to operate alongside state media. Internet access has been severely restricted.

The eight people who died yesterday were all shot dead in the central town of Aungban. Seven died on the spot when security forces opened fire. The eighth person died later in hospital.

Hundreds who have fled towns and cities in Myanmar are sheltering in areas controlled by ethnic insurgents on the Thai border, according to the Karen National Union, which has been fighting Myanmars army for decades.

Nearly 1,000 people are sheltering in the area controlled by the KNU, including lawmakers and government staff.



Police and soldiers have used increasingly violent tactics to suppress demonstrations by supporters of Ms Suu Kyi, but that has not deterred the protesters.

In Aungban, security forces opened fire as they tried to clear a protesters barricade, media and a witness reported.

Security forces came to remove barriers but the people resisted and they fired, the witness, who declined to be identified, said by telephone.



The spokesman for the junta was not immediately available for comment but has previously said security forces have used force only when necessary. Critics have derided that.

Police ordered people in some Yangon neighbourhoods to dismantle barricades and have been hunting for protest leaders, residents said. Video on social media showed police forcing a man to crawl down a street on all fours.

Demonstrators were also out in the second city of Mandalay, the central towns of Myingyan and Katha, and Myawaddy in the east, witnesses and media reported.

Ambassadors of Western countries condemned the violence as immoral and indefensible

. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021)

Read More

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
As far as this 1972 Rosso Corsa example is concerned, were dealing with just one of the 1,284 Berlinetta coupes produced by the Prancing Horse; more precisely, its chassis number 15285, completed on June 23, 1972. Afterwards, according to the consigners detail sheet, it was sold new by Chinetti-Garthwaite Imports, Inc. of Paoli, Pennsylvania.As it happens so many times with desirable cars, this particular Daytona turned into a globetrotter when it was exported to Europe before 1990, then even rested for a while in Japan before being turned into a Euro-spec car during a refurbishment completed at the turn of the century, back in 2000.Its been with a Japanese collector since 2006 until last year, when it was sold again last year and brought home to America this past December. The clean Montana title, history of the car, recent service records, and California availability should make it extremely interesting during the coming days of the auction, so we could easily be in for a bidding war during the final hours.Initially painted in Argento Metallizzato, the Daytona was dressed up in a more appropriate Rosso Corsa during the previous ownership. It rides on 15-inch Cromodora alloy wheels, and it comes with a fully independent suspension and four-corner ventilated disc brakes.By the way, the pop-up headlights appeared in 1971 because of the U.S. safety standards, and more highlights come along nicely once we move inside. Personally, I love the combination between the black over red bucket seats, not to mention the sporty leather-wrapped aluminum Momo steering wheel and dogleg gated shifter.Naturally, the 365 GTB/4 should still be a hoot to drive since it only covered around 40,000 km (25k miles) on its odometer (granted, the total actual mileage is unknown). That means the 4.4-liter Tipo 251 Colombo V12 could still have most of its 352 horsepower supplied from the factory when new.The way we see it, theres just one minor issue with this Daytona. Just take a look at the current bid and prepare to be shocked.
Thrift Store Volunteer Finds Purple Heart Medal From 50s, Tracks Down Recipients Family

A thrift store volunteer stumbled upon a Purple Heart service medal from the 1950s when sorting through donated items that had been dropped off. Assuming the role of detective, she successfully located the family of the serviceman who owned the Purple Heart and returned the medal, three decades after his death.

The medal came as a shock to the family, offering new insight into the man who once served his country in Korea.

This is the first one where Ive been successful finding the family, said Teresa Ferrin, who volunteers once a week at Christian Family Care Thrift Store in Phoenix, Arizona, to CBS 5.

Military awards belonging to Erik Karl Blauberg were donated to Christian Family Care Thrift Store in Phoenix, Arizona. (Courtesy of Lisa Walker via Teresa Ferrin)

Part of Ferrins job involves pricing donated items before displaying them for sale in the store. In early February, a donor dropped off a collection of military awards mounted on cardboard, one of which was the Purple Heart, an award given to those wounded or killed in the line of duty.

Ferrin, whose own father served during the Korean War, read a name on the back of the medalErik Karl Blaubergand felt moved to find his family.

I thought, if it was my fathers, Id certainly want someone to return it to me, Ferrin told Fox News. I just felt the family needed to have that.

Turning to the internet, Ferrin learned that Blauberg, also a Korean War veteran, fathered eight children. He was living in Apache Junction, Arizona, when he passed away in 1988 at 58 years of age.

Erik Karl Blauberg served in the Korean War and was awarded a Purple Heart medal in the 1950s. (Courtesy of Lisa Walker via Teresa Ferrin)

Upon contacting several of Blaubergs children via Facebook, Ferrin learned more.

They were estranged from him, she explained. They knew who he was, they talked to him occasionally, but they didnt really know him very well. She found out Blauberg had moved out of the family home, leaving his wife to care for their eight children by herself.

Blaubergs daughter Lisa Walker, who lives in Florida, told Ferrin that her father left nothing to his children in his will. Receiving the Purple Heart, she reflected, was bittersweet.

Thrift store volunteer Teresa Ferrin found the Purple Heart medal which once belonged to Korean War veteran Erik Karl Blauberg. (Courtesy of Teresa Ferrin)

We didnt even know he had a Purple Heart, she admitted. I knew, and my brothers knew, that he had medals, but we didnt know he had a Purple Heart, so that was very shocking.

Ferrin posted the incredible find on Facebook, sharing it with Walker some 2,000 miles away in Florida.

The Purple Heart, engraved with their fathers name, is one of his only possessions that Walker and her siblings have. She expressed gratitude toward the thrift store volunteer-turned-detective for her efforts.

I cant believe someone went above and beyond like Teresa did, and didnt give up to find us, she said.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh was one of the organizers of the rally.

Dhaka [Bangladesh], March 20 (ANI): Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka is "secretly funding" hardline Islamist organisation Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh to stage protests against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) president Al Nahean Khan Joy.

Taking to Twitter, Joy, the president of BCL, the student wing of Bangladesh ruling Awami League, said the people of Bangladesh condemn the attempt by Pakistan spy agency ISI.

"Pak Flag of Pakistan HC #Dhaka's #SecretFunding for @HIBofficial @Hefazot to protest against India Flag of India & its PM @narendramodi. We, #secular & #democratic people of #Bangladesh condemn this attempt by Pak agency #ISI. #Shame on @GovtofPakistan, protector of #Terrorists around the globe," tweeted Joy.

On Friday, a rally was taken out in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka against the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh was one of the organisers of the rally.

An umbrella platform for ulema (religious scholars), Hefazat-e-Islam was established in 2010 in Chittagong ostensibly to defend Islam from ruling Awami League's allegedly anti-Islamic policies, especially a proposed policy to confer equal inheritance rights to women.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive on March 26 to celebrate Bangladesh's 50 years of independence.

A Ministry of External Affairs release said that the visit is in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events - Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh and 50 years of Bangladesh's war of liberation.

Prime Minister Modi had last visited Bangladesh in 2015.

During the visit, Prime Minister will attend the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26 as the guest of honour.

Apart from holding bilateral consultations with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, PM Modi will call on Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid. (ANI)
Yves here. Biden repeatedly promised to follow the science in developing Covid policies. But as has become the norm in American medicine, the science has instead been distorted in the interest of profits and political expedience. This post provides a devastating takedown of the Biden plan to reopen schools with little in the way of additional protections for teachers and students, particularly more ventilation (how about the simple expedient of opening windows?). It explains why Covid cases among children have been severely undercounted and where population-wide surveys were made, children were vastly more likely to introduce Covid into a household than adults. It also shreds the CDCs astonishing assertion that distancing as little as three feet would be OK.

On the one hand, parents and children are suffering due to the lack of in-person instruction. Keeping schools closed is politically risky for Team Dem, particularly since it is seen as a staunch ally of the (formerly) powerful teachers unions. But simply pretending that schools can implement hand-wave level measures and everything will be hunky-dory is the sort of wishful thinking that is guaranteed to produce problems down the road, just like our insufficient test capacity and unwillingness to enforce quarantines and mask mandates. As a result, how much luck do you think schools and teachers will have in getting children to wear masks properly (particularly not take them off if they start to cough and keep them over their noses), and how much support will they have from parents if they try to discipline the non-compliant?

Lambert almost immediately challenged the CDCs recommendations on schools for ignoring evidence on aerosol-based transmission. He also found evidence that they relied on a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report that punted on the question of indoor air quality of schools because addressing it might mean spending money! In other words, they refused to consider the issue at all, even low cost mitigations. This article confirms his concerns and adds quite a few others.

Your humble blogger also expressed doubts about Dr. Rochelle Walensky as the new head of the CDC, that she had signed up for Biden Administration priorities (as in she appeared not to have attempted to negotiate the agenda), some of which looked like an impossibly big leap for a weak agency, and others looked unconstitutional. Two particular weaknesses look relevant to this fiasco:

Fighting yesterdays war Treating better PR as the solution to way too many problems

Theres much more information in this carefully argued and well documented piece, which I hope youll circulate widely. As weve been saying from early on, its the disease dynamics that are in control. Wanting that not to be true wont begin to make it so.

By Deepti Gurdasani, Senior Lecturer in Machine Learning, The William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary, University of London; Phillip Alvelda, CEO & Chairman, Brainworks Foundry, Inc.; and Thomas Ferguson, Director of Research, Institute for New Economic Thinking and Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Boston. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website

The scale of disaster visited on the world by the COVID-19 pandemic defies any easy summary. But it is safe to say that the question of keeping schools open is among the most fateful decisions facing public authorities. As the pandemic stretches into its second year, it is now becoming among the most contentious.

In the U.S., after some hesitation, the Biden administration seems to be encouraging rapid opening of schools, despite high levels of community transmission in many places, before robust mitigations are completely in place. Many Republican governors and officials also demand the step, including former President Trump in his recent CPAC address. Languishing under lockdowns and zoom or hybrid classes, many exhausted parents, anxious employers, and bored students seem receptive, though polls show widespread reservations about whether premature reopening might trigger new waves of infections. In recent days, more and more states have moved to mandate full in-person classroom instruction within a few weeks.

Accompanying these decisions are organized efforts to recycle earlier studies of school safety[i] designed to reassure skeptics that reopening schools to full-time instruction is really safe, even as new variants of COVID-19 spread that are more contagious and possibly more dangerous than earlier forms. Even the Center for Disease Control is joining this rush to judgment, suggesting that seating students as little as three feet apart might be an acceptable rule for social distancing.

Bitter experience has taught us a great deal since the beginning of the pandemic. Among the most important lessons we have learned is that it is not, in fact, safe to open schools as the pandemic persists without close adherence to significant and stringent abatement measures.

We begin with the most important point as to how we now better understand the risks that eluded us in prior surges of the virus. In those earlier episodes, many people who in fact had the virus showed few indications that they did, even as they went on to spread it to others. This asymptomatic transmission was a genuine novelty that researchers only slowly came to grips with.

Unfortunately, the display of coronavirus symptoms is highly correlated with age, thus the younger the student, the less likely they are to show symptoms, or exhibit what are considered typical COVID-19 symptoms. The younger students, therefore, were much less likely to be tested. So they continued participating in the school community even as they spread the disease and even having suffered symptoms and long-term side effects that absent a COVID-19 diagnostic determination, were falsely attributed to other illnesses. As a result, the studies commonly cited as supporting school reopening are deeply flawed; they are based on having only tested students who showed symptoms, rather than applying broad screening tests either universally or with true random samples capable of catching the otherwise undetectable asymptomatic spreaders and infected.

The extent of this bias has now been quantified in several studies in the UK, such as the Office for National Statistics Infection and Household Surveys[ii] and REACT-1 Studies.[iii] These studies randomly sampled large numbers of households within the UK at regular intervals regardless of symptoms. The results are dramatically different from the earlier studies, and even from symptom-based testing from the UK during the same time period; they show that contrary to the conclusions from earlier studies based on biased symptom-only testing protocols, in-person schooling is associated with much higher risk than previously thought. A recent study published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) from Mississippi confirmed these findings; it showed that case-based reporting of infection in children underestimated infection by between 14-68-fold over May to September 2020 compared with serological surveys.[iv]

With the more recent large-scale random sample testing performed in the UK, Sweden, and the US, we now know the following facts:

1. The secondary COVID-19 attack rate  that is, the rate at which the coronavirus spreads  was actually higher for both elementary and high school students than adults when the schools were open for in-person instruction between April to November in England (ONS Household Infection Survey).[v]

2. Both elementary and high school children were far more likely than adults (2x and 7x, respectively) to be the first case in their households rather than the adults between April-December in England.[vi]

3. The spread of infections among school-age children and in the community closely tracked school openings and closures as well as attendance, with the prevalence of infection being highest in these groups compared to all other age groups while schools were open and tiered restrictions for broader society remained in place. Importantly, particularly with the new variants, growth of the pandemic continued in regions where these variants were prevalent even as other institutions were shut down in the national lockdown in November.[vii]These statistics were mirrored in a recent study on the risk of coronavirus spreading in U.S. schools.[viii]

4. Increases in the prevalence of infection among school-age groups preceded rises of infection in other age groups. This has a vital implication; the new studies suggest that infections among children at school do not just reflect infection rates in the community. Rather, they drive increases in infection within the community through spreading from schools into homes, and from there to the broader community.

5. Claims that teachers do not face serious risks are simply false. The risks of infection turned out to be two times greater for teachers of in-person classes relative to those conducting virtual online classes in Sweden.[ix] The study also found an approximately 40% higher infection risk in England in those in teaching occupations compared to those in non-teaching occupations, even when schools were only partly open (REACT-1 study).[x]

6. Several studies also show an increased risk of infection among parents of primary and secondary school children being taught in-person within schools.[xi]

7. The spread of new, more easily transmitted and more deadly variants underscores the true dimensions of the threat from in-person school instruction. With the new B.1.1.7 variant now surging in many parts of the world, variant cases continued to rise with an R=1.45 (compared to an R of only 0.9 for non-B.1.1.7 variants) even during national lockdown while schools were open. R only dropped below 1  a critical level for controlling the rate of infection  following complete school closures. The numerous outbreaks linked with B.1.1.7 in school settings across the globe over the past few weeks are of grave concern.

8. Between 12-15% of primary and secondary school children had one or more persisting symptoms 5 weeks after infection, according to an ONS survey that took care to examine all infections, including asymptomatic infections.[xii] Before that study appeared, it had been widely thought that because mortality is low among children exposed to SARS-CoV-2, that children are not impacted. Given we know so little about the long-term implications of long COVID syndromes, which at least in adults have been often associated with organ dysfunction, it is important to adopt the precautionary principle, and reckon with long COVID related outcomes in addition to deaths.

9. Recent evidence supports the role of mitigations in reducing the impact of transmission within schools. However, it is clear that multi-layered protections are needed, rather than single or a few measures, as the risk reduction is associated with the number of mitigations in place.[xiii]

Figure 1 On the left is a graph from an earlier study based only on testing symptomatic U.K. patients that seemed to indicate that children aged 0-19 were the least likely to be infected or carriers of the coronavirus. Such symptom-based data from children are still being used to promote the notion of sage school reopening. The graph on the right shows the data from the large scale ONS study based on random sampling of households across England.[xiv] The latter study catches the large number of asymptomatic carriers, showing clearly that when asymptomatic carriers were counted, those school-age cohorts were, in-fact, the most likely to be infected carriers of the coronavirus. The ONS study also shows the correlation of new case growth in the elementary and high school-aged cohorts with times when the schools were opened for in person instruction and declines over vacation, half-term and shut-down periods.

The coincidence of the rush to reopen with the spread of the new variants of concern to the CDC and the World Health Organization is particularly unfortunate. The new B.1.1.7 variant is both 50% more communicable, and about 30% more lethal than the earlier strains. It is now the dominant and resurgent strain across Europe and is now endemic across the United States. All through the pandemic, the United States has lagged in testing for the virus. It has trailed not only in sheer volume but also in the form of testing: most tests cannot sort out the new more dangerous variants from older forms of COVID-19. Only so-called genetic survey tests can do that reliably and they are used only in a few places.

Data from the relatively few U.S. states that use these viral genome survey tests strongly indicate that the now widely reported declining case numbers mask a dangerous, exponential rise in cases of the newer more contagious variants. These appear even now to be turning around the recent falls in total cases in some areas of the country. We expect that in the next few weeks that phenomenon will show more widely.

Figure 2 After months of steady decline, we can now see the return of significant growth in new COVID-19 cases across six states where the B.1.1.7 strain is known to be growing in prevalence. Cases are now flat or starting to rise in 21 additional states, and we expect resurgences soon there as well. Relaxation of abatement measures is clearly premature.

Another lingering concern testifying to the persistent impact of outdated science is that so much of schools reopening guidance remains aimed at hygienic measures, surface wipe-downs, and plexiglass barriers, all of which are completely ineffective in limiting what we now know is the primary mode of indoor transmission, airborne aerosols.[xv]

The latest CDC guidance suggesting that the risks to students are similar at 6 foot or 3-foot distances and thus that schools can safely reopen with more-or-less normal student seating density and populations in the classrooms completely misses the point. A close analysis of the 3-foot paper[xvi] the CDC cited shows it to be riddled with errors in protocol, most importantly, that it again relies on data from primarily symptomatic carriers; that it improperly conflates infectious susceptibility with contact rates; and is based on a flawed sampling methodology.

Neither did it measure the actual distancing practices within classrooms, but rather considers guidance at district levels, and only for all schools with attendance greater than 5%. This could mean that schools were wrongly categorized to different distances that were not accurate. Differences in other mitigation measures, class size, or class attendance were also not accounted for. Ultimately, the study is also too small to come to any scientifically supported conclusion, as the results show that the risk of infection among districts with guidance to distance greater than 6 feet could vary from half of those with guidance to distance greater than 3 feet by up to 1.3 times as much.

Most critically, while the authors were correct in saying that there is little difference in risk relative to seating distance, they drew exactly the wrong conclusion from the distance data. Newer science has demonstrated quite definitively that the coronavirus spreads heavily through the air, more so, in fact, than through droplets on surfaces or direct contact. As a direct result, the earlier 6-foot indoor social distancing rule guidance was proven to offer misleadingly false comfort wherever ventilation is poor. A beautifully illustrated and simulated interactive New York Times article highlights Why Opening Windows Is A Key to Reopening Schools safely. Its worth a read, because it also demonstrates clearly why relaxing distancing measures, say to seating students 3 feet apart instead of at a 6-foot distance is not necessarily a good idea.

Contrary to the notion that even 3 feet of distancing is sufficient protection, and 6 feet is overkill, the critical safety issue is that students are all uniformly at risk in poorly ventilated rooms no matter where they are or how they distance. With one infected person in an enclosed and poorly ventilated room, the coronavirus permeates the entire space, putting everyone inside at similar risk regardless of where they sit. The key corrective abatement measure necessary is wholesale improvement in ventilation, filtering, and HVAC systems. Nothing whatsoever in any of the cited studies supports safely moving students closer together.

The Biden administrations new emergency aid bill contains substantial funding, at last, for states and localities. They could use some of that money to refit ventilation systems in schools and implement rigorous testing programs, and even quickly roll out portable HEPA filter systems. But as of 2020, a GAO study indicated that ventilation and heating systems in slightly under half of the school systems examined required substantial new expenditures to meet code, much less enhanced protection necessary for coronavirus abatement. With substantial federal support only now coming available, properly replacing older ventilation systems with HEPA filters will take time.

And though rapid COVID-19 tests are now available, few public schools can afford the current generation of tests. The simple mathematics of exponential growth and airborne transmission in confined areas means that tests on everybody  students, teachers, and staff, including cafeteria workers and janitors  need to be performed at least twice a week. Testing less often means that the virus cannot be identified fast enough to stop outbreaks from sweeping through schools and that contract tracing and quarantine efforts come too late to be effective. And similar to the VHAC upgrade concern cited above, it will also take time for forthcoming federal aid to flow down to schools and labs to enable frequent and affordable school testing on a national scale. In any case, these tests should not replace robust mitigatory measures within schools, but rather complement a robust, multi-measure mitigation approach.

A reconsideration of the current rush to reopen in-person instruction with less than sufficient mitigations is, therefore, clearly necessary. The understandable hopes for a return to normalcy raised by the stepped-up campaign to vaccinate everyone are premature. The vaccine effort, while gathering momentum, will not reach enough people quickly enough to make opening this Spring safe, without more robust mitigation measures within schools. And the costs of making a rushed mistake based on outdated science will take too long to become obvious.

We understand and sympathize deeply with the pain that the continued delay of reopening causes our colleagues and fellow citizens. But it cannot make sense in the actually existing state of most public schools (or, for that matter, all but the most affluent private schools) to push to reopen without all the critical mitigations, as this will once again potentially lead to educational disruption in the form of school closures and further lockdowns. Better to ensure schools can remain open once they do restart through robust mitigation, ramping up testing, ventilation, and, above all, vaccinations than send new waves of sick students, teachers, and parents to already overstretched hospital and emergency medical facilities in a third resurgence of the coronavirus, and unnecessarily put a generation of students, teachers, and parents at risk of Long COVID side effects.

Reopening most schools now, before most schools lack robust protective measures, and dont yet have broad ability or finances to conduct frequent surveillance testing to prevent asymptomatic spreaders of the latest, more dangerous coronavirus variants from infecting their community, is thus very unwise.[xvii]

Notes:

[i] Bailey, Is it Safe to Reopen Schools, CRPE

[ii] Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK Statistical bulletins

[iii] Munday, Jarvis, Gimma, Wong, van Zandvoort, Estimating the impact of reopening schools on the reproduction number of SARS-CoV-2 in England, CMMID, number.cmmid.github.io

[iv] Hobbs, Drobeniuc, Kittle, Williams, Byers, Satheshkumar, Inagaki, Stephenson, Kim, Patel, Flannery, Estimated SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Among Persons Aged <18 Years  Mississippi, MaySeptember 2020, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

[v] Hyde, Difference in SARS-CoV-2 attack rate between children and adults may reflect bias, Clinical Infectious Disease, inacademic.oup.com

[vi] Childrens Task and Finish Group: update to 4th Nov 2020 paper on children, schools and transmission

[vii] Gurdasani, Alwan, Greenhalgh, Hyde, Johnson, McKee, et. al., School reopening without robust COVID-19 mitigation risks accelerating the pandemic, The Lancet

[viii] Chernozhukov, Victor; Kasahara, Hiroyuki; Schrimpf, Paul. The Association of Opening K-12 Schools and Colleges with the Spread of Covid-19 in the United States: County-Level Panel Data Analysis, CESifo Working Paper No. 8929, March 2021.

[ix] Vlachos, Hertegard, Svaleryd, The effects of school closures on SARS-CoV-2 among parents and teachers, PNAS

[x] Riley, Wang, Eales, Haw, Walters, Ainslie, Atchison, Fronterre, Diggle, Ashby, Donnelly, Cooke, Barclay, Ward, Darzi, Elliott, REACT-1 round 9 final report: Continued but slowing decline of prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during national lockdown in England in February 2021.

[xi] Vlachos, Hertegard, Svaleryd, The effects of school closures on SARS-CoV-2 among parents and teachers, PNAS ;

Lessler, Grabowski, Grantz, Badillo-Goicoechea, Metcalf, Lupton-Smith, Azman, Stuart, Household COVID-19 risk and in-person schooling

Forbes, Morton, Bacon, et. al. Association between living with children and outcomes from covid-19: OpenSAFELY cohort study of 12 million adults in England, BMJ Husby, Corn, Krause, SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with and without young children: Nationwide cohort study

[xii] Updated estimates of the prevalence of long COVID symptoms, ONS

[xiii] Lessler, Grabowski, Grantz, et. al., Household COVID-19 risk and in-person schooling

[xiv] Riley, Wang, Eales, Haw, Walters, Ainslie, Atchison, Fronterre, Diggle, Ashby, Donnelly, Cooke, Barclay, Ward, Darzi, Elliott, REACT-1 round 9 final report: Continued but slowing decline of prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during national lockdown in England in February 2021,Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission Findings

[xv] Prather, Marr, Schooley, McDiarmid, Wilson, Milton, Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Science.

[xvi] Van den Berg, Schechter-Perkins, Jack, Epshtein, Nelson, Oster, Branch-Elliman, Effectiveness of three versus six feet of physical distancing for controlling spread of COVID- 19 among primary and secondary students and staff: A retrospective, state-wide cohort study

[xvii] Gurdasani, Alwan, Greenhalgh, Hyde, Johnson, McKee, et. al., School reopening without robust COVID-19 mitigation risks accelerating the pandemic, The Lancet
By Sarah Young and Laurence Frost

LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) - Europe's and travel sector are bracing for a second lost summer, with rebound hopes increasingly challenged by a hobbled COVID-19 vaccine rollout, resurgent infections and new lockdowns. Airline and travel stocks fell on Friday after Paris and much of northern France shut down for a month, days after Italy introduced stiff business and movement curbs for most of the country including Rome and Milan. The setbacks hit recovery prospects for the crucial peak season, whose profits typically tide through winter, when most carriers lose money even in good times.

"If there's no confidence there, demand just doesn't come back," said Dublin-based Alton Aviation consultant Leah Ryan, who expects the bad news on vaccines and lockdowns to hurt already weak bookings.

The summer outlook also has been dented by rising infections in Greece and elsewhere, and a suspension of AstraZeneca's vaccine by a number of European countries over health fears. Several countries announced resumption of use of the AstraZeneca shot this week after the European Medicines Agency said the benefits clearly outweigh its risks.

that have already racked up billions in debt face further strain that some may not survive without fresh funds. British Airways owner IAG raised 1.2 billion euros ($1.43 billion) in a bond issue on Thursday, saying the cushion would protect it from a drawn-out slump.

A patchy stop-start summer may pose fewer difficulties for low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, which can redeploy planes quickly between routes. But Ryanair's home market expects to keep strict travel curbs in place at least throughout June, Irish health official Ronan Glynn said on Thursday, citing the "deteriorating situation internationally" and emerging more contagious virus variants.

Ryanair shares traded 4.2% lower on Friday, with IAG down 4% and easyJet and Wizz both down 3.5%. Rebound hopes had driven travel stocks higher over the past month, led by IAG's 25% gain.

While ultra-low cost carriers can take the pain of another summer washout, analysts say, rivals such as easyJet and Virgin Atlantic could face renewed balance-sheet pressures. Air France-KLM is also seeking to raise capital and reduce debt from last year's 10.4 billion-euro bailout. The Franco-Dutch airline group aims to fly more than 50% of pre-crisis capacity this year, compared with 40%-50% for Lufthansa - targets that could still prove ambitious.

"MAJOR HIT" "There's a risk of an increased number of bankruptcies particularly between now and the end of the year," Alexandre de Juniac, head of global airline body IATA, told Reuters.

The latest whiplash in recovery sentiment extends from airlines into hospitality industries and the broader economy, penalizing tourism-dependent Mediterranean countries. "Virus numbers are going up, the vaccine rollout is falling behind and there is a risk that could lose a second summer," Morgan Stanley economist Jacob Nell said, predicting a "major hit to the southern economies".

The weak European outlook contrasts with optimistic messages from U.S. airline CEOs, who this week reported rising spring and summer leisure bookings across the country, as the U.S. vaccination campaign gained momentum and restrictions are eased.

United Airlines said it could halt its cash burn this month, excluding debt and severance payments.

Thanks to its faster progress on vaccinations, the UK outbound market has been seen as key to the coming European peak season. But rising European infection rates could threaten those plans too. Greece became Britain's biggest source of imported cases when the countries opened a travel corridor last summer, according to an official UK study published this week. Instead, the faster pace of vaccinations in Britain and the United States could bring a transatlantic rebound - potentially flipping the conventional wisdom that short-haul will recover first. "These two countries are leading the G20," with shots administered to 40% of the population in Britain and one-third in the United States, UBS aviation analyst Jarrod Castle said. "The North Atlantic could open up between (them) before other European markets, which would be greatly beneficial for British Airways."

($1 = 0.8398 euros)

(Reporting by Sarah Young and Laurence Frost; Additional reporting by Conor Humphries in Dublin and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Susan Fenton and Bill Berkrot)

(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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It had been believed for centuries that knowledge of how famous playwright William Shakespeare's really looked was lost forever.

The two existing definitive depictions of the most famous English writer were thought to have been produced after his death, making them less reliable guides.

But now, thanks to a ground-breaking discovery, one of them - the existing effigy of Shakespeare which sits above his grave in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon - could in fact be an accurate depiction of him, experts believe.

The bust, which shows the Bard with moustache and goatee, was believed to have been installed several years after his death in 1616, meaning it was likely not an accurate likeness.

But now expert Professor Lena Cowen Orlin has said it was 'highly likely' that Shakespeare commissioned the monument, which could have been modelled from life by a sculptor who knew him.

The effigy of William Shakespeare which sits above his grave in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, was previously thought to have been produced after his death in 1616. But now it is believed it was produced during his lifetime by a sculptor who knew him

How Shakespeare really looked has been a matter of debate because of uncertainty around the reliability of existing portraits of him.

Along with the effigy, the only work which definitively depicts him is the engraving which appears on the title page of the First Folio - the first compilation of his works - which was produced in 1623, after the writer's death.

Perhaps the most famous painting - the Cobbe Portrait - has been argued by some critics to in fact show fellow writer Sir Thomas Overbury.

Another, the Chandos portrait, which was painted between 1600 and 1610, can not definitely be said to depict Shakespeare.

It was previously thought that the bust in Shakespeare's funerary monument at his local church in the West Midlands by the poets son-in-law, Dr John Hall.

However, Professor Orlin told The Guardian: 'It is highly likely that Shakespeare commissioned the monument.

Along with the effigy, the only other definitive depiction of him is the engraving which appears on the title page of the First Folio (above)

Perhaps the most famous painting - the Cobbe Portrait - has been argued by some critics to in fact be a painting of fellow writer Sir Thomas Overbury. Another, the Chandos portrait, which was painted between 1600 and 1610, can not definitely be said to depict Shakespeare

'It was done by someone who knew him and had seen him in life.

'We can think of it as a kind of life portrait, a design for death that gives evidence of a life of learning and literature.'

The painted effigy shows Shakespeare's upper half. He is seen holding a quill over a sheet of paper wresting on a cushion.

Dr Paul Edmondson, head of research at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT), the charity which cares for the home where the writer was born, said the new research was 'truly significant'.

He said experts can now say that the effigy is how Shakespeare would have wanted to be represented, branding the fact 'massive'.

'It is compelling new light on what he looked like and how he operated,' he added.

Shakespeare is buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he was born and lived for much of his life

It was previously thought that the monument was created by Flemish artist Gerard Johnson.

But Professor Orlin believes it was instead made by his brother, Nicholas Johnson.

She said that the sculptor worked on another monument in the church dedicated to Shakespeare's friend John Combe, who died in 1615.

The expert said Johnson worked by travelling with the sculptures to see them be installed, meaning he would have been in Stratford before Shakespeare's death.

Even if he had not been, his workshop was 'around the corner' from the Bard's Globe Theatre in London, making it 'highly likely' he would have seen the playwright's face.

She also pointed out that a space was left on the effigy for funerary data to be added after the playwright's death, indicating it was done during his lifetime.

Professor Orlin, a professor of English Georgetown University, Washington DC, will reveal her findings in the Shakespeare Trust's lecture on April 23 to celebrate the writer's birthday.
The Federal Reserve building is pictured in Washington, DC, U.S., August 22, 2018. (Photo : REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo)

A former Federal Reserve employee pleaded guilty to stealing dozens of restricted documents, including bank stress test data, after he decided to leave the board following a poor performance review, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday.



Venkatesh Rao, 67, admitted on Thursday to one count of theft of government property at a hearing in the federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland.



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Prosecutors said Rao entered the Federal Reserve building in Washington 16 times on weekend days in November 2019, printed more than 50 restricted documents from his workstation, and took them to his home in Bethesda, Maryland. They did not say how he planned to use the documents.



"He authored these materials, copied them and took them home because he wanted to have them," Rao's lawyer G. Allen Dale said in a phone interview. "He wasn't going to do anything with them. He shouldn't have copied them, and he realizes that. Hopefully it's not going to ruin his life."



Rao faces up to six months in prison under recommended federal guidelines at his scheduled May 28 sentencing.



The Fed closely guards data underlying its annual stress tests, which were created after the 2008 global financial crisis to measure the ability of major banks to weather sudden economic crises and liquidity crunches.



In 2020, the Fed conducted two stress tests, to assess how well banks could manage severe downturns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.



The case is U.S. v. Rao, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, No. 21-cr-00030.


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The Associated Press fIle The Associated Press fIle Former President Donald Trump watches with Vice President Mike Pence and Defense Secretary Mark Esper as the flag for U.S. Space Command is unfurled at the White House in Washington in 2019.
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay Francisco Bustillo Bonasso, the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

The ministers during their talk exchanged views on the Armenian-Uruguayan cooperation agenda both at the bilateral and multilateral formats.

Both praised the development dynamics of the ties based on mutual respect and reaffirmed their readiness to take action to further expand and enrich the bilateral agenda. In this context the officials highlighted the bridging role of the Armenian community of Uruguay in terms of strengthening the relations between the two countries.

The Armenian and Uruguayan Foreign Ministers also discussed a number of issues relating to the international and regional security and peace. They specifically emphasized the necessity for human rights protection in conflict situations.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Saturday sought the withdrawal of a parliamentary panel's recommendation asking the Centre to implement the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, one of the three agri laws against which the farmers have been protesting at Delhi borders for over 100 days.

The SKM, an umbrella body of over 40 farmers' union leading the farmers' agitation, alleged that the ECAA allows "unlimited private hoarding and black marketing".

Their remark comes after a parliamentary panel asked the government to implement in "letter and spirit" the ECAA. This panel also has members from opposition parties including Congress, TMC and AAP. These parties have been demanding repeal of all three farm laws enacted by the Centre recently.

"It must not escape attention that the ECAA makes a wholly anti-poor recommendation that food, which is the most essential item for the survival of human beings, should be removed from the list of EC.

"It allows unlimited private hoarding and black marketing. It will lead to the winding up of the PDS facilities and structures," the SKM said in a statement.

It added that the implementation of the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act will "expose 75 crore beneficiaries to open market purchase of food requirements, promoting Corporate and MNCs in food markets".

In its report tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 19, the Standing Committee on Food chaired by TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay recommended the government to "implement the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 in letter and spirit, and without let or hindrances so that the farmers and other stakeholders of farming sector in this country receive the benefits intended under the said Act".

The SKM said, "It is entirely disgraceful that many parties which have been claiming support to farmers agitation for repeal of three farm laws have voted for the implementation of the ECAA.

"This exposes a wider consensus amongst these parties on these laws. We appeal to the committee to withdraw these recommendations," it said.

The farmers' body has called "Bharat Bandh" on March 26.

The Morcha, which held a meeting on Saturday, also decided that on 22 March, meetings of public organizations will be held at the district level across the country.

It was decided that during the 'Bharat Bandh' on March 26, all services except emergency services will be inactive from 6 am to 6 pm, and road and rail transport will be blocked, the SKM said.

It said on March 28, copies of three agricultural laws will be burnt in 'Holika Dahan' and on April 5, farmers will 'gherao' offices of Food Corporation of India across the country from 11 am to 5 pm.

Also Read: WhatsApp was down for 50 minutes, development down in Bengal for 50 years: PM Modi's dig at Mamata

Also Read: Modi govt's vehicle scrappage policy: All you need to know

Also Read: 20 states implement ease of doing business reforms; get nod to borrow additional Rs 39,521 cr
Washington, March 20 : The highly contagious coronavirus variant first identified in Britain likely accounts for up to 30 per cent of the confirmed cases in the US, Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, said.

The variant, called B.1.1.7, has been reported in at least 94 countries and detected in 50 jurisdictions in the US, Fauci said on Friday during a White House briefing on the pandemic.

He added that the numbers are likely growing, reports Xinhua news agency.

Fauci said the B.1.1.7 variant is 50 per cent more transmissible and likely to cause more severe disease.

"We're at a position right now where we have a plateauing at around 53,000 cases per day," he said.

"The concern is that throughout the country there are a number of states, cities, regions that are pulling back on some of the mitigation methods that we've been talking about: the withdrawal of mask mandates, the pulling back to essentially non-public health measures being implemented." Public health officials and experts are especially concerned about new variants as they could become more resistant to antibody treatments and vaccines.

Fauci urged Americans to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to avoid variants spread.

A total of 5,795 infection cases of coronavirus variants have been reported across the country so far, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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(CNN)  Chinese officials dismissed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan as "condescending." An unnamed US official said the Chinese were "grandstanding." And with that, any chance the US and China might shift course after four turbulent years of the Trump administration quickly faded.

The tense and unusual diplomatic clash Thursday between senior US and Chinese officials signals a tough road ahead as the world's two largest economies maneuver a relationship that is not going to improve easily or quickly, analysts said, and instead, may only get harder to navigate.

The typically dull prelude to diplomatic meetings spiraled quickly out of control in part because of mismatched expectations and because both sides delivered speeches meant just as much for their domestic audiences as for their counterparts.

The Biden administration wants to maintain a tough line on China, particularly on areas of sensitivity for Beijing, such as human rights, and is not likely to ease up with China hawks in Congress ready to criticize any sign of weakness. Meanwhile, Beijing is intent on signaling that it is not intimidated by the US or swayed by American claims to global leadership.

"We didn't expect to see anything in terms of substantive dialogue for the meetings, so the fact that they fell apart didn't surprise us, but the fact that they fell apart so quickly and in such spectacular pattern was really notable," said Cailin Birch, a global economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

'Little scope'

The testy start could make progress difficult in areas where the two nations have an interest in cooperating, such as trade, analysts said. "Overall," Birch concluded, Thursday's meeting demonstrates that "there is little scope for an improvement in US-China relations in the near term."

Blinken and Sullivan were in Anchorage to meet with China's foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi for two sessions on Thursday and a third on Friday. The event went awry right almost immediately when the two sides gathered for what is usually a ceremonial exchange of remarks before the press.

After Blinken's description of Washington's "deep concerns" about some of Beijing's human rights record and aggressive behavior overseas, Chinese officials ignored protocol to blast the US, the state of its democracy, and its record on racial justice. Blinken then countered with his own unscripted rebuttal. Both sides insisted cameras stay in the room to capture their remarks.

The two US officials raised a slew of issues, ranging from ongoing repression in Xinjiang that Blinken has called genocide to China's cyber attacks. But the speeches were likely meant as much for audiences at home as for each other.

"A lot of it was probably theater for domestic audiences, there's definitely some of that for the US and some of that for China," Birch said.

In a long set of remarks, Yang made clear that China feels the US has no right to meddle in its "internal" affairs, claim a right to global leadership, or even to promote its vision for democracy and human rights, given the domestic controversy about the 2020 election and the injustices laid bare by US racial justice protests. "The US does not have the qualification to say it can speak from a position of strength," foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi scoffed.

Pointing to the "intensity" and "vociferousness" of Yang's rebuttal, Birch said, "it was probably meant to show China is not intimidated and it was a show of disrespect too  China is making clear that it's not going to follow the rules."

A senior Republican aide suggested that Blinken and Sullivan were probably aware that lawmakers were watching too.

"They cannot afford to give them an inch right now," this aide said of the Biden administration's approach to China. "We all know China is now the biggest issue geopolitically, especially for the Hill on foreign policy. They could not give an inch. They had to be strong, they had to be tough."

It's not just Republicans the Biden administration has to be mindful of, the aide said. "If the administration is too weak on China," they said, "you may have a bipartisan group of people who may amp up and put restrictions on that effort, so there are domestic concerns they have to balance as well. The question is what happened behind closed doors."

Staffers for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have asked the administration for readouts of the meetings on Monday. Sullivan said Friday they had been "tough" and that he and Blinken would return to Washington to consult with Congress and allies on the talks.

'Tough and direct'

"We expected to have tough and direct talks on a wide range of issues, and that's exactly what we had," Sullivan said. Blinken said that, "on economics, on trade, on technology, we told our counterparts that we are reviewing these issues with close consultation with Congress, with our allies and partners, and we will move forward on them in a way that fully protects and advances the interests of our workers and our businesses."

Another factor contributing to the friction was the very different expectations the two sides had about the meetings.

"China was hoping for a reset and at least in theory was hoping to have one introductory, low-key meeting to set the tone," Birch said. "Obviously, with Blinken's comments, that possibility went out the window. The US team was coming in planning to discuss really sensitive issues for China  its human rights record and territorial ambitions."

On Friday, President Joe Biden signaled that Blinken had his full backing, telling reporters he was "very proud" of the top US diplomat after his verbal showdown with the Chinese officials. Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, said that Biden's message of "unequivocal support" proves that, "this administration is not like the previous administration and speaks with one voice on China ... They are all reading from the same playbook."

By emphasizing the Biden administration's concerns about human rights and the threat China poses to smaller countries and US allies, Blinken and Sullivan also signaled that the Trump administration's transactional, trade-oriented, go-it-alone approach is over. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Blinken said he and Sullivan had two priorities for the talks.

"First: we wanted to share with them the significant concerns we have about a number of the actions that China's taken and the behavior it's exhibiting, concerns shared by our allies and partners. And we did that," said Blinken. "We also wanted to lay out very clearly our own policies, priorities, and worldview. And we did that too."

Blinken and Sullivan emphasized that they'll continue to work with China on areas of mutual interest, including Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan, but climate "is maybe the only real possibility for near term, substantial progress," Birch said. "It's the only real area where we see the two countries being aligned and where their partnership would spin well for both governments, whereas even a sign of cooperation on trade would be hard to sell at home, especially in the US."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Extraordinary diplomatic clash signals tough times ahead for the US and China"
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Sydneys hotel market is the worst performing in Australia and faces catastrophic losses when JobKeeper ends at the end of the month, according to the industry body, which has made a last-ditch plea to the federal government for more support.

Accommodation Association boss Dean Long said rooms in Sydney and Melbourne were 91 per cent vacant after Easter on current bookings and hotel revenue in Sydney  normally the countrys most lucrative market  was down 67 per cent.

Sydney city hotels were identified as the worst performing in Australia by the Accommodation Association. Credit:Getty

Mr Long said it makes no sense for the federal government to offer half-price flights to regional destinations such as Cairns or Merimbula but leave out Sydney and Melbourne, as those markets were faring worst of all.

The association, which represents 3500 hotels including the major IHG and Accor groups, wrote to the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Treasury last week warning of significant job losses largely impacting skilled middle and senior management employees when JobKeeper ends.
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the investigation into the alleged attack on Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, reported news agency PTI.

The development comes after much politicisation of the incident in the run-up to the West Bengal assembly elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had last week said that the injury caused to CM Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram was not a result of an "attack", as per the findings of the state's Observers and Chief Secretary.

The official source of the poll body said that there is no evidence of an attack carried out on Banerjee, reported ANI.

Following this, the TMC had expressed disagreement with the EC's observation

On 10 March, Banerjee had alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Later, she was brought to Kolkata's SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram.

"I was greeting people from the car bonnet and a huge pressure came....and the car crushed my foot," said the 66-year-old, who has been back on the campaign trail in a wheelchair.

Banerjee sustained "severe bone injuries" on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination.

The Chief Minister was discharged from the hospital on 12 March.

BJPs West Bengal unit had demanded a CBI probe into the alleged attack, saying that it needs to be seen whether the incident was a well-scripted drama" to garner votes.

Speaking to reporters, state party president Dilip Ghosh said that the people of the state have seen such drama" earlier as well.

It needs to be probed what actually happened. How come a Z-plus protectee gets attacked is a matter that has to be looked into. The state should order a CBI probe to bring out the truth," he said, adding that such drama would not yield any results this time."

Congress ha accused Banerjee of resorting to 'siyasi pakhand' (hypocrisy) and theatrics to gain public sympathy ahead of the assembly polls.

West Bengal will witness eight-phased Assembly polls beginning 27 March.

The tenure of the 16th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal will end on 30 May this year. A total of 7,34,07,832 voters will choose their representative for the 17th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal. The counting will take place on 2 May.









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Former and current pupils of historic Westminster School have created a dossier containing allegations of sexual assaults and abuse, claiming it was 'everyday life' for female students.

The document contains 76 entries who say they were humiliated during their time at the school and forced to perform sex acts on boys and jokingly called 'gang rape' victims, the Times reported.

A photo on social media showed a female student's picture projected on to a screen and asking in front of a teacher if they would 'smash or not'.

Dozens of current and former pupils Westminster School, showed in the bottom corner, have made allegations

A video also showed a sixth-former holding a female student in front of younger boys and asking who wants 'first dibs.'

They are the latest claims of rape culture at British institutions made by female ex-students.

What to know about historic Westminster School Westminster School dates back to 1394 when it was formed by Benedictine monks of Westminster Abbey although has links to a charity school set up possibly before 1066. Its results puts it within the top schools nationally with half of students going to Oxbridge. Boys join the under school at age seven and senior school at 13. About 70 girls join the sixth form at 16 each year. Around a quarter of its 750 pupils board at 13,869 a term and famous alumni include the likes of Sir Christoper Wren, A.A Milne, Nigel Lawson, Andrew LLoyd Webber, Louis Theroux and six Victoria Cross holders. Some 224 former Westminster pupils were killed in the First World War and the school was severely damaged in an air raid in 1941 which also destroyed the House of Commons. The schools motto is Dat Deus Incrementum which translates as I planted the seed... but God made it grow, from quotes 1 Corinthians 3:6. Advertisement

Westminster School, which costs boarders 13,869 a term, counts six prime ministers among its alumni, as well as Louis Theroux, Helena Bonham Carter and Sir Nick Clegg.

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons education select committee, has called for an inquiry into the claims about Westminster and other schools named.

He said: 'The allegations that are coming out from all these different schools are horrific. There needs to be rapid reform in terms of respect and treating female students properly but also in terms of safeguarding.

'The safeguarding measures at all these schools need to be looked at to find out what's gone on and make sure it doesn't happen again.'

Another entry in the dossier reads: 'It makes me sad that these boys who have had so many opportunities and come from such privilege were so unaware of human decency.

'It wouldn't surprise me if every girl in my year had a story concerning some form of sexual harassment.'

Another entry says: 'I was raped by a very close friend at Westminster.

'He invited me over to his house, got me super drunk when I physically resisted and asked him not to.'

Head Master Dr Gary Savage said of the claims: 'We take the very concerning issues raised by current and former pupils extremely seriously.

'The safeguarding of every single pupil in our care is the most important thing we do as a school. We will continue to investigate specific allegations that are brought to our attention.

'Although anonymised, we have referred the accounts to our local authority with whom we work closely to safeguard children. We will continue to be in touch with them and action will be taken where appropriate.

'Behaviours and attitudes like these have absolutely no place at our school, or in society in general, and we are determined to help and support pupils past and present who are affected. We encourage individuals to come forward and assure them any issues will be investigated thoroughly.

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons education select committee, has called for an inquiry

'Last September, we launched a whole-school consultation into our ethos and values to ensure everyone had the opportunity to help define and shape what the School believes in and stands for.

'This process has allowed pupils to put across their feelings on inclusion, equality and diversity as well as the importance of being kind, empathetic and treating everyone with respect.

'We are developing this discussion into concrete and positive actions, one of which is to commission external reviews into the treatment of issues around race, sex and gender which will build on the internal work undertaken so far.

'These will have a broad remit and include a review of our policies, procedures, training and curriculum.

The schools head master, Dr Gary Savage, said these behaviours 'have no place' at Westminster School

'The findings will help us to discover ways, both inside and outside the classroom, to embed the inclusive and respectful values we cherish and ensure they are lived up to every day and truly inform every pupil's experience at Westminster.'

Last year more than 250 black alumni of Westminster School demanded more was done to rid the student bodies of a 'toxic culture of racism'.

A letter prompted by the Black Lives Matter movement explained former pupils had recently been examining the racial issues that existed at the school.

Pupils at the school say the establishment needs to address the links it holds with problematic figures, with at least 28 of its alumni known to be slave owners or slave traders.

These include Richard Hakluyt, who promoted colonisation of the Americas and has a house at the school named after him and John Locke, who supported slavery and has a society named after him.
Postal services provider TTPost yesterday shut its branches in Port of Spain and San Fernando after dozens of people rushed to collect senior citizen pension and public assistance grants and would not adhere to physical distancing rules.

Eventually, police were called to disperse the crowds.

Several elderly people at the St Vincent Street branch in Port of Spain complained about not being able to collect their pension cheques because other unruly ones refused to socially distance and abide by the law amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stella Griffith, 68, of Diego Martin, said she was adhering to rules of social distancing, but there were other people who came for their public assistance and disability grants and were refusing to listen.
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Global Paraneoplastic Syndrome Market Research Report: By Type (Cutaneous Paraneoplastic Syndrome and Others), by Diagnosis (Blood Test, Spinal Tap, and Others), by Treatment (Medication and Others), by End User (Hospitals and Others) Forecast till 2023

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According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global paraneoplastic syndromes market is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period. The report covers the COVID-19 analysis of the global paraneoplastic syndromes market. It offers a comprehensive description of market segments, current trends, growth, market predictions, and challenges from 2018 to 2023 (forecast period) to define current market opportunities.

A paraneoplastic syndrome is a rare group of disorders caused by an abnormal response of the immune system due to neoplasm. This syndrome often occurs when cancer-fighting antibodies mistakenly target normal cells in the nervous system. The prevalence of this disorder can usually be seen in the middle-aged population. This syndrome often occurs in patients with lung, ovarian, or breast cancer.

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Numerous factors are anticipated to propel this market's growth, such as an increase in the prevalence of cancer, tobacco consumption, an unhealthy lifestyle, an increase in the geriatric population, and an increase in breast cancer among women. The growth of this market is expected to be driven by increased collaboration between various research institutes to develop novel diagnostic techniques for the diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndrome.

Despite the drivers, factors such as the unfavorable reimbursement scenario and strict regulatory policies can impede the growth of the market during the forecast period.

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The global market for paraneoplastic syndrome has been segmented into types, diagnosis, treatment, and end-users.

Based on types, the global market for paraneoplastic syndrome has been segmented into cutaneous paraneoplastic syndrome, gastro-intestinal paraneoplastic syndrome, hematologic paraneoplastic syndrome, endocrine paraneoplastic syndrome, renal paraneoplastic syndrome, rheumatologic paraneoplastic syndromes, and neurologic paraneoplastic syndrome.

Based on the diagnosis, the global market for paraneoplastic syndrome has been segmented into blood tests, imaging tests, and spinal tap (lumbar puncture). Imaging tests are further divided into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and PET plus CT.

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Based on end-user, the global market for paraneoplastic syndrome has been segmented into hospitals and clinics, diagnostic centers, and ambulatory care centers.

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Region-wise, the global Paraneoplastic Syndrome Market Size has been segmented into the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

The Americas are expected to drive the global market for paraneoplastic syndrome. Market growth in this area is due to a growing geriatric population with a paraneoplastic disorder, investment in research and development, and technological advancements. Nevertheless, the growing acceptance of novel neurological diagnosis tools in this region boosts the demand in this region.

Europe is projected to be the second-largest market in the world due to a growing number of geriatric populations, a rise in government spending on autoimmune disorders, the growth of disposable income, and an increase in tobacco consumption in the region.

The Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing market due to the rising prevalence of paraneoplastic disorders and cancer-related problems in emerging countries, increasing disposable incomes, and increasing spending on healthcare.

The Middle East and Africa are projected to have the lowest market share in the global market for paraneoplastic syndrome due to low development, lack of technical expertise, and weak medical facilities in developing economies in the region.

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Some of the key players identified by MRFR in the global paraneoplastic syndrome market are NeuroLogica Corporation, Healthineers, Koninklijke Philips NV, General Electric Company, York Instruments Ltd., Masimo Corporation, Neusoft Medical Systems, Esaote SpA, and Canon Medical Systems Corporation.

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STAMFORD  A Superior Court judge has denied Michelle Troconis request for a change of venue and ruled the three sets of charges against her can proceed in a single trial.

Troconis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the May 2019 death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

In his ruling Friday, Judge John Blawie said he saw no valid basis, either in law or in fact, to order the transfer of these prosecutions to the Hartford Judicial district over the states objections.

Troconis attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, had requested changing the venue to Hartford from the Stamford-Norwalk judicial district, citing prejudicial publicity in Fairfield County. Schoenhorn had also argued that the accusations against his client were alleged to have happened in the Hartford area.

Blawie also ruled that prosecutors can proceed with the three sets of charges against Troconis in a single trial.

This is because each allegation is but a branch of a single criminal investigation, in effect a branch of a single tree ... the disappearance and alleged murder of one woman, Jennifer Farber Dulos, Blawie wrote in his decision.

Prosecutors have said co-defendant Kent Mawhinney, will likely testify against Troconis if her case goes to trial. Mawhinney, a former attorney and longtime friend of Fotis Dulos, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the case.

Fotis Dulos died of a suicide in January 2020 while facing murder, kidnapping and other charges in the death and disappearance of his estranged wife.

Police said Fotis Dulos was lying in wait and attacked his estranged wife in the garage of her New Canaan home when she returned from dropping off their five children at school around 8 a.m. on May 24, 2019, according to arrest warrants in the case.

Jennifer Dulos has never been found, but police said she is presumed dead based on the blood and other evidence found in her garage, the warrants state.

Police have accused Troconis, who was living with Fotis Dulos at the time, of trying to create an alibi for her former boyfriend, the warrants state. Police said Troconis eventually admitted lying to investigators about Fotis Dulos whereabouts the morning his wife vanished, the warrants state.

Troconis is also accused of helping Fotis Dulos clean a pickup truck belonging to one of his employees that police say was used in the crime, according to warrants.

Troconis is next due to appear in court May 25  two years and one day since Jennifer Dulos disappeared.
The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 05:32:08|Editor: huaxia

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QUITO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador registered 1,225 cases and 22 deaths of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 310,868 and total deaths to 11,622, the Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday.

According to ministry, 263,164 people have recovered from the disease.

The capital city of Quito continues to be the epicenter of the disease, with officials reporting 95 percent occupancy of intensive care units and 85 percent occupancy of hospitals in general.

On Jan. 21, Ecuador began its national vaccination program against COVID-19, although progress is slow due to the small number of doses of vaccine received from pharmaceutical companies.

As of March 15, a total of 121,054 Ecuadorians had received their first dose of the vaccine, according to the ministry. Enditem
A man arrested in a deadly shooting outside a West Side home is accused of forcing a witness to be his getaway driver, police said.

Francisco Saul Miranda, 31, is charged with murder, according to court records. His bail is set at $250,000.

David Garcia, 45, was shot March 11 while sitting in a 2007 Mazda parked in the 300 block of South San Augustine Avenue, San Antonio police said.

Garcia died at the scene at 6:15 p.m. from gunshot wounds to his left upper torso and shoulder area, according to the affidavit. Court records did not say what led to the incident.

The affidavit indicates that a witness came to police a day later and told them that right after the shooting, the shooter threatened him with the gun and forced him to drive the shooter away from the scene.

On ExpressNews.com: Police arrest man in connection with fatal West Side shooting

On March 16, police received a Crime Stoppers tip regarding the shooting and identified the suspect as Miranda, the affidavit states. He was arrested Friday.

Police said Miranda is a documented member of the Mexican Mafia.

Miranda had been out on a $75,000 bond for a previous charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in August 2018, according to court records.
Asian American pastors Sunday sermon to issue call for prayers and action after Atlanta shooting

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The pastor of a Korean church in the Atlanta area said he plans to tell his congregation its time for us to act when he delivers his sermon on the first Sunday after a 21-year-old man, Robert Aaron Long, was charged with killing eight people at three massage parlors in the vicinity of the church.

Christians should not just pray, not just worry  its time for us to act, the Rev. Byeong Han of Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, told The Associated Press.

Im going to urge people with love and peace that we need to step up and address this issue, so that ... our next generation should not be involved in tragic ... violence, the pastor said. Thats what Christians need to do.

Another Asian American pastor, the Rev. Jong Kim of Grace Korean Presbyterian Church in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, was quoted as saying that he had spoken to other Korean pastors in the area, urging them to join the group Asian Americans Advancing Justice, to discuss issues of race and ethnicity and also help the victims' families to organize funeral services.

The groups Atlanta chapter believes the shooting on Tuesday happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism.

The 21-year-old suspect, who's now facing multiple murder charges, struggled with sexual sins he committed in these establishments, a former roommate said.

I lived with Robert Aaron Long for a few months. I can tell you right now that this is not racially motivated killing, but the product of an emotionally disturbed young man who was religious to the point of mania and who felt deep shame about why he frequented these places, Tyler Bayless revealed in a Facebook post Wednesday. I wonder how this would have gone if he had been in an environment where he wasnt repeatedly told how sinful he was for the things that drove him. What a tragic loss of life, and a kid that was all around one of the sweeter people youd meet.

Seven of the eight people Long killed were women, and six of them were of Asian descent. Two of the victims were white.

Long told law enforcement that he would regularly visit two of the massage parlors he attacked, according to The Washington Post, which reported that police had identified the spas as places where sex work and possible sexual exploitation regularly occurred.

The suspect told police he saw the people who worked at the spas as temptations he needed to eliminate.

The Post reported that the Atlanta Police Department had earlier raided Gold Spa, one of the spas attacked by Long, at least seven times and arrested 10 of its workers.

Police had received complaints alleging that Aromatherapy Spa, another massage parlor attacked by Long, was into prostitution. And the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office has been investigating Youngs Asian Massage, the third spa targeted by Long, since 2019, the Post added.

Those killed by Long included 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun, 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels, 44-year-old Daoyou Feng, and 49-year-old Xiaojie Tan, according to The Epoch Times.

Yaun and her husband had arranged for a babysitter for their 8-month-old daughter when they went to Young's Asian Massage on Tuesday. They were in separate rooms inside the spa when Long opened fire and killed Yaun.

Michels, who owned a security systems business after leaving the military, had been thinking about opening a spa himself, his younger brother, John Michels, was quoted as saying. He was a good, hard-working man who would do what he could do to help people. Hed loan you money if you needed it sometimes. You never went away from his place hungry, he added.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden indicated that the killing was an outcome of former President Trump calling COVID-19 China virus, a term that was first used by mainstream media, including CNN and MSNBC, whose lead anchors and medical experts called COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," "Wuhan virus," and Chinese coronavirus."

Words have consequences. Its the coronavirus  full stop, Biden told community leaders in Georgia on Friday, according to The Washington Times.

Vice President Kamala Harris also appeared to attribute the shooting to hate against Asian Americans, alluding to Trump. For the past year, weve had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans, Harris said at Emory University in Atlanta on Friday.

She added that people with the biggest pulpits were spreading this kind of hate.

Robert Cherry, a retired Brooklyn College economist, wrote in an article for The Spectator magazine that the majority of attacks on Asians in the U.S. cannot be attributed to white Americans.

Sharing his research based on 2019 FBI statistics, where he looked at black and white perpetrators of hate crimes as a percentage of men 18 to 44 years old in their populations, he wrote, The black rate was 40 percent, 76 percent and 303 percent higher than the white rate for hate crimes against the Asian/Pacific Island, Latino and LGBTQ communities respectively.

He added, Even more troubling, black rates for hate-crime assaults were 94 percent higher while for property destruction and vandalism, they were 14 percent lower than white rates.
Ukraine has announced its official position on the technical report released by Iran on causes of the crash of Ukraine International Airlines near Tehran, which occurred on January 8, 2020, the press service of the Foreign Ministry said on Facebook.

"In his speech at the Council of the organization, the representative of Ukraine in ICAO Andriy Shevchenko said that the document does not meet the requirements of the Chicago Convention," the message says.

It is said that the report does not provide an answer to key questions: what caused the accident and how to avoid it in the future.

"This is not the spirit of cooperation that the aviation community needs. After that, how to send flights to the Iranian sky again? How does all of this fit in with ICAO principles? Does all this make civil aviation safe?" the representative of Ukraine said.

The department said that Ukraine will seek truth and responsibility for those responsible.
An investigation into The Talk is dragging on.

The US show was originally put on hiatus last Sunday for two days. The break was then extended and scheduled to come back with live shows this coming Tuesday, March 22.

Deadline now reports cast were informed that the show will remain off until at least next week.

A week ago, CBS launched an investigation into the heated exchange about race between Sharon Osbourne and co-host Sheryl Underwood, which followed Piers Morgan comments in the UK.

Since then, there have been new allegations against Osbourne that she had used racial slur towards former co-host/exec producer Julie Chen. Former co-host Holly Robinson Peete also claimed that Osborne had called her too ghetto to be on the show.

Osbourne has denied the claims, publicly accusing CBS executives of being behind the segment, which she calls a setup.

No return date has been set for the show which screens in Australia on 10.

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STAY SAFE, STATEN ISLAND: This story is part of a series examining crime trends in communities across our borough.



STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are warning about a spike in scams throughout Staten Island after several Staten Islanders lost more than $400,000 in the last few weeks.

Phone scams are on the rise throughout New York City. This year, many Staten Island have been victimized by these types of scams, police said. Some lost their life savings, while many others lost thousands of dollars.

Police say the scams targeting Staten Islanders in the past few weeks include an Instagram scam, a bail scam and many credit card scams for a total of $418,580 lost overall.

The largest loss involved a 34-year-old woman who lost $245,000 in a Stock marker investment scam followed by a 62-year-old who lost $65,000 in an unspecified scam highlighting what officials previously told the Advance/SILive.com: nobody is immune.

Here there is a run down of the scams that occurred most recently:

Woman, 23, lost $1,800 in an Instagram scam;

Grandmother, 79, lost $4,500 in a bail scam;

Grandmother, 78, lost $49,800 in an internet scam after she was told her computer was hatched and needed to call Microsoft;

Man, 34, lost $7,900 after a man posed as a Drug Enforcement Administrator agent;

Great grandfather, 84, lost $19,000 in a credit card phone scam;

Woman, 34, lost $245,000 in a stock market investment scam;

Woman, 39, lost $91,000 in a credit card recovery/ Bitcoin scam;

Victim lost $980 in a ConEdison scam after a fake operator from the utility company told the victim his account would be shut off if he didnt pay;

Man, 70, lost $15,500 in an Amazon scam;

Victim, 62, lost $65,000 in an unspecified scam.

There are many more victims just like these on Staten Island every week. These victims are our friend, family and neighbors, police said. Please help us spread the word. Talk to your friends and family. Its a preventable crime. Just hang up.

HOW IT IS WORKING?

Officials said that technology is outpacing law enforcements ability to track down the perpetrators.

Theres an unfathomable increase in the number of complaints were getting from Staten Islanders, said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. We know many individuals have lost great sums of money and in some cases their whole life savings.

In light of the growing problem, McMahon has joined forces with the NYPD and City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island) in launching an information campaign to shed light on the range and complexity of financial schemes plaguing the borough.

Some of the most successful scam include bail scams where someone calls you claiming that your child or grandchild has been arrested and it will take tens of thousands of dollars to get him out of custody, Assistant Chief Frank Vega, the borough commander, explained.

Other lucrative scams include credit card scams, social security scams and computer virus scams, police said.

STAY SAFE, STATEN ISLAND: Related coverage
Tarahrick Terry first began arguing for a reduced sentence in 2019. Eleven years prior, Terry pleaded guilty to possessing 3.9 grams of crack cocaine and was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment. During Terrys time incarcerated, two key pieces of legislation have been passed: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 and the First Step Act of 2018.

The 2010 law raised the amounts of crack cocaine that triggered various tiers of criminal penalties. The First Step Act made the 2010 law retroactive once district courts were given the ability to lessen sentences of those with a covered offense committed before August 3, 2010. But despite Donald Trumps having signed the First Step Act, the Trump administration maintained that Terrys low-level offense fell outside the acts coverage.

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Not including certain low-level crack offenses under the statue carried on the racist disparities of the crack era. Sentences for crack were more severe than they were for powder cocaine, because crack was associated with stereotypes depicting Black folks as violent drug offenders. People selling crack, as well as those who suffered from addiction, were uniquely berated by politicians and the press.

Crack was vilified by policymakers, explained Maritza Perez, the director of the Drug Policy Alliances National Affairs office. And it was politically popular to throw people who use drugs, specifically crack offenders, under the bus for cheap political wins.

In September, Terry petitioned the Supreme Court saying he qualified for a sentence reduction, because the First Step Act made 2010s Fair Sentencing Act retroactive. His case got a boost earlier this week, when President Bidens Justice Department informed the Supreme Court they believe that Terry, and others who were incarcerated for low-level crack cocaine offenses, should have their sentences reduced under the First Step Act. The court plans to hear the case later this year.

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In an interview with Slate, Perez spoke about the racist roots of the sentencing disparity, whether sentence reduction is enough, and if Bidens reversal is an attempt to remedy his station as the architect of mass incarcerationeven if it is a step in the right direction.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How would you explain the crack-cocaine sentencing disparity to people who may not be familiar with it, or the push to get low-level drug offenders released?

This policy came to be during the tough-on-crime era when politicians sought to make the drug war the scapegoat for a lot of social problems. They found that it was a really politically popular thing to do. That led to a series of bills that built the system of mass incarceration that we know today. Part of that effort was the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which created a disparity between people who were convicted of cocaine offenses versus people who were convicted of crack offenses. That disparity was a 100:1. (Note: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 reduced this disparity down to 18:1)

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So, it was a hundred times more harsh for people who were convicted of crack offenses. And the individuals who were typically convicted of crack offenses were people of colorbut mostly Black people.

Crack was vilified by policymakers. And it was politically popular to throw people who use drugs, specifically crack offenders, under the bus for cheap political wins. The drug was super sensationalized in the media, even though, chemically, crack and cocaine have the same effects on the body. The only difference was that crack use was associated with Black Americans, whereas cocaine use was associated with white Americans. Thats just a stereotype. White people actually use crack and cocaine more than Black people do.

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Its becoming more well known what crack did to Black communities and what it is still doing. But what are the effects of mass incarceration on Black and Brown communities?

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There are a lot of issues with our prisons, but the primary effect is that its taking people away from their families, their friends, and any systems of support they may have. And that actually leads to less public safety. So it doesnt even make sense from a public safety standpoint.

When people are released from jail or prison, their sentence really isnt over in many ways. There are about 50,000 collateral consequences attached to incarceration across the country. They range from barring people from public housing and public health benefitsthings like SNAP and TANF. People can have their children taken away, be denied jobs or education because of their conviction. If youre not an American citizen, you might even be exposed to deportation or losing your status. And this isnt just people who have served time in jail or prison. This could also be the effects for somebody whos just had contact with the criminal justice system, like an arrest, because there is a record of that that follows an individual around.

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The effects of that on communities of color has been deeply profound. Its led to less public safety. Its led to family separation. Its led to poverty and a host of mental health issuesand general health issues. Losing somebody to incarceration is very traumatic. Living in poverty is also very traumatic. So it has a tremendous impact.

Absolutely. If people who have been incarcerated for low-level crack cocaine offenses are able to get their sentences reduced, is that a step in the right direction? And, if it is, how so?

It would definitely be a step in the right direction. I want to point out that there are many individuals who are still languishing behind bars because of this sentencing disparity, and that would benefit tremendously. If this law became the law of the land tomorrow, they could go home and that would be huge. Were talking about people who have served decades of time.

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Another significant thing that would come from it is it would be one of the first times that I can recall the government actually acknowledging wrongdoing and trying to fix it. But if something like this were to pass, that would be an example of where the government acknowledged that this disparity was racist, anti-science, and had an unjust impact on communities of color, specifically Black communities. That within itself would be significant and, hopefully, it would lead to bolder change around sentencing and criminal justice reform.

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Could this be perceived as an attempt by Biden to remedy his past involvement with the 1994 crime bill?

I do think its part of Bidens plan to account for the harm that hes done in the past. Biden was one of the architects of mass incarceration in this country. Earlier, when I was talking about the tough on crime era, Biden could be considered a leader of that movement. So I think he understands that he has to repair those harms. And this is definitely one way to do that.

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Its also important to point out that Black and brown people delivered him to the White House. And this policy is one that specifically impacts those communities. Its a racial justice issue, aside from being a significant criminal justice issue. I think he definitely has taken all of that into account. But its also the right thing to do.

Is this enough or is it just an adequate first step?

Its an adequate first step, but its certainly not enough. Our sentencing laws are so outdated and draconian, especially when it comes to drug offenses. The federal system is rife with people serving very long sentences for drug activity. We know that people in this country are exposed to mandatory minimums every day for drug activity.

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We have long said that drug activity should be treated through a public health lens, not through a criminal justice lens. And if we do take that approach, there are so many people and in jails and prisons across this country who should not be there.

What would maybe start to be enough is if clemency was provided for people who are serving long sentences for drug offenses; if we completely ended the use of mandatory minimums; if we provided reparations to communities of color that have been torn apart by the war on drugs; and if we decriminalized drug possession and drug activity. Those things would go a long way.

This is just a starta drop in the bucket of the work thats left to do.
Abu Dhabi, March 20 : Afghanistan's Asghar Afghan broke MS Dhoni's record of most T20 International wins as captain after his team registered a 47-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final game of the three-match series.

The win at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium helped Afghanistan seal the series 3-0.

Afghanistan's innings was built on a 35-ball unbeaten 72 by Najibullah Zadran. They ended up making 183/7. Opener Usman Ghani contributed a 31-ball 39.

In response, Zimbabwe's innings folded for 136/5 in 20 overs. Sikandar Raza top-scored with an unbeaten 41 off 29 balls but the writing was on the wall by the end of the eleventh over when the Africans were reduced to 58 for 5.

"Very important to win the series for our morale. We did miss some regular players due to the current restrictions. The players who got the opportunity did well. The number of wins in T20Is is because of the team work," said skipper Asghar after going past Dhoni's mark of 41 wins. He made 24 off 12 deliveries.

"Looking at the Test series, it was a fantastic effort. Of course disappointing to not win. In the T20Is we were always behind the eight ball. Our bowling wasn't good, conceding many runs at the end overs doesn't help. But there are positives to take out of this tour," said Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams.

Zadran was named man of the match for his 72 not out while Karim Janat was declared player of the series. Janat made 79 runs in two matches at a strike rate of 131.67 and picked five wickets at an average of 15.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 183/7 in 20 overs (N Zadran 72 not out, U Ghani 39, A Afghan 24, R Ngarava 2/35) beat Zimbabwe 136/5 in 20 overs (S Raza 41 not out, T Musakanda 30, K Janat 2/34)
OTTAWA - There is no evidence that Canada's history of colonialism has made Indigenous people any more hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 than the general population, says an Indigenous studies professor casting a critical eye on the oft-repeated theory.

Syringes and disinfectant wipes are seen on a table in a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Napanee, Ont., Monday, March 15, 2021. An Ottawa professor says the available data on past immunization campaigns in Indigenous communities show that Indigenous people are not more hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 than the general population, despite Canada's colonial history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

OTTAWA - There is no evidence that Canada's history of colonialism has made Indigenous people any more hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 than the general population, says an Indigenous studies professor casting a critical eye on the oft-repeated theory.

The federal government is among those who have suggested colonialism and systemic racism have fostered mistrust in vaccines. But Veldon Coburn, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa's Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies, says available data on vaccine hesitancy suggest that is not the case.

"The historic events that were bad and unethical  didn't have the same or the effect that's being claimed and maybe it's just naive good intentions but it doesn't stand up," Coburn said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Coburn says there's no evidence of a causal link between vaccine hesitancy and the historical and intergenerational trauma Indigenous people live with because of residential schools and other colonialist practices.

Nutrition experiments that were performed on Indigenous children at several Ontario residential schools in the mid-1940s are unlikely to have any effect on Indigenous people who are alive now, said Coburn. He is a member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, located about 150 kilometres west of Ottawa.

"I'm Indigenous," he said. "My grandparents went to Indian residential school. None of this was sort of transmitted."

Coburn noted newborns in Indigenous communities get vaccinated routinely.

"We get needles all the time," he said. "It is not a traumatic experience."

But while acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is surprisingly high in some Indigenous communities, Dr. Evan Adams, deputy chief medical officer at Indigenous Services Canada, said there is some hesitation in other places.

"We're hearing a number of issues. Some as mundane as 'I felt a little tired after the first vaccine'  to experimentations happening on them or there are some really unsavoury products within the vaccine," he told a virtual news conference Wednesday.

Rebecca Kudloo, president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, said some Inuit might be hesitant because of their historic mistreatment by the government.

"Even in the present day, systemic racism that Inuit experience in the health-care system  that might be the reason," she said.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said he understood the point that Coburn was making about how this view could be a way of "infantilizing" Indigenous people.

Miller said one lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic is that if the government empowers Indigenous communities to do what they know is best to protect themselves, they will.

"People are smart and they will choose the right thing," Miller said Friday in Ottawa.

He added it is important to make sure information is given in a culturally sensitive way and in Indigenous languages when needed, which is also a matter of respect.

"There are colonial legacies that have created a health-care system that has systemic racism throughout it and people that approach the health-care system with great hesitation," he said. "But that can be softened with a better approach that we have seen in communities and I think it's something that our teams do deal with."

Yet the available data suggest that vaccine hesitancy is not more pronounced in Indigenous communities than non-Indigenous communities.

In 2010, Health Canada surveyed First Nations on reserve and Inuit after the H1N1 pandemic and found that about 97 per cent of reserve residents and nearly 94 per cent of Inuit said childhood vaccinations were important.

"If there were any effects from residential schools, it would've showed up in 2010 during the same conditions. There was none," said Coburn, who also recently shared his views in an article published by The Conversation and distributed by The Canadian Press.

Coburn said there isnt much of a difference in vaccination acceptance between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people when it comes to getting flu shots.

The 2017-18 Canadian Community Health Survey showed that 55 per cent of Indigenous people had a seasonal flu vaccine compared to 59 per cent of non-Indigenous people, he said.

He said the World Health Organization, through its strategic advisory group of experts on immunization, vaccine hesitancy and acceptance after H1N1, has noted that vaccination is a very complex decision that people make individually and not at the population level.

Coburn said there's a "cultural zeitgeist" at the moment that's made many people think Indigenous people are "very delicate" and need others to care for them.

"It's sort of a self-flagellation from certain segments of the population:  We've got to be very gentle with (Indigenous Peoples) because very bad things happen to them in the past and it's going to hinder our pandemic response," he said.

"They sort of invented an injury that didn't exist, and they want to be the crutch."

An online survey by Angus Reid in British Columbia earlier this month suggested Indigenous people are more willing to get the vaccine than the general population.

Sixty-eight per cent of respondents who self-identified as Indigenous said they would get the COVID-19 vaccine when available and 16 per cent said they would wait awhile at first but would eventually get the shot.

That was slightly higher than the survey results among the general population, in which 66 per cent of the respondents said they will get a COVID-19 vaccine when available and 17 per cent said they would eventually get it.

More than 166,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in 538 First Nations, northern and Inuit communities as of March 12, according to Indigenous Services Canada.

"This represents 54 doses administered per 100 adults in First Nations and Inuit communities in provinces, and adult residents in the territories," Vaupshas said.

Coburn said the majority of Indigenous people want to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

"My friends and family, even on my reserve, they can't wait to get that needle, and they're like, 'Bring it right now, I'll inject myself,'" he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.

 with files from Emma Tranter.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Huntington, WV (25701)

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GE, a global leader in power technology, said it has delivered the UAEs first two GE HA gas turbines and is currently undergoing installation and commissioning works at the 1.8 gigawatts (GW) Hamriyah Independent Power Plant.

The company's HA technology is the fastest growing fleet of heavy-duty gas turbines globally and has already set two world records for efficiency, one each in the 60 hertz and 50 hertz segments of the power market.

GE is supplying a total of three 9HA.01 units and other power generation technologies for the facility. As per the deal, it will also provide parts, repairs and maintenance services for power generation assets at the site for a period of approximately 25 years.

According to GE, the project is expected to be the most efficient power plant in the Middle Easts utilities sector, contributing towards UAE Energy Strategys goal of reducing the carbon footprint of power generation.

Co-developers GE Energy Financial Services and Japans Sumitomo Corporation had signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) in 2018 to develop, build and operate the plant.

Following financial close in 2019, co-developers along with Shikoku Electric Power Company and Sharjah Asset Management (SAM), the investment arm of the Government of Sharjah, formed a joint venture company - Sharjah Hamriyah Independent Power Company (Shipco) - to build, own and operate the project, which is the first independent combined cycle power plant in Sharjah.

Sewa Chairman Saeed Sultan Al Suwaidi said: "The delivery of GEs H-class gas turbines at the Hamriyah Power Plant marks a significant milestone for the regions utility sector. It brings us one step closer to delivering on our commitment to provide on demand, affordable power to meet the needs of Sharjah and to reduce the environmental impact of power generation activities in the emirate."

Joseph Anis, President and CEO of GE Gas Power (Europe, Middle East and Africa) said GEs H-class turbines deliver flexible, efficient and reliable power to millions of people around the world.

"We are delighted to bring this record-setting technology to Sharjah to provide more efficient electricity, powering growth for communities across the emirate, and supporting the decarbonization goals outlined under the UAE Energy Strategy," he added.
According to The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP one in five Americans are a caregiver for an ill or disabled family member. Being a caregiver isn't easy and during the pandemic "isn't easy" is an understatement.

I've been one for the past six years since my husband had an aortic valve replacement. They fixed his heart but it didn't go as planned. He takes his nutrition via a feeding tube and is dependent on oxygen. Going on vacations, dinners at restaurants, bicycle rides around Manhattan ended for us long before the pandemic.

Up until recently, we hunkered down in our vacation home in upstate New York  binging TV. Steve cooked several dinners for me surprising me with his culinary skills. When a major health crisis hit, we weren't prepared.

Lonely and stressed: How working from home is affecting Americans' mental health

Ignoring what Steve thought was a canker sore, months later a biopsy showed it was a reoccurrence of throat cancer he'd beaten 11 years ago. Surgery removed it and several lymph nodes. The day of his discharge, a nurse broke his feeding tube and replaced it with one that didn't work right. Within three days, he was severely dehydrated.

Ann Gorewitz lives with her husband Steve in New York City. They're pictured here in 2008.

It started with a cough, then a terrifying rattling sound.

"Please call your doctor."

Always reluctant to do that, he said, "In the morning."

Then he threw up.

"I'm calling 911. This is very serious,"

"Don't. I'm not going to the emergency room."

Turning away from Steve, I called. Then said, "Don't be angry."

Steve was limp. His eyes were open but no response.

"This is how it happens," I thought, "when you least expect it."

Waiting for the medics was an endless 10 minutes. Then four peopled dashed into my apartment carrying a stretcher.

"In there" I said pointing to the bedroom. I couldn't look bur I could hear.

"No breathing," they said. "There's a faint pulse."

Story continues

A medic ran to where I was standing. "We have to intubate now. OK?"

"Resuscitate. Please."

Steve was admitted to Intensive Care, intubated and then had a tracheostomy. At least with a trach I could see his face again  always handsome. I adored him even after 45 years of marriage.

Inside a California ICU: Health care workers cope with trauma, provide comfort to COVID patients

The social workers and medical team asked me if I had support.

"What?"

"You know family? Friends? A sister, a brother, children?"

"It's COVID. My family lives in other states. No one is traveling but we communicate via Zoom, texts and emails. It's not ideal but it helps."

Fifteen years ago when my mother was dying from chronic pulmonary disease, ICU doctors said the only way to survive was to be intubated. At 87, she refused. "I've had a good life. That is not how I want to continue." She gathered our family, and sent my niece to her favorite delicatessen for pastrami and corn beef sandwiches. Three day later she passed away in a hospice surrounded by loved ones.

Like so many others, I'm physically alone and unlike my mother, we're hoping Steve will recover. Now, the only people I see are in the hospital. They don't hug me. They don't comfort me. There's no food. They expect me to get that elsewhere.

Cassie, my beloved cocker spaniel, had been my support during Steve's past illnesses. After his heart surgery, she waited patiently at the front door for three months while he was in rehab leaving only to eat, be walked, or cuddle with me at night. I couldn't have made it without her.

She passed away unexpectedly at the start of the pandemic due to respiratory failure. I said goodbye, leaving a huge crater in my heart and in my support system.

At times I panic. When Steve wasn't doing well, I called a cherished friend and asked if he could help if the worst happened. Sobbing, he said, "I'm here for you."

Others stay involved at a distance. Steve's cousins sent bagels, smoked salmon, turkey, cream cheese.

Family and friends ask for daily updates. Too exhausted to text, I write back anyway. It's important for me to stay connected.

Everyone even if they're not religious are praying for us. "Please let their prayers work," I pray.

One day a social worker approached me, "The team is getting ready to transfer your husband to an LTACH."

"A nursing home? After all that's happened this year in nursing homes."

"It's not a nursing home."

A doctor friend, assured me, "It's different. The goal is to get a person off of the breathing machine and breathing on their own. Some are really good." His words calmed me down.

"Take care of yourself," is the mantra I hear most often. Sometimes, it's impossible. My phone is always with me, wherever I am. When it rings and the number is from the hospital, I jump, fearing the worst.

My therapist gave me the best advice. "Take a day off from visiting. It's already been three-weeks."

Two days later, pushing myself to visit, I reached into my coat pocket, one I had emptied many times before. Nothing was there and then I felt it: a tiny buddy biscuit, one of Cassie's treats. It was a sign. "Cassie's watching over us. It's going to be all right."

I'm trying to cope. At times, I'm drowning, sinking, exhausted. Then I remember, "I'm a swimmer and if needed when waters get rough, I know how to float."

I can breathe and remind myself to relax and take long, deep breaths. It helps especially with a soothing hot bubble bath.

People constantly ask, "Are you OK?" "I'm not OK but I'm doing the best I can for Steve and for me." It's what caregivers do especially during a pandemic.

Ann Gorewitz lives with her husband Steve in New York City. She is currently working on a memoir, "Dog Therapy: Loving and Losing Cassie" about the healing effect of loving a dog and the much needed comfort and support her beloved cocker spaniel gave her during Steve's illnesses.

'The impossible choice': Without paid leave, people of color often must choose between a paycheck and caregiving

That feeling you can't name? It's called emotional exhaustion.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID pandemic is hard on caregivers alone in hospitals, isolated
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
According to BBC News, amateur investors on the subreddit WallStreetBets often refer to themselves as apes and use the term "Apes Together Powerful." Any users of the subreddit have begun to take this saying literally. According to The Guardian, Redditors have raised $350,000 for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund by fostering over 3,500 gorillas in just a few days.

"It's fair to say that the #investor community on @reddit isn't really who we dream about when we think about our supporters. However, they astonished and astounded us over the weekend. The environmental organization said in a statement.

Last Friday, Reddit user Pakistani_in_MURICA posted an adoption certificate for a mountain gorilla called Urungano, which initiated the movement. The post got a whopping 92 percent upvote score, prompting a slew of other users to do the same.

Related Article: Apes are Being Vaccinated from Covid-19 to Protect Staff, Inhabitants

Partnerships

According to BBC News, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund partners with mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Grauer's gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group said on Twitter that the new funds will help them continue to research and track gorillas and help the people who live around them.

WE HAVE NEWS  Its safe to say that the #investor community on @reddit is not traditionally who we think of as our supporter base. But they definitely surprised and overwhelmed us over the weekend. A THREAD. @CNN @CNBC @business @WSJ pic.twitter.com/JRB1Gj1Mub  Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (@SavingGorillas) March 15, 2021

According to The Guardian, the group gets 20 new gorilla adoptions every weekend, a significantly fewer compared to the thousands that the Redditors started

New Source of Funds.

The fund's founder, chief executive, and chief science officer, Tara Stoinski, told The Guardian, "The funding that has come to our organization, as well as others, is incredible." "One of the most important problems in conservation is a shortage of resources to address the challenges we face on the land."

More Good Deeds

The Redditors have also adopted other animals and contributed to other organizations. The WallStreetBets group donated $4,500 to the Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative, which studies endangered bonobos.

Wow!! Thanks to the @Official_WSB community, we have raised $4,500 and bonobos are now featured in @Newsweek! We are blown away by all of your support. Thank you for raising awareness about bonobos and gorillas!!  #WallStreetBets #ApesTogetherStrong pic.twitter.com/usfFXPv0ra  Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative (@ApeInitiative) March 17, 2021

According to The Guardian, Redditors have gone past primates to adopt endangered species such as tigers, pangolins, and sea turtles. Over the weekend, donations to the Sheldrick Wildlife Foundation, which operates a sanctuary for orphaned elephants in Kenya, rose by $10,000.

The trust's Amie Alden told The Guardian, "It's a new supporter base for us, for sure, and one that we're immensely grateful for." "We already have over 90 orphaned or dependent elephants in our care, and it's a pricey endeavor."

WallStreetBets

According to Business Insider, the WallStreetBets network first gained notoriety in January. They found hedge funds betting against GameStop and AMC stocks and banded together to buy many stocks to raise their values. As a result, GameStop's stock price soared from less than $5 per share at the end of December to more than $450 by Jan. 28, prompting some hedge funds to cut their losses. According to The Guardian, some Redditors cited the saga by contributing to animal shelters in the name of GameStop or "Jim Cramer's Tears."

ALSO READ: Indonesian Monkeys Don't Just Steal, They Know Which Item is More Expensive

For more news update about anything wildlife related, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 04:34:06|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Finland (central bank) on Friday raised slightly its estimate of the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2021 but warned that the momentum will slow down in 2023.

The Bank of Finland said in its press release that the economic growth in Finland in 2021 will be 2.6 percent, up from the 2.2 percent it had predicted in December.

The central bank lifted the forecast despite the worsening of the pandemic during the early months this year, saying the recovery has been boosted by a stronger-than-expected development in the second half of 2020.

The forecast is based on the assumption that as vaccination coverage increases, society can reopen and economic growth will gather pace.

The Finnish economy would continue to recover in 2022, with GDP growth reaching 2.7 percent. However, the pace will slow to 1.2 percent in 2023 due to the decline in the working-age population and weak productivity increase. Enditem
Hargreaves Lansdown, one of the UK's top 100 stock market-listed firms, faces being dragged through court as a result of its aggressive promotion of Woodford Equity Income right up until the shockingly mismanaged investment fund closed.

Today, The Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal that litigation specialist RGL Management has formally launched a legal action against the wealth manager to recover the losses that investors incurred in the wake of the 3.8billion fund being shut in June 2019  and then broken up.

If the courts side with RGL, it could result in Hargreaves Lansdown being required to pay compensation totalling hundreds of millions of pounds.

Controversial: Disgraced fund boss Neil Woodford is now seeking approval for a new investment business

RGL has also launched a simultaneous legal action against Link, the fund's authorised corporate director, whose role was to protect the investors' interests. Rival firms Harcus Parker and Leigh Day have already initiated very similar actions against Link but have steered clear of targeting Hargreaves Lansdown.

On Friday, James Hayward, chief executive of RGL, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Those investors who suffered due to the terrible mismanagement of Woodford Equity Income deserve to be compensated.

'In bringing an action against both Link and Hargreaves Lansdown, RGL offers the best chance of a recovery of losses.'

Woodford Equity Income was run by Neil Woodford, one of the country's most high-profile, and now disgraced, investment managers. In recent weeks, Woodford has controversially  and insensitively  tried to get regulatory approval for a new investment business despite the City regulator still probing the circumstances of the fund's closure.

In the 'letter before action' sent to Hargreaves Lansdown by RGL's law firm Wallace  and seen by this newspaper  it claims Hargreaves Lansdown failed to 'provide accurate, adequate and up-to-date information' about the Woodford fund in the runup to its suspension.

This is despite Hargreaves Lansdown's 'persistent and increasing concerns' about the fund's mounting exposure to illiquid investments in smaller and unquoted companies  exposure that proved the fund's downfall as it was unable to fulfil a 238 million redemption request from Kent County Council in June 2019.

These concerns started as early as November 2017 when its analysts identified an 'increase' in the proportion of 'small and unquoted assets' held by the fund.

But the Woodford fund remained on Hargreaves Lansdown's list of best investment fund buys  its 'Wealth' list  from the day the fund was launched in June 2014 through to its suspension five years later.

When the fund closed, 134,000 clients of the wealth manager had direct holdings in Equity Income worth just over 1billion. A further 160,000 had indirect exposure through funds with holdings in Equity Income, many run by Hargreaves Lansdown as part of its multi-manager fund offerings. This took total client exposure to Woodford Equity Income to 1.6billion.

In written evidence to the Treasury Select Committee in the immediate aftermath of the Woodford closure, Hargreaves Lansdown chief executive Chris Hill confirmed his company's analysts had been in regular contact with Woodford over liquidity concerns  including face-to-face meetings.

He said: 'Our judgment was that our discussions would result in actions that would lead to him [Woodford] restructuring the portfolio and better relative returns over the longer term.'

He also insisted that Hargreaves Lansdown had told clients from the day Woodford Equity Income was launched that the fund would buy into small and unquoted businesses. He also added that increases in exposure to these risky investments were communicated to clients.

Yet Wallace's correspondence on behalf of RGL disputes that these updates were received by some customers it has spoken to.

In its 'letter before action', it accuses Hargreaves Lansdown of a breach of contract, negligent misstatement (keeping Equity Income on its best buy list despite internal concerns) and a breach of statutory duty (failing to act in the best interests of clients). It has asked Hargreaves Lansdown to respond by the middle of next month.

On Friday, Alex Weinberg, a partner at Wallace, said the action against both Hargreaves Lansdown and Link offered claimants 'the best possible chance of a successful outcome'.

He added: 'Both defendants have strong cases to answer and we are very confident in the strength of the legal claims against them.'

One existing client of Hargreaves Lansdown, who wished to remain anonymous, 'welcomed' RGL's action. He said it was shameful that Hargreaves Lansdown had kept Equity Income on its best buy list while being concerned about the fund's liquidity problems.

On a personal level, he said he emailed the wealth manager on three separate occasions about the fund's deteriorating performance, only to be told the company had complete faith in Woodford. 'Unforgivable,' he told The Mail on Sunday.

Phil Case, an investment consultant from Portishead near Bristol, said both Hargreaves Lansdown and Link should be 'held to account' for their part in the Woodford debacle.

He said: 'Hargreaves Lansdown was a marketing machine for Neil Woodford and it helped generate them an attractive stream of revenue.' [More than 40million in platform fees between 2014 and 2019]. Link also failed to safeguard the financial interests of fund investors. Yet the regulator and the man himself, Neil Woodford, were equally culpable.

He added: 'There are lots of guilty parties. They should all hang their heads in shame. Collectively, they should dip their hands into their pockets and refund investors.' Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Link declined to comment.
Denton, TX (76205)

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Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

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State-owned bank NatWest handed a contract to a firm with close ties to Lex Greensill  the financier at the centre of a lobbying row engulfing David Cameron  just months after Greensill was appointed as a Government adviser.

NatWest, which is 60 per cent owned by taxpayers, signed the deal in late 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Cameron, who later became a paid adviser to the financier's company Greensill Capital.

The NatWest contract will raise fresh questions over Cameron's links to the financier's firm  which collapsed earlier this month.

Ties: Former Prime Minister David Cameron and Lex Greensill, inset, of Greensill Capital

The latest revelation comes amid calls for an investigation after reports last week that Cameron recently met Treasury officials to lobby on behalf of Greensill Capital. London-based Greensill Capital was one of the biggest providers of 'supply chain' finance and 'invoice discounting', which helps businesses pay their suppliers early.

It went into administration this month after a backer, Credit Suisse, froze funding. Greensill Capital had also been hit by a string of defaults from one of its largest customers, GFG Alliance, founded by steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta.

The collapse brought links between Cameron and Greensill into focus. Lex Greensill was given a CBE in 2017 for 'services to the economy'. The next year he appointed Cameron as an adviser.

A spokesman for Cameron reportedly told a newspaper at the time that the ex-Prime Minister had 'huge admiration' for Greensill, considering his firm to be 'one of Britain's many great fintech success stories'. Administrators from Grant Thornton were appointed two weeks ago after the lender fell 'into severe financial distress'.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that ties between NatWest and the fintech firm Taulia  which had a subsidiary funded by Greensill  date back as far as 2014.

That year, Lex Greensill became one of six leaders appointed by Cameron as 'new Crown representatives' to help the Government 'get value for money' from contracts.

Just two months later, Greensill Capital formed a partnership with Taulia, a US-based technology company that helped firms pay invoices early. Greensill provided the funds to pay suppliers with Taulia in an exclusive relationship that would remain such until the end of 2019.

In October 2014, Governmentbacked NatWest announced it had struck a deal with Taulia, allowing the bank to refer thousands of business customers through its website to Taulia. The deal raises questions over NatWest's decision to appoint Taulia  Greensill's partner firm.

Sources said that, though NatWest is at arm's length from the Government, there is a risk its biggest shareholder might have some influence on occasion. Taulia said in a statement: 'Taulia's relationship with NatWest is independent from its involvement with Greensill Capital. We cannot comment further on our customer relationships.'

A Government spokesperson said that Crown representatives had 'no influence over the awarding of Government contracts', adding: 'We do not intervene in the operational decisions of NatWest, which retains its own management board for such decisions.'

The latest revelation follows scrutiny over a separate deal in 2018 where Greensill and Taulia helped UK public sector bodies speed up invoice payments to pharmacies.

Though this would have saved pharmacies money, a source close to the process said Greensill Capital would have pocketed fees.

Questions have also been raised over Greensill Capital being accredited to dish out loans through the Government's emergency support schemes to help firms during the pandemic.

According to the Financial Times, Cameron lobbied the Government to increase Greensill Capital's access to the loan scheme months before its collapse, only to be rebuffed by the Treasury. The close links between Cameron and Greensill have prompted calls for an inquiry.

Dame Margaret Hodge, former chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee, told The Mail on Sunday there should be tighter controls on contracts awarded by the Government. She said: 'It's not the Conservative Party's money; it's taxpayers' money. It's all our money. It's outrageous that this has become a pattern of behaviour. Questions need to be answered.'

Cameron, Greensill and Grant Thornton declined to comment.
The available data do not suggest any overall increase in clotting conditions such as deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism following administration of Covid-19 vaccines, the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) Covid-19 subcommittee on safety signals related to the AstraZeneca vaccine has said.

Based on a careful scientific review of the available information, the subcommittee said the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine (including Covishield) continues to have a positive benefit-risk profile, with tremendous potential to prevent infections and reduce deaths across the world.

As of 17 March 2021, more than 120 million cases of Covid-19 infections, with more than 2 million deaths, had been reported globally. Vaccination remains a critical tool to help prevent further illness and death and to control the pandemic.

So far, more than 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in Europe and more than 27 million doses of the Covishield vaccine (AstraZeneca vaccine by Serum Institute of India) have been administered in India.

The GACVS Covid-19 subcommittee met virtually on March 16 and 19 to review available information and data on thromboembolic events (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low platelets) after vaccination with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The subcommittee reviewed clinical trial data and reports based on safety data from Europe, the United Kingdom, India, and Vigibase, the WHO global database of individual case safety reports.

The subcommittee's findings and recommendations are:

* The available data do not suggest any overall increase in clotting conditions such as deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism following administration of Covid-19 vaccines. Reported rates of thromboembolic events after Covid-19 vaccines are in line with the expected number of diagnoses of these conditions. Both conditions occur naturally and are not uncommon. They also occur as a result of Covid-19. The observed rates have been fewer than expected for such events.

* While very rare and unique thromboembolic events in combination with thrombocytopenia, such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), have also been reported following vaccination with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Europe, it is not certain that they have been caused by vaccination. The European Medicines Agencys Pharmacovigilance and Risk Assessment Committee has reviewed 18 cases of CVST out of a total of more than 20 million vaccinations with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Europe. A causal relationship between these rare events has not been established at this time.

* Adequate education should be provided to health-care professionals and persons being vaccinated to recognize the signs and symptoms of all serious adverse events after vaccinations with all Covid-19 vaccines, so that people may seek and receive prompt and relevant medical care and treatment.

* The GACVS subcommittee recommends that countries continue to monitor the safety of all Covid-19 vaccines and promote reporting of suspected adverse events.

* The GACVS subcommittee also agrees with the European Medicines Agencys plans to further investigate and monitor for these events. -TradeArabia News Service
Iran loses right to vote in UN General Assembly

Newspaper: Armenia authorities come up with new way of punishing unwanted characters

Newspaper: Russia army Southern Military District deputy commander to arrive in Yerevan Thursday

Lebanese Armenian man taken prisoner by Azerbaijan is hospitalized

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Are we getting under the burden? Then lets get under to the end

Armenia acting health minister on keeping fallen soldiers bodies in bags: What else should they be kept in?

Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory
Home Minister on Friday said information about Rohingyas living in Haryana was being gathered, adding that India was "not a dharamshala" that anyone could come and settle in the country.

The remarks came days after authorities in Jammu sent 168 Rohingyas to jail after they were allegedly found living in the city illegally, officials had said.

Many Rohingya refugees have settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Capital Region, while some reports suggest their presence in Mewat, Haryana.

"We are gathering information about them," Vij told reporters. "Our country is not a dharamshala that anyone will get up and start living here if he so feels like," Vij said.

Incidentally, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking immediate release of the detained Rohingya refugees in Jammu and restrain the Centre from implementing any order deporting them.

Meanwhile, asked about the surge in coronavirus cases, Vij, who also holds the health portfolio, said he directed strict enforcement of all COVID protocols in the state.

(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.)
There is a Green element to contracts being offered to help Laois business recover from the damage caused by Brexit and Covid-19.

Laois County Council is seeking submissions for a panel of consultants or mentors to work with employers that are supported by the Laois Local Enterprise Office Laois.

The tender says the council invites firms to deliver Management Development Consultancy under the Stimulus Fund Programme. It says a 10 million fund was ring-fenced for Local Enterprise Office clients.

The contract will incentives bids from consultants that can offer 'Green' advice to the recovering businesses around Laois.

"The overall objective of this fund is to assist these businesses to move into a recovery phase. The funding is conditional upon eligible businesses agreeing to complete a project focused on driving key themes such as competitiveness both operationally and Green, capability across leadership, innovation, strategic finance and new market development which will support the mitigation of the effects of the Covid and Brexit crises.

"The intention is that the funding and associated projects will provide businesses with a platform from which they can sustain and grow thereby contributing to the recovery of the Irish economy," says the council.

This contract is divided into six separate lots.
Smarting from the fall of its



government here last month, Congress may be keen to put up a good show in the April 6 Assembly polls here, but it certainly seems to be in some dilemma over contesting from Yanam as it has not fielded anyone, with nominations drawing to a close.

A stronghold of ex-Congress leader and former minister Malladi Krishna Rao, Yanam, an enclave of in Andhra Pradesh and 900 km away from the small city, will see former chief minister and AINRC founder N Rangasamy testing his fortunes from here this time, besides Thattanchavady.

Congress leaders are tight-lipped over skipping the segment, but it is widely believed that the party did not want to risk a candidate from the turf of Rao, who has thrown his weight behind Rangasamy.

Earlier, the Congresswas earmarked 15 of the total 30 assembly segments to field its candidates from, while 13 seats had been set apart for the DMK, its alliance partner.

The remaining two seats had been allotted to allies VCK and the CPI.

However, the Congress fielded candidates from 14 segments and left Yanam out. With no big names in the fray, it could be a virtual walk over for Rangasamy.

Rao had even assured Rangasamy that the latter need not visit the Constituency as he would take care of campaign and other poll relative activities.

Rao has been representing Yanam since 1996 and was the Health Minister in the V Narayansasamy government which fell on February 22 ahead of a trust vote while being reduced to a minority.

Though Rao did not seek re-election from Yanam, his home constituency, he has extended support to Rangasamy.He had quit as MLA and Minister in February and shifted his allegiance to the AINRC.

Rao started wooing voters in Yanam even before Rangasamy filed nomination and had unequivocally told the people at a meeting recently that the AINRC leader, heading the NDA here, would be chief minister of

NDA's other constituents here are the BJP and AIADMK.

Rao was recently felicitated for his long, unbroken stint as a member of the legislative assembly.

However, his shifting allegiance to AINRC during the run up to the elections and skipping the electoral battle came as a surprise to many.

Rangasamy had in 2011 contested from Indira Nagar and Kadirkamam segments in and retained the latter though he emerged victorious from both seats.

His nephew Tamilselvane successfully contested the by election in IndiraNagar the same year.

With the exit of a good number of Congress legislators and a couple of Ministers, including A Namassivayam, the party is virtually divested of key persons to face the electoral battle.

The party facing the elections from 15 seats also has not gone down well with the rank and file as it fielded nominees from 21 constituencies in the 2016 polls.

On the other hand, the DMK, which contested from nine segments in the previous poll, has been given 13 seats.

Puducherry has been considered by and large a pocket borough for Congress, but the party this time cannot take the situation for granted, political observers say.

The present election is thus crucial and a litmus test for the grand old party in this former French colony.

(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.)
Russia hosted a peace conference for Afghanistan on Thursday, bringing together government representatives and their Taliban adversaries along with international observers in a bid to help jump-start the country's stalled peace process.

The one-day gathering is the first of three planned international conferences ahead of a May 1 deadline for the final withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from the country, a date fixed under a year-old agreement between the Trump administration and the Taliban.

Moscow's attempt at mediation comes as talks in Doha between the Afghan government and the Taliban, still waging an insurgency, have stalled. Washington and Kabul have been pressing for a cease-fire while the Taliban say they will negotiate it as part of peace talks with the Afghan government.

"We conducted serious talks with all of the Afghan sides, the main leitmotif of which is that the Afghan sides understand and are ready to reach an agreement to establish peace in Afghanistan," said Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President's special envoy for Afghanistan.

The Moscow conference is attended by U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, Abdullah Abdullah, head of Afghanistan's National Reconciliation Council, and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Representatives of Pakistan, Iran, India and China are also participating.

"The draft that we have seen I think is very comprehensive, well-focused, and it will have an impact and a very clear message," Abdullah said after the talks.

Let's talk, let's achieve peace, work together, live together in peace, maintaining our own different views but at the same time making a commitment that we don't resort to violence," he added.

Moscow, which fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops' withdrawal in 1989, has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator in Afghanistan, reaching out to feuding factions as it jockeys with the U.S. for influence in the country. In 2019, it hosted talks between various Afghan factions.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to Irans Supreme Leader Seyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani on the occasion of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

The message addressed to Khamenei reads as follows, in part: The ongoing mutually beneficial cooperation between our two friendly peoples, which are bound by deep-rooted historical affinities, has become even more important following the recent regional developments. I am confident that we will be able to develop the bilateral relations as much as possible to the benefit of our two countries and nations.

And the congratulatory message addressed to Rouhani reads as follows in part: The recent developments in the region call for greater efforts to speed up the implementation of bilateral programs. I am convinced that we will be able to use the new geopolitical realities to advance the interests of our two friendly countries and peoples.
A young Wexford woman who was brutally attacked as she walked home alone after a night out three years ago, said her heart 'aches with pain' for Sarah Everard who was abducted and murdered in London and whose screams were not heard.

Amy Hayes (30) said she feels lucky to escape with her life on the night she was viciously assaulted in December 2017 but many others like Ms. Everard don't get a second chance and this is something that haunts her every day.

Amy was on a pre-Christmas company night out with friends from work and was walking the short distance to her home in the centre of Wexford town in the early hours of the morning carrying a bag of chips and her heels in her hands when she was attacked from behind.

'It was no more than a five-minute stroll home, something I'd done many times before. All I was thinking about was waiting to get inside to the warmth and go to sleep.

I was followed home, in fact stalked according to CCTV footage, had my mouth covered from behind to silence me. I was punched, kicked in my head, pinned to the ground with an immense weight on top of me and still I fought.

'I screamed, I scraped and I scrambled until my struggle was heard by a lady who shouted.'

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Amy said that like many women she had thought fearfully over the years of scenarios where she might have been followed, kidnapped or beaten. 'Little did I know these situations aren't just the things of nightmares, they are in fact a part of this warped world in which we all live. Men thinking they can take what they want and leaving a wave of destruction behind them.'

Since the attack, she has felt a different type of fear than she has ever experienced before. 'I shudder every time someone comes close behind me. I never walk alone at night and I never feel safe in my own home. How dare someone tear my world apart like this.'

In speaking to her friends and family, they all have the same fears. 'Many of them talk about watching survival shows for tips or examining registration numbers in case they are also faced with a life or death situation.

'This is not okay. Things need to change. It's something that needs to be addressed right now. We can't keep asking the question - 'Why are women so afraid of men hurting them?'

Amy said she has spent the past week feeling 'completely disgusted and defeated' following the shocking death of Sarah Everard in London.

The hashtag 'Text me when you're home' which went viral on social media struck a spine-chilling chord with her. 'It takes an innocent text between friends to one of deep concern amongst women after a night out.'

Amy feels a deep connection to the issue of women's safety on the streets, born of nightmarish personal experience and it's not only the Sarah Everard case that has ignited anger and despair within her, she said.

'There are so many horrific crimes against women and men occurring all over the world on a daily basis. That beautiful woman, so young and full of hope had a life to lead and a future which was brutally taken from her. How dare someone think that they can do this to another human being, lay their filthy hands on her, demean her, make her beg for mercy.

'Why can't we just walk home alone without fear. Women should be able to walk home stark naked without a second thought. We should be able to put our headphones in our ears, play music full-blast and throw caution to the wind without having to look over our shoulders in fear that someone sinister is pursuing us.'

'I really want to emphasise that this is not calling out all men as predators and perverts because that's not the case. I've met so many kind and wonderful men throughout my life, however from my own experiences and those of friends and family, men pose a real threat to women's ease of mind in this society.'

She questions the 'jump on the bandwagon' role of social media when issues related to mental health, sexual abuse and racism arise. 'It's not that the intent to help is not present but it has become a fad to hit the share button and believe that's all that needs to be done. What about all the people who are afraid to come forward, who have been silenced by violence or are too ashamed to speak out in case nobody believes them?

'What everyone needs to realise is that these horrific things are happening on a daily basis. It's not just the high profile cases we read about in the media that warrant attention, it's the everyday victims, the people in the background who feel they have no voice.

'This is where we all need to stand together. It could happen to you, to your son or daughter and the longer we remain silent the longer it continues. The quote "It starts with me" is something we all need to put into action here and the sooner the better. We all have voices and they need to be heard.

Amy's attacker was sentenced to four years in prison with the final 14 months suspended after pleading guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to the assault in which the young Wexford woman sustained broken bones in her face, a nasal bone fracture and extensive bruising and lacerations.

She believes that sentencing can often be too lenient in such cases. 'I can't understand how destroying the life of an innocent person can be dealt with by a short trip to prison. How does this give any comfort to the victim?

'My attacker confessed to it being him on the CCTV footage but offered an apology to me in court, along the lines that he couldn't remember the incident and he was very intoxicated on the night.

'All I know is that someone doesn't just vicously attack someone on a whim. I would have preferred him to say nothing if I'm being honest. It left me feeling even worse afterwards, the fact that someone couldn't even own up to the crime they had committed.'

And for many victims, like herself, having to live in the vicinity of their abuser after they are released from prison, means a continuing sentence for them.

'You come so far within yourself, whether it be through counselling or just self therapy and you have to come face to face with the person who killed your spark in the first place, the one who took your light away. How is this fair?

'I really feel there should be a law in place whereby the victim never has to face this situation. It's hard enough to go through the stages of this grief, without having to look at the person who made you experience it in the first place.

'We cannot keep hiding in the shadows. Speak your truth and never be afraid to ask for help. There's always someone there to lend a helping hand or at least listen to your concerns.'
AKRON, Ohio -- A 35-year-old man died after being shot while sitting ina car late Friday night, Akron police say.

The shooting happened about 11:30 p.m. on Noble Road near Bye Street, Akron police Lt. Michael Miller said.

Investigators received a call about shots being fired on Noble Road. When officers arrived at the scene they found the man inside of the car with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.

Paramedics took the man to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center and died a short time later.

Investigators determined an unidentified assailant shot the man as he sat in his car and ran off.

Police have made no arrests in the shooting.

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Parma bar adding police officers to security efforts after off-duty Cuyahoga County corrections officer and bar patron killed

Indictment says Tremont, Clark-Fulton shootings tied to Laflexico gang
Four men described as leaders of the far-right Proud Boys have been charged in the U.S. Capitol riots, as an indictment ordered unsealed on Friday presents fresh evidence of how federal officials believe group members planned and carried out a coordinated attack to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens electoral victory.

So far, at least 19 leaders, members or associates of the neo-fascist Proud Boys have been charged in federal court with offenses related to the Jan. 6 riots. The latest indictment suggests the Proud Boys deployed a much larger contingent in Washington, with over 60 users participating in an encrypted messaging channel for group members that was created a day before the riots.

Charles Donohoe, of Kernersville, appeared in federal court Friday afternoon.



A spokesperson for the FBI in Charlotte told sister station WXII-TV that agents arrested Charles Donohoe in Kernersville Wednesday.

Donohoe is a leader of the Proud Boys, according to federal court paperwork. He was accused of conspiring to interfere with law enforcement officers at the Capitol and obstruct the certification of President Joe Bidens electoral victory.

Donohoe is listed on a federal indictment along with Ethan Nordean, of Washington state, also known as Rufio Panman, a member of the Proud Boys Elders Chapter and president of his local chapter; Joseph Biggs, of Florida, "a self-described organizer of Proud Boy events," and Zachary Rehl, of Pennsylvania, and president of his local Proud Boys chapter.

He is accused of celebrating the events of Jan. 6 on social media and through encrypted messaging platforms. The documents said the conspiracy to commit the alleged crimes dates back to Nov. 3 in which Donohoe and others conspired to stop Congress' certification of the Electoral College votes and interfered with law enforcement official duties to protect the Capitol.

Court documents said on Jan. 4, Donohoe expressed concern communication that plans for Jan. 6 had been compromised. The documents state he created a new channel for communication and attempted to destroy the former channel.

Donohoe is said to have met with Nordean, Biggs, Rehl, and other members of the Proud Boys at the Washington Monument. Prosecutors stated Nordean, Biggs,Rehl led the group, including Donohoe, to the east side of the Capitol.

Donohoe appeared in an episode of the "Leatherneck Reconnect" YouTube series. In the episode, Donohoe said he served in the Marine Corps.



Donohoe is being held without bond. He had his initial appearance in Winston-Salem at the federal courthouse.



On Friday Donohoe appeared in federal court again, masked and handcuffed, with his court-appointed lawyer, Lisa Costner.

Tanner Kroeger, assistant united states attorney, filed a sealed motion Friday morning, asking the judge to order Donohoe remain detained. He said prosecutors were concerned Donohoe may be violent, flee or obstruct justice.

Kroeger was told to prepare a redacted version of his motion.

Donohoe agreed to waive further appearances in the Middle District of North Carolina and move forward with further proceedings in D.C., where his alleged crimes took place. The judge said the U.S. Marshall Service would transport him, but when would be dependent on the scheduling of future hearings.



The Proud Boys, who describe themselves as "Western chauvinists," are a white nationalist organization known for promoting and engaging in political violence.

The indictment for the four men was unsealed Friday.



The Associated Press contributed.
The United States has sentenced nationals from Russia and North Macedonia to prison for their roles in a transnational cybercrime operation that was responsible for the theft of $568 million worldwide, the U.S. Justice Department said on March 19.



Sergei Medvedev, 33, of Russia, and Marko Leopard, 31, of North Macedonia were sentenced to 10 years and five years in prison, respectively.



Both had previously pleaded guilty to one count each of racketeering conspiracy.



Medvedev was a co-founder and administrator of Infraud, an online criminal enterprise that existed to enrich its members and associates through a myriad of criminal acts of identity theft and financial fraud, according to the Justice Department. He was arrested in Thailand in 2018.



Leopard acted as web host to Infraud members, helping in the sale of illegal goods and services.



Dismantling a cybercrime organization like Infraud requires aggressive pursuit of not only those who steal, sell, and use personal data, but also those who provide the infrastructure that allows cybercrime organizations to operate, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid of the Justice Departments Criminal Division.

Todays sentences should serve as a warning to any web host who willingly looks the other way for a quick buck -- and that the United States will hold these bad actors accountable, even when they operate behind a computer screen halfway across the world.



The online marketplace facilitated the sale of counterfeit documents, stolen bank account and credit account information, and stolen personal information for nearly seven years until it was taken down by law enforcement in 2018.



Under the slogan "In Fraud We Trust," at its peak the marketplace had 10,000 members, making it among the largest-ever cybercrime cases prosecuted by the Justice Department.



In an updated indictment, the Justice Department announced in December 2020 that 36 people had been charged for their alleged involvement in running Infraud.

In that announcement, it said international law enforcement authorities had arrested 13 defendants from the United States, Australia, Britain, France, Italy, Kosovo, and Serbia.
Delhi Chief Minister has called a review meeting on Saturday on the 'Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana' (MMGGRY) scheme at 11

This comes after the Central Government on Friday stopped the doorstep delivery of ration under MMGGRY scheme of the Delhi Government, scheduled to be launched on March 25.

Apart from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Imran Hussain and other officials will also participate in the meeting.

According to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the subsidised foodgrains being allocated by the department for distribution under the Food Security Act (NFSA) cannot be used for running any state-specific or other schemes under a different name other than NFSA. The same is not permissible under the Act. The said notification has been issued to the Food and Civil Supplies department of the Delhi Government.

"The use of new nomenclature or scheme name for distribution of NFSA foodgrains by the Government of Capital Territory of Delhi is not permissible," the notification said.

The notification further said, "The department will have no objection if a separate scheme is made by the UT government without mixing the elements of the NFSA foodgrains."

Under the MMGGRY scheme, the Delhi government was planning to provide packaged wheat flour, packaged rice, and packaged sugar under the Targeted Public Distribution System.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rises during Question Period in the House of Commons Thursday February 18, 2021 in Ottawa. Singh is renewing his pitch to young voters, pledging that an NDP government would cancel up to $20,000 in tuition. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
(Newser)  Frontline US medical workers were given a spot at the front of the vaccine line, but nearly half still have not taken advantage of the offer. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Washington Post found that 52% have received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine. That means 48% of doctors, nurses, hospital employees and home care aides are at risk of contracting the virus on the job, CBS reports. The fact that they were given priority could be part of the reason. The vaccines were distributed as soon as they were approved, "There was very little time to prepare health care workers for the vaccines," said an executive with the Immunization Action Coalition, per the Post. Many health care workers apparently decided to see how the vaccinations went before committing themselves.

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Of the unvaccinated workers, 18% said they don't plan to have the shots because of concerns about side effects or the fact that the vaccines are new. In fact, 16% percent of health care workers would rather lose their job than get the shots. "I wouldn't run the risk of ruining my health to continue working," a 65-year-old registered nurse in Indiana said. She washes her hands and wears a mask but thinks if the virus is as contagious as advertised, she'd have caught it by now. Health care workers who work for somebody were more likely to be vaccinated than those who are self-employed. The telephone survey, conducted Feb. 11-March 7, found 12% are undecided. Skepticism about the vaccines is high among Black health care workers, especially, as it is among the US population at large. For people who are undecided, having convenienent access to the shots often leads them sign up. (Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)
Germany was one of the leading foreign markets of Vietnamese investors in recent years

A few days ago, Hanoi-based dairy firm VitaDairy officially announced its ownership of a dairy farm in the Australian state of Tasmania.

Nguyen Thi Ha, the companys general director, said that their new dairy farm in Australia breeds about 1,000 dairy cattle and the company is starting to transport milk from there to Vietnam to feed production needs.

Ha added that although they have only made the official announcement about the acquisition now, this $10 million purchase took place in 2020 and the company had finalised procedures with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

In December 2020 alone, five new outbound investment projects got investment certificates and three existing projects asked for capital addition with a total committed value reaching $99.65 million, more than double compared to similar period in 2019.

Unlike before, when local firms breaking into global markets mainly engaged in telecommunications, mining, agro-forestry, and fisheries, now their engagement is more diverse, with the dairy industry proving fairly attractive to local investors. Leading players in this field are Vinamilk, Nutifood, and particularly TH Group.

After landing a mega-project valued at $2.7 billion in Moscow (Russia) in early 2018, in 2019 TH Group bought two farms in Australia valued at more than $88.5 million to not only breed dairy cows and produce milk items, but also plant cotton, sunflowers, and process fruit juice.

In the same year, two other local firms  IMG Investment JSC and ADPG Investment Development JSC  landed a $38 million project in Australia to build housing blocks for sale and for lease.

Australia remained one of the favoured destinations of Vietnamese investors, attracting $101.8 million of capital last year.

Aside from Australia, Cuba and Germany have also been appealing to Vietnamese investors. For instance, last year, local firms landed four projects worth nearly $93 million in total registered capital in Germany.

Despite not having sizeable ventures, 2019-2020 were fairly upbeat in terms of Vietnams outbound investment.

Notably, in 2020 despite the drastic impacts of COVID-19, local corporate investors poured more than $590 million abroad, signifying a 16.1 per cent jump on-year.

In December 2020 alone, five new outbound investment projects received investment certificates and three existing projects requested permission to expand capital with a total committed value of $99.65 million, more than double compared to 2019.

The latest figures from the MPI, however, show that in the first two months of 2021, five projects received investment certificates for outbound investment with the total capital value amounting to $21.64 million, down 28.6 per cent on-year.

In general, by the end of February 2021, Vietnam had 1,406 valid cumulative outbound investment projects with a total committed value surpassing $21.4 billion.
Dublin filmmaker and playwright David Gilna has managed to span the Atlantic by remarkably staging his first production in New York from the comfort of his own home.

The Swords mans self-penned 'Unsung Hero' will finish its New York run on Sunday night after a week of wowing audiences.

And its all the more remarkable that David has seen through the project as he has bravely came through battling against Covid in recent weeks.

The play is about Michael Joseph O'Rahilly, he was the co-founder of the Irish Volunteers and my American Godmother, Iseult O'Rahilly, she's the granddaughter, he explains.

So as a kid her father, Aodhogan O'Rahilly, used to sit and tell me stories about his father, and that's where my love of history came from. Decades later I rang Iseult and asked her, look could I write a play about your grandfather?

He always wanted to tell the story as theres has been so much historical anecdotes about the famous patriot.

There's not that much about him yet he'd done so much, him and his wife, Nancy, he adds.

"So I started to research and got al, he adds Aodhogan's notes and diary accounts and letters that they wrote to each other.

"The play was staged in 2016 during the Easter commemorations and it did really well, people really enjoyed it because they didn't know too much about these two historical leaders, their passion for Ireland and they were both willing to die for the vision of a free Ireland..

The O'Rahilly is the inspiration for the play, as David explains.

'He's originally from Kerry, in a place called Ballylongford and they owned a shop, and she (Nancy) had an Irish mother but with an American connection.

'She grew up in New York and Philadelphia, and she was over visiting her relatives in Kerry and they met, the O'Rahilly and Nancy met at a farm and they fell in love and started to write each other love letters.

'That was the summer of 1893. So they were writing love letters to each other and she had written him a letter to say that she was going to get engaged in New York, and so he flew over, and had never been to America before and he asked her to marry him, and she said yes.

'They got married, fell in love, had children and decided to go back to Ireland in 1909 for the vision of a United Ireland.

'They bought 40 Herbert Park in 1909 and established the Irish volunteers. She was six months' pregnant when he got the knock on the door on Easter Monday to say that the Rising was happening, because he went around the country calling it off.

'He said goodbye to his wife and said goodbye to his kids, and he went in his car with his sister to Liberty Hall to meet Connolly and Pearse and from there they went to the GPO.

'They wrote each other letters every day from the GPO, which was fascinating, he even wrote his kids letters.

'I fell in love with the human aspect of a man who had it all, wife, children, businessman, but yet he had this vision of Ireland being free from British rule.

'He died for it, and he died off Moore Street, he was shot by the British army and he bled out on a doorway and wrote a letter to his wife that's on the back of Moore Street right now.

'He just had this passion for Ireland and the Irish language, he wrote articles, he loved journalism, he loved the spoken word, he loved music, but they both had this passion of a vision of a free Ireland and she continued and became the vice president of Cumann na mBan , just fascinating people who sacrificed so much for this vision.

'It's all factually based, I just wanted to tell their story because not that many people know about them, how they got their wealth, where they travelled. So basically they were avid writers, so I go to actually witness first-hand how they spoke to each other and got a sense of their tone and their passions, through the letters they wrote each other.

'The end of the story is ultimately that Connolly was injured and needed to escape the GPO and O'Rahilly took 12 brave men and led a rush against the British barricade at the end of Moore Street, took refuge to let Connolly escape and he was shot a few times and he ran into a doorway and then they left him to die on the street. He dipped his finger in his own blood and wrote his initials on the wall where he died. '

David is delighted that Micheal Mellamphy has taken on the role of the O' Rahilly in this New York production.

The play also features musical performances from Rob Vickers ( Olivier Award winner for his performance in the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables in London's West End). Dancing and choreography from world renowned Nawal Elabdri ( Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, Prodijig & Dear Fingal) and lead female vocalist Rebecca Murphy ( Irish Dreams, The Unsung Hero, Taylor's Tree Rock Irish Caberet).

It also includes the talents of dancer Nawal ElBadri from Swords.

The play was commissioned by Dublin City Council for the 2016 Easter Rising Centenary Commemorations to critical acclaim having its world premiere at The Theatre Upstairs.

The play is available to stream tonight and tomorrow (Sunday) on any device or tablet for 15. See http://www.thepigeontheatre.com
What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday
Motorola, the Lenovo owned smartphone maker, is rumoured to launch its Moto G20 device soon. Ahead of its launch, the handset has been spotted on the Geekbench and FCC websites that reveal its key specifications. As per the Geekbench listing, the upcoming phone can be seen with a model number XT2128 and will be introduced as a budget device. Moto G30 & Moto G10 Power With Quad Rear Cameras Launched in India From Rs 9,999.

The phone is expected to come powered by an octa-core UNISOC T700 chipset with an ARM Mali-G52 GPU. The handset is likely to be offered with 4GB of RAM and will run on the Android 11 operating system. On the software front, the device can score around 1565 points and 4780 points in Geekbench's single-core and multi-core tests respectively.

In addition to the Geekbench listing, the phone has also been spotted on the Spanish Retail website with its price. The upcoming Moto G20 will cost EUR 148.07 in Spain and will be available in Breeze Blue shade. The FCC listing reveals that the phone could get connectivity options such as4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GNSS, NFC and FM Radio. The FCC listing unveils that the handset will come with a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging support.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2021 05:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei welcomed the Persian New Year, predicting in a live televised speech on March 20 that it will be one of "production, support, and removal of barriers."

"There is good ground for a production leap," Khamenei said, adding that the government needs to get rid of legal obstacles to higher output and growth as the economy suffers under U.S. sanctions.

Khamenei also said the election in June, which will choose a successor to President Hassan Rohani, makes the new year "important and sensitive."

The election will likely bring to office "new managers who most probably will be energetic and strongly motivated, he said.

The army fired gun salutes at Tehrans Azadi Square to usher in Norouz -- the Persian New Year, marked at the spring equinox -- and the beginning of the year 1400. The holiday is celebrated in a dozen countries stretching from the Caucasus to Central Asia.

In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a Norouz message calling for peace, prosperity, and understanding.

"That is the message and the joy of Nowruz that we are honoring, Biden said in the statement, using an alternative spelling for the holiday. This year, perhaps more than ever, that message is badly needed."

Bidens administration is exploring ways to restore the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with major world powers. The deal has nearly collapsed since 2018, when then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States and reimposed sanctions, sending the Islamic republics economy reeling.

Irans hard-liners say the U.S. sanctions are proof Rohanis policy of reaching out to the country's enemies was a failure.

In his Norouz message, Rohani said he was hopeful the new year will see the end of the sanctions.

We will defeat the sanctions...I am more hopeful than eight years ago, Rohani said, referring to when he was elected for his first term.

He also said the past year was "the worst in 60 years in terms of oil revenues," but he promised improvements, saying the economy is bouncing back.

He also pledged that the new year will see wide access to COVID vaccines and the pandemic being brought under control.
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Saturday that he would live the rest of his life by serving humanity.

Mr Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta at the 20th anniversary of the Communion Faith Assembly/dedication of its new cathedral.

The pastor in charge at the church is Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, the chairman of the Ogun chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Mr Obasanjo, who spoke during the dedication service, said he arrived from Sudan on Friday night and would be travelling back to the United States on Sunday.

I am committed to global peace and service to humanity and I am here to play my part in peacebuilding.

According to him, the best way to determine a successful life is by measuring the positive impacts that life has made on other lives.

He explained that he had chosen a worthy path and he would not deviate from it.

The former president said he was happy to identify with the CAN and its leadership in Ogun because they have continued to act as peace agent in the state.

He commended Mr Akin-Akinsanya for his commitment to expanding Gods kingdom on earth and enhancing peaceful co-existence in the state.

Salisu Shuaibu, the chief of staff to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, also acknowledged the key role CAN is playing in sustaining peace in the state. (NAN)
A family in Hanoi on their way to relatives homes on the first day of the Lunar New Year, February 12, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Vietnam has climbed up four spots to 79th out of 149 countries and territories included in the 2021 World Happiness Report.

Vietnam scored 5.411 points, up from the 5.353 it got last year, according to the latest report released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a global initiative launched by the United Nations in 2012.

Using data from a Gallup World Poll, the ranking measured the happiness level in 149 economies across the world, based on six factors: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and absence of corruption.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnams position was better than Malaysia (81), Indonesia (82), Laos (100), Cambodia (114) and Myanmar (126). It ranked behind Singapore (32), Thailand (54th) and the Philippines (61).

Among the six factors, Vietnam performed best in freedom to make life choices, ranking 9th globally, while its generosity factor fared worst, at 112nd, with Vietnamese people deemed less generous than neighboring peers.

Life expectancy at birth in Vietnam is 68 years, putting the country in 50th place, while Singapore tops the world at 77 years, the report said.

Vietnam ranked 67th in social support and 98th in per capita GDP.

The country's per capita income in 2020 was at $2,750, nearly 1.3 times higher than $2,109 in 2015.

In terms of corruption perception, Vietnam was in 68th place, much higher than Asian peers like South Korea and Japan.

Vietnam has been engaged in prolonged corruption spearheaded by Party chief and State President Nguyen Phu Trong. The crackdown has seen several high-profile government officials, top military officers and businessmen arrested and jailed for crimes from graft to money laundering.

Finland took the top spot in the ranking as the happiest country in the world, followed by Iceland and Denmark.

Countries at the bottom of the list were those afflicted by extreme poverty and violence, like Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Afghanistan.

This years ranking was collated slightly differently this time because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Not only were researchers unable to complete face-to-face interviews in a number of countries, they also had to switch things up by focusing on the relationship between well-being and Covid-19.
The U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C) and flanked by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (R), (Photo : Frederic J. Brown/Pool via REUTERS)

Senior U.S. and Chinese officials concluded on Friday what Washington called "tough and direct" talks in Alaska which laid bare the depth of tensions between the world's two largest economies at the outset of the Biden administration.



The run-up to the talks in Anchorage, which followed visits by U.S. officials to allies Japan and South Korea, was marked by a flurry of moves by Washington that showed it was taking a firm stance, as well as by blunt talk from Beijing warning the United States to discard illusions that it would compromise.



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"We expected to have tough and direct talks on a wide range of issues, and that's exactly what we had," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters moments after the Chinese delegation left the hotel meeting room.



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, standing beside Sullivan, said he was not surprised that the United States got a "defensive response" from China after it raised its concerns over Chinese human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as over cyberattacks and pressure on Taiwan.



But Blinken said the two sides also had intersecting interests on Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, and climate change.



"On economics, on trade, on technology, we told our counterparts that we are reviewing these issues with close consultation with Congress, with our allies and partners, and we will move forward on them in a way that totally protects and advances the interests of our workers and our businesses," Blinken said.



Members of China's delegation left the hotel without speaking to reporters.



After pointed opening remarks https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2LH0A5 on Thursday from Blinken about China's challenge to a rules-based international order, China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi lashed out with a speech criticizing U.S. democracy, and foreign and trade policies.



The United States accused China of "grandstanding" for its domestic audience, and both sides suggested the other had broken diplomatic protocol.



The rebukes played out in front of cameras, but a senior U.S. administration official told reporters that as soon as media had left the room, the two sides "immediately got down to business" and held substantive and direct talks.



SHIFT IN EMPHASIS



While much of President Joe Biden's China policy is still being formulated, including how to handle the tariffs on Chinese goods implemented by his predecessor Donald Trump, his administration has so far placed a stronger emphasis on democratic values and allegations of human rights abuses by China.



"I am very proud of the secretary of state," Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday morning when asked about the previous day's meeting.



In recent weeks, top Republicans have given a nod to efforts by Biden, a Democrat, to revitalize relations with U.S. allies in order to confront China, a shift from Trump's go-it-alone 'America First' strategy.



Biden has partially staked his approach on China to rebuilding American domestic competitiveness, and several top Republicans, whose cooperation will be crucial to the success of those plans, backed his administration in the face of the heated exchanges from the first day of talks.



"I have many policy disagreements with the Biden Administration, but every single American should unite against Beijing's tyrants," Republican Senator Ben Sasse said in a statement.



While Biden's two-month old administration is still conducting China policy reviews, Yang and Wang by contrast are veteran diplomats with decades of combined experience handling U.S.-China relations at the highest levels of the Chinese government. They are also fresh off of dealing with the Trump administration and its unorthodox approach to U.S. foreign policy.



China's social media carried comments saying Chinese officials were doing a good job in Alaska, and that the U.S. side lacked sincerity.



"My sense is that the administration is testing the question of whether it is possible to get real results from these dialogues," Zack Cooper, who researches China at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, said of the U.S. side.



Dean Cheng at the conservative Heritage Foundation said China's global influence had grown to the point where it felt it could openly deride the U.S. system.



"That is a vision from the Chinese perspective of, 'you need me, I don't need you," Cheng said.



China on Friday put a Canadian citizen on trial https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2BB00S on spying charges, and potentially plans to hold the trial of another Canadian on Monday, cases embroiled in a wider diplomatic spat between Washington and Beijing.



State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter reiterated U.S. calls for China to release the two men, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, from "arbitrary and unacceptable" detention during a regular briefing in Washington.



The Chinese military also banned Tesla cars from entering its housing complexes, citing security concerns over the cameras installed on the vehicles, according to two people who saw notices of the directive.


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Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy late. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Editors Note: This article was first published by Real Clear Politics.

By Justin Riemer

Much ink has been spilled warning of the ramifications should Democrats pass their election reform package, HR1 -- and for good reason, given how the bill would upend our nations electoral system.

Democrats claim HR1 is aimed at maximizing voter participation and ending corruption in our election systems, but the truth is that the legislation would do neither. Instead, it will only serve to open up our states elections to fraud and public mistrust at a time when we need to bolster voter confidence.

Lets look at just a few of the many areas where HR1 would nationalize elections and cancel out state integrity and confidence-building measures.

First, the measure voids dozens of longstanding state voting procedures, many of which are relatively non-controversial and serve to give voters confidence in the accuracy and integrity of our elections process. HR1 would invalidate photo ID requirements -- such as those in Indiana -- that the Supreme Court have found constitutional and important confidence builders. These laws are popular with large majorities of Americans, and despite critics fear-mongering they have not negatively impacted voter participation.

HR1 would also force states to allow ballot harvesting, a practice where third parties, usually political operatives, collect and return marked mail ballots. Laws restricting harvesting, which are also popular, deter fraud because they preserve a marked-ballot chain of custody and prevent coercion and undue influence on the elderly and other voters. Yet, Democrats want to override these laws and normalize harvesting.

Recently, we saw additional criminal charges against candidates in an all-mail city council election in Paterson, N.J., for vote fraud related to harvesting and tampering with ballots. The fraud was so pervasive that a local judge voided the election and ordered a new one. There was also the infamous congressional race in North Carolina in 2018, when the election had to be thrown out because of fraud initiated through ballot harvesting. The good news is that ballot harvesting bans help prevent and detect these exact types of crimes. But if Congress nationalizes ballot harvesting through HR1, these stories may go from being cautionary tales to the new norm.

To date, the Republican National Committee has been successful in beating the Democrats in court challenges to harvesting bans and has been vocal about the need for bans. And they are not inherently partisan since many states, both blue and red, either prohibit harvesting or severely restrict it.

Now, after losing in the courts, Democrats seek to impose the practice from Washington, D.C., with the arrogant belief that they know better than state legislatures about the election integrity measures their states require.

HR1 will also further restrict states from cleaning up their voter rolls. Under current federal law, a state must stop programs that remove ineligible voters from the rolls within 90 days before a federal election. This blackout period already significantly limits a states ability to remove voters who may have moved away, died, or are otherwise ineligible to vote because it applies to periods before both primaries and general elections.

The Democrats propose expanding that blackout period for many programs to six months before any federal election. Not only will this prevent states from cleaning up their rolls in a federal election year, it will expand that period for many states into the off years.

Voter roll maintenance not only enhances election integrity by ensuring only eligible voters can cast ballots, it also promotes access by ensuring voters are properly registered when they do go to vote, thus preventing lines and provisional ballots that may not count. No wonder both parties have historically agreed on the importance of voter registration list upkeep. HR1s restrictions make Democrats intentions clear: They have abandoned any pretense that they still care about this issue that was once welcomed as reasonable and routine.

Cynics say that Republicans oppose this legislation because we want to restrict people from voting. This could not be further from the truth. The reality is that we want all eligible voters to be able to vote and vote easily  but voters must also have confidence that our elections systems have safeguards to prevent fraud and ensure accuracy. Previous federal election legislation such as the NVRA and HAVA made some attempt to balance the interests of voter integrity and access. But HR1 eliminates any pretense altogether by invaliding states reasonable ID requirements, mandating ballot harvesting, and enacting obstacles to critical voter roll maintenance.

The American people do not want a Washington takeover of their elections at the hands of congressional Democrats. They want election transparency and confidence in their future elections restored. These motives are exactly what the RNC will continue to fight for, both in the lead-up to the critical midterms and ahead of all elections to come.

Justin Riemer is the chief counsel of the Republican National Committee.
Having gained enormous respect from her blowout victory in the opening leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, Alexa Skye had a much easier time putting away her rivals on Friday night, capturing the first of three $35,000 divisions at Yonkers Raceway in a 1:53.4 clocking.

Sent off as the prohibitive 1-10 betting favourite, Todd McCarthy wasted little time seizing command on the opening bend from an accommodating My Ruebe Star N and driver Jordan Stratton. McCarthy kept an easy clip, going to the quarter in :28.4 and reaching the half unchallenged in :58.1. From there, the field of six stayed very much in line as Alexa Skye picked up the pace on the backstretch, hitting three quarters in 1:26 on her own power.

McCarthy hardly moved a muscle edging into the homestretch, and the powerful 4-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere finished out her mile with a :27.4 final quarter as the rest of the field battled hard for the place spot. My Ruebe Star N held her ground and won the competition for the second position, while Siesta Beach (Matt Kakaley) closed along the pylons and finished in a dead-heat with Keep Rockin A (Tim Tetrick) for show.

Alexa Skye, who picked up her 14th victory overall and has now banked $192,390, is owned in partnership by Pollack Racing LLC. and trainer Jeff Cullipher. The dead heat for third crunched the payoffs a bit, with Alexa Skye returning $2.20 for win.

Seaswift Joy N and driver Andrew McCarthy pulled the upset in the second division, using the wire-to-wire approach as an 11-1 offering. Bettors Heart N (Dexter Dunn), the even-money choice, left quickly and parked Seaswift Joy N for early command, yielding her advantage into the opening bend. After clearing, McCarthy had Seaswift Joy N in control reaching the quarter in :28.1 and slowing the half to :57.3 while the favoured Bettors Heart N struggled to maintain close contact with the leader throughout.

Lady Dela Renta A and Stratton were first to pull into the third turn but were unable to

advance as Seaswift Joy N extended her lead through three-quarters, which went on the board in 1:26. On the final turn, McCarthy kept his mare alert, and she closed out the mile with a :27.4 quarter, easily holding the hard-charging Blue Ivy (Tyler Buter) off in a 1:53.4 mile. Blue Ivy, the 6-5 second choice, was a clear second, with Lady Dela Renta A holding third.

Owned by Brad Grant, Seaswift Joy N, an eight-year-old Bettors Delight mare, improved on her second-place finish in the opening leg for her third victory in 2021 for trainer Tony Alagna. Seaswift Joy N, who is now a 28-time winner and earner of $465,035 lifetime, returned $24.20 to win.

Favoured Machnhope, with Andrew McCarthy, in the bike took the overland route to victory in the third Blue Chip Matchmaker division, scoring in 1:53.4, the same exact time of the first two winners.

Snobbytown, second choice in the field, jetted to command at the outset for George Brennan and had control late on the opening bend. Snobbytown cruised to the quarter in :27.4 and continued to control the action after that point, hitting the halfway mark in :57.2. McCarthy took Machnhope off the pylons heading past the half, and the 2-5 public choice grinded her way up to second as Snobbytown passed three-quarters in 1:25.4.

It was a match race from there, with McCarthy getting the most out of Machnhope in the stretch and taking the duel in the late stages. Snobbytown was well clear for second, with Dbldelitebrigade N (Todd McCarthy) finishing in a dead-heat for third with Caviart Cherie (Kakaley).

Trainer Noel Daley also co-owns Machnhope, a six-year-old by Mach Three, with Deo Volente Farms LLC., Tom Pontone, and L.A. Express Stable LLC. Machnhope scored her 29th career win and has now pocketed $392,044. She returned $2.90 to win.

Third round action in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series will take place on Friday, March 26. On Monday (March 22), the second round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series has four $40,000 divisions, with first leg winners Leonidas A and San Domino A meeting in one split and fellow round one victors Hesa Kingslayer N and Let It Ride N meeting in another.

Yonkers Raceway hosts live harness racing Monday through Friday nights, with first post at 7:15 p.m.

(Yonkers)
The announcement regarding the sudden departure of two distinguished faculty members, Bhanu Pratap Mehta and Arvind Subramanian, from Haryana's Ashoka University has invited criticism from several academicians. The latest to comment on the issue is former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.

In his LinkedIn post, Rajan, who's now a professor at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, has said with their exit, "free speech" suffered a "grievous blow" in India. "Free speech is the soul of a great university. By compromising on it, the founders have bartered away its soul," the former Reserve Bank of India chief has said.

He said Prof Mehta's resignation came in the middle of the teaching quarter, and was so sudden that he pleaded in his resignation letter with the university to make arrangements for his driver, who would otherwise be left jobless. "It is unlikely that such a resignation was premeditated," he said.

Mehta's resignation was followed by Prof Arvind Subramanian's resignation, the former chief economist of India who served during the Modi government's first renure from 2014-2016.

"Two lines from his resignation are noteworthy: "That even Ashoka - with its private status and backing by private capital -- can no longer provide a space for academic expression and freedom is ominously disturbing. Above all, the university's commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question makes it difficult for me to continue being part of Ashoka"," said Rajan.

He said Prof Mehta is a "thorn" in the side of the establishment and no ordinary thorn because he "skewers" those in government and in high offices like the Supreme Court with "visid prose" and thought-provoking arguments. "It is not that he has much sympathy for opposition either. As a true academic, he is an equal opportunity critic.

"I hope he will continue to be one of the intellectual leaders of liberalism in India," Rajan opined. Rajan said Ashoka, for those who don't know, till this week was considered India's likely competitor to Cambridge, Harward, and Oxford in coming decades. "Unfortunately, its actions this week make that less probable," he wrote.

Apart from Rajan, personalities from global intelligencia like Milan Vaishnav and Martha C Nussbaum have also criticised Mehta and Subramanian's exit from Ashoka University. Prof Mehta resigned as Ashoka University vice-chancellor in July 2019 but remained as a professor. He also quit from his post as professor on March 16.

In his resignation letter to Vice-Chancellor Malabika Sarkar, he said his "public writing in support of a politics that tries to honour constitutional values of freedom and equal respect for all citizens is perceived to carry risks for the university". "In the interests of the University I resign," he said. Ashoka University is a fully privately funded university, which is dedicated to the liberal arts.

Two days later on March 18, Subramanian also resigned from Ashoka University. He said Mehta was compelled to leave the university. Subramanian joined Ashoka University in July last year as a professor in the department of economics. He was also the founding director of the new Ashoka Center for Economic Policies.

Also read: After Pratap Bhanu Mehta, ex-CEA Arvind Subramanian resigns from Ashoka University
In a paper published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, physician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) assessed the relative impact of COVID-19 on patients hospitalized with the viral infection in March and April 2020, versus patients hospitalized with influenza during the last five flu seasons at the medical center. Overall, the team demonstrated that COVID-19 cases resulted in significantly more weekly hospitalizations, more use of mechanical ventilation and higher mortality rates than influenza.

COVID-19 and influenza are both contagious respiratory viral diseases that can lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory failure in severe cases. However, detailed comparison of the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 and those of influenza are lacking.

COVID-19 has been compared to influenza both by health care professionals and the lay public, but there's really limited detailed objective data available for comparing and contrasting the impact of these two diseases on patients and hospitals. We compared patients admitted to BIDMC with COVID-19 in spring 2020 to patients admitted to BIDMC with influenza during the last five flu seasons. We found that COVID-19 causes more severe disease and is more lethal than influenza." Michael Donnino, MD, Corresponding Author, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine Physician, BIDMC

Donnino and colleagues included a total of 1,634 hospitalized patients in their study, 582 of whom had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and 1,052 of whom had confirmed influenza. The team found that, on average, 210 patients were admitted to BIDMC during each eight-month flu season, compared to the 582 patients with COVID-19 admitted in March and April 2020. While 174 patients with COVID-19 (or 30 percent) received mechanical ventilation during the two-month period, just 84 patients with influenza (or 8 percent) were placed on ventilation over all five seasons of influenza. Likewise, the proportion of patients who died was much higher for COVID-19 than for influenza; 20 percent of admitted patients with COVID-19 died in the two-month period, compared to three percent of patients with influenza over five seasons.

Further analysis revealed that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 tended to be younger than those hospitalized with influenza. Among patients requiring mechanical ventilation, patients with COVID-19 were on ventilation much longer -- a median duration of two weeks -- compared to just over three days for patients with influenza. Moreover, among patients requiring mechanical ventilation, patients with COVID-19 were far less likely to have had pre-existing medical conditions.

"Our data illustrate that 98 percent of deaths of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were directly or indirectly related to their COVID-19 illness, illustrating that patients did not die with COVID but rather from COVID pneumonia or a complication," said Donnino.

The authors note that the stringent social distancing guidance in effect last spring may have impacted these findings by limiting the incidence and lethality of COVID-19 toward the end of April 2020. Conversely, some treatment practices have evolved over the course of the pandemic, potentially improving outcomes for patients with COVID-19.
Rupert Grint has admitted that he felt he needed to stand up for transgender people after J.K. Rowling became embroiled in a bitter row last year.

The actor, 32, who is best known for playing Ron Weasley in the film series based on Rowling's Harry Potter books, released a statement following intense backlash from the transgender community against the acclaimed author in June.

He explained his decision to voice his opposition to Rowling's comments saying that while he has a 'huge respect' for the author, he can still disagree with her views.

Speaking out: Rupert Grint, 32, has admitted that he felt he needed to stand up for trans people after J.K. Rowling became embroiled in a transgender row last year (pictured in 2019)

Rupert admitted that while he was 'not an authority' on the debate, he felt he had a responsibility to speak out in support of the trans community as 'silence is louder'.

Speaking to Esquire, he said: 'I am hugely grateful [for] everything that shes done. I think that shes extremely talented, and I mean, clearly, her works are genius.'

Elaborating on his reasoning, he went on: 'But yeah, I think also you can have huge respect for someone and still disagree with things like that...

'Sometimes silence is even louder. I felt like I had to because I think it was important to. I mean, I dont want to talk about all that Generally, Im not an authority on the subject.

Controversy: The actor, 32, explained his decision to voice his opposition to Rowling saying that while he has a 'huge respect' for her, he can still disagree with her views (pictured in 2018)

'Just out of kindness, and just respecting people. I think its a valuable group that I think needs standing up for.'

J.K. Rowling, 55, was accused of transphobia in June last year after she took issue with an online article about 'people who menstruate'.

She tweeted to her 14.5m followers: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?'

Backlash: J.K. Rowling, 55, was accused of transphobia in June last year after she took issue with an online article about 'people who menstruate'

The acclaimed novelist sparked fury among fellow social media users and was hit by what she described as 'relentless attacks' following the tweet.

She then penned a deeply personal essay to address the controversy, revealing she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and saying she still feels the scars of 'domestic violence' in her first marriage.

Shockingly, a hashtag calling for the author's death was the number one trending tag on Twitter in October last year.

Personal: She then penned a deeply personal essay to address the controversy, revealing she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and saying she still feels the scars of 'domestic violence' in her first marriage (pictured with her first husband and daughter Jessica who is now 26)

Rupert added to the backlash against the author as he joined co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in speaking out in support of transgender people.

In a statement to The Times, Rupert said: 'I firmly stand with the trans community and echo the sentiments expressed by many of my peers. Trans women are women. Trans men are men.

'We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgement.'

Daniel, 31, who played titular hero Harry, said in a statement to the Trevor Project: 'Transgender women are women.

'Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.'

Career: Rupert added to the backlash against the author as he joined co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in speaking out in support of transgender people (pictured in 2001)

And Emma, 30, who starred as Hermione Granger, tweeted: 'Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are.

'I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.'

Despite swathes of Harry Potter stars criticising the author, Ralph Fiennes, who played Lord Voldemort in the film series, recently came to her defense.

The 58-year-old actor openly showed his support to Rowling in an interview with the Telegraph on Wednesday.

Different view: Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes, 58, (pictured), recently came to her defence, calling the 'level of hatred' directed at the author 'disturbing'

Ralph said he 'didn't understand the vitriol' against her, and that the 'hatred' that people have of someone who expresses a different view to them is alarming.

'I can't understand the vitriol directed at her', he said, adding that while he can appreciate why people feel strongly about the matter, he finds the widespread vilification of the author 'irrational'.

He went on: 'I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing.'

Ralph portrayed Lord Voldemort in the successful film franchise, with his first appearance as the character in the fourth movie in 2005.
How do you guarantee a UK holiday full of precious memories? By visiting our best gold and silver mines of course. Here youll delve deep into the history of mining, explore tunnels, pan for gold, learn fascinating facts about geology and our landscape  and buy (or find) treasure to take home.

Head first to the hills of Wales where gold has been mined at Dolaucothi in Carmarthenshire for millennia. Todays gold-hunters and history fans can explore tunnels built by Roman slaves which only closed for mining in the 1930s (nationaltrust.org.uk/dolaucothi-gold-mines). After exciting underground tours, pan for gold and browse the National Trust shop for jewellery.

The Trust also owns the nearby 16th Century Dolaucothi Arms, a Countryfile Country Pub Of The Year, with simply decorated Arts and Crafts rooms. B&B costs from 70 a night (dolaucothiarms.co.uk).

Precious: A miner at the extraordinary Geevor Tin Mine in Cornwall

Another historic Welsh mine with a new lease of life can be found 30 miles north. The Silver Mountain Experience near Aberystwyth offers rides, sound-and-light presentations, off-road Land Rover tours, cave tours and more chances to pan for gold (silvermountainexperience.co.uk).

Catch the mystical mood of these Welsh hills at the 18th Century Haford Hotel, where B&B is from 135 a night (thehafod.co.uk).

Any underground treasure hunt should include Cornwalls Mining World Heritage Site, which has ten key areas where youll find spectacular cliff-top mines amid a Poldark-style landscape. This includes the best place to see how precious tin was excavated  at Geevor Tin Mine near Penzance (geevor.com). Its the UKs biggest preserved mine with tunnels extending out under the sea.

After intrepid tours, relax by panning for minerals in the museum. Pendants made from Cornish tin (a traditional tenth wedding anniversary gift) are sold here.

Looking for a place to stay? The Gurnards Head has B&B rooms with sea views from 140 a night (gurnardshead.co.uk).

Around 4,000 years ago, copper was precious and the biggest mine in the world was in the unlikely spot of Llandudno in North Wales. Today, guests can don a hard hat to explore Great Ormes bronze age copper mine. More than five miles of prehistoric tunnels and 3,000 stone and antler tools have been discovered here, making this seaside spot the worlds biggest industrial complex of its day (greatormemines.info).

Add walks through colourful mineral pathways at Parys Mountain on nearby Anglesey. Children can dress as miners while history fans discover how copper was thrown out by a volcanic eruption here (copperkingdom.co.uk).

Geevor Tin Mine has tunnels extending out under the sea. Pictured are visitors panning for minerals

Relax at St Georges Hotel in Llandudno, enjoying AA rosette food amid traditional grand pillars, wrought iron and ornate plasterwork. B&B costs from 109 a night (stgeorgeswales.co.uk).

Most precious minerals are spread all over the world, but you can only find Blue John under one hill near Castleton in Derbyshire. This rare sparkling mineral can be made into beautiful bowls and jewellery. Visit Blue John Cavern for tours by real miners (bluejohn-cavern.co.uk) or enjoy self-guided smartphone tours and a chance to try polishing Blue John nuggets at Treak Cliff Cavern (bluejohnstone.com).

Afterwards, kick back at The Peacock at Rowsley  B&B is from 135 a night (thepeacockatrowsley.com).

During the industrial revolution, precious stones and metals were shipped from remote mines to hundreds of factories in Birmingham. The newly restored Jewellery Quarter still has more than 100 workshops producing 40 per cent of British jewellery.

Fascinating: The colourful mineral pathways at Parys Mountain in Anglesey

Its inspiring to tour the restored industrial architecture amid a genuine Peaky Blinders-style atmosphere. Highlights include the JW Evans Victorian Silver Factory, hidden behind the facades of four terraced houses knocked together, and Deakin & Francis Georgian Workshop, Englands oldest jewellery shop. James Deakin is the seventh generation of his family to make and sell luxury cufflinks and signet rings (deakinandfrancis.co.uk).

A former rope factory nearby is now a chic hotel for Jewellery Quarter visitors. B&B rooms at Saint Pauls House start at 99 a night (saintpaulshouse.com).

If you want to search for your own gems, lucky beachcombers on Suffolks Amber Coast between Felixstowe and Southwold have found amber nuggets worth hundreds of pounds. The fossilised pine resin is 40 million years old.

After a day at the beach, head to the Anchor at Walberswick. B&B is from 105 a night (anchoratwalberswick.com).
A third coronavirus wave feared to be emerging currently Europe may still strike the UK despite the success of the vaccine roll out, scientists have warned.

A new rise of cases could hit here within weeks, potentially derailing Boris Johnsons roadmap to normality, experts in Whitehall fear. Summer holidays abroad may end up being banned.

Its a fact that when waves one and two hit Europe they hit us afterwards, a government source told The Timesnewspaper on Saturday.

Although the British data remains positive  the seven-day death average is now below 100 for the first time since October  scientists looking at the situation across the Channel say caution must be taken.

Some 20 countries in the European Union have now reported an increase in the rate of positive tests and 15 have said hospital or intensive care admissions have increased, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

So bad has the situation got in France and Poland that new lockdowns have now been implemented this week, while much of Italy and Spain already remains shuttered.

Read more:

Coronavirus cases decline slows in England - follow live

When will I get the Covid vaccine? Online calculator estimates your place in the queue

Lockdown roadmap dates: What is reopening and when?

In Germany, which only started easing restrictions earlier this month, a new emergency re-tightening is already being considered after a surge in cases. Ministers there warned European Union delays had meant there were not enough vaccine being given out in Europe to avert another wave of deaths.

Significantly, the so-called South African variant of the virus  of particular concern because it appears to reduce the impact of innoculations  is now getting something of a toehold on the continent. In France, it is thought to make up about five to 10 per cent of all cases.

Although the UKs test and trace system has so far managed keep the variant at bay here  there have been just 371 cases reported  experts fear it might only be a matter of time before those numbers rise.

It does suggest we should be cautious, and although weve really come down quite steeply and things look pretty good in terms of hospitalisations and deaths, it would be wrong to assume were out of the woods, one scientist told theDaily Telegraph.

Despite the fears, the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies is not currently calling for any change to Mr Johnson's roadmap to ease restrictions.

Hopes remain that the vaccine roll out - which has now seen half of all UK adults receive their first dose - will significantly reduce the death toll of a new wave does strike.

Yet any hint of a possible surge could make the government more wary about opening shops and outdoor hospitality next month.

The resumption of non-essential travel, banned until at least 17 May, would also be thrown into doubt suggesting holidays could be banned into the summer.
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Washington, March 20 : Despite a less restrictive policy on marijuana under US President Joe Biden, five White House employees have lost their jobs due to past drug use, Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced.

"We announced a few weeks ago that the White House had worked with the security service to update the policies to ensure that past marijuana use wouldn't automatically disqualify staff from serving in the White House," Psaki said in a tweet on Friday.

As a result, more people would be able to serve in the US administration who would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use, dpa news agency quoted the Press Secretary as further saying.

"The bottom line is this: of the hundreds of people hired, only five people who had started working at the White House are no longer employed as a result of this policy," she added.

Psaki linked her tweets to a report by NBC News late last month that the Biden government had relaxed regulations for employees with a view to recreational marijuana use.

A number of US states have legalised marijuana and others states are planning to decriminalise it.

At the federal level, however, marijuana is still illegal in the US.

During the election campaign, a Biden spokesman said he was in favour of the decriminalisation of marijuana and the automatic deletion of entries in the criminal record for possession of the drug.

Vice President Kamala Harris has also supported legalisation in her previous position as a US Senator.
GARDAI have launched an investigation after fraudsters attempted to scam the principal of a Limerick school.

According to gardai, the culprits - two men - arrived at a national school in Ford Transit van and informed the principal that they were road painters.

"They said they would carry out the re-lining of the cycle lane for a small fee as they had paint left over from earlier job," said Sergeant Ber Leetch who added that the men provided an invoice for work previously carried out at a national school in Kilkenny as proof of their identity.

"The principal agreed a price with them but when the job was completed the males asked for four times the original amount agreed for the job completed. Thankfully the principal refused to pay and both males left the scene," added the divisional crime prevention officer.

She pointed out that the incident is a perfect example of a scam as the offer came out of the blue and the initial price was too good to be true.

Investigations are continuing.
Huntington, WV (25701)

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Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially before midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC) faced some backlash from the crypto community earlier today, after its criticism of Bitcoin from its latest research note made headlines.

What Happened: The banks research note titled Bitcoins Dirty Little Secrets stated that there is no good reason to own Bitcoin unless you see prices going up. According to the bank, Bitcoins volatility makes it impractical as a store of value or a payments mechanism.

Why It Matters: The research note was not well received by the crypto community who took to Twitter to share their thoughts about it.

Samson Mow, CSO of blockchain technology company Blockstream, shared a graph of Bank of Americas stock price over the years and said, If your stonk chart looks like this, you dont get to call Bitcoin volatile.

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The research note also claimed that central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) would be kryptonite for cryptocurrency, which most users described as the worst take on cryptocurrency they have heard.

Popular Bitcoin proponent Anthony Pompliano stated on Twitter that the Bank of America has a higher chance of failing than Bitcoin, and was quickly backed by most of his 650k followers on the platform. CZ, CEO of the largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume Binance, suggested that it wouldnt be just Bank of America, but rather, all banks that would fail before Bitcoin did.

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The banks criticism, however, was appreciated by known Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff  According to him, the research report concluded the obvious and he went on to reiterate his belief that Bitcoin is the ultimate bubble.

Bank of Americas stance on Bitcoin comes at a time where large institutions and public companies are buying and holding the digital asset on their balance sheets. Earlier this week, Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) said it would offer Bitcoin to its wealthy clients.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $58,500, up 5% in the past 24-hours. With over $1 trillion in market cap, Bitcoin is larger than JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) ,and Bank of America combined.

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 2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Spain's Congress of Deputies or the lower house of Parliament gave its definitive approval to a law that makes euthanasia legal in the country.

The motion, which was passed on Thursday with 202 votes in favour, 141 against and two abstentions, makes Spain the fourth European nation (along with Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) to approve such a measure, reports Xinhua news agency.

Euthanasia will be available in the Spanish public health system for a person of legal age who is suffering from "a serious and incurable disease" or a "serious, chronic and incapacitating condition" that affects autonomy and causes "constant and intolerable physical or mental suffering".

The law will come into effect three months after its publication in the Official State Gazette.

During these three months, each of Spain's 17 autonomous communities have to set up Guarantee and Evaluation Commissions, consisting of doctors, nursing professionals and legal experts.

The law specifies a series of steps a patient must go through to be granted permission to undergo euthanasia, starting with a written request that has to be submitted twice within a fortnight.

In this request, the patient (who can end the process at will) has to show a clear determination to end their lives and demonstrate they have been given the correct information on their condition and the options open to them.

Upon a receipt of the second request, the case has to be passed on to the corresponding commission, which will appoint two experts not connected to the case to make their recommendation.
Amanda Carroll, Chloe Cumiskey and Carol Cumiskey have 80 years of service between them to the Dundalk branch of the Irish Red Cross

The Irish Red Cross celebrated one very special Dundalk family on International Women's Day last week, with three local volunteers and their combined 80 years of service!

Irish Red Cross are highlighting the role that their female volunteers have played in their many humanitarian campaigns over the past 12 months, with 1,273 female volunteers across the country, which makes up over 54% of the total membership.

One special family in Dundalk proudly showcased the power of female volunteering, with nearly 80 years of service to the Irish Red Cross between a mother, daughter and aunt.

Chloe Comiskey has been with the organisation as a volunteer for 17 years, having joined the Dundalk branch as a youth volunteer when she was just 12 years old.

Her mother, Carol Comiskey, has been with the Irish Red Cross in Dundalk for over 30 years, and has been an inspiration for her daughter.

The volunteering trio also includes Chloe's aunt, Amanda Carroll, who has been a volunteer for an incredible 32 years.

Between them, the remarkable family have nearly 80 years of volunteering experience with the organisation, which is a unique commitment from these three local women.

The family explained how the type of work undertaken by the Irish Red Cross to help the most vulnerable in our society is 'varied and vital' and all skills and talents are represented in branches across the country.

Their dedication has also helped inspire Irish online lottery company Lottoland to set up a special Irish Red Cross Online Scratchcard game, where 20% of all sales generated will go directly towards assisting invaluable female volunteers like the Comiskey family in their important work amongst the community.

Graham Ross Lottoland Ireland said: 'We are always so impressed by the track record and breadth of domestic humanitarian services carried out by the Irish Red Cross and how they have gender equality to the forefront of their service delivery across the entire community.

'We're delighted that the funds generated from the launch of our new Irish Red Cross Online Scratchcard game, will directly contribute towards funding the amazing services like those supplied by the female volunteers in the Dundalk branch of the Irish Red Cross. We remain humbled by their selfless works and contribution to improving Irish society, especially at this particularly challenging time for us all.'
Denton, TX (76205)

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Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy late. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
NASA Remembers Legendary Flight Director Glynn Lunney

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2021

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary NASA Flight Director Glynn Lunney, 84, died Friday, March 19.

NASA Logo. (PRNewsFoto/NASA) (PRNewsFoto/) (PRNewsfoto/NASA)

Lunney was a flight director for the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission, and was lead flight director for Apollo 7, the first crewed Apollo flight, and Apollo 10, the dress rehearsal for the first Moon landing, in NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. He led the mission control team credited with key actions that made it possible to save three Apollo 13 astronauts aboard a spacecraft disabled on the way to the Moon.

Throughout his career, he was a key leader of NASA human spaceflight operations, beginning as a member of the original Space Task Group at NASA's Langley Research Center established shortly after NASA was formed to manage America's efforts to put humans into space. After moving to Houston, the task group eventually became the Manned Spacecraft Center, now NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

"Glynn was the right person for the right time in history. His unique leadership and remarkably quick intellect were critical to the success of some of the most iconic accomplishments in human space flight," said Johnson Director Mark Geyer. "Although he retired from the agency many years ago, he is forever a member of the NASA family. While he was one of the most famous NASA alumni, he was also one of the most humble people I have ever worked with. He was very supportive of the NASA team and was so gracious in the way he shared his wisdom with us."

Using the call sign "Black Flight," he was selected in the Class of 1963 with John Hodge and Gene Kranz, and became NASA's fourth flight director. Flight directors are responsible for leading teams of flight controllers, research and engineering experts, and support personnel around the world, and making real-time decisions critical to keeping NASA astronauts and missions safe and successful in space.

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Lunney worked on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs. He retired from NASA in 1985 as manager of the Space Shuttle Program, but continued to lead human spaceflight activities in private industry with Rockwell International and, later, United Space Alliance until his retirement in 1995.

At NASA, he also was a flight director for Apollo missions Apollo-Saturn-201, 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, and 15. He served as lead flight director for Gemini missions 10 and 12, and was a flight director for Gemini missions 9 and 11.

He took on a leadership role in the planning and negotiations that led to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) which culminated in the docking of an American Apollo and a Russian Soyuz spacecraft July 17, 1975. The effort led the way for today's cooperative international efforts on the International Space Station.

One of the most notable events in his career came April 13, 1970, after an oxygen tank in the Apollo 13 service module exploded on the way to the Moon. His team reacted quickly and effectively to prepare the astronauts and their spacecraft to complete a safe-return trajectory around the Moon and return home safely. Under Lunney's direction, the team innovated and worked with the astronauts to deliberately shut down the command module systems so that the lunar module could be used as a lifeboat for the crew during the journey home to Earth. His team's work was widely credited with keeping the crew alive and safe while longer-term plans were developed for a successful reentry and splashdown.

Lunney received the Presidential Medal of Freedom as part of the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team.

In Lunney's own words from his NASA oral history:

"I felt that the Black Team shift immediately after the explosion and for the next 14 hours was the best piece of operations work I ever did or could hope to do. It posed a continuous demand for the best decisions often without hard data and mostly on the basis of judgment, in the face of the most severe in-flight emergency faced thus far in manned space flight. There might have been a 'better' solution, but it still is not apparent what it would be. Perhaps, we could have been a little quicker at times but we were consciously deliberate."

He was born Nov. 27, 1936, in Old Forge, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.

Concurrences:

Kelly Humphries/JSC PAO

James Hartsfield/JSC PAO Director

John Uri/JSC History Office

Mark Geyer, JSC Director

Lunney Family

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-remembers-legendary-flight-director-glynn-lunney-301252338.html

SOURCE NASA
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan address the media following the closed-door morning talks between the United States and China upon conclusion of their two-day meetings in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/Pool via Reuters)

US Concludes Tough Talks With China in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, AlaskaSenior U.S. and Chinese officials concluded on Friday what Washington called tough and direct talks in Alaska which laid bare the depth of tensions between the worlds two largest economies at the outset of the Biden administration.

The run-up to the talks in Anchorage, which followed visits by U.S. officials to allies Japan and South Korea, was marked by a flurry of moves by Washington that showed it was taking a firm stance, as well as by blunt talk from Beijing warning the United States to discard illusions that it would compromise.

We expected to have tough and direct talks on a wide range of issues, and thats exactly what we had, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters moments after the Chinese delegation left the hotel meeting room.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, standing beside Sullivan, said he was not surprised that the United States got a defensive response from the Chinese regime after it raised its concerns over Chinese human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as over cyberattacks and pressure on Taiwan.

But Blinken said the two sides also had intersecting interests on Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, and climate change.

On economics, on trade, on technology, we told our counterparts that we are reviewing these issues with close consultation with Congress, with our allies and partners, and we will move forward on them in a way that totally protects and advances the interests of our workers and our businesses, Blinken said.

Members of Chinas delegation left the hotel without speaking to reporters.

After pointed opening remarks on Thursday from Blinken about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s challenge to a rules-based international order, Chinas top diplomat Yang Jiechi lashed out with a speech criticizing U.S. democracy, and foreign and trade policies.

The United States accused the Chinese regime of grandstanding for its domestic audience, and both sides suggested the other had broken diplomatic protocol.

The rebukes played out in front of cameras, but a senior U.S. administration official told reporters that as soon as media had left the room, the two sides immediately got down to business and held substantive and direct talks.

Shift in Emphasis

While much of President Joe Bidens China policy is still being formulated, including how to handle the tariffs on Chinese goods implemented by his predecessor Donald Trump, his administration has so far placed a stronger emphasis on democratic values and allegations of human rights abuses by the CCP.

I am very proud of the secretary of state, Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday morning when asked about the previous days meeting.

Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held their first phone call as leaders last month and appeared at odds on most issues, even as Xi said that confrontation would be a disaster for both nations. Biden, who referred to Xi as a thug during his election campaign, said after the call that the United States needed to raise its game in the face of the Chinese challenge, or China would eat our lunch.

Biden has partially staked his approach on China to rebuilding American domestic competitiveness.

My sense is that the administration is testing the question of whether it is possible to get real results from these dialogues, Zack Cooper, who researches China at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, said of the U.S. side.

Dean Cheng at the conservative Heritage Foundation said the CCPs global influence had grown to the point where it felt it could openly deride the U.S. system.

That is a vision from the Chinese perspective of, you need me, I dont need you, Cheng said.

China on Friday put a Canadian citizen on trial on spying charges, and potentially plans to hold the trial of another Canadian on Monday, cases embroiled in a wider diplomatic spat between Washington and Beijing.

State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter reiterated U.S. calls for China to release the two men, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, from arbitrary and unacceptable detention during a regular briefing in Washington.

The Chinese military also banned Tesla cars from entering its housing complexes, citing security concerns over the cameras installed on the vehicles, according to two people who saw notices of the directive.

By Humeyra Pamuk
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-19 23:39:41|Editor: huaxia

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A reporter works outside the embassy building of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 19, 2021. Malaysia "deeply regrets" the decision of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to sever their diplomatic ties, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday in a statement. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia "deeply regrets" the decision of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to sever their diplomatic ties, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday in a statement.

The ministry said the DPRK's decision was "unfriendly and unconstructive," adding that "Malaysia reserves our every right to respond to the decision of the DPRK in order to protect our sovereignty and to safeguard our national interest."

Malaysia "is now compelled by the decision of the DPRK to close the Embassy of Malaysia in Pyongyang" and "will issue an order for all the diplomatic staff and their dependents at the Embassy of the DPRK in Kuala Lumpur to leave Malaysia within 48 hours" from Friday, said the statement.

Earlier Friday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported that the DPRK has announced severance of diplomatic relations with Malaysia after Malaysia's top court ruled in favor of extraditing one of DPRK nationals to the United States to face money laundering charges.

The report said that the DPRK businessman was engaged in "legitimate external trade activities" and warned that the Malaysian authority would "bear full responsibility for all the consequences to be incurred between the two countries."

Malaysia's foreign ministry stressed that the extradition of the DPRK national was conducted in accordance with the principles of justice, rule of law and independence of judiciary.

The DPRK citizen was detained by the Malaysian authority in May 2019 pursuant to the provisional arrest warrant issued following allegations of conspiracy to launder money as well as violating United Nations sanctions, the ministry said.
A Visa credit card is seen on a computer keyboard in this picture illustration taken (Photo : REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/Illustration)

The Justice Department is looking at Visa Inc's debit practices, the company said on Friday, after reports the United States was investigating whether the credit card company uses anticompetitive practices in the debit-card market.



"The U.S. Department of Justice has informed Visa of its plans to open an investigation into Visa's U.S. debit practices," the company said in a securities filing. "We have received a notice to preserve relevant documents related to the investigation."



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The Justice Department is probing whether Visa uses anticompetitive practices in the debit-card market, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, said the Justice Department's antitrust division was looking in to whether Visa limited merchants' ability to route debit-card transactions over card networks that are often less expensive.



"We believe Visa's U.S. debit practices are in compliance with applicable laws," the company said. "Visa is cooperating with the Department of Justice."



Visa shares fell sharply on Friday, sinking 6.2% to close at $206.90.



The Justice Department declined comment on Friday.



Merchants have long complained about the high cost of network fees, or interchange fees, which can be 2% or more of each transaction and go to the financial institutions behind the transactions.



Industry group the Merchants Payments Coalition, which fights so-called swipe fees, called the probe good news. "The MPC has been concerned about these practices to limit debit routing for years and it's great to see the Department of Justice looking in to it," said spokesman Craig Shearman.



While such investigations are not unusual, this one comes amid a greater interest in the digital marketplace.



Earlier this year, Visa and fintech startup Plaid called off a $5.3 billion merger after the government sued to stop the deal and called Visa a "monopolist in online debit transactions."



The Justice Department has previously investigated the credit card payments industry but settled with Visa and Mastercard Inc in 2010 when they agreed to allow merchants to offer consumers incentives to use a low-cost credit card.



American Express refused to settle. It took its battle with the Justice Department all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2018 that it was legal for American Express to forbid merchants from trying to steer consumers to cheaper cards.


Ukrainian security and defense officials have imposed sanctions against exiled former President Viktor Yanukovych, ex-Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, and nearly two dozen other individuals active under the administration that fell when Yanukovych fled to Russia under pressure from street protests in 2014.

The National Security and Defense Council named other individuals including a former education minister, oligarch Serhiy Kurchenko, the Moscow-backed leader of Crimea after its annexation by Russia seven years ago, and a former Ukrainian prosecutor who became a Russian lawmaker, Natalia Poklonskaya.

The council also named an entrepreneur whose companies were being sanctioned, Vitaliy Lupeto.

All are accused of aiding Russia's control of Crimea since the peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014 and the ongoing control of Russia-backed separatists of swaths of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Yanukovych and Azarov both fled Ukraine to Russia after the pro-democracy protests sometimes referred to as the Euromaidan movement.

The council approved the sanctions on March 19 after a recommendation from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).

"In 2014, great responsibility was placed on the leaders of the state, but they allowed the worst to happen -- the Russian invasion of our territory," SBU Chairman Ivan Bakanov said. "So they have to answer for it. And it doesn't matter what they were doing at the time: fleeing to Rostov or calling on Russia to 'save' the Russian-speaking population."

National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov stressed that "some of these people, the majority" targeted in the new sanctions "are now Russian citizens."

Yanukovych was sentenced in absentia to 13 years in prison for treason in Ukraine in 2019.

Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, the Kyiv Post, and Interfax
Astrid Riecken/Washington Post News Service

White rage is driven by fear and this fear is driven by two ongoing shifts in American society. One shift is demographic and the other is cultural.

The demographic shift is that we are becoming a more diverse nation and in several decades white Americans will become the minority. The cultural shift is that American attitudes toward issues such as gay marriage, abortion and gender equality are becoming more liberal.
Pesutto was the highest-profile casualty of the Liberals 2018 election bloodbath, when their number of seats plummeted from 44 to 31. A well-spoken, moderate Liberal and lawyer who has done consultancy and media work since 2018, Pesutto would have gone for the party leadership after the election. He probably would have won it. Instead, he watched from afar this week as Michael OBrien survived a spill 22 votes to nine. Survived for now: opposition leader Michael OBrien Credit:Justin McManus Pesutto supports OBrien, and believes he can win the 2022 election. But if he doesnt, Pesutto is voted back into Parliament and OBrien steps away from the leadership  an outcome even the most cautious gambler would consider a bet on  would Pesutto put his name in the hat?

I think Ive just got to get back. Theres so many hurdles and I have certainly learned that you cant plan too far in advance. I really dont want to speculate beyond that, he replies. I will say this though. I do want to play a role in some kind of leadership position. You can play a leadership role without having to be the actual leader. You can be a strong, independent, reasonable, sensible voice internally, which is what I would like to do. Pesutto took over the seat of Hawthorn from ex-Premier Ted Baillieu in 2014 before losing it in 2018. Credit:Joe Armao Ruminating in the aftermath of Tuesdays spill, Liberal MPs who agree that Tuesday was a line in the sand  and most do  believe OBrien will survive until the next election at the least. No clear replacement exists. Former leader and senior MP Matthew Guy insists he doesnt want it and remains tarnished by 2018s thumping defeat. Brad Battin convinced few with his surprise tilt this week (though has refused to rule out another pop).

Tim Smith is ambitious and young  too young, some MPs say  and his any publicity is good publicity approach has split opinion. Three MPs independently suggested this week the Liberal Partys next leader could come from outside the party room. See: John Pesutto. Yet it cannot be ignored that it was Pesutto who lost Hawthorn to retiree John Kennedy from a margin of 8.6 per cent, the first time Labor has claimed the seat since 1955. Labor MP John Kennedy won the seat of Hawthorn from the Liberals for the first time since 1955. Credit:Eddie Jim As for winning this, or any, election, he says the Liberal Party needs to revolutionise. Pesutto wants a more inclusive party that has a presence deep in the suburbs, promoting old Liberal ideals of individual ambition and reward for effort.

All people, in all parts of Melbourne and Victoria, should be able to look at us and say: I like what they stand for, he says. Loading I dont think anybody could seriously look at the electoral outcomes in Victoria since 1999, with just one Liberal government, and say that we dont need to do so much more. He points to the electoral map after the 2018 election as evidence of the partys narrowing appeal  theres blue in some affluent inner-city seats and on Melbournes eastern outskirts but zero in the northern or western suburbs, home to many working class and migrant families.

Change starts with long-term engagement on the ground with community leaders and members, Pesutto argues. Loading They are communities which are aspirational. That is everything the Liberal Party traditionally stands for. Those areas are precisely where we should be working to expand the base of the party. Just six of the Liberals 31 current MPs are women. But Pesutto stops short of saying preselections, due some time after July this year, should proactively favour gender and ethnically diverse candidates. If you look at our membership, it actually is very diverse. Im confident well see that this year and if we can appeal more broadly and get more MPs in Parliament, that will become clearer, he says.
Officers responded to an vehicle theft at 1330 E 3rd St. A man reported he went inside the convenience store and left his vehicle unattended and running with the keys in it at pump 12. When he came outside he observed his vehicle exiting the parking lot traveling eastbound on E. 3rd St. The rightful vehicle owner did not see the suspect driving away in his vehicle. He said his vehicle has 24-inch red rims and dark window tint. This vehicle was BOLO'd city-wide and entered into NCIC as stolen. At the time there was not an employee at the Speedway who had access to the camera system, The officer was later notified by dispatch that the vehicle was recovered by Georgia Highway Patrol at I-75 southbound mile marker 299 in Bartow County. The vehicle was towed by Staceys Towing, Adairsville, Ga. The owner was notified.

* * *

Police were dispatched to an address at an apartment on Lake Resort Terrace on a disorder. On scene the officer made contact with a married couple. Both said they had been a verbal disorder. The disorder was over when the officer arrived. The wife said she was leaving the residence and heading back to Ohio. She packed her belongings and left while police were on scene.

* * *

A man spoke with police at 901 Carter St. He said earlier he had picked up a black male named "Jordan" from the Motel 6 at 2440 William St and transported him to "somewhere" in "Brainerd." He said after dropping "Jordan" off, he found one needle and a blue bag of "dope" underneath the back seat Jordan was sitting on. He said he was afraid of being caught with the controlled substances and threw them out of his car window once he was on the interstate. He wanted an officer to be aware of the incident and requested that he conduct a search of his vehicle. The officer searched the vehicle and did not locate any illegal items.

* * *

On 15th Avenue an officer made contact with a woman who said she had found a black leather wallet lying on the ground while driving by that location. The wallet contained the identification for a Mr. Erik Miller. It also held $39 cash money, various credit and debit cards, vehicle registration and receipts. The wallet was turned into Property Division.

* * *

The manager at Chattanooga Recycle Center at 5955 Brainerd Road said she found a Motorola cell phone plugged up to the building a couple of days earlier. She said she waited to call police to see if the owner would come back to retrieve their phone, but they hadn't yet. The phone will be turned into CPD Property.

* * *

A woman at 2332 Shallowford Village Dr. said she had homeless people cussing at customers and flipping them off. She said this has been going on for a while and the individuals are staying at the abandoned Shoney's restaurant. The officer went to the Shoney's, but did not locate anyone.

* * *

Upon conducting a traffic stop at 1300 Tunnel Blvd. an officer made contact with Mr. Pines. The same officer had pulled Mr. Pines over earlier in the day for no tag on his vehicle, and upon further investigation, he discovered the he did not have a valid ID or insurance on the vehicle, and he also had a taillight out. That night he saw that Mr. Pines was driving the vehicle again. Mr. Pines was transported to Hamilton County Jail for driving on suspended, financial responsibility, auto registration law and light law violation.

* * *

A woman said she was inside Orange Theory on Highway 153 from 5-6 a.m. During that time, the side, rear window of her white Toyota Sequoia was broken, and her purse was taken. Inside the purse were the following items: a wallet with credit cards, gift cards and $20 cash. No one said they had seen any suspicious people or vehicles in the area.

* * *

At a location on Igou Gap Road, a woman said that between 6:15 and 7:15 in the morning, an unknown person broke out the right side rear window of her 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and stole her purse and its contents.

* * *

A manager of Budget Truck Rental on Northpoint Boulevard said that sometime stole the rear catalytic converters off of two rental trucks - both 2019 Ford E350s. He said they have 10 of this type of trucks on the lot. He said they usually have three or four parked in front of the building and the others behind the building. He requested a Watch be set up.

* * *

At Oakvale Drive, a man said that between 1 and 3 a.m. Sunday, someone came on the property of this newly built unoccupied house and stole a Temp Star heat and air unit and moved the other to the front yard as to possibly come and steal it. He said there is a Ring doorbell in place, but the video is of no help in identifying the suspect. He said it showed a car pull up and a person get out with a flashlight and look around, then leave. He said then a pickup truck showed up to carry the unit off. He said the stolen unit will cost $5,500 to replace and $700 to reinstall the one that was disconnected from the house. He said he found a suspicious note on the scene signed by a former employee.
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The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
State Police say an Oswego County woman allowed her 6-week-old puppy to ingest heroin, causing its death.

26-year-old Nicole Holland of Fulton is charged with animal cruelty. Police say Holland allowed her six-week-old miniature doberman pinscher to ingest heroin from a plate while she was in the process of consuming heroin.

Holland is due back in court on April 6th.
A large student party in Dundee has been linked to an outbreak of 36 Covid-19 infections.

Public health officials traced the outbreak to a superspreader event held in student accommodation just a short distance from the college's campus.

Tests have shown that 34 of the 36 people infected by the event are students at Dundee University.

Public health officials are investigating a major outbreak of Covid-19 which is being linked to a party held by students of the University of Dundee on March 14. Some 36 people have been infected by the super spreader event which took place in a flat near the college's campus, file photo

A major test and trace operation has been launched as public health workers try and track down anyone who was at the party or is a close contact of those infected by Covid-19

Professor Iain Gillespie, principal and vice-chancellor of Dundee University said: 'We are deeply concerned by this outbreak of cases among some of our students, which has been linked to a gathering in a private residence in the city's Springfield area.

'We are working with NHS colleagues to manage the situation and hopefully prevent further spread of the virus.

'We will support any students affected and are urging all those who may be contacted by test-and-trace to fully engage with that process.

'We have been constantly reminding all students of the need to follow all of the COVID guidelines, particularly around social gathering and the limits which are in place for us all, and we have issued further strong reminders in light of this outbreak, with the support of the Students' Association.'

It comes just a few days after the university emailed all students about a spike in cases.

As many as 200 people were also seen celebrating St Patrick's Day in the sun at Magdalen Green on Wednesday.

A multiagency Incident Management Team (IMT) is now working with the university to prevent further spread of the virus.

Dr Kirsty Licence, public health consultant and chair of the IMT said: 'A number of students who have tested positive for Covid-19, and their close contacts are self-isolating.

'Contact tracing is continuing and it is really important that all students who have been identified as close contacts, and anyone who develops symptoms, self-isolates and books a PCR test as soon as possible.

'I would also urge students who test positive to provide information about all their recent contacts when called by Test and Protect.

'This information will help our contact tracing efforts to track and limit the spread of the virus.

'We are continuing to work closely with our colleagues to respond to this situation and to ensure there is support in place for students should they need it.'
Actress, Nkechi Blessing, has had her fair share of controversies, thanks to her voluptuous shape and outspoken nature. However, as loud...

Actress, Nkechi Blessing, has had her fair share of controversies, thanks to her voluptuous shape and outspoken nature. However, as loud as the actress could be, she maintained that she kept her marriage off social media for privacy and spiritual reasons.

In an interview with PUNCH, she said, My marriage is the part of my life I wanted to be quiet about. I know that I have always been loud about all my relationships but I also like and deserve privacy too. I only show people what I want them to see.

It is my marriage and everyone should not know who I am married to. My husband does not like social media. Before some people bombard him with messages on social media, looking for what is not lost. He does not even comment on my Instagram posts. I know I am a loud person but even spiritually, it is advisable not to always have too much buzz around everything one does.

I gave birth and no one knew until they saw my child. Everything is possible as long as one has people who are not selling one out. It is ones friends that often sell one out, and once one cuts that down, ones secret would be safe.

My husband knows what I can do and he is not bothered about gossips he reads online. He is what people call the ginger partner. He knows the truth about me and that is why I can be unapologetic of my actions. I think it is important for one to marry an understanding partner.

The bubbly actress also stated that her greatest fear was losing her mother. She said, Of course, I have fears and down moments. My greatest fear is losing my mum. I dont ever want to lose her. In fact, if it is possible to keep her for life, I will do that.

I also do not have any insecurity. I am always confident in myself. I dont entertain any insecurity. The only time things get to me is when false claims are peddled about me. Most of the things that go viral about me are not true. But, I always resist the urge to give a detailed explanation to defend myself. I also wonder why rumour mongers do not allow me to be. Why would people twist a story to entertain their audience? But, this is the life I signed up for and I had already prepared my mind for it. I have also learnt from some of the people I am close friends with. I know and see what they have also been through at the hands of bullies and trolls.
Regional reopening

Dear Editor,

Having followed the daily Covid 19 briefings every day for the last year - one obvious trend is coming through. Dublin like every other capital city of more than a million people has the most amount of Covid cases. Averaging at 30% consistently and now at 46% in recent times. Dublin's population is 1.27 million and geographically is the 3rd smallest county in Ireland, i.e. high density.

Leitrim has had the smallest amount of positive cases and thankfully very few deaths. Last week, Leitrim recorded no positive cases for 5 days in a row. For a period of 8 weeks in a row Leitrim recorded fewer than 50 cases, Roscommon was 6 weeks in a row, while Sligo was 4 weeks.

In a recent episode of TV3's Tonight Show, Immunology Professor Thomas Ryan of Trinity College called for the regional opening of counties that are least affected by Covid - half the country. Professor Ryan consistently called for pubs not to reopen at Christmas so he takes this very serious. After every major Recession, cities including Dublin bounce back immediately but not so rural Ireland.

With Brexit and Covid the BMW region on the upper Shannon could take a decade to recover. Outdoor pubs will reopen on the 1st of July and indoor pubs from mid August. Regional easing of lockdowns are common all over Europe - Ireland should view this scenario.

Yours etc.,

Tom Glancy

Carrick-on-Shannon

McDONALD'S - All may not be golden under the arches



Dear Editor,

Whilst Im sure there is much happiness amongst the younger generation that McDonalds intend to open a restaurant in Carrick-on-Shannon, perhaps we should be careful what we wish for.

Firstly, Carrick is a beautiful small town with a growing reputation as a holiday destination and justifiable ambitions to achieve national honours in the tidy towns awards.

It has often been said that Carrick-on-Shannon would like to emulate Westport. Well, Im sorry but an application like this would be impossible in Westport as they have a clear town plan which doesnt allow any such development.

Secondly, where is Leitrim County Councils plan in relation to the so-called no fry zone which excludes the sale of high fat foods close to Schools?

As I understand it, this development will be the closest food outlet to Carrick-on-Shannon Community School and while our kids may like the idea of 1 hamburgers for lunch every day, future generations will surely be astounded that we allowed a development like this so close to a school.

A similar development by McDonalds in Greystones, Co Wicklow was withdrawn a few years ago after the local schools and parents united against it and Wicklow County Council adopted regulations to prevent any future applications by fast food restaurants for planning permission to open close to schools.

I hope the local community will reflect on this.

Yours,

Adrian McGrath

Portmarnock

Co Dublin
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given directives to all ministers to improve their working capability as he (PM) wanted to resolve all problems of the people

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2021 ) :Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given directives to all ministers to improve their working capability as he (PM) wanted to resolve all problems of the people.

Talking to a private news channel, he said PM Imran Khan was a wise person and he endowed more respect as a mature and intelligent politician of the country. Prime Minister was well aware of all issues and he knew ground realities very well, he added.

He said the Pakistan Democratic Movement was an unnatural alliance which was disintegrated.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government would complete its five years tenure, adding the prime minister was never afraid of the opposition.

Replying to a question, he said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were never united earlier and would never be united in future, he said adding that both the parties had done massive corruption during their governments and looted national wealth mercilessly.

He said cases of corruption which were registered against both the parties leadership would not be ended as the government would not make any compromise over the matter of accountability of corrupts.

He said doors never be closed in politics and he was in favour of holding dialogues with all political parties.

To another query, he said Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar was not acting as a show man like Shahbaz Sharif, adding he had full confidence of PM Imran Khan.

The people would witness that performance of the Federal Investigations Agency (FIA) and National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to be improved in days to come.

He predicted that the opposition would never tender their resignation from the parliament and he was not seeing their long march before the Eid.
Land prices skyrocket

At the beginning of February 2020, the information that a large real estate corporation had a proposal for the local government to implement a project across 800 hectares in Binh Ba commune in Chau Duc district in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province caused several real estate dealers and people in general to make a mad rush to buy land in the area.

Along Highway 56 on the section running through the Binh Ba commune, crowds of people gathered to sell and buy land, which suddenly caused a land boom in Binh Ba commune. Real estate agents searched for tracts of land for sale, causing prices to skyrocket. The land in Ngai Giao town, bordering My Xuan, or the land located along Highway 56 in Binh Ba commune, was targeted for large scale urban projects, and the selling price of land increased by nearly 100% to 200% within a few days.

Before the sudden spurt in land prices, the Peoples Committee in Chau Duc District had issued specific information on the project, and at the same time, inspected and reviewed organizations dealing in illegal land divisions, sale of land in the area, and other such violations. This move by the local government quickly dispelled any form of misleading rumours to spread, and after only three weeks the fever to hike land prices cooled down, and crowds slowly diminished.

However, other factors began to play. Land prices began plummeting, households who had sold all their land and had no land for business were left in shock, and those who had not yet been able to sell were sorry. Some family members squabbled because they sold the land without discussing with each other. Conflicts arose in small businesses, and people who received sudden cash in hand took to heavy drinking, shopping or gambling. The whole village collapsed into degeneration.

Lately, Binh Phuoc province is expected to develop a project to build a dual-use airport, and the realtors are arriving in droves and turning many areas in An Khuong and Tan Loi communes in Hon Quan district into a hotbed of activities. In only about three days, the land prices here have increased from VND 100 mn to VND 300 mn or VND 400 mn per horizontal meter.

In some better locations, prices touched VND 450 mn per square meter. In An Khuong commune, Tan Loi, and neighboring areas where the airport project is expected, land prices have increased dramatically. Some plots of land that are about 1.5 km away from the location, and priced at VND 150 mn to VND 200 mn have shot up by billions of dong in just a few days. One land plot was traded for nearly VND 10 billion, and was re-transferred back and forth among several people, and the last person pegged the price at VND 28 bn.

Bogus projects

When large projects such as industrial parks, airports, and harbors are planned for construction in rural areas, they offer an opportunity to the local people to change their lives forever. People can be part of the development activities, such as selling of land, trading of commodities, vital services, and make good financial deals.

This was true when real projects such as Long Thanh airport, and Aqua City urban area were announced. However, there are also many projects that prove to be bogus and lack credible information. Such bogus projects can be termed into three categories, and there are three types of information that cause land prices to skyrocket. Intended circulation of fraud information; some unrealistic overblown schemes announced by authorities; and actual information on possible investment by professional and credible enterprises.

There are three types of information that causeland prices to skyrocket. Intended circulation of fraudinformation;some unrealistic overblown schemesannounced by authorities;and actual information on possible investment by professional and credible enterprises.

As a concrete example of the first type of information, the Alibaba Company of Nguyen Thai Luyen, with 58 ghost projects in Dong Nai, Binh Thuan, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, said to appropriate VND 2,373 bn of 3,924 people, is one model. The second type of information of unrealistic overblown schemes announced by authorities at some vague conference, of upcoming industrial parks, or airports, or of a provincial leader surveying land for future projects, has an example when a certain association spoke of three very lucrative proposals to develop Can Gio urban area, Northwest Cu Chi urban area, and the urban areas along the Saigon river. People in Ho Chi Minh City where just left to dream and speculate on these projects.



In theory, these projects sound realistic, but are actually only suggestions. Dreams are sold to people, pre-feasibility studies are sent out by departments, and proposals made on behalf of investors, and newspapers jump in to write articles. The news is full of maps and diagrams, and interviews with people. All this frenzy then leads to a false dream of development and a surge in land fever. This is what happened in the case of the project announcement of a dual-use airport in Binh Phuoc Province, where investors and the local people were led into believing fake news as real.

Perhaps authorities in the Government in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City need to re-evaluate and issue regulations against creating undue excitement in the minds of people. Local people cannot know what is the intended desire of an individual leader, or differentiate between a suggestion or an actual proposal for a project.

Dr. Huy Minh Quang
A father-of-one has been charged over a 190,000 invoice redirect fraud targeting firms from Hong Kong, Finland and the United States.

Steven Sylvester, 27, originally from Nigeria but with an address at The Alley Apartments, Fairgreen Street, in Naas, Co Kildare, was arrested during a fraud investigation by officers from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).

He appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court today.

He faces five counts of money laundering, four charges for handling stolen ID cards, one count of using a false passport to open a bank account and another for attempted deception, from 2018 to 2020.

Detective Garda Angela Gavin told the court Mr Sylvester made no reply when charged.

She objected to bail citing the seriousness of the case and flight risk concerns.

She told the court it was alleged the money laundering charges related to invoice redirect frauds.

The court heard that the sums totalled about 190,000.

The money was dispersed through transfers and withdrawals. Phones and documents were seized, the court heard.

The GNECB detective did not agree with the defence that Mr Sylvester was couch-surfing at the apartment in Naas where other people also lived.

Four stolen foreign ID cards were used to open bank accounts, it was alleged.

Detective Garda Gavin said there were doubts over his identity.

Mr Sylvester, who was on social welfare, came to Ireland six years ago to seek asylum. He had a child with his partner who lived in Dublin His girlfriends father told the court he would stand bail and he had known the accused for several years.

He said Mr Sylvester was a good father and part of their family, and he could move in.

Defence counsel Karl Monahan said his client's identity has been accepted by authorities in Ireland.

Mr Sylvester would abide by conditions including one compelling him to come to a garda station within 30 minutes of being contacted, the barrister submitted.

He said if his client faces trial in the circuit court he could spend over 18 months in custody on remand awaiting trial.

Judge Murphy granted bail in his own bond of 5,000 of which he must lodge 2,000. An independent surety must have 15,000 available in order for Mr Sylvester to be released, she ordered.

Once bail is taken up he must obey a curfew, stay away from all ports and airports, surrender his passport and travel documents, reside at his partners address in Dublin, sign on daily at Kevin Street Garda station, and be ready to report to gardai within 30 minutes of being contacted by phone.

He was remanded in custody with consent to bail on these terms and will face his next hearing at Cloverhill District Court on March 25 next.

Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions have to be obtained.
Police have launched an investigation after the deaths of three people in a suspected murder suicide in Northern Ireland.

Two woman and a man were found dead at separate properties in Newtownabbey, a large town north of Belfast.

It is understood that a man stabbed his mother and girlfriend during an incident on Friday night, according to the PA news agency.

The PSNI said officers were called to reports of a stabbing at a residence in Derrycoole Way at around 11pm on Friday, where a woman was pronounced dead.

A search of a second property in the Glenville Road area located another dead woman and an unconscious man, who despite first aid treatment also died soon afterwards.

Police have launched an investigation after the deaths of three people in a suspected murder suicide in Northern Ireland. Pictured: A police car outside a property in the Glenville Road of Newtownabbey, a town north of Belfast

Police and the ambulance service were called to the scene where a woman was found dead. Pictured: Police at the Glenville Road scene on March 20

Detectives investigating the double murder say they are linked and they are not looking for anyone else in connection to the deaths.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell confirmed police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the area shortly before 11pm on Friday.

Police and the ambulance service were called to the scene where a woman was found dead.

'As officers carried out further inquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area,' DCI Caldwell added.

'An unconscious man was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the man was pronounced dead.

'On searching the property, another deceased woman was located. While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.'

No other details were immediately available.

Two woman and a man were found dead at separate properties in Newtownabbey. Pictured: The scene in Derrycoole Way on Saturday Morning. Detectives investigating the double murder say they are linked and they are not looking for anyone else in connection to the deaths

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the community is in shock following the double murder.

The north Belfast MP said: 'My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

'It's important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

'The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

'These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.'

SDLP councillor for Glengormley Noreen McClelland tweeted: 'Such dreadful news from Newtownabbey this morning. Totally shocked and distressed to hear. Thoughts with the families.'

Pictured: General view of the scene at Glenville Road, Newtownabbey, showing a narrow road with police tape blocking the path

Police have asked anyone with information which may assist their investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21.

Reports can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/, or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org.
Tammy Hembrow juggles her thriving health and fitness business with motherhood to two sweet children.

And on Saturday, the 26-year-old shared photos of herself with her youngsters - son Wolf, five, and daughter Saskia, four - who she shares with ex-fiance, Reece Hawkins.

In the first image, she struck a pose in the parking lot as she sat alongside her kids.

Strike a pose! Health and fitness mogul Tammy Hembrow called herself 'the luckiest mama' as she pulled a sultry pose alongside her children - son Wolf, five, and daughter Saskia, four - in an Instagram post on Saturday. All pictured

She teamed a loosely buttoned yellow top with a pair of printed track pants and Nike Air Jordan sneakers.

Both Wolf and Saskia looked adorable in their light yellow outfits alongside their mother.

The blonde bombshell, who runs Tammy Fit app and Saski Collection, proudly wrote in the caption of her Instagram post: 'really am the luckiest mama.'

Proud mother: Both Wolf and Saskia looked adorable in their light yellow outfits alongside their mother. The blonde bombshell proudly wrote in the caption of her Instagram post: 'really am the luckiest mama'

The sweet family photos comes after she hinted that she wants to have a baby with her Ironman boyfriend, Matt Poole.

Earlier this year, she shared a sweet throwback photo of her son Wolf when he was a baby, and admitted: 'Okay I want another one.'

She then followed that with a cheeky video of her unassuming beau Matt, who was clearly unaware of her post, as she giggled at him.

Reminiscing: The sweet family photos comes after she hinted that she wants to have a baby with her Ironman boyfriend, Matt Poole. Earlier this year, she shared a sweet throwback photo of her son Wolf when he was a baby, and admitted: 'Okay I want another one'

Hint, hint! She followed that with a cheeky video of her unassuming beau Matt (pictured), who was clearly unaware of her post, as she giggled at him. 'Looking at you buddy,' the Instagram sensation wrote

'Looking at you buddy,' the Instagram sensation wrote in the caption.

Tammy and Reece split acrimoniously in 2018, but have since moved forward as co-parents.

Tammy spoke about her newly-improved relationship with Reece in a YouTube video last year, telling fans: 'We're friends'.

After the split, Reece moved on with his Instagram model wife, London Goheen. They recently welcomed a son named Stone.

Co-parenting: Tammy shares Wolf and Saskia with her ex fiance Reece Hawkins (cenre). They split in 2018, but have since moved forward as co-parents

Doting parents: Following the split, Reece moved on with his Instagram model wife, London Goheen (right). They recently welcomed a son named Stone

Tammy has also moved on, debuting her new relationship with surf lifesaver Matt Poole in September during a trip to the Whitsundays.

That same month, Matt also made his debut in a video on Tammy's YouTube channel, in which he confessed to saying 'I love you' first.

The pair met at an event in Bali in 2019.
 Flash

China and the United States have decided to establish a joint working group on climate change, said the Chinese delegation to the China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue on Friday.

Both China and the United States have been committed to enhancing communication and cooperation in the field of climate change, according to the delegation.

The two sides also agreed that they, by building on the spirit of the telephone conversation between the two heads of state on Feb. 11, will maintain dialogue and communication, conduct mutually beneficial cooperation, avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment, as well as conflict and confrontation, so as to promote sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations, the delegation said.

Both sides share the hope of continuing such type of high-level strategic communication, the delegation noted.

At the two-day dialogue in the Alaskan city of Anchorage, which ended Friday, the United States has reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan question, according to the delegation.

China and the United States, the delegation said, discussed reciprocal arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination of each side's diplomats and consular officials.

It also said that the two sides will hold talks to facilitate activities of each other's diplomatic and consular missions and personnel, as well as on issues related to media reporters in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

The two sides also discussed adjusting relevant travel and visa policies according to the epidemic situation, and gradually promoting the normalization of personnel exchanges between China and the United States.

Also at the dialogue, China and the United States discussed a series of topics, including economy and trade, military, law enforcement, culture and people-to-people interactions, health, cyber-security, climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula issue, and Myanmar, the delegation said, adding that the two countries have agreed to maintain and enhance communication and coordination on them.

The two sides will enhance coordination and consultation in such multilateral mechanisms as the Group of 20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, it added.


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City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has cover statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
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A picture of Salman Khan along with his bodyguard Shera and the Rajasthan-based politician-turned-actress Bina Kak heading out for a safari provided a great deal of fodder for Netizens. It may be recalled that Salman Khans first brush with the law took place when he was charged with killing a black buck in Rajasthan during a safari in the midst of shooting for Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Bina Kak, who held the Culture portfolio in the Rajasthan cabinet, has frequently acted in Salman Khans movies, including Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Salaam E Ishq and God Tussi Great Ho. So when Kak shared a picture on her social media handle of the three of them setting out on a safari with Shera at the wheel, trollers had a field day. The trio was criticized for a number of things, including not wearing masks.
Days after two cases of blood clots were reported in people after receiving the dose, Finland on Friday suspended the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines. This comes despite the European Medicines Agency (EMA) saying that the vaccine is 'safe and effective' and the benefits in combating the virus outweigh the risk of side effects.

AFP

Two cases of blood clotting in 4-10 days

"According to the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea), two cerebral venous thrombosis have been reported in Finland 4-10 days after receiving the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine," said a statement by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), reported Anadolu Agency.

THL suspended vaccination with AstraZeneca jabs as a precaution until further information is available and the existence of a possible causal relationship can be assessed.



File/ Madhav K, EPS

The decision will take effect immediately and the situation will be assessed next week, it added, according to the statement. Anadolu Agency reported that Sweden, Norway, and Denmark will also maintain their suspension of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine as they review the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) conclusion that the jab is safe and effective.

Medical committee termed it "safe and effective"

However, vaccination in other countries like Spain, France and more will continue with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. The AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is "safe and effective" and the benefits in combating COVID-19 continue to outweigh the risk of side effects, said the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) committee, PRAC, on Thursday after concluding its preliminary review of people vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca.

File

The EMA said that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots (thromboembolic events) in those who receive it and there is no evidence of a problem related to specific batches of the vaccine or to particular manufacturing sites.

"However, in the light of its findings, patients should be aware of the remote possibility of such syndromes, and if symptoms suggestive of clotting problems occur patients should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare professionals of their recent vaccination," EMA said.
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One on One with Joe Korkowski, as heard Saturdays on KXRA-1490AM (@7:40am) and KXRA-92.3FM (@8:00am), as well as each Sunday morning on KXRZ Z99.3fm (@10:15am).

The interview is also re-broadcast on Monday mornings on KX92 at 10:00am and on Z99 at 9:10am.
Designer, in mid thirties, said it took her seven years to perfect her first design

Said she was 'thrilled' when K ate Middleton carried 1,595 Love Letter Top Handle design on three occasions - including Royal Train Tour last December

A Taiwanese born British designer has revealed that sales doubled after Kate Middleton was seen carrying one of her bags on three separate royal engagements.

Grace Wong, the founder and designer of luxury, handcrafted leather goods brand Grace Han, has told how she was 'thrilled' to see the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, carrying her Love Letter Top Handle design, which retails 1,795 for the large and 1,595 for the small.

The royal accessorised with the bag when meeting with the finalists of Kates Hold Still Community Photography Project in October last year, on the departure day of the Royal Train Tour at London Euston and during the Cardiff stop on the Royal Train Tour - both in December.

Since then, Grace, who is in her mid thirties, says she's seen high demand for the design thanks to the Kate effect.'

Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, she explained: 'After the Duchess of Cambridge news, our sales were boosted. We sold dozens of Love Letter handbags in a very short time, with sales doubling compared to the same period the previous year.'

Taiwanese born British designer Grace Wong told how sales doubled after Kate Middleton was seen carrying one of her bags on three separate royal engagements. Pictured, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William arrive to visit St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, to mark the launch of the nationwide 'Hold Still' community photography project on October 20, 2020

Grace claimed she waited for over a year before Kate Middleton carried the bag - adding it 'really was a big surprise' to see it in the news.' Pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge speak to transport workers at London Euston Station on December 6, 2020 in London

The designer, who is in her mid thirties, said she's seen high demand for the Love Letter Top Handle design thanks to the Kate effect.' Pictured, Duchess of Cambridge visits Cardiff Castle on December 8, 2020 in Cardiff

Grace (pictured) explain how sales have been 'booming' since Kate Middleton was spotted with the Love Letter handbag with sales of the design doubling 'year-on-year'

She added: 'Our sales of the design have since been doubling year-on-year. We had many requests for the bag, not just limited to royal fans.'

'Due to the handmade process and my insistence of quality, it takes a long time even to make one handbag, so we do not have so many items in stock now, only single-digit numbers left.'

The Love Letter collection is named because of the distinctive envelope shape closure on the front of the bag, eliciting a smile when looked upon.

It comes with unique side gussets that allow for easy access to the heart of the bag, standing guard over ones most loved possessions - and is available in red, black, rose smoke and gull grey.

'When I first saw a picture of Kate carrying my Love Letter handbag, I was so thrilled, and it was a dream come true,' explained Grace. 'I am glad that Duchess of Cambridge recognises my design concept towards Love Letter, hoping she can help deliver the message behind the bag and infect more people.'

The designer went on to explain exactly how Kate Middleton, who has the small version, became a fan of the brand, which was founded in February 2019.

The Love Letter Top Handle design (pictured), which retails 1,795 for the large and 1,595 for the small, is available in red, black, rose smoke and gull grey

The Duchess relied on her usual favourite designers, including Alexander McQueen, while adding some new pieces to her wardrobe, including handbag designer Grace Han. Pictured, the couple at the launch of the Hold Still campaign at Waterloo station in October

Since childhood, Grace Han learned the value of discipline, hard-work, and attention to detail from her entrepreneurial father. Pictured, Grace's handbag designs

'We sent the collections to the palace and the Duchess of Cambridge picked Love Letter,' Grace explained. 'Due to the royal policy, the bag had to be purchased. I then waited for over a year before she carried the bag, so it really was a big surprise to see it in the news.'

'Our brand launched in 2019 and, due to COVID-19, the plan for 2020 was disrupted. I am thrilled to have the Duchess of Cambridge recognise my design, helping raise awareness of Grace Han in the UK.'

She added: 'One of the great privileges of being a designer is working with a varied client base. I hope that my designs are attractive to all different types of people and I am thrilled that Kate Middleton is one of them.'

Since childhood, Grace Han learned the value of discipline, hard-work, and attention to detail from her entrepreneurial father.

Synchronously, studying art and calligraphy from her mother cultivated her appreciation for tradition, fine arts and craftsmanship; the basis of her collection inspiration.

'I was greatly inspired by my artistic mother who was an art student in London and then a teacher at the Taiwan Institute of Art,' she explained. 'As I was growing up, I realised that deep human emotions can be instilled by good artistic works.

Grace explained that it's a very long process to develop the design concept and perfect the pleats of Ballet Lesson (pictured) - adding that as a result, the Ballet Lesson collection is one of her 'most refined'

'My mother expressed her feelings in abstract paintings, and I wanted to express mine in handbags. It was vital to her that she not only design her bags but be able to make them from the inside out.'

After graduating from the National Taiwan University, Grace spent two years working as an apprentice at a renowned handbag manufacturer.

'During that year, I started from the factory floor learning the basics of this craft including leathers, fabrics, and accessories,' she explained. 'I then started a little workshop and created handbags with my own hands.

'I deemed it as a work of art like those paintings my mother used to exhibit. I spent almost a decade creating the brand and handbags and now I am glad to show them to the world.'

It took Grace seven years to perfect her first design, a test to her persistence and commitment to quality.

'It is a very long process to develop the design concept and perfect the pleats of Ballet Lesson, as a result the Ballet Lesson collection is one of my most refined,' explained Grace, who has a store in Knightsbridge.

'For me, these pleats have further significance in that every fold signifies a chapter of our lives and thus carrying the Ballet Lesson is like treasuring your life events.'

'The bags are characterised by their signature pleats and a golden metal flap edge that give them an extra dose of elegance, paired with chain straps intertwined with the very same leather as the bag.'

The Ballet Lesson small bag retails at 1,595 (left) while the Love Letter Top Handle design retails 1,795 for the large and 1,595 for the small

'The handbags are named after Ballet because ballerinas train over and over again from a young age until they perfect the form and grace of their dance.'

'A ballerinas beauty comes not from how she looks or what she wears, but much more than what meets the eye. This spirit is reflected in the pleats that I took seven years to perfect; a testament to my persistence and commitment to quality.'

Following her two-year apprenticeship at the handbag manufacturer, Grace employed a pattern cutter and the two of them, in a small apartment in Taipei, worked on making her designs a reality.



'Its hard to say how many hours a day we worked, we were both so dedicated to the process that sometimes we would work the whole day and night,' she added.

As for other celebrities she'd love to see showcasing her designs, Grace said: 'If I had to pick just one, I would say Lily Collins.

'However, I appreciate anyone who values my creations. Its an honour to see them carried by people who love my work.'
The UK must be wary of the South African coronavirus variant as some European countries are hit by a third wave of Covid-19, a senior scientific adviser has warned.

Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said a group of European countries are seeing increasing levels of cases, albeit driven by the Kent variant.

"Perhaps more concern for the UK though is that some countries are notably seeing a significant fraction, 5-10 per cent of cases, of the South African variant," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"When infection levels go up in France, 30,000 cases a day, that implies there's at least 1,500-2,000 cases a day of the South African variant.

"That is the variant we really do want to keep out of the UK."

A case of the South African variant was identified in the Sandwell area of the West Midlands earlier this week, with surge testing employed in the area to help prevent its spread.

Read more:

Prof Ferguson also said important decisions needed to be made on how the UK can trade with France as the country faces a third lockdown.

"I think there are important decisions coming up, and it's always a balancing act.

"How much we relax the current ban on international travel except for essential services.

"As a lot of essential travel between ourselves and France for business, commerce and trade, how can we reduce the risks associated with that travel.

"Those are policy decisions, I'm just raising the issue that we are doing so well with the vaccination campaign, we are driving down deaths at a faster rate than I ever thought was possible and that will allow us to open up."

Asked whether he thought France should be added to the red list,he replied: "I don't think that's necessarily a practical issue given the amount of trade."

Paris will enter new lockdown measures on Friday, with residents of 16 departments allowed to leave home only under specific circumstances.

Only essential shops will remain open, inter-regional travel is banned, while anyone travelling more than 10km from home or in the evenings will need to fill out a form explaining the purpose of their trip.

It comes after Italy entered its third lockdown earlier this week.

Prof Ferguson also said the delay in vaccine supply in the UK will not have a big effect on the vaccine rollout.

Earlier this week, NHS England warned the UK faces a month-long significant reduction in its weekly vaccine supply from the end of March.

The expected reduction in supply is partly due to a delay in the delivery of five million Oxford/AstraZeneca doses from India.

The shipment, produced by the Serum Institute of India, has been held up by four weeks.

Prof Ferguson described the delay as "slightly disappointing", but added: "I don't think the delay will have an enormous effect.

"We'll still have enough vaccine to largely continue with the programme."

He said the South African variant remained the bigger concern, adding: "Overall, I'm optimistic with this one caveat that we do need to keep these variants of concern at bay.

"Until we can update the vaccine, rolled out the vaccine and really hopefully the whole adult population which will be this summer, at that point we'll be in a much safer position."
Over 150 academicians from prestigious universities across the globe like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, London School of Economics and MIT, have written an open letter to trustees of Ashoka University, expressing distress over political commentator Pratap Bhanu Mehta's resignation from the varsity under "political pressure".

The university in Haryana's Sonipat became the centre of controversy earlier this week, when Mehta, who had resigned as its vice chancellor two years back, chose to step down as professor, saying that the founders made it "abundantly clear" that his association with the institution was a "political liability".

Arvind Subramanian, the former chief economic advisor, had also resigned from the university, two days later, in solidarity with Mehta.

Students, alumni and faculty members of the varsity have been staging protests and demanding answers from the administration about whether Mehta's exit has been a "direct consequence of him being a public intellectual and critic of the government".

Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on Saturday took to social media to say that Mehta and Subramanian's resignation is a "grievous blow to free speech and the founders have bartered away the varsity's soul".

"We are distressed to learn of Pratap Bhanu Mehta's resignation under political pressure from A prominent critic of the current Indian government and defender of academic freedom, he had become a target for his writings. It seems that Ashoka's Trustees, who should have treated defending him as their institutional duty, instead all but forced his resignation," the open letter by the academicians read.

"In political life, these are free argument, tolerance, and a democratic spirit of equal citizenship. In the university, they are free inquiry, candour, and a rigorous distinction between the demands of intellectual honesty and the pressure of politicians, funders, or ideological animus. These values come under assault whenever a scholar is punished for the content of public speech.

"When that speech is in defense of precisely these values, the assault is especially shameful. The university must be a home for fearless inquiry and criticism. We support in his practice of the highest values of intellectual inquiry and public life," it added.

The signatories to the letter include academicians from the New York University, University of Oxford, Stanford University, Princeton University, Cambridge University, University of Pennsylvania and University of California, among others.

Rajan said Mehta is a "thorn in the side of the establishment" as he "skewers those in government and in high offices like the Supreme Court with vivid prose and though provoking arguments".

"Free speech is the soul of a great university. By compromising on it, the founders have bartered away its soul. And if you show a willingness to barter your soul, is there any chance the pressures will go away?" he wrote in a Linkedin post.

While the administration at has been tight-lipped about the development, Vice Chancellor Malika Sarabhai told students in a virtual townhall on Saturday that Mehta was asked to reconsider his decision, but "he has asked to be left alone".
During meet with Antony Blinken, Jaishankar thanks US for strong support

India recognised by US as important part of conversation on Afghanistan: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets visiting US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 20: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday held discussions with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on a range of issues including key global developments.

Lloyd flew into India on Friday as part of his three-nation first overseas tour that signalled the Biden administration's strong commitment to its relations with its close allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. He visited Japan and South Korea before arriving here.

"Welcomed US @SecDef Lloyd Austin at MEA. A wide-ranging conversation on the global strategic situation. Look forward to working with him on enhancing our strategic partnership," Jaishankar tweeted.

Committed to our strategic partnership, says PM Modi after meeting with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

Earlier, Austin and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held "comprehensive" talks that saw both sides resolving to further consolidate their robust defence partnership through deeper military-to-military engagement, information sharing and logistics cooperation.

Determined to realise full potential of Indo-US global strategic partnership: Rajnath Singh

In his media statement, Austin said India is an "increasingly important partner amid today's rapidly shifting international dynamics and I reaffirmed our commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defense partnership with India as a central pillar of our approach to the region."

On Friday, Austin called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

"Great meeting with National Security Advisor Doval last night. The breadth of collaboration between our two nations reflects the significance of our Major Defense Partnership as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region," he tweeted.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 17:37 [IST]
When the first known COVID-19 infections were discovered in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, Katsuo Nishikawa Chavez started worrying.

He worried about how the connection to China would be interpreted in the U.S., a country where heated rhetoric from the White House on down already was aggravating racial divides.

An associate professor of political science at Trinity University, Nishikawa Chavez directs its Center for International Engagement. His work runs counter to division and animosity. It seeks to foster global understanding through education and by sending students out into the world.

He approaches race and bigotry through a historical lens, informed by a fascinating personal story.

His father was born in a Japanese internment camp in Mexico during World War II. Nishikawa Chavez himself was born in Mexico, outside the camp. He has lived in the United States for two decades, is biracial (Japanese and Mexican) and is married to a Japanese woman.

Their children, ages 9 and 12, are Asian looking, he said.

I take this personally, he said of recent attacks on Asian Americans. Theyve put a target on my kids backs.

Hate crimes against Asians are on the rise, though incomplete data and incompatible reporting methods deny us a clear picture of whats happening.

Asian Americans such as Nishikawa Chavez and others I interviewed this week say they see and feel the increased hostility. They are fearful and sometimes angry at former President Donald Trump, who often described the coronavirus as the China virus, the China plague and kung flu.

Rhetoric has an impact on the ground, where extremists are influenced by what they see on social media and on far-right news outlets.

Asian Americans say that attacks, both verbal and physical, havent been limited to those of Chinese descent. They say the bigotry has affected Asians whose families have been in the United States for generations as well as more recent arrivals.

One of the attacks occurred in San Antonio this past weekend, when a Northwest Side restaurant was targeted with racist graffiti.

The spray-painted messages included No Mask, Hope you Die and Go Back 2 China  and, yes, kung flu.

San Antonians responded by cleaning away the slurs and promising to spend their money at the restaurant.

The irony presumably was lost on the assailant. Mike Nguyen, owner of Noodle Tree, is Vietnamese. He likely was targeted because he told CNN his business would continue to require masks despite Gov. Greg Abbotts recent decision to lift his statewide mask order.

Two days later in Atlanta, a white man bought a gun. He killed eight people in several spas. Six of the dead were Asian women.

A police spokesman added insult to injury by appearing to sympathize with the assailant, who was then in custody, saying hed had a bad day. The officer also repeated the gunmans claim that the attack was not racially motivated.

A thorough investigation and the judicial system will make that call, but Asian Americans and their allies mark the incident on a historical timeline of their American story.

Hate has long predated the pandemic.

The nations first anti-immigration legislation was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. That was followed by Japanese internment camps during World War II and then by discrimination against Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s.

Nishikawa Chavez and other Asians in San Antonio say its time for more Asians to stand up, speak out and report hate crimes and other incidents of bigotry. They hope non-Asian allies join the trending call to #StopAsianHate.

Genaline Escalante-Valdez, president-elect of the Asian-American Alliance of San Antonio, which represents 24 organizations, said that such an outcry would require Asian to overcome limits theyve placed on themselves.

Wed rather not make a big deal out of things, said Escalante-Valdez, a Filipina who also heads the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

Asians may be split on whether thats true, but they agree on this: Many Americans lump Asians together and know little about their differences.

Escalante-Valdez and Nishikawa Chavez believe education can help defeat racism and curb hateful rhetoric. Weve been growing this out of our kids, the Trinity scholar said, referring to diversity training and efforts to increase cultural sensitivity.

Leadership always helps, but he thinks the real answer lies in understanding how economic policies that privilege the wealthy disadvantage members of all groups, especially the working class  regardless of race.

Workers of all stripes suffer the same, he said. It doesnt matter what color they are. No one is better off, because real wages have contracted over time.

Nishikawa Chavez is hopeful. But hes also wary. He believes the country will try everything else before doing the right thing.

eayala@express-news.net
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 19, 2021) - Bucephalus Capital Corp. ("Bucephalus" or the "Company") (CSE: BCA) is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated March 2, 2021, the Company has closed the non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") as detailed below.

The Company issued 25,000,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,250,000. Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used by the Company for working capital and for other general and administrative costs.

Each Unit consisted of one subordinated voting common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant. Each full warrant (a "Warrant") entitles the holder to acquire one additional Common Share (a "Warrant Share") for a period of thirty-six months expiring on March 19, 2024 at an exercise price of $0.25 per Warrant Share.

Finder's fees of $78,750 were paid and 1,750,000 finders warrants entitling certain eligible persons to acquire a Unit exercisable at a price of $0.05 for a period of thirty-six months from closing were issued in relation to the Private Placement. All securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Private Placement constituted a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), as insiders of the Company acquired an aggregate of 3,500,000 Units. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the participation in the Private Placement by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Private placement in an expeditious manner. The Private Placement was approved by all independent directors of the Company.

Bucephalus Capital Corp. is also pleased to announce the appointment of Roland Nimmo to its executive management team as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"). Mr. Nimmo will be replacing Chris Carmichael, effective today.

Mr. Nimmo has over 35 years of experience in both public and private companies in Canada and throughout the globe. He has provided financial leadership to some of Canada's most successful Manufacturing and Real Estate organizations including Magna International, and was a Partner with Arthur Andersen and Deloitte. He is a Chartered Accountant (CPA) with a BA Hons in Economics from Queen's University at Kingston.

About Bucephalus Capital Corp.

Bucephalus Capital (CSE: BCA) is a specialized investment firm providing bridge loans and ancillary services to private and public companies with respect to a variety of financial transactions including public listings, RTOs (reverse takeovers), re-structuring and M&A transactions.

Additional information about the Company can be found on the Company's website at www.bucephaluscapital.ca. For further information, please contact:

John McMahon, CEO

Email: jmcmahon@bucephaluscapital.ca

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77994
It's confirmed! The highly anticipated teaser of Karnan will be released on March 23. Sharing the big news with his innumerable fans and followers, Dhanush tweeted, "Karnan teaser date", with a brand new poster of the film revealing the date. In the intriguing poster, the actor can be seen sitting handcuffed while holding a dagger with both hands.

Well, the fans and followers of the actor are super thrilled with the latest update of the film and are now trending hashtags #Dhanush and #Karnan on social media to celebrate the occasion.

Karnan directed by Mari Selvaraj will hit the theatres on April 9. Interestingly, 3 songs from the film have been released so far namely, 'Kandaa Vara Sollunga', 'Pandarathi Puranam' and 'Draupathaiyin Mutham'. The songs scored by music composer Santhosh Narayanan have already become chartbusters on music streaming platforms.

Karnan will have Malayalam actress Rajisha Vijayan as the leading lady. Backed by Kalaipuli S Thanu under the banner V Creations, the film also features an ensemble cast including Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, Lal Paul, Yogi Babu and Master actress Gouri G Kishan.

On a related note, Dhanush is also awaiting the release of his highly awaited film Jagame Thandhiram helmed by Karthik Subbaraj. The multi-faceted actor is also a part of Karthick Naren's yet-to-be-titled film. He will be featuring alongside Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan in the Bollywood film Atrangi Re. Interestingly, the star has also started shooting for his Hollywood debut film The Gray Man.

Also Read: Karnan Teaser To Be Dropped Soon? Lakshmi Priya Completes Dubbing For The Dhanush Starrer

Also Read: Karthi Pens Sweet Message, As He Reveals His Newborn Son's Name!
A Brooklyn resident with no travel history is the first person in New York City to have a confirmed case of the Brazilian variant of COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomos office said Saturday.

The states first case of COVID-19 P.1 was identified by scientists at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and verified by the Department of Healths Wadsworth Center Laboratories, the New York Post reported.

The state Department of Health is working to learn more about the patient, who is in their 90s. It's also looking into who the person has been in contact with, the office said.

The Brazilian variant is considered more contagious than the first version of the coronavirus. There is a possibility current vaccines will not be as effective against it as earlier virus variants.

The variant was first found in the U.S. in January in Minnesota, the federal Centers for Disease Control reported.

Pharmacist Mia Yu, left, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to a patient at a pop up site at Common Point Queen's The Hub on March 18. A Brazilian variant of the coronavirus was confirmed in the city on Saturday

There are currently 48 cases in 15 states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey, the CDC website said.

Cuomos office was optimistic about the fight against new variant.

While additional research is warranted, researchers at the University of Oxford recently released non-peer reviewed data that indicates the P.1 variant may be less resistant to the current vaccines than originally thought, the governors office said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during an event at his office on March 18. His office is optimistic about the fight against new Brazilian variant of the COVID-19 virus

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker has urged residents to continue to follow existing safety precautions as the city reported a case of the new Brazilian variant

Nearly 3.9 million vaccine doses have been administered in the five boroughs, the city said.

"This is a race between the vaccine and the variants, and we continue to make tremendous progress of getting shots in the arms of eligible New Yorkers, state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said.

Zucker urged residents to continue to follow existing safety precautions such as face masks and social distancing until the pandemic is under control.

New Yorkers have been asked to continue wearing masks when riding public transport to stop the spread of the virus
Austin, TX, United States, 03/19/2021 / Just One Dime /

Just One Dime began with 10 cents and today manages over $100 million in annual Amazon revenue. I just needed to double it 20 times, says Just One Dime CEO, Seth Kniep, to reach my first goal of $100,000. Five years later, Just One Dime is training Amazon sellers in over 150 countries and manages over 100 million in annual Amazon revenue.

Just One Dime believes Amazon is the prime cash-flow opportunity for the new entrepreneur or the passive investor.

For all retail sales in the last 12 months in the US alone, shares Seth, 14.3% of those were online. This is unprecedented in the history of the world as we know it. According to Just One Dime, we stand at the cusp of the most massive movement of wealth ever seen. Even economists are scratching their heads.

Let me put it this way, says Seth, Five years from now, I am convinced that some of the wealthiest people on the planet will be owners of Amazon stores. The key to making wealth is putting yourself in the right place at the right time. Now is that time.

Just One Dime builds Amazon stores for people with capital

Selling on Amazon is hard. Building a business is hard. Most newbie-preneurs underestimate the rigor needed to build a successful online business.

Just One Dime understands this because theyve made the mistakes. Theyve failed and retried and failed again until today they manage over 100 million in annual Amazon revenue.

A lot of people with capital want to take advantage of the fact that Amazon accounts for almost 50% of all online sales.

So Just One Dime found a way. Instead of the investor taking the time and hassle to learn how to build an Amazon business, Just One Dime builds the business for them. The investor pays an up-front service fee as well as funds the products while Just One Dime does all the work. Just One Dime uses a sliding scale revenue share model so that Just One Dime only makes money if the investor makes as much or more than Just One Dime does on every sale.

Just One Dime is building the Amazon Store for various investors

After doing a deep dive on the market and numbers, Just One Dime jumped in. This never would have happened if Just One Dime remained a one-man show. In order to scale, Just One Dimes CEO, Seth Kniep, had to hire a world-class team. I, the CEO, am Just One Dimes greatest bottleneck, Seth shares. The only way to open this up is by hiring great people who specialize in their area of expertise. When it comes to working with great people, 1+1 is not 2 but more like 3.5 or more. No one is an expert at everything. To scale, you need people. Good people. We now have three teams building out Amazon businesses for investors.

Just One Dimes goals for the future

Seth knows he could walk away and retire on a beach with his wife and be lazy the rest of his days. But I think that would kill me, shares Seth. Just One Dime is not just a business. Its a legacy. Its a way of life. And its changing lives. Last month one of Just One Dimes students reached $16 million in his last 12 months selling on Amazon at 42% profit margin. And instead of checking out, hes now mentoring others to get there too. This motivates me like nothing on planet earth, says Seth. And it all began with a single dime. If I can do it, so can others.

Just One Dime can be contacted at the address and number at the end of the page. Please, feel free to contact them should you need further information.

Media contact

Company: Just One Dime

Contact: Seth Kniep

E-Mail: [email protected]

Telephone: +1 512-277-6294

Address: 8516 Anderson Mill Rd #200, Austin, TX 78729

Website: https://justonedime.com/

Source: Story.KISSPR.com

Release ID: 17381

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 websites 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.

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Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed reservations about the actions of some cabinet ministers barely four months into the second term of the Akufo-Addo government.



He has therefore asked those with presidential ambition going about canvassing for votes and delegates to immediately resign and focus on their interest.



The world is in crisis. Ghana is part of the world. Therefore, Ghana is in crisis. Which part of this, dont you get, Mr Cabinet Member!



Governments everywhere have a big multi-task of fighting the virus, fighting economic hardships, fighting for food and jobs, fighting the debt and deficit and, here in Ghana, we are also fighting for transformation. This is not the time to be planting for delegates and votes, Gabby, as he is popularly known, said on Facebook.



Otchere-Darko wants the presidents appointees to put the interest of government and the New Patriotic Party above their parochial interest.



If your focus, as a member of Akufo-Addos government, is to first fight for your own ambition and transformation, then, please, feel free to move over to move on.



Please note: NPP in power must first succeed for NPP to succeed NPP! Build on this power we have now for your own power trip not to be tripped by your priority tripped wires. Be wise!



Misplaced priority

Meanwhile, Kwadwo Mpiani, a chief of staff in the government of President John Agyekum Kufuor, has described the scramble among cabinet ministers to succeed President Akufo-Addo as a very worrying development in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).



Speaking on The Asaase Radio on Thursday (18 March), Mpiani said, Theres going to be an election for somebody who will take over from the president.



The law makes it impossible for the president to go for a third term and therefore there is bound to be an election to select somebody who will take over from him [Akufo-Addo]  But I believe its so wrong to start this early when the government is barely in place.



The former chief of staff advised ministers rather to rally behind the president to perform well in his second term.



Look, if you dont put the party on sound footing, if the government doesnt do well, you may even want to put Jesus Christ there [but] I dont think He can win. So lets support the government to do well, he said.



You see, the government is in a very unfortunate situation now, because of this COVID-19 and all. The economy is not doing well and it is something universal, Mpiani said.



So, our attention should be on how to perform well, so that when we put up a candidate he will not have too much of a problem. Instead of doing that, when the government is not even in place, we are thinking of who will take over from Nana Addo. Its a misplaced priority.



Leadership failure

The former chief of staff did not mince his words, describing the infighting as the product of a lack of discipline and failure on the part of the leadership of the New Patriotic Party.



He mused on the cause, saying: I dont know why, but maybe [its because of] overambition, or maybe lack of discipline in the party [the NPP]. I think it is so wrong.



He recounted how the party carried out research to identify which candidates were viable after 17 candidates expressed an interest in the race for the partys flagbearer position in 2006.



The move, Mpiani said, led to the party placing limits on the number of candidates who could run for the leadership of the NPP.



You cant serve two masters

The former chief of staff said that although 17 people ran for the position of NPP flagbearer in 2008, that leadership contest took place two years to the end of tenure of the then president, in line with party rules.



The current jockeying for preference is badly timed, badly advised and born of overweening ambition, he said.



Ministers cannot pretend to be working for the current government and yet be pursuing their ambition to lead the party, he argued.



Mpiani said the president would not be wrong to sack such ministers from his government to give them the space to focus on their ambition.

Source: asaaseradio









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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A backlash against European scare stories about the AstraZeneca vaccine was gathering pace last night, with one Government expert describing the French Government's stance as 'crackers'.

Amid concern that Britons might be dissuaded from getting the jab following the reaction of EU leaders to exaggerated fears that it could cause blood clots in a tiny number of recipients, scientists and experts accused French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel of being 'completely irresponsible'.

France was among several EU countries that suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Despite the European Medicines Agency reiterating its confidence in the jab, its Government is still banning its use for those under 55.

Asked about France's approach, Sir John Bell, a member of the UK Government's vaccine taskforce, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It doesn't make any sense  the whole thing looks completely crackers. They are changing the rules almost every week.

Sir John Bell, a member of the UK Government's vaccine taskforce described France's approach as 'crackers'

'They are really damaging people's confidence in vaccines generally  not just the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'And they are sitting on a massive stockpile of vaccines that they haven't deployed yet and yet at the same time, they have got a massive wave of the new variant coming across the country. I mean, you couldn't make it up, could you?'

Prof Bell also played down 'very anecdotal' reports from Norway about blood clots and AstraZeneca, saying: 'If you want to die of a clot, you get Covid. That's the best way I can think of doing it.'

He also backed as 'bang on' the comments by former vaccines tsar Kate Bingham that the failure of Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel to back the vaccine had been 'completely irresponsible'.

Ms Bingham told The Daily Telegraph: 'If I was sitting in those countries, I would not be happy to have leaders that are undermining a vaccine that could actually protect... If you've got leaders basically saying, 'I'm not taking that vaccine', it's completely irresponsible.'

Dr Michael Head, senior lecturer in global public health at Southampton University, said the European suspensions had been 'a mistake' that needlessly compounded people's fears of vaccination.

'If you are stopping the rollout during a pandemic, you need a really, really good reason to do so,' he added.

Experts have accused French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel of being 'completely irresponsible'

British-made Valneva jab rolls off production line The first batch of a British-made Covid vaccine hailed the safest in the world has rolled off production lines. Scientists at Valneva have produced thousands of doses at their labs in Livingston, West Lothian and, earlier this month, they were shipped to Sweden for bottling. The Valneva team say the jab will be highly effective against Covid and more infectious variants, and expect it to be approved by UK medicine regulator, the MHRA, as early as July. By September, the first 60 million doses  secured by the Government at the cost of 400 million  will be available across Britain. Scientists say they have made a vaccine that, unlike the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna jabs, uses real  but inactivated  coronavirus to trigger an immune response. The technology is based on a tried and tested template that employs an inactivated seed virus. Experts believe it can be easily adapted to target each Covid variant. It is hoped the vaccine will become a long-term solution to keep coronavirus under control, because it is relatively cheap and easily stored and transported. Valneva chief financial officer David Lawrence said clinical data was anticipated next month. This timeline means we are on track to scale up to produce 200 million doses or more per annum in 2022, he said. Advertisement

'You can investigate without withdrawing the product altogether. It will have cost lives  through the sheer numbers of people left unprotected [by the stoppages] and the added impact of hesitancy.'

Johnny Heald, from the polling firm ORB International, which works on the Vaccine Confidence Project with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warned the scare's impact would not be limited to Europe.

'It will play right in the hands of those spreading disinformation about Western vaccines, right into the hands of the Russians and Chinese,' he said.

NHS bosses hope the scare will not significantly dent public confidence in Britain, but it does appear to have given waverers cause to think again.

The Mail on Sunday found evidence that mixed messages from Europe were having an effect on some people in low take-up areas.

One woman in Newcastle, who declined to be named, said she would not be having the jab.

'It's a bit odd that all these countries in Europe suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine because they had concerns over side effects and deaths and then within a matter of a few days the vaccine is declared safe.'

Another woman in Hackney, East London, said: 'I'm supposed to be having my jab next week, but am still not 100 per cent sure.

'There's got to be a reason why other countries aren't happy about this jab.'

The scare began earlier this month when Austrian authorities raised concerns. A series of countries then suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite the EMA and WHO continuing to back the jab.

Most countries did a U-turn on Friday after an EMA review concluded the vaccine 'is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thrombotic events or blood clots'.
Ahmed Fofana, 21, is out of work and his grandfathers old shotgun could come in handy. The weapon has spent years disassembled in the shed. It hadnt been used for a while, says Fofana, who has dedicated his time to giving it a second opportunity. Today, the barrel and wooden butt are held together with black masking tape and solder.

Now, almost every day, the young man leaves his village at dusk with the gun on his shoulder. Agou, a hamlet in the Adzope department in southeastern Ivory Coast, is surrounded by forests and fields that are perfect for hunting. In the wild expanses, Fofana hunts for his table. Gazelle, deer, hedgehog, rat, pangolin, snakes, he explains. If it is edible, he shoots. He would prefer to earn a living doing something else but says that he has little choice. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, he lost his job as a motorbike taxi driver last year. I am the man of the house and it is my duty to provide for my family.

Bushmeat ban

Hunting has been banned in Ivory Coast since 1974, explains historian Anicet Zran of the Universite Alassane Ouattara, but that law has never been enforced. Zran specializes in the history of healthcare and is currently investigating a novelty that is affecting many of his compatriots: the prohibition of eating wild animals  bushmeat as it is known in Ivory Coast.

The reason for the ban is also a result of Covid-19, due to concerns that the consumption of bushmeat could spread the virus. During the Ebola outbreak of 2014-16, a bushmeat ban was also imposed. The origin of that outbreak, which was first reported in southeastern Guinea, was attributed to a bat colony. In the case of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, scientists suspect wild animals  most likely bats again  were the original hosts before it made the jump to humans. Researchers have also linked the novel coronavirus to pangolins after the mammals were identified as possible carriers and spreaders. A World Health Organization (WHO) investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is ongoing.

Ahmed Fofana hunts for bushmeat. His gun belonged to his grandfather and is reinforced with masking tape. Joost Bastmeijer

Rat in eggplant sauce

In spite of health concerns, in Ivory Coast the sale and consumption of bushmeat continues unchecked says Zran: The illegal trade routes set up during the Ebola outbreak are being used again. In Agou, the bushmeat ban has scarcely registered. On the daily menu at Crinsh-Crinsh diners are offered rat with cassava in eggplant sauce. Emile Yapo, 60, takes a nibble of leg. Delicious, he exclaims, although he recognizes the need for caution. If wild animals are sick, we are in the dark. They have not been examined by a veterinarian. It could be dangerous.

However, like his compatriot Fofana, the youthful hunter, Yapo says that there are few alternatives. Sometimes it is the only thing we have to eat. We dont have any other choice. While in the majority of Ivory Coasts major cities bushmeat is a delicacy that costs more than chicken or beef, in rural areas where it is an important source of protein, the opposite is true.

There isnt a lot of food here, says Sylvie Demoue, who owns Crinsh-Crinsh, while she mashes cassava roots with a huge wooden spoon. Fish is too expensive, so they go out into the forest and I cook what they bring back.

Not everybody in Ivory Coast eats wild animals, Zran stresses. On the coasts, fish is the main source of food and due to their religious beliefs, Muslims avoid any kind of bushmeat. But for a majority of Ivorians, bushmeat is not only necessary to survive but also a custom with significant cultural value. When families get together it is the traditional dish. It is impossible to ban it, says Zran.

Devastating effects on the natural world

Marcelline Bah, president of the local branch of non-profit Les Amis de Nature (Friends of Nature), educates her compatriots in Agou about the possible dangers associated with bushmeat, not just potential healthcare risks to humans but also the catastrophic effect on the natural world. You see fewer animals these days. We have wiped out many of them. You hardly see pangolins any more, there are very few left, she says.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), over the past 50 years, the number of wild animals on the African continent has been reduced by 65%. In large part, says the WWF, this is due to human activity. When she passes by a restaurant or comes across a hunter, Bah attempts to change their mindset about bushmeat. But if we ask them to kill fewer animals they ask what they will get in return, and they get angry.

Furthermore, the hunted animals are not solely for local consumption but are also sold further afield. A few kilometers from Agou, along an asphalt highway that connects southeastern Ivory Coast with the coastal city of Abidjan, an army of hunters sell their catches of the day. When a car slows down on the periphery, there is a charge toward the vehicle with snakes and rodents clasped in hands.

A man offers a passing motorist snake meat on a highway in Ivory Coast. Joost Bastmeijer

Although they are increasingly scarce in Ivory Coast, pangolins are also on offer. When the vendors realize they are talking to a journalist though, the dead animal disappears into a refrigerator. You hardly ever see them anymore, says Bah sadly. But they are still served in some rural restaurants. A dish of pangolin is more expensive than one of any other bushmeat.

Pangolins: the worlds most-trafficked mammal

As is the case in the rest of the world, demand for pangolins in Ivory Coast is high. According to the WWF, over the past decade, more than a million pangolins have been illegally trafficked. The magazine National Geographic has described the pangolin as the most-trafficked mammal in the world and the species has been on the endangered list for some time.

Since 2000, the number of pangolins being poached has risen exponentially, says Claire Okell, director of The Pangolin Project, which is dedicated to preserving the species. All of the four species on the African continent are in danger of extinction. The survival of the four species in Asia hangs by a thread. This century, due to the diminishing numbers of Asian pangolins, the poaching crisis has extended to Africa and now threatens the survival of those that remain on the continent.

While people in Ivory Coast and elsewhere eat pangolin meat, the animals distinctive scales are exported, mostly to China, where they fetch considerable sums in the traditional medicine trade.

A symbolic warning

China and Ivory Coast have recently been adopting measures to combat the trafficking of pangolins. Last year, three tons of seized pangolin scales were incinerated in Ivory Coast, a symbolic warning to poachers and traffickers. In China, pangolin scales have been removed from the list of ingredients authorized for use in traditional medicine.

These are important steps, says Okell. The time has come to make sure that we are acting in accordance with the measures and policies laid out by governments. And to do that is necessary to take all sides into account. One of the main obstacles the protection of this animal faces is the lack of awareness of judges, police, ecologists and communities about the species and the laws that protect it.

According to Zran, the fact that Ivorians are partly responsible for the disappearance of the pangolin is difficult to overcome: The principal cause is that people continue to hunt them for their own consumption. We eat too many of them.

While stalking the forests around Agou, Fofana suddenly freezes. The sound of a twig snapping is audible in the distance. The hunter suspects it is a deer, but so much the better if it is a pangolin. He wont even have to use his grandfathers shotgun to bag it because when threatened, the pangolin curls itself into a ball. You just have to pick it up, he says.

As he glances out from among the bushes, Fofana silently drops to one knee, pinching his nose with his thumb and forefinger. A loud nasal call resonates through the forest. At the other side of the clearing, everything remains silent. Fofana creeps closer, but swiftly discovers that whatever animal was there is now long gone. Maybe hell have better luck tomorrow.

English version by Rob Train.
HONG KONG  From her first protest at age 12, Jackie Chen believed she could help bring democracy to Hong Kong. Each summer, she marched in demonstrations calling for universal suffrage. She eagerly cast her ballot in elections.

Now Ms. Chen, 44, is not sure if she will ever vote again.

If we continue to participate in this game, its like were accepting what theyre doing, she said. That would make me feel like an accomplice.

The Chinese government has upended the political landscape in Hong Kong, redefining the citys relationship with democracy. Its plan to drastically overhaul the local electoral system, by demanding absolute loyalty from candidates running for office, is leaving factions across the political spectrum wondering what participation, if any, is still possible.
Dairygold has said the company has no plans to follow its competitor, Glanbia, which has moved to limit the growth in milk supplies during peak months of the year by introducing what it described as a temporary 'supply management policy'.

The move follows concerns that Glanbia, Ireland's largest milk producer, will struggle to handle the continued growth in milk supplies during the peak production months of April, May and June.

The move has been described as "hugely disappointing" by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) saying it would "create serious difficulties for many farmers".

Glanbia said the new policy will apply to peak supply months from 2022, with the base used as an anchor for the policy calculated on each supplier's highest total volume over the three peak supply months in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The company said it would not be linked to 2021 volumes and stressed there would be no restriction on growth outside of the three peak months.

Under the processor's peak supply management policy, farms with annual milk supply of less than 550,000 litres in the base period may grow their volumes over the peak supply months by five per cent per year over their base.

Farms with annual milk supply of over 550,000 litres may grow their volumes over the peak supply months by 2.5 per cent per year over their base. Growth for recent entrants (those supplying milk for less than three years) will be facilitated up to the 550,000 litres threshold, after which they align to a compound growth rate of 2.5 per cent on peak months.

For suppliers who have a peak supply profile higher than the Glanbia Ireland average, their peak supply volume will be adjusted down to reflect the average profile. No adjustment will be made to suppliers who have a profile at or under the Glanbia Ireland average.

Glanbia confirmed that deductions will be imposed on all milk volumes supplied above the allocated peak volume equivalent to '30 per cent of the prevailing milk price each month or the cost associated with the disposal of the milk, whichever is higher'.

The Glanbia Ireland board confirmed that any net funds collected through the company's Peak Supply Management Policy will be redistributed and paid out in the milk price at the shoulders under existing or future seasonality schemes.

The Glanbia board has agreed to introduce measures aimed at offsetting the "challenges this policy may create for some suppliers".

Those include enhanced seasonality bonuses to incentivise production outside of the peak supply months; a one-off retirement scheme offering a five-year incentive for producers choosing to exit milk production; and the creation of a 'reserve pool' that will allocate additional peak volumes in exceptional cases, such as a notifiable disease outbreak during the base period.

In order to incentivise off-peak milk production, Glanbia has confirmed that it will pay a seasonality bonus of four cents per litre, including VAT, for January and December supplies and three cent per litre for February.

Glanbia Ireland chairman John Murphy said the measure would "allow for managed growth" and insisted it would be temporarily necessitated by the delay in the commissioning of its new cheese plant at Belview in Kilkenny, which is the subject of High Court proceedings.

ICMSA president Pat McCormack said "the proposed restriction at peak would undermine our efforts in delivering great sustainability" and could have "catastrophic implications for our rural and national economies".

IFA President Tim Cullinan said that the announcement by Glanbia today is effectively the first step towards a milk quota for Glanbia suppliers and will cost farm families money.

A spokesperson for Dairygold, which has made huge investments at its production facilities in Mitchelstown and Mallow over recent years, said its five-year milk-planning census undertaken at the start of 2020 queried members' milk-production ambitions up to 2025.

"It forecast a more modest increase in milk expansion across the Dairygold supplier base of circa 2.6 per cent per annum. As things stand, Dairygold's processing capacity is sufficient to deal with the forecast volume increases to 2025," said the spokesperson.
The massive COVID-19 outbreak at Amazons Heritage Road fulfillment centre in Brampton, one of the largest warehouses operated by the multibillion dollar conglomerate in Canada, was deliberately covered up by the Ontario provincial government prior to the sites forced closure March 12. This is the only conclusion that can be drawn from media reports this week revealing that Ontario Ministry of Labour officials visited the site on 12 occasions over the past year and issued nine orders that resulted in no appreciable improvement in workplace safety.

Amazon workers protest unsafe working conditions in Staten Island, New York, on March 30, 2020 (Credit: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The latest visit occurred March 10, just two days before the Peel Regions Medical Officer of Health ordered the Amazon facility closed for two weeks. This was in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases at the warehouse, with 240 infections in the past few weeks, including of the more infectious and lethal B.1.1.7 variant, and an infection rate higher than the surrounding community, which is itself the epicenter of the pandemic in Ontario.

Since October, at least 617 workers out of a total of 5,000 have contracted COVID-19. In justifying his order to shutter the warehouse, Peel Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lawrence Loh stressed that the risk of catching the virus for all workers at the plant was high, and that cases were being detected with no obvious connection to each other, an indication that the virus is running rampant.

Yet despite this damning assessment, Ontarios Ministry of Labour is refusing to take any action against Amazon. The ministry has announced that its latest investigation based on the March 10 visit is now closed. After a follow-up visit to the warehouse on Monday, March 15, the ministry emphasized that no further orders compelling Amazon to take action would result from its inquiry.

The publication of further details about the contents of Lohs order makes clear just how criminal has been the behaviour of Amazon, its mega-billionaire principal shareholder Jeff Bezos and Canadian governments at all levels since the outset of the pandemic. Dr. Loh urged Amazon to review its operations to ensure staff are cohorted by day, time and area of work and type of work and that capacity limits for areas, such as washrooms, entrances and lunchrooms are enforced to allow two metres of physical distancing. He also ordered the company to ensure signs about COVID-19 safety protocols are posted in the languages spoken by its staff, a vital measure given that Amazon employs a highly exploited, overwhelmingly immigrant workforce, many of whom have only limited knowledge of English. Dr. Loh added that the company should explore transportation options for staff for safe commuting.

In other words, more than one year into a pandemic during which time Bezos personal wealth alone has risen by over $24 billion, the local public health agency told Amazon to adopt elementary precautions that could and should have been enforced within hours after the first news of the virus broke.

One wonders what the provincial inspectors actually did during their 12 separate visits, which equates to one inspection per month since the eruption of COVID-19 cases in Canada. There could hardly be a more devastating exposure of the total indifference of Amazon management and the government authorities ostensibly tasked with regulating the companys activities towards workers health and lives.

Amazon is notorious the world over for its brutal working conditions. No expense is spared in surveilling every move of every worker the moment he or she steps into a warehouse, in imposing bone-crushing performance targets that cause elevated levels of injuries and deaths on the job, and in intimidating workers into keeping their mouths shut about such conditions.

That being said, the catastrophic virus outbreak at the Heritage Road site does not merely expose the horrific working conditions at Amazon, but the entire Canadian ruling elites homicidal class-based response to the pandemic. This has consisted of tolerating and even encouraging hundreds of thousands of infections and tens of thousands of deaths as prices worth paying to ensure that the profits and wealth of corporate Canada remain protected.

Almost exactly one year ago, the Trudeau Liberal federal government, in close consultation with corporate lobby groups, the trade union bureaucracy and the NDP, agreed to funnel over $650 billion to the big banks and major corporations to prop up their balance sheets.

As soon as this was concluded, Trudeau led the way in organizing a reckless back-to-work campaign aimed at reopening the economy regardless of the threat to workers safety so that corporate profits could begin flowing again. The reopening of schools played a particularly important role in this campaign since the ruling class saw it as essential to relieve parents of childcare responsibilities so that they could return to churning out profits for the capitalists.

Implementing the demands of corporate Canada, the Trudeau governments throne speech last September ruled out comprehensive lockdowns in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases. It emphasized that all future public health measures against the virus should be short-term and implemented at the local level.

In practice, this meant that large employers like Amazon were given free rein to do what they liked with their workforces, in the knowledge that neither the federal nor provincial governments would get in the way of their intensifying production so as to reap maximum profits.

At the provincial level, these homicidal policies were enforced through a combination of lying propaganda about how schools and workplaces are safe and deliberate concealment. Hundreds of workplace outbreaks in Ontario and Quebec have never been publicly reported because the right-wing governments of Doug Ford and Francois Legault, fearing the growth of worker opposition, steadfastly refused to name workplaces where outbreaks have occurred, citing privacy concerns.

This has had a major impact on the Peel Region. Home to numerous large warehouses and factories and densely populated neighbourhoods, it rapidly emerged as a hotbed for the virus. To give just one example of the state policy of concealment, last fall there was a massive Peel Region workplace outbreak that infected 60 workers and sickened more than 40 in the local community, yet to this day the site of the outbreak remains publicly unknown.

The only reason the Amazon facility was publicly identified as the source of the current outbreak was because Amazon refused to suspend operations until it was ordered shut by public health authorities, and threatened to legally challenge the order. In addition, the outbreak had gotten so out of control that the local transit system had to partially suspend some of its operations. (See: Canadian health officials shut Amazon warehouse after mass COVID-19 outbreak .)

The decision by governments at all levels, irrespective of their political stripes, to let the virus rip through workplaces and schools has led to a disaster. According to partial figures published by the Public Health Agency of Canada, which undoubtedly underestimate the number of workplace infections, more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases have been officially registered as workplace infections. This includes 4,750 in meatpacking and production sites, 2,190 in agricultural production, 1,231 in industrial settings, 866 in distribution and processing and 652 in work camps.

In the meatpacking industry alone, at least three workers at Olymels plant in Red Deer, Alberta, have lost their lives since January. Three deaths were also recorded last spring in conjunction with another massive outbreak at Cargills High River, Alberta slaughterhouse.

Workplaces and schools are clearly playing a decisive role in the eruption of a third, even more deadly wave of infections, driven by the more infectious and lethal variants. As of the beginning of the month, 24 percent of all infections recorded in Ontario came from workplaces.

Officials from major cities, including Toronto and Montreal, have openly acknowledged in recent weeks that schools and daycares are serving as one of if not the principal vectors for the transmission of the B.1.1.7 variant first discovered in Britain.

In the Peel Region alone, which is the location of three major Amazon warehouses, students from 206 classes are currently in quarantine, and five schools are totally shut down. A media report Thursday noted that the Peel Region Public School Board and the regions Catholic school board are having to consider closing schools due to mounting opposition among teachers to in-person learning.

The dangerous and life-threatening conditions faced by workers on a daily basis underscore the urgent necessity for waging a political struggle to close all nonessential production and in-person learning to stop the spread of the virus. Amazon workers at Heritage Road and other fulfillment centres across the country must demand a vast expansion of testing and contact tracing, vaccinations for all workers, the reintroduction of hazard pay, and workers control over the pace of work to allow for social distancing and force an end to the hated speedup regime that compels workers to violate safety rules.

The problems confronting Amazon workers are replicated in schools and other workplaces across Canada. That is why the struggle of Amazon workers will find its strongest allies among logistics workers, educators, health care workers, postal workers and others.

To organize the fight for these policies, Amazon workers at Heritage Road should follow the example of their class brothers and sisters south of the border at Amazons BWI2 Fulfillment center in Baltimore and establish a rank-and-file safety committee independent of the pro-corporate trade unions.

Throughout the pandemic, the unions have intervened to keep production running, endangering the very lives of the workers they claim to represent. At the Cargill plant in High River, it was the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) that corralled workers to return to work with the warning that any strike action would be illegal. Teachers unions in every province have suppressed popular opposition to dangerous in-person learning.

Amazon workers should link the struggle of their committee with the Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, which educators have established to push for the closure of schools to save lives, and the network of similar committees that has already arisen across the auto and education sectors in the United States, Europe and Australia in opposition to the capitalist elites homicidal pandemic response.
First-year senior high school (SHS) students who have been successfully placed in schools have begun reporting to school to commence academic work on Monday, March 22, 2021.

Many of these students, the third batch under the Free SHS policy, yesterday reported to their respective schools to go through the registration processes required for admission.



While the anxiety of students not finding their names on the school list that usually characterised schools' reopening was missing, students would know in the coming days, whether they would be in the green or gold track, following the Ghana Education Service's (GES) announcement that the double-track system would be retained to ensure social distancing in the schools.



The GES said although all the first-year students were reporting to school on the same day, management of the various schools would inform students of their various tracks while on campus.



Last Wednesday, the Daily Graphic reported that the GES was planning to reintroduce the double-track system to help effect social distancing among students; that intervention could also provide a window of hope for the many others who still have issues with their placement and are, therefore, yet to report to any school.



Window of hope



Emmanuel Bonney reports that in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Director General of the GES, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, said definitely the reintroduction of the double track would absorb some of those candidates who had not yet enrolled or had not yet been placed.



He explained that the current situation was that there were enough vacancies but that it was a matter of choice.



Prof. Opoku-Amankwa further explained that most of those students who were yet to enrol were those who are shopping to either change where they have been placed or change where they have been self-placed.



More than 100 category A' and B' SHSs will run the double-track system for their first-year students.



Freshmen



Though they were to have reported to school on March 10, the reopening date was rescheduled to March 18, to allow for more time for guardians to prepare to send their wards to school, while the schools also adequately prepare to welcome them.



That seems to have helped resolve challenges that were encountered during reopening in the previous academic years as both parents and students calmly went through the processes.



When the Daily Graphic visited some of the campuses, it was observed that school authorities had put in place effective systems to welcome the fresh students to the various campuses, including the observation of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) protocols.



Though parents were relieved that the process was smooth, they expressed concern about the tall list of items they were required to provide per the prospectus of the schools.



Also, there were pockets of agitation in some of the schools as some parents could not find their children's names on the list posted on the noticeboards and some parents also protested against the undue delay in getting their children to complete the registration process.



Prospectus demanding



From Cape Coast, Edith Mensah reports that at the Aggrey Memorial A.M.E Zion, Holy Child School, Mfantsipim School and St. Augustine's College, students and parents had turned up in their numbers.





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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WASHINGTON  The House voted on Friday to avert an estimated $36 billion in cuts to Medicare next year and tens of billions more from farm subsidies and other social safety net programs, moving to stave off deep spending reductions that would otherwise be made to pay for the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill enacted last week.

The action, opposed by the vast majority of Republicans, would effectively exempt President Bidens pandemic aid package from a deficit-reduction law that requires that all spending be offset by automatic, across-the-board cuts to certain government programs. It passed by a vote of 246 to 175, with 29 Republicans joining Democrats to support it.

In passing the virus aid plan, Democrats used a fast-track budget process to push past Republican opposition, arguing that urgent needs brought on by the pandemic outweighed concerns about running up the national debt. But the maneuver meant that Congress had to act separately to prevent the automatic cuts, which would go into effect in January if lawmakers do not act.

Democrats remained confident that, even though they opposed the stimulus package, Republican senators would eventually support legislation to avoid cutting Medicare, farm subsidies and social services block grants to pay for it. But the debate was a chance for members of both parties to make their dueling cases about the governments spending priorities after the enactment of one of the most expansive federal rescue packages in modern times.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact across the globe for several reasons.

Thousands have died, and many have lost their jobs. While this has been a horrendous experience for people, the widespread adoption of a remote working model may present an opportunity. Now that remote work infrastructure is in place and proven to be effective and robust; many entrepreneurs are contemplating starting their own business from home.

Many of the world's most influential companies are these days 100% remote. WordPress, for example, is run by Automattic Inc, a company that is "distributed," or in other words, has all its employees working from home or from wherever they like.

Pin Down Your Business Idea

Many of us have ideas of starting our own business. Ideas are great, but they aren't always that concrete or specific. If you have several ideas or a general idea, it can help to join specific, relevant groups on Facebook and Reddit.com and see what kind of problems people are having and what types of questions they ask.

You can also get some ideas using websites such as Redditor.com and ExplodingTopics.com to get an idea of what different categories of people are discussing and what topics are gaining popularity and interest.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Once you have established a specific idea, don't be scared to ask communities such as Reddit groups what they think.

Pick a Business Name

Picking a business name can be a tricky business, especially if you want to make sure that you can buy the corresponding domain names. With this in mind, write down some of your ideas and check if the .com and .co.UK addresses are available by using a website such as

You can also check this government website to see if a business name has been incorporated in the UK.

You generally want to pick a name that's easy to understand and spell. Apple and Tesla are good business names, mainly because they are simple, easy to say, and easy to remember.

Along with your business name, you will also need a logo. Logos should be simple and also represent what it is you do. You can get a logo by using a local designer or agency by learning graphic design yourself, using an app or website such as Canva, or outsourcing via a website such as Fiverr or Upwork.

Have a Business Plan

Even if it's just a basic one, it's essential to have a business plan. This is especially true if you are applying for grants and government loans.

You can download a template online and fill in essential details related to your competitors, your selling points and propositions, and where you can fit into the marketplace.

You can do some research online by checking out competitors in the local area on Google Maps and looking at their reviews. Their reviews will help you to understand what shortcomings your competitors have.

If you are offering a service, it can also help check out freelance websites such as PeoplePerHour.com and job websites to see how much people are charging - and how many job openings there are. If there are dozens of jobs for web developers in your area, for example, that's a good indication that web development is a service in demand!

Use a Phone Answering Service

If you are working from home, you may not have the ideal environment for taking phone calls. This is especially true if you don't have a designated home office or happen to have particularly noisy neighbors - lawnmowers in the summer are always an issue if you have an outdoor office!

If this is the case, then a phone answering service or even a phone answering app can not only prevent any unwanted distributions, it can give your company a professional image. For all intents and purposes, a dedicated virtual receptionist will do the same job as a full-time receptionist based in an office.Moneypenny have great reviews and reputations as virtual receptionist providers. Alternatively, check out acousticalsolutions.com to soundproof your home office!

Social Media

As well as ensuring that your favored domain names are available, you should also check the available social media account names. Although the terms of these are not quite so important, you will undoubtedly want to set up a Google, Facebook, Instagram, and probably a Twitter account for your business.

To begin with, it is best to set up an account with all of the major social networks, including Pinterest, Linkedin, and depending on your niche, you may want to consider creating an account for websites such as Tumblr and Reddit. Research what platforms your competitors use, and ideally, test each website yourself with a concerted effort of posting, replying, and engaging with each community.

Is remote working right for you?

Remote working isn't for everyone. Neither is self-employment. According to Forbes, many millennials are having a tough time transferring from the office to the virtual work environment.

Working from home can be hard. Communication, process, and culture are different when working remotely. Communication is critical, but you will likely feel less connected to colleagues and clients and may even feel less informed if you work from home.

If you are self-employed and a "solopreneur", these issues may not affect you so much. For example, whereas an employee may need to feel connected and see how their contribution impacts the greater good of the company, your profits and sales will pretty much speak for themselves when you are self-employed.

However, there can still be some issues with focus and interruptions. Noise-canceling headphones, a Pomodoro timer, and again, a phone answering service can help to minimize distractions. A Pomodoro timer splits your working day into 25-minute sprints, separated by small breaks, usually of 5 minutes. This reminds you to get up and have a drink or a quick stretch but also helps you to focus - most things, such as checking emails, can wait for 25 minutes.

Employee Tracking System

If you are paying employees or freelancers per hour, rather than per project, then you need a way to track their work.

Hubstaff is a piece of software that allows people to clock in and clock out. They can also record the work that they are doing. The unusual and yet perhaps key thing that Hubstaff does is that it randomly takes screenshots of what people are doing on their company computers.

Conclusion

Setting up a business from home is a great way to mitigate financial risk. If you combine remote working with outsourcing, a telephone answering service, a virtual PA, and the use of business apps and tools - you can do great things, all from your spare room!
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Its been two months (January 18), since Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny returned home following a lengthy recovery abroad from a near fatal poisoning attack. Navalny  and western governments  blame the Russian government for the attempt on his life  a charge the Kremlin denies.
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations reports that several roads are closed across Armenia.

The ministry told Armenpress that the roads leading to the Amberd Fortress and Lake Kari in Aragatsotn province, as well as the Vardenyats Pass are closed.

Snowfalls are reported in Shirak and Kotayk provinces, Ashtarak, Aparan towns of Aragatsotn province.

The Georgian side informs that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles.

Drivers are urged to use snow tires.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The chief sanitary doctor of Almaty, Zhandarbek Bekshin, informed today about the tightening of the quarantine regime in the city, warning that the scenario of introducing the most stringent restrictive measures is being seriously considered if the surge of coronavirus infections in Almaty continues to grow.

"If more than 500 patients are hospitalized per day, the issue of a complete lockdown will be considered," Sputnik-Kazakhstan quotes him as saying. So far, 300-400 new cases of coronavirus infection are registered in Almaty per day, and therefore the city is in the red zone in terms of epidemiological danger.


remaining of

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At a meeting last week, March 11, the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Sadyr Zhaparov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, respectively, agreed to open land and air communications between Uzbekistan and the Uzbekistani exclave of Sokh inside Kyrgyzstan, The Jamestown Foundation writes. Additionally, they pledged to resolve their disagreement over the disputed Unkur-Too territory, which Tashkent had claimed even though Bishkek has long viewed it as a critical part of Kyrgyzstan because it is the site of a television transmission station that country needs.

Their accords, which promise to end this longstanding dispute and open the way to the completion of the demarcation of the border between them, were greeted with enthusiasm because they will allow for expanded trade not only between them but across Central Asia more generally

The sensitivity of this issuealong with an indication that more difficulties may lie aheadwas underscored, however, when senior Kyrgyzstani officials quickly and heatedly denied media reports Bishkek had conceded to a corridor between Uzbekistan and Sokh, where 40,000 plus ethnic Uzbeks live. Obviously, in this case, as in the one involving transit between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, the word corridor is a red line that cannot be crossed lest it provoke an explosion of nationalist anger in the country supposedly ceding territory. Transit is one thing, but a corridor is deemed something else.

That said, the agreement of the two presidents does suggest Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will be able to complete the demarcation of the borders between them and preclude the kind of violence along their shared frontier that has been an all-too-regular feature there for years. Of the 1,378 kilometers of the border, 85 percent had been demarcated already by 2017 and another 10 percent agreed to but not formally demarcated. Now, the two leaders have committed their governments to reach an agreement on the remaining 5 percent in the next three months, something that seems possible and will allow for China to expand its rail network between and through both Central Asian neighbors.

At a minimum, the completion of this demarcation of the Kyrgyzstani-Uzbekistani borderassuming talks do not break down over the use of the term corridor or some other thorny issuepromises to prevent future clashes between residents living on both sides. Such violence has broken out repeatedly not just in the post-Soviet period but between the 1920s and the end of Soviet times. Even before 1991, borders mattered because they prevented easy access to water, transportation networks, and pasturelandrestrictions that have only intensified for newly independent and nationally sensitive countries. Thus, the demarcation of this border will limit the ability of nationalists in both countries but especially in Kyrgyzstan to play up the issue for domestic reasons. At the same time, the resolution of the issues of access to Sokh and control of the Unkur-Too region marks another step on the way to putting in place borders in Central Asia acceptable to the governments and peoples of the region.

Exclaves and enclaves exist in many places around the world. But few regions feature a more complex pattern than does post-Soviet Central Asia. Of the countries in the region, only Turkmenistan lacks any at all. Kazakhstan has two in Uzbekistan but does not have any on its own territory. Tajikistan also lacks any inside its borders but has one in Uzbekistan and two in Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan has two Kazakhstani, one Kyrgyzstani and one Tajikistani enclave on its territory; while Kyrgyzstan has one exclave in Uzbekistan and, despite the new accord, still has three Uzbekistani and two Tajikistani enclaves within its borders. Solving each of these will be difficult, and each represents a potential flashpoint for the region.

Two Central Asian scholars have devoted extensive articles to these enclaves/exclaves: Salamat Alamanov, who focuses on their history (Enclaves of Central Asia, Post-Sovetskiye Issledovaniya, 2018, pp. 451-460), and Tatyana Zvergintseva, who has examined the current state of play about them (Borders without Friendship: Why Enclaves Have Become a Headache for the Countries of Central Asia). Both point to three possible variants for the resolution of these non-contiguous areas: an exchange of territory, the creation of corridors from the borders to them, and a special regime governing border areas. Zvergintseva, for her part, is skeptical about all of these: An exchange of territories works and then only with great difficulties regarding small enclaves. Creating territories also requires major efforts and expense. And establishing a special border region regime works only if the two countries involved are both willing to allow it.

But the existence of such a regime strongly depends on relations between the countries, on the significance of the nationality question and on a common legal culture, she continues. In many cases, countries prefer to retain the current situation to put pressure on their neighbors or to mobilize their populations about a threat to their nations. And there is another problem many prefer not to talk about, Zvergintseva suggests. If borders are kept relatively open, that allows for the freer flow not only of people and goods but of criminal elements and radical Islamists from one country to anothera challenge that all four of the Central Asian states with enclaves and/or exclaves face.

Nonetheless the accord between Bishkek and Tashkent shows that progress is possible, especially when the governments involved want to avoid the kind of clashes that can prove destabilizing and also seek to take advantage of new transportation routes that will open the way for greater economic development.
Rose Ciardiello, a real estate agent for William Raveis, recently listed a Guilford home for $200,000 more than the owners purchased it for just a few years ago.

Within hours, offers came in well over the $975,000 asking price, she said.

Ciardiello said people moving to the area are driving up the asking price, and often making cash offers.

Its a crazy market, she said.

Ciardiello, who primarily sells homes in Madison and Guilford, has called this the COVID market.

Houses in the shoreline area are selling fast, according to local real estate agents who say inventory remains low.

2020 was a very strong year for Connecticut, Ciardiello said. Certainly, the shoreline saw an influx of out-of-town and out-of-state buyers. 2021 is proving to be just as strong.

Ciardiello said houses are selling for 26 percent more per square foot than they were a year ago. When the pandemic started, she said, there were a few weeks where real estate agents were not showing houses as the industry tried to adjust to the situation.

We were deemed essential, she said. So, those of us that were comfortable going out ... were doing that.

That, Ciardiello said, is when residents of New York City and other major metropolitan areas began to buy up houses in the shoreline area, opting to move to less populated areas that were seeing large day-over-day increases in coronavirus cases.

Basically, they originally took up all the rentals, she said. Then they started buying the lower-end homes. Then they started buying very expensive homes. Were still seeing, not only New Yorker, but Im getting folks from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the West Coast.

David Platt, who closed on a home in Essex in July, said the move came as the result of a pandemic, but added his family ended up finding a great community.

In a time that makes you appreciate that life is too short, this has been one of the best decisions weve ever made, he said. Connecticut has been a silver lining.

Platt said his family kept their home in New York City, and will return there at some point, but noted they will keep the Essex home for life.

Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl Fortuna said the buying spree that towns in the shoreline area are seeing is long overdue. He said his towns schools, businesses and recreation make it an attractive community to start a family.

The market

Early in the pandemic, Ciardiello said, she was getting calls from people from New York who were bypassing Fairfield County because they felt it was too close to the city.

It was a direct correlation to COVID, she said. Even now, its still related to that because people are working from home. They are working remotely and seeing that they dont have to be driving in to the office.

Ciardiello noted that a lot of the things New York City is known for, theaters, restaurants and shops, as well as schools, were closed. She noted that it was not just properties on the water that are selling, but also homes in the north end of Guilford and Madison.

The idea of having this bucolic lot and yard and privacy and trees is appealing to these folks, because thats what they are looking for, she said. They just want to be away from the city and have privacy.

Ciardiello said her colleagues around the state are seeing the same phenomenon. She said towns that used to be slow housing markets, such as Essex and the Lymes, have picked up considerably.

The majority of her sellers, she said, are staying in town in smaller houses  especially in homes they already owned, but rented out. She said inventory has stayed low.

For instance, Guilford was running low before COVID, she said. We were doing really well. Madison has a lull for a bit, but are now selling on par.

Now, she said, houses are going under contract within hours.

Multiple bid situations  way over asking price, Ciardiello said. Houses are selling way over market value. Sometimes houses are listed competitively because you want to encourage a bidding war. But even houses that are listed high are still going well over asking price.

Colette Harron, a real estate agent for William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty, sells homes through the shoreline area, but especially in Essex, Old Saybrook, Lyme and Old Lyme.

The prices are up, she said. I dont know if theyre going to keep on going up, because I cant predict the future. But definitely prices are up about 20 percent from two years ago.

Harron said demand is really strong for mid-range homes  with prices below $1 million. She noted that inventory is low in all of her towns.

Like Ciardello, Harron said buyers tell her they want to get out of urban areas during the pandemic. She has seen buyers from New York, California, Boston, among other places, and noted that many of them have children in colleges in the Northeast.

They like to be between New York and Boston, she said. At the same time, you have the charm and the peacefulness of these small towns.

Harron said the average home she puts on the market costs between $500,000 and $1.5 million, with the ones on the lower end flying off the market.

Youve got to be a cash buyer if you want to get the house, she said, later adding that people are also trying to put as big a down payment as possible to secure the purchase.

Harron said she knows a driving factor for buyers moving to the area is the pandemic, because weve been here forever, and (the market) has never been like this.

I havent seen it like this since 2004, when it was the height of the market, she said.

Harron said the market was on the rise then in part because people wanted to get out of cities after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Harron said a colleague recently put a house on the market for $495,000 and it sold for $600,000. She said a former client bought a house five years ago for $800,000, and recently put it on the market for $1.2 million.

He had multiple offers in one day. The first day he put it on the market. Ive been doing it for 20 years, she said. Ive never seen it like this.

Harron said the housing market doing so well is giving the area a boost. She said all the stores on Main Street and North Main Street in Essex have been rented.

Our stores, two years ago, were pretty much empty, she said. Its very nice.

We just love this area

David Platt, the chief strategy officer at Moodys Corporation, and his wife Ellen, a homemaker and former child psychologist, said they have lived in New York City for 20 years. They own a home in the Upper East Side.

As the pandemic took hold in the city, David said, he and his two children were all in their apartment on Zoom calls. When summer came, there were no extracurricular activities for the family to do.

Its just bleak, he said.

David said he and his wife were never the second home crowd. He said the family went to rent a house, but did not like it because it was in the middle of nowhere and overpriced.

David said he decided to buy a home.

Life is too short, he said. Especially in a pandemic, life is too short.

With their daughter about to go to college in Boston, David said he began looking for houses.

Frankly, what happened is that a good friend of mine told me about a house in Haddam, he said. I was like, Wheres Haddam?

David said when they went to explore Haddam, they stumbled upon the shoreline.

Theres vineyards. Theres ocean. Theres river. Theres fishing. Theres farming markets, and the people are just awesome, he said. Everyone we met was nicer than the next.

The Platts described a competitive housing market, with high prices and bidding wars.

Eventually, the Platts settled on an awesome house on South Main Street in Essex. David said they agreed on the price quickly and with no contingencies.

I said, I will be ready to close when you are ready, he said and they closed on the house July 17.

Ellen said they have not regretted the decision.

It let our kids be outdoors, Ellen said. But, also, just the family time weve had here. We just love this area. We are always exploring. It just changed our whole thinking and gave us a different perspective on family and time together.

Ellen said it has been the bright spot of the pandemic.

They said they have gone back and forth to New York when needed. David said they plan to spend as much time as possible in their Essex home for the rest of their lives.

This will be a house for our family and for our future generations, Ellen said.

Local impact

In Old Saybrook, Fortuna said the pandemic has really awoken the housing market in his town and surrounding communities.

Its unfortunate that some of the people are getting priced out, the first selectman said, noting that Old Saybrook is working on an affordable housing plan. But, for those who are selling, Im happy for people who are seeing their houses valued highly.

Fortuna said the market in the area had not been good for a long time. He said he is also happy for people who are discovering Old Saybrook, and the broader region, for the first time.

Fortuna said he met a couple from New York that bought a house farther up the Connecticut River, felt they were too much in the boondocks and moved to Old Saybrook.

It has a lot to offer, he said. It has a little bit more commerce than surrounding towns.

Fortuna said Old Saybrook has anything a homeowner could want, noting a person can live on a quiet street, but go to the store within two minutes. He also said the town has a lot of places to walk, cycle and swim, as well as fair tax prices.

When I moved here in 1994, it took me a few years to fully appreciate where we live, he said. Having the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound accessible is just one of the most remarkable features not only for this area, but in New England and the United States. I think more and more people are realizing that.

Fortuna said Connecticuts high cost of living, without a lot of high paying jobs, has previously kept people from moving here. He said he is worried about the state legislature driving that cost up even more.

Hopefully, we are getting more people in the area that have families, he said.

Fortuna said with more people working from home, he expects the influx of new residents to continue since less employees will need to live close to their jobs.

But Fortuna said the state of the housing market will not change how the town functions.

Its not changing the dynamics of the school system, he said. In some ways, we wish it would, because we need kids. A large chunk of Connecticut is losing its school-age population. We keep (seeing a) declining school-age population.

As for the tax base, Fortuna said the town will only see a benefit if the prices remain higher into the next revaluation in 2023.

Time will tell, he said. Right now, we welcome all comers. Its a great town and I have no problem sharing it.
Many people call Resolution 120 the golden resolution. For me, the resolution removes the obstacles that strangled farmers, helping them have a better life, said Prof Vo Tong Xuan, a respected agriculture expert in Vietnam.

On the threshold of the governments conference to review the 3-year implementation of Resolution 120 on Mekong Delta sustainable development amid climate change, to be held in Can Tho City, VietNamNet spoke with Prof Vo Tong Xuan about the effects of the resolution.

Why do you call Resolution 120 released in November 2017 the Thuan Thien Resolution?

The word Thuan Thien (Let things flow naturally) originated from a short conversation on a dining table between PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and me, when I was invited to a conference on sustainable development in the Mekong Delta in the context of climate change in Can Tho.

At that time, I said to the PM that Mekong Delta farmers are bearing a vong kim co (golden hoop) on their head (vong kim co is something mentioned in a novel and is used to refer to strict and harsh control).

Explaining this, I said vong kim co is a problem in rice farming. People grow rice because they have to implement the policy on food security. And they have to grow rice even when there is more than enough rice. They grow rice on normal land and on coastal land. They even try every possible means to prevent saltwater and bring fresh water from hundreds of kilometers far away to fields to till the rice.

The state asks farmers to grow rice in saltwater areas, while they could hatch shrimp and farm fish to earn big money on those areas. So, we are trying to be contrary to nature, go against natural laws.

When the conference ended, the Prime Minister agreed to use the word Thuan Thien as the guideline for Resolution 120.

So, we need to turn risks into opportunities and develop modern farmers?

Yes, when we say Thuan Thien, this means letting things go naturally as they like. If so, we no longer consider saltwater as the enemy.

In the past, we considered saltwater as enemy because we could not till rice with saltwater. Now, with Thuan Thien Resolution, sea water is a friend and we can live together with it.

Mekong Delta people now develop irrigation systems to manage saltwater. In rainy season, they till rice. In sunny season, they hatch shrimp with saltwater control systems.

Locals began farming shrimp before the Resolution 120 was released. But this was not organized planning. Rice growers tried to bring freshwater to the fields, while shrimp farmers tried to get saltwater.

The rice-shrimp farming regime was applied by farmers in the 1980s, without the states investment. The state only invested in rice farming.

When implementing the Resolution 120, local authorities were puzzled. A new policy needs to be associated with guides for implementation and budgeting.

To implement Resolution 120, Vietnamese farmers need to become neo-farmers. They need to join next-generation cooperatives to improve yield and increase income. Cooperatives need to be associated with businesses, and businesses need to tie to the market. But this can be done only with the states support.

How has Resolution 120 come into life?

The most visible gain in terms of Thuan Thien is the strong development of the rice farming  shrimp hatchery rotating regime.

This has increased farmers incomes. Farmers in coastal areas are very happy with the newly planned transformed areas. The thousands of hectares of rice-shrimp farming areas can bring profits 4-5 times higher than rice monoculture of the past.

In the areas which suffer from drought but not salinity, farmers have shifted to cultivate sesame, lotus and other fruit trees.

In 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam set many records with farm produce reaching 190 markets in the world and farm exports bringing $41.2 billion worth of turnover, the highest ever level.

Vietnams litchi, rambutan, dragon fruit, star apple, mango and longan are now present in choosy markets like the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

The rice export volume decreased by 3.5 percent, but fell by 9.3 percent in value. Of this, high-quality rice accounted for 85 percent of total exports.

For the resolution to gain the desired goals, it is necessary to continue to change in a clear direction. The state needs to step in to support farmers and businesses. There should be clear strategies: which plants and which kinds of animals to be farmed in which areas so as to optimize benefits.

The state needs to make reasonable development planning. In the area adjacent to Cambodia, from Kien Giang to Long An, fresh water is abundant, so farmers can have three rice crops a year, or five crops every two years, to ensure food security.

In the area including a part of Dong Thap, AN Giang, Vinh Long and Tien Giang, farmers can reorganize production to specialize in fruits and vegetables.

In coastal areas, it would be better to follow rice-shrimp or intensive shrimp cultivation models.

Ho Van - Hoai Thanh

Seasonal organic rice revival in Mekong Delta According to the analysis by QY Research published in 2020, the total value of global organic rice exports in 2018 was US$1.5 billion.
(Natural News) A whistleblower working at a nursing home in New York said he knew Gov. Andrew Cuomos order to take Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients back into the vulnerable long-term care facilities was ridiculous and warned officials against pushing through with it.

Michael Kraus, administrator of the Silver Lakes Specialized Care Center in Staten Island, told Fox News on Thursday, Mar. 18, that his staff was petrified by the governors order.

Many other nursing home officials complained at the time that Cuomos policy could help spread the coronavirus. Kraus himself made his concerns clear during a conference call on March 25 last year  the same day Cuomo issued the order. He told other nursing home directors, hospital leaders and state officials about the potential consequences of pushing through with Cuomos plan. (Related: Cuomo aide allegedly involved in hiding nursing home death count taught ethics in government law school class.)

My position from the get-go was: We cant do it, said Kraus during his appearance on Fox News.

I said, Thats ridiculous. Everyone heard about the story that happened in Washington State. And you know, that was enough for me to understand I cant put these people at risk. We cant be doing this. Its just not right for the residents.

And you vocalized that on these phone conversations? asked Fox News correspondent Aishah Hasnie.

I did vocalize it. And then once it was shot down, I never spoke again, replied Kraus. There are more important people than me who thought it was a good idea.

When asked who rejected Kraus objections, the nursing home administrator said he did not know because it was a conference call, and he couldnt recognize the voice of the person who shot it down.

Kraus said other nursing home administrators were similarly petrified at the prospect of admitting discharged COVID-19 patients, but they kept quiet because they were more petrified of the Department of Health.

More than 15,000 people have died in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in New York. But as recently as January, the official announcement from the state only reported a fraction of this number  around 8,500 deaths.

Cuomo rescinded the order to send coronavirus patients to nursing homes in May 2020. But by that time, more than 9,000 recovering patients had already been sent to nursing homes.

The governor has repeatedly tried to deflect criticisms and accusations that he did not do enough to protect nursing home workers and residents from the virus. He argued that everything he has done has been in compliance with federal guidelines.

This issue made national headlines in February when Melissa DeRosa, a top aide working in the governors office, told Democratic state lawmakers that Cuomo had withheld the truth regarding the death toll in nursing homes because they did not want the administration of then-President Donald Trump to launch a federal investigation.

Democrats feared that such an investigation would have ruined the chances of the Democratic Party winning in the election.

Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have reported that top aides within the governors administration pressured health officials over the summer last year to remove data from multiple reports that would show the number of nursing home deaths related to COVID-19. The Brooklyn U.S. Attorneys Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are reportedly investigating the matter.

Kraus was punished for speaking up and refusing to follow Cuomos order

When Cuomos order was in place, Kraus said his facility experienced a severe shortage in personal protective equipment (PPE) because his supplier was not allowed to send us our full order.

They were guided, they must sell to the hospital first, said Kraus. So, we were rationed. If we would order a large order, they would give us 20 percent. And they just said they werent allowed to sell us more.

Faced with the shortage of PPEs and the other challenges his nursing home faced during the pandemic, Kraus said he went with his gut and locked down the facility for 10 straight weeks. He took back his previous patients, but he refused to take in any new admissions.

This decision made him and Silver Lake even less popular among health officials in New York. When he would turn away COVID-19 patients, administrators and other officials would call him to beg him not to send sick patients back.

There were multiple hospitals that were threatening [us], said Kraus.

Silver Lake has reported only two confirmed coronavirus deaths. Another six people from Silver Lake died outside the nursing home while another 37 were presumed to have died from the coronavirus but have not been confirmed.

Learn more about how New York handled the coronavirus pandemic by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

FoxNews.com

NYPost.com
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Although they can trace the existence of the building back to 1685, Smyths Louth Arms can also boast single ownership by three generations of the same family which started back in 1919 and continues until the present day.

The pub first came into the Smyth family when grandfather Thomas Smyth and wife Mary, took possession from a Mr. P. Tumelty in 1919. This was looked upon as a risky venture as the previous five owners had lasted less than six months running the Tallanstown grocery and bar.

Located beside the RIC Barracks, which had been renovated into a house owned by the policeman Mr. O'Brien and his wife the local teacher, Thomas and Mary moved in to the small accommodation above the bar and set about building it into one of the best premises in the area. Over the years they raised their children Benny, May, Monica, Vera, Tom, Dessie, Jim and Ursula above the pub and shop where they sold groceries, hardware, some farming supplies and ran the bar.

However after Thomas passed away in 1944, the O'Brien house went up for sale and Mary and her eight children moved in next door. Mary was joined by her daughter May in 1948 to run the business and this they successfully did until Granny Smyth (Mary) died in 1965. May continued the family tradition and ran the business until she passed away in 1977. It was at this time that May's three brothers Tom, Dessie and Jim, then purchased the bar from the rest of the family and installed Tom as manager overseeing a staff that also included a number of nephews. They continued the family success for a number of years until co owner Jim passed away. Dessie's son Thomas then took over the running of the premises in partnership with his uncle Tom and his father Dessie, but after a few short years, Dessie bought out his brother Tom and Thomas took over the running of the business for nearly a decade and a half. All this changed in February 1987 when Thomas decided he wanted to experience foreign pastures and moved to England. He was replaced by Dessie's son Andrew (Skinny) who is the third generation of the Smyth family and continues the tradition to this very day.

Never known for becoming idle the Smyth family have a huge reputation in the village of Tallanstown. Skinny's dad Dessie was a foreman mechanic in McGee's of Ardee. In the evenings he ran a workshop fixing and selling lawnmowers and chainsaws from a shed beside his house. Married to wife Bid, his family included Skinny, Pat, Thomas, Eilish, Brigid, Geraldine and Dennis who continues the business his father set up. They then build a brand new grocery shop adjacent to the pub in 1962 which was run by wife Bid.

On to 1986 and the shop welcomed a young lady, Caroline Marron from Reaghstown to the workforce and it didn't take too long for romance to flourish between her and Skinny. They were married in 1992 and moved into the accommodation above the pub Skinny was running where they went on to have two children Darren and Colleen (who regularly help out when times get busy).

To say that the pub has seen a number of changes down throughout the years is somewhat of an understatement. It had remained unchanged from 1919 to 1958 when owner May Smyth completely revamped the entire premises. Changing the position of the bar from the right to the left-hand-side, the grocery shop was removed completely, May's sitting room was then transformed into a small lounge for the bar and this was augmented in the late 70s by the inclusion of a pool table, darts and ring boards and a juke box.

But one of the biggest transformations took place only a year after Skinny became owner when a large function room was added to the side of the bar compete with bar, dancefloor, stage and brand new toilets in December 1988. This opened up the capabilities of the business to include facilitating everything from birthday celebrations, wedding and funeral receptions, charity fundraising night and also helped with the overflow of a now extremely busy bar and lounge.

They went on to buy the adjacent house (RIC barracks) from Skinny's uncle and aunt Tom and Theresa. After major renovations, they then opened their B.&B. in September 1996. It took until 2004 before they also bought the adjacent shop from Sheila Smyth the widow of Skinny's brother Pat who unfortunately passed away in 1997 and continue to run it successfully to this day.

Over the years the Louth Arms has become synonymous with live music over the weekends. The bar, lounge and function room

have all played host to some top class musicians and along with local musicians like Gabby Hoey, Long Riders, New Haven and Red Alert, the function room has also featured performances by Brendan Grace, Johnny McEvoy, Richie Kavanagh and Paul Malone. But the 20 year reunion of local band Red Alert back in September 2010 proved one of the most notable. Along with completely packing the venue out, they also helped to raise 10,000 for the Ardee Hospice.

On the sporting front, Smyth's have sponsored local club Glyde Rangers, both mens and ladies teams down through the years and have always made their function room available for any club fundraising nights. Their pool team are very active in the Mid Louth League, as are their darts team in the Glyde and District League with Owen Caffrey notable of mention. Not only is he a member of the Louth Darts team but was one of the main driving forces in the revival of darts back into the pub.

Keen followers of the sport of kings on television, buses are frequently summoned to take the regulars to various race meetings with Fairy House, Punchestown, Bellewstown and Navan proving their favourites. But an appreciation for anything sporting has built up over the years and a Republic of Ireland game can regularly see the pub decked out in flags and bunting, a traditional that stretches back to the iconic days of Italia 90 when a gigantic screen was specially installed for that campaign.

In more recent times, the pandemic has seen the entire premises closed for nearly 12 months with only a three week window opening breaking this unfortunate stint.
A drone attack struck an oil installation in Saudi Arabias capital of Riyadh on Friday, the Saudi state-run news agency reported, igniting a blaze at the facility deep in the kingdom's territory. The dawn attack on the Saudi Aramco facility caused no injuries or damage, and did not disrupt oil supplies, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

Satellite images from Planet Labs Inc., analyzed by The Associated Press, showed no immediately visible damage at the Riyadh refinery. The kingdom is facing more frequent airborne assaults as Saudi-led coalition forces battle Iran-backed Houthi rebels across the southern border in Yemen.

Details about Friday's attack remained slim, and authorities did not name the facility. Saudi Aramco, the kingdom's oil giant, operates a refinery just southeast of Riyadh that produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products for consumption around the capital.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Alessandra Ambrosio and her two children are spring breaking in Palm Springs, California.

And on Friday the supermodel gave her 10.3million Instagram followers a glimpse at some of their fun in the sun in the desert resort city, which is just over 100 miles from Los Angeles.

Among the images: the Brazilian beauty struck a pose for a mirror selfie dressed in a skimpy and stylish bikini, likely from her GAL Floripa swimwear line.

Scroll down to video

Weekend getaway: Alessandra Ambrosio, 39, boasted about 'feeling spring break' while on a trip to Palm Springs, California with her two children, among others

'Feeling like spring break,' Ambrosio, 39, wrote across the top of the bikini snap that was taken in the bathroom of her room at the Parker Palms Springs hotel.

She's headed out for a weekend getaway with her two children: daughter Anja, 12, and son Noah, eight.

The longtime catwalk queen also shared some images of the pool area she dubbed, 'The View', as well as other looks of the lounge region that she headlined: 'Spring baby.'

Inside look: The former supermodel declared 'spring baby' in a quick selfie video of herself panning her room at the Parker Palms Springs hotel

Chillin': The Brazilian beauty was dressed in a yellow tank top and matching beanie cap

Scenic: Ambrosio also shared some images of the lounge area around the pool

The legendary Victoria's Secret Angel also posted a video that began with a shot of palms trees and the sunny blue sky.

To help showcase the gorgeous weather in Palm Springs, and the hotel grounds, Ambrosio had the 1976 song Everybody Loves The Sunshine by Roy Ayers edited into the video.

She also dropped in a graphic showing it was 78 degrees Fahrenheit at the time she was lounging under the sun in her bikini. The mercury would eventually hit the upper 80s later in the afternoon.

The video quickly transitioned into a clip that panned the scenic area around the pool, including a shot of her long legs from a POV position.

Mother nature: She wrote 'This View' in a photo taken about 15 feet from lounge chair

Feeling festive: The longtime Victoria's Secret Angel enjoyed a margarita while at the pool

Playtime: Her two kids : daughter Anja, 12, and son Noah, eight, were also seen playing on a bed with a young female friend or relative

Ambrosio also shot a selfie video as she panned around her hotel room in a yellow tank top and matching beanie cap

There's another selfie video where she puckered up her lips dressed in a blue tank top ensemble, and another of her two kids playing on a bed with a young female friend or relative.

Ambrosio is now dating model Richard Lee, following her shocking split from Italian fashion designer Nicolo Oddi after just over two years together.

She shares her kids with ex-fiance Jamie Mazur, whom she dated for 10 years until 2018.

Starting to sizzle: A video posted on her Instagram revealed it was 78 degrees Fahrenheit in Palm Springs, which would eventually shoot up to the upper 80s

Fun in the sun: Ambrosio showcased her long legs from a POV position in her video by the pool

Glowing: To help showcase the gorgeous weather in Palm Springs, and the hotel, Ambrosio had the 1976 song Everybody Loves The Sunshine by Roy Ayers edited into the video
Photo: (Photo : File photo / Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images)

Physically separated in 2016, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt formally got divorced in 2019. They had been together for well over a decade. According to the latest developments, Angelina Jolie has released new legal papers evidencing domestic abuse cases involving Brad Pitt. In the papers, the Hollywood actor claims that Angelina Jolie's children are prepared to testify against Pitt.

Angelina said she had proof and authority in support of Brad's alleged domestic abuse in court papers filed under seal.

According to the documents, Angelina and her children can testify. Still, a different document states that both Brad and Angelina must give the court permission to include their minor-aged children  Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12  in the proceedings. The ex-couple also have two young adult, Maddox, 17, and Pax, 17, who do not need parental permission to testify in the courtroom.

According to a source, Angelina's filing was an effort to alter the "narrative" surrounding her custody dispute.

Following an alleged altercation between Brad and Maddox on the family's private plane in 2016, Brad was accused of child abuse and later cleared.

READ: Everything You Need To Know About Meghan Markle's Second Pregnancy!



According to a source close to Brad Pitt, the filings are an effort to injure the actor. The source also said Angelina had made various allegations over the last four and a half years that have been investigated but not substantiated. Angelina Jolie's children were previously used to harm Brad, and this is more of the same.

The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services launched an investigation into the incident, interviewing both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's children. Almost immediately, the agency cleared him of all charges of child abuse.

The claims, however, have taken their toll, with reports claiming that the couple's oldest son, Maddox, has stopped speaking to his father. In interviews, Pitt has acknowledged that his struggles with alcohol and rage played a part in his divorce.

Pitt seeks joint physical and legal custody of his children in a 50-50 split. In June 2019, he and Jolie were rumored to be working on an "amicable" co-parenting partnership while living in neighboring estates in Los Angeles' Los Feliz neighborhood.

ALSO READ: Mandy Moore Tells Wild, Somewhat Relatable, Birth Story

The Dangers of Children Providing Testimony in Family Court

Children are also witnesses to some of the dramatic incidents that lead to the breakdown of marriages and child custody disputes, which is an unfortunate fact. It's not unusual for parents to request their children testify against the other parent in family court.

While an older child could provide vital evidence that may impact the outcome of a divorce or child custody dispute, allowing a minor child to testify carries risks.

Accusations that the other parent poisoned your child

When a child testifies against them negatively, one of the most common defenses is accusing the other parent of "brainwashing" the child. This counter-argument may or may not be persuasive depending on a variety of factors, including the quality of the facts the child is taking to court, the strength of the other parent's case, among others.

Parent-Child's Relationship May Be Impaired

While a child's evidence might be valuable in your custody battle, they may hate the fact that they were pitted against the other parent. Some parents who force their children to testify can get what they want but at the expense of their children's relationships.

Unpredictable child's testimony

Even if both parents despise each other, the child is likely to love and support both his and her mother and father. When a child is placed in a legal position and forced to provide negative information against one or both parents, the outcome is often uncertain.

READ MORE: Pippa Middleton Pays Tribute To Queen Elizabeth With Baby Name
A suggestion of a barrier around the Colorado Capitol has had lawmakers on both sides in a tizzy for the past few days, but the possibility of a wall seemed to fade Friday.

A committee looking at safety improvements, as it normally does, listed a fence, which subsequently was interpreted to be a wall even though legislative leaders said neither a wall nor a fence is an immediate possibility.

The Denver Post on Wednesday reported that an iron fence around the Capitol was likely.

Senate President Leroy Garcia told Colorado Politics Friday building a fence is only on a list of ideas for security measures at the Capitol, not an actual plan.

A wall or barrier that keeps the public out of the people's house is unlikely to have Garcia's critical support. He acknowledged that a "wall" is a politically loaded word, but wouldn't speculate on the reasons people are fanning flames under something unlikely to happen.

"I think this is why we have to be intentional about what we're talking about," Garcia said of any security measures. "This is in its infancy, and the press has been writing about it when there's not a clear understanding of it, and it adds to the confusion."

Garcia's pickup truck was vandalized at the Capitol in the early days of protests over the death of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis who was filmed suffocating under the knee of a White police officer.

Neither Garcia nor Senate Republican leader Chris Holbert of Douglas County have seen a plan or diagram for a fence, Garcia said.

"I think a lot of people are reading more into this than what it is," Garcia said.

Obn Thursday, 39 former legislators, as well as former Democratic Gov. Dick Lamm and Republican Gov. Bill Owens, sent a letter to the Senate president and House speaker about the issue.

"If a permanent fence is put around the Capitol, Colorado will have lost something special: a deep and abiding connection between its people and their government," the letter states.

Sen. Rhonda Fields, a Democrat from Aurora, opposed barriers at the Capitol, calling the suggestion among "thoughts and ideas," not a proposal.

Fields is chairwoman of the Capitol Development Committee, which would have to consider and pass the fence proposal before it would go to the legislature's Executive Committee, which includes Garcia and Holbert.

"It's a little premature to say that it's going to have barbed wires on top and spikes, and ..." Fields said on the Senate floor Friday, trailing off and shaking her head no. "It's too premature. I have the utmost confidence the people making these recommendations are going to do so very thoughtfully as it relates to trends we're seeing across the United States, but it's going to be done in a manner that's reflective of the values of Colorado."

She said that when the security measures are recommended, all the members of the legislature would have an adequate opportunity to weigh in on them before any changes take place.

"I don't think it will ever look like a big fence with barbed wire on top that limits access to the people's house," she concluded.

Denver protesters to hold fifth march Thursday to raise awareness of deadly civil war in Ethiopia Demonstrators within Colorados Ethiopian community will come together for the fifth time on Thursday morning to march down Lincoln Street to the state Capitol in protest of the deadly conflict unfolding between the Ethiopian government and rebel forces in Tigray, the northernmost region of the East African country.

Sen. Bob Gardner, a Republican from Colorado Springs, talked about how constituents were able to walk right into the building up until 2007, "before you had to say, 'Mother, may I?' "

Security measures have put a barrier between the public and their elected officials, he said, adding "We lost something, we really did."

Sen. Kerry Donovan, a Democrat from Vail, talked about the power of symbols. The Capitol, overlooking Denver, is a physical representation of the state.

"It's filled with the pride of every citizen of Colorado," she said. "And it should remain a symbol of an accessible seat of our government. It's not the governor's building. It's not the legislature's building. We share this. This is the public's building."

Holbert agreed with Donovan, then thanked the staff that serve on the Capitol improvement advisory committee and said, "I don't know of anything that would actually deter the access of the people of Colorado to their Capitol."
The European Unions executive arm has said AstraZeneca could face export bans to countries outside the bloc if it does not speed up its delivery of the promised amount of vaccines.

The move comes as the European Commission increases the pressure on pharmaceutical companies to speed up their vaccine delivery to the continent as virus cases increase in many member countries.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: We have the possibility to ban planned exports.

This is a message to AstraZeneca: You fulfil your part of the deal toward Europe before you start to deliver to other countries.

Europe is a powerhouse in science.



But while we're good at making science with money, we need to get better at making money out of science.



Today, we launch the European Innovation Council to support researchers and turn their ideas into products on the market. #EUeic  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 18, 2021

Speaking to German media group Funke, Ms von der Leyen said the contract between the EU and AstraZeneca clearly regulates how much vaccines the EU receives from AstraZenecas plants inside the EU and in the UK.

However, Ms von der Leyen added, we didnt get anything from the Brits while we are delivering vaccines to them.

She said the commission had sent a formal reminder to AstraZeneca regarding this issue.

AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine is one of three approved for use in the EU.

However, its usage has been overshadowed by several problems, including a slow start, recurring delivery problems and a temporary ban for several days earlier this week in many EU member countries after reports of blood clots in some recipients of the vaccine.

Most countries in the EU have resumed giving AstraZeneca jabs again on Friday as infection numbers spike across the continent.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is cheaper and easier to store than others, is seen as critical to ending the coronavirus pandemic.
Acting Features Editor

Jennifer Huberdeau is the acting features editor. Prior to The Eagle, she worked at The North Adams Transcript. She is a 2020 New England First Amendment Institute Fellow and a 2010 BCBS Health Care Fellow.
" This strategic partnership is in line with our overall logic of relying on key local players to develop market-specific solutions and establish a long-term relationship of trust with end users. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, machine translation has become an essential part of the digital economy . We want to share our technology and AI know-how with local experts to develop together disruptive solutions for ever-changing use cases, " said Jean Senellart, CEO of the SYSTRAN Group.

FAPCOTECH's objective in partnering with SYSTRAN is to complement its service offering by introducing to its customers latest automated translation technologies based on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.

"Our partnership with SYSTRAN indicates our commitment to our clients to stay ahead of technology and help increase smart technologies adoption by Kuwaiti companies," said Mazen Bou Diab  General Manager of FAPCOTECH.

Building on its success in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific thanks to its Business Partner Program, which brings together over 50 partners worldwide, SYSTRAN will strengthen its presence in the MENA region with this new agreement.

About SYSTRAN

With more than 50 years of experience in translation technologies, SYSTRAN has pioneered the greatest innovations in the field, including the first web-based translation portals and the first neural translation engines combining artificial intelligence and neural networks for businesses and public organizations.

SYSTRAN provides business users with advanced and secure automated translation solutions in various areas such as: global collaboration, multilingual content production, customer support, electronic investigation, Big Data analysis, e-commerce, etc.

SYSTRAN offers a tailor-made solution with an open and scalable architecture that enables seamless integration into existing third-party applications and IT infrastructures.

For more information, visit https://www.systransoft.com

About FAPCOTECH

FAPCOTECH is a leading integrated business solutions provider specializing in the delivery of customized, end-to-end IT solutions via leading edge technology. Based in Kuwait, at the heart of the Gulf and with easy access to major business centers in the Middle East and beyond, its specialist teams enjoy the experience and expertise to offer the best IT solutions to both public and private organizations.

FAPCOTECH leverages its competencies through vertical industry know-how, and International accreditation to serve its customers across the region.

For more information, visit http://www.fapcotech.com/

SOURCE SYSTRAN

Related Links

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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
New Delhi: After Tuesday's murder of eight people, including six Asian-American women, the United States President Joe Biden on Saturday (March 20, 2021) said 'hate can have no safe harbor' in the United States of America.

Biden after meeting the Asian-American leaders in Atlanta took to his official Twitter account and said, "For all the good that laws can do, we have to change our hearts. Hate can have no safe harbor in America."

He added, "It must stop  and it's on all of us together to make it stop."

For all the good that laws can do, we have to change our hearts. Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop  and its on all of us together to make it stop.  President Biden (@POTUS) March 19, 2021

The newly-elected US President also said, "Too many Asian Americans have been waking up each morning this past year fearing for their safety and the safety of their loved ones."

Too many Asian Americans have been waking up each morning this past year fearing for their safety and the safety of their loved ones. pic.twitter.com/LI3iLREoMr  President Biden (@POTUS) March 19, 2021

Silence is complicity  and we cannot be complicit. We have to speak out. We have to act. pic.twitter.com/zJXEoKXOMm  President Biden (@POTUS) March 20, 2021

Biden said that silence is complicity and stated, "We cannot be complicit. We have to speak out. We have to act."

Post the meeting, he tweeted, "This afternoon, Vice President Harris and I sat down with Asian American leaders in Atlanta. It was a heart-wrenching meeting that made clear the urgent work that lies ahead. We must come together as one America, stand against hate, and root out racism wherever we find it."

This afternoon, Vice President Harris and I sat down with Asian American leaders in Atlanta. It was a heart-wrenching meeting that made clear the urgent work that lies ahead. We must come together as one America, stand against hate, and root out racism wherever we find it. pic.twitter.com/Z2DOKdxklZ  President Biden (@POTUS) March 20, 2021

Kamala Harris, the US Vice President, said, "We want Asian Americans in Georgia and across our nation to know: We won't be silent. We won't standby. We will always speak out against violence."

Today @POTUS and I met with Asian American leaders in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss the rise in attacks against the community. We want Asian Americans in Georgia and across our nation to know: We won't be silent. We won't standby. We will always speak out against violence.  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 19, 2021

This is to be noted that a 21-year-old man has been charged with Tuesday's murders at three spas in and around Atlanta.

The investigators, reportedly, said the suspect, who is white, suggested that sexual frustration led him to commit violence. However, the political leaders and civil rights advocates have speculated the killings were motivated at least in part by anti-Asian sentiment.

Advocates say the surge of attacks on Asian Americans is largely the result of the community being targeted over the COVID-19 pandemic, which was reportedly first identified in China's Wuhan.

On this, the US President said, "Words have consequences. Its called the coronavirus. Full stop."

He also urged Congress to swiftly pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which, according to Biden, would expedite the federal government's response to the rise of hate crimes exacerbated during the pandemic, support state and local governments to improve hate crimes reporting, and ensure that hate crimes information is more accessible to Asian American communities.

"During my first week in office, I signed a Presidential Memorandum to condemn and combat racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. I directed the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to help lead our nation's efforts to stop anti-Asian bias, xenophobia, and harassment. Now, it's time for Congress to codify and expand upon these actions  because every person in our nation deserves to live their lives with safety, dignity, and respect," read an official statement by the US President Biden on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
Saturday, March 20, 2021

The Vermont Supreme Court affirmed the grant of summary judgment against an associate attorney who had sued his former law firm on a variety of theories premised on his belief that he had been undercompensated for his work.

Defendant hired plaintiff as an associate attorney in February 2016. Throughout his nearly two-year employment with defendant, plaintiff believed that he was underpaid.

His concerns came to a head and led to his termination

In February 2019, plaintiff filed suit, asserting claims for promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment, intentional misrepresentation, wrongful termination, defamation, and tortious interference with contractual relations. As relevant to this appeal, he first alleged that defendant promised him a partnership-track position that would earn compensation of $100,000 within five years and that he would receive larger raises each of those years. He argued that he relied on this promise and continued to work for defendant when he otherwise would have left, and thus sought recovery under a promissory estoppel theory. Next, he argued that defendant was unjustly enriched by his work because it was inequitable for defendant to benefit from plaintiffs work and billable hours under these circumstances. Third, he contended that Attorney Monaghans statementthat plaintiffs goal of making partner and earning $100,000 in five years was reasonableconstituted an intentional misrepresentation because defendant never intended to make plaintiff a partner, but Attorney Monaghan made the statement to induce plaintiff to continue working for defendant. Finally, he asserted that defendants decision to fire him after he raised his legal claims in the April 2018 letter violated public policy. Defendant moved for summary judgment on all claims

There was no enforceable promise made or actionable misrepresentation

At best, Attorney Monaghan was expressing his opinion that it was reasonable that plaintiff might have the opportunity to become a partner and earn $100,000 annually in five years.

Nor was there unjust enrichment

there are no facts showing that plaintiff conferred an uncompensated benefit on defendant here. Defendant paid plaintiff the agreed salary for the work that he was hired to perform, and plaintiff even received numerous bonuses and raises. The record does not show that he took on any additional work beyond the scope of his employment that could be considered uncompensated. This latter fact distinguishes this case from the cases plaintiff cites in support of his argument; in each instance, the employee furnished an uncompensated benefit on the employer.

Public policy claim

Plaintiff asks us to conclude that public policy prohibits an employer from firing an employee in response to the employees threat to sue the employer. Plaintiff argues that there are several public policies violated when an employer fires an employee in response to a lawsuit, including the employees rights to access the courts, to raise claims against an employer, and to be free from retaliation for raising such claims.

Rejected

we need not determine the availability or scope of this type of wrongful termination claim under Vermont law because we conclude that plaintiff has not presented facts tending to show that his termination violated a clear and compelling public policy such that defendants conduct was cruel or shocking to the average persons conception of justice.

...Here, plaintiffs threatened lawsuit against defendant involved his own future compensation and promotion opportunities and thus does not implicate any public concern.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/03/the-vermont-supreme-court-affirmed-the-grant-of-summary-judgment-against-an-associate-attorney-who-had-sued-his-former-law-fi.html
New Delhi, March 20 : The Supreme Court has junked an appeal by the Delhi government in the cattle smuggling case, as it was filed after a gap of 576 days, due to "gross incompetence and inefficiency" of its officers.

A bench headed by Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and R. Subhash Reddy said: "We have said that if the government machinery is so inefficient and incapable of filing the appeals/petitions in time, the solution may lie in requesting the Legislature to expand the time period for filing limitation for the government authorities because of their gross incompetence." The Delhi government counsel contended it was really concerned with the Delhi High Court order, which let off two convicts with the period of five years imprisonment already served by them. The top court said if the matter was really such an important legal issue to be examined, it would have expected bare minimum efficiency from the government department, even keeping in mind the so-called inefficiencies which permeate them.

The bench noted that the special leave petitions (SLPs) were filed after a delay of 576 days. The draft SLPs were sent to department for vetting on August 9, 2018.

It took the department one year to vet the draft when it was sent back to Central Agency Section (CAS) on August 6, 2019. The bench said "So much for the efficiency and importance of the matter! The draft application for delay was received in the CAS on 07.08.2019 and completing the annexures took another five months when they were sent back on 09.01.2019. Another reflection on the inefficiency of the department!" The court also observed that no action has been taken against any officer for the inordinate delay.

The government submitted that the delay has been occasioned due to "government procedures and concurrence required from a number of authorities". The bench said: "We have repeatedly emphasised that the period of limitation cannot be ignored by government and government authorities and the Supreme Court of India cannot be a walk-in place for the government." In March 2018, the Delhi High Court reduced the sentences of the convicts from 10 years to five years jail term under various provisions of the IPC, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, (PDPP Act) and the Delhi Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act and under the Arms Act.

The appeal was filed on January 10, 2020. "We have thus, no option but to dismiss the present Special Leave Petitions as time barred though we desist from imposing costs in the present cases.", said the top court.
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The downtown of Buenos Aires, home to government buildings, large companies, shops, and tourist attractions, has turned desolate as the coronavirus pandemic has deeply impacted local businesses.

Tourists and workers disappeared after the closure of borders and the remote work imposed in Argentina a year ago to stop the advance of the coronavirus. The measures caused the closure of popular bars and restaurants, clothing stores and bookstores, many of which had survived previous repeated economic crises. Now a multitude of for-rent signs appear on shops that surround the half-empty skyscrapers.

According to a report by the Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services main commercial areas in Buenos Aires are increasingly empty, and in the central Florida pedestrian area, the spaces for rent have doubled. The landmark Olazabal tailor's shop, one that was valued by executives, bankers, tourists, and presidents for 60 years, hung a closure sign on its window.

Andrea Perelmuter decided to close down the shop due to a lack of customers and tourism. She has been in charge of the family business since her father Mauricio, an 88 year-old tailor, contracted COVID-19.

Argentina avoided the collapse of health services thanks to a strict quarantine that was imposed last March and was made more flexible by districts as of the middle of the year. However, the economic recession that dragged on from previous years deepened with a further collapse in consumption and the loss of thousands of jobs.

The traditional Tortoni cafeteria, founded in 1858 on Avenida de Mayo, has just a handful of tables occupied, missing the traditional mixtures of languages that used to be heard. "We depend on tourists. The only thing that is going to relaunch us is tourism. Meanwhile, we are working at a loss", said Miguel Gonzalez, in charge of the business that had composer Carlos Gardel and writer Jorge Luis Borges among its recurrent patrons.

Tortoni's turnover fell by 80%. Merchants are worried about an extension of remote work after health authorities control the pandemic.

Even some of the most prosperous are worried about the survival of their businesses, as the slow vaccination and the appearance of new variants of coronavirus have prolonged a ban on the entry of tourists who used to flock to downtown Buenos Aires.

Image: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Chhapar:

Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday charged Badal family of looting the state, saying that they used the state's exchequer for their "personal benefits" in the late ten years.

While Speaking on the occasion of historical Chhapar mela, Sidhu said the tenure of SAD-BJP regime would be remembered as the period of "economic terrorism".

The previous regime gave the slogan of "Raj Nahi Sewa" (service not rule) but acted quite contrary to it, the minister said.

The Badal family used the exchequer of Punjab during the previous 10 years for its "personal benefit" to such an extent that has left the state and its people in dire straits financially, Sidhu alleged.

He also alleged that with a view to monopolise every single business in the state, the Badal family looted Punjab to its "heart's content".

Also Read: No conflict of interest in Navjot Singh Sidhu doing TV shows says Punjab advocate general

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Patna, March 21 : Hindustani Awam Morch (HAM) president Jitan Ram Manjhi claimed that Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister and Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) cheif Mukesh Sahani is not happy with the JD-U and BJP decision to nominate 12 MLCs under Governor quota.

"Sahani discussed various issues with me including the nomination of 12 MLCs under Governor quota, his own tenure as MLC for 16 months and the BJP and JD-U coalition. The VIP and the HAM are expecting at least one seat of MLC under the quota and one more ministry for both the parties," Manjhi said after meeting Sahani on Saturday.

"Sahani further said that there was a pre-poll understanding between him and the BJP to allocate one seat of MLC for six years but the latter had given just one seat for 16 months," Manjhi said.

Sahani has a history of switching the alliance frequently. He pulled out from the Mahagathbandhan just before the 2020 poll after the RJD did not give any seat to his party.

Recently, Sahani faced criticism after he sent his brother to inaugurate a government function. Sources said that Sahani reportedly had verbal arguments with builders Ashok Chaudhery and Sanjay Jha. The JDU leaders wanted Sahani to apologise in public but he refused. Sahani eventually apologised before the media after CM Nitish Kumar asked him to do so.

VIP spokesperson Rajiv Mishra said: "The JDU and the BJP leaders did not discuss the matter with us and elected all the MLCs from their own parties. Such a thing is not healthy in politics."
Washington, March 20 : US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned anti-Asian violence in the country, warning against silence and complicity in the aftermath of shootings this week in Atlanta, in which eight people, including six Asian women, were killed.

Speaking from Emory University in Atlanta after meeting Asian-American community leaders on Friday, Biden acknowledged there has been "a skyrocketing spike" in hate against Asian-Americans over the last year, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Whatever the motivation," Biden said of the reason behind the massage parlour shootings shootings, "we know this, too many Asian-Americans have been walking up and down the streets and worrying, waking up each morning the past year feeling their safety and the safety of their loved ones are at stake".

"They've been attacked, blamed, scapegoated, harassed. They've been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed." The President lamented that the families of the Atlanta shooting victims were left with "broken hearts and unanswered questions", suggesting that the country failed to express enough outrage about innocent Asian-Americans being targeted in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Hate and violence often hide in plain sight and are so often met with silence. That's been true throughout history. But that has to change because our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit. We have to speak out. We have to act," Biden said.

"For all the good the laws can do, we have to change our hearts. Hate can have no safe harbour in America. It must stop. And it's on all of us, all of us together to make it stop." Meanwhile Harris sounded the alarm over a sobering reality that racism, xenophobia and sexism are all "real in America" and have always been in existence

Harris, who herself is of South-Asian descent, said: "A harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us. The President and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs.

"Whatever the killer's motive, these facts are clear: six out of the eight people on Tuesday night were of Asian descent; seven were women; the shootings took place in businesses owned by Asian-Americans; the shootings took place as violent hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans has risen dramatically over the last year and more." Eight people, six of whom were Asian and two were white, were killed in three shooting incidents in the Atlanta area by a suspect identified as 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long.

He has been arrested and charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.

Long claimed that the attacks were not racially motivated, and that he had a "sexual addiction" and saw the massage parlours as a "temptation" that he wanted to "eliminate", according to authorities.

When caught, he was on the way to Florida, where he planned to commit similar crimes, the authorities added.

The carnage came amid a troubling spike in violence against the Asian-American community -- 3,800 hate incidents reported in the last year, statistics showed.

Although the motive in the carnage has not been determined by police, some public officials and anti-discrimination organisations have raised concerns over the role of racism.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A giant asteroid, believed to be as wide as the Empire State Buildings height, will be zipping toward the Earth this weekend. But experts say theres no reason to freak out, even though its technically classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid.

There is no threat of a collision with our planet now or for centuries to come, officials from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory said in a statement issued earlier this month.

Despite its designation as a near-Earth asteroid, this massive space rock known as 2001 FO32 will be streaking at a super-fast speed about 1.25 million miles away from our planet on Sunday, March 21, NASA noted. Thats more than five times greater than the distance between the Earth and the moon.

We know the orbital path of 2001 FO32 around the sun very accurately, since it was discovered 20 years ago and has been tracked ever since, said Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, which is managed by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. There is no chance the asteroid will get any closer to Earth than 1.25 million miles.

However, in astronomical measurements, that is considered a close call.

A large asteroid known as 2001 FO32 will be speeding toward the Earth this weekend, making its closest approach on Sunday, March 21. Experts say theres no threat of a collision with our planet.Photo illustration by Buddy Nath | Pixabay

Where asteroids come from

Asteroids are solid, rocky objects that orbit our sun. They are remnants left over from the formation of our solar system, NASA explains. They can be about as wide as a car to about as wide as the state of Utah. (In case youre wondering, Utah is about 270 miles wide and 350 miles long.)

Most asteroids that are flying around in our solar system originate from a rock-filled region called the Asteroid Belt, NASA says. This vast, doughnut-shaped ring between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter contains hundreds of thousands of asteroids  maybe even millions.

The Center for Near Earth Object Studies, known as CNEOS, uses telescopes on Earth and in space to keep tabs on all the asteroids and comets that are streaking around the universe  and to look for new ones that havent yet been identified. Its their job to determine whether any of those space objects could pose a risk to our planet.

At its closest approach to Earth on Sunday, the asteroid known as 2001 FO32 will be traveling as fast as 77,000 miles per hour. NASA says this space rock will not return to our region of the solar system until 2052.

When it was discovered in March 2001, the asteroid was estimated to be about 3,000 feet wide. A later analysis calculated its width at somewhere between 1,300 to 2,230 feet.

By comparison, the Empire State Building is 1,454 feet tall, including its tip. The Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center complex in lower Manhattan stretches 1,776 feet high.

A large asteroid known as 2001 FO32 will be speeding toward the Earth this weekend, making its closest approach on Sunday, March 21. Experts say theres no threat of a collision with our planet.Photo illustration by Frantisek Krejci | Pixabay

How to see the giant asteroid

Even though this asteroid is huge, astronomy experts say it will be tough to see  especially from the northern United States and other parts of the northern hemisphere.

This is not going to be an easy thing for us to see in New Jersey, or most of the USA, said Amie Gallagher, director of the planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College in Somerset County.

For New Jersey observers, the asteroid will only be about six or seven degrees above the southern horizon at its highest altitude. Its also not going to be very bright, Gallagher noted. Youll need an 8-inch-diameter telescope or larger to observe the asteroid. This will be more easily observed in the southern hemisphere or lower northern hemisphere latitudes.

The big asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth at about noon on Sunday, but Gallagher said the best time for skywatchers to look for it would be when the skies are dark, around 3 a.m. Sunday. She said the asteroid will be in front of the stars of the constellation Lupus, which is next to Scorpius.

If you dont live in the right geographic region or you dont have a high-powered telescope, you have another option for seeing the giant asteroid. You can check out a live video feed that is being planned by the Virtual Telescope Project, an online observatory based in Rome.

The Virtual Telescope Project says it will show the asteroid for a few hours early Monday morning, when the space rock will be finishing its fly-by past the Earth. The video feed is scheduled to start at 4 a.m. UTC, which is midnight Sunday for us folks in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.

The asteroid will be brightest while it moves through southern skies, Chodas, the man who heads the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, said.

Amateur astronomers in the southern hemisphere and at low northern latitudes should be able to see this asteroid using moderate-size telescopes with apertures of at least eight inches in the nights leading up to closest approach, Chodas said, but they will probably need star charts to find it.

You may have seen headlines about an #asteroid that will safely fly by Earth on March 21. While this asteroid, known as 2001 FO32, is large, it will safely zip past Earth at a distance of 1.3 million milesfive times further away than the Moonand poses no risk of hitting Earth. pic.twitter.com/oZZG5UaFsf  NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) March 8, 2021

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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
With a little over a month left before Chief Justice of India SA Bobde retires, the government has started the process of appointment of next CJI, asking the incumbent to recommend his successor, sources said Saturday.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Friday sent a letter to Justice Bobde, who is set to retire on April 23, seeking his recommendation, the sources said.

As per the Memorandum of Procedure governing the appointment of members of the higher judiciary, "appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office".

It stipulates that the Law Minister would, at an appropriate time, seek the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India for the appointment of the next CJI.

Under this process, after receipt of the recommendation of the CJI, the Law Minister puts it before the Prime Minister who advises the President in the matter of appointment.

"Whenever there is any doubt about the fitness of the senior-most Judge to hold the office of the Chief Justice of India, consultation with other Judges...would be made for appointment of the next Chief Justice of India," the document states.

Justice NV Ramana is the senior-most judge in the top court after the CJI.

Born on August 27, 1957, justice Ramana has a tenure till August 26, 2022.

(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.)
has admitted to an error in subscriber data for January after analysts expressed surprise over unusually high growth in a single region.

We noted an inadvertent error in the subscriber data for January 21 submitted to the in regular course. We have corrected the same and duly reported the revised data to TRAI, the telecom company said in a statement.

(Vi) had reported a gain of 1.7 million subscribers in January, the first positive growth in last four months. However bulk of the growth was reported from Western Uttar Pradesh.

According to earlier data, four regions (Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and western Uttar Pradesh) had contributed to positive growth, but western UP alone accounted for over 3.7 million of the 3.8 million gross subscriber additions in January.

According to earlier data, its total subscriber addition in January was 1.7 million and the telecom company lost over 2.1 million subscribers in 18 other regions. Vi had 286 million wireless customers as of January and trailed its rivals Reliance Jio and Airtel.
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Researchers from Columbia University and Temple University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how choice architecture can reduce socioeconomic disparities.

The study, forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing, is titled "Do Nudges Reduce Disparities? Choice Architecture Compensates for Low Consumer Knowledge" and is authored by Kellen Mrkva, Nathaniel Posner, Crystal Reeck, and Eric Johnson.

As Mrkva explains, "Our research demonstrates that people with low socioeconomic status (SES), low numerical ability, and low knowledge are most impacted by nudges. As a result, 'good nudges,' designed to encourage selection of options that are in people's best interests, reduce SES disparities, helping low-SES people more than high-SES people." On the other hand, nudges that encourage selection of inferior options exacerbate disparities relative to "good nudges" because low-SES consumers are more likely to retain inferior default options. In other words, nudges are a double-edged sword that can either reduce disparities or make matters worse because they impact low-SES people most. The research team generalized its findings across three different types of nudges, several different consumer decision contexts, and real retirement decisions.

This research has major implications, including for the COVID vaccination process. Across the country, millions of people are now eligible to get a COVID vaccine. However, the signup process is often unnecessarily complex. New York's nycHealthy sign-up portal, for example, includes as many as 51 questions and requests that you upload your insurance card. As a result, many people, especially the elderly, poor, and less digitally literate, have struggled or failed to make an appointment. As Johnson explains, "Our research suggests that making beneficial behaviors like vaccination simpler has a crucial and underappreciated advantage--it reduces socioeconomic disparities. On the other hand, when these behaviors are unnecessarily complex, it is typically low-SES consumers who are harmed the most."

In five experiments as well as data from real retirement decisions, the researchers show that people who are lower in SES, domain knowledge, and numeracy are impacted more by a variety of nudges. As a result, "good nudges" that facilitate selection of welfare-enhancing options reduce disparities by helping low-SES, low-knowledge, and low-numeracy consumers most.

In Study 1, participants made five consumer financial decisions. For each decision, they were randomly assigned to a "no default," "good default," or "bad default" condition (the latter two pre-selected correct or incorrect options, respectively). After they made these five decisions, participants completed common measures of the three hypothesized moderators--financial literacy, numeracy, and socioeconomic status. As predicted, there was a large default effect. There were also interactions between the default condition and the three moderators; participants lower in these moderators were more impacted by defaults. These effects remained significant when adding survey engagement, comprehension, need for cognition, agreeableness, decision time, and their interactions with condition to the model as covariates.

Study 2 examines whether these effects generalized across three different types of nudges and three decision contexts. It replicated the SES and financial literacy effects of Study 1 across all nudges and contexts. Unlike Study 1 and all subsequent studies, the nudge x numeracy interaction was not significant. The key effects remained significant when controlling for a measure of fluid intelligence.

Study 3 uses syndicated data from stratified random samples of American households about their retirement investment decisions to examine a sample of people who work for companies that use defaults to automatically enroll employees into retirement contributions. Respondents reported whether they retained or opted out of the default contribution amount and default investment allocation. Evidence supports that lower-SES and less financially literate people are more impacted by nudges and thus less likely to opt out of these retirement defaults: Lower-SES participants were less likely to opt out as were participants with lower financial literacy.

Study 4 replicated these effects in the context of COVID-19 health decisions (e.g., deciding whether to wear a mask). Additionally, domain-specific health knowledge moderated default effects whereas other-domain knowledge did not. Studies 5-6 replicated the predicted moderators from Study 1 with incentives. Mediation models suggest that people with lower SES, domain knowledge, and numeracy were more impacted by nudges partly because they experience higher uncertainty and decision anxiety when making decisions.

Across the six studies, nudges influenced choice disparities across people. Posner summarizes the study by saying "Our results suggest that nudges that make behaviors such as retail purchases, vaccine sign-up, and retirement contributions more automatic can reduce socioeconomic inequities."

###

Full article and author contact information available at: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1177/ 0022242921993186

About the Journal of Marketing

The Journal of Marketing develops and disseminates knowledge about real-world marketing questions useful to scholars, educators, managers, policy makers, consumers, and other societal stakeholders around the world. Published by the American Marketing Association since its founding in 1936, JM has played a significant role in shaping the content and boundaries of the marketing discipline. Christine Moorman (T. Austin Finch, Sr. Professor of Business Administration at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University) serves as the current Editor in Chief. https:/ / www. ama. org/ jm

About the American Marketing Association (AMA)
France resumed vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab on Friday, following a brief suspension over fears of blood clots. Leaders sought to reassure their populations it is safe as the suspension cast doubt on a vaccine that is critical to end the coronavirus pandemic. 59-year-old old Alain Lostis rushed into a pharmacy outside Paris on Friday afternoon, just in time to get the last dose from a vial of AstraZeneca.

Lotis shrugged off concerns about the vaccine, saying he thought it had been scrutinized sufficiently. Steve Chemouny, the pharmacist administering the vaccine, wasn't surprised that all the doses went in a brisk five minutes. Chemouny said he was looking forward to a new delivery next week for the clients he couldn't vaccinate on Friday. The suspensions earlier this week came after reports of blood clots in some recipients of the vaccine, even though international health agencies urged governments to press ahead with the shot, saying the benefits outweighed the risks.

The World Health Organization said Friday the shot has "tremendous potential to prevent infections and reduce deaths," and while some very rare clots have been detected after a few people received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe, "it is not certain that they have been caused by vaccination."

Health experts have expressed concern that even though the suspensions were brief, they could still damage confidence in the vaccine at a time when many people are already hesitant to take a shot that was developed so quickly. Earlier Friday French prime minister Jean Castex received the first dose of AstraZeneca in a bid to restore confidence in the embattled vaccine.

(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)
New Delhi, March 20 : The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday "temporarily restrained" the involvement of political appointees holding the office of administrators in the Municipal Corporations in the poll-bound West Bengal whose terms have ended.

The restriction will be imposed till the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force. The order will be effective from 10 a.m. on March 22.

These political appointees include those who are holding the office of administrators, head of board of administrators in the Municipal Corporations of West Bengal on appointment basis even after the end of their elected term. They will be barred from participating or exercising in the functions of the board.

The commission further directed a committee headed by Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Principal Secretary Urban Development and Principal Secretary Personnel to appoint the government officials to discharge the functions of the administrators, head of board of administrator during the MCC.

The appointment, however, will be as per the commission's instruction issued on December 18 last year.

The poll panel also directed the Chief Secretary to ensure a level playing field in all other Municipal Bodies in West Bengal by rigorous reviews of their decisions which can disturb the level playing field.

The commission further stressed for the compliance of the order by 10 a.m. on March 22.

The top election body explained, saying the order has been issued to "avoid a situation where critical functions of urban local bodies are actually discharged and thereby affecting level playing field during the operation of MCC or has potential or to a legitimate apprehension in the mind of the voters about the fairness and impartiality of the election process".

The MCC was imposed soon after the commission announced the date of Assembly polls in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry earlier this month.

The polling will be held in West Bengal in eight phases to elect 294 members for the state legislative Assembly. The polling is slated in West Bengal on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29.
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Some 26.3% of residents of the east and south of Ukraine are in favor of Ukraine's accession to NATO, while 39.9% are against, according to the results of a survey within the project "Perception of NATO in Donbas and South Ukraine," initiated by the "Center for International Security" and implemented with the support of the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine.

At the same time, some 22.6% of the respondents said they support cooperation with NATO, but without membership, and 11.2% found it difficult to answer this question.

The highest is the level of support for Ukraine's entry into the Alliance in the regional centers, where 29.1% of the respondents were in favor of joining NATO (37% were against, 20.1% were for cooperation, but without membership). In small towns (up to 20,000 people), urban settlements or villages, joining NATO is supported by 23.9% of respondents (39.8% are against, 27.4% are for cooperation, but without membership).

A more negative perception of Ukraine's accession to NATO among respondents who have incomplete secondary or secondary education (52.1% are against, 18.3% support, 15.5% are for cooperation, but without membership). Respondents with incomplete higher or higher education show a low level of critical attitude (34.1% are against) and a high level of support for both Ukraine's accession to NATO (32.3%) and cooperation with the Alliance without membership in it (24.4%).

The survey results show the highest level of support for Ukraine's accession or rapprochement with NATO among respondents aged 18 to 29 (41% support, 22% are for cooperation, but without membership, 22% are against). The most critical assessment of Ukraine's accession to NATO is expressed by respondents whose age is 60 and over (56.2% are against, 18.6% support, 14.5% are for cooperation, but without membership).

Men are more supportive of the idea of joining NATO (30.8% are for, 22.3% are for cooperation, but without membership, 38% are against). Among women, 22.5% were in favor of joining the Alliance, 23% were in favor of cooperation, but without membership, while 41.5% were against.

The highest rates of critical attitude towards the idea of Ukraine's accession to NATO are shown by respondents with an unsatisfactory financial situation. Among those who often do not have money even for food, some 64% were against joining the Alliance (10.1% were for, 12.4% were for cooperation, but without membership). Among those who live in full prosperity, some 41.1% do not support the idea of joining NATO, some 36.8% are in favor of joining and 21.1% are for cooperation, but without membership.

Some 84.4% of respondents partially or completely perceive Ukraine's membership in the Alliance as expensive. The overwhelming majority of respondents partially or completely agree that the accession or rapprochement of Ukraine with the Alliance will lead to an escalation (strengthening) of the conflict with Russia (82.5%). Some 81.9% of respondents fear the deployment of NATO military bases on the territory of Ukraine, some 79.9% fear Ukraine's obligations to send its military to "hot spots" and 78.7% fear violations of Ukraine's neutrality.

Some 64.7% of respondents partially or completely agree that Ukraine's membership in NATO will be a step on Ukraine's path to the European Union, while 59.6%, partially or completely, agree that joining the Alliance will help attract investment to Ukraine.

Some 58% of respondents said "they know something about NATO, but not enough," while 17% were "well informed," some 18% "know practically nothing" and some 7% said they "are not interested in this information at all."

The sociological survey was conducted by the Center for Applied Research on February 22 to March 3, 2021 in Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson regions, as well as in the controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the form of a questionnaire survey, in the form of personal interviews using the "face to face" method using electronic media. Some 1,112 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed. The error does not exceed 3%.
NAPLES  A body found Thursday in the Illinois River in Scott County has been confirmed to be that of a Peoria woman missing since November, authorities said.

The body of Cosette Cricket Brown, 48, was found in the river at Naples, 24 miles southwest of Beardstown and some 100 miles downstream from Peoria. Shed been missing since Nov. 18.

The Scott County Coroners Office identified Browns body, Peoria police said. The cause of her death has not been determined.

At least I got some closure. Before I had nothing, said Browns mother, Veronica Brown.

She remembered her daughters inherent kindness.

She would give you the shirt off of her back. She fed them, she clothed them. She did whatever she could to help other people, Veronica Brown said.

Family members were hopeful that additional toxicology results might help shed more light on how Cosette Brown died, describing initial autopsy results as inconclusive.

We just gotta go through the process and see what we can see, and get something and try to figure it out, sister Beverly Brown said, recalling her sisters personality and laugh.

Its just everything about her, Beverly Brown said. A part of my heart is gone.

Cosette Brown was last seen near Lincoln and Western avenues in Peoria on Nov. 18.

Family members last reported speaking to her over the telephone the following day. According to police, her phone has been turned off since then. Previously, family said, shed talk to her mother several times each day.

Beverly Brown reiterated she was convinced that someone who knew Cosette Brown was involved in her disappearance.

Beverly Brown said her sister, a South Peoria resident, didnt have a car and wasnt the type to go off with people she didnt know.

Somebody took her to wherever she was, somebody she was comfortable with, she said.

Peoria police and Illinois State Police are investigating the case.

Anyone with additional information should call Peoria police at 309-673-4521 or CrimeStoppers at 309-673-9000.
Angela Jiang was getting ready to go to sleep when she received a text message around midnight Tuesday from a community leader she used to work with at a local Asian American advocacy group in Atlanta, asking her to join a call the next morning about shootings that were happening in the area.

This was the first Jiang had heard about any shootings, but she knew right away that whatever was happening must be affecting the Asian American community. The 24-year-old, who grew up in the Atlanta suburb of Gwinnett County and now lives in the city, began searching online for more information and quickly realized that some of the shootings had taken place at spas just five minutes from where she lives.

Not only had people been killed right in her own neighborhood, at businesses she passes by regularly, but as Jiang continued combing through the initial news reports, it became clear that the majority of the victims were Asian women.

I just remember crying myself to sleep that night, Jiang told Yahoo News.

Flowers outside Gold Spa, one of the Atlanta-area spas targeted in a shooting spree that left eight people, including six Asian women, dead on Tuesday. (Elijah Nouvelage for the Washington Post via Getty Images)

For the next couple of days, Jiang said, she felt very depressed, but also just unsafe and afraid to leave her house. Walks around the neighborhood had been a cherished part of her daily work-from-home routine, but now she found herself debating if she should go out at all.

This sense of insecurity wasnt new. Over the past year, as racially charged rhetoric about the origins of the coronavirus have triggered rising reports of discrimination, harassment and violent attacks against Asian Americans around the country, Jiang said she has become increasingly aware of her identity as an Asian woman  and the particular dangers she faces because of it.

Those feelings, Jiang said, were definitely exacerbated by the shootings, which left eight people, six of them Asian women, dead at three different spas in the Atlanta area.

Shes not alone. Yahoo News spoke to a number of members of Atlantas Asian American community, most of them women, who said that they too are on high alert in the aftermath of Tuesdays deadly rampage.

Story continues

We are living in a very scary time where people are looking to scapegoat people who look like me and people from my community for things that are beyond our control, Jessica Liu, a sophomore at Emory University, told Yahoo News. Though Liu said she hasnt personally been the victim of anti-Asian discrimination or violence, just hearing the stories of so many others whove been attacked simply for being Asian has instilled this general fear in me that that could potentially happen to me. And thats something I havent felt before.

Liu said that since the spa shootings, shes been calculating whether she has enough food in her kitchen to skip her weekly trip to the grocery store in order to mitigate as much risk as possible.

I definitely am more concerned for my personal safety, she said.

For many, the Atlanta spa shootings were terrifying but not unexpected.

I knew something like this was going to happen eventually, said Stephanie Zhang, a junior at Emory University and a co-president of Emorys Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Activists, an organization that advocates on behalf of Asian American students on campus. My newsfeed has been flooded with attacks on elderly Asian people.

According to a study released Tuesday by Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit formed last year to track rising cases of hate and discrimination against Asian Americans stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the group received 3,795 reports of racially motivated attacks against Asian Americans between March 2020 and February of this year likely only a fraction of the total incidents that actually occurred because such attacks are typically underreported. The vast majority, or 68 percent, of reported attacks were against women.

Another report published earlier this month by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino found that 16 of the countrys largest cities saw a 7 percent decline in overall hate crimes in 2020, while hate crimes targeting Asian people grew by nearly 150 percent.

On Thursday, various Asian American activists, academics and leaders, including several members of Congress, testified during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the history and latest surge of anti-Asian discrimination and violence during the pandemic, which many Democrats attributed to the use of inflammatory terms like China virus and kung flu by former President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

The hearing had been scheduled by the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties prior to Tuesdays shootings in Atlanta, but the news weighed heavily over much of the discussion. The subcommittees chairman, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., began the hearing with a moment of silence for the victims, and stated in his opening remarks that the killings felt like the inevitable culmination of a year in which there were nearly 3,800 reported incidents of anti-Asian hate.

I want to make clear that all Asian Americans who are understandably feeling hurt and afraid right now and wondering whether anyone else in America cares that Congress sees you, we stand with you, Cohen said. Were gonna do everything in our power to protect you.

But another official narrative had already begun circulating by then that, for the women who spoke to Yahoo News, seemed to send the exact opposite message.

People hold signs at the Asian Solidarity March rally against anti-Asian hate on Thursday in Minneapolis. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)

At a press conference in Atlanta on Wednesday, Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office relayed a claim made by the suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, that the shootings were not motivated by racism but rather by Longs issues with sex addiction. Baker drew criticism for his depiction of the shooting.

He was pretty much fed up and kind of at the end of his rope and yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did, Baker said, adding that the alleged gunman viewed the spas he targeted as a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate.

For Jiang, Bakers comments not only seemed to offer an excuse for the alleged shooter, but his remarks really erased the suffering of the victims, and the broader community, in a way that was incredibly hurtful but not surprising.

I think the Asian woman experience in America is particularly difficult, Jiang said, noting that the long history of exoticization and fetishization of Asian women is something shes had to contend with in her own dating life.

Ive had several relationships with partners who, I wasnt really sure if they were interested in me [for] my personality or any other aspect of my character, or was it really because I was an Asian woman?

Liu, the Emory sophomore, said she has no doubt that the shootings were racially motivated, a belief that she says has only grown stronger in light of the sex addiction claim.

You cant separate racism from the way Asian women have been sexualized in society in general, Liu said. Theres just too much overlap between the two for race to not be a factor.

A woman mourns outside Gold Spa on Thursday in Atlanta. (Elijah Nouvelage for the Washington Post via Getty Images)

Initially, the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office identified the four victims who were fatally shot at a spa in their jurisdiction. They were Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44. The Fulton County Medical Examiners Office has since released the names of the remaining four women who were killed at two other locations, in Atlanta. They were 74-year-old Soon Chung Park, 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant, 69-year-old Suncha Kim, and Yong Yue, age 63.

In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, Zhang said that she and her fellow campus activists moved quickly to reach out to Emorys Asian American students and provide resources for them to cope with the news. At the same time, she said, her organization has been pushing out resources for non-Asian students to learn more about the history of Asian American violence while also working to demystify popular narratives around Asian Americans and Asian American women.

We try to ask people to look at it through the framework of the hypersexualization of Asian women, [which] is a very real thing, Zhang said. She argued that the fact that the suspect specifically targeted Asian-run spas makes it very clear that he has this assumption that Asian women fit into this mold of being hypersexualized even if they might not necessarily be in sex work.

A woman at a demonstration following the deadly shootings in the Atlanta area on Thursday. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Long was charged Wednesday with murder and assault, and Deputy Atlanta Police Chief Charles Hampton Jr. said that additional counts, including possible hate crime charges, are not off the table as the shootings are still being investigated, with the help of the FBI.

A spokesperson for the FBIs Atlanta field office told Yahoo News in a statement that at this time, the FBI is assisting the Atlanta Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff Office in their investigations. We are coordinating closely with those local authorities. If, in the course of the local investigations, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate.

During Wednesdays press conference, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tried to do damage control, emphasizing that we will not begin to blame victims, and as far as we know in Atlanta these are legally operating businesses that have not been on our radar, the radar of [the Atlanta Police Department]. And on Thursday, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds issued a statement saying that Bakers comments were not intended to disrespect any of the victims, the gravity of this tragedy, or express empathy or sympathy for the suspect.

But for some, the damage had already been done. Zhang believes that Bakers comments not only helped perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Asian women, but also signaled to members of the Asian American community that the police, the people we are taught to trust, she said, cant be expected to hold perpetrators of these types of violence accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, Jiang said that it didnt take long after Wednesdays press conference before she began seeing speculation circulate online about whether the victims may have been sex workers, suggesting that somehow its OK that prostitutes potentially got killed in this instance.

Its really disheartening to me, Jiang said, noting that the women who worked in those spas, like so many others working in service industries throughout the pandemic, were already putting themselves so much at risk to just make a livelihood.

The cruelty of it all was just incredibly heartbreaking, she said.

Julia Munslow contributed reporting to this story.

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The Dublin woman who led gardai on a high speed chase which she live streamed on Instagram has said she was fined 500 for going on holidays to Spain.

Gemma Greene, from Coolock in north Dublin, was arrested by gardai earlier this month after the chase from north Dublin to Wicklow and back.

She is due to appear in court next week in connection with the incident.

Greene has been enjoying her notoriety since the incident and has joked about it online.

She jetted off to Spain days after her arrest and posted pictures from her Barcelona and Madrid.

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She said she wants to move to Spain next month to live there.

She arrived back in Ireland on Monday and this weekend she confirmed she was fined by gardai on return.

Fined me 500 even though I was visiting family which is deemed essential," she posted on Instagram.

She also said this week she was considering setting up an OnlyFans account which is an account posting pictures, videos and other content only available if people pay a subscription.

Greene is due to appear in court next week in relation to the M50 incident.

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She lived-streamed the almost hour long chase on Instagram and could be heard singing along to music and taunting gardai while racing across the M50 in her Mercedes.

The chase eventually came to an end in Ballymun in north Dublin where she was arrested.

In an interview with the Irish Daily Star earlier this month she claimed the incident started after she was driving out of her estate and spotted a garda and thought he was going to pull her over so she sped.

I said Im not f**king listening to this today. He didnt even put the blue lights on. He didnt even pull me to stop. I put the foot down and went for it.




Defence Minister and his American counterpart on Saturday held wide-ranging talks focusing on further expansion of bilateral strategic ties, evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region and challenges of terrorism.

India is the third destination of Austin's three-nation first overseas tour, and the visit is seen as a reflection of the Joe Biden administration's strong commitment to its relations with its close allies and partners in the region.

On Saturday morning, Austin visited the War Memorial and paid tributes to India's fallen heroes. Before the talks, he was given a guard of honour at the Vigyan Bhavan complex.

The called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held talks with Security Advisor Ajit Doval hours after his arrival in Delhi on Friday.

In his meeting with Modi, he conveyed the Biden administration's strong desire to further deepen strategic ties with India to address the pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.

Almost all key issues of mutual concerns, including China's aggressive behaviour in the region, are learnt to have figured in the deliberations between Austin and Doval.

"Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defense partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region," Austin tweeted on Friday.

People familiar with the US official's visit said earlier that India's plan to procure around 30 multi-mission armed Predator drones from the US for the three services at an estimated cost of over USD 3 billion is expected to figure in Austin-Singh talks.

The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner".

The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries use of each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provides for deeper cooperation.

The two sides have also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 that provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for sale of high end technology from the US to India.

In October last year, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) agreement to further boost bilateral defence ties.

The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Shark nets harm threatened marine animals, while failing to protect beachgoers from shark attacks, according to Waverley Council, which says the NSW government should strongly consider discontinuing mesh nets in the future.

The eastern suburbs council voted last week to reject the use of shark nets at Bondi and Bronte beaches, but NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the state government had no plans to remove the shark nets.

Shark nets installed at Bondi and Bronte beaches do not span the length of the beaches. Credit:Steven Saphore

You cant look at nets in isolation but need to see them as part of a broader risk management strategy that includes drones and smart drumlines, he said.

The NSW government is seeking feedback from local councils on its shark management program, which includes drones at 34 beaches, SMART drumlines on the north coast, listening stations to detect tagged sharks, the SharkSmart app and shark nets.
Emraan Hashmi made his Bollywood debut with the 2002 film Raaz. The actor has been in the film industry for almost two decades now and has seen many ups and downs. From playing a lover to a goon, the actor has proven time and again that versatility comes naturally to him. His dedication towards every character he takes up has ensured that his fans are never disappointed.

Now, he is back in theatres with Mumbai Saga where he is seen playing a tough cop who is up against a gangster played by John Abraham. Emraan was last seen in a grey role in Milan Luthrias Once Upon in Mumbai, so it will be interesting to see him in a similar role in the movie.

Heres the trailer of the movie:

MensXp got a chance to talk to Emraan Hashmi whos next, Mumbai Saga has released this Friday. We talked about his character in the movie and if he feels he has a strong footing in Bollywood now.

Having seen you from making your debut in Raaz to doing movies like Shanghai, The Dirty Picture, and now Mumbai Saga, I must say you have proven to be quite versatile. Is that a conscious decision?

I dont think it happens alone because its also connected to who you are working with. I have been fortunate enough to work with some really fantastic teams throughout my career. I have fortunately been a part of a few great movies and I believe its the hard work of everyone involved with the project, the writers, the directors, and the entire support team. Its all that builds you up. I feel lucky that I started my career with films like Murder which was breaking stereotypes in 2003. It was a sort of blasphemy back then to be a part of such a bold movie but it got accepted and it established me. I again have to add that I feel fortunate that the directors and writers thought of me and I was offered roles in movies like Jannat and The Dirty Picture. With Mumbai Saga, Sanjay Gupta thought I could do justice to this uber-cool cop genre and he was one of the dream directors I had on my wish list to work with.

Its not the first time that we are seeing a story set against the backdrop of Mumbai being ruled by gangsters. What, according to you, sets Mumbai Saga apart?

I think at the core of the film, its a quintessential gangster movie that will satiate the audience. You are right that there have been many gangster flicks in the past. I wouldnt say its saturated but we haven't seen a film in this genre in a long time now. I have been a part of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, Gangster. I steered clear of the scripts that came to me after Once Upon A Time In Mumbai because they were doing pretty much the same thing but Sanjay Gupta has given Mumbai Saga a different colour and texture. Its about how the city was changing in the 80s and 90s.

After seeing the trailer, I could sense the sass in your character and it doesnt fit into the bracket of quintessential cops of Bollywood movies either. What are your thoughts about this?

I have a habit of doing that to my characters. Also, half of the job is done when the writers come up with such a character - Vijay Savarkar is no less than a gangster himself. When my family saw the movie, they were confused if Savarkar was a good guy or bad, but there lies a dichotomy in the character. From the outside, it feels like he is doing something which is unethical but he is a bit of a goon too in the movie. He is not here for any rewards or awards. He is bloodthirsty and his only goal is to get hold of Amartya Rao. Of course, I wanted to play a cop and it was interesting to play someone on this side of the law as I have always played the role of a thug or a gangster.

As you just mentioned that Savarkar isnt interested in awards or rewards and his passion was that one thing that kept him motivated. I remember reading one of your interviews wherein you mentioned that you never approach a role just on the basis of the money being offered to you as it has more to do with the script?

I can think of a lot of things to do with Rs 10 crores (laughs). Obviously, I do films for the creative aspect but I wont do a film with no money. If you ask any actor to do a movie for zero money, you will surely get a surprising reaction from all of us. Theres a monetary aspect to it. In terms of passion and drive to excel in your profession, its where I relate to the character but not the monetary aspect (giggles).

Emraan, you had mentioned in one of your interviews in 2018 that it wasnt easy to swim against the tide of Bollywood. Now, do you think that you have a strong footing in the industry?

Obviously, I have had a firm footing for a long time now but its a kind of industry where you cant take things for granted. Every year, you have so many youngsters coming into the game that you have to step up. For me, I am very passionate about the process of filmmaking and if you have that, you will find your footing in Bollywood but every day is like a struggle. You have to constantly take the punches and yet keep moving forward. Even if you have found a strong footing in Bollywood, you can lose grip very soon if you dont put in your hard work. I believe its not failure that can destroy people in Bollywood but its instead the success. Its the passion that keeps you motivated.

Before we ended the conversation, I asked Emraan if he was having jitters as a theatre release can be risky especially because people aren't completely sure about watching movies on the big screen. He calmly responded saying that it had to begin eventually and felt that it was a bold move by the makers to put their product out there for people to watch it on the big screen when they could have easily opted for an OTT release.
Margot Robbie's brother Cameron finally made his Neighbours debut on Friday.

The 25-year-old had a Baywatch moment in a clip for the show and can be seen running shirtless while appearing as Ramsay Street's newest lifeguard, Jessie Porter.

Cameron shared the video on Instagram, clearly thrilled for his big break.

Following in Margot's footsteps! Cameron Robbie made his debut on Neighbours on Friday, ten years after his Hollywood star sister left the soap

'Jesse Porter slowly runs through Erinsborough for the first time tonight at 6:30pm on Neighbours on 10 Peach!' he captioned the clip.

He plays wealthy lifeguard Jesse Porter, who takes a summer job at Lassiters bar.

In the clip, he channels his inner David Hasselhoff by wearing dark aviator-style shades, which were similar the ones the 68-year-old wore in the American drama series.

Sprinting on the sand with a surf board under his arm, a shirtless Cameron sizzled as he removed the sunglasses from his face and cheekily smiled for the camera.

Baywatch moment: The 25-year-old had a Baywatch moment in a clip for the show and can be seen running shirtless while appearing as Ramsay Street's newest lifeguard, Jessie Porter

Getting in the zone: In the clip, Cameron channels his inner David Hasselhoff (pictured) by wearing dark aviator-style shades, which were similar the ones the 68-year-old wore in the American drama series

Time to celebrate: To mark the heart-racing moment, Cameron celebrated his appearance on Neighbours with friends at a residence

The only thing he was wearing were cropped red board shorts and a matching cap, with the word 'Lifeguard' inscribed.

To mark the heart-racing moment, Cameron celebrated his appearance on Neighbours with friends at a residence.

He was presented with flowers in celebration of making his debut to the iconic soap and guests were treated to an array of chips, dips, drinks and a Coles or Woolworths mudcake.

The group were seen singing and enjoying each other's company, before cheering for Cameron when he appeared on screen.

Cameron's role comes 10 years after his Oscar-nominated sister left the Neighbours set to pursue her Hollywood dream.

What does it follow? Cameron's role comes 10 years after his Oscar-nominated sister (left) left the Neighbours set. Pictured with Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kennedy

The Suicide Squad star appeared on the Channel 10 show as Donna Freedman from 2008 to 2011.

Having been around and worked in film sets since high school, Cameron has always had an interest in acting and had a 'strong want' to grow with his abilities.

'I don't place pressure on myself regarding her [Margot's] success, only my own expectation that I work hard, pursue what I love and make it meaningful,' he told the Herald Sun in January.
Photo: The Canadian Press Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, arrives at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, Friday, March 19, 2021.

A Canadian border officer had no reason to question the chief financial officer of telecom giant Huawei about the company's activity in Iran except to assist U.S. investigators, one of her lawyers said Friday.

Mona Duckett told a B.C. Supreme Court judge hearing Meng's extradition case that some questions posed by Supt. Sanjit Dhillon had nothing to do with her admissibility into Canada.

Dhillon said in a statutory declaration completed after Meng's 2018 arrest at Vancouver's airport that he asked her what concerns the United States had about Huawei products, whether her company sold products that it shouldn't, and whether her company sold products in Iran.

Meng is wanted on fraud charges in the United States based on allegations relating to U.S. sanctions against Iran that both she and Huawei deny.

"The value of these responses to an adjudicator who is assessing whether Ms. Meng might be inadmissible to Canada for either criminality or for national security concerns to Canada or her allies is, with respect, zero," Duckett said.

"The value would only be to a U.S. audience."

Lawyers for Canada's attorney general have not yet responded in court, but they say in court documents the screening questions had a "clear nexus" with admissibility concerns. There is no evidence that the answers were shared beyond the Canada Border Services Agency, they say.

"It cannot be said that posing such questions was in any way unreasonable or contrary to his duties," the Crown says.

Meng's lawyer made the argument as part of a broader claim that proceedings in her extradition case should be stayed because her rights were violated at the airport when she was questioned before being informed of her arrest.

Her team says RCMP and border officers colluded to conduct a covert criminal investigation under the guise of a routine border exam, an allegation the officers have denied.

Meng's hearing took place after a closed-door trial was held on Friday in China in the case of Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians whose detention two years ago is widely seen as retaliation for her arrest.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned China's "lack of transparency" after the brief trial. No verdict was announced.

The other Canadian detainee, Michael Kovrig, has a scheduled court appearance Monday.

The B.C. Supreme Court hearings in Meng's case are set to wrap up in May.

Meng's lawyers have argued that Canadian officials ignored a court order that called for her "immediate" arrest, instead holding her for three hours in the airport's secondary screening area.

Duckett pointed to a judgment in the B.C. Court of Appeal that involved an examination of charter rights at the border.

Border officers have a right to make routine inquiries as part of the screening process, but once the person is detained in the "constitutional" sense, the person should be informed of their rights, including a right to a lawyer, Duckett said.

Meng was in transit to Mexico when she was pulled into screening by border officers, her devices were taken and information was collected for law enforcement, Duckett said.

"All of those factors cumulatively, in our submission, ought to demonstrate to this court that that was not a routine border screening process."
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Tesla cars might be hot sellers in China, but don't tell that to the country's government. Reuters and Bloomberg sources say the Chinese military has banned Tesla vehicles from its military facilities over fears the EVs' cameras pose a security risk. While the drivers themselves won't be in trouble, they'll have to park outside the premises.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that China was limiting use of Tesla cars by employees in both the military and "key state-owned companies." It told some agencies to ask staff to stop driving their cars to work, and to avoid driving into housing compounds for families of people working in sensitive fields.

The concern, as you might guess, is that a spy might use the bevy of cameras on a vehicle like the Model Y to detail the facilities and their activity. The Dashcam feature records up to 10 minutes of video from the front, and there's a one-hour looping buffer of footage. Sentry Mode, meanwhile, will record incidents around the car starting 10 minutes before they took place. Newer vehicles like the Y and Model 3 also have a driver-facing interior camera. While it's not quite around-the-clock recording, it's theoretically possible to map a base or capture troop movements.

Tesla has so far declined to officially comment apart from telling the WSJ that its privacy policies complied with Chinese laws and regulations. However, company chief Elon Musk denied the allegations in a virtual forum. Tesla would "get shut down" if it used cars for spying in China or any other country, Musk said, adding that there was motivation to keep data confidential.

Whether or not the claims are merited, they may serve a political role. China is still frustrated that the US has labeled Huawei and other companies as security threats. Restrictions on Tesla cars could serve a form of retaliation, especially with Chinese and American officials engaging in tense discussions.
Determined to realise full potential of Indo-US global strategic partnership: Rajnath Singh

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 20: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the talks with US Defence Secretary, Llyod Austin were comprehensive and fruitful. We are determined to realise the full potential of Indo-US global strategic partnership, Singh said after the meeting.

Singh also said that the talks focused on the the military to military engagement, information sharing and logistics support among other issues. The bi-lateral and multilateral exercises between the two countries were also reviewed, Singh further added.

Committed to our strategic partnership, says PM Modi after meeting with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

Further the two sides also agreed to expand cooperation between the Indian and US military and US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and African Command, Singh also said.

Singh said that he invited the US defence industry to take advantage of the India's liberalised FDI policies in the defence sector. He also said that he hoped to make the Indo-US relations as one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.

Austin, post the meeting said that India in particular is an increasingly important partner among today's rapidly shifting international dynamics. Our relationship is a stronghold of the free and open Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi stated that India stands for freedom of navigation, overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce in adherence to International law, Austin also added.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 13:20 [IST]
Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to make promises to develop Bengal as an international trading and commerce hub, according to sources aware of the information. The saffron party is likely to assure the citizens, in its manifesto for the forthcoming assembly polls, that new road networks and rail connections will be improved with its international neighbours, as the state shares a border with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, said sources. The poll manifesto is set to be unveiled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 21.

A senior BJP leader stated that West Bengal has a huge potential for development as an international Commerce hub. "Under the left and later under TMC, this potential was not realized. We will change this and ensure that West Bengal becomes one of the fastest-growing states in the country. The state shares borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal and has potential that has not been exploited to make the state prosper," the leader added.

"There were discussions on the construction of a 6 km long viaduct from Islampur to Jalpaiguri over Tentulia salient of Bangladesh. Also, there is a need for rail and bus connections between Kolkata and Guwahati and Silchar and Kolkata through Bangladesh," stated the source.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired a high-level meeting over the BJP manifesto for West Bengal Assembly elections, sources told Republic TV. The meeting took place at the residence of BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi. The saffron party's Bengal manifesto will be released by Shah during his visit to Kolkata on March 21. Earlier on Wednesday, a meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) with the party's West Bengal unit was held at the BJP headquarters in the national capital. Prime Minister Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, and JP Nadda were among the attendees of the CEC meeting. BJP vice president Mukul Roy informed the Committee has finalized the list of almost all the candidates for seats going to polls in the last 4 phases of Bengal polls.

West Bengal elections 2021

The West Bengal Assembly with 294 seats will also go to the polls from May 2, 2021. CM Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress holds 222 seats at present. However, BJP has made major inroads in the state in the Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats out of 42 and establishing itself as the major opposition force in the state. The BJP is using its booth-level strategy and has regularly dispatched its top leaders including Amit Shah and JP Nadda in the state for winning the upcoming elections, with the Prime Minister also addressing mega-rallies there in recent weeks. The party has also been inducting a number of major TMC leaders on a regular basis and plans to hold at least 1500 rallies and assorted road-shows in total.

Elections to the 294 seats in West Bengal will be held in 8 phases across 1,01,916 polling stations, announced the EC. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

1st phase- 30 constituencies. Date of polling- March 27

2nd phase- 30 constituencies. Date of polling- April 1

3rd phase- 31 constituencies. Date of polling- April 6

4th phase- 44 constituencies. Date of polling- April 10

5th phase- 45 constituencies. Date of polling- April 17

6th phase- 43 constituencies. Date of polling- April 22

7th phase- 36 constituencies. Date of polling- April 26

8th phase- 35 constituencies. Date of polling- April 29

(With ANI Inputs)
This is something you don't see every day.

A pod of rare killer whales swam alongside a fishing boat out in Galveston on Wednesday, according to boating company Galveston Party Boats, Inc.

"Rare killer whale sighting from the New Buccaneer's 30-hour trip today," the boating company posted on Facebook. "These beautiful creatures put on quite the show - enjoy."

Check out the video below:

READ MORE: Farewell, River Oaks Theatre: Negotiations fail, forcing venue to close

The fishing boat left on a 30-hour trip for tuna fishing and saw the creatures Wednesday morning about 130 miles south of Galveston, the Galveston Party Boats, Inc. told MySA.com. This was the first time the captains have ever seen killer whales in the Gulf of Mexico, the business said.

Captains Matt Smith and Sam Hardeman, who weren't available for an interview at the time this article was published, told Fox 26 Houston that they first thought they were pilot whales, but then quickly realized they were orca whales. Smith said they stayed swimming alongside them for about 30 minutes.

"I've never seen an orca out of Galveston before," Hardeman told Fox 26 Houston. "I was very surprised to see them."

Smith said they had about 30 people on the boat for that trip, adding he's never seen anything like this. He said he's only ever seen them at SeaWorld.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told MySA.com it's "uncommon" to see whales off the coast of Galveston. NOAA also shared a 2020 preliminary report that estimated 267 killer whales live in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The most recent final stock assessment in 2012 estimated just 28 orcas in that region.

READ MORE: He told cops he hit a deer with his car. The gunshot wound proved otherwise.

Galveston Party Boats are original operators of catamaran fishing vessels in Galveston, according to its Facebook page.

The species is not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, but like all marine mammals, is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The killer whale, also known as orca, is one of the top marine predators. It is the largest member of the Delphinidae family or oceanic dolphins. Found in every ocean in the world, they are the most widely distributed of all cetaceans (whales and dolphins).

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
New Delhi, March 21 : Pakistani journalist Ajay Kumar Lalwani, who had exposed Islamic clerics and raised his voice against the atrocities on the Hindu community in Pakistan, has been shot dead while getting a haircut.

The 31-year-old journalist, who belonged to the minority Hindu community in Pakistan, was shot at by unidentified assailants on March 17 in Sindh province.

Lalvani, who was a reporter with Royal News television channel besides working for an Urdu newspaper named Daily Puchano, died on Thursday due to injuries in the stomach, arm and knee.

Lalwani was shot multiple times while getting a hair cut at a barber shop, the police said.

Authorities said that Lalwani died at a hospital on Thursday night. The incident took place in the Saleh Pat area in the city of Sukkur.
The road to the beach at Gormanston. Photo: Colin Bell / pressphotos.ie

A stretch of land leading down to Gormanston beach has been zoned for amenity use, with the prospect of a car park being developed.

Cllr Alan Tobin proposed the move as part of the draft Meath County Development Plan, hoping that it would add to the tourism potential of the area.

It would also help keep cars off the beach.

He said the Gormanston Community Association had designed a plan for the area, but at the moment it wasn't designated for anything.

'It could provide charging points for electric cars or be an area for bottle banks which are badly needed locally,' he said.

The council said the area was closed to parking at the moment due to COVID regulations, but anything that takes the pressure off the sand dunes is welcomed.

Cllr Paddy Meade said that parking next to the beach was needed while Cllr Sharon Tolan agreed that measures were needed in Gormanston.
Chinese diplomat urges U.S., UK to address problems of racism, xenophobia violence

Xinhua) 09:24, March 20, 2021

GENEVA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Friday urged the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Canada and the relevant EU countries to "address serious problems of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobic violence at home."

Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), made the statement at the ongoing 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA). We support African Group's view on mobilizing political will on the full and effective implementation of the DDPA," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, has exacerbated the existing structural inequalities and systemic racism and racial discrimination, which requires a global response.

The U.S. has said at this UN meeting that it would face up to its own problems of racism and racial discrimination. "We hope that the United States could turn its public statements into concrete actions," said the Chinese diplomat.

The U.S. should address, among other things, racism, racial discrimination and police brutality, prohibit the spread of racist and racial discrimination speech, crack down on discrimination and hate-driven violence against African and Asian Americans, and Muslims, protect the rights of ethnic minorities, commit itself to the international campaign against racism, and facilitate the implementation of the DDPA, Chen said.

"We urge the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the relevant EU countries to take steps likewise to address serious problems of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobic violence at home," he said.

China has always been firmly opposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, hate speech and related intolerance, said the senior Chinese diplomat.

China also agrees to the recommendations of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, which call for "addressing the root causes of racism and inequality," Chen said.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi on Friday said that reforms were well on the way and the ministry would achieve its targets soon

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2021 ):Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi on Friday said that reforms were well on the way and the ministry would achieve its targets soon.

He was speaking in a meeting with business community here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).

Provincial Minister for Industries, Commerce & Investment Mian Aslam Iqbal, Secretary Ministry of Maritime Affairs Rizwan Ahmed, LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah, Senior Vice President Nasir Hameed Khan, Vice President Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, President Gujranwala Chamber Muhammad Umer Ashraf, President Sheikhupura Chamber Adil Mehmood, Chairman Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Shakil Ahmed Mangnejo, Member Customs (Policy) Syed Hamid Ali and others were also present.

The minister said that powers had been transferred to provinces after the 18th Amendment which created a number of issues. He said that fisheries was third largest trade in the world, but Pakistan's exports in this regard were negligible despite having all resources.

Ali Haider Zaidi said that 90 per cent collection of the Federal Board of Revenue was from ports, adding that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs was connected with all other ministries as most of the trading goods were being handled through ports. He said that Pakistan had a single terminal to handle coal, asserting that terminal of Pakistan Steel Mills was out of order since long.

He said that the price of containers increased due to growing demand, adding that negotiations on Port Qasim Agreements were well on the way. He said that such policies were being formed that could be followed by the people to come.

The minister said that commitments, which have made by the state in past were being rectified under rules and regulations. "We are improving efficiency rapidly through reforms," he added.

On the occasion, Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the government had kept a strong liaison with the business community and businessmen had an easy access to the government and the ministers.

LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah regretted violation of the rules by the shipping companies, which resulted in delays and extra demurrage and warfare charges for the businesses. He also demanded rationalization of Terminal Handling Charges, Port Storage Charges and Container Detention Charges which have been increased excessively in the recent times.

He said that unfair treatment of Shipping Companies with regard to Container Security charges for the up-country businesses and recommended to ensure uniform charges.

The LCCI president appreciated the federal minister for being much responsive about the issues related to Delivery Order (D/O) which includes the delays of 1 to 2 days in issuance of D/O and over-charging by the shipping companies (varying from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000) for issuance of Delivery Order.

Mian Tariq Misbah appreciated the introduction of new Shipping Policy by the Government which gives first berthing rights to the vessels registered in Pakistan alongside tremendous incentives in Custom Duties, Sales Tax, Income Tax and concessionary financing at 3% from the State Bank. He hoped that private sector would make great use of these incentives and enter into shipping business.

Later, talking to media, Federal Minister said that Sind government creating hurdles in federal government projects, adding that Sind government did not transfered land for university in Haiderabad. He said that Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari demanded NRO therefore he was not sincere with the people of Sind.

To a question, he said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was only party who believes in transparency, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan was only leader who struggled for transparency in the country since his 20 year struggle.

To another question, the minister said that in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, institutions were performing there duties independently.
Pearl Govea arrived at the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Conroe at 7 a.m. Saturday, an hour before a walk-in vaccination event started. About 75 people were already in line, she said.

By opening time, the line snaked around the building. People waited patiently, reading a book or the newspaper, tapping on their phone, chatting with the person next to them. A man stepped out of his car, his license plate decorated with a Purple Heart, and put on an American flag face mask as he walked to the end of the line.

Any Marines out here? Front of the line, joked another man who joined the crowd.

The mood inside the clinic was jovial. The Houston VA has administered about 51,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to veterans since December. The staff planned to give an additional 700 at the Conroe vaccination event, one of four organized in Greater Houston on Saturday for veterans of all ages.

Govea, 44, would not have qualified for the vaccine if the VA hadnt opened up eligibility. She drove 45 minutes from her home in Atascocita to receive her first dose.

She served in the Navy from 2001 to 2008, both in Japan and at the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla. She said she cant complain about the pandemic, as her job at an insurance company allowed her to work from home easily.

The hardest part was not seeing my family, said Govea. They live in Antigua and are also in the process of getting vaccinated. As soon as they have their second dose, she said, theyre coming to visit her.

By 9 a.m., the clinic staff had vaccinated more than 200 people. The line outside moved quickly, and the process was orderly: Temperature check and screening questionnaire at the front door, sign-in as an existing patient, brief sit in the waiting room, a quick jab in the arm, then a 15-minute observation period to make sure the patient has no severe side effects.

Samuel Dominique, 42, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan between 1997 and 2007, sat in the hallway after his first shot.

He said he didnt even try to find appointments elsewhere; there was no question where he would get his vaccine. I was just waiting for the VA, he said.

Dominique lives in Conroe and is a pastor at Good Hope Baptist Church. He took a selfie of his shot to show his congregation. He regularly encourages them to seek the vaccine.

Its important for my life, but also other peoples lives, he said.

The first thing Dominique will do after the pandemic, he says, is take a vacation. He plans to visit Orlando, Fla., in July with his wife and daughters.

Its clear that veterans want to get the vaccine, said VA physician assistant Stewart Miller. Were seeing them in droves.

A veteran himself, Miller has worked as a physicians assistant for the VA for 20 years. He said some veterans have mental health issues, others are homeless; transportation is often a problem. These challenges became greater during the pandemic.

We want to take care of our veterans, said Miller.

The Houston VA offers the Pfizer vaccine almost exclusively. It has the capability to freeze the vaccine, said Maureen Dyman, the communications director for the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. The center received some Johnson & Johnson vaccines as well, which it is reserving for veterans who are homebound or homeless, as it doesnt need to be kept frozen and requires only one dose.

After the shot, patients received stickers saying COVID-19 vaccinated at the Houston VA. Many in the crowd already came wearing gear, from Marines T-shirts to Vietnam veteran caps.

Roger Barrick, 72, served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1973. He lives on 2 acres of land in Cut and Shoot, just east of Conroe. He said he heard about vaccine opportunities in Houston but didnt see much information for Montgomery County. He didnt want to trek to the city and was glad when the Houston VA organized vaccination events near him.

Barrick said figuring out where to sign up online was difficult; the fact that the VA offered walk-ins was helpful.

I feel great, he said during his post-shot observation period. I can feel better about going out now.

Barrick was afraid to go anywhere because of the pandemic. During normal times, he said, he stays at home a lot anyway, but he does enjoy going bowling and shooting pool. He looks forward to returning.

Ive seen a lot of things. Im a survivor, Barrick said. I know how to get through.

emma.balter@chron.com
Government has described as false reports that it spent only GHS1.7 billion on Covid-19 related expenditure. According to government, it spent a total of GHS19 billion on the pandemic.



It follows a Joy News' publication claiming government only spent GHS1.7 billion contrary to the GHS19 billion quoted in the 2021 budget statement and economic policy.



However, a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance in Accra on Friday 19th March 2021 refuted the claims adding that the GHS1.7 billion quoted by the media house represents expenditures on only two items under the Covid-19 related expenditures.



The Ministry's attention has been drawn to media publications claiming that government spent GHS1.7 billion on the Covid-19 pandemic, even though government says it spent GHS19 billion. The Ministry hereby informs the general public that these publications are incorrect. The GHS1.7 billion reflects expenditures on only two items under the Covid-19 related expenditures, namely, Covid-19 Alleviation Programme 1 (CAP1) and Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan 1. Other Covid-19 expenditures were Covid-19 Alleviation Programme 2 (CAP2), Covid-19 Preparedness Plan 2, Provision of Health Infrastructure, Seed Fund for Capitalisation of Development Bank, among others it said.



The statement said as of end-December 2020, Ghana incurred a revenue shortfall of GHS11,942.7 million and an expenditure increase of GHS14,074.2 million in relation to their respective targets in the 2020 Budget passed in Parliament in November 2019.



It also clarified reports suggesting that the Covid-19 levy will be used in paying for the 2020 Covid-19 free water and electricity expenditure stating that the newly approved levy is not a direct charge for the 2020 freebies and should not be misconstrued.



The Ministry also notes media reports suggesting hat government has announced a Covid-19 levy to be utilized in paying for free water and electricity of 2020. Again this is incorrect. The Minister of Information's comment to the effect that covid-19 expenses include water and electricity ought not to be misconstrued to mean the new taxes of 2021 are a direct charge for those services, the statement added.

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WOODBURY, N.J. (AP)  A man who is accused of killing a New Jersey man he says sexually abused him in childhood, and who was sought after the deaths of his ex-wife and three other people in New Mexico, says he is responsible for a total of 16 slayings, a prosecutor said  though authorities have yet to corroborate his claim.

Sean Lannon, 47, said that he killed not only his ex-wife and the three others, but also 11 other individuals in New Mexico, NJ.com quoted Alec Gutierrez, an assistant prosecutor in suburban Philadelphias Gloucester County, New Jersey, as saying during a detention hearing Friday.

Authorities allege in court documents that the admission came in a phone call to a relative, who told investigators that Lannon expressed remorse. Lannon is so far charged with only the one death in New Jersey, and his lawyer says Lannon was provoked.

Police Lt. David Chavez in Lannons hometown of Grants, New Mexico, told the Albuquerque Journal that authorities have no indication that his claims about 11 other killings are true and that they arent aware of any missing-person or homicide reports that would fit his narrative.

Is it possible? Sure its possible. Is it probable? No, probably not, Chavez told the newspaper, saying authorities would investigate.

Lannon was arrested in St. Louis on March 10 after a search across several states. He was driving a car stolen from Michael Dabkowski, the New Jersey victim whose body had been found the same day, and is now behind bars in New Jersey.

He is accused of breaking into the 66-year-old Dabkowskis home and beating him with a hammer, according to an affidavit.

Lannon is also a person of interest in the death of his wife and the three others in New Mexico. Authorities say a vehicle was discovered March 5, 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Grants in a garage at Albuquerque International Sunport, containing four bodies.

The bodies were identified as those of Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata, 40; and Randal Apostalon, 60. Sean Lannon lived 80 miles (130 kilometers) away in Grants.

Jennifer Lannon, Miller and Mata were friends, and Apostalon lived out of his car and was known to give rides for money, Grants police said. The bodies were found in Apostalons car.

Gutierrez said Friday that Lannon confessed to luring several victims to a home in New Mexico and dismembering some of them.

Jennifer Lannons brother, Chris Whitman, told Albuquerque TV station KOB that he was shocked to hear Sean Lannon had claimed responsibility for multiple killings.

They were together for about nine years, and its just mind-boggling because its someone I welcomed into my home and we had Thanksgiving dinner together.

Public defender Frank Unger challenged probable cause for the New Jersey murder charge, arguing that Lannon entered Dabkowskis home in East Greenwich Township with permission and that the acts that followed amounted, at worst, to passion provocation manslaughter, NJ.com reported.

Dabkowski mentored Lannon and his twin brother through a Big Brothers program in the 1980s, NJ.com reported. Lannon told investigators that Dabkowski had sexually abused him as a child and that he went to the mans home to retrieve sexually explicit photos.

Unger argued that Lannon didnt want anyone to have control over me any longer. Dabkowski had documented those sexual assaults, those rapes, by taking pictures of himself with Mr. Lannon in sexually compromised positions, Unger said.

Unger said Lannon retrieved two hammers from Dabkowskis garage and gave them to the victim, saying, Youre going to need these. I dont want to hurt you.

I would suggest that this fact alone illustrates this was not purposeful murder. He did not even bring a weapon to the home, Unger said, arguing that Dabkowski attacked his client and was then killed.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mary Beth Kramer told prosecutors to confine their presentation to information relevant to the New Jersey case but allowed limited references to the New Mexico cases.

Gutierrez said that the New Mexico victims had been lured to a home and argued that the idea of Lannon having been invited into Dabkowskis home should be looked at through the lens of at least three prior incidents in New Mexico.

Unger argued for pretrial release, saying his client had no prior convictions and is an Army veteran with an honorable discharge.

Lannon was born in Massachusetts and spent most of his early years in Gloucester County before he was deployed to Germany, Unger said. He has family in southern New Jersey, including his mother and sister, and could stay locally on electronic monitoring if released, the defender argued.

Gutierrez said Lannon adopted an assumed name to avoid detection when he returned to the East Coast and had spent a week in jail in New Mexico for failing to appear in court. It wasnt clear what he had been cited with.

___

This story has been updated to delete incorrect attribution in the first paragraph about the suspects confession to 11 killings. It also corrects that the suspect was arrested March 10, not March 17, and that the airport bodies were found March 5, not last week.
Not too many opponents managed to get under Bertie Aherns skin. When they did, they tended to be from his own style of working class brawler politics. Gay Mitchell was branded a waffler and Joe Higgins was called a failed person and a nitwit. The bulk of his critics he treated with bored contempt. A young, newly-elected TD though stung the then Taoiseach during a motion of no confidence in him over the Mahon Tribunal exposure of his personal finances in September 2007.

"Sadly, this dark affair will darken the Taoiseach's record in the same way as Tony Blair's involvement in Iraq or Bill Clinton's corruption and personal scandals darkened theirs, Fine Gaels rising star opined. The late Brian Lenihan suggested this neophyte deputy, Leo Varadkar, was well trained by US Republicans and Willie ODea told him to go back to the religious right.

Bertie Ahern himself had a go a few days later: "When you hear a new deputy who isn't a wet day in the place not alone castigating me, but castigating Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, I wish him well. I'd say he'd get an early exit.

There was no early exit as the petulant young buck  who was unapologetic and retorted the gutter is Bertie Ahern's natural habitat  also went on to occupy the Taoiseachs office.

Varadkar is now finding that what goes around, comes around, as he is in the eye of the storm with calls for his own resignation because he is the subject of an investigation. A view he expressed at the time comes back to haunt him: Just because he is Head of the Government does not mean lower standards should be applied.

Indeed, Varadkar was well able to give it out. Now hes on the receiving end. The leader of the law-and-order party is now being criminally investigated for alleged corruption.

It's OK though because the incoming Minister for Justice says he was acting in the public interest.

The leaking of a confidential document to a friend is far from the most serious end of the scales.

A career that held such promise and has delivered much is now threatened by an obscure offence.

Despite the best efforts of those in Fine Gael to play down the significance of the position, there is no doubt this saga has the possibility of preventing his return to the Taoiseachs office in 21 months time. The potential punishment hardly fits the supposed crime. But this is politics.

Moreover, the farcical situation shows how the Varadkar regime hasnt lived up to expectation.

When he became Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, he represented reform, modernity and progress. The youngest Taoiseach, the first gay Taoiseach, the first mixed race Taoiseach; he was a breath of fresh air who was going to drag politics into a new era with his straight talking. Instead, he's become another disappointment, more interested in strokes, point-scoring and power.

Now the fresh air has gone to be replaced by the stench of old school politics.

The man who stood by the Garda whistleblowers has morphed into what he was supposed to stand against.

The lines between public interest and personal, party or political interest became blurred.

Read More

Looking after his mates was nothing new. As a minister, he wasnt averse to putting party acolytes on State boards. But once he became Taoiseach, all the innocence was gone. You dont get to be party leader without cutting deals along the way. The choir boys who backed him for the leadership were well rewarded with ministerial office. Even when that didnt work out so well, he stuck with it.

Any debts were deemed to be paid off last year after the general election. A Fine Gael TD, paid for by the taxpayer, was assigned to duties for the partys European overlords and this was treated as though it was a great honour for the nation.

Varadkars rewarding of his favourites continues though. A buddy of his was appointed to the talking shop offering advice on a key plank of our democracy. He was among the members of the Future of Media Commission who unanimously supported a figure, who harboured a Provisional IRA terrorism sympathiser for years, remaining on that body.

When the story of his document leak broke, accounts were rampant of pals of Varadkar trying to play down its significance in media organisations, only to be faced down by journalists with gumption.

Next month, another of Leos luvvies will be voted into a free seat in the Seanad. Former Senator Maria Byrne is a keen supporter of the Tanaiste. Fianna Fail and the Green Party will facilitate her election. Unlike Micheal Martins handling of another Seanad vacancy, Varadkar gave his party no say in the matter.

Meanwhile, the Garda investigation into the leak looms over the Tanaiste, the Coalition and Fine Gael. The confused malaise is emblematic of his term in charge.

On the one hand, Varadkar can point to significant achievements on Brexit, sustaining economic growth and standing up to be counted during Covid-19. On the flip side, he failed to recognise that housing was the single biggest societal issue facing the country and the health service was left to wobble along with no direction.

After four years of Varadkars leadership, Fine Gael has recorded its worst ever election result and is suffering an identity crisis.

One day, a minister wants the sale of alcohol to be banned and the next a minister wants The Kerryman to change its name to The Kerry People.

From hardline to wokeline in the space of 48 hours. No wonder the party grassroots didn't want him as their leader.

Going around denying the party is conservative, Varadkar says they are a centre party. Tell that to the voters who arent buying it.

Already theres chatter in Fine Gael about what if the leader ultimately has to resign over this affair. Its too early to say but the options seem to be Simon Coveney leaning them back to their conservative comfort-zone or Simon Harris bringing even more style and less substance to the task.

Either way, the Varadkar era would be quickly wiped away.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 59F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
NEW HAVEN  The statistics were just not matching up.

The U.S. militarys active duty enlisted corps is one-third nonwhite service members, one of the most racially integrated institutions in the country, yet minority officers leading those troops are vastly underrepresented.

A new report found that 18 percent of the enlisted are Hispanic, but only 8 percent of the officer corps is Hispanic. Black Americans make up 17 percent of the troops, but only 8 percent of officers.

The multi-year study released this week looked at a major contributor to the imbalance.

The Connecticut Veterans Legal Clinic, in conjunction with the Yale Veterans Legal Services Clinic, reviewed the congressional nominations to the prestigious military service academies.

They found a huge gap between the percentage of Hispanic and Black high school students offered this opportunity and white students, a situation that continues to skew future minority leadership in the military.

The report, entitled Gatekeepers to Opportunity: Racial Disparities in Congressional Nominations to the Military Service Academies, is the second one undertaken by the Connecticut Veterans Legal Clinic.

In 2019 it released a report that found congressional members nominated nearly three times the number of young males than females to the service academies.

It its latest work, it looked at nearly 25 years of data on nominations by members of the current 117th Congress, material released after litigation and Freedom of Information requests to the U.S. Military Academy, commonly known as West Point; the U.S. Naval Academy; and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

It included all those congressional members who made more than 10 nominations from 1994 to early 2019.

The report found Black and Hispanic students received 6 percent and 8 percent of the nominations, respectively, while white students made up 74 percent  numbers that fail to reflect the demographic diversity of the country.

Data from the American Community Survey show Black students ages 18 to 24 constitute 15 percent of the population of young adults, while Hispanic students comprise 22 percent of this cohort.

White students make up 54 percent of the cohort. Asian students receive a relatively proportionate share of nominations: 7 percent compared to their 6 percent of young adults.

The congressional nominations system is leaving Black and Latinx students behind, said Liam Brennan, CVLCs executive director.

Because many general officers graduate from the service academies, the congressional nominations bottleneck ultimately impacts diversity at the highest levels of military leadership, he said.

Brennan said the CVLC represents low-income veterans recovering from homelessness and mental illness and in working with the clients, they often relay stories of alleged racism in the military.

Part of remedying that issue is looking at leadership in the military and as the country continues to reckon with racism, it is imperative that our military leadership reflect the diversity of the country as a whole and the enlisted ranks as well. What we have found is that it does not, he said.

As a result of the low numbers of minority officers, the report said racially diverse service members often lack mentorship from high-ranked role models with similar experiences and backgrounds.

The report included 290 House members who had made more than 10 nominations out of the total universe of 435 members of the House. Statistics were also published for 81 senators on the number of nominations and the percentage of minorities.

.

Connecticut U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, was not included in the statistics, since she has only been in Congress since 2019, but she spoke at a conference held to discuss the issue.

A celebrated Waterbury teacher before heading to Congress, Hayes said she knew her district had a problem before the report came out, when no students enrolled in the robust Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program in that city had applied.

She said new protocols are needed to get students interested long before they get an application in their junior year in high school. Hayes said there is an over-representation of private school students in the 5th District..

Hayes said her office changed the selection process so it was less subjective and it diversified the selection panel who now are ambassadors explaining the program to counselors and students.

After one year, they have had 24 percent minorities apply and 30 percent young women.

She hoped her colleagues across the country take the report seriously and are not defensive.

Congressional nominations make up 60 percent to 70 percent of the student body at each academy, according to the report, which outnumbers all other sources.

The report also said the underrepresented students who do secure admission to the academies often face discriminatory treatment during their service.

That was according to a January report in the Military Times, where about one-third of active duty respondents to a survey it ran saw signs of white supremacist or racist ideology in the ranks.

The study also found that both Democrats and Republicans under-nominated young people of color relative to their district or state population, although Democrats nominated a higher ratio of students of color.

In 2009-10, House Democrats nominated 32 percent compared to Republicans15 percent, while Senate Democrats nominated 20 percent to Republicans 13 percent.

Among the recommendations by the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center to the Department of Defense is that it publish data showing for each member of Congress, how many candidates  by race, ethnicity and gender  he or she has nominated to the academies each year.

It also would like the department to consider race, ethnicity and gender of potential nominees when it awards its discretionary nominations.

As for Congress, it would like to see the current PANORAMA Act enforced, so that the Department of Defense creates a central portal to collect demographic data and report it annually.

It said the defense department should award supplementary nominations to members of Congress who equitably nominate students from underrepresented groups. Funding for outreach by congressional offices to under-represented applicants was also on the list.

The PANORAMA Act of 2020  Public Accountability On Nominations Offered That Result in Admissions To Military Academies  initially proposed by CVLC, requires the Department of Defense to annually report data on the race, gender and ethnicity of students admitted to the military service academies.

Brennan said it took years to get this information through the Freedom of Information Act. The new law "will bring much-needed clarity and transparency to the nominations process," he said.

The report also recommends an expansion of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program in Title 1-eligible schools.
Nepal's national drug regulatory authority on Saturday granted emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, becoming the third country to approve India's indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine.

A meeting of the drug advisory committee of the Department of Drug Administration decided to issue a conditional emergency use authorisation to India's homegrown government-backed vaccine Covaxin, the third COVID-19 vaccine authorised in the country,The Kathmandu Post reported.

COVAXIN, which demonstrated an interim vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent in the Phase 3 clinical trials India, was approved for emergency use in India in January and Zimbabwe cleared it early this month.

Bharat Biotech had applied for emergency use authorisation for its vaccine in Nepal on January 13. Of the three applications filed on January 13, the department had first granted emergency use authorisation to Oxford-AstraZeneca on January 15.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under the name of Covishiled, was then accordingly brought to the country.

Nepal granted emergency use authorisation to BBIBP-CorV vaccine, developed by Chinas Sinopharm on February 17.

Emergency use authorisation (EUA) is granted for some drugs and vaccines by authorities during a declared emergency when officials can make a judgment that the drug is worth releasing, even without all the evidence that would fully establish its eectiveness and safety.

Such a decision is taken when theres enough evidence to suggest that patients have benetted from the drug/vaccine.

Nepal has used one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by India in January under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy. It is now also awaiting another consignment of 2 million AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The latest approval comes as authorities in Nepal said they were suspending their vaccination campaign because of a lack of supply.

Nepal has reported 275,750 cases and 3,016 deaths so far, according to government data.

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BLOOMINGTON, IND. (WTHI) - There is a significant rise in anti-Asian violence nationwide. According to the Stop Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate Organization, nearly 4,000 hate incidents occurred in the past 12 months. Experts believe this is likely a result of covid-19 stereotypes.

Dina Okamoto is a sociology professor at Indiana University Bloomington. She explains that this number may be even higher, because many go unnoticed.

"I think we are not even seeing the half of it because many people do not report these activities and crimes," Okamoto said. "I think some people if they are harassed, they don't know who to turn to or what to do about it."

Experts say what happened in Atlanta on Tuesday was the result of years of anti-Asian sentiment. Eight people, including six women of Asian descent, died on Tuesday night.

"I would say what happened in Atlanta is part of what has been happening systematically across the country," Okamoto said. "Unfortunately, something like this had to happen to get nationwide attention."

Going forward, the recent shooting is sparking more conversations on how to help Asian-Americans facing hate and discrimination.

Ellen Wu is the director of Asian American Studies Programs at Indiana University Bloomington. She is also a part of Indiana's chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF). She is hoping to make an impactful change here locally.

"We launched a statewide petition asking Governor Holcomb to condemn and recognize anti-Asian hate incidents and asking the governor in his authority to begin taking proactive measures to support Asian American Hoosiers who have been targeted by these incidents," Wu said.

The petition was officially submitted last Thursday with 1900 signatures and had 32 organizations as co-sponsors. Additionally, the petition is also asking Governor Holcomb to establish an advisory commission on Asian American Pacific and Islander Affairs.

"We really want to create a safer Indiana for all people that live here," Wu said. "This is just one piece of it right now that is so close to home."

Additionally, The Indiana State Senate is working on this issue with a new resolution. It denounces anti-Asian and Pacific Islander racism and any form of bias crime in Indiana resulting from the coronavirus.
PRIOR to May 20, 2020, Seamus Troy was outgoing, involved in refereeing and big into the hurling.

Now, the 47-year-old from the Clare Glens barely leaves the house".

At about 9.40pm on May 20, Seamus was viciously beaten with his own crutch after leaving Cork University Hospital and mugged.

I had had an operation on my arm. I was on crutches for my balance. I was let out of hospital and I went for a burger, then I got a taxi to the bus station. I was getting a bus to Limerick. The security fella told me to go around the back for the bus.

I was walking around and this man grabbed my bag. I went to call 999, then he hit me 40 times with my own crutch, he came back behind me and pushed me. I was defenceless. I got 27 stitches in my head, a broken eye socket, a broken nose and a broken bone in my neck. I was in hospital for six weeks, said Seamus.

The father-of-four continued: He took my shoes, he took my jacket, he took my wallet, he took my bag, he broke the crutch completely off me.

Seamus said his assailant put coins into my mouth when I was on the ground. He put my head back and put three coins in my mouth and they found them on the MRI.

One gentleman came to my rescue and he ran. Only for him I would be dead, said Seamus.

Later, when he was being interviewed by gardai they told him they thought it was a murder scene because there was blood everywhere.

When his son James and daughter Nicola were told what happened they rushed to Cork University Hospital.

Seamus injuries were so bad that they didnt recognise their own father.

They said, 'That's not my father', said Seamus, who won All-Ireland minor and under-21 hurling medals with Tipperary as he went to school in Newport. However, he said he is a Limerick man to the backbone.

Last month, Adam Sheehan, of 113 Seamus Murphy Place, Mallow, was sentenced to five years imprisonment. The judge said it was a merciless attack without compassion, necessity or purpose.

Seamus is deeply unhappy with the leniency of the sentence.

He'll do three years altogether at most. He got seven years, two suspended, and he's in custody since last May. He had 20 previous convictions for arson, burglary and others.

A garda told me the sentence was a joke. He should have got the maximum sentence  10 years. Wheres the deterrent in a couple of years? asks Seamus, who is liasing with his legal team and gardai to see if he can appeal the sentence imposed on Sheehan.

I have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Croom hospital were on to me. I have to get an operation on my neck, the bone C2 and C3 in my vertebrae, they're going to put pins into it, said Seamus, who is facing into a life sentence of his own as a result of his injuries  both physically and mentally.

Before this I was outgoing, I was involved in refereeing, I was big into the hurling. Now I barely leave the house, he concludes.
Senior BJP leader Devendra



Fadnavis on Saturday said a team of experts should be formed to probe the reason for the surge in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra compared to the other states in the country.

The former chief minister was speaking to the media after attending a meeting with Nagpur Guardian Minister Nitin Raut and district officials at the divisional commissionerate here.

"I feel a team of experts should be constituted to study the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state. Maharashtra is no different from other states, but then why is it witnessing such a surge in infections?" Fadnavis said.

The BJP leader further claimed if the rise is due to increased testing, then there are other states that are conducting more per million tests than Maharashtra.

Fadnavis further raised concerns about the COVID-19 vaccination drive, citing that the immunisation process was being carried out slowly and the pace should be picked up.

Maharashtra on Friday recorded 25,681 new infections and 70 deaths. The state currently has 1,77,560 active cases.

(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.)
Opening of U.S.-China Talks in Alaska

March 19 , 2021 (EIRNS)The U.S.-China discussions in Anchorage, Alaska opened on March 18 with two rounds of remarks from both sides in front of the press. The opening remarks from the U.S., by Secretary of State Atony Blinken and National Security Advisor Sullivan lasted 12 minutes (including translation). Blinken extolled the importance of the rules-based international order, and how Chinas misdeeds vis-a-vis Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc., could not be considered internal insofar as they violate the rules. Sullivan remarked on how useful the Quad is and how important it is for the whole world to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is free and open. The world is concerned about Chinas aspirations, said the Americans.

In a lengthy response (42 minutes including translation), Politburo Member Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi spoke of the profound success of China in eliminating poverty and moving towards full modernization by the year 2050. Yang contrasted international law, which is common to all nations, with the rules-based international order, the domain of only a subset of nations: China follows UN rules and system, not rules of a few countries which advocate thats the rules-based world and international order. China has its form of democracy and the U.S. has its own form.

Yang powerfully contrasted the democratic success of China with the poor confidence many Americans feel in their own democracy, raising the issue of BLM. The CPC has broad popular support, and any attempt to draw a division between the Chinese people and the ruling party would be doomed to failure, he warned. Regime change is not democracy. Starting wars is not democracy. The U.S. should not mistake its own views, or those of Western nations, with global public opinion. The views of the U.S. do not constitute international public opinion. Wang Yi added that imposing sanctions the day before the meeting was inhospitable, and that absolutely no interference in Chinas internal affairs would be tolerated.

The U.S. side then added another 10 minutes about how happy the world is that the U.S. is back and how other leaders he has met with (in Japan and Korea) are concerned about Chinese coercion. As an example of the U.S.s strength in building alliances, Sullivan pointed to the Perseverance rover, which was an international effort.

Yang Jiechi fired back that the United States had no business speaking about approaching diplomatic discussion from a position of strength. Chinas growth and legitimate aspirations cannot be suppressed. Wang challenged the notion that Chinas neighbors Korea and Japan are feeling coerced by China, and urged the U.S. to look to its own coercive practices.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A longtime Los Angeles television news reporter and his photographer were among five people seriously injured Friday when an allegedly drunk driver crashed his SUV into a building along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, officials said.

At the time of the crash, FOX 11 reporter Hal Eisner, a well-respected journalist in Los Angeles for more than 38 years, had been working on a story with photojournalist Joab Perez Friday afternoon about the famous El Capitan Theatre and Los Angeles Countys partial reopening this week, which allows for movie theaters to open at limited capacity, according to FOX 11. Perez has been with the station for nearly three years.

The male driver has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He told police he fell asleep at the wheel but failed field sobriety tests.

Authorities believe he was driving while intoxicated when he drove the SUV the wrong way and ran off the road, LAPD Capt. Brian Wendling said. The crash occurred along the Walk of Fame near the well-known intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

Two of the other victims were tourists from Washington, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said on Twitter. One suffered severe injuries, including broken ribs and a broken leg. The other had moderate injuries, such as lacerations and abrasions.

Moore said the victims were all listed in stable condition about three hours after the crash.

The SUV crashed into a glass storefront on West Hollywood Boulevard around 3 p.m., striking several pedestrians, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The reporter and photographer were among the five people taken to the hospital, the station said. At least four of them were initially considered to be in serious to critical condition, the LAFD said.

All were expected to survive their injuries, Wendling said.

Another pedestrian declined to be taken to the hospital, the LAFD said.

By STEFANIE DAZIO

Associated Press
Erica Robbie is the editor-in-chief of Local Magazine and Local Weekly as well as the arts & culture editor for the Aspen Daily News. She can be reached at erica@aspendailynews.com or on Twitter @ericarobbie.
Here's a star studded top ten from the mid eighties with a couple of interesting re-releases of classic tunes.

 In a dazzling career, first with the Supremes and then as a solo artist, Diana Ross had 18 number one hits in the US charts. Six of those were solo chart-toppers, but 'Chain Reaction' wasn't among them.

While it topped the charts in the UK, Ireland, Australia and Zimbabwe, 'Chain Reaction' failed to ignite interest in the US, peaking at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was written by the Bee Gees and Ross's recording features additional vocals from Barry Gibb.

'Chain Reaction' returned to the UK top ten in 2001, courtesy of Steps whose cover version settled at No. 2 - mercifully held off the top by Kylie Minogue's 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head'.

 Cliff Richard's 'Living Doll' was the top selling single of 1959. Twenty-seven years later Sir Cliff teamed with alternative comedy group The Young Ones on a new version for Comic Relief.

The week after our chart from 1986 was published, Cliff and The Young Ones knocked Diana Ross from the top and stayed there for three weeks. The recording marked the first time Cliff Richard and Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin were reunited since 1975.

 Two of our top ten entries are from the pen of the prolific Prince - 'Manic Monday' and 'Kiss'. Prince offered the former to the Bangles under the pseudonym 'Christopher' and it gave the all-female band from California a major international hit, peaking at number two in both the UK and US.

Record company Warner Bros did not like the minimalist production on 'Kiss' and did not believe it would appeal as a single, but Prince insisted on its release. It went on to win a Grammy and top the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks, while also reaching a high of number 6 in the UK and 11 in Ireland.

 Frank Sinatra's 'Theme From New York, New York' (from the Martin Scorsese film) barely registered on the UK charts when first released in 1980 - reaching number 59 - but peaked at number 4 when recharting in 1986.

1 Chain Reaction Diana Ross

2 Absolute Beginners David Bowie

3 Manic Monday The Bangles

4 Living Doll Cliff Richard and The Young Ones

5 Hi Ho Silver Jim Diamond

6 Kiss Prince

7 Move Away Culture Club

8 (Nothin Serious) Just Buggin' Whistle

9 Theme From New York, New York Frank Sinatra

10 Love Missile F1-11 Sigue Sigue Sputnik
A Covid-19 situation at the National Insurance Board (NIB) led to late pension cheques this month, says Social Development Minister Donna Cox. And the ministry yesterday apologised for any inconvenience caused to pensioners and other recipients of social welfare as a result of the late payment of benefits.
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A prominent Christian leader has raised concerns about the Biden administrations immigration policies, asserting that lax enforcement procedures amount to a wink and a nod for cartels and human smugglers.

The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, issued a statement in response to the surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border that has followed the election of President Joe Biden.

He contended that through his words and actions encouraging economic migrants to come to the U.S., Biden has given a haphazard and de facto green light to human traffickers around the world to apply their profane trade on the dreams of the most vulnerable.

Shortly after taking office, Biden reversed former President Donald Trumps actions designed to limit the flow of illegal immigration at the southern border, including the Migrant Protection Protocols, which required those seeking asylum to wait in Mexico, and Title 42, which enabled border officials to turn back those seeking entry into the country in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Source:The Christian Post
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The Chairman of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, has said that the council will welcome a full-scale official investigation into how textbooks considered offensive for use by pupils found their way into schools.



He said NaCCA had nothing to hide, but indicated that the whole development was an embarrassment to the educational system, and should, therefore, not be swept under the carpet.



Speaking to the Daily Graphic yesterday, Prof. Kwarteng, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), said although NaCCA had called for the withdrawal of the books, and the publishers had apologised for bending the rules to put the unapproved books on the market, thorough investigations were necessary to unravel the mystery.



The History of Ghana and Golden English textbooks have contents widely seen as offensive against the Ewe ethnic group, and carried disparaging remarks about Ghanas first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.



No change of history



Prof. Kwarteng, who is a Professor of History, said the council had no deliberate plan to change the history of Ghana as being claimed in certain quarters.





He said the first draft of the history books were sent to him for review as part of the Textbook Approval Process to ensure that the contents met the requirements.



I was under strict instructions from the then Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to do a thorough work to ensure that they books have no distortions and were not offensive to our culture, he stated.



As a historian, I will not acquiesce to any attempt to denigrate any tribe, he stated.



History, he explained, was about facts and interpretation, and interpretation could be diverse.



For me, I will never distort history, and I can say that anybody who has an agenda to distort history will fail,  he said.



Prof. Kwarteng said if those who wrote the contents in the controversial books had taken their historical methodology and philosophy seriously  we will not have reached where we are.



Any history that condemns is a bad history or its propaganda, he asserted.



Blame



Prof. Kwarteng pointed accusing fingers at the publishers for the mess  created.



We did not expect them to go on that tangent. No approval was given to the publishers to go ahead to publish the books for use, he added.



He expressed surprise about why a publisher that had submitted its work for assessment would not wait for the outcome but go ahead to put the work in public.



For me, the publisher had perpetrated deceit on NaCCA and the country, and the state should investigate it to unravel the mystery, he said.



He also would not rule out sabotage against NaCAA, or even an attempt to create a bad name for the government.



Approval



Prof. Kwarteng said NaCCA had approved over 200 publications in different disciplines for use by schools.



For now, the council is waiting for funds to advertise the books in the national dailies.









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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The co-founder of a movement that reaches out to students in schools, leading them to Christ, has reinvented their approach of evangelizing the youth.

Ryan Ries and Sonny Sandoval (of P.O.D.) founded The Whosoevers with a mission to deliver the gospel to schools and "empower students" in realizing their purpose. Through the movement's "Kill The Noise" tour, more than a hundred thousand students turned their lives to Christ for the last five years. But with the limitations due to the lockdowns, forcing schools to close, Ries was compelled to rethink of a way in continuing the ministry.

Speaking to The Christian Post, Ries said that God has given him an idea through his skateboarding interest. Realizing that the cities in the country have skate parks, he moved to start a skateboarding event immediately. His group, comprising his family and The Whosoevers, went to Idaho to start sharing the gospel in the skate parks across the state.

"I made 10,000 fliers saying there was going to be a $100 best trick contest, and about two weeks before the event, I literally drove to every skate park to pass out flyers and talk to the skaters," Ries said.

The skate park was filled with people on the day of the event and many of the kids surrendered their lives to Christ. Many of these kids come from broken families.

"We'd go to the skate parks, have conversations, and get the party started. From there, we gave out money as they landed the tricks. At the end, we gave out our products, and from there we shared the Gospel. By the time we shared the Gospel, we'd already developed a relationship with them. There was really no bait-and-switch. We were able to pray over hundreds of kids before the end of the day," he further said.

Their mission in Idaho is featured in the newly released documentary, "The Whosoevers Full Send Tour: Spreading the Gospel During Difficult Times in the Pandemic." The documentary shows their activities during their outreaches in the state's skate parks, praying and sharing the Word of God to teenagers.

They are also planning to take their tour to skate parks all across America.

The movement aims to share the gospel to as many people as possible, adding that this moment is "the most crucial time because the youth are in a dark place" and they need to hear the Gospel and love of God.

Ries said that his team is following the model of Jesus, wherein He would go to towns and villages, reaching out to people.

He said that the young people's need for the Gospel has become much bigger during the pandemic. Kids, both in the church and secular world, are "depressed, suicidal and struggling."

"When you sugarcoat the Gospel and don't hit on those hard issues like self-harm, suicide and anxiety, you do them a huge disservice. We've got to be honest about how this stuff happens in the Church too. That's the only way freedom will take place," Ries added.

Ries shared that his passion to reach out to the next generation is inspired by his own story as a child, wherein he got into pornography, smoking and drinking, despite belonging to a Christian family. He "found" the Lord after nine days of drugs and alcohol in a hotel room. He turned to God from that moment and began attending church where he came to know Jesus Christ. He then felt God's calling for him to offer his life to ministry.

He detailed the story of his salvation in the upcoming book, "Kill the Noise: Finding Meaning Above the Madness."

Ries also revealed that The Whosoevers Movement took its name from the verse John 3:16, defining "whosoever" as "anyone" from all denominations proclaiming their testimonies through Christ in unity.

He urged other Christians to fulfill the Great Commission and follow the command of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel, pointing out that the next generation needs to be discipled.

"God can do extraordinary things with the ordinary man. If we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, God will use us. It just depends on our availability. Are you available? Are you willing to answer the call? When you are, God will move in power," Ries concluded.
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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According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, head of the department Sergei Lavrov will arrive to China on Monday for a two-day working visit. On Tuesday, in Guilin, he will hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The ministry clarified that the diplomats will discuss prospects for strategic interaction between Russia and China, including the coordination of epidemiological actions to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministers also plan to exchange views on a wide range of issues of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the international arena - in the UN, SCO, BRICS and other platforms.
Stephen J. Kavulich of Clarks Summit passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 20, 2021. He was 75 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Joanne DeLeo.

He was born in Scranton on Dec. 25, 1945 (a Christmas baby), to the late Stephen J. and Anne Darlak Kavulich, their only child.

Stephen was a 1963 graduate of Scranton Preparatory School. He graduated from the University of Scranton with a B.S. in business and accounting. He received his M.B.A. from Marywood University in finance and investment and was a graduate of the PA Bankers School at Bucknell University.

Upon graduation from college, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving in active duty during the Vietnam War and later joined the United States Naval Reserves, together serving more than 20 years. He was a reward recipient for outstanding service to U.S. Navy Reserves. Rich in kindness and fidelity, he belonged to the Knights of Columbus as a 4th Degree Knight. He held offices and received numerous awards in many fraternal organizations and community organizations. He was a very humble individual, a true ambassador of kindness, patience, compassion and understanding. He was a powerhouse of knowledge and numbers. His interests and enjoyment were work, his family and his faith. He was a very dedicated husband and father. A devout Catholic, he served many years as a lector and Eucharistic minister.

He was a hard worker from a very young age. He worked in his family grocery business growing up and developed a work ethic hard to find. He started his professional career working in Philadelphia for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in insurance, and later moved to Baltimore, Md., working at the accounting firm, Gross Mendelsohn and Weiler. Upon returning to Northeast Pennsylvania, he worked at Samuel M. Fisher Comp., Northeastern Bank of PA (PNC) and First National Community Bank (FNCB), where he retired as an executive vice president of loan administration and compliance.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Stephen N. Kavulich and wife, Alexandra, Connecticut, and Mark A. Kavulich and wife, Cara, New York. He is also survived by two grandsons, William (Will) A. Kavulich and Callum (Cal) S. Kavulich; as well as a brother-inlaw, Dr. Caesar A. DeLeo and wife, Elizabeth, Chicago; nieces, a nephew and several cousins on both sides; and three living aunts.

He was preceded in death by his parents and several uncles, aunts and cousins.

The funeral will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Parish, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated by Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, pastor. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, there will be no viewing. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery Mausoleum with military honors.

Those wishing to attend the Mass are asked to observe all social distancing protocols, including wearing a mask and maintaining social distances. For those unable to attend, the service will be broadcasted via Zoom and the link found on the funeral home website.

This year has been a year of challenges. The future as always is unclear. Therefore our only option is to lead a life of kindness. As Mark Twain once said, Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

In lieu of flowers and in keeping with the spirit of Steve, he would wish that others would be ambassadors of sincere kindness, patience, understanding and compassion for others. Do a good deed.

For directions or to leave an online condolence, visit the funeral home website. Stephens care has been entrusted to Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, PA 18411.
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Market Research Future (MRFR) Has Announced a New Release on the Contraceptive Pills Market highlights the current and future status of market and regional level analysis with the help of industry trends and market performance. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2019 through 2022. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these Contraceptive Pills Market. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research.

Global Contraceptive pills Market - Competitive Analysis

Merck & Co., Inc (US), Pfizer Inc (US), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel), Bayer AG (Germany), Allergan plc. (Ireland), Janssen Global Services llc. (US), Mankind Pharma Ltd. (India), Piramal Enterprises Ltd (India), Reckitt Benckiser Plc (UK), Church & Dwight (US), The Female Health Company (US), Mayer Laboratories (US), Cooper Surgical (US) are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Contraceptive Pills Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.

Global Contraceptive pills Market  Overview

Contraceptive pills are likely to witness considerable demand in the years to come. The observation offered by Market Research Future (MRFR) unfolds that the global contraceptive pills market is expected to enter a phase of maturity in the foreseeable future. According to the report, the market is prognosticated to record a CAGR of 2.2% across the projection period 2016 to 2022.

Anti-conception medication pills which are also called as oral contraceptive pills are a kind of female hormonal anti-conception medication technique and are extremely viable at avoiding pregnancy. These pills are small tablets that a patient swallow every day. These birth control pills are been used from ancient times but the save and effective methods are introduce and available from 20th century.

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Contraceptive drugs are used to prevent the unwanted pregnancy by blocking the normal process of ovulations or by altering the process which support the fertilization of egg. Most pills contain two sorts of manufactured (man-made) female hormones: estrogen and progestin. These are like the estrogen and progesterone regularly made by the ovaries. These pills are called combination oral contraceptives, and there are a wide range of these kinds.

Contraceptive Pills Market Size is growing at a low rate but with increasing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases will upsurge the growth of this market in coming future. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the global contraceptive pills market is booming and expected to gain eminence over the forecast period. The market is forecasted to demonstrate a spectacular growth by 2022, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a prominent CAGR during the anticipated period (2017  2022).

Increasing need of population control and increasing incident of abortion has driven the growth of the market. Governmental initiatives for minimizing unwanted pregnancy, increasing awareness and healthcare expenditure, and increasing in use of contraceptives drugs has provided fuel for the growth of the market. While the side effects of the treatment and strict governmental rules in many countries may hamper the growth of the market.

Geographically, North America commands the largest market for the contraceptive drug market. Approximately 3 million women in North America experiences unplanned pregnancy. Beside this 90 % of the women use some of the method of contraception. Thus increasing number of abortion and rate of unplanned pregnancy has driven this market in North America. Major market of North America is contributed by US which is followed by Canada. Increasing awareness and minimizing the healthcare expenses by curbing number of abortion in US encourage contraceptive use among women. North America contraceptives drug market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9 % during forecasted period.

Browse Complete Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/contraceptive-pills-market-2122 .

The market for contraceptive pills is characterised by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global market of contraceptive pills appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. Major players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the emerging nations, making it putting pressure on the regional players, especially in terms of features such as type, product portfolios, and pricing.

The market is witnessing intensified competition which is expected to get more intensified further during the forecast period. The contraceptive pills market appears to be highly competitive owing to the presence of several large and small key players accounting for a substantial market share. Well established players are getting into various product launches in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.

For instance, in 2015, Pfizer Inc. has introduced SAYANA, first injectable contraceptive in UK which can be self-administered.

While, in 2015 , Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has launched Beyaz which is a generic contraceptive drug. It is one of the most successful product of the company and in 2016 it has annual sales of approximately $ 133 million in the US. Recently, in March 2017, the company has launched a new product Minastrin in the market. Moreover, the company has launched the generic version of Janssen's birth control pills Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Into the brand name of Tri-Lo-Sprintec (norgetimate and ethinyl estradiol) tablets.

Therefore, the growing partnerships and product launches to expand their presence in various parts of the globe for their competitive products has spurred the growth of the market.

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Adults who have received Covid-19 vaccine. See story HEALTH Coronavirus Vaccine. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com.

Covid-19 vaccine doses in the UK. See story HEALTH Coronavirus. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson receives the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine administered by nurse and Clinical Pod Lead, Lily Harrington at Westminster Bridge Vaccination Centre at St Thomas' Hospital in London. Picture date: Friday March 19, 2021.

The UK is on the verge of reaching the major milestone of giving more than 50pc of the adult population their first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Government data up to March 18 suggests that 49.9pc of the population aged 18 and over have received a first dose, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson received his first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, a rise in coronavirus infections has led to countries across Europe imposing tougher restrictions, with UK scientists concerned about outbreaks of the South African variant.

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Government sources said the UK needs to be wary of what is happening in Europe because in the past that has led to a rise here a few weeks later, although how things will pan out is uncertain.

European countries are seeing pockets of the South African variant, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against this variant.

In the UK, hospital admissions and deaths are still coming down due to the effect of vaccines, but there are worries that cases could rise quickly once restrictions are eased.

Expand Close Covid-19 vaccine doses in the UK. See story HEALTH Coronavirus. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Covid-19 vaccine doses in the UK. See story HEALTH Coronavirus. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com.

Experts believe there will be an increasing disconnect between cases and hospital admissions and deaths going forward, as vaccines work to keep people from dying.

Regarding foreign holidays this summer, Government scientists say it is still unclear what will happen, but the risk of importing cases and variants comes from countries with a higher prevalence than the UK.

On Friday, Mr Johnson gave a double thumbs-up to mark his vaccination as he was given the jab at Westminster Bridge Vaccination Centre at St Thomas Hospital in central London shortly after 6.30pm.

Leaving hospital he told reporters: I literally did not feel a thing and so it was very good, very quick and I cannot recommend it too highly.

Everybody, when you get your notification to go for a jab please go and get it. It is the best thing for you, best thing for your family and for everybody else.

Expand Close Adults who have received Covid-19 vaccine. See story HEALTH Coronavirus Vaccine. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Adults who have received Covid-19 vaccine. See story HEALTH Coronavirus Vaccine. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com.

The Prime Minister had previously dismissed concerns it was linked to blood clots, and told the nation it was safe at a press briefing on Thursday.

Mr Johnson was treated in the intensive care unit at St Thomas Hospital in April last year after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

His jab comes as England became the first of the four UK nations to pass the milestone of giving a first dose of vaccine to more than 50pc of the adult population.

A total of 22,337,590 people had been given a first jab as of March 18, according to NHS England.

This is the equivalent of 50.5pc of the population of England aged 18 and over, based on the latest estimates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A separate milestone has been passed in Wales, where one in 10 of the total population is likely to have had both doses of the vaccine.

In Europe, the French government announced that new lockdown restrictions would be imposed on Paris from midnight on Friday due to an increase in cases.

Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was facing a third wave of the pandemic, adding the new measures will last for four weeks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany may need to apply an emergency break on relaxing restrictions amid a rise in infections.

Poland begins a new three-week lockdown on Saturday, with shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities closed, while other countries including Italy and Spain have opted for curfews in a bid to reduce the rate of transmission.

Earlier, Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said the UK must keep the South African Covid-19 variant at bay as some European countries reported a third wave of infections.

Prof Ferguson, who spurred the UKs decision to go into lockdown last March, warned that a group of European countries are seeing increasing levels of coronavirus cases.

Perhaps more concern for the UK though is that some countries are notably seeing a significant fraction, 5-10pc of cases, of the South African variant, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

That is the variant we really do want to keep out of the UK.

A study published on Thursday by Oxford University suggested that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs could struggle against the South African variant and may end up offering limited protection.

Researchers said the South African variant should be the focus of any efforts to create new vaccines that may be needed next winter.

Prof Ferguson said there are important decisions coming up with regards to dealing with variants, including how much the ban on international travel is relaxed.

One way of dealing with variants may be through introducing testing of people coming into the country, he suggested, but added: These are policy decisions.

Countries including France, Germany and Italy have also began restarting their vaccine programmes with the AstraZeneca jab  reversing earlier decisions to suspend them over blood clot concerns.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will resume in Ireland on Saturday, the Health Service Executive has announced.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said: We welcome the review by the European Medicines Agency and the positive outcome.

We will now put in place the updated information and advice recommended by NIAC, and begin rescheduling vaccinations starting with a relatively modest number tomorrow (Saturday).

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and effective and its benefits in preventing Covid-19 hospital admission and death greatly outweighed potential risks.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have said that the jab is safe and have encouraged people to take up their vaccine appointments.

In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has urged people to watch a potential Wales rugby Six Nations Grand Slam at home within their household.

He added: The last thing we want is to mark a potential Grand Slam weekend with a surge in Covid cases.
Smartphone companies have done some great things to bring the industry forward but plenty have also done some shady things. While we might like to forget some of the dreadful things done in the past, we cant ignore them, especially if history repeats itself. From controversial decisions to false marketing; here are five of the worst things smartphone companies have done in the past.

1. False Marketing

 Huawei_Reddit

Many smartphone companies have tried to pass off false marketing as the real deal for an upcoming product which was soon caught by people keeping a close watch. It all started with the Nokia Lumia 920 where one could see a video being shot by a DSLR. The video used for advertising the smartphone highlighted the smartphones OIS capabilities however soon enough people could spot a person in reflection using a DSLR instead.



Similarly, Huawei was also caught faking DSLR shots for its Nova 3 smartphone commercial. In the commercial, a couple is taking selfie shots however additional behind the scenes images surfaced online showing how the company faked the images claiming it was shot on the Nova 3. Huawei was caught for a second time when it presented a stock image of a volcano erupting as if it was captured using the P30 Pros camera.

2. Inserting Ads in Smartphones

 MensXP

Xiaomi is the number one culprit here for serving its customers ads on the Redmi Note series of smartphones. These ads are so intrusive that many opt to flash the phone and install a different OS ROM to get around the problem. Ads in personal devices are quite intrusive, especially since most of the free apps on the smartphone are already plagued with ads. It ruins the overall experience and is one of the worst things a smartphone company can do. Other companies like Realme, Samsung and others have also started to advertise on their smartphones treating personal devices as some sort of a digital billboard.



3. Removing The Headphone Jack

 Youtube_UnboxTherapy

While we may not complain about it today, removing the headphone hack on the iPhone 7 was quite controversial a few years ago. Apple's reasoning was a vague declaration of its 'courage' for innovation in the smartphone space however not many people were happy about it. While it may have worked out for the company in the long run, it was widely considered as one of the worst things done by a smartphone company in recent memory. Today, almost every flagship smartphone comes with a headphone jack in favour of better water resistance and wireless audio tech.



4. Cheating Benchmarks

 Realme

Just last week, Realme was caught manipulating Antutu benchmark scores for the Realme GT which led to the smartphone being banned on the platform for the next three months. Sadly, Realme is not the only culprit here since other companies such as OnePlus, Huawei, Honor, OPPO, Samsung and others have also been accused of manipulating benchmark scores in the past. Some companies even block benchmark apps on newly launched smartphones so that reviewers cannot run tests as it would reflect badly in review scores.



5. Heavy Discounting After Launch

The one thing every Indian Android users knows is that smartphones often get heavily discounted soon after launch. Samsung is known for doing that with its flagship Galaxy smartphones and it often leaves a bad taste in the mouth of customers who purchased the smartphone on launch day. Android smartphones are known for losing value twice as fast as iPhones and theres nothing you can do about it. However, we do advise waiting whenever a new Android device launches as it will probably get a heavy discount a few months later.
Just as Bridgerton reinvented the Regency costume drama, Netflix show The Irregulars will reimagine Sherlock Holmes for a new generation when it starts this week.

Following the Baker Street Irregulars  a group of waifs who help Holmes and his partner Dr Watson in Sir Arthur Conan Doyles books  this eight-part series merges traditional period drama with Stephen King-style horror and a whiff of X-Files mysticism to create something totally different.

So whats it all about? Nicole Lampert has all the clues...

SIR ARTHURS BLACK MAGIC

Netflix's The Irregulars stars the characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles (pictured) books in an adaptation for a new generation

His most famous creation may be the model of sharp factual deduction, but Sherlock author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was quite a different creature.

He had a fascination for the nether world of spirits and ghosts, and after the double blow of the First World War and the Spanish Flu pandemic in which he lost his son, his brother and nine other relatives, Sir Arthur turned to ouija boards and mediums to commune with the dead.

Hes even said to have become a member of the Golden Dawn, which practised dark magic.

Theres never been a Sherlock Holmes incarnation so inspired by the authors ventures into the spiritual realm as The Irregulars, created by Tom Bidwell.

Its very different to any other adaptation, says executive producer Jude Liknaitzky. Fans will love the big mysteries and analysing the clues throughout the story. Tom was interested in how we deal with death and grief.

SO WHATS THE SHOW ALL ABOUT

The Baker Street Irregulars are attacked by supernatural crows (pictured) after being contacted by Dr Watson

The series idea came from mentions in the novels of a group of London street urchins called the Baker Street Irregulars, who helped Holmes and Dr Watson.

They have appeared in previous TV adaptations, including the 1983 series The Baker Street Boys and 2007s Sherlock Holmes And The Baker Street Irregulars.

In this series theyre contacted by Dr Watson about a series of baby kidnappings before theyre attacked by supernatural crows. Its clear something strange is going on  and it might be linked to Irregular Jessies dark dreams.

The gang discover Londons under threat from something otherworldly, and each episode sees them battling different monsters, from a fearsome tooth fairy to a shape-shifting creature.

SHERLOCK'S A MESS - IT'S WATSON WHO'S THE BOSS

THE GANG Leo (top far left) with leader Bea (Thaddea Graham), her fragile sister Jessie (Darci Shaw), charming Spike (McKell David), Dr Watson and protective Billy (Jojo Macari), whos in love with Bea

In The Irregulars its Dr Watson whos in control, and he has an air of menace. This Watson is different to any youve seen, says Royce Pierreson, the actor best known as DC Jamie Desford in Line Of Duty, who plays Watson.

The Watsons Ive seen are normally the dogsbody, but this one has a lot on his shoulders. As the darkness unravels, he struggles for control.

Dr Watson (pictured) is played by Royce Pierreson from Line Of Duty

Sherlock himself is mentioned but doesnt appear until halfway through the series  and when we meet him hes a drug-addled mess.

You know in rock documentaries when things start getting difficult for the band, cracks have appeared? Thats how we meet Sherlock, says Killing Eves Henry Lloyd-Hughes, who plays him. Hes like a broken rock star, his swagger has disappeared.

His genius and power have been smashed to smithereens. Watson is trying to help him rebuild while all this other stuff is going on.

Its a fantastic opportunity to really get under the hood of who Sherlock is. The series is an eccentric look at this world... and its much scarier than I was expecting!

THE SECRET FIFTH MEMBER OF THE GANG

Harrison Osterfield stars as Queen Victorias son Prince Leopold in the series. Pictured: Leo with his sister Louise

One real-life figure from the period to appear in the series is Queen Victorias son Prince Leopold (Harrison Osterfield), who meets the Irregulars during a brief trip outside the palace.

Born in April 1853, Victoria and Alberts eighth child was the first royal delivered under anaesthesia as the queen was given chloroform.

Diagnosed with haemophilia, Leopold was a sickly child and as a result Victoria barely let him out of the palace grounds, but he was deemed one of the brightest of her children and went to Oxford, where he was president of its chess club.

His adoring but overpowering mother attempted to stop him marrying, until eventually she found a woman she approved of, a German cousin named Princess Helena.

They wed in 1882 and had a brief but happy marriage. Helena was pregnant with their second child when Leopold, in Cannes to escape the harsh British winter, slipped, bashed his head and died the following morning from a cerebral haemorrhage.

In the series Leo is bright and rebellious and determined to leave the palace to meet his friends  who have absolutely no idea who he really is.

THEY'RE STYLISHLY SCRUFFY URCHINS

The costumes worn by the street urchins were inspired by the Teddy Girl gangs of the 1950s. Pictured: An attack by a monster in the series

As a group of street urchins, the Irregulars dont get much chance to dress up. The wardrobe department had to break down all the newly created costumes with rips and holes, distressing them to look scruffy. Make-up included making the characters look dirty and greasing their hair.

If you look closely youll see each of the gang has a tin soldier emblem  a symbol of their unity.

The gang shows their unity with a tin soldier emblem (pictured)

Although two of the gang are boys, their look was partially based on the little-known Teddy Girl gangs of the 1950s  their clothes feature pinks, yellows and turquoise, unusual for a show set in Victorian England.

The wardrobe team then had to go high camp for Prince Leopold, who in one episode attends a ball held for his sister.

Altogether more than 500 outfits have been used in the show, with most newly made. The Irregulars will be on Netflix from Friday.
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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.
A Zachary man accused in the 2017 beating, stabbing and shooting death of his 11-month-old son has been found competent to stand trial on a second-degree murder charge.

Mental health experts also have opined that Fabian Smith's mental state at the time of the horrific crime was diminished due to his self-intoxication, Smith's attorney said.

East Baton Rouge Parish Assistant Public Defender Robert Ray, who had requested the mental evaluation, said Friday that Smith was intoxicated on synthetic marijuana at the time of Jericho Smith's death.

+3 In 2017 slaying of infant son, was Zachary father sane at the time? Doctors to determine A Zachary man accused in the 2017 beating, stabbing and shooting death of his 11-month-old son will be evaluated by two mental health experts 

Several years ago, in another Baton Rouge murder case, a state appeals court noted that voluntary intoxication can be a defense to a second-degree murder prosecution only if the circumstances indicate the intoxication prevented the presence of specific criminal intent.

Smith, 36, was the only adult in his Hancock Street home at the time of Jerichos death Oct. 14, 2017, police have said. The babys mother was at work.

Zachary police detectives believe Smith could have been under the influence of some type of substance because he said he could not remember what happened and the last thing that he could recall was picking up food from Burger King for the children, a search warrant states.

One of those detectives, Enoch Sims, testified at a hearing in late 2017 that Smith told a neighbor, I messed up, I messed up, I messed up. Sims said Jerichos then-2-year-old sibling told him, My daddy killed the baby!

Zachary police officer Cothern Williams, the first officer on the scene, testified he saw Smith walk out of the house and heard him say, My baby, my baby!

Jericho died of multiple gunshot and stab wounds and blunt force injuries, coroner's officials said. A gun and knife were found inside the home.

The toddler was shot in the head and neck, and had gunshot residue around his face  an indication that he was shot at close range, Sims testified in November 2017.

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

+4 Slain Zachary infant had gunshot residue on his head, detective testifies at Fabian Smith's bond hearing An 11-month-old Zachary boy allegedly shot, stabbed and beaten to death by his father in October had gunshot residue on his head when police f

Smith also is charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody. There is no trial date set in the case.

Smith faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. Second-degree cruelty to a juvenile carries up to 40 years behind bars.

Back in 2015, an East Baton Rouge Parish jury rejected a Baton Rouge man's intoxication defense and unanimously found him guilty of second-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of his brother-in-law.

The trial judge, however, later accepted Derrick Bland's intoxication argument and reduced his murder conviction to negligent homicide, which only carries up to five years in prison.

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge reversed Trudy White's decision and reinstated the murder conviction in the slaying of James "Mucci" Stockton. The appellate court called White's actions "clear legal error" and an "injustice."

+3 Appellate court reinstates second-degree murder conviction against Baton Rouge man A Baton Rouge mans second-degree murder conviction in the 2013 shooting death of his brother-in-law was reinstated Wednesday by a state appea

White later reluctantly imposed a mandatory life sentence on Bland.

Prosecutors said Stockton earlier had cursed Bland and kicked him out of his apartment during a family gathering, so Bland lay in wait beneath a tree outside the apartment until Stockton came out. Two witnesses and Bland testified he drank a large amount of alcohol that day.

Trial testimony indicated Bland shot Stockton three times, and after he fell to the ground, Bland walked up to him and shot him three more times.

The 1st Circuit cited the two sets of fired bullets and said "deliberately pointing and firing a deadly weapon at close range are circumstances which will support a finding of specific intent to kill." Bland ran to a friend's apartment after the shooting and attempted to obtain a ride, then disposed of the gun and fled farther from the scene, the appeals court added.
The scene at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way, Newtownabbey, after police launched a murder investigation after three bodies were found at separate properties. PA Wire

Three people have died after a suspected murder-suicide in Newtownabbey, Antrim.

A man is believed to have stabbed his mother and girlfriend at separate properties before killing himself.

Police confirmed the incidents were linked, and a double murder probe had been launched.

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and woman were found at a second property around two miles away.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The deputy Mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, said her thoughts and prayers were with the friends and family of the two women who she said had been "brutally killed.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left absolutely shocked and stunned by the news.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

Just after 10.55pm on Friday evening, police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area. Officers attended, along with colleagues from NIAS. Sadly, a woman has been pronounced dead.

As officers carried out further enquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area. An unconscious male was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the male was pronounced dead. On searching the property, another deceased female was located.

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

"We would urge anyone with any information which may assist our investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"

Police were at the scene of both properties this morning.

Local people spoke of their shock, while political representatives said more needed to be done to address violent attacks against women.

Ms McClelland, the deputy mayor, said: People in Newtownabbey are in shock today following three deaths in what police believe was a double murder.

My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

This is a close-knit community and I know that they will offer every support to those dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Once again it appears that two women have lost their lives in a violent attack. How many more women have to die before our Executive takes action to address gender based violence?

Mr Finucane, the North Belfast MP, has said the community was in shock.

He said: My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

Its important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken spoke of his shock. He said: This is terrible news - the loss of three lives is an awful tragedy for the community.

Policing Board member John Blair said it was the most sad and shocking set of circumstances adding: My thoughts are with family and friends of victims in what they are going through right now.

He said there was a great sense of shock throughout the Newtownabbey community.
The scene at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way, Newtownabbey, after police launched a murder investigation after three bodies were found at separate properties. PA Wire

Three people have died after a suspected murder-suicide in Newtownabbey, Antrim.

A man is believed to have stabbed his mother and girlfriend at separate properties before killing himself.

Police confirmed the incidents were linked, and a double murder probe had been launched.

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and woman were found at a second property around two miles away.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The deputy Mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, said her thoughts and prayers were with the friends and family of the two women who she said had been "brutally killed.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left absolutely shocked and stunned by the news.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

Just after 10.55pm on Friday evening, police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area. Officers attended, along with colleagues from NIAS. Sadly, a woman has been pronounced dead.

As officers carried out further enquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area. An unconscious male was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the male was pronounced dead. On searching the property, another deceased female was located.

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

"We would urge anyone with any information which may assist our investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"

Police were at the scene of both properties this morning.

Local people spoke of their shock, while political representatives said more needed to be done to address violent attacks against women.

Ms McClelland, the deputy mayor, said: People in Newtownabbey are in shock today following three deaths in what police believe was a double murder.

My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

This is a close-knit community and I know that they will offer every support to those dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Once again it appears that two women have lost their lives in a violent attack. How many more women have to die before our Executive takes action to address gender based violence?

Mr Finucane, the North Belfast MP, has said the community was in shock.

He said: My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

Its important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken spoke of his shock. He said: This is terrible news - the loss of three lives is an awful tragedy for the community.

Policing Board member John Blair said it was the most sad and shocking set of circumstances adding: My thoughts are with family and friends of victims in what they are going through right now.

He said there was a great sense of shock throughout the Newtownabbey community.
UNIST and Ulsan Metropolitan City have embarked on an effort to successfully promote the Digital New Deal in Ulsan region.

On February 4, a ceremony to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNIST and Ulsan Metropolitan City took place at the AI Innovation Park, located in Duwang-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan. Under this partnership, both organizations have pledged mutual cooperation for the successful promotion of major projects that will drive digital innovation in Ulsan.

The three major projects include the operation and management of the AI Innovation Park, the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering and its innovation group, as well as the Industrial Accident-Specialized Smart Healthcare Research Center. Both organizations plan to strengthen support for industries and foster professional manpower for the promotion of these projects.

The 'Ulsan-UNIST AI Innovation Park' is a project, designed to help facilitate the use of AI, one of the core technologies driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) across sectors and regions. It recently held an official launching ceremony cum briefing session on January 12, 2021. Their aim is to build a regional innovation ecosystem, leading to education, research, and entrepreneurship based on AI and Big Data.

Scheduled to open in September 2021, the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering aims to foster the semiconductor industry in cooperation with local companies in Ulsan region. Through technological advancement, it plans to help local SMEs in the fine chemical sector transition into the semiconductor industry, a key driver of innovation in the digital age.

The Industrial Accident-Specialized Smart Healthcare Research Center is a project, promoted for research and manpower training in the areas of rehabilitation and treatment. It plans to research original technologies, aimed at better treating occupational injuries through the use of cutting-edge technology and medical advances in the field of healthcare, such as AI, robotic surgery, genomes, and 3D printing. This includes cultivation of experts in each field.

The signing ceremony of MoU between UNIST and Ulsan Metropolitan City was accompanied by a progress report on the major New Deal projects and a proposal of strategic plans to foster manufacturing innovation clusters at the national level. The ceremony has been attended by Mayor Chul-ho Song of Ulsan Metropolitan City, UNIST President Yong Hoon Lee, and Dean Dong Sub Kim in the College of Information-Bio Convergence Engineering at UNIST.

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Ram Gopal Varma's most-ambitious project D Company, which was all set to release in theatres on March 26, 2021, has been postponed. The makers of the RGV directorial took to this decision because of the spike in COVID-19 cases in India. The director took to Twitter and informed about the same.

Ram Gopal Varma tweeted, "Due to the sudden severe covid rise in many parts of the country and also amid continuous news of new lockdowns, we at SPARK decided to postpone the release of D COMPANY ..A new date will be announced ASAP #DCompany @SparkSagar1." (sic)

The new release date of D Company will be revealed soon, and till then, fans can do nothing but wait for the epic underworld drama. Talking about D Company, the film is reportedly based on Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his life. The film stars Ashwat Kanth in the lead role while Rudr Kanth as Dawood's elder brother Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar.

Earlier, in an exclusive interview with Filmibeat, Ram Gopal Varma revealed that the characters of D Company became legendary with time. According to the Satya director, the film is not only about Dawood but also about other people who lived and died under its shadows.

RGV has made D Company for the pan-India audience as it will be released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. Let's wait for the new release date of the gangster-drama.

Also Read : BIG REVEAL: Has Ram Gopal Varma Met Dawood Ibrahim In Real Life? EXCLUSIVE

Also Read : Ram Gopal Varma Launches His Dream Project D Company's Teaser
The embrace says it all.

Once the boat was finished, young couple Jack Earl and Kathleen (nee Gillett) planned to sail off into the sunset with their two young children on a circumnavigation of the globe.

The outbreak of the Second World War put paid to that. The couple were living on the boat, the Kathleen Gillett, during the Japanese midget submarine attack in 1942, which lifted their boat off the water before coming crashing back down.

Jack and Kathleen embrace before his departure on the 18-month circumnavigation.

After hostilities ceased, commercial artist and skipper Jack organised a celebratory trip from Sydney to Tasmania in the 44ft gaff-rigged ketch in December 1945. It turned into a bit of a race and the Kathleen Gillett came fourth. And so the annual Sydney to Hobart Boxing Day sailing race was born.
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U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, as a former prosecutor, would probably say the evidence is overwhelming that he will announce a 2022 Senate run at a campaign rally scheduled for Monday in his hometown of Huntsville.

The event announcement, tweeted Wednesday from Brooks campaign account, promises an exciting announcement. It also said Brooks will be joined by Stephen Miller, a former aide to Sen. Jeff Sessions who spent the past four years working as a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump.

Please join me and @StephenM for a rally and announcement this Monday night in Huntsville! pic.twitter.com/8ZchrGOSwj  Mo Brooks (@MoBrooks_) March 18, 2021

Brooks also has a speaking engagement at a free speech rally on April 10 in New Brockton near Dothan  which is about as far from Brooks north Alabama congressional district as you can get and still be in Alabama. Brooks also spoke at a Bama Carry meeting in Tuscaloosa as well as the University of Alabama College Republicans on Tuesday.

Those are all ingredients of an apparent Senate campaign to win votes statewide, not a push to win a seventh term in the House of Representatives.

While Brooks confirmed Wednesday to AL.com that he would be announcing his plans for 2022 at the Huntsville rally, thats as far as he would go. Asked if everyone would have to wait until Monday to find out, Brooks in a text message replied simply, Yep.

A Brooks Senate candidacy would likely reverberate beyond the states borders, given his rising profile as a leader in Congress who fought the presidential election results and his fiery speech at a pro-Trump rally in Washington on Jan. 6 hours before Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. Five people died as a result of the siege.

His speech that morning has led two members of Congress to file a resolution calling for Brooks censure  which counts Alabamas lone Democrat in the House, Terri Sewell, as a co-sponsor. Another congressman filed a resolution calling for Brooks to be expelled from the House and still another congresswoman sent a letter to the House ethics committee calling for Brooks to be investigated for his actions on Jan. 6.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month naming Brooks as a defendant along with Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani over the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol.

Ive done absolutely nothing illegal, nothing unethical and my conduct had zero to do with the attack on the United States Capitol, Brooks said in an interview earlier this month with AL.com.

On the contrary, Brooks said his speech bolstered his Senate prospects.

January 6, and the socialist response to January 6 and the fake news media response to January 6, has dramatically improved my chances of winning a Senate election, if thats the path I choose to take, Brooks said.

Brooks would be the second Republican candidate  both closely aligned with Trump  to announce a Senate campaign to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby. Montgomery businesswoman Lynda Blanchard, an ambassador to Slovenia during Trumps presidency, entered the race a month ago. Last weekend, she held a fundraiser at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in south Florida at which the former president made an appearance.

Blanchard has also said she will invest $5 million of her own money to ignite her campaign. Her campaign also issued a press release earlier this month promising $3 million in television advertising by May 24.

Brooks touted a significant lead against opponents in a potential Senate race, based on polling. At the same time, he downplayed the polls as nothing more than a snapshot in time.

In making a decision (about running for Senate), what I have to do is evaluate what the crystal balls going to look like six months or a year from now, Brooks said. The other campaigns, if I run, their task is to cut into my lead. My campaigns task, if I run, is to expand that lead. And you have to envision all the potential dynamics and try to figure out where youre going to be in the end game. So polling data is a good snapshot in time but its only good for that moment in time. Its fluid.

Among other factors to be considered, Brooks said, would be the level of Trumps support for his campaign. Millers appearance at the announcement might suggest that support reached a high enough level to convince Brooks to run. Brooks also mentioned fundraising as another element, which he said has been strong in recent weeks.

According to Federal Election Commission, Brooks reported having more than $1.1 million in his campaign account through Dec. 31  the latest filing deadline.

Meanwhile, Alabama Democrats have already started fighting a Brooks Senate campaign before it formally begins. The party sent out a fundraising email earlier this week to fight a Brooks Senate candidacy.

Just because his colleagues, constituents and countrymen no longer want him in the House, that sure doesnt mean were going to let him take the Senate, said the email, just above a blue button with NO TO MO linking to a page where donations can be made to the Alabama Democratic Party.

Were going to start working to beat him even before day 1, the email said.

Among potential Democrats in the race, Sewell has said she will look very closely at a Senate campaign.

Brooks has been here before, of course. In the 2017 special Senate election, Brooks finished third in a crowded Republican primary behind eventual nominee Roy Moore and Sen. Luther Strange, who had been appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to fill the seat vacated by Sessions until the special election.

At the time, in fact, Brooks said he believed he was positioned to finish in a runoff with Moore for the GOP nomination before Trump endorsed Strange a week before the primary.

Brooks chose not to run in 2020 against Doug Jones, the winner of that special election who was defeated last year by Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

The American people right now want fighters, Brooks said of the current political landscape. They want fighters on the socialist side if youre a socialist. They want fighters on the principled conservative side if youre a principled conservative.
(Newser)  A suspect charged in a New Jersey slaying not only admitted the crime but told police he killed 15 other people in New Mexico, authorities said. One of the New Mexico victims was Sean Lannon's estranged wife, CNN reports. A prosecutor made the revelation Friday in court, during a probable cause hearing. Lannon "admitted to the dismemberment of some of the individuals involved in those homicides," Alec Gutierrez said. "He admitted his efforts in an attempt to conceal evidence, I'll put it, in those homicides. And he admitted to killing a total of 16 people." Lannon, 47, was in court by video but didn't enter a plea. Prosecutors said they couldn't immediately verify Lannon's claims. He was arrested in St. Louis this week after a manhunt, then extradicted to New Jersey to face the charge in Gloucester County.

story continues below

Lannon did tell the court he used a hammer to kill Michael Dabkowski after breaking into his home, per WCAU. He has said Dabkowski, 66, sexually abused him for years and attacked him first in the home; his public defender said the killing might have been in self-defense. His attorney didn't contest the claim that Lannon had confessed to the New Mexico killings but objected to that being included in Friday's hearing. Police said he's a suspect in the slayings of four people whose remains were found in a vehicle in an Albuquerque garage this month. One of them was Lannon's wife, Jennifer, per KOAT. The other 11 killings were "in the Grants and Cibola County area," an Albuquerque police spokesman said. Lannon is being held in New Jersey without bail. (Read more multiple murder stories.)
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad grants an interview to Vatican Media about Pope Francis recent Apostolic Journey to Iraq, saying it sent an important message of hope for minorities in the nation, especially for the Yazidis.

By Alessandro Gisotti

The immense courage of Nadia Murad has become a symbol for the Yazidi people, and for all women who have fallen victim to violence.

In 2014, she was kidnapped by the so-called Islamic State and enslaved for three months in Iraq. The militants were carrying out a brutal campaign to exterminate the minority population.

Despite falling victim to unspeakable violence, Nadia refused to give up, and now she speaks against every form of violence from her adopted home in Germany.

She met Pope Francis in 2018, and gifted him with a signed copy of her autobiography The Last Girl. The Pope recently told journalists on the return flight from Iraq that it touched him deeply.

In the following interview with Vatican Media, Nadia Murad speaks about the fruits she hopes to see from the Popes visit to Iraq. She also launches a heartfelt appeal to the international community to help free the many Yazidi women who are still in the jihadists hands.

Q: The media worldwide have unanimously described Pope Francis' visit to Iraq as historic. In your opinion, what remains in the hearts of the Iraqi people from this journey?

Not only is Pope Francis visit to Iraq historic in itself, but it also comes at a historic time for the Iraqi people, as they rebuild from genocide, religious persecution, and decades of conflict. The Popes visit shone a light on the potential for peace and religious freedom. It symbolized that all Iraqis  no matter their faith  are equally deserving of dignity and human rights. His Holiness also sent a clear message that restoring the interfaith fabric of Iraqi society must start with support for the healing of minority communities, like the Yazidis, who have been the target of violence and marginalization.

Q: Speaking to reporters on the plane, Pope Francis said that one of the reasons he visited Iraq was after reading your book "The Last Girl." In his first speech, which he addressed to the country's authorities, he recalled the suffering of the Yazidis. How important is it to have the Pope offering this advocacy for you?

During my audience with Pope Francis back in 2018, we had an in-depth discussion about the Yazidi communitys experience of genocide, particularly the violence endured by women and children. I am glad that my story stayed with him and that he felt called to bring this message to Iraq. His advocacy for the Yazidi cause is an example for other religious leaders in the region to amplify the message of tolerance of religious minorities like the Yazidis.

Nadia Murad and the Pope on 20 December 2018

Q: Today you are a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a UN Goodwill Ambassador, and you have founded Nadia's Initiative, an organization to help women victims of violence. Where did you find the strength to turn all the pain you have suffered into this force for good?

All Yazidis have shown great strength in their survival and resilience. The entire community has withstood immense trauma. We will not be able to recover and rebuild our lives on our own. The community is in dire need of support and resources. Nadias Initiative is striving to empower the community in their recovery by providing tangible and sustainable support.

Q: ISIS lost the war in 2017 but you remind us that there are still thousands of women, even young girls, in slavery who have not yet been freed. Why can't this tragedy be ended and what should the international community do?

The fact that 2,800 Yazidi women and children remain missing in captivity after nearly seven years exposes the lack of political will to protect womens basic human rights and safety. It shows that sexual violence and slavery are not taken seriously by the international community. A multilateral task force must be established immediately with the sole purpose of locating and rescuing these women and children.



Q: You have said: "I want to be the last woman on earth with a story like mine." What would you say today to the many women suffering from war and terrible violence?

To them, I say, It is not your fault. Global patriarchal systems have been designed to subjugate us, profit from our oppression, and wage war on our bodies. But surviving and fighting for recognition of these injustices is an act of resistance. I would also say, You are not alone. Over one-third of women around the globe experience sexual violence. That does not mean we must accept it. There are women in every community who are surviving, standing up, and speaking out. When we unite to fight for our rights, change will be unstoppable.
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The police in Ekiti State have confirmed the killing of two people in violence that erupted during the House of Assembly bye-election for Ekiti East Constituency 1 on Saturday.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that three people were feared dead in the incident that occurred at ward 7, Unit 7 Iworo in Omuo Ekiti.

The bye-election was to fill in the vacant position of Juwa Adegbuyi, a representative of the constituency, who died in February.

Before now, police said six people were injured, among them were two policemen and one National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who are currently receiving treatment in Ikole General Hospital.

Following the violence, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a statement by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye, suspended the election.

He said some INEC regular and ad hoc staff who sustained gunshot injuries during the melee are receiving medical attention.

Two people died  Police

In a separate statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday evening, the Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the deaths of two persons.

The Command, while sympathising with the families of those who lost their lives, wishes all the victims currently receiving treatment in the hospital a quick recovery, including a woman police and a member of Nigeria Youths Service Corp (NYSC). The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police calls for allay as all the culprits arrested shall be brought to book soonest, his statement read.
New Delhi, March 20 : This polyglot Rastriya Swaymsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak can fluently speak in Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, English and Sanskrit. As a social activist, he vehemently opposed the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government. As a result, he was imprisoned for close to 15 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).

As an organiser, he helped strengthen the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and mentoring RSS activists overseas in the United States and United Kingdom at the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. We are talking about RSS's new Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale.

Born in a small village in Karnataka, Hosabale will occupy the all-important number two position in the RSS for the next three years. Till now he was looking after the responsibilities as joint general secretary at the Lucknow centre.

Within the RSS, his colleagues respectfully like to address him as Dattaji. Holding a Masters degree in English Literature, Hosabale is known to take a keen interest in literary matters. An RSS office-bearer told IANS: "He took a keen interest in literary matters during his student life and is known to be close to almost all renowned writers and journalists in Karnataka, including YN Krishnamurthy and Gopal Krishna Adiga. He has also worked on a Kannada monthly journal." Hosabale was born in a small village in Karnataka's Shimoga district in a RSS worker's family on December 1, 1954. He first got involved with the RSS in 1968 and went on to join the ABVP in 1972. Hosabale became a full-time ABVP functionary a few years later in 1978. He helped strengthen the ABVP as National General Secretary, Organisation, between 1992 and 2003.

Hosabale initially studied in his village and went to Bengaluru for higher studies and took admission in the renowned National College. He finished his MA in English from Bengaluru University.

Hosabale was particularly vocal as a social activist during the Emergency imposed by former PM Indira Gandhi. Between 1975 and 1977, he spent 16 months in prison under MISA.

A senior RSS functionary told IANS that Hosabale is known for using the energy of young people creatively. He has also worked a lot with the youth and helped play an important role in setting up the Youth Development Centre in Assam's Guwahati. He also helped set up the World Organization of Student and Youth.

Hosabale is known to possess a sharp intellect. That is why he was appointed co-in-charge of the RSS's intellectual wing in 2003.

In 2009, when Mohan Bhagwat became the RSS chief, Hosabale was appointed in his team as joint general secretary. After being in that important position for 12 years, on March 20, he was appointed Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) by consensus. Hosabale will replace Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi.

Nagpur-based RSS ideologue Dilip Deodhar told IANS: "In the RSS the Sarsanghchalak plays the role of a navigator but it's the general secretary who looks after administrative matters of the organisation. The general secretary has the right to form his own team to run the organisation. The RSS was trying to mould Hosabale in this role for a long time. Now that the time is conducive, he has been given this all-important position."
(CNN)  To say the past year has been a difficult one for people across the globe is something of an understatement.

Not only has the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the deaths of over 2.6 million people worldwide, it's also led to a massive shake up in everyday life for many of us.

But despite the devastating events of the last 12 months and the resulting decline in mental health in a number of destinations, there's been no change at the top spot when it comes to ranking the happiest country in the world.

For the fourth year running, Finland has come out on top in the annual list powered by data from the Gallup World Poll, with Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands following in second, third, fourth and fifth position respectively.

While the United States moved up from 18th to 14th place and the United Kingdom dropped from 13th to 18th, Australia held its 12th place position.

"We need urgently to learn from Covid-19," said report co-editor Jeffrey Sachs, professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

"The pandemic reminds us of our global environmental threats, the urgent need to cooperate, and the difficulties of achieving cooperation in each country and globally."

Movers and shakers

It's worth noting that the World Happiness Report 2021 has been collated slightly differently this time round due to coronavirus.

Not only were researchers unable to complete face-to-face interviews in a number of countries, they also had to switch things up entirely by focusing on the relationship between wellbeing and Covid-19.

The report has been primarily based on levels of GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom and corruption income since it launched in 2012.

Although there have been some changes in the top 10, with Iceland rising two places from fourth to second on the list and Norway dropping from fifth to eighth place, the rankings were strikingly similar to the previous year for the most part, which is viewed as a positive sign.

"Surprisingly there was not, on average, a decline in wellbeing when measured by people's own evaluation of their lives," said the University of British Columbia's professor John Helliwell, who also contributed to the report.

"One possible explanation is that people see Covid-19 as a common, outside threat affecting everybody and that this has generated a greater sense of solidarity and fellow-feeling."

Other notable movements on the list include Germany, which has jumped from 17th to seventh place in the last year.

Croatia, which was among the destinations where face-to-face interviews were able to take place, rose from number 79 to 23 on the list.

Trust factor

Researchers say it's no surprise that Finland has retained the top position once again, as the Nordic country has always ranked highly when it comes to mutual trust.

Trust is recognized as one of the major factors that helped to protect people during the pandemic, as well as confidence in governments.

For instance, Brazil's death rate was significantly higher than Singapore's, a fact the report put partially down to the difference in public trust in the governments of each country.

It also notes that the Americas and Europe had much higher Covid-19 fatalities than East Asia, Australasia, and Africa.

The report suggests that the average age of a country's population, whether it's an island, and its proximity to other highly-infected countries were contributing factors in the disparity between death rates globally.

Intriguingly, cultural differences such as whether the head of government was a woman, are also noted as significant considerations when measuring the success of Covid-19 strategies, along with income inequality and knowledge gained from previous epidemics.

"The East Asian experience shows that stringent government policies not only control Covid-19 effectively, but also buffer the negative impact of daily infections on people's happiness," said report contributor professor Shun Wang of the Korea Development Institute.

While successful vaccine rollouts in various countries have provided a much-needed boost to many, lockdowns, social distancing, face coverings and travel restrictions are part and parcel of living with the virus, and that's not even taking the economic implications into account.

Covid impact on wellbeing

As a result, the report found that the decline in mental health was immediate in many countries, including the UK, where the number of mental health problems reported was 47% higher in May 2020 than predicted before Covid-19.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the World Happiness Report 2021 also found that lockdowns and social distancing impacted workforce wellbeing tremendously.

According to the data collected, those unable to work due to furlough or redundancy who said they were lonely at the start of the pandemic became 43% less happy than those who did not feel lonely to begin with.

"My previous research showed how happy workers are 13% more productive," said professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, another contributor to the report.

"This paper proves that happiness is not driven by pay, and that the social connections and a sense of identity are more important.

"These findings point towards a 'hybrid' future of work, with a balance between office life and working from home to maintain social connections while ensuring flexibility for workers."

Of the 149 countries featured on the report, Afghanistan was ranked the most unhappy once again, followed by Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Botswana.

Those at the bottom of the list were mainly underdeveloped countries where issues such as political and armed conflicts are prevalent, or have been in recent times.

"This has been a very challenging year, but the early data also show some notable signs of resilience in feelings of social connection and life evaluations" says report contributor professor Lara Aknin of Simon Fraser University.

World's happiest countries 2021

1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Switzerland

5. Netherlands

6. Sweden

7. Germany

8. Norway

9. New Zealand

10. Austria

11. Israel

12. Australia

13. Ireland

14. United States

15. Canada

16. Czech Republic

17. Belgium

18. United Kingdom

19. China

20. France

This story was first published on CNN.com This country has just been named the happiest in the world

SACRAMENTO  The campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom is close to qualifying, with nearly 1.2 million valid signatures counted as of early March.

Organizers had submitted more than 1.8 million signatures through March 11, according to a report released Friday by the Secretary of States Office, and county election officials had checked 1.45 million of those. About 1.19 million were found be valid signatures from registered California voters.

The verification rate of 81.7%, while down slightly from the last update in February, is an encouraging sign for supporters of the recall effort.

After the petition deadline passed Wednesday, organizers of the recall campaign said they had gathered a total of 2,117,730 signatures. If the verification rate continues to hold above 81%, that would put the effort at about 1.73 million valid signatures  well above the 1,495,709 they need to qualify an election later this year.

Counties have until the end of April to finish checking petitions, though that only begins a months-long process for the state to certify the recall. Even if the organizers collected enough signatures to qualify, Newsom gets six weeks to try to persuade voters to withdraw their support, and then state officials have more than two months to assess the costs of the election.

A vote would probably not happen until November or December. The ballot would ask Californians two concurrent questions: Should Newsom be removed from office, and if so, who should replace him?

Several Republican rivals have already announced plans to challenge the governor, including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, 2018 gubernatorial candidate John Cox and Doug Ose, a former member of Congress.

Newsom conceded this week that an election is likely to take place later this year, launching his campaign Monday with an aggressive defense denouncing the recall as a power grab by right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists and supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Read what is in the news today:

Society

-- Vietnam recorded one imported case of COVID-19 from the U.S. on Friday evening, raising the national patient tally to 2,571, with 2,198 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths.

-- Hoang Phi Hung, a Vietnamese medical student of the Pskov State University of Russia, and another Russian citizen have received thank-you letters from the authorities of Pskov oblast for saving two children from drowning on the Velikaya River.

-- Bars, karaoke parlors, and discos have been allowed to reopen in Ho Chi Minh City from Friday night.

-- Vietnams Expanded Program on Immunization is expected to organize professional training courses for 44 localities from now until the end of March, preparing them for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program following the first 16 provinces and cities.

-- All suspended and restricted services and activities in northern Hai Phong City have been allowed to resume operation from Saturday.

-- Vietnam has moved up four places to rank 79th in the United Nations-sponsored World Happiness Report 2021 which was released on Friday.

Business

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has given in-principle approval to the Ministry of Planning and Investments proposal to build central Da Nang City into a regional financial center.

-- Hoi An City, home to the famous namesake ancient town in central Quang Nam Province, will host a wide range of tourist events and activities from now to May 1 to welcome visitors back at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has basically been brought under control in the city.

World news

-- A volcanic eruption began in southwestern Iceland near the capital Reykjavik on Friday following thousands of small earthquakes in the area in recent weeks, the countrys meteorological office said, Reuters reported.

-- Some of Royal Caribbean Groups cruises will resume sailing in the Caribbean in June with vaccinated adult guests, ending a year-long hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
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Le gouvernement a decide de mettre en ligne dans les mois a venir une application moblie pour Citizen Support Unit afin denregistrer les doleances des membres du public.

Cabinet has agreed to the development of a Mobile App for the Citizen Support Unit. The proposed App would enable citizens to directly transmit their requests, share concerns and ideas with Ministries/Departments, parastatal bodies and local authorities. Moreover, it would enable users to keep track of their requests through a ticketing system.

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Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
A doctor holds a placenta in the delivery room of a hospital in Beijing, China on Feb. 20, 2012. (Ed Jones/AFP/GettyImages)

Dealers Purchase Placentas From Chinese Funeral Homes

Although the Chinese regime has banned the trade, a group of dealers are purchasing human placenta from hospitals, medical waste treatment plants, and even funeral houses secretly to sell them to consumers as food, or processing workshops as medicine, without any virus or bacteria test.

The placenta is the organ in the uterus of pregnant mammals. It nourishes and maintains the fetus through the umbilical cord. Some Chinese people believe the placenta is nutritious and eat fresh placentas after cooking them.

Placentophagy is also called Ziheche in Chinese medicine, and is used to treat uterus-related diseases, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, and anemia. However, Western medicine doesnt think placentophagy is useful, and doesnt recommend any patient to use it.

State-owned Chinese media The Paper quoted several dealers in Haozhou city, eastern Chinas Anhui Province on March 15, saying that each of them sells over two metric tons of placentophagy every month, which equals about 30,000 human placentas.

The dealers said clearly that the placenta that they purchased might be infected with different types of viruses from the parturient women, and they dont dare to eat them.

Doctor Liu Yi from Wuhan also told The Paper that fresh placenta that has not been professionally processed at high temperatures cannot be sterilized by simple cooking methods, adding that eating infected placenta can damage peoples health.

We only guarantee the placentophagy are made of real placenta, but dont care whats inside them [such as hepatitis, HIV, and syphilis], Yan Jun (pseudonym), a processor in Pizhou, eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province, recently told The Paper.

Legal Status

According to the China Food and Drug Administrations database, there are over a dozen pharmaceutical factories that are authorized to manufacture placentophagy-related medicines, which means they have the right to purchase the fresh human placenta legally.

Other trading of fresh human placenta is illegal in China, but trading the placentophagy (steamed and dehydrated placenta) among dealers and doctors is legal and the regime doesnt check where the manufacturers received the fresh placenta.

Chinese lawMedical Waste Management Regulationsrules that any medical staff who sell placenta face a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 yuan ($769 to $3,075).

On the largest Chinese online shopping website Taobao, 86 types of placentophagy-related products are on sale, including fresh human placenta, placentophagy, and powdered placentophagy, although the online selling of these is considered illegal.

Taobao is selling placentophagy related products, which is illegal in China, on March 17, 2021. (Screenshot/Taobao)

Purchasing

State-run media Xinhua reported on May 22, 2017, that Chinese businessmen secretly purchased placenta and processed them into medicine to sell to consumers.

In general, all human placenta are packed and shipped to medical waste treatment plants by hospitals, according to Chinese official orders. In some cities, the regime even orders the medical waste treatment plants to ship the placenta to funeral houses for cremation.

However, the long disposal process gives businessmen multiple avenues to purchase it.

Dealers purchase the fresh placenta from hospitals, medical waste treatment plants, and funeral houses, with the price of 60 yuan ($9.22) per placenta in Zengcheng district in Guangzhou [in Guangdong Province], The Paper wrote. They sell them to processing workshops.

The report listed another dealer from Shaoyang in south Chinas Hunan Province who purchased the placenta at a price between 70 to 80 yuan ($10.76-$12.3) from local medical waste treatment plants and funeral homes.

I trade at least 10,000 placenta every month, the report quoted the dealer.

A Chinese traditional medicine stand at the Caizhuanyue Market in Yulin, southern Chinas Guangxi region on June 21, 2015. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

A third dealer The Paper interviewed purchased the placenta from Yongcheng in central Chinas Henan Province. He mainly bought from medical waste treatment plants, where he can easily buy a large amount. The medical waste treatment plants collected the placenta from many hospitals.

This dealer told The Paper that the placenta purchased from medical waste treatment plants cant be eaten as food because the placenta is like meat. Its very easy to spoil. He suggested that only the placenta purchased directly from hospitals can be sold as raw food.

On Taobao, sellers claim the fresh placenta they sold all have negative test certifications from the hospital, and are safe to eat as food.

Because the trade is illegal, The Paper didnt expose the dealers real names. They had contacted them by pretending to be a buyer.

Processing and Selling

Chinese medicine has a standard placentophagy processing method, which can be summarized as washing, shaping, boiling, baking, rewashing, steaming, and dehydrating.

According to The Papers report, the underground workshops skip some of the processing steps that are required by Chinese medicine and add other steps to make the product look better and heavier, such as washing with hydrogen peroxide, mixing starch and glue, and adding coloring.

Each processing workshop has its own selling channels. Some of them sell to small-size Chinese medicine pharmaceutical factories, some sell to the shops at medicine markets.

The Paper reported that several stands inside the Haozhou Chinese medicine market sell placentophagy and can supply the medicine on a large scale of up to several metric tons. One seller even said that he had 10,000 frozen fresh human placentas on hand for sale.

Most of the sellers refused to disclose where they purchased the placentophagy.

The manufacturer isnt involved in trade. He doesnt sell directly to the market, The Paper quoted a seller. He is afraid of possible problems.

The seller explained that the manufacturer purchases the fresh placenta illegally and doesnt want the police to know his existence.
To the editor:

I recently commented on Barbara Phillips Feb. 13 letter in which she warned disobedience has consequences, including losing salvation." I tried to explain that per Eph 2:8, salvation is not earned by us through our obedience but is a gift that God offers to everyone, despite our disobedience or sin.

I should have first acknowledged that Mrs. Phillips is partly correct. Because of our sin, none of us deserve salvation (eternal life) with God. On our own, our sin condemns us.

The issue I was trying to address is sin done after a Christian first receives Gods gift of salvation, when we first know we are forgiven and saved. Putting our faith in God does not mean we will now be sinless and perfectly obedient. Nor does it give us special permission to keep sinning. Since Christians still sin every day, I didnt want anyone to think (as Mrs. Phillips letter might be interpreted) that salvation depends on our perfect obedience to God.

Because God loves us and does not want us to hurt ourselves or others, He tells us in the Bible what sin is and why we should not sin. In Mrs. Phillips March 12 letter, she does a great job of referencing Bible verses that explain the dangers of sin in our lives. She also notes that Even Christ was obedient to God." Actually, only Jesus Christ has ever been perfectly obedient to God, even suffering death on a cross, and then rising from the dead on the first Easter Sunday. That is partly why Christians confess Jesus as our savior, since our own obedience always falls short.

As Christians, we acknowledge we are sinners, created by and accountable to God. We gladly receive Gods gifts of forgiveness of our sins and the hope of salvation. We want to obey God but when we fail, we again confess our sin and repent. So I encourage everyone to thoroughly investigate the Bible and Christianity. Find and receive salvation for yourselves. Jesus made the impossible possible for everyone. Happy Easter!

DAVE TOMASZEWSKI

Midland
According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the decision was made to open the countrys borders for foreign students. Thus, the ease of epidemiological restrictions will not apply to all foreigners receiving education in the Russian Federation.

It is clarified that only citizens of those countries that are included in the list of Rospotrebnadzor as a country with a favourable epidemiological situation will be able to enter Russia to continue full-time education.

The Ministry of Education and Science stressed that those wishing to return to study in Russia are required to notify their universities 10 days before arrival.
Ukraine does not see a possibility of using Russian Sputnik V vaccine as it has not passed the necessary stages of clinical trials and for political reasons.

"As for the Russian vaccine. We really do not see a possibility of using Sputnik V in Ukraine today for several reasons. It has not passed the necessary stages of clinical trials. And the second reason is that we definitely cannot use a vaccine produced by the country with which we have the ongoing military conflict," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said in an interview with the Bild German newspaper, the Government portal reports.

He stressed that the fastest possible vaccination is of global interest - both in terms of public health and in the context of economic recovery.

"We see how the mutated virus, which emerges in some parts of the world, instantly spreads to other countries and regions. Ukraine is negotiating with all global vaccine manufacturers. To date, we have signed preliminary agreements with six of them and three vaccines  AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac  are already registered in Ukraine. In the near future, we expect the first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be delivered within the COVAX Facility, in which Germany is one of the world's major donors and the initiator of such an international platform. We are grateful to Germany for participating in this global initiative," Shmyhal emphasized.

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The Chairman of the Northern Regional branch of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Reverend Edward Azeka, has called for the supply of furniture to senior high schools (SHSs) in the region to further prepare them to receive fresh students for the 2020/2021 academic year.



According to him, there was a vast gap between the number of students that were enrolled and the number of furniture that were available in the classrooms, hence the request.



In an interview with the Daily Graphic last Monday, Rev Azeka who doubles as the Headmaster of the Tamale SHS (TAMASCO) indicated that even though SHSs in the region faced several challenges, the most pressing challenge which affected most of the schools in the region was the lack of classroom furniture.



"The major challenge most of the SHSs in the region are facing has to do with inadequate furniture. There is limited furniture and out of that some are broken," he said.



Cause of breakages



The CHASS chairman stated that due to the high enrolment rate over the past few years as a result of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, there had been pressure on the limited furniture in the classrooms.



He stated that even though some of the broken chairs could be fixed, there was the need for more chairs to bridge the gap between the students and the chairs, which he said would ease the pressure and further ensure sustainability.



Even though the schools are not going to adopt the double track system this academic year, the headmaster of the Tamale SHS indicated that there was an increase in the rate of enrolment this academic year as compared to last academic year.



Rev Azeka stated that as of Friday, March 12, 2021 a total of 1,175 fresh students had turned up to claim their admission letters, which he said was already higher than that of last year when the school admitted 1,071 students.



Preparation



The headmaster further stated that as the enrolment rate kept increasing, the school had made some improvements and adjustments to meet the infrastructure needs of the institution.



He said the school had received a new 12-unit classroom block which had reduced the infrastructure challenges in the school.



Aside from the classroom block, he said the school was going to use the various laboratories as classrooms to temporarily mitigate the pressure facilities.



"For the meantime, arrangements have been made for the science students to use some of the science laboratories as classrooms. The same thing applies to the other departments. The home economics and geography students also have some rooms that they use for their practical work. They will start using those rooms as classrooms," the headmaster indicated.

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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MIZORAM, India (AP)  A group of police officers who defied the Myanmar army's orders to shoot opponents of the coup recounted their experience after they escaped to India. While speaking, they raised a three-finger salute  a symbol of resistance to Myanmars military rulers.

We cannot hurt our people, thats why we came to Mizoram, said one of the men, who hails from the northwestern town of Tedim. Mizoram state in Indias northeast shares a border with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

After the army coup, the police were ordered to shoot people and not just the people, we were told to shoot our own family if they are not on the side of the army, he said. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify their claims, though images and accounts of the security forces' crackdown inside Myanmar have shown intensifying violence against civilians.

Indian villagers in Mizoram have given shelter to 34 police personnel and one firefighter who crossed into India over the last two weeks. They spoke to an AP photojournalist on condition of anonymity because of fears of retribution against family members still in Myanmar.

Back in Myanmar, the three-finger salute, which traces its origins to the Hunger Games books and movies by Suzanne Collins, is being used by youth protesters at massive anti-army demonstrations.

Meanwhile, K. Vanlalvena, a lawmaker from Mizoram state, urged the Indian government not to deport refugees from Myanmar until the return of normalcy there. The lawmaker belongs to the Mizo National Front, an ally of India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party.

Those who escaped spend their time watching television and doing chores. Some have carried mobile phones and are trying to connect to families they were forced to leave behind. At night, all of them sleep on mattresses on the floor of a single room.

One of them told the AP that they were under the command of Myanmar's army.

We are all policemen working under the Myanmar government. We left our family in Myanmar. We do not know what is happening to our family, but they will face a lot of problems from the army. We came to Mizoram for shelter, we will die if we go back there, he said.

Story continues

We cannot reach our parents due to telecommunication problems, but what we heard is they are very scared to go out of their homes ... Im hoping that one day we will meet again, he added.

Earlier this month, Myanmar asked India to return the police officers who crossed the border. India shares a 1,643-kilometer (1,020-mile) border with Myanmar, and is home to thousands of refugees from Myanmar in different states.

Last week, Ramliana, president of a Village Council in Mizoram state, a community-based body, said 116 Myanmar nationals crossed the Tiau River and reached Farkawn Village through a stretch where Indias paramilitary Assam Rifles personnel were not present. He uses one name.

Indias state and federal government officials havent given an exact number of people from Myanmar who have crossed over to India after the coup.

Last week, Indias Home Ministry told four Indian states bordering Myanmar  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh  to take measures to prevent refugees from entering India except on humanitarian grounds.

The ministry said the states were not authorized to accord refugee status to anyone entering India from Myanmar, as India is not a signatory to the U.N. Refugee Convention of 1951 or its 1967 Protocol.

Myanmar has been ruled by the military for most of its history since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. A gradual move toward democracy in the past decade allowed Aung San Suu Kyi to lead a civilian government beginning in 2016, although the country's generals retained substantial power under a military-drafted constitution.

Her party won last Novembers election by a landslide, but the military stepped in before Parliament was to convene on Feb. 1, detained Suu Kyi and other government officials and instituted a state of emergency, alleging the vote was tainted by fraud.

Verified tallies show more than 200 people have been killed by security forces in Myanmar since the coup. They have used live fire and rubber bullets against protesters and some detainees have died in custody.
Pic story: inheritor of Jiuhe Zhuo dance in Tibet

Xinhua) 09:16, March 20, 2021

Nyima prepares before performance at a primary school in Qonggyai County in Shannan, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 2, 2020. Jiuhe Zhuo dance, originated in Qonggyai County of Shannan, has a history of more than 1,300 years. It has been a favorite dancing form for local people in Shannan to pray for good luck since ancient times and was dubbed the waist drum dance in Tibet. The 76-year-old Nyima, an inheritor of Jiuhe Zhuo dance, which is a national intangible cultural heritage now, began to learn the dance from his father at the age of nine. Now, Nyima lives with his offspring at a new Tibetan house. After decades of studying, he has formed a unique dancing style and once won a national award for folk arts. Nyima taught his grandson Cering Toinzhub the Zhuo dance, trained dozens of apprentices and formed a Zhuo dance performing team in Jiuhe Village. He hopes the traditional folk art will be inherited and promoted. The plateau region in southwest China will celebrate its 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation this year. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A drone attack struck an oil installation in Saudi Arabias capital of Riyadh on Friday, the Saudi state-run news agency reported, igniting a blaze at the facility deep in the kingdom's territory.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A drone attack struck an oil installation in Saudi Arabias capital of Riyadh on Friday, the Saudi state-run news agency reported, igniting a blaze at the facility deep in the kingdom's territory.

The dawn attack caused no injuries or damage, and did not disrupt oil supplies, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

The kingdom is facing more frequent airborne assaults as Saudi-led coalition forces battle Iran-backed Houthi rebels across the southern border in Yemen. Most recently, drones struck Ras Tanura, the countrys largest crude oil refinery with capacity of 550,000 barrels a day, raising concerns about the expanding capabilities of Saudi Arabias regional foes.

Details about Friday's attack remained slim, and authorities did not name the facility. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the kingdom's oil giant, operates a refinery just southeast of Riyadh that produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products for consumption around the capital.

Satellite images from Planet Labs Inc., analyzed by The Associated Press, showed no immediately visible damage at the Riyadh refinery.

Saudi Aramco, which now has a sliver of its worth traded publicly on the stock market, did not respond to a request for comment. The international crude benchmark, Brent, rose to over $62 a barrel. Aramco stock fell 0.85% Friday on Riyadhs Tadawul stock exchange.

The Saudi statement did not blame the Houthis for Fridays attack. But a few hours earlier, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarie reported the group had fired six drones at an unnamed Aramco facility in Riyadh, without providing evidence for what he described as a "high-accuracy hit." Riyadh lies some 1,000 kilometres (over 600 miles) from Yemen's soil, but the rebels have fired drones and missiles at the Saudi capital before.

The Houthis later Friday said two more drones attacked the King Khalid air base in the southern province of Khamis Mushait, a frequent target of the rebels. The Saudi-led coalition did not acknowledge that strike. Flights coming into the nearby Abha airport briefly diverted or otherwise flew in circles without explanation Friday evening, according to tracking data from website FlightRadar24.com.

While Houthi-claimed attacks on Saudi Arabia rarely cause damage, strikes on major oil facilities in the kingdom, the worlds largest oil exporter, raise the risk of a disruption in world oil supplies. In the fall of 2019, a drone and missile attack struck two key Saudi oil installations and halted about half of the country's oil supplies. Although the Houthis claimed responsibility, both Washington and Riyadh blamed Tehran for the attack. Iran denied involvement.

A Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Houthis since March 2015, months after the rebels swept into Yemens capital, Sanaa, and seized much of the country's north. Now mired in stalemate, the war has killed about 130,000 people  including more than 12,000 civilians  and spawned the worlds worst humanitarian crisis in a country that was already the Arab world's most impoverished nation.

Saudi Arabia has faced international criticism for its airstrikes that have killed civilians and hit non-military targets in Yemen.

From Yemen, where the rebels have been pushing aggressively to take the last government stronghold of Marib, Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi proposed a nationwide cease-fire  conditional, however, on long-held rebel demands.

He appealed to the Saudi-led coalition to reopen Sanaa's airport to commercial flights and lift restrictions on cargo ships within 48 hours at the rebel-held port of Hodeida, which handles some 70% of the country's imports. He did not say whether the Houthis would halt their weekslong offensive to capture Marib, which has sent thousands of people fleeing.

There was no immediate response to al-Houthi's proposal from the coalition or Yemen's internationally recognized government.

The Biden administration has cast a spotlight on Yemen's ruinous war in recent weeks, lifting a Trump-era designation against the Houthis, announcing the end of U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition and dispatching the U.S. envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, to the region to negotiate a political settlement. Earlier this month, Lenderking urged the Houthis to accept his cease-fire proposal.

Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
Paris, March 20 : A month-long coronavirus lockdown went into effect in Paris and other French regions on Saturday as the country is struggling to contain a third wave of the pandemic.

About one in three of the 67 million people living in the country is affected by the tougher measures, reports dpa news agency.

But this lockdown will be lighter than previous versions.

In 16 administrative districts, all non-essential shops must close but book and music stores are allowed to stay open.

Schools can also welcome students. People are allowed to move around outside, but only within a radius of 10 kilometres from their place of residence.

The situation in the greater Paris region is of particular concern.

Patients have been taken to hospitals in other parts of the country due to a lack of capacity in intensive care units.

The number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week had recently climbed to around 450 in the greater Paris area.

"We know the cause of this third wave: the arrival of the so-called British variant, which now accounts for almost three quarters of infections," Prime Minister Jean Castex had said on Thursday.

"These measures could be extended to other parts of the country," Castex warned.

In addition to Paris, the new rules cover several areas in the north as well as the Alpes-Maritimes department, which includes Nice.

One of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, France has so far reported 4,242,145 confirmed coronavirus cases and 91,833 deaths.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
A Chambersburg man was arrested Friday for selling ghost guns, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney Generals Bureau of Narcotics.

Agents seized a handgun, 3 ounces of cocaine, and more than $38,000 from Noel Ortiz. Ortiz is accused of selling ghost guns in Harrisburg.

Ghost guns are fueling the gun violence epidemic that takes the lives of Pennsylvanians every single day, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. Once these DIY homemade gun kits are in the wrong hands, in mere hours they become untraceable, fully operational firearms causing so much senseless violence.

Ortiz was charged with five counts of possession with intent to deliver and delivery, four counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of sale or transfer of a firearm, and one count of possession of paraphernalia.

The arrest happened days after Shapiro announced Eagle Arms Production, the states largest gun show promoter, halted the sale of self-assembled gun kits.

Eagle Arms, based in Lehigh County, is the first gun show promoter in the nation to stop the sale of these untraceable weapons that have no serial numbers, Shapiro said. Many gun dealers and the head of an influential gun-rights advocacy group commend and support this change.

Shapiro is calling on other gun show promoters in the state to do the same.

Read more from PennLive

Gunfire kills 1, wounds 5 at illegal Philadelphia gathering
No trade with India under current circumstances: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Won't talk unless India reverses its decision on Kashmir: Imran Khan

Pak gets a new NSA: He is Imran Khans special assistant on national security

Pakistan PM Imran Khan tests positive for COVID-19

International

oi-Deepika S

Islamabad,Mar 20: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19, confirmed Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination.

He further said that the the premier has quarantined himself at home.

Khan, 67, tested positive two days after he received the first shot of vaccination against the coronavirus.

"PM Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at home," Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Sultan said on Twitter.

Khan was vaccinated as part of the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination campaign which is underway in its first phase.
We are celebrating Sunshine Week, an occasion revered by journalists across America but, more correctly, the gift to every American, whether they know it or not.

Sunshine Week was the creation of the American Society of News Editors in 2005. It actually broadened an initiative by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors in acknowledging Sunshine Day first in 2002.

These special occasions were designed to underscore the importance of all governments acting in the spirit in which they were formed: to conduct the publics business openly and with applause, criticism or input from the people they work for.

New York, were proud to say, had been hard at work on that issue since the 1970s.

Under prodding from newspapers, the State Legislature passed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) in 1972, with significant changes in 1977, 1982, 2008 and 2010.

It was clear that off the record and refusal to disclose records were acts often contrary to the publics right to know.

Some matters are still off the record. Executive sessions are allowed to privately discuss pending litigation, matters that might unfairly affect project costs or reveal certain personnel information, for example.
There are 14 victims of a terrible road accident, the worst in Sri Lanka in the last 16 years.

A bus carrying over 40 people crashed into an escarpment while traveling along a narrow road in the hilly Passara region.

The vehicle appears to have tried to avoid a truck coming from the opposite direction.

13 passengers - 5 women and 8 men - and the driver lost their lives. About thirty were injured.

The country's roads are among the most dangerous in the world, with an average of 3,000 deaths each year due to accidents.

(Unioneonline / ss)
The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
New York: Elsa Peretti, who went from Halston model and Studio 54 regular in the 1960s and 70s to one of the worlds most famous jewellery designers, has died. She was 80.

She died Thursday night in her sleep at home in a small village outside Barcelona, Spain, according to a statement from her family office in Zurich and the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation.

Elsa Peretti, left, poses with designer Halston after a fashion show in New York on June 15, 1970. Credit:Halston

Perettis sculptural cuff bracelets, bean designs and open-heart pendants for jewellery brand Tiffany are among her most recognisable work. She lent her classical aesthetic to functional goods, too, including bowls, magnifying glasses, razors and even a pizza cutter done in sterling silver, a metal she favoured and helped popularise as a luxury choice.

Elsa was not only a designer but a way of life, Tiffany said in a statement Friday. Elsa explored nature with the acumen of a scientist and the vision of a sculptor.
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Forget GameStop and Bitcoin; if you really want to pad your portfolio in 2021 you should consider sinking your savings into safety razors and double-edge blades.

Forget GameStop and Bitcoin; if you really want to pad your portfolio in 2021 you should consider sinking your savings into safety razors and double-edge blades.

Last month, shares in Shaver Shop, an Australian retail chain specializing in "all things related to hair removal" jumped close to 20 per cent. A company spokesperson attributed the increase to the so-called lockdown beard slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past. "When COVID ends and everyone starts going back to the office (demand for) electric shavers and being clean-shaven will grow," they said.

All of that is music to the ears  and chinny chin chin  of Jonathan Steinfeld, 45, a commercial airline pilot who, when hes not flying the friendly skies, runs the Stone Field Shaving Co., an online shop (www.stonefieldshave.com) offering premium razors, straight edges, soaps, balms even styptic pencils, in case you nick yourself. We know what youre thinking: a person who established his own personal-grooming biz must really enjoy the act of shaving. Except in Steinfelds case, that wasnt the case. Far from it.

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Stone Field Shaving Company owner Jonathan Steinfeld, uses one of the razors he sells inside his self-proclaimed man cave of shaving at his Whyte Ridge home.

"For the longest time, I flat-out hated shaving. The only reason I did it at all was due to a no-beards policy we used to have at work because of the oxygen masks," he says, seated in the dining room of the stylish Whyte Ridge home he shares with his wife Stav and their two sons.

In 2014 Steinfeld and his wife were vacationing in New York City. One morning while strolling through Manhattan they came across a combination store/barbershop called The Art of Shaving. He was initially drawn to its charming exterior. However, the second they stepped inside he was "absolutely blown away" by what he was staring at: hundreds upon hundreds of items associated with shaving, the majority of which he had no idea what they even were. (By the way, if he had a dollar for every time somebody has asked if hes "related to Jerry," hed be rich, Steinfeld says with a laugh, offering his stock response, "No, sorry, Its STEIN-feld, not Seinfeld.")

A sales associate toured him around, explaining how to load a blade into a razor, what makes one brush better than another and the benefits of true shaving soaps versus a bar of Irish Spring. He left with a dozen items tucked under his arm. It didnt take long before he began to notice a change.

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Steinfeld, holds up one of the straight blade razors in his collection. Though hed long hated shaving, a fortuitous trip to a New York City specialty store changed his mind.

"I almost always got a horrible rash from the disposable razors Id been using for years, but after figuring out how to do a proper wet shave, all of a sudden my skin was no longer burning," he says.

Plus, the more he did it, the more it became less of a chore and more something he actually looked forward to doing  "almost meditative, really"  bright and early every morning.

It wasnt until he was getting low on supplies that he realized there was nowhere in Winnipeg to replace much of what hed picked up in NYC. Hed never run a business of his own  he took up flying at the age of 16 and never stopped  but that didnt prevent him from thinking a store similar to The Art of Shaving could be successful here, too. Mind you, after doing his homework and ascertaining how much it would cost to get a bricks-and-mortar location up and running, he decided an online shop was probably a better way to go.

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Bottles of beard oils and care products line the shelves of in Steinfelds home. The inspiration to start the business came when he realized he was about to run out of his preferred stock, and there was nowhere in Winnipeg to purchase more.

"The original goal was to come up with my own products  soaps, aftershaves, that sort of thing  but I quickly realized people would need more than just that. Theyd want razors, blades, the whole nine yards; so, I started reaching out to artisans who make those sorts of things," he explains, noting 2021 marks five years since he registered his company and four years since his initial sale. "I focus on Canadian products as much as possible  probably 80 per cent of what I carry is made right here in Canada  and I can honestly say there isnt one thing on my shelves I wouldnt hesitate to use on my own skin."

Among the brands he carries are Cranbrook, B.C.s Highland Springs Soap Company, Edmontons Karve Shaving Co. and Gatineau, Que.s Henri et Victoria, the latter dealing in aromatic aftershaves.

To date the Stone Field Shaving Co.  Stone Field being a play on his surname  has fielded orders from customers from coast to coast, and from as far away as Japan and Israel. A career highlight occurred in February 2019 when Steinfeld, who introduced a line of "for her" products a year ago, was invited to send a mixed bag of goodies to Hollywood, to be handed out to celebs attending parties staged ahead of the 91st Academy Awards ceremony. (No word if Rami Malek, who won that years best actor Oscar for his turn as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, garnered a sample of North of 50, his signature shaving soap, or not.)

The craftsmanship of the old style of razors is one of the factors that had gotten Steinfeld into collecting shaving memorabilia from years past.

Whats also interesting is how he combines his two jobs. Swag such as denim-blue T-shirts boast an image of a De Havilland Beaver bush plane, the first aircraft he flew professionally. Additionally, he hopes a shaving soap currently in the development phase will serve as a homage to his love of flight. A couple of pilots he knows from Guelph, Ont. started their own coffee company in 2020. His plan is to introduce a soap infused with their ground-up beans, the idea being... oh, why dont we let him tell the story?

"Its early in the morning and youre flying over the Atlantic. Everythings going great and you reach down for a nice, strong cuppa joe. At least thats the image I hope to convey with this new soap," he says, handing over a sample to sniff. (Hes right, we immediately pick up coffee notes. But please, can we go back to the soap he had us smell a minute earlier, the one called Sippin by the Fire thats imbued with whisky?)

Another thing; if youre new to wet shaving, Steinfelds website includes links to myriad how-to videos showing the proper way to avoid cuts and scrapes. He figures that will come in handy for his eldest, who at 14, will likely be the next person in the household to pick up a razor.

"It shouldnt be long now till hes shaving and, for sure, Ill to do my best to make it fun for him, versus some chore, the way I used to think of it," he says.

MIKE SUDOMA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS John Kydd, owner of Erebus & Terror Shaving Company, shows off three samples of his handmade shaving brushes inside his home workshop.

Professional pilot John Kydd flies for the same airline as Steinfeld. Five years ago Steinfeld was visiting Kydd at his home in St. James when he noticed a wood lathe in a garage workshop. He let Kydd know about the shaving biz he was preparing to launch, then asked his host if he would be interested in using his lathe to craft wooden shaving brushes, which he would happily turn around and sell on his website. Kydd has always been handy, but because hed never made anything remotely close to a shaving brush before, he said hed have to take a pass as he didnt want to promise anything he might not be able to deliver.

Last summer, with time on his hands due to a reduced flight schedule owing to COVID-19, Kydd thought back to that conversation. He got busy fashioning a shaving brush out of a block of cocobolo wood he had kicking around. He added a knot  the part used to apply lather  and voila, hed made his very first shaving brush. After fashioning a few more, he posted pics of the finished products on his Facebook page. An hour later a pilot friend of his who lives in Calgary messaged him, asking how to get his hands on "one of those brushes. "What do you know?" Kydd told himself, "I might be on to something."

Kydd crafts a wooden shaving brush on his lathe inside his home workshop.

The 48-year-old, married father of two founded Erebus & Terror Shaving Company  named for the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, the last two ships in Sir John Franklins command, both lost during a 1845 expedition in search of the Northwest Passage  in December. Besides selling brushes through Steinfelds website, he also markets his one-of-a-kind creations on his own Etsy store.

"I do enjoy wet shaving but as you can tell, its not like I do it every day," he says, running his hand through a neatly-trimmed, grey-and-ginger beard. "But whats been really interesting to me since starting my business is dealing with guys who are super-passionate about the process, who post shave-of-the-day videos, during which they discuss what soap or brush theyre using. The first time I heard Erebus & Terror mentioned I was like, whoa... how cool is that?"

Now and again, Kydd fields a custom order from a wet-shaving enthusiast who lets him know what type of wood they prefer for the handle, as well as the specific height, down to the micrometre, they want the knot to be. Last week he heard from a shop owner in Fort St. John, B.C. who would love to carry his brushes on an ongoing basis. He isnt sure he wants to take that step just yet.

"Its flattering to be asked, no doubt about it, but I dont want to get too big, too fast," he says. "Its true I have some extra time on my hands these days, but hopefully things will get back to normal soon and people will be able to travel again, at which point Ill be flying more often. Im pretty sure Im not the only person looking forward to that day."

david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca
A college professor and one-time political opponent has accused state Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, who is in the midst of heated race for state Senate, of making unwanted sexual comments to her during a private meeting 13 years ago.

Dierdre Paul told Politico New Jersey that Johnson, D-Bergen, suggested she should be his concubine and asked what are you willing to do for Englewood? when she met with him in 2008 about possibly running for the Englewood City Council seat he planned to vacate.

I told everybody about that because I was so taken aback that it happened to me, Paul, an education professor at Montclair State University, told the political news website.

Paul did not return a message from NJ Advance Media seeking comment Friday.

Johnson, 71, a former Bergen County sheriff and a member of the Assembly since 2002, said in a statement that he does not remember making the comments in question and has never been accused of inappropriate behavior before.

Respect and equality for women were values instilled in me as a child and came directly from my family. It is my steadfast belief that women deserve to be safe, heard, and respected, Johnson said. Thats true at all times.

This is why I co-sponsored a series of bills this session to ensure women are treated with dignity by the criminal justice system when reporting any kind of sexual harassment or assault, he added. I do not have any recollection of this meeting with Dierdre. And while I do not remember making the comments in question and I have never been accused of inappropriate behavior before, I would never want any person, man or woman, to feel uncomfortable.

The allegation comes as Johnson faces his longtime running mate, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, in a bitter primary race for the Democratic nomination for the state Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg in Bergen Countys 37th legislative district. Because the district is heavily Democratic, whoever wins the June primary is considered the favorite to win the seat in Novembers general election.

Johnson this week received the endorsement of both Weinberg and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

The allegation also comes as New Jersey continues to reckon with allegations of sexual harassment throughout New Jersey politics. In 20019, Weinberg formed a panel investigating the issue in the wake of an NJ Advance Media report in which 20 women say they were victims of sexual harassment and misconduct while working on political campaigns and doing lobbying work in the state.

Last week, Politico published a story about an email Paul sent to Weinberg on Jan. 23, 2008 accusing Johnson of making comments that were inappropriate and unacceptable coming from a public official and that he has past and present sexual improprieties. The website, however, said Paul declined to comment about the email.

On Thursday, though, Paul went into further detail. She told Politico she decided to go public in the hope it will inspire other women to speak out against misogyny in politics.

The incident in question allegedly happened in January 2008, when Paul, then a registered Democrat, told Johnson she was interested in running for the Englewood council seat Johnson was about to vacate. Paul told Politico that during a private meeting with Johnson, her romantic interests came up amid small talk.

And I said, Well, Id like to get married, of course. Id like to get married again, Paul recalled to the website. He said, Youre not getting married again. Youre too old. The best that you can do is to settle for being someones concubine, like mine. And I said, What are you talking about? And then he said, It comes down to what are you willing to do for Englewood?

Paul said she ended the meeting and told Johnson: Im not willing to do anything except leave this office and tell everybody I can find what you just did.

She also said she told a number of Democrats about the incident, including sending an email to Weinberg and Johnson saying she no longer wanted the Englewood council seat, that Johnsons offer was inappropriate and unacceptable, and that she would never again speak with Johnson, though she didnt specifically say in the email what comments Johnson allegedly made.

Weinberg told NJ Advance Media on Friday that she doesnt have firsthand recollection of any of it.

Asked what she thinks about the allegations as the chair of the panel investigating sexual harassment in New Jersey politics, Weinberg said: The work group has given women a safe place to share their stories, whether publicly, anonymously, confidentially. And then we try to react by passing laws to address the issues raised.

Paul also said she told Vainieri Huttle about Johnsons comments at the time. Vainieri Huttle said Paul never told me about this.

Had she told me, if I knew about them I certainly would have remember and done something, Vainieri Huttle told NJ Advance Media on Friday. I dont know anything about it.

The lawmaker added: Regardless of political party or race, women need to stick together and make sure our voices are heard.

Had I known about the accusations, I would have done something, Vainieri Huttle said.

Paul has since become a Republican. She lost a 2013 bid to unseat Johnson and Vainieri Huttle in the Assembly and then a 2014 bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell in New Jerseys 9th congressional district.

Paul told Politico she was planning to run for Assembly in Johnsons district this year but has recently had second thoughts.

Despite her allegations, Paul has publicly said she prefers Johnson over Vainieri Huttle in the Senate primary race.

Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I am no fan of Gordon Johnson, she wrote in a recent Facebook post.

But she added that Huttle is a dilettante and truly out of touch with her constituents, especially those of African descent and Johnson has earned the seat.

Paul also told NJ Globe earlier this month that despite his flaws, Johnson is always out in the community.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
"It's not just African Americans saying, 'We support him,' " he added. "It's African Americans saying, 'Let due process take its course.' "

Blue reasons that if the same demands over alleged sexual indiscretions were applied by Republicans, then former President Donald J. Trump would never have been elected to office.

Other Black leaders have adopted the same approach. Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes of Buffalo has stopped short of calling for Cuomo's resignation, asking for investigations started by the Assembly and state attorney general to proceed. So has Buffalo Common Council President Darius G. Pridgen, pointing to the same perspective he says may be unique to African Americans.

"I talked to five African Americans today about this, four female and one male," he said, "and all felt the governor should not step down until there is an investigation or there is some really damaging evidence that people are not aware of now.

"I look at a demographic that often does not trust, especially government systems. African Americans deal with accusations all the time and feel they aren't heard."

That feeling seems to guide the Black community's approach to Cuomo's predicament, Pridgen said.
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RTHK: Thai demonstrators clash with police at Grand Palace

Thai police used water cannon and rubber bullets outside Bangkok's Grand Palace on Saturday, after demonstrators broke through a barricade of shipping containers to demand reforms to the kingdom's unassailable monarchy.

It was the latest night of unrest since Thailand's pro-democracy movement kicked off in July, calling for an overhaul of Premier Prayut Chan-ocha's administration and a rewrite of a military-scripted constitution.

But their most controversial demands have been for reforms to the monarchy, including the abolition of draconian royal defamation laws.

A wall of cargo containers, two containers tall, had been erected in Sanam Luang, a historic field in front of the palace, to keep protesters away but, just an hour into the rally, they used ropes to yank some of the top-row boxes down, allowing a small opening.

"You're breaking the law!" said the police over an announcer as protesters used ropes to pull the lower containers out of place.

Once protesters were able to get through, they threw Molotov cocktails at dozens of police who stood by with water cannon trucks about 100 metres away, using the jets to prevent protesters from coming closer.

"Release our friends!" protesters shouted, referring to prominent leaders who have been detained since earlier this year.

Police chased demonstrators away from the area, firing rubber bullets continuously directly at them.

By 8.30 pm (1330 GMT), most protesters had dispersed, with only hard-core activists still at the scene.

Before the clash, protester Am-Nawat Liangwattana said the use of shipping containers as barricades meant authorities were getting serious about "limiting our freedom of speech".

Protesters had planned to read aloud passages from "The Institution of Monarchy in Thailand's Society", a book authored by now-detained prominent protest leader Anon Numpa.

Earlier in the day, police had raided Thai publishing house Same Sky Books and confiscated some 100 copies of Anon's book.

"The authorities might be afraid of the content... But the more they confine us, the more we need to come out," Am-Nawat said.

The reading did not happen, because of the police crackdown.

Of the books, Police Major Trirong Prasopmongkol said the force would "have experts examine the content to see whether it is illegal".

"This raid is related to the protest today because protesters said on social media that they will distribute these books," he said.

Same Sky Books later said on its Facebook page that while it had copies of Anon's book, "we were not the ones who printed them".

Since the movement kicked off, more than 60 people have been charged under Thailand's royal defamation laws, and a handful of the most prominent leaders have been detained.

The laws shield the ultra-powerful King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family from defamation, but rights groups say their broad use means anything perceived as criticism can land a person in jail for up to 15 years per charge.

During Saturday's clashes, the monarch was visiting the historic city of Ayutthaya - about 80 kilometres from the capital - with the queen and his royal consort, according to the nightly royal news. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Mexico launches crackdown on migrant smuggling View Photo

MEXICO CITY (AP)  In a rare show of force Friday, Mexico sent hundreds of immigration agents, police and National Guard officers marching through the streets of the capital of the southern state of Chiapas to launch an operation to crack down on migrant smuggling.

The parade Friday in the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez came one day after Mexico announced it was banning entry for nonessential travel on its southern border with Guatemala to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions went into effect Friday.

Mexico will deploy checkpoints and drones and station officers along the Suchiate River, which marks part of the border, to deter irregular entry. The crackdown is especially aimed at people travelling with minors.

The Mexican government will carry out  operations on the southern border to protect the rights and safety of migrant minors from several Central American nations who are used by criminal networks as a passport to reach northern Mexico, Mexicos National Immigration Institute said in a statement.

The institute said that since the beginning of the year, 4,180 minors, both accompanied and unaccompanied, had been found in Mexico without proper travel documents. Most came from Central America.

The institute said adults traveling with the minors said guides had advised them having children along would make it easier to enter Mexico and the U.S.

The institute said detentions actually began Thursday, when three freight trucks were stopped at a roadside inspection checkpoint near Tuxtla Gutierrez and a total of 329 Central American migrants were found crowded inside the vehicles.

The institute said 114 of the migrants were unaccompanied children, five were members of one family. Most were from Guatemala, and the remainder were from Honduras.

Mexico staged similar but smaller shows of force last year to discourage migrant caravans from trying to enter from Central America.

On Thursday, the United States said it would send 2.5 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to Mexico, where officials said Friday that the shipment would include 2.7 million doses but were coy about whether the two events were related.

Mexican officials struggled to explain why the measure was announced now, more than a year after the start of the pandemic.

Mexicos assistant health secretary, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, acknowledged Thursday that the decision was triggered by the increasing number of migrants entering from Central America.

There was a verifiable increase in local inflows, particularly from Central America, Lopez-Gatell said when asked about the timing.

Mexico and the United States long ago imposed similar restrictions on Mexicos northern border. But Mexico had previously been unwilling to impose them on the southern border or most flights entering Mexico.

The restrictions coincide with a huge uptick in the number of Central American migrants reaching the U.S border through Mexico. The number of migrants attempting to cross the U.S. border has been growing since April, with the 100,441 reported last month the highest level since March 2019.

By MARK STEVENSON

Associated Press
Minister James Browne's role within the Department of Justice will dramatically as a result of the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, taking maternity leave from her role for six months.

Minister Browne said he never expected to take over the role fully because, constitutionally, it couldn't happen anyway. However, he is looking forward to the challenge of taking on additional responsibilities in his role as Minister of State for Law Reform.

He also said that no minister should have to resign from their position to take maternity leave and he welcomed that the Citizen's Assembly on Gender Equality is considering the question of maternity, paternity and other types of leave for public representatives.

'I firstly want to wish Minister Helen McEntee and her family the very best over the next six months in what will be an exciting time in their lives,' he said.

'No female public representative should have to resign from their role to take maternity leave,' he said.'Such circumstances are the reasons we have so few women in politics and this needs to change.'

'On a personal level, I am looking forward to undertaking additional responsibilities in the department in the areas of civil justice and immigration.'

Minister Browne said his workload will increase almost four times what it already is and unlike a lot of other ministers in the Dail, he doesn't have an advisor.

Pointing out that, constitutionally, there can only be 15 senior ministers in cabinet, he said he knew he wouldn't be taking over Minister McEntee's role completely.

'For me to take on the role formally it would have meant another cabinet minister would have had to resign and that was never going to happen,' he said.

He also said the coalition balance in Government is such that there are six Fianna Fail, six Fine Gael and three Green Party ministers at the cabinet table.

'Again, for me to take on the role formally would have created instability in that regard and that would not have been allowed,' he said.

'It would never have been the case that I would have taken on the full cabinet portfolio,' he added.

Issues of national security have to be dealt with a senior minister and that's another reason why Minister Browne never expected to be given the role.

However, his additional responsibilities will be formally signed off by cabinet the coming weeks and he's happy that his expanded role is seen as endorsement of his capabilities and knowledge of the role.

While Minister McEntee is on maternity leave her responsibilities within the department will be taken on by Minister Heather Humphries while Minister Hildegarde Naughton will also take on additional responsibilities.

However, Minister Browne will oversee almost 75 per cent of the work within the department including areas of civil justice and immigration.

The civil law aspect includes areas such as family law and he will also be responsible for issues such as insolvency law.

'I look forward to working with Minister Hildegarde Naughton and Minister Heather Humphries,' he said.

He said the justice department receives around 10,000 pieces of correspondence every month and there is a huge amount of work involved.

'A lot of the work of the department involves things that people will never see and there are around 42 bodies that actually come under it,' he said.

'However, I am really looking forward to the challenge ahead and I look forward to Minister McEntee stepping back into her role in six months time,' he added.

The Department of Justice accounts for around 35 per cent of the legislation that goes through the Dail and Seanad every year.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 16:23:58|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported eight additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, taking its total tally to 11,371.

The new cases were seven local infections and one imported, the CHP said in a statement. Of the local cases, one had an unknown origin.

- - - -

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia confirmed 54 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the kingdom to 1,632, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement.

MoH's secretary of state and spokeswoman Or Vandine, in the statement, repeated her call on people to wear mask properly, wash hands frequently, and maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 meters from others.

- - - -

HAVANA -- Cuba on Friday began phase 3 clinical trials of its Abdala COVID-19 vaccine, Marta Ayala, director general of Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, told a press conference.

"Three doses will be administered to participants with two-week intervals" in-between, she said, adding that the country has set up 20 clinical sites and more than 40 vaccination centers to keep pace with the trials.

- - - -

BANGKOK -- Thailand confirmed 119 cases of coronavirus infection, mostly domestic, on Saturday, according to a report of the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Of Saturday's new cases, 112 were domestic infections and seven others referred to imported cases, the CCSA report said.

- - - -

ULAN BATOR -- Mongolia reported 148 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing its nationwide tally to 4,806, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Saturday.

Of the newly confirmed cases, 143 were detected in Ulan Bator, the country's capital and hardest-hit city, and the remaining five were reported in the northern province of Khuvsgul, the NCCD said in a statement.

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally rose to 11,555,284 on Saturday, with both the daily cases and new deaths hitting the highest this year.

A total of 40,953 new cases and 188 more deaths were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.

- - - -

ADDIS ABABA -- Ethiopia registered 1,994 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 183,863 as of Friday evening, the country's Ministry of Health said.

The ministry said 16 new deaths from the coronavirus were reported across the country, bringing the national death toll to 2,618.

- - - -

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil on Friday saw a record high number of new daily cases of COVID-19 after 90,570 tests came out positive, the Ministry of Health said.

A total of 2,815 people died from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the second highest number of single day deaths since the onset of the pandemic in the country.

- - - -

ADDIS ABABA -- COVID-19 cases in Africa have reached 4,076,147 as of Friday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU), said the death toll from the pandemic stood at 108,998 while 3,660,028 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease.

- - - -

BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Friday, the National Health Commission said on Saturday.

Four new imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday, said the commission in its daily report.

- - - -

BUENOS AIRES -- Argentina reported 8,160 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, taking the national total to 2,234,913 said the health ministry.

The ministry also confirmed 113 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 54,476.

- - - -

WARSAW -- The government of Poland announced a new nationwide partial lockdown on Friday after the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic exceeded two million in the country.

Starting on Saturday, only a select number of shops -- among them supermarkets and pharmacies -- located in shopping malls with over 2,000 square meters of retail space will be allowed to operate. Service providers, such as banks, hairdressers and opticians, have also been given a pass. Enditem
Former Postal Worker Sentenced for Stealing Mail

By West Kentucky Star Staff

BENTON, IL - A former postal carrier in southern Illinois has been sentenced stealing money from people along her route.The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois says 27-year-old Brittany Freeman of Johnston City received three year's probation, a $100 fine, and was ordered to pay restitution of $704.10 to her victims.Freeman had previously plead guilty to theft of mail by a postal service employee. The crimes took place in February and March of 2020. Freeman took rebate checks sent by Menard's to customers along her routes. Surveillance at a nearby store captured her using the checks for herself.
It was the tweet that sent a tremor through No 10. 'Don't understand why the House of Commons has been so slow to try to understand what and why things went so catastrophically wrong, but agreed today I'll give evidence,' announced the message from @Dominic2306.

Downing Street had been breathing easy after the Prime Minister's most influential former adviser Dom Cummings put in a relatively restrained appearance before the Commons Science Select Committee last week.

But now their very own evil genius was threatening to return in May, and tell all to the Health Select Committee about what he termed the Covid 'disaster'.

It was the tweet that sent a tremor through No 10. 'Don't understand why the House of Commons has been so slow to try to understand what and why things went so catastrophically wrong, but agreed today I'll give evidence,' announced the message from @Dominic2306

A Minister who remains close to Cummings predicts: 'I don't think he's got any axes to grind. I suspect he's just planning to tell the truth.'

But others take a very different view. They believe Cummings is preparing to jump aboard the bandwagon of those putting their personal gloss on the Covid crisis, using it to settle political scores, or seizing the lofty vantage point of hindsight to redefine the history of the pandemic.

'Why do people still buy into this cult of Cummings?' asks another Minister.

'Remember, this is the guy who literally changed his blog to pretend he'd seen the pandemic coming. He was telling journalists the Government's strategy was herd immunity, when it wasn't. He didn't start turning up to the key meetings until Boris did. It drives me insane. He's just trying to put his own spin on things.'

Maybe. But so is everyone else. Last week Labour demanded a full-blown Covid public inquiry.

After meeting the families of some of those who died, Shadow Cabinet Minister Rachel Reeves declared: 'Justice is being denied, and they can't have closure until they better understand what happened. They should be in the driving seat for how this is conducted, but it needs to be independent, it needs to be held in public.'

The idea that as the crisis engulfed them Boris and his team were thinking, Whose pockets can we fill? is a paranoid conspiracy. But as the immediacy of that time dissipates, it will become an increasingly fashionable one

Let's get this straight: apparently we need a full, open inquiry. But Labour have already decided a terrible crime has been committed, and many victims are being wronged. It must be independent. But it should be driven by the relatives of the deceased.

Again, Reeves is not alone in her blinkered search for Covid truth. Many already have their version of pandemic history typed and bound. And no inquiry will alter it.

Take, for example, the favoured narrative that Boris failed to lock down at the start of the pandemic, costing tens of thousands of lives.

Even the most cursory perusal of the Sage committee minutes shows this to be false. It was the scientific experts who drove the initial strategy, not Ministers. And those experts advised caution and delay.

February 27: 'On the risk posed by national and international travel Sage advised that the additional numbers travelling are not significant.'

March 3: 'There is currently no evidence that cancelling large events would be effective.'

March 13: 'The UK remains on broadly the same epidemic trajectory and time to peak Sage was unanimous that measures seeking to completely suppress spread of Covid-19 will cause a second peak.'

March 16: 'On the basis of accumulating data, including on NHS critical care capacity, the advice from Sage has changed regarding the speed of implementation of additional interventions.' But blaming scientists isn't the story many people want to tell. Not least the scientists themselves.

One of the loudest voices demanding an inquiry has been that of Sage expert John Edmunds.

'An event of this magnitude needs to be looked at in detail, including  if necessary  compelling witnesses to attend,' he insisted on Tuesday.

Fine. But if he's asked to appear himself, which John Edmunds will turn up? The one who told the nation on March 3 last year that Covid mitigation measures were 'not for now. It's for coming weeks or months'?

The one who later claimed it would have made 'a big difference' if the UK had entered lockdown earlier but 'we simply didn't have the data at the time'? Or the one who admitted he didn't even begin modelling a full lockdown until the middle of March?

After meeting the families of some of those who died, Shadow Cabinet Minister Rachel Reeves declared: 'Justice is being denied, and they can't have closure until they better understand what happened. They should be in the driving seat for how this is conducted, but it needs to be independent, it needs to be held in public'

Advocates for an inquiry claim this is precisely why one is required. So the inconsistencies of key participants can be interrogated. But they won't be.

Not just because this has already become a political process. But because as time moves on, we are not gaining perspective, but losing it.

Look at another major area of contention, PPE. As one Minister involved in pandemic planning told me: 'It was a shambles at the procurement end. We were being told we had to tick all these boxes, and the process would take a couple of months. I was basically shouting, 'People are dying! Just send someone over to China and get it!' '

But that's not what people are shouting today. Now the criticism is of billions squandered, cronies rewarded.

The idea that as the crisis engulfed them Boris and his team were thinking, 'Whose pockets can we fill?' is a paranoid conspiracy. But as the immediacy of that time dissipates, it will become an increasingly fashionable one.

Which isn't to say the Government has no case to answer. Bad mistakes were made. But again, time will only distort, not clarify, the reality of how and why.

Another Cabinet Minister tells me he believes Cummings is going to inflict significant damage on the Government. But he will do so because he's going to attack on a different front from the other critics.

'The real failing was over the summer, and the build-up to the second and third waves,' the Minister explained.

'By that point we had a handle on it all. The scientists were clear. But we bowed to political pressure from the right of the party and sections of the press. Yes, we had to have an eye to the economy. But we would have done much better to lock down early, and reopen gradually in the spring.'

But this analysis once again ignores the realities of the moment. Scientists who became summer lockdown hawks were the same scientists who had warned extended national incarceration would play havoc with support for their Covid strategy. It overlooks the belated impact of the Kent strain and, crucially, it ignores the vaccine.

Any Minister advocating a return to lockdown in advance of its discovery would have effectively been calling for a vicious never-ending cycle of national shutdown, brief reopening, then further shutdown.

At which point the stoicism of the British people would have been stretched to breaking point.

People don't need a learned judge to tell them about the Covid crisis  they lived it.

Most have formed the view those mistakes that occurred were made in exceptional circumstances, and good conscience. They do not blame Boris and his Ministers. And their sole focus is on unlocking and moving forward.

Of course there will be others who take a different view. And no inquiry is going to change their minds either. So why not save ourselves a lot of time and trouble.

Let Dom settle his scores. Let anyone who wants to lambast the Government for its failings. And allow the rest of us to leave history to the history books, and get back to living our lives.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo threatened to brand political opponents with a comparison to 'child rapists', leaked audio confirms.

Shocking audio of the exchange was released in a New York Times podcast, and comes as the Democratic governor faces whirlwind allegations of bullying and sexual harassment.

Cuomo's office in February denied the child rapist remark, but a recording of his phone conversation with Working Families Party head Bill Lipton leaves no doubt about the remarks.

The Working Families Party, a small but influential progressive political party in New York, had backed Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon in a failed primary challenge against Cuomo in 2018, and Cuomo was furious about the group's hesitancy to endorse him in the general election.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo once threatened to brand political opponents with a comparison to 'child rapists', leaked audio confirms

Cuomo made the remark to Working Families Party head Bill Lipton (left), who had backed progressive candidate Cynthia Nixon (right) against Cuomo in the 2018 primaries

'If you ever say, 'Well he's better than a Republican' again, then I'm going to say, 'You're better than a child rapist,' the governor can be heard telling Lipton on the call. 'How about that?'

'Governor, I apologize, but I gotta clarify one thing,' responded the Working Families Party leader.

Lipton continued: 'You're free to say whatever you want, governor, but I just want to be clear. Our line is going to be that we have differences with you, but our differences with Republicans are far greater.'

'I think you're better than a child rapist,' Cuomo repeated. 'I just want you to know.'

The leaked audio comes as Cuomo faces dual scandals over the harassment allegations and claims that he mishandled nursing homes in the coronavirus pandemic and covered up the true death toll.

On Friday, Alyssa McGrath, 33, became the latest of at least eight women who have publicly alleged sexual misconduct by Cuomo - and the first woman who is currently employed in the governor's office to do so.

She claimed he looked down her shirt to compliment her on her necklace as they worked alone in his office, told her that she's beautiful in Italian and kissed her on the forehead during an office Christmas party in 2019.

On Friday, Alyssa McGrath, 33, became the latest of at least eight women who have publicly alleged sexual misconduct by Cuomo

McGrath also claimed Cuomo ogled her body, called her and her co-worker 'mingle mamas' and asked about her lack of a wedding ring.

DailyMail.com has reached out to McGrath for further information and additional comment.

Cuomo spokesman referred a request for comment to his lawyer, Rita Glavin, who could not immediately be reached.

The 63-year-old governor has denied any wrongdoing, though he has acknowledged it had been a 'custom' for him to kiss and hug people when greeting them. He has said he was sorry if his behavior had made 'people feel uncomfortable.'

The flurry of allegations in recent weeks, along with revelations that Cuomo's administration under-reported nursing home deaths from COVID-19, has led to a growing clamor among prominent fellow Democrats in New York for his resignation.

New York state Attorney General Letitia James last week named a team of outside lawyers to lead an investigation into accusations the governor harassed women through unwelcome, sexualized comments and inappropriate physical contact, including unsolicited kissing.

Lindsey Boylan, a former Cuomo aide, was the first to come out in December with allegations against Cuomo  she further detailed her experience in a February post to Medium

One current staffer, whose name has been kept confidential, accused the governor of groping her breast in the Executive Mansion last year, in an account published last week by The Times Union newspaper of Albany.

McGrath was quoted by the New York Times as saying that the unnamed aide, a friend and co-worker, had related the alleged groping incident to her in detail after it went public.

For her part, McGrath said the governor regularly engaged in what she described as flirtatious banter mixed with more personal remarks, as well as a subtle but steady effort to cultivate rivalry among female staffers in his office.

The Times said McGrath's accounts were supported by contemporaneous text messages, emails and social media posts she shared with the newspaper.

Although McGrath did not accuse Cuomo of touching her, she said his conduct amounted to sexual harassment, perpetuated by secrecy and normalized inside his inner circle.

Cuomo has vowed to cooperate with the investigation overseen by the state's attorney general, and has steadfastly refused to step down before the inquiry is concluded.
LOS ANGELESAVN Media Network is pleased to announce the lineup for this weeks Friday Night Live on AVN Stars.

Jane Wilde will get open the show with a one-hour live performance beginning at 6 p.m. PST today, March 19; Maitland Ward will take over at 7 and Jayden Cole will cap off the evening at 8.

Friday Night Live features top adult stars performing live shows that are free to watch for anyone with an AVN Stars account.

To join AVN Stars for free, visit stars.avn.com.

Built for adult entertainers, AVN Stars is a subscription-based community where creators can monetize their content without the worry of censorship, discrimination, shadow-banning or suspensions. Creators may charge a subscription fee or make their posts available for free.
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In late February, I walked into a Bigfoot trap in Siskiyou National Forest a few miles north of the California border with Oregon. It seemed amazing that people went to the trouble of building the large wooden structure with a metal trap door, now permanently held open by some cables. Posing for a photo inside pretending to be an oversized cryptid, I raised my own overly large foot for effect.

Its hard to take Bigfoot seriously, considering that if the hairy, smelly bipeds were real, wed likely have proven that by now. Scientists would have found and studied a bone, a body or DNA samples of some kind. Hikers would have snapped a million iPhone photos and videos. Drones would have filmed a reality show at Bigfoots place of residence.

But lately Ive been noticing that a lot of people around me, otherwise reasonable people, are convinced Bigfoot is real. Thats because about a year ago I moved to Arcata  a veritable epicenter of Sasquatch sightings  where Bigfoot-themed businesses, adornments and paraphernalia are commonplace and undoubtedly a tourist draw and economic boon to the area.

A scrap metal Bigfoot sculpture stands on a walking path in my town. Bigfoot erotica is an actual thing, and a new documentary that comes out in April claims Bigfoot is 1) real, and 2) might have violently killed some Humboldt weed trimmers.

The sheer concept of Bigfoot is fascinating, which is why I hiked to that trap, and why, when a friend recently mentioned an Intro to Bigfoot Studies online class with an instructor from Humboldt State Universitys Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, that seemed like fun.

Heres something not fun: having to question your own grip on reality.

Ashley Harrell

And actually, thats part of why some people have a tough time acknowledging the possibility Bigfoot could be real, according to course instructor Steven Saint Thomas. It's a natural human tendency to want to be comfortable, Thomas says. So information that makes you uncomfortable is information you prefer to ignore.

Thomas is a journalist and former editor of six community newspapers in San Diego. Hes been writing magazines and newspaper articles for places like Time Magazine and the Denver Post for the better part of three decades. Back in the 70s while he was in journalism school at Northwestern University, he had what he calls an impactful encounter with J. Allen Hynek, the chair of the schools astronomy department. Hynek founded the Center for UFO Studies and although he started out a skeptic, he eventually became convinced that some UFO sightings could not be explained.

[Hynek] asked the question, can UFO phenomenon really be studied in a neutral, scientific way, Thomas said during his introduction to the class. The answer for him was yes, it can be. You can study UFOs as an astronomer and not be some kind of lunatic. And this, I think, also applies to Bigfoot.

There were seven students in Monday nights Zoom class, which sold tickets through Eventbrite. And although this class was not affiliated with HSU, Thomas also teaches the same one through OLLI, the universitys extended learning program for adults 50 and up.

To get a sense for where the class stood, Thomas asked each of us whether we had encountered a Bigfoot or knew anyone who had. Most of us didnt have any personal experiences, but one student who asked to be called The Captain, and who was smoking a pipe, did. He said one time he and his wife and another couple were river rafting at night during a full moon out near Willow Creek  widely regarded as the worlds Bigfoot capital  when some giant boulders got tossed into the water near them. Classic Bigfoot, wed later learn.

It raised a lot of curiosity, The Captain said.

Thomas then kicked things off by explaining how he approaches investigations. The job of a journalist, he said, is to find out the facts from credible sources and see where it all converges into a narrative. If many sources are saying similar things over a long time period, thats worth a journalists consideration.

When Thomas first moved to Humboldt three years ago, he got himself a copy of The Hoopa Project, a chronicle of three years of Bigfoot research conducted by former police investigator David Paulides. Paulides interviewed people living on or around the Hoopa Indian Reservation  which is about an hour northeast of Arcata  asking questions as if conducting a police investigation. He also had all 45 people interviewed sign affidavits swearing their testimonies were true and brought in a forensic sketch artist to create likenesses of the Bigfoots.

To Thomas, the similarities in the drawings and accounts are striking. For the most part, witnesses describe a large, tall creature with no ears, a flat face, broad shoulders and long limbs. In report after report, people say Bigfoot doesnt have a neck, Thomas said, and they say that when the creature turns, its head turns with its shoulders. Descriptions of how the sasquatchs move are also consistent  they cross the road in giant strides. Lots of accounts include high-pitched shrieks and rock-throwing.

So you're not the only one, Thomas told the Captain. Its been a very common occurrence in Bigfoot sightings, especially in Hoopa, where a boulder suddenly comes flying out of the forest and usually lands in a body of water. It never hits anybody.

Ashley Harrell

From there, Thomas went through the history of Bigfoot chronologically.

Tribal stories and pictographs on caves of what many call the hairy man date back millennia, and Thomas showed us photographs created on the Tule Indian Reservation east of Porterville in Central California. In 1840, a diary entry from a Protestant missionary mentioned a race of giants known by the Spokane Indians to steal salmon and throw stones, and to have large feet and an intolerable smell. Other wild and cannibalistic men were reportedly living on the peak of Mount St. Helens around the same time, and in the 1920s, some Canadian newspaper articles described a race of giant hairy men that local indigenous people referred to as Sasqets, which became sasquatchs.

In 1940, Bigfoot entered the vernacular in a newspaper article published in Inyo County about some miners who encountered oversized footprints sometime around the 1860s. A TV and radio writer named Ruth Woodman found the article and copied it into her notes, which Thomas showed us, and which became fodder for a show about the Old West called Death Valley Days. But the article is important, Thomas said, because it shows that the dimensions of the footprints are relatively consistent with later reports, and the location isnt so far from the Tule Indian Reservation.

Measurement showed the foot to be 18 inches long with a breadth at the toes of six inches, Thomas read from Woodmans notes. The stride was about six feet and it was apparent that the steps were made while walking and not running.

Death Valley Days fictionalized the Bigfoot story and introduced a hoax plot twist, and was aired on television in 1956, Thomas told us. Two years later Bigfoot became a worldwide sensation after sasquatch footprints were discovered by a crew building a logging road in Six Rivers National Forest, and their equipment was vandalized. The incident was later revealed to be a hoax when retired logger Ray Wallace confessed to his children on his deathbed that he made the prints, and a story about that was published in the Seattle Times and then other newspapers. But Thomas takes issue with that.

It's a one-source story, which says, okay, I sat there and I interviewed a guy. Here's what he said. It must be true, Thomas said. The writer did not attempt to verify in any way, whether Wallace was lying then or lying before.

Inarguably, many Bigfoot hoaxes were to follow, to the point where the legend itself is often written off as a kind of hoax tradition. Heres the thing about the hoaxes, though, Thomas said  they dont actually disprove the existence of Bigfoot.

And heres what many Bigfoot enthusiasts do think proves the existence of the creature: the Patterson-Gimlin film. It was shot by two cowboys near Bluff Creek in 1967, capturing what appears to be a female Bigfoot striding across the forest, turning toward the camera in what has become an iconic stance, and disappearing forever.

Ashley Harrell

Critics say its just a man in an ape suit, and indeed one man has claimed he was the one wearing it. But for more than 50 years, the film has stood up to careful scrutiny, defying the explanation of scientists, forensic analysts, Hollywood special effects experts and costume designers.

Bigfoot researchers say you can see Pattys trapezius, deltoid and triceps. Her shoulder blades move up and down, they say, and her trailing leg shows flexibility in the mid part of the foot. Thomas showed us the film, and Ive now watched it many more times since. Truly, it boggles the mind.

If it's a guy in a suit, the Patterson-Gimlin film is one of the great hoaxes of all time. If it's not, that would completely upend everything we understand about apes and evolution, said a narrator in an Oregon Public Broadcasting short film Thomas played for us. Either way, the Patterson-Gimlin film turned the Northwest local legend into a global icon. And it's interesting because it reminds us there's some things in the world we can never know for sure.

Other resources shared in the class included a video interview with Marlette Grant-Jackson, an HSU resource coordinator and academic advisor who grew up on the Hoopa Reservation and encountered Bigfoot. Thomas also presented us with a Sasquatch Field Guide created by Jeff Meldrum, the anatomy and anthropology professor at Idaho State University known for taking Bigfoot seriously.

Late in the class, Bigfoot buff and film location manager Rowdy Kelley joined the Zoom and spoke a bit about the Bluff Creek Project, a group of enthusiasts who rediscovered the Patterson-Gimlin film site around a decade ago and started doing research there, putting up game cameras that have captured thousands of cougars and bears and even the Humboldt marten, a woodland mammal previously thought extinct.

Of course we haven't gotten Bigfoot cause you guys would hear about it, Kelley said.

Kelley also makes Bigfoot films and has investigated numerous claims of Bigfoot encounters, which has given him some insight into which accounts are credible. Sometimes people arent very familiar with the woods, and are inclined to think everything that moves is a Bigfoot. Others are just very anxious to see one, and theres a self-fulfilling prophecy. Bears are often mistaken for Bigfoot, as are people wearing dark colors and wandering the forest.

I interviewed a lot of people, and I would say a majority of those people I believe, because they sounded sincere, Kelley said. They had good heads on their shoulders. They werent out-of-step characters or trying to get attention.

There was actually a Bigfoot sighting in southern Humboldt about a month ago by a retired law enforcement officer, Kelley said, and its under investigation. In addition to handling things like that, the Bluff Creek Project also has summer plans to replicate the original footage with the same kind of camera and film. In June and July there will be trips to the site, and Kelley invited me and Thomas to tag along. We accepted.

There was a whole lot more discussed in the class, and in working on this story, I was confronted with an unthinkable volume of information on the subject of Bigfoot. Truly wrapping ones head around the complicated legend would take years, which I didnt have. The only thing I knew for certain at the end of my research is that a lot of people want Bigfoot to exist, including Jane Goodall, and Im also one of them.

A few days later, Thomas and I met for coffee and he told me about how he thinks HSU or even the guys from the Bluff Creek Project should start a center dedicated to Bigfoot, just like Hynek had with UFOS. It could have a kitschy kind of aspect to it, with a bunch of Bigfoot gear, he said, but it would also be a place where you actually have some of this evidence, and people could come in to ask questions and talk.

Steven Sparapani

It perplexes Thomas that no serious study of Bigfoot has ever been launched by any university, he told me. Just before we parted ways, I gave in to the urge to ask him what felt like a stupid question, but I couldnt help myself. Did he believe in Bigfoot?

Belief is a weird concept, he said. What does it even mean to believe something?

To me believing in Bigfoot is like saying, I believe Bigfoot is out there and everybody who doesnt is wrong, he said. I think that Bigfoot being out there is a possibility. Or maybe its even probable. I dont know. But I dont consider myself a believer or a non-believer.

Editors note: This story was updated at 2:04 p.m., March 20, to correct the names of Ruth Woodman and Ray Wallace, and to correctly attribute a quote about the Patterson-Gimlin footage to the narrator of short film created by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
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Fastmarkets price assessment for pig iron, export, fob port of Vitoria/Rio, Brazil was $520 per tonne on Friday, unchanged since March 5

Offers of pig iron for May-June shipment were reported...
The thought never occurred to James Morgan of Rochdale when he sent us a cheque back at the start of the pandemic.

Nor did it cross Kitty Muldoon's mind when she made an online donation just the other day.

However, just like tens of thousands of you all over the country, they have now made history. For they are part of the greatest response to any newspaper appeal  ever.

As of today, Mail Force, the new charity created by this newspaper at the start of the pandemic and funded by our readers, has surpassed all conceivable expectations.

Eleven months later, donations have now reached a staggering 25million in cash and equipment.

Last night, the Prime Minister paid tribute to what he called 'the extraordinary achievement' of Mail readers.

Mail Force has managed to provide 42million pieces of PPE across the care and charity sector during some of the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic

'Your donations are bolstering the efforts of government by providing protective equipment to doctors, nurses and other health workers  and laptops to children to help them learn at home,' said Boris Johnson.

'Your philanthropic spirit and generosity will make a huge difference to the lives of many, many people. Thank you, Mail Force!'

Just this week, the charity has been delivering yet more laptops and SIM cards all over Britain to help thousands of vulnerable schoolchildren repair the year-long hole in their education.

That follows on from the 42 million pieces of personal protective equipment delivered across the care and charity sectors in some of their darkest moments.

But this has been about much more than rattling a (now very heavy) tin.

It shows that, for all the barbs levelled at the Press of late  from American TV studios and elsewhere  campaigning newspapers like this one can, and will, continue to step up to the plate and match words with actions.

More importantly, Mail Force shows what can happen when our readers forge a vigorous alliance with a cross-section of philanthropists, businesses and celebrities to do something vital  and at speed.

Boris Johnson, pictured receiving the Covid-19 vaccine on Friday, praised 'the extraordinary achievement' of Mail readers after they managed to raise more than 25million in cash and equipment donations

For it turns out that Britain's fastest-growing charity is now one of the country's top fundraisers.

The leading sector analyst, Charity Financials, produces an annual report of the premier league of more than 160,000 charities.

Using the latest available data, Mail Force now ranks comfortably inside the UK's top 100.

However, while our charity is immensely honoured to sit alongside so many illustrious household names, this is hopefully just a temporary situation.

For this upstart interloper has every intention (with luck) of delivering and then bowing out as quickly as it appeared.

This has always been an emergency response to the gravest peacetime crisis of modern times and so the charity has acted accordingly.

After all, how could we overlook the instructions of the aforementioned James Morgan of Rochdale when he wrote to us last spring: 'I am a 78-year-old pensioner who, because of lockdown, has a few bob to spare from my pension. So use it quickly to save lives.'

That is precisely what the charity did 11 months back when we started.

During those first months, 12 million was raised to buy PPE to protect care workers desperately short of the stuff.

By the end of November, all of it had been spent on aprons, masks and coveralls or allocated to state-of-the-art testing machinery for top hospitals.

With more than half of our 42 million items made in the UK, these donations also helped to kick-start new UK production lines of PPE.

By the start of this year, a second, equally urgent imperative had presented itself: how to get the most vulnerable children in our society back on track in the classroom.

Home-schooling was not an option for those without a computer or an internet connection. Even with a partial return to school, online learning is now destined to be a permanent and integral part of every child's education.

There was  and still is  the risk of destroying the life chances of tens of thousands of children trapped on the wrong side of the 'digital divide'.

So Mail Force has teamed up with IT experts, Computacenter, to help reprocess thousands of used laptops and ensure these enjoy a new life in the hands of a child.

This week, our Computers for Kids campaign has seen yet more great British companies, including Rolls-Royce, donating vanloads of high-quality second-hand laptops for redistribution among children who need them most.

This is a campaign for the whole nation.

The other day, we delivered an inaugural batch to Greenwood Academy in Dreghorn, Ayrshire. Fresh allocations for Scotland and Wales will be announced next week.

But we want to get on with it, pronto.

The latest response has proved so overwhelming amounting to 13 million  that Mail Force can now supplement the supply of recycled machines with a considerable number of new ones.

And for those struggling to connect existing machinery to the internet, we have tens of thousands of free pre-programmed Vodafone SIM-cards for any school that wants to apply on behalf of their pupils.

One of the most striking aspects of the appeal has been the number of responses from teachers, past and present, and from pensioners.

'I have four grandchildren in school  different ages  and they are having to share a computer,' said Joan Mottershead, who wrote to congratulate the charity while also enclosing a donation of 25.

Online donor Mary wrote: 'I am in my 80s and one of nine children. Although we were very poor, we never went hungry and our education was wonderful. We only needed a pen to start our schooling. If I hadn't got one, we were given one. There is nothing worse than for a child to feel different.'

Just this week, the charity has been delivering yet more laptops and SIM cards all over Britain to help thousands of vulnerable schoolchildren repair the year-long hole in their education

We could fill many editions of the Mail with all those to whom the charity is indebted. Computers for Kids would never have got off the ground without the far-sighted enthusiasm of organisations as varied as Sainsbury's, Aegon, Camelot and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Our PPE campaign was amplified hugely by leading philanthropists including Hans and Julia Rausing and Ian Wace. Donors such as Sir Tom Hunter and Jefferies, the New York investment bank, have supported both initiatives.

Millions have now seen the brilliant fundraising video for Computers for Kids, featuring everyone from David Walliams and David Beckham to Emma Thompson and Joan Collins.

A recurring feature of this campaign has been its reach across all the cultural, political and geographical divides. People who might not normally buy the Mail have seen the overarching point of these campaigns.

While the pandemic has certainly highlighted the extent of devolution in health and education, Mail Force has been a UK-wide endeavour throughout.

Our PPE has travelled to Barry and Belfast (indeed, some of it has crossed the border into the Irish Republic but don't tell the EU). Hospital kit has been despatched now to both Orkney and Great Ormond Street.

Above all, this has been a unifying exercise.

'Well done to all the Mail readers for realising that there is a need and for responding like this,' says Fleur Anderson, Labour MP for Putney in South-West London and chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group on Charities and Volunteering.

A former worker for several charities, including Christian Aid, she says the response to Mail Force illustrates that visceral wish just to 'do something' that has manifested itself in so many ways during this crisis.

She points to local organisations on her own patch like the 'Putney Scrub Hub', which continues to produce hospital scrubs for local medics.

It's a view shared by the Tory vice-chairman of the All-Party group. 'This pandemic has shown, among many things, that we are still, deep down, a very neighbourly society,' says Danny Kruger, MP for Devizes.

Millions have now seen the brilliant fundraising video for Computers for Kids, featuring everyone from David Walliams and David Beckham to Emma Thompson and Joan Collins

'This has been an historic crisis and it has produced a historic response, as we see with Mail Force.'

As discussed, there has been plenty of sniping at the British Press of late, most recently by a U.S. television network that has been happy to doctor and rewrite so-called 'British' headlines about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for example.

But the story of Mail Force shows the flip side of the coin. Just as some of our donors may well read another newspaper (or none at all), the charity aims to cast its net as wide as it possibly can.

Yesterday, I talked to some of the charities whom you have helped over the past 11 months. Mark Whatham of Blind Veterans UK recalls the situation this time last year. 'We were down to the wire at the time,' he says.

Then along came consignments of Mail Force PPE to the charity's centres in Brighton and Llandudno. 'It wasn't just about saving us money but it was about peace of mind, too.'

I have seen how Mail Force PPE is helping the residents and staff at Mencap homes in Nottingham and Wiltshire.

The charity reckons that, thanks to your generosity, it has saved around 1.8 million in PPE costs.

What's more, since people with a learning disability are six times more likely to die of Covid than their non-disabled peers, it was essential.

'In simple terms, together with Mail Force, we have saved lives: the most important outcome we could ever have hoped for,' says John Cowman, executive director of services at Mencap.

The whole sector has taken a terrible hammering from this pandemic, just as so many children have lost a year of education which, in some cases, may be irretrievable.

However, thanks to what you have done, things are very much better than they might have been.

One of the most sobering statistics is the fact that the most famous fundraising campaign of them all  the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal  was down to 24 million last year. That is half of what it usually receives.

Let us hope that, this time next year, the Legion are back where they belong  and Mail Force can put away its tin.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20)  Flights of flag carrier Philippine Airlines from Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Doha in Qatar will be rerouted to Cebu airport because of lower international passenger capacity at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In an advisory on Saturday, PAL said passengers from Dammam (PR 5687) and Doha (PR 685) on March 26 will be rerouted to Mactan Cebu International Airport.

"The rerouting to Cebu is necessary to avoid a full cancellation of your flight," it said.

The government limited the number of international travelers entering NAIA from 3,000 to 1,500, from 8 a.m. of March 18 to 8 a.m. of April 19,

It also suspended the entry of most foreign nationals from March 22 to April 21, while entry is allowed to all Filipinos.

RELATED: PH temporarily halts entry of foreigners and non-OFW returnees

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez earlier said limiting airport capacity would help stem control the surge in coronavirus infections.

"Nakikita rin po natin iyong variant, ito po ang isang factor. So, ngayon ang ginawa po natin dahil nakita po natin na iyong ating mga OFW at saka mga ROF at saka mayroon tayong tinatawag na mga foreigner na pumupunta po sa atin dito, so ngayon ang ginawa po natin ay hinigpitan po natin ngayon ang ating inbound passengers. So, ngayon, ini-limit po natin sa 1,500," said Galvez in a briefing in Malacanang.

[Translation: We see that the variant is a factor. Now, what we did because we saw that our overseas Filipino workers and ROFs (returning overseas Filipinos) as well as foreigners arriving in the country, what we did is become stricter with inbound passengers. We are setting the limit to 1,500.]

Airlines were forced to cancel again their international flights.

PAL on Friday announced the cancellation of lights to Vancouver, Singapore, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Dubai, Jakarta, and Guam, among others.

Cebu Pacific in an advisory on March 17 also said its operations to Narita and Nagoya in Japan would be canceled from March 18 to April 18.
Chennai, March 20 : Signing up management contracts with several hotels across the country hospitality major Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited will be increasing its room strength to about 3,000 by the end of October this year, said a top company official.

Hoteliers are expecting their business to improve with increased Covid-19 vaccination.

"By July this year will be adding about 350 rooms and by October end another 300 rooms. Currently our room strength is about 2,400 and this will go up to about 3,000," Ramesh Ramanathan, Chairman and Managing Director told IANS.

He said the company is looking at properties with 50/60 rooms for signing up management contracts.

The increasing Covid-19 vaccination and work from anywhere - homes or holiday resorts- culture are expected to induce people to travel in the coming months.

Sterling Holidays apart from selling holiday time shares also manages hotel properties.

"The membership and hotel management contracts contribute equally to our topline," Ramanathan said.

Nearly a year after the Covid-19 lockdown affecting the hospitality sector to a great extent, the holiday resorts companies have not only turning around but are also on the expansion mode, said an industry official.

Industry officials told IANS that people are travelling to places that are in driving distance and are reluctant to travel from one region to another.

"People who used to travel overseas are now travelling within the country. The business turnaround for resorts is better than hotels," Ramanathan said.

Meanwhile hoteliers are betting on the Covid-19 vaccination to bring in guests.

"The sector is Ashowing green shots of revival but the fear of second wave is looming around. With vaccination drive in full swing, the leisure properties are gearing up for summer rush," Sunil Tandon, General Manager, Turyaa Chennai, a five-star business hotel told IANS.

The 140-room Turyaa part of the Sri Lankan hospitality group Aitken Spence group.

Though corporate movement is still restricted and International flights are on limited sectors, industry hopes that, second quarter of 2021-22 will bring cheers to the industry depending upon vaccination drive all over the world," Tandon added.

According to Rahul Nama, General Manager, Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur, the business has picked up owing to the fresh investments that have come in the area.

The 100-room property Mercure, part of French group Accor is located in the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam industrial area and has stepped into its third year.

Expecting business to pick up in the coming months hotels have started promos and are planning to increase their offers.

At Days Hotel we are planning to start a seafood restaurant on the rooftop,a Yangya Prakash Chandran, Founder and CEO, Crossway Hotels and Resorts told IANS.

Crossway Hotels manages the Days Hotel OMR Chennai and several other hotel and resort properties in and around Chennai, Andamans and Sri Lanka.

On his part Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur's Nama said the property has the burger and beer festival going on and work is on to offer guests food and drinks inspired by the local/regional favourites.

Since its start, Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur has been offering the unique idli variety-the Kancheepuram Idli.

Among the several types of idlis -- a healthy South Indian dish -- the Kancheepuram idli has a special, even divine, status. It is offered to the Lord Varadharaja Perumal in Kancheepuram.

In no other temple Kancheepuram Idli is offered to the Lord as the main offering.

Nama said the property will also offer 'Mercure Thanda', a cooler made with milk, nuts and other ingredients inspired by the drink Jigirthanda for which Madurai is famous for.
An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a student who died in his mothers arms after being fatally stabbed on a busy north-east London street.

Hussain Chaudhry, 18, a first-year law student, was stabbed in the neck in an attack in Walthamstow during rush hour on Wednesday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after police and paramedics were called to Lea Bridge Road at around 5.20pm.

The Metropolitan Police said that an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday evening and was taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody.

The force previously said that a post-mortem examination on Thursday gave Mr Chaudrys cause of death as hypovolemic shock and a stab wound to the neck.

In a statement shared by police, his family said: We are deeply grieved by the loss of our beloved Hussain and respectfully ask for the privacy and space to come to terms with this tragic situation.

We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for their kindness, compassion, condolences, prayers and goodwill. We have no other comment at this time.

His sister Afia Chaudhry earlier said on an online fundraising page that her beautiful baby brother left this world the same way he came in, cradled in my mothers arms.

Mr Chaudhrys friend Wahab Ahmed, who set up the page to build a mosque in his memory, described him as an incredibly kind and beautiful soul.

More than 27,000 in donations has been raised by the GoFundMe page set up in Mr Chaudrys memory at gofund.me/e98c8e95.

Soas University of London said in a earlier statement it was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Mr Chaudhrys death.

Relatives previously said his mother and brother were also injured in the attack.

The Met said a man in his 20s and a women in her 40s, both related to Mr Chaudhry, had suffered slash injuries to their hands and were taken to an east London hospital for treatment.

The woman is still in hospital, but the man has since been discharged, the force said.

A 16-year-old boy who was arrested in connection with detectives investigation on Wednesday has been released under investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Perry Benton, from the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: A young man has lost his life in tragic circumstances and my thoughts remain with his family and friends at this awful time.

I am continuing to appeal for any witnesses to come forward and speak with my team. Any piece of information could prove to be vital.

Anybody with information can call the police on 020 8345 1570 or 101 and quote reference CAD 5697/17Mar or tweet to @MetCC.

Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Manitobas deputy chief public health officer is imploring people to choose their contacts and activities carefully, even as the province considers rolling back restrictions despite COVID-19 and its more contagious variants continuing to spread.

Manitobas deputy chief public health officer is imploring people to choose their contacts and activities carefully, even as the province considers rolling back restrictions despite COVID-19 and its more contagious variants continuing to spread.

"We still have low case numbers. We want to maintain these low case numbers as well. Its going to be incumbent upon all Manitobans to be honest with themselves about what theyre doing and how we generate risk," Dr. Jazz Atwal said Friday. "Just because youre able to do something, we need to think about should we do it, because every single thing we do generates some risk."

On Friday, Manitoba recorded 93 more cases of COVID-19 and one death due to the disease: a man in his 30s from the Northern health region.

New cases were reported in all health regions, including 39 in Winnipeg and 29 in the north. Fourteen were detected in Prairie Mountain Health, 10 in Southern Health and one in Interlake-Eastern.

Atwal said as of Friday, the National Microbiology Lab had not confirmed any additional cases of coronavirus variants  such as the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 mutations  which are more contagious than the dominant virus circulating in Manitoba.

So far, 76 infections have been caused by a variant of concern.

When asked Friday, the doctor did not share the number of clusters that have been caused by a variant of concern, nor did he say in which settings clusters have emerged.

As of Friday, one outbreak at a personal care home had been caused by a variant of concern. Heritage Lodge Long Term Care Home in Winnipeg had two confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 variant (first detected in the U.K.) involving one staff member and one resident. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said the total case count for the home stood at two as of Friday.

Meanwhile, during a separate simultaneous news conference held by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Dr. Marcia Anderson, speaking on behalf of the First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team, said that one case on a reserve was caused by the B.1.1.7 variant.

Anderson refused to say which community reported the case, whether it went into lockdown, or which tribal council was involved.

"The individual had travelled out of their community, but not out of province or internationally," she said. "The individual has recovered; we haven't seen any further spread of the variant of concern in the community."

Three schools  two in Winnipeg and one in Winkler  also reported cases caused by a highly contagious variant of concern, Atwal said. No outbreaks had been declared.

"Weve had clusters of some variants of concern," Atwal said. "Were gathering more information in relation to whether its truly an outbreak... or is it just a handful of cases in one or two households.

"So were going to get some better data surrounding that," Atwal said. "Weve dealt with, lets say, certain communities, school communities, we deal with individuals as well, very specifically."

"If there is something that the public needs to know about, we are very open to provide that information," he said.

In general, the province defines a COVID-19 outbreak as two or more confirmed cases linked to a specific setting and/or location. However, outbreaks in schools and health-care settings use different definitions.

On Friday, 136 people were in hospital being treated for COVID-19, including 21 in intensive care. The province said 93 people were in ICU, about 128 per cent over pre-pandemic capacity. The five-day test positivity rate was 4.7 per cent provincially and 3.5 per cent in Winnipeg.

Atwal urged Manitobans to stick to the public health rules as they plan for spring break, Easter and Passover and to avoid travel, especially as the province considers rolling back more restrictions after March 26.

"We need to be careful as there continues to be a risk of COVID-19 and of the variants of concern," Atwal said. "At the end of the day I am asking Manitobans to make good decisions and to follow public health orders."

He also warned restaurateurs, who use loopholes in the public health order to seat multiple households in their dining room, that they could be fined for breaking gathering size restrictions.

The First Nations COVID-19 pandemic response team, in cooperation with the province, is also strongly urging anyone visiting a First Nations reserve, or returning home to one, to get a COVID-19 test at a maximum of 72 hours ahead of their arrival.

Anderson said the tests can add a layer of protection to prevent the introduction of variants into First Nations communities.

"But even if someone tests negative, they still need to follow all public health measures, because it's not a guarantee that you will stay negative," Anderson said. "It doesn't mean there's no risk; it's a way to try to lower risk, overall in our communities."

The asymptomatic tests are free and do not require an appointment, and can be taken at Thunderbird House, the Garrick Centre or the testing site at 125 King Edward St., as well as at test sites in Thompson and The Pas.

Outbreaks have been declared over at Concordia Place Personal Care Home and at the Rady Jewish Community Centres Early Learning Centre in Winnipeg.

 with files from Dylan Robertson

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
New Delhi, March 20 : Tamil Nadu's famed kanjivaram textile technique dates back to the time of the Chola period. Chola kings are said to have invited Padmasaliya weavers from neighbouring kingdoms to the temple town of Kanchipuram to weave silk.

Traditionally a Kanjivaram sari is made of Native Indian Mulberry silk, they were occasion saris, the body of the drape would be plain, striped or patterned. Real zari would add a feel of decadence to its palau and borders--what made this vibrant sari famous was its colour play. Over the years the kanjivaram has adapted to keep its relevance--for example since the kanjivaram predates the advent of the jacquard loom by a few centuries, the brocade style kanjivarams that are today considered bridal beauties could actually be called a design intervention of the 20th century.

As K.H. Radharaman, creative director of Advaya, a label that prides itself on its craft savoir faire, says,"Textiles are a document of living culture." Advaya is the label of Bangalore based design house, House of Angadi, and Radharaman's family have been in the textile industry for 600 years. With this lineage he sees himself as a custodian of the craft. "I am a traditionalist at heart, and I revere tradition. My family has been involved in the creation of the very pieces that are revered as classics in the genres that I have worked in. I have personally revived and recreated many old designs and have regenerated many old techniques." Yet he is also the man behind the linen kanjivaram. "I would also argue that innovation is necessary to contemporize craft," he adds.

It was Advaya that was behind Deepika Padukone's custom made wedding sari in 2018. While this was the first time most fashion folk heard of Radharaman's work, those in textiles have been aware of his weaves for well over a decade. It was 11 years ago that he created the first linen kanjivaram. Says Radharaman,"I had worked on linen for the international market as far back as 2006 and I realised that the matte appearance of linen would blend in beautifully and seamlessly with the subtle gold hue of the Kanjivaram zari." It took 15 months of work for this intervention to come alive and since then many sari designers have turned to linen. Available by order and in limited editions linen kanjivarams are now seen as collector's items by many sari connoisseurs. However there are some conservative textile historians who look at experimentations with disdain.

This has not stopped the label's founder to stay on path of intervention, being a trained engineer and not a design graduate is perhaps why he is not bound by any rules. Radharaman has since worked on several other "updates" including the khadi and tussar kanjivarams. These saris speak of traditions from different parts of India and different times, the country's history can be woven together.

When contemporizing a craft there is always a fine line between expanding a craft's vocabulary and disrespecting a tradition. "My work as a textile designer is diverse and straddles a wide array of techniques, tools, materials, and craft clusters. I believe all of this has helped me contemporize the design language of traditional Indian crafts in a significant way -- making it relevant to the present and future generations." At his retail store, Angadi, traditional and innovative weaves by Advaya sit next to each other--an untrained eye may not be able to tell which saris are interventions, since the architecture of the saris remain loyal to traditions.

By working with lighter forms of cloth, and not sticking to the prescribed silks, Radharaman has added a very modern and user-friendly appeal feel to the kanjivaram's repertoire. Advaya is currently working on a new line of bridal saris that alter the visual design vocabulary and motifs of a Kanjivaram sari. He says,"Now with the help of technological breakthroughs and immense investments at the back end we have managed to create large scale repeats and render beautiful, almost story-like motifs that derive inspiration from diverse subjects." For Radharaman innovations like this keep the sari relevant and exciting to future generations. But he notes a sari must never be trend driven--being timeless and heirloom worth are properties of the sari that are non-negotiable. Which would explain why this textile innovator views adding a sartorial element would be blasphemy. "The sari is a finished product and is not yardage that needs to be cut and stitched. Suggesting that a finished product needs to be repurposed or enhanced is akin to saying that a work of art, a true masterpiece needs an additional stroke of paint." The writer Sujata Assomull is an IANSlife columnist. Assomull is the author "100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes" and was the Founding Editor In Chief of Harper's Bazaar, India.

(IANSlife Features can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
He's preparing to welcome his first child with girlfriend Lucy Cartwright in April.

And Love Island Australia's Grant Crapp, 25, couldn't contain his joy as he celebrated Lucy's baby shower on Saturday.

Posing to Instagram, the expectant father uploaded a heartwarming photo of himself cradling Lucy's bump as they posed in front of a pink-and-white balloon arch and a metal sign that read 'Baby Crapp'.

'Cant wait to meet her': Love Island Australia's Grant Crapp, 25, couldn't contain his joy as he celebrated his girlfriend Lucy Cartwright's baby shower on Saturday

'I have no patience... cant wait to meet her [love heart emoji]. EXCITED,' he wrote in the caption, adding the hashtag: #babycrapp

The electrician looked sleek in a light pink blazer and checked trousers, while his girlfriend of over two years showcased her blossoming bump in a tight pink maxi dress.

Grant announced his baby joy in December, sharing a photo of the beaming pair on a beach, with heavily pregnant Lucy already sporting a blossoming bump.

Announcement: Grant announced his baby joy in December, sharing a photo of the beaming pair on a beach with heavily pregnant Lucy already sporting a blossoming bump

In the caption, Grant revealed that the baby is expected next year - and the pair are having a girl.

Grant wrote in the caption: 'BABY CRAPP DUE APRIL. So excited to be a dad! She's going to be soo cute!! I can't wait to meet her. #whatayear'.

The couple have been notoriously private since the start of their relationship, with Lucy rarely posting to social media.

Private: The couple have been notoriously private since the start of their relationship, with Lucy rarely posting to social media

They went Instagram official in October 2018, three months after Grant split with his Love Island co-star Tayla Damir, 24.

Grant wrote in the picture's caption: 'Proud of ya [sic],' alongside the crown and celebration emojis.

The couple dated prior to Grant joining the cast of Love Island, and reunited after he split with Tayla.

Official: The couple went Instagram official in October 2018, posting this photo

Over: The pair announced their relationship just three months after Grant split with his Love Island co-star Tayla Damir, 24 (left)

However, Tayla dumped Grant after discovering he already had a 'secret girlfriend' living in Canberra.

He faced criticism upon returning to Australia, when it was revealed he had lied to producers about his relationship status.

It turned out he had been in a relationship with Lucy right up until leaving for Spain, and the pair resumed dating once he'd split from Tayla.

Back on: Grant and Lucy dated prior to Grant joining the cast of Love Island, and reunited after he split with Tayla

In August 2018, Grant revealed that starring on Love Island made him realise how much he appreciated Lucy.

He told NW magazine at the time: 'Obviously I was going into the villa with an open heart and looking for love.

'But then, I've come out, me and Tayla are finished and I'm back with Lucy.'

Claims: However, Tayla dumped Grant after discovering he already had a 'secret girlfriend' living in Canberra
A LIMERICK-based musician has taken a melodic stroll onto the music scene with his soft folk debut album.

Dave Clancy who moved to Pallasgreen to be with his partner, Limerick native Caroline Harding, brings forth heart-warming, soft folk in his new album The Path.

The album, which was released in December, winds itself around the theme of nature and reflection in its ten-song run.

Songs like The River Clare and The Path feel like a breath of fresh air as you listen to their calming melodies. Daves voice is warm with earthy tones, perfectly matching his themes.

This is the first time Dave has released an album under his own name, previously working with the band Bird on the Wire. The pandemic has been difficult for Dave, as it has been for many musicians,

As a musician who has traditionally made part of my living performing live, I feed off the energy a live audience gives me. Most days now its a struggle with having no dates in the diary to aim for, Dave said to the Limerick Leader.

However, Dave didnt let the pandemic hold him back and put his heart and soul into this new album, it gave me the time to spend getting the album to sound just like I wanted, he remarked.

Take a walk and listen to Daves album The Path, available to stream on Spotify, YouTube. You can also buy his CD or Vinyl at daveclancymusic.com.
Tripathi condemns anti-Asian violence

Hate has no haven at UB. We will never allow xenophobia to gain traction on our campus.

UB President Satish K. Tripathi issued a statement to the campus community Thursday afternoon condeming anti-Asian violence.

To our entire UB community  and to our Asian and Asian American communities in particular, let me reiterate: Hate has no haven at UB, Tripathi said. We will never allow xenophobia to gain traction on our campus. We are here for you, we stand with you, and we deeply value all of your contributions to our campus community.

The statement comes in the wake of the shooting deaths of eight people in Atlanta, six of whom were women of Asian descent.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen a deeply disturbing spike in incidents of hatred and violence against Asians and Asian Americans in our country, Tripathi said, adding that the Atlanta shootings earlier this week have intensifed the concern and fear reverberating across the Asian and Asian American communities.

We stand in sorrow and solidarity with our students, faculty and staff of Asian descent, Tripathi said. Moreover, as a global community of scholars grounded in ideals of social justice, we condemn, in the strongest of terms, anti-Asian harassment, hatred and violence  just as we condemn the ignorance, prejudice and bigotry at their root.

Tripathi said UB is incredibly fortunate to have a large and growing number of students, faculty and staff of Asian descent as members of the UB community, and added that the university has a long and proud history of contributions from Asian and Asian American students dating back to the 19th century.



Throughout this time, we have always treasured UBs Asian and Asian American communities for their diversity of intellectual perspective, the cultural richness they share with our campus community and their critical contributions to pressing societal issues, Tripathi said.

At this moment, sadly, one of the most troubling issues is xenophobia. That is why it is imperative that we at UB reaffirm, and recommit to, our mission and identity as a university grounded in principles of inclusion, diversity and social justice.
NJPW STRONG REPORT: QUALIFYING FOR NEW JAPAN CUP USA CONTINUES

We start off with comments from Bateman. He says winning the New Japan Cup USA could be life changing. It makes you somebody.

Brody King says he came up short last year.

Bateman says he is somebody and he has known Brody since his first day. He cannot promise a victory, but he will predict something real physical.

Brody says this year is a new and angrier Brody King. I am going to take the tournament and then come for the title.

Bateman says that Brody will have to take him down to stop him.

We are in Los Angeles, California and your announcers are Shigeki Kiyono and Katsuyori Shibata (in Japanese) or Kevin Kelly and Alex Koslov (in English).

Match Number One: Jeff Cobb versus Alex Coughlin

Alex goes for the legs but Cobb stays on his feet and backs Alex into the ropes. They lock up and Alex with a waist lock. Cobb with a wrist lock. Alex with a reversal into a hammer lock. Cobb with a firemans carry and arm bar. Alex escapes the hold. Alex with kicks and a side head lock. Alex with a shoulder tackle but Cobb does not move. Alex with a knee and forearms followed by a shoulder tackle that moves Cobb slightly and Cobb with a shoulder tackle.

Cobb with a forearm and kicks in the corner. Cobb with a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Cobb with a head butt. Alex with chops but Cobb with a chop that sends Alex to the mat. Cobb with a bear hug and Alex with elbows to escape. Alex goes for a flying shoulder tackle but Cobb side steps him. Cobb with kicks to the back. Alex with a drop kick and flying shoulder tackle.

Alex with a flying forearm into the corner followed by European uppercuts. Cobb blocks a slam attempt from Alex. Alex with a waist lock and Cobb with elbows. Alex with a power slam for a near fall. Alex tries for a Boston Crab but Cobb kicks him away. Cobb with a spinning slam for a near fall. Alex with a kick and Cobb with an uppercut, jab, and clothesline. Cobb with Tour of the Islands for the three count.

Winner: Jeff Cobb

Kevin Kelly is with Misterioso. Kevin asks him what will happen against Ren Narita and how will he do if he beats Narita. Misterioso says this is why he came to New Japan. They gave him their golden boy and that is an opportunity to show the audience and the people in New Japan why he belongs here.

Match Number Two: Ren Narita versus Misterioso in a New Japan Cup USA Qualifying Match

They lock up and go to a stalemate. Misterioso with a wrist lock and Narita with a reversal. Misterioso with a single leg take down and eh starts to work on Naritas leg. Narita tries for a cross arm breaker but Misterioso locks his arms and gets a near fall with a rollup. They go to a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock and Misterioso with a leg trip and he gets a series of near falls but Narita with a bridge and Misterioso tries to use his weight to get Narita down.

Narita with a side head lock. Narita holds on to the side head lock when Misterioso tries to send him off the ropes. Narita with a sunset flip for a near fall. Narita with a back elbow and near fall. Narita with kicks to the leg followed by forearms and more kicks. Narita with a chop and forearms. Narita chokes Misterioso in the corner and the referee warns Narita.

Narita with an Irish whip and an elbow into the corner followed by a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Narita with a side Russian leg sweep and he works on the legs. Narita with an ankle lock and Misterioso gets to the ropes. Misterioso lands on his feet on a suplex and he hits a flying clothesline. Misterioso with a slingshot arm drag followed by a double jump moonsault onto Narita on the floor. Narita is sent into the apron and Misterioso breaks up the referees count. Misterioso with a slingshot senton for a near fall.

Misterioso gets another near fall. Misterioso with kicks to the back and a chop. Misterioso with a power slam and a double jump Asai Moonsault. Narita goes for a Boston Crab but Misterioso gets to the ropes before Narita can lock in the hold. Misterioso with a super gourdbuster for a near fall. Misterioso with a kick and clothesline. Narita with a rear naked choke into an abdominal stretch. Misterioso gets to the ropes. Narita with a German suplex for a near fall. Narita with a Cloverleaf and Misterioso taps out.

Winner: Ren Narita

We have a cleaning and disinfection break.

Match Number Three: Brody King (with Logan Riegel and Sterling Riegel) versus Bateman in a New Japan Cup USA Qualifying Match

They start off with a Test of Strength and King with the advantage but Bateman kicks the hand. Bateman with a waist lock and King pushes him away. They lock up and go to a stalemate. They lock up and King backs Bateman into the ropes and gives a clean break. Bateman with a kick and King with a chop. They go back and forth with forearms. Bateman rakes the eyes and King misses with some punches.

Bateman with a double thrust to the throat and then King with a clothesline. Bateman with a shot to the legs to trip up King. King sends Bateman to the mat and hits a back senton for a near fall. King with a chop and kicks to Bateman. King with chops in the corner and a snap mare. King with a seated abdominal stretch.

King with kicks and chops followed by forearms. They go back to a forearm exchange. King goes for a gutrwench suplex but Bateman grabs the leg to block it. Bateman kicks King and connects with a forearm. Bateman rakes the eyes. Bateman kicks King in the corner and connects with a forearm. Bateman with a chop and King chops back. Bateman with a boot to the head. Bateman with a knee drop to the leg and then he stomps on the leg.

Bateman with a forearm but King with an Irish whip. King misses a shoulder in the corner and Bateman with a forearm. King with an exploder into the turnbuckles. King with a cannonball and he gets a near fall because Batemans arm was under the bottom rope. King with a forearm and Bateman fires back. King with a chop. Bateman gets King to flinch and he kicks King in the leg and follows with a rolling elbow. King with a side slam for a near fall.

King charges into the corner but Bateman moves and he kicks King and follows with a Germans uplex into the turnbuckles. Bateman with a running kick into the corner and he gets a near fall. King with a head butt and Bateman kicks King in the knees. Bateman with a brainbuster for a near fall. Bateman tries to get King up but King blocks it and hits a German suplex. Bateman with a kick and King with a clothesline. King with a piledriver for the three count.

Winner: Brody King

Brody King says if there is anyone who knows more about him than Bateman, he doesnt want to know. Bateman hits like a truck. This week was about me. I came up short last year. This year, I am winning it all.

Next week, the final two qualifying matches will be Blake Christian versus Chris Dickinson and TJP versus Clark Connors.

We go to credits.

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DHAKA,Bangladesh (AP)  Muslims and student activists rallied in Bangladeshs capital Friday to denounce the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the celebration of the countrys 50th anniversary of independence.

Modi is due to arrive in Dhaka on March 26, which Bangladesh celebrates as its independence day. It was the date in 1971 when Bangladesh declared itself independent from Pakistan. Aided by India, Bangladesh emerged as a new nation after nine months of bloody war.

After Friday prayers, about 500 Muslims marched onto the streets outside the country's main Baitul Mokarram Mosque in downtown Dhaka amid tight security.

The protesters carried no banners and did not declare if they have any allegiance to any political parties. They took their shoes in their hands to show disrespect to Modi. They chanted anti-India and anti-Modi slogans, asking him not to come to Dhaka.

Separately, about 200 left-leaning student activists marched through streets on Dhaka University campus where they called Modi as the butcher of Gujarat.

Some protesters carried posters reading Go Back Modi, Go Back India and Go Back Killer Modi."

Modi was chief minister in the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when Hindu-Muslim riots left more than 1,000 people dead. Allegations that authorities allowed and even encouraged the bloodshed have long followed Modi, who has repeatedly denied having any role. Indias Supreme Court has said it found no evidence to prosecute him.

The protesters criticized Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for inviting Modi, saying the two countries had many disputed issues. The protesters said Modi and his Hindu-nationalist party oppressed Muslims in India. They also criticized the killings of Bangladeshis by Indian border guards. India says such casualties happen when Bangladeshis are involved in cross-border smuggling and attempt to cross the border illegally.

"India's subordinate government of Hasina has invited Modi, we are here to protest against that, Hossain Mohammed Anwar said in front of the mosque.

Modi's visit is the first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic began. He is scheduled to travel to a place outside Dhaka that is sacred to the Matua community of India's West Bengal state.

Matua is a Hindu religious sect that is expected to determine the winner of at least seven constituencies in the Indian state's assembly elections next month.
Charlotte Crosby got candid about her nose job in an impromptu Q&A with her followers on Saturday, telling them: 'I'm so glad I got rid of the hook.'

The Geordie Shore star, 30, splashed out 4,000 when she underwent the procedure back in 2016.

The reality star shared a before-and-after pic from the surgery, after being quizzed about the procedure from fans.

About face: Charlotte Crosby got candid about having a nose job in an impromptu Insta Q&A with her followers on Saturday

Charlotte showed how the surgery altered her nose as she shared a side profile photo of her 'hook' and a shot of her slightly bruised face post-operation.

She wrote: 'So glad I got rid of the hook' with a wave emoji.

The follower had asked Charlotte: 'Did you get your nose done abroad or in English [sic] cause Im getting mine done soon x'.

To which the star replied: 'England. By @elitesurgical Dr Hassan hes great.'

New look: The Geordie Shore star, 30, wrote So glad I got rid of the hook with a wave emoji alongside a before-and-after snap of her face

No regrets: Charlotte praised her 'great' surgeon as she posted the two snaps of her nose pre-surgery and just after alongside her selfie to Instagram Stories

Under the knife: Charlotte splashed out 4,000 to have her nose job in 2016, praising Dr Hassan at the time for 'working miracles' (pictured left in 2011)

Charlotte, who recently appeared on The Circle, previously praised Dr Hassan for 'working miracles'.

Elsewhere in the Q&A, Charlotte chatted about her other beauty treatments and said she doesn't have to get filler too often as her lips retain it very well.

One fan asked: 'Do you get the Russian technique on your lips? Is it more painful than regular filler?'

With Charlotte replying: 'My lips retain filler like absolute mad! Which I feel very lucky about! I use @jsmithaesthetics for all my treatments! Shes absolutely INSANE queen of lips. She actually always compliments how well my lips stay.'

Lucky: Elsewhere in the Q&A Charlotte chatted about her other beauty treatments, saying she doesn't have to get filler too often as her lips retain it very well

Charlotte Crosby's surgeries over the years Nose job: In 2016, Charlotte unveiled her new nose after a rhinoplasty procedure. Speaking about her decision to go under the knife, the reality star opened up to Heat magazine about why it was so important to her. Charlotte admitted scrutiny from the show's audiences drove her to have the surgery. Surgeries: Charlotte has spoke candidly about her various surgeries in the past and in 2016 she unveiled her new nose after a rhinoplasty procedure (pictured before, in 2011, and after, in 2019) She told the publication: 'It's not like I can hide it. If I'd not been on TV, I'd never have got it done. 'I do think [my nose] caused a lack of confidence, and you always compare yourself to other people who are on TV as well.' Trolls: In October 2017, Charlotte confirmed she had undergone surgery to correct her 'uniboob' after she was body-shamed by vicious online trolls (pictured after her boob job in February 2018) Lip filler: Charlotte's lip size has dramatically changed since she first made her debut on Geordie Shore in 2011. During an interview on This Morning in 2018, she admitted she only gets them done once a year. She said: 'I get them done once a year, I had a big problem down the sides, but once a year thats it and I dont think theyre that bad.' Boob job: In October 2017, Charlotte confirmed she had undergone surgery to correct her 'uniboob' after she was body-shamed by vicious online trolls. Speaking to Heat magazine, the reality sensation - who suffers from a medical condition called congenital symmastia - admitted that she would also compare herself to other girls, leading her to undergo the corrective surgery. She confessed to the publication: 'My uni-boob made me feel under-confident. It (congenital symmastia) really limited what I could wear without people saying, "What the f***'s wrong with her boobs?"' Broken nose: In November, Charlotte revealed she had broke her nose in a horror accident whilst holidaying in Cape Town. The reality star shared pictures of her bruised and bloodied face on Instagram, sharing that she had cracked the bone. What does she say about her surgeries? Charlotte has spoken to MailOnline about her surgeries in the past, she said: 'I have no regrets over my surgery. I never went over the top. I'm very happy and feel a lot more confident since I had the correctional (boob job).' Confident: Charlotte has spoken to MailOnline about her surgeries in the past, she said: 'I have no regrets over my surgery. I never went over the top. I'm very happy.' (pictured before in 2011, left, and after, in April 2017) Advertisement

And while the star wouldnt reveal details, she was excited about releasing some new videos to YouTube next week.

Responding to another fan, she said: 'I promise Ill have some banging new content next week!'

A leading Harley Street plastic surgeon recently told MailOnline Charlottes was an example of one of the six faces of modern beauty that were often requested by his high-profile clients.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr Riccardo Frati of Frati Cosmetic Surgery said his most requested face of 2020 was Bella Hadids feline look, which he added can be achieved by a full or a tip rhinoplasty (nose job).

But the reality star 'doll face' was growing in popularity, with defining characteristics like high plump lips and cheeks, big eyes and small noses.

Charlotte was one of the classic examples of celebs who exemplified the look, on a list that also included Chloe Ferry, Lauren Goodger, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner.

Of Charlotte and Chloes look in particular, he said: 'Both have a distinctive doll look (some may similar to the much loved childrens Bratz dolls).

'Their lips and cheeks are high and plump, they have big eyes and small noses  a pretty doll like look. To achieve this I would advise lip, chin and cheek fillers, Botox and a rhinoplasty'.

Top look: Dr Riccardo Frati said Bella Hadid's feline look was his most requested face of 2020 (left) while a 'doll face' visage like Charlotte of Chloe Ferry (right) was also popular

Speaking about her decision to go under the knife, Charlotte previously opened up to Heat magazine about why it was so important to her.

The television personality admitted scrutiny from the show's audiences drove her to have the surgery.

She told the publication: 'It's not like I can hide it. If I'd not been on TV, I'd never have got it done.

'I do think [my nose] caused a lack of confidence, and you always compare yourself to other people who are on TV as well.'

She added: 'You just think, "I hate it", especially on television. I think it'll make a big difference to my life in terms of getting photographed and always being on the telly, not having to worry about where to stand or what angle to go from.'

Insecurities: Charlotte previously admitted scrutiny from the show's audiences drove her to have the surgery (pictured 2019)

However, Charlotte did face backlash from the Loose Women panellists after Janet Street-Porter grilled her about the procedure in 2016.

She said: 'Good luck to you, it's your choices, but what message does that send to teenage girls who watch your show, follow you on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, who might think, "My nose has a lump in it but I haven't got 4,000 to change it?"'

While during an appearance on Celebrity Juice later that year, show host Keith Lemon warned Charlotte: 'Don't go too far, because it's addictive.'

To which the former Geordie Shore star replied with: 'Never!'

In October 2017, Charlotte confirmed she had undergone surgery to correct her 'uniboob' after she was bodyshamed by vicious online trolls.

Speaking to Heat magazine, the reality sensation - who suffers from a medical condition called congenital symmastia - admitted that she would also compare herself to other girls, leading her to undergo the corrective surgery.

She confessed to the publication: 'My uni-boob made me feel under-confident. It (congenital symmastia) really limited what I could wear without people saying, "What the f***'s wrong with her boobs?"'

And being in the public eye only meant that the Sunderland native was heavily targeted for her 'deformed' breasts on social media.

'Because I'm famous, if a picture of me is online, people say things like "What is wrong with her boobs? They're deformed! They're stuck together"' she revealed, before confessing she had the surgery because 'of the comments she got online.'

The reality star is also a huge fan of lip filler and during an interview on This Morning in 2018, she admitted she only gets them done once a year.

She said: 'I get them done once a year, I had a big problem down the sides, but once a year thats it and I dont think theyre that bad.'
Our formerly favorite "alt." publication offers more coverage on a news blast against the Kansas City top cop.

The headline is impressive and the stage is set for the next chapter in this conflict that might or might not burn down half of this cowtown . . . However, for now it's worth noting that votes on the police board remain unswayed by demands for the Chief's removal and outcry for "local control" hasn't yet resonated among the majority of KCMO voters who seem skeptical of "mostly peaceful" protesters.



Read more . . .


BRIDGEPORT  Two people were listed in stable condition after separate shootings about 30 minutes apart Wednesday, according to police.

The first incident came in shortly after 10:30 p.m.

A ShotSpotter gunfire activation sent officers to the 300 block of Logan Street. A gunshot wound victim was dropped off at Bridgeport Hospital by a private vehicle shortly afterward, police said.

Police said the victim, a 27-year-old Bridgeport man, was shot in the left arm and lower right leg. He was listed in stable condition.

The victim told officers he was shot while riding as a passenger in a vehicle.

Detectives recovered shell casings from the scene.

The next shooting happened shortly after 11 p.m.

Another ShotSpotter activation sent officers to the 1400 block of Barnum Avenue. The victim arrived at Bridgeport Hospital soon afterward.

Police said the 25-year-old Bridgeport man was shot in the buttocks outside the Ten20 club at 1450 Barnum Ave. He was listed in stable condition.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call the tips line at 203-576-TIPS.
Latitude Festival will go ahead at full capacity this summer with 40,000 fans expected to attend.

The festival in Wangford, Suffolk, on July 22 to July 25 will require fans  many of them teenagers  who have not been vaccinated are tested for Covid on entry.

Covid restrictions are expected to be lifter on June 21 under Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ultra-cautious roadmap out of lockdown.

And the Government has set a target of vaccinating all adults by the end of July, meaning most fans should have had a jab by the time of the festival.

It comes as Festival Republic's managing director said he is 'very confident' that its biggest festival Reading and Leeds will go ahead as planned on August 27 to 29.

Wireless festival is also expected to go ahead in London on July 2 to 4.

Latitude Festival (pictured in 2019) in Suffolk will go ahead at full capacity this summer with 40,000 fans expected to attend

Brit award winner Lewis Capaldi has been announced as Latitude's headliner on the Friday night and festival bosses say they hope 'everyone will have a good time'.

It will be third time lucky for Snow Patrol who had to pull out in 2019 due to illness, and were due to play last year - the event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The band, who led the line-up at the first ever festival in 2006, will take the Sunday lunchtime slot this summer.

Latitude founder Melvin Benn said he is 'looking forward to some great music' with the show running 'at full capacity', but there will be on-site Covid testing among the safety protocols.

He said: 'Summer is on its way, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back to Henham Park for Latitude Festival in July.

Brit award winner Lewis Capaldi has been announced as Latitude's headliner on the Friday night and festival bosses say they hope 'everyone will have a good time'

'We are aware that many of you may have some concerns regarding safety at the festival.

'We'd like to reassure you all that we are working hard behind the scenes, and will be following all government guidelines and legislation to ensure Latitude is safe for all.'

He said the national vaccination roll-out and large scale testing meant 'we really can go ahead' as long as the situation in July was deemed safe by the Government and all necessary safety protocols were in place.

Under the Prime Minister's lockdown exit plan there will be no limit on social distancing from June 21.

The festival in Wangford, Suffolk, on July 22 to July 25 will require fans  many of them teenagers  who have not been vaccinated are tested for Covid on entry

In the FAQs section, the festival website said it would go ahead 'at full capacity as normal'.

It also said people who had not been vaccinated would be Covid-tested before entry to the park.

Bastille, who were named British breakthrough act at the 2014 Brit Awards, will headline on Saturday night and play their back catalogue of hits including Pompeii and Of the Night.

The festival started in 2006 with a modest crowd of 15,000 and now hosts some 40,000 who are entertained across a variety of stages.

This year the festival is a week later than usual so it falls in the summer holidays.
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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romania and Greece are looking to set up a travel arrangement using their own vaccine certificates that would open up tourism between the two countries as soon as next month, officials said Friday.

At a press conference in Bucharest, Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis said Greece is eager to receive Romanian tourists before the EU agrees on creating its own vaccination certificates.

We really want the EU to step up the procedure to release that EU health certificate, Theocharis said. But until then we want to have discussions with the Romanian minister for tourism so that we can accept tourists even before reaching an agreement at a European level.

Theocharis said Greece will look to accept vaccine certificates issued by Romania and that tourists from the Eastern European nation could start visiting as early as mid-April  a month before Greeces official tourist season opens on May 14.

Romanias Tourism Minister, Claudiu Nasui, said the government would take the final decision on the matter, but this is the direction which we will be taking.

Before the pandemic, more than a million Romanians visited Greece each year.
An Ethiopian diplomat who quit his post in the United States over concerns about atrocities in Tigray is calling for peace talks between the government and the embattled regions fugitive leaders.

Berhane Kidanemariam, who served as the deputy chief of mission at the Ethiopian embassy in Washington until early March, has warned a protracted war in Tigray is devastating the regions six million people.

We have to prioritise peaceful settlement and negotiation, he said. Without peaceful settlement and negotiation, peace couldnt prevail. The only solution is peace talks.

Between 60,000 and 70,000 people are now believed to have died in the war since November, he said, citing information gleaned from sources inside Ethiopia. Most of the victims are civilians, especially the youngsters, he said.

Ethiopian authorities have not given a death toll in the Tigray war.

Mr Kidanemariam said Tigrayan fighters are getting better in their defences, increasing the likelihood of a long war in which reported abuses already include massacres, rapes, forced displacement, and the vandalism of priceless cultural sites.

Anything which the human beings can use has been destroyed in some way, he said, describing the looting of everything from banks to churches and mosques. Its horrible even to explain it.

Mr Kidanemariam hails from the Tigray region, the base of a party that dominated national politics for decades before the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He said his background had not influenced his decision to call it a genocidal war.

I dont need to be Tigrayan, Mr Kidanemariam said, referring to his resignation this month. Seeing this kind of horrible, catastrophic war, I couldnt tolerate it.

The conflict began in November, when Mr Abiy sent government troops into Tigray after an attack there on federal military facilities. Fighting persists although Ethiopian authorities insist the situation there is returning to normal.

The Ethiopian prime minister, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his efforts to make peace with Eritrea, now faces pressure to end the war as well as to institute an international investigation into alleged war crimes, ideally led by the United Nations.

Rupert Colville, a spokesman in Geneva for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, said Ethiopias Human Rights Commission had asked to participate with her office in a joint investigation into allegations of serious human rights violations by all sides in Tigray.

We have responded positively to that request, and are currently elaborating plans for this joint investigation, Mr Colville stated.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier in March that some atrocities in Tigray amount to ethnic cleansing.

Eritrean troops as well as fighters from Amhara, an Ethiopian region bordering Tigray, need to come out of Tigray, Mr Blinken said, adding the region needs a force that will not abuse the human rights of the people of Tigray or commit acts of ethnic cleansing, which weve seen in western Tigray. That has to stop.

The Ethiopian government strongly denies civilians are deliberately targeted and said Mr Blinkens assertion was unfounded.

Read More

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Martin Bashir has blamed Princess Diana for the catalogue of royal smears he allegedly spun to clinch his Panorama scoop with her.

Giving evidence to the official inquiry into how he secured the historic interview, the BBC's religious affairs editor has denied inventing preposterous lies about the royals.

Instead, he is said to have claimed that Diana herself  and the 'mystics' she consulted  were more likely to be responsible for the outlandish remarks.

Martin Bashir has denied inventing smears against the royals to land his interview with Diana - reportedly telling an inquiry they came from the Princess herself

The BBC religious affairs editor allegedly faked bank statements to trick the princess into taking part in the infamous 1995 Panorama broadcast

Former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson's inquiry is examining claims that the BBC covered up a trail of deceit and forgery, and that Bashir allegedly peddled 32 lies and vile smears to the vulnerable princess to land his explosive 1995 Panorama interview, in which she famously said: 'There were three of us in this marriage.'

But Bashir is believed to have told Lord Dyson it was Diana, rather than him, who was to blame for the vast majority of the shocking comments.

Last year Diana's brother Earl Spencer revealed a string of falsehoods Bashir allegedly told Diana to gain her trust, including cruelly playing to her paranoia by pretending he had evidence her staff were spying on her to newspapers and MI5.

The smears included an allegation that Prince Edward was being treated for Aids in a London hospital, the Queen was a 'comfort eater' with 'heart problems', and Prince Charles was 'in love' with their children's nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, and went on a secret holiday with her.

Instead he insists smears about senior members of the royal family were misattributed to him in notes made at the time by Earl Spencer (pictured)

Bashir has told Lord Dyson that many of the allegations were consistent with Diana telling him on a later occasion that she spoke with mystics and clairvoyants, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The Panorama interview led to the Queen demanding that Charles and Diana swiftly divorce.

The princess died in a car crash in August 1997. Lord Dyson, a former Master of the Rolls, was commissioned by the BBC to investigate claims revealed in the Mail about how the interview was obtained.

Bashir was said to have used forged bank statements, and the BBC was accused of a cover-up.

Earl Spencer said he introduced Diana to Bashir but was astonished as the BBC journalist fed her lies about her bodyguard plotting against her, her friends betraying her and MI6 taping Charles and his private secretary planning the 'end game'.

At one meeting, Bashir showed Diana's brother fake bank statements that he ordered a blameless BBC graphics artist to forge, purporting to show Earl Spencer's security head was in the pocket of a newspaper group.

Lord Dyson, who is expected to heavily criticise Bashir as well as senior corporation executives, will deliver his findings late next month or in early May.

Struck down by Covid and then recovering from a quadruple heart bypass, it was unclear until now if Mr Bashir was cooperating with the inquiry.
The details of the attack are truly horrific. A 3-year-old boy mauled to death by two pit bulls as his screaming mother tried to fight them off in their own backyard. The boys 10-year-old brother watched from the window. Life will never be the same for the family, which only recently moved to Carteret, N.J., from a city for a quieter life and more space.

Authorities are still investigating what led to the vicious attack, which also left the mother hospitalized, but relatives told ABC7 that the dogs dug under their fence from an adjoining yard. Several neighbors said they roamed the streets often and were a menace, while other relatives told CBS they had complained to the dogs owner before about his wild dogs.

Carteret spokesman Jon Solanis said the only past incident with the dogs reported to police was Oct. 23, when the dogs were loose and police picked them up. The owner retrieved them from the police station but its not clear if he was cited. No one had ever complained to the mayors office or the health department, he said.

Authorities have still not said if they found the owner to be responsible for what happened or if they expect to charge the person with any crime.

In terms of civil responsibility in cases like this, New Jersey law makes that pretty simple. The owner of the dog is liable for any damages  ranging from medical bills to mental anguish  if their dog bites a person, as long as the person didnt provoke the dog and was legally on a property, either private or public, said David J. Cowhey, a dog bite lawyer who has offices across the state.

You dont have to prove that the owner was negligent or that he was a bad animal, Cowhey said, as opposed to some states.

But its more complicated when it comes to criminal charges, according to lawyers who have worked on dog mauling cases. Unlike a crime where someone purposely fires a gun or robs a house, authorities will have to determine, among other things, what the owner knew or should have known about the dogs.

In New Jersey, there is no criminal charge specific to a dog attack. If authorities believe charges are warranted, theyll have to fit the circumstances into existing laws against recklessly causing death or injury.

Its one reason that some states have opted to pass legislation specifically addressing criminal charges for responsibility in dog attacks, said Kenneth M. Phillips, a California lawyer who represents dog bite victims and has authored books on the topic.

The laws that apply to homicides, murders and felony assaults can be difficult to apply to situations where a dog mauls or kills a person, he said.

He believes states should pass laws specifically addressing criminal liability in dog attacks.

One candle stayed lit through rains at a memorial outside a home where a three-year-old boy was killed by dogs on Tuesday, in Carteret, N.J. March, 18, 2021 (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media)

But Robert Bianchi, a former Morris County prosecutor who now practices in Parsipanny, said the existing criminal statutes already allow owners whose dogs attack others to be charged with crimes up to manslaughter and even murder.

When something horrific and tragic happens, a lot of peoples gut reaction is to call for the person responsible to be thrown in jail, Bianchi said. And if the existing statutes dont spell out specifically that whatever happened is a crime, someone will invariably propose a new law to address it.

But he said people can already be charged with serious crimes as a result of dog attacks, in addition to the usual municipal offenses of dog running at large. Its just that the standard of evidence in criminal cases is different from the civil liability, he said, which is very straightforward.

Criminally, a prosecutor would have to prove that an owner of an attacking dog either set the dog on someone purposely or was so reckless as an owner that he or she allowed the attack, even without intending for it to happen. Recklessness is a higher standard than just negligence, he said, which is often the standard in civil court.

In cases where the owner did not intend for the attack to happen, Bianchi said the most serious charges that they would be likely to face, depending on whether the victim survived, would be aggravated assault with a deadly weapon  the dog  and manslaughter.

If a person is killed by a dog in a case where the owner was reckless  maybe by allowing the dog to wander or escape despite knowing it could be dangerous  he or she could be charged with manslaughter.

But determining what conduct by a dog owner counts as reckless could be more complicated. For instance, you could have an owner who lets their dog wander in violation of local rules, but there is no evidence the person knew their dog was dangerous. Or you could have another person who knows their dog has bitten people and so tries to keep it locked in a fenced-in yard, but someone accidentally leaves the gate open.

Either situation could result in a horrific attack, but a prosecutor has to consider whether it rises to the level of reckless criminal behavior, as opposed to just negligence or an accident, Bianchi said.

The details of what happened in Carteret have still not been confirmed by authorities, but Bianchi said hes sure authorities are canvassing the neighborhood and trying to find answers to questions like whether the dogs roamed often, were known to be vicious, had attacked before or were even trained to attack. All of those could go towards proving the owner was reckless, he said, if thats the case.

Phillips, the California dog bite attorney, said prosecutors, in his opinion, are often soft on dog bite cases, including in the frequent incidents when the family dog attacks one of the children.

Prosecutors assume too often that juries will side with the dog owner, either because the owner was a relative of the victim, or that members of the jury who own dogs wont vote to convict, he said.

Paul Clarke of Paterson with his bull mastiff Tigger that killed a 13-year-old on 2014.Facebook

One legislator has been trying unsuccessfully to create a law about dog ownership and attacks on children for years.

Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, D-Passaic, sponsored the Responsible Dog Ownership Act following the fatal mauling of a 13-year-old Paterson boy by a bull mastiff that reportedly jumped its fence frequently and scared neighbors.

The bill, which he has introduced every two years, would amend the endangering the welfare of a child statute to make it a crime if you recklessly allow your dog to be off leash and it kills or causes injuries to a child. The bill would also direct the Department of Health to create statewide rules about leashing and require certain types of enclosures for large dogs, which municipalities would have to police.

Tragically, the recent attack in Carteret is not the first time a child has been killed by a dog within their community. Every time a child is lost because an animal was improperly restrained or supervised, it is an unconscionable tragedy, Wimberly said in a statement Friday. Yet pet owners do not always face significant consequences for their irresponsible actions. Our state must establish clear, uniform standards regarding leashing and fencing of dogs, as well as consequences for not maintaining control over ones pet.

In that fatal attack in Paterson, the dogs owner, Paul Clarke, was cited locally for not licensing his dog and letting it roam free. Municipal court records show the case was transferred to Superior Court in 2015 because of an indictable charge being added, but its not clear what the outcome was because Passaic County court officials said they had no record of any charges related to the incident. The prosecutors office did not return a request for comment.

Cowhey, the civil attorney, said that because of the states strict liability law, the homeowner or renters insurance company of the dog owner will agree to a settlement outside of court, often within six months.

The problems come if the dog owner does not have insurance, because then they may not have the money to pay a settlement. In those cases involving renters, a victim could sue the landlord, but theyd have to prove that the landlord knew a vicious dog was living on the property, he said.

In one such incident in 2010, two dogs escaped an enclosure inside an Elizabeth factory and mauled the buildings security guard for an hour before police rescued him. The guard, who ended up intubated in a coma-like state for 10 days, sued the dogs owner and the landlord, and ended up with a $563,000 settlement.

Cowhey said he was contacted about an especially brutal attack recently: the man was in surgery in Cooper University Hospital Thursday, mauled so badly he is missing flesh, like he was bit by a shark. But the dogs owner did not have insurance, so he doesnt think the victim is likely to receive compensation.

When thats the case, theres really nothing you can do about it, he said. So a lot of these people go uncompensated for very serious and severe permanent injuries.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com.
Brad Pitt was spotted on the set of an upcoming commercial in the Eagle Rock neighborhood in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon.

The 57-year-old actor was first pictured interacting with crew members as he prepped to ride up a cleared street for a shot; he was then seen relaxing on the set after finishing up his scene.

Pitt was dressed in a flat brown zip-up jacket worn on top of a dark t-shirt during his commercial's shoot.

Hard at work: Brad Pitt was spotted on the set of an upcoming commercial in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon

Getting his mind off of it: The actor's commercial shoot came on the same day that his estranged son Maddox testified against him in an ongoing custody battle between Pitt and his former wife Angelina Jolie

The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor paired his top with a set of loose-fitting black trousers and matching boots while spending time on set.

The performer was pictured putting on a pair of white gloves before filming his first scene, and wore a pair of sunglasses for the entirety of his time on set.

Pitt's flowing blond hair was in full display when he was not wearing a bright orange motorcycle helmet while shooting his riding parts.

Dressing for the occasion: The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor was seen wearing a brown zip-up jacket during the filming of the upcoming commercial

Letting it hang: The actor's luscious blond hair was in full view for much of the shoot. Pitt also wore a pair of sunglasses while spending time outside

Safety first: The performer wore a bright orange motorcycle helmet while filming the riding parts of the upcoming commercial

The Inglourious Basterds actor kept a black bag slung over his right shoulder for much of filming, and accessorized with several bracelets and a silver watch.

At one point, the avid motorcycle rider was seen inspecting the vehicle that he would be using for the commercial's shoot.

After checking out the bike and putting his helmet on, Pitt was seen spending time near the director in case he needed any further instructions for the shoot.

During a break in filming, the producer donned a plastic face shield before interacting with various crew members.

Right up his alley: The actor is known for his love of motorcycles and he appeared to be enjoying his time on the commercial's set

Appropriate attire: Pitt contrasted his jacket with a loose-fitting pair of black trousers. The actor donned a pair of white gloves before getting on the motorcycle

Social guy: The Fight Club actor was seen interacting with various crew members while on the set of the upcoming commercial

He later put on the same facial covering to protect himself on set after finishing up his work for the day.

Although Pitt appeared to be carefree on the commercial's set, his eldest son Maddox recently provided a testimony in the ongoing custody case between the actor and Angelina Jolie.

The former couple maintained a high-profile relationship that began in 2005 after they met on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which they co-starred in.

Prior to becoming romantically involved with the 45-year-old actress, Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston; their marriage lasted from 2000 until 2005.

Recent developments: Maddox's testimony is the latest bit of information that has been made public regarding Pitt's custody battle with Jolie

Former co-stars: Pitt and Jolie first met on the set of the 2005 movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which they both worked on. The actor was previously married to Jennifer Aniston, whom he divorced in 2005

Large family: The former couple went on to adopt multiple children from several countries over the course of their relationship, and eventually welcomed twins of their own

Over the course of their relationship, the Fight Club actor and his estranged wife adopted multiple children, including Pax, aged 17, Zahara, aged 16, and Shiloh, aged 14; he would later go on to officially adopt Maddox, aged 19, on 2006.

In 2008, the former couple welcomed two biological twins named Knox and Vivienne, both aged 12.

After years of dating, Pitt and Jolie tied the knot in 2014, only to unexpectedly have their marriage fall apart two years later, when the actress filed for divorce.

A lengthy custody battle then ensued between the two performers, and a 2016 incident saw the actor being investigated by the FBI for possible child abuse, although he was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Not for very long: Pitt and Jolie maintained a high-profile relationship for several years before they tied the knot in 2014, although they separated two years later

Making arrangements: After the couple separated, a heated custody battle erupted between the two. Pitt was also investigated by the FBI for alleged child abuse in 2016, although he was later cleared of any wrongdoing

Earlier this month, Jolie filed a set of court documents in which she alleged that Pitt had committed multiple acts of domestic violence during their relationship.

Maddox has been the only child that the pair shared that has gone to court in support of the claims so far; the legal documents also noted that their other children are free to do so as well.

A source recently spoke to Us Weekly and noted that the testimony of the actress' oldest son 'wasnt very flattering toward Brad.'

The insider also spoke about how Maddox sought to remove the actor's last name from his own and that Jolie wanted him to retain his estranged father's name.

'He doesnt use Pitt as his last name on documents that arent legal and instead uses Jolie. Maddox wants to legally change his last name to Jolie, which Angelina has said she doesnt support,' the source said.

Not going well: A source recently spoke to Us Weekly and remarked that Maddox's recent testimony 'wasnt very flattering toward Brad'
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

Two Months Into the New U.S. Administration: The World at a Crossroad

March 19 , 2021 (EIRNS)The relationship between the United States and China is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. Yet it cannot be understood purely in terms of those two nations, and it will not be decided solely by citizens of those two nations.

With notable exceptions, including some useful impulses by President Trump, the United States since World War II has increasingly come to resemble and to be controlled by the British Empire against which it fought a revolution over two hundred years ago. The nation of Lincoln, which had demonstrated to the world the power of its American System of economics and a commitment not to a ruling class but to the general welfare of its population, is being rotted out from a British-inspired cultural disease. The illness takes the form of financialization of the economy, degradation of culture, and an assault on the universal principles expressed in the greatest moments of the United Statesboth past and to come.

The expressed interests of the United States Beltway-Wall Street-Silicon Valley oligarchs are not the interest of the nation, or of the American people.

Over the last few decades of Reform and Opening Up, China has produced economic growth at an extraordinary rate, and was able, by its size and sovereignty, to pursue these policies even against countervailing pressures from the decaying Western financial system, such as the World Bank. Today, it is exporting that growth model, and its engineering and manufacturing output, through a great project it calls the Belt and Road Initiative, which itself exists in a historical space shaped by the advocacy for decades by Lyndon and Helga LaRouche for a new paradigm of economic relations.

What will be the outcomes of the discussions held in Alaska between representatives of the United States and Chinathe first visit of a foreign delegation to the U.S. during the Biden administration? That depends on the outcomes of broader decisionsthose of a thinking elite of citizenry around the world.

The Schiller Institute and ICLC are gathering leaders from the United States, China, Russia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the entire world for a dialogue on how to meet the existential crisis facing mankind with the idea of peace through development.

Lyndon LaRouche, always looking ahead to the next fifty years, developed a profound understanding of the inner contours of development, and of the powerful connections among science, culture, and economics. Benefitting from the method he advanced, we can create the necessary revolution in human affairs to meet our shared challenges as a human race, and to forge a world worthy of the dignity of man, now and in the future.

Join the conference Two Months Into the New U.S. Administration: The World at a Crossroad at
Dancehall artist Xklusive was arrested in St. Ann during a police raid earlier this week.

The artist, who was being sought for questioning in connection with a triple murder, was among some 39 persons who were initially held in a pre-dawn raid at a popular guesthouse in Discovery Bay, St. Ann on Wednesday.

Police withheld the identity of the Dancehall artist, pending further investigations in relation to several crimes, including a triple killing that occurred in St. Ann last year.

But DancehallMag understands, from a source, that the artist is Xklusive, whose real name is Sudine Parke. The 28-year-old deejay is best known for the singles Morgue Dem, Dead Man Dem, and Big Money Popping. He released Money Time earlier this year.

Head of the St. Ann police, Superintendent Dwight Powell, said the raid at the guesthouse was an intelligence-driven operation.

We went in search of wanted men in St James who were wanted for murder and shooting incidents, Powell added. He said after the police cordoned off and searched the guesthouse, a number of persons  both males and females  from several parishes, including St Catherine, Clarendon, Trelawny and St James, were found occupying the premises.

Meanwhile, by Friday, police had released 36 of the 39 persons who were detained.

XKlusive remains among the three individuals still detained. Another individual remains in custody on suspicion of lottery scamming.

Attorney Isat Buchanan, who represented two of the 36 who were freed, said they were being held at the Tamarind Farm detention facility that was used to detain persons during the states of emergency. I emailed the attorneys for the commissioner of police after being told it is now the practice of JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) to detain persons for 72 hours without the right to see a lawyer.

According to Buchanan, the men were questioned without access to their lawyer, so he sought redress in the parish court. A judge gave me an audience and facilitated a habeas corpus application, he said.

No arm of the state is above the constitution. It is illegal and criminal and a breach of a citizens constitutional right to privacy to demand that you open your phone so that the police can search it. There is legislation and procedure that the police must follow if they wish to do so, he added.
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What does the countrys first president, Indiana Jones and helicopters have in common?

For starters, they all share a Connecticut connection.

When the COVID-19 pandemic grounded Greenwich travel writer Anastasia Mills Healy, she began to look into the history and oddities in her own backyard. She has since shared her findings in her new book, Secret Connecticut: Guide to Weird, Wonderful and Obscure, which was published on March 15.

The book contains 84 stories about the states eclectic history. Connecticut is home to an occult museum, a Stonehenge-like structure and a Boom Box parade. Canine World War I hero Sgt. Stubby, pediatrician Dr. Spock, Martin Luther King Jr. and author F. Scott Fitzgerald all share a Nutmeg State relationship.

I know a lot about this state, since Ive lived here most of my life, and if something made me say, Oh I didnt know that, I put it in the book, Healy said.

When talking about which stories people will find most surprising, Healy said that many folks were shocked to learn that Martin Luther King Jr. spent time in Simsbury.

He was working on a tobacco farm as a teenager, Healy said. It was his first time out of the segregated South, and it was also the first time he ever preached. I thought it was such a wonderful and interesting thing to learn that a lot of people dont know about.

Healy said she was surprised to learn about Bridgeports amazing community, Little Liberia, a 19th-century enclave that consisted of freed Blacks and Native Americans. Mary Freeman, whose brother founded the community, was the second wealthiest person living in Bridgeport at the time. (The first was P. T. Barnum.)

Lewis Latimer, a Black engineer who worked with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, also lived in Little Liberia. These are some stories that Connecticut is part of, Healy said.

Healy, a fan of The Great Gatsby, said she was surprised to learn that the F. Scott Fitzgerald had spent time in Westport.

Healy said she hopes people will enjoy the states rich history and to know that Connecticut is more than the preppy, white and wealthy stereotypes.

On a more whimsical note, Healy said she loved learning about the Boom Box parade in Willimantic which began in the 1980s.

It all started when the parade organizers for the Fourth of July parade couldnt find a marching band, so they said, Just take your boom box and tune into the radio station so we can all play the marching band music, Healy said. Then it became tradition, and now I really want to go.

For more information about Healy and her book, visit stashastravels.blog.

tinamarie.craven@hearstmediact.com
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 Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an investigation into the illicit selling of rural land by some traditional leaders and rural district council officials.

Several chiefs and headman, who preside over communal land close to major towns and cities, are facing arrest on charges of contravening the Communal Lands Act by corruptly selling rural land.

Last week, The Sunday Mail published an expose capturing the pervasive extent of illegal rural land sales.

This comes as the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo, has deployed teams of investigators to probe the menace.

zacc spokesperson commissioner John Makamure told this publication that dockets for several cases are being processed and arrests are imminent. All the received reports are under investigations, he said.

Chiefs, headman and village heads are public officers and can be charged with bribery or criminal abuse of duty as defined in section 170 and 174 of the Criminal Law [Codification & Reform] Act Chapter 9:23.

He said investigations into some of the cases will be concluded soon. The commission is aware of the illicit and illegal land deals through numerous reports from concerned members of the public, said Commissioner Makamure.

The commission is seized with a number of reports on illegal land sales and bribery involving chiefs, headmen and village heads.

Investigations into some of the cases have already started and some of the culprits were convicted while other cases are pending before the courts.

Section 4 of the Communal Lands Act vests all rural land in the President. Selling of rural land has become lucrative business amid a growing appetite for agriculture land among Zimbabweans.

Commissioner Makamure said several rural district council officials are also under investigation.

The Commission has noted that Rural District Councils are involved in the illegal land sales where councils are encroaching into communal land and parcelling out vast tracts of land that fall outside the jurisdiction of council. Sunday Mail
By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who is Black, clashed with her Chinese counterpart on Friday when she described her own experience with racism as a challenge, but said for millions of people in countries like China and Myanmar it was deadly.

During a U.N. General Assembly meeting to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: "Racism was and continues to be a daily challenge wherever we are. And for millions, it's more than a challenge. It's deadly."

"Like in Burma, where Rohingya and others have been oppressed, abused, and killed in staggering numbers. Or in China, where the government has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uighurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang," she said, referring to the region in northwest China.

China's deputy U.N. Ambassador Dai Bing responded that Thomas-Greenfield had "in an exceptional case admitted to her country's ignoble human rights record, but that does not give her country the license to get on a high horse and tell other countries what to do."

The conflict underscored tensions between the world's two biggest economic powers a day after Washington and Beijing had their first high-level meeting since Joe Biden became U.S. president in January.

"If the U.S. truly cared about human rights, they should address the deep-seated problems of racial discrimination, social injustice and police brutality, on their own soil," Dai told the 193-member General Assembly.

Thomas-Greenfield, who said she is a descendant of slaves, recalled her own experiences with racism such as working as a teenage babysitter when the child asked "if I was an n-word because her dad had used that word for me."

The police killing in May of George Floyd in Minnesota and other black Americans elsewhere in the United States sparked demonstrations against racism and excessive use of force by law enforcement across the nation last summer.

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"We have flaws. Deep, serious flaws. But we talk about them. We work to address them. And we press on, in hopes that we can leave the country better than we found it," said Thomas-Greenfield, who also referred to attacks in Georgia that included six victims of Asian descent.

China has been widely condemned for repressing Uighur Muslims and other minorities at complexes in the remote Xinjiang region, which it describes as "vocational training centers" to stamp out extremism. It denies accusations of abuse.

Dai said there was no "genocide" in Xinjiang.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)  A prominent victims advocate group on Friday urged Santa Clara University in Northern California to release details about unspecified allegations against its president, a Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden and is now under investigation.

The university said Thursday that the Rev. Kevin OBrien allegedly exhibited behaviors in adult settings, consisting primarily of conversations, which may be inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries. He is currently on leave from the Catholic university.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, released a statement Friday calling on university officials to be more transparent about the accusations so as to encourage others who may have experienced similar misconduct to come forward.

While we appreciate that action has been taken by the Santa Clara board of trustees, we think that the vague statement released by the university does no favors to either the university community or the alleged victims, the statement said.

Tracey Primrose, spokeswoman for the Jesuits West Province, which is overseeing the investigation, would not elaborate on the allegations in a statement to The Associated Press.

Jesuits are held to a professional code of conduct, and the Province investigates allegations that may violate or compromise established boundaries, she said. As with any organization, the Jesuits West Province has confidentiality practices, which is why I cannot provide any additional information regarding this matter.

OBrien gave the service at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, one of the most prominent Catholic churches in Washington, D.C., in January for Biden, who is the nations second Catholic president, before the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

The priest has known Biden for about 15 years, dating back to when he was serving at Georgetown University, and he also presided over services for Bidens vice presidential inaugurations.

The private Jesuit institution, located in the Silicon Valley, is ranked as one of the top 25 schools for undergraduate teaching nationwide. California Govs. Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown are among its alumni.
Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) has been one of my top picks for quite some time now. I believe that the companys stable business model and strong fundamentals make it a great option for long term growth investors. Indeed, this is one of the best ways to play the energy sector.

Boosting long-term growth prospects for Enbridge

After regulatory review for almost six years and resistance from environmental groups, the companys Line 3 pipeline project has been approved. It is set to increase free cash follow from the first day of operations. Company CEO Al Monaco revealed that the project is expected to generate approximately $200 million in Q4 once it is operational.

This is a huge boost for the companys future growth prospects as its capacity will significantly increase. Enbridge expects that this project would increase Western Canadas export capacity to the U.S. by 370,000 barrels per day. However, Enbridge must continue to improve its pricing power long term. Given where oil prices are today, and the lack of pipeline supply, I dont see this being a problem.

Additionally, the Line 3 pipeline expansion gives Enbridge an edge over its peers as new products stagnate in their approval processes. Since its unlikely new pipelines will enter the market in the near future, restricted supply is generally bullish for companies like Enbridge right now.

Calvados offshore wind project strengthens renewable energy portfolio

Yes, Enbridges pipeline business is a great reason for investors to pick thus stock. However, theres another reason to consider this option. Apart from generating stable income from its pipeline division, this company has a substantial renewable energy portfolio. And this segment has a tremendous long term growth potential.

Last month, Enbridge announced that construction work is set to begin on the Calvados wind farm in France. Reports suggest that this 448MW project will cost approximately $2,4 billion. It is a representation of the companys willingness to acquire projects with clean energy features for growth in the long term. However, there are more reasons for growth investors to consider this stock.

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The company has a 5%-7% earnings growth every year. As a result, it has been possible for the company to increase its dividend over the years. Its latest 3% hike has raised the dividend yield to 7.5%. Indeed, this is great for income investors.

Nevertheless, recently, Enbridge announced that the company is aiming to lower its dividend increase in the future. Despite lower income growth over time, the benefit this move will have on improving the companys balance sheet is a net positive for investors.

The post Todays Top Buy: Enbridge appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Chris MacDonald has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Enbridge.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2021
The countrys total number of infections is expected to surpass 1,600 by this weekend.

Medical personnel don personal protective equipment as they prepare to send a man who tested positive for COVID-19 to the hospital from a residence in Phnom Penh, March 19, 2021.

At least two more people died from COVID-19 in Cambodia on Friday, according to the Ministry of Health, bringing to three the total number of deaths from the disease caused by the coronavirus pandemic and prompting the ministry to declare a critical point in its fight to contain new outbreaks.

A statement from the ministry said that one of the two patients who died Friday is Noun Sophany, the 65-year-old wife of popular Cambodian crooner Hour Lavy. She was known to have been suffering from chronic diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.

The second patient was identified as a 46-year-old Cambodian male from the capital Phnom Penhs Toul Kork district. Doctors told the Khmer Times that he did not have any other serious health problems and that the main cause of his death with COVID-19.

Cambodia marked its first official death from COVID-19 on March 11, a year to the day that the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled the coronavirus a global pandemic.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday that some 300,000 people have already been inoculated with vaccine from China-based Sinopharm and U.K.-based Astra Zeneca. The latters vaccine, he said, is being prioritized for people 60 years of age and older, although some hospitals in Phnom Penh vaccinated people who are younger than 60, which goes against distribution policy.

Hun Sen said he had bought 1.5 million additional Sinopharm doses which are expected to arrive in Cambodia by late March, and another batch of 400,000 doses expected in April. He made the comments while touring a new 500-bed hospital on the outskirts of Phnom Penh that is designated solely for COVID-19 patients.

However, members of the public have been critical of Hun Sens plans to purchase vaccines from Sinopharm, saying they only trust vaccines that have been recognized by the WHO. They have also called for a distribution plan free from bias.

The update on COVID-19 deaths and efforts to battle the coronavirus came as Cambodia recorded 30 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total number of cases across the country since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,578, while the Ministry of Health warned that a Feb. 20 community event that breached quarantine is expected to raise the total number to more than 1,600 by Saturday.

Earlier this week, Cambodia reported a daily record of 105 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the countrys total number of infections to 1,430nearly triple that of a month ago when the latest outbreak was first detected.

Critical point in the fight

On Friday, the Ministry of Health issued a joint statement with the WHO, warning that Cambodia is at a critical point in the fight against COVID-19.

The current COVID-19 situation in Cambodia remains serious. What we do right now will determine the course of this outbreak, Minister of Health Mam Bunheng said.

We must accelerate our efforts to stop the spread of [the coronavirus] in the coming days and weeks. Lives depend on it.

Li Ailan, WHO representative to Cambodia, warned that COVID-19 can affect anyone at any time.

The country is at a critical stage of fighting against COVID-19, but we have a window of opportunity to stop virus spread if we all act together with solidarity, Li said.

The statement urged Cambodian to follow the 3 dos and the 3 donts of wearing masks properly, washing hands frequently, and maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others, while abstaining from entering places with poor ventilation, joining crowds, and touching others.

It warned that large scale transmission could require largescale restrictions and lockdowns and would likely cause hospitals and health facilities to become overwhelmed, making it difficult for people with COVID-19 and other health conditions to receive care.

Warning against discrimination

Earlier this week, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner in Cambodia (OHCHR Cambodia) warned that discrimination against people who have contracted COVID-19 can often prove more dangerous than the disease itself.

In a post to Facebook, the OHCHR said that hate speech spreads faster than [the coronavirus] and makes those targeted more vulnerable to violence, exclusion, isolation and stigmatization and deters them from accessing medical services, increasing the risks for everyone.

The OHCHRs message came after several social media users took to Facebook to attack people, including film stars, for allegedly spreading the coronavirus amid the recent outbreak.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Concerns have been raised over features of the Starry Plough flag being used as part of the branding for the proposed James Connolly Heritage Trail in Belfast.

The DUP expressed alarm, noting it is "proclaimed by the INLA as their standard".

But it was pointed out the Starry Plough was first used by the Irish Citizen Army (ICA) founded in 1913 by Connolly to defend workers from police brutality.

Connolly was born in Edinburgh to Irish parents and became prominent during the 1913 Dublin lockout as general secretary of Irish Transport and General Workers Union and commander of ICA. He was one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.

He had close connections with Belfast and lived at Glenalina Terrace off the Falls Road for several years from 1911.

Funded by the National Lottery, the trail has 13 proposed stops across the city at sites of historical significance, focusing on Connolly's time there.

During a meeting of Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (SPR) yesterday, councillors were asked to approve plans for an interpretative interactive sign on a bollard on the lawn of City Hall, where the trail would begin.

DUP council group leader Brian Kingston said his party have several concerns about the trail, including the number of such walks starting from City Hall.

"On the sign that was produced for this, we noticed the use of the Starry Plough, this has been used by various republican organisations and is currently proclaimed by the INLA as their standard, and is used on its flags," he added. "So we would have very strong concerns about the use of that symbol because of how it has been used. We don't see how that is necessary."

The INLA - responsible for more than 100 fatalities during the Troubles - adopted the Starry Plough flag, as did others.

Michael Lyons of Redhead Exhibition, the team behind the James Connolly trail design, said: "In relation to the Starry Plough itself, the stars are actually part of the James Connolly Visitor Centre corporate brand, which is now right across the city and the international tourism sphere. It's not the actual Starry Plough flag used in that brand, it's the stars themselves, which are a representation of the Citizen Army, which James Connolly was one of the founders of."

Sinn Fein council group leader Ciaran Beattie said the trail would be an asset to Belfast's tourism offering.

"I don't think anyone should have any fear of it. I know Brian (Kingston) touched upon a couple of points around the Starry Plough. It's actually an Irish Citizen Volunteers flag from 1914, I believe, it's not anything to do with any current relevant group that he mentioned," he added.

According to a council briefing paper, the sign being proposed is "not a commemorative installation". It added: "Its aim is to provide a physical trigger point for delivery of an augmented reality (smartphone) app that will deliver dynamic interpretive content. Once triggered using the QR code on the sign, the lawns at City Hall will become a virtual interpretive space. Four panels will 'pop up' (virtually) on the West lawn, and four on the East lawn. The panels will set the social, economic, political and cultural context of Belfast in 1911 when Connolly arrived to live and work in the city."

Proposals regarding the plans for a sign were deferred to a meeting of BCC party group leaders for further discussion.
Allegations of a whitewash over a Jefferson Parish deputys shooting last year of a Black teenager lie at the heart of a new federal lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Lopinto III, Westwego Police Chief Dwayne "Poncho" Munch and eight of their officers.

The civil rights lawsuit was filed Friday by the families of 14-year-old Tre'mall McGee and the juvenile who was riding with him in a stolen car driven by a friend on the evening of March 20, 2020.

The complaint makes new allegations, plucked from Westwego police body camera recordings and law enforcement reports, about a shooting that made news only three months later - and only after Tre'mall's family came forward with questions. At the time, Lopinto cited confidentiality under the Louisiana Childrens Code for the agencys silence over a bullet that went through the teen's back and exited through his arm.

The Sheriff's Office would not comment Saturday on the lawsuit's allegations, citing a policy against publicly discussing pending litigation.

The lawsuit alleges that the driver of the car, a teen who was not arrested, had sped off from an attempted traffic stop despite pleas from the two other teens, hit a storm drain on the West Bank and jumped out running. Tre'mall and his friend said they didnt know the car was hot. They had no criminal records but, bewildered about the unfolding events, followed the drivers lead and ran, the lawsuit says.

The two friends jumped a fence into a yard and ducked under a shed. The lawsuit says a police body camera caught a deputy shouting, Stop or we will shoot your f***ing ass."

The suit says the two boys were scared, unarmed and fully complied when deputies reached them. Tre'mall was defenseless, unarmed, on the ground, face down, with his head facing the dirt, partially under the shed. He heard contradictory orders to stay still and show his hands.

Still, Deputy Sean Parker shot Tre'mall, the suit says, citing crime laboratory and discharge weapons reports from that day. Deputy Parker without any justification or provocation shot [Tre'mall] in the back from just a few feet away, the lawsuit alleges.

Another deputy, Michael LeBlanc, "watched from a short distance and did not intervene."

Sheriffs deputies had called Westwego police for backup. Lopintos office does not deploy body cameras, with the sheriff citing cost.

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The lawsuit goes on to allege a pattern by Lopintos deputies of using excessive force and, in Tre'malls case, a bid to sweep it under the rug.

The families attorney, Christopher Murell, highlighted 14 previous lawsuits alleging excessive force by Jefferson deputies in the past three years.

A recent NBC News review found at least a dozen males have died since 2015 while in pursuit or being arrested by Jefferson Parish deputies. It found all were Black or Latino, including three juveniles.

+10 Modesto Reyes family lawyers and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto battle over autopsy results Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto and attorneys for the family of the man slain by one of his deputies traded interpretations of dueling au

The initial police report on the arrests of Tre'mall and his friend describes their flight from a stolen car but does not indicate an officer-involved shooting or any injuries. Lopinto disclosed the shooting three months later when asked about it at a news conference.

Fridays lawsuit says a supplemental police report documenting the discharge of the deputys weapon and offering the officers full account of the incident wasnt done until a week after the family held a news conference last summer.

The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate first identified Tre'mall when Murell made his name public summer. The newspaper is not identifying the other arrested teen because he is a juvenile. The lawsuit identifies them by initials.

Tiffany McGee said last summer that after her son was treated at University Medical Center, he was taken to Jefferson's Juvenile Intake Center in Harvey and booked with possession of stolen property and resisting arrest. He was released into her custody the next morning.

The lawsuit seeks damages for the bullet wounds to Tre'mall and an alleged beating and kicking of his teen friend by deputies.

Lopinto has been on notice from a litany of past officer-involved shootings and lawsuits, but has failed to properly hire, train and supervise deputies in the use of lethal force and race-neutral policing, the families allege. The sheriff has failed to retrain and/or otherwise control deputies who engage in excessive force and/or unjustified shootings against civilians, they argue.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 09:20:20|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on Sept. 27, 2020 shows the science and technology park along the bank of the Dasha River in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

SHANGHAI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Foreign-invested companies are remaining bullish on the Chinese market with the country's effective curb of COVID-19, emerging economic drivers and greater opening-up.

Foreign direct investment into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 31.5 percent year on year to 176.76 billion yuan (27.17 billion U.S. dollars) in the first two months of the year, the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

Many foreign-invested companies are eyeing great potential in the Chinese market's consumption growth.

Amorepacific Corporation, a leading beauty and cosmetics conglomerate in the Republic of Korea has already signed up for the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) this year, a major fair for global companies to expand their businesses in China.

At last year's CIIE, Amorepacific doubled its exhibition area from the previous year to 500 square meters.

As an important leading market in beauty trends, China boasts huge potential in domestic demand, and the CIIE has served to open up the space for consumption, said Charles Kao, president of Amorepacific China.

Currently, Amorepacific offers a wide range of products and services from skincare to color cosmetics at more than 5,200 stores in over 370 Chinese cities.

Jaeho Yeon, senior vice president of Shanghai-based Amorepacific China R&D Center, leads a team of 60 people that focus on studying Chinese consumers' demands, cosmetics habits and feedback on products to flexibly cater to the local needs.

"In the next five years, we'll continue to increase our investment in China and double the scale of the R&D team," said Jaeho Yeon, adding that Shanghai has an active consumer market with great talent reserves.

For Carrier Global Corporation, a global provider of high-tech HVAC and refrigeration solutions, China's emerging economic drivers, such as the digital economy, bring new opportunities.

Thanks to China's early resumption of work amid stringent COVID-19 control and prevention, the company maintained its performance in the Chinese commercial air-conditioner market last year compared with 2019.

"We are eying new opportunities as more large-scale data centers are being built in China, which require precise and stable temperature and humidity control," said Robert Chiang, VP, Engineering, Carrier Global Technology & Components, and Shanghai R&D Center.

The systematic solutions Carrier designs for the data centers can greatly reduce energy consumption, Chiang noted.

"China is a market worth long-term investment, and we will continue to ramp up our investment in the country," Chiang said, adding that as a U.S.-based company, Carrier has seen the benefits of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation over the many years doing business in China.

Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2020 shows the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

The company will continue to invest in commercial air conditioning, increase investment in cold chain technology and expand R&D investment in digital technology, Chiang added.

On Wednesday, Standard Chartered Bank (China) Ltd. became the first foreign-invested bank to cooperate in a pilot cash-pooling service for multinational companies that integrates domestic and foreign currency management to facilitate the use of cross-border capital.

"The implementation of the pilot significantly enhances the flexibility and convenience of cross-border cash flows for multinational groups," said Ye Jiwei, head of transaction banking at Standard Chartered China. "It is yet another milestone for China in steadily promoting the opening of capital markets to facilitate trade and investment."

Standard Chartered Bank has continued to increase its investment with China's economic growth. The bank has announced that it will invest 40 million U.S. dollars to set up a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center.

Jerry Zhang, executive vice-chairman and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Ltd., said China's determination to open up its market to the world and its continued actions have caught the world's attention.

The new development paradigm of "dual circulation" in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay, has brought a wide range of opportunities for international banks like Standard Chartered, Zhang noted. 
Eamon Ryan, owner of the Gate Lodge Cottage in Adare, Co Limerick, said he had no customers booked for the upcoming summer  until this week.

Mr Ryan usually rents his 200-year-old, six-person thatched college out to tourists year-round, but now, due to the global pandemic, he has had to shut his doors.

The business owner of 23 years said pre-Covid, he would have his cottage rented 42 weeks of the year, usually to US visitors, but since the pandemic hit, all thats gone out the front door.

But he received good news this week when the phones started to ring.

Eamon said he had no customers booked for the upcoming summer until this week, when he received two bookings, one for May and the other in August.

Although not US visitors, the cottage owner said the bookings are coming from people in Ireland looking for a staycation.

The positive news comes after Mr Ryan had to cancel all his reservations for the upcoming summer, made up largely of overseas visitors who have rescheduled for summer 2022.

All that I cancelled from last year had rebooked again for this year and they have now cancelled again and rebooked for next year, said the cottage owner.

Mr Ryan predicts more bookings will follow but admits people are cautious as the public health advice is still not to travel.

Theres an element of doubt at the moment because people are afraid they wont get their deposits back, he said.

He is not increasing his rent, which he can do now that people are making the enquiries and booking.

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But the thatched cottage owner said the closure of the hospitality industry is affecting his business.

Whats the point going away for a week if hospitality is not open? Anyone going away on holidays wants to eat out and have a few drinks, but if its closed where do you go? he said.

Closed since December 15, Mr Ryan said he has the same people coming from America for Christmas for the last seven years.

They had to cancel last year.

My season would usually start fully from St Patricks Day, he said.

He will remain closed until further restrictions are lifted.

Im expecting that by the time we get to the fifth of April, well get a better view of whats happening  I think we will have a better idea.

But he added: If we cant open up hospitality for the beginning of June, you can write off the summer.

After a difficult summer for the hospitality industry last year, Mr Ryan said two other self-catering lodgings in Adare have closed their doors and gone long-term letting.

People dont see any opening in the next 12 months,, he said.

On a positive note, the cottage owner said business is looking up for next year as he is nearly booked out from June to September 2022 with repeat business and a wedding group from the US.
Floral tributes were placed by members of the local community on the South Quay

The communities of Arklow and Gorey are united in grief this week following the tragic death of June Cooper last Thursday morning (11th).

June died after her car entered the River Avoca at Arklow Harbour in the early hours of Thursday morning.

A major search immediately got under way.

Members of the gardai, Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and fire service were involved in the search operation which got under way around 2 a.m.

Following a request, Arklow RNLI's lifeboat was launched at 2.20 a.m. The volunteer crew carried out searches of the Avoca River and the Irish Sea in extremely poor weather conditions. The lifeboat crew were stood down at 5 a.m. The garda sub aqua unit and the Coast Guard rescue helicopter were also involved in the search operation.

Gardai cordoned off a section of South Quay and appealed to members of the public to avoid the area.

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Her car was located by the search team around 10 a.m.

Ms Cooper attended East Glendalough School, graduating in the mid-1990s. She also undertook study in the History Department at Maynooth University.

Her book 'The Protestant Orphan Society and its social significance in Ireland 1828-1940', was published by Manchester University Press in 2015.

Her family are from the Whitepark area near Clogga on the south side of Arklow and have strong connections to Gorey and Oylegate in Co. Wexford.

It's understood that June had been living in Gorey.

A private family funeral will take place tomorrow (Thursday, 18th).

June is predeceased by her brother Simon, and is dearly loved and is greatly missed by her parents Philip and Avril, brothers Paul, Mark, sisters-in-law Karen and Eilis, nephews Peter and Paul John, nieces Charlotte, Victoria and Elsie, uncles, aunts together with the extended family and friends.

Many tributes to June have been posted online. One described June as 'a beautiful, clever, intuitive person both sensitive and gentle'. Others remembered her kindness and gift for friendship.
Thousands of tons of furnace dust at the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel JSC (Tisco) have been left uncovered outdoors in central Thai Nguyen province.

Under the government Decree 38/2015 and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Circular 36/2015, furnace dust generated during steel refining is listed as a hazardous waste.

But thousands of tons of furnace dust are still in an open-gathering ground in the province. Looking from above, the furnace dust dumping ground is dozens of meters long and two meters high. It is located near Cach Mang Thang Tam Road, the major route of Thai Nguyen City, and near a 20-07D vehicle registration center in Cam Gia Ward.

VietNamNet reporters took photos of the tons of furnace dust in the open air with no cover at Luu Xa Mill, a branch of Tisco, on February 22.

Near the mountain of waste were pools of waste water with floating green and yellow scum on a surface area of nearly 100 square meters.

Tran Van Binh, chair of Cam Gia Ward, when asked by VietNamNet about the the waste "mountain" and wastewater pools, said the wards authority was only administrative management and that reporters should contact Tisco for information about the steel manufacturers operations.

Tisco general director Nguyen Minh Hanh told VietNamNet that the company is taking measures to completely handle the furnace dust that VietNamNet mentioned.

According to Hanh, furnace dust after steel refining has a high concentration of zinc, so some companies buy the dust to get zinc. But Tiscos furnace dust has a low zinc concentration. So it has to hire other companies to treat the dust.

Tisco confirmed that the amount of furnace dust is up to 10,000 tons, heaped up on the company grounds. The representative said the dust has accumulated since "before 2010".

Asked why the huge waste ground has been left uncovered in the open air, Hanh said it was covered with canvas that was weathered by wind and rainwater.

Hanh said the company recently signed a contract with Viet Bac Color Metal on collecting and treating the remaining furnace dust. The cost is VND600,000 per ton.

In late 2020, Tisco decided to build a warehousing facility to contain furnace dust. It is expected to be completed in the first quarter this year.

Trinh Van Tuyen from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology said that if the owners of the waste sources still cannot treat the waste, they must preserve furnace dust as a hazardous waste.

The waste yard must meet standards of permeability, layers, and cover to prevent pollution of surface and underground water, he said.

Doan Bong

Japan supports Vietnam in building legal regulations on waste management Cooperation in waste management and the building of emission-free circular economy was highlighted at the third meeting of the Joint Committee of Vietnams Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and Japans Ministry of the Environment.
She often inspires her fans on social media with messages about body positivity.

And Vicky Pattison took to Instagram on Saturday to share a sizzling throwback holiday snap of her on the beach, in which she oozed confidence.

The former Geordie Shore star, 33, admitted she was longing for a trip away to the sun as she posed in a low-cut animal print swimsuit.

Looking fab: Vicky Pattison took to Instagram on Saturday to share a sizzling throwback holiday snap of her on the beach wearing a low-cut animal print swimsuit

Vicky showcased her stunning physique and golden tan while she knelt on a sun lounger with views of a sandy beach and palm trees in the background.

The Newcastle native held an Aperol spritz as she struck a confident pose for the camera, wearing her hair scraped back in a bun and black sunglasses.

Posting on her Instagram page dedicated to holidays, called VickysVacays, she wrote: 'Ohh to feel the sand between my toes again.'

Summer is coming! Posting on her Instagram page dedicated to holidays, called VickysVacays, the former Geordie Shore star, 33, admitted she was longing for a trip away to the sun

As summer approaches, Vicky predicted that the travel industry would pick up again following the lifting of Covid restrictions as she promoted her new business venture, saying: 'The travel industry is about to go BOOM.'

The reality-star-turned-influencer appeared on Geordie Shore from 2011 until 2014, and recently admitted that she would never make a return to the show.

In an appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch on Monday, Vicky said she considers it a chapter in her life that is 'closed' as the 'beer fear' was 'torture'.

'Beer fear!': During an appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch on Monday, Vicky admitted that she would never return to Geordie Shore as the 'beer fear' was 'torture'

She said: 'Im pretty sure theres some sort of massive great big reunion in the pipeline. I consider it a chapter of me life

'I was super grateful to have, dont get me wrong, the platform Ive got now I completely know I wouldnt have if it wasnt for that, but its also a chapter that is closed.'

Vicky added: 'Im 33, Im 34 this year If I have a couple of glasses of wine, I struggle for about a week. I couldnt have four/five nights on the lash and get up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I couldnt do it. Im not in my 20s!'

Way back when: The reality-star-turned-influencer appeared on Geordie Shore from 2011 until 2014 but said she considers it a chapter in her life that is 'closed'

The TV star also admitted that her mother was 'fuming' about her time on Geordie Shore.

She said: 'Me mam was absolutely fuming, I dont think we spoke for about four years Im exaggerating it was difficult though.

'Beer fear is bad enough but then imagine having the realisation when you wake up and think, "Oh my God, what did I do, who did I kiss, who did I shout at?"'

Reflecting on the time, Vicky added: 'It was torture, I just couldnt deal with that anxiety these days, Im all for an easy life.'

Vicky's appearance on the show comes just days after she paid tribute to her late best friend Paul Burns as she marked his birthday earlier this month.

The television personality took to Instagram to pen a touching tribute to the popular Newcastle bar boss who died, aged 37, on June 2 2018.

Vicky emotionally said in her post that 'grief is the price we must pay for loving someone worth losing' and that she was marking the day by remembering all of their 'amazing' memories.

Posting a collection of throwback pictures with her late best friend Paul, the former Geordie Shore star penned: 'I will always really miss you Paul, we all will.'
Anek: Ayushmann Khurrana Wraps Up The Film, Writes 'I Will Miss North-East'

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana on Saturday announced the wrap-up for his upcoming spy-thriller film 'Anek', for which he had been shooting in Delhi and North-East India. Ayushmann, who headed to Delhi for the shooting of the last schedule of the flick on Tuesday, took to his Instagram and posted pictures reviving his special moments from the film.

Taking to the captions, the 'Andhadhun' actor wrote, "It's a wrap! #Anek is very very special. It's full of surprises. An untouched subject. A very important new age cinema." The actor further explained why did he became emotional on the last day of shoot by noting, "Coz I will never get to play that character again. I will miss playing Joshua. I will miss North East." Concluding the caption, Ayushmann penned down the description of his series of pictures that he shared on Instagram. For the first picture, he described that the snap is "his last shot in the film", the second picture is with his director Anubhav Sinha, third is with his team and the fourth is the last time when he "used his stationary in the film".

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Anubhav Sinha's next directorial starring Ayushmann Khurrana will release on September 17, 2021. 'Anek' marks Anubhav's second collaboration with Ayushmann after the critically-acclaimed 2019 film 'Article 15'. Helmed by the 'Mulk' filmmaker, 'Anek' is being bankrolled by Anubhav and Bhushan Kumar under Benaras Media Works and T-Series. Apart from 'Anek', Ayushmann will also be seen in Abhishek Kapoor's 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' and Anubhuti Kashyap's 'Doctor G'.
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
Finland on March 19, joined the list of countries to suspend the use of Oxford's AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines after two cases of blood clots were reported in people after receiving the dose.

Finland suspended the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines despite the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had said that the vaccine is 'safe and effective' and the benefits in combating the virus outweigh the risk of side effects.

"According to the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea), two cerebral venous thromboses have been reported in Finland 4-10 days after receiving the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine," said a statement by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), reported Anadolu Agency.

The THL has suspended AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine jabs as a precaution until further information is available and the existence of a possible causal relationship can be assessed.

The THL also said that the decision to suspend AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccines will take effect immediately and the situation will be assessed next week.

The European countries have been facing a similar type of side effect i.e. blood clot after administering the coronavirus to their citizens. It is to be noted that Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Ireland, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and more have already suspended the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

However, vaccination in other countries like Spain, France, and more will continue with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is "safe and effective"

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) committee, PRAC after concluding its preliminary review of people vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine on March 18, said that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is "safe and effective" and the benefits in combating COVID-19 continue to outweigh the risk of side effects

"However, in the light of its findings, patients should be aware of the remote possibility of such syndromes, and if symptoms suggestive of clotting problems occur patients should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare professionals of their recent vaccination," EMA said.

Following the EMA's statement, countries across Europe resumed vaccinations with the AstraZeneca shot. In fact, France's Prime Minister rolled up his sleeve to get the vaccine. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also said he would be inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19.
Apartment car parks across the country are overcrowded as people worked from home or stayed in during lockdown.

In Seoul, for instance, 103.6 cars are competing for every 100 parking spaces, and the situation has worsened especially in older apartment complexes.

Choi Won-cheol (29), an office worker in Incheon, said, "When I get home after work I find myself driving around for 15 to 20 minutes in search of a parking space. I can tell that people are working from home because the same cars are always parked in the same space."

The curfew on restaurants and bars has also exacerbated the problem as people have nowhere to go in the evening. One 56-year-old resident of an apartment complex in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, said, "I often find the parking lot in my apartment complex completely full when I come home around 8 p.m. I end up double-parking and leave home extra early the next day in case I block someone else's car."
New Delhi, March 20 : The global supply chain disruptions during Covid-19 and India's newly announced incentives have given electronics and home appliances manufacturing sector a new momentum.

The expansion of capacities by Dixon Technologies, a manufacturer of mobiles, variables, laptops, tablets, security equipment and cameras, is a case in point.

The company earlier this month announced its plans to add up to 4,000 jobs in Andhra Pradesh by way of expanding its operations.

Dixon Technologies said it would provide employment to nearly 2,000-3,000 people at its Kopparthi unit in Kadapa district, while the company envisages to add 1,000 more jobs in Tirupati, including partnering with Bosch company to set up a washing machine manufacturing unit in the home appliances division.

The company has manufacturing units in Noida, Dehradun and Tirupati, as well as the largest television, washing machine and bulb assembly plants in India.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C. N. Ashwatha Narayana last month said that Dixon Technologies came forward to set up a manufacturing plant in the state.

This is also the same company that Xiaomi tied up with to start its "Make-in-India" journey for smart TVs two years ago by setting up a factory in Tirupati.

To expand its manufacturing capacity, Xiaomi also onboarded a new manufacturing partner - Hyderabad-headquartered Radiant Appliances and Electronics -- for manufacturing smart TVs in India.

Radiant Appliances has set up a manufacturing plant in Telangana.

Similarly, Realme last year said it had started 100 per cent TV production at its Greater Noida facility in the country.

"Our commitment for Realme Smart TVs is the same as our phones which are 100 per cent locally manufactured in India. This is our commitment to bring more production to the country and contribute more to the economic growth post-lockdown," Madhav Sheth, Vice President of realme and CEO of realme India and Europe had told IANS.

Smart TV maker TCL India said it is expecting proper incorporation for TV in the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for boosting manufacturing locally.

"We do have a factory in Tirupati for TV panel manufacturing. The CSOT panel module factory will produce screens for TVs and mobile phones, with a designed production capacity of eight million 22-inch to 55-inch, large-sized TV screens and 30 million 3.5-inch to 8-inch, small-sized mobile screens per year," Mike Chen, General Manager, TCL India, told IANS.

In other areas including in refrigerators, air conditioners and dishwashers too, several players have come forward to increase manufacturing in India.

According to Gurmeet Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd., "Made in India" ACs have a huge scope for growth.

"The consumer appliance sector employs 2.54 lakh people across categories. It is estimated that with increased indigenisation, it has the potential to employ an additional 1.54 lakh people in next five years," he said, adding that Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India is fully committed to the Indian market and is aggressively promoting and pushing "Made in India" ACs.

Voltas Beko, a joint venture between one of India's leading air conditioner brand Voltas and Arcelik of Turkey, earlier this month announced the expansion of its home appliances portfolio, custom-designed for Indian households.

The company is strengthening its portfolio with the launch of a range of home appliances that include air coolers, microwave oven, washing machine, dishwashers and refrigerators.

Its manufacturing facility is situated in Sanand, Gujarat and it went on-stream in January 2020.

Overall, electronics hardware production in India has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 24 per cent over the last five years, according to a KPMG insight published in February this year.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement regarding the water quality at the Midland County migrant unaccompanied juvenile facility.

Governor Greg Abbott today blasted the Biden Administration for the conditions of the federally run unaccompanied minor facilities in Texas caused by the sudden surge of minors coming across the border. The water at the federally run unaccompanied minor facility in Midland was not proven safe prior to placing children in the facility. In addition, there has been a COVID-19 outbreak in the Carrizo Springs facility.

"The Biden Administration has been an abject failure when it comes to ensuring the safety of unaccompanied minors who cross our border. The conditions unaccompanied minors face in these federally run facilities is unacceptable and inhumane. From a lack of safe drinking water in one location to a COVID-19 outbreak in another, the Biden Administration has no excuse for subjecting these children to these kinds of conditions. President Biden's refusal to address the border crisis is not only enabling criminal actors like human traffickers and smugglers, but it is exposing innocent unaccompanied children to illness and potentially unsafe living conditions. The administration must act now to keep these children safe, secure our border, and end this humanitarian crisis."

The Governor has deployed Texas Department of State Health Services resources and personnel to Carrizo Springs to investigate, identify, and combat the outbreak of COVID-19 in the federally run facility. The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality has notified the Midland facility of their need to address the serious water issues.
The police have arrested 34 people from west Delhi's Uttam Nagar area for allegedly posing as authorised representatives of tech companies, including Apple, and duping foreign nationals on the pretext of providing them technical support, officials said on Saturday.



Besides, the accused would also pose as officials of law enforcement agencies and dupe people by telling them that their social security number has been found at a crime scene and they would have to pay certain amount to avoid getting their bank accounts frozen.



The accused were running two illegal call centres in a building in Uttam Nagar, they said.



"Police got a tip-off about the call centres in Uttam Nagar. Thereafter, a raid was conducted and 34 people were arrested," Deputy Commissioner of Police (CyPad) Anyesh Roy said.



The call centre on the third-floor of the building was run by a man named Kshitiz Bali (32), a resident of Uttam Nagar, while the other centre on the fourth floor was run by Dhananjay Negi (28), a resident of Pitampura, and Abhishek (29), a resident of Dwarka, the DCP said.



Bali has been operating a fake call centre for the last four years. The victims of the scams were mostly people residing in English speaking countries, he said, adding that the accused had created multiple teams at his centre, with each one handling a designated process.



According to the police, in the first scam, the accused contacted foreign nationals by posing as officials of various law enforcement agencies and informed them that their bank accounts and other assets were being frozen as the details of their social security number had been found at a crime scene.



Once the victim became apprehensive, they asked them to share all the details of their assets, including bank accounts and the amount of money in them, officials said.



The accused told the victims that to safeguard their assets, they would have to either buy bitcoins or gift cards worth all the money in their accounts, the DCP said.



In the second scam, the accused posed as representatives of Apple's technical support team and send recorded messages to people in the US and Canada. They induced them to call a particular number for any kind of technical support related to Apple products, officials said.



When people contacted them, the accused accessed their devices and informed them that their device had been infected by a virus and in the name of cleaning up, they cheated them of thousands of US Dollars, police said.



The third scam involved the same modus operandi but this time the accused posed as representatives of the technical support team of McAfee antivirus. The victims were informed that their system has been compromised. When the victim contacted the accused, they took remote access of their computer and duped them, police added.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
West Bengal cannot afford another five years of the type of leadership that Mamata Banerjee could provide.

by N.S.Venkataraman

I am not in politics . However, I am a close political observer for the last several years. I try to objectively analyse the movement of politics and politicians to the best of my ability, without having any prejudice or love or hate for any political outfit or political philosophy.

In my capacity as chemical engineer, I was working in a factory in West Bengal several years back, when Jyoti Basu was the Chief Minister of the state. Before moving to West Bengal, I worked in a factory in Kerala in a chemical plant. When I was working in Kerala too , I have seen Marxist government in the state.

I was gheroed in West Bengal for second time, after being gheroed in Kerala for the first time. Nevertheless, I have not allowed this bitter experience to influence my overall impression about both these states, which have unique and laudable features.

During my working in West Bengal, I became a sincere admirer of Bengalis for variety of positive reasons

I always felt that if Bengal were to get a progressive government with national outlook with a knowledgeable and earnest Chief Minister, West Bengal could become one of the most prosperous states in the country. It has no reason not to be so. Though Jyoti Basu was a highly cultured and civilized person, he could not stop violent and hate politics in West Bengal for whatever reasons, though Jyoti Basu could successfully maintain his image as a decent and respectable person.

Now that Mamata Banerjee has been the Chief Minister of West Bengal for ten years as unquestioned founder leader of Trinamul Congress, I feel she has not utilized the opportunity to benefit the state to the extent needed , given the massive mandate she has.

During her ten years rule, violent incidents have remained unabated in West Bengal and her image and claim that she was a street fighter has not helped the matter.

I was totally shocked when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered a police station in the state and forced the police to release a worker belonging to her party , who was arrested by the police for some offence. My immediate feeling was as to how a Chief Minister could do such things and I started wondering as to whether any other Chief minister has done similar act in any state in India. I could not find another example.

Since this untenable act of Mamata Banerjee happened during the beginning of her first term , I thought she would improve her public conduct and refrain from similar acts in future. Though Mamata Banerjee did not repeat this obnoxious act, the vituperative language that she was using frequently , even as Chief Minister of the state, to abuse and criticise the leaders of the opposition parties , created a violent atmosphere in West Bengal. She went to the extent of stating that she would want to slap the Prime Minister Modi.

I am not particularly impressed by several of the criticisms made against her such as appeasing minority community, allowing her nephew to interfere in government and party affairs etc. However, I cannot but note that she has not been able to inculcate a climate of economic and industrial growth in the state to any significant level.

The ground reality and the fact is that Mamata Banerjee was focusing more in political acts rather than acts relating to economy and development and her Chief ministership has been weighing more towards political aspects rather than on development and economic aspects. This scenario would become clear to any observer with regard to economic development registered in West Bengal during the last ten years.

In short , it has been noisy West Bengal that she is leading rather than a dignified and progressive West Bengal that Bengalis richly deserve and need.

I feel that West Bengal has experimented enough with Mamata Banerjees Chief MInistership and should give way to another leader as Chief Minister, who may have possibly a different approach .

Possibly, the next Chief Minister of West Bengal should follow the example set by Naveen Patnaik , the Chief Minister of the neighbouring state Odisha, for the bench mark that he has created for dignified governance.

I do not suggest which should be other political party that should come to power in West Bengal after the election, but certainly West Bengal needs a different Chief Minister .

West Bengal cannot afford another five years of the type of leadership that Mamata Banerjee could provide.

Can any one reasonabl;y hope that Mamata Banerjee would give a different type of more positive leadership in the next five years than what she has done in the last ten years? If somebody would entertain such hope, it could end up as utopian expectation and as calculated risk.
It certainly made for some alarming headlines: blood clots were forming, some fatal, in patients given the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

But as a wave of European countries scrambled to halt their use of the jab while investigations were launched, health chiefs and experts, baffled by the panic, calmly pointed out the link was almost certainly nothing more than a coincidence.

On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency, the EU's watchdog which safety checks all drugs, came to a similar conclusion.

Meanwhile, doctors and patients themselves made another striking observation  there was already a drug being taken by millions every day that most certainly does increase the risk of blood clots: the Pill.

NHS guidelines describe the hormonal contraceptive  which contains synthetic oestrogen and progesterone  as 'very low risk'.

Doctors and patients have made a striking observation  there is a drug being taken by millions every day that most certainly does increase the risk of blood clots: the Pill. Pictured: Stock image

Certainly the three million British women who are prescribed the drug each year, the vast majority of whom take it without problem, would, no doubt, agree.

But one in 1,000 of them may develop a blood clot at some point.

Critics of the hysteria surrounding the Covid vaccine offered a simple equation: more than 11 million people in the UK have now been given the AstraZeneca vaccine. If 11 million people took the Pill for a year then you might see 11,000 of them develop blood clots.

As it stands, there have been just a few dozen UK reports of clots seen in people who've had the jab.

Meanwhile, stories emerged of the few who sadly do suffer blood clots caused by the Pill. One of the most heartbreaking was that of Riszka Szymkowska, 22, a care worker from Walsall who died in April last year.

The care worker, who had been on the Pill for two years to regulate her periods after being diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, was found by her boyfriend Craig Morris.

Her stepfather Paul Hadley, 55, said Riszka had come home after work complaining that she was feeling unwell. Mr Hadley says: 'She told Craig she had pains in her back and he ran her a bath to help. She went to bed around nine and, when Craig checked up on her just before 11, he found her collapsed on the floor beside the bed.'

Common side effects of the Pill are weight gain, mood swings and nausea  although the majority of women take it without problem.

But in rare cases, the blood's consistency can be affected.

Blood clots, known as venous thromboembolisms, typically develop in the legs, causing calf pain and swelling. Bits can break away and travel through the circulation, causing potentially fatal complications and blockages.

An inquest found Riszka had died as a result of a blood clot caused by her contraceptive, which had made its way to her heart.

Writing on website Refinery29, British journalist Jessica Phillips revealed how her sister Nia, 20, had recovered after suffering a rare kind of stroke in 2019 triggered by a Pill-related blood clot.

Nia, a university student who had been on the Pill for three years, developed a migraine, blurred vision and began vomiting  but initially mistook her symptoms for a hangover.

Riszka Szymkowska, 22, a care worker from Walsall died in April last year after taking the Pill

After three days, when they hadn't subsided and realising 'something was seriously wrong', she made an appointment with an out-of-hours doctor, who also dismissed the problems as 'alcohol related'.

Later, as her health worsened, she went to hospital, where a scan revealed a 'humungous' blood clot in her brain.

Nia, interviewed by her sister for the Refinery29 article, said: 'I'd suffered a rare type of stroke. [The doctor] told me as I had no other risk factors my brain injury was most likely caused by the Pill.'

Riszka and Nia's stories are serious and also, it is important to note, rare occurrences. Yet they have opened a conversation about how risk is viewed  particularly when it comes to medicines taken regularly.

Dr Philippa Kaye, a GP who focuses on women's and sexual health, said: 'I've written thousands of prescriptions for the Pill over the past few decades and seen not a single case of blood clots linked to it. Though of course they can be.'

At a Downing Street press briefing on Thursday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam pointed out that even paracetamol has potential side effects, including skin rash, fever, difficulty breathing and bleeding.

He said: 'You have to look at both sides and say how big are the benefits in relation to the risks.'

In fact, studies have shown that you are significantly more likely to suffer a blood clot as result of catching Covid than from getting the Covid jab. Dutch data suggests as many as 30 per cent of coronavirus patients admitted to intensive care units developed blood clots.

Riszka's mother Melania says she was shocked to hear so many European countries had suspended use of the AstraZenenca vaccine. She said: 'These countries are happy for girls to take the Pill but not a life-saving vaccine? Strange.'

Dr Kaye added: 'Medicine is about weighing up the risks with the benefits. There are certainly factors that increase the likelihood of a blood clot while on the Pill, aside from the Pill itself.

'And in terms of Covid there is no question  taking the vaccine is the safest thing you can do.'
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Delaina Yaun and her husband went to Young's Asian Massage, a spa in Acworth, Georgia, on Tuesday. What would have been a time alone turned tragic when a man started shooting people inside the establishment. Delaina Yaun was among the victims of the Atlanta spa shootings. Yaun's husband survived the incident, but she was fatally hit.

Who are the Victims of the Atlanta Spa Shootings?

According to Dana Toole, Yaun's sister, "They just went to go have some time alone, husband and wife. Just time together. Unfortunately, it went bad. It went bad real fast," reported CNN.

Eight people were killed as a man started shooting in three Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday. Six of them were Asian women.

On Tuesday, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department identified four of the victims. All four were gunned at Young's Asian Massage in the northern suburb of Atlanta. This was the first shooting location.

On Thursday night in Cherokee County, at the initial shootings site, the community held a vigil to pay tribute to individuals who died. An increasing number of signs and flowers blocked Young's Asian Massage's front door, reported GPB.

The list of the Atlanta victims is as follows: Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; and Paul Andre Michels, 54. A fifth victim, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, was wounded in the shooting and is now in stable condition. Hernandez-Ortiz was apparently making his way to a money-exchange business next to the massage parlor when the shooting started. He called his wife, Flor Gonzalez, moments following being shot, crying out for help. He is the only survivor of Tuesday's shootings.

Four other victims at other Atlanta spas were identified on Friday by the Fulton County Medical Examiner. The victims were Hyun Grant, 51; Soon C. Park, 74; Yong A. Yue, 63, and Suncha Kim, 69.

Georgia Massage Parlor Shootings Leave 8 Dead

In the vigil held to honor the victims, Brittany Bengert started the ceremony with a request. She asked the guests to light their candles. A few dozen people were present, with some clutching signs that said, "Disarm Hate" and some holding candles. Bengert stated during the ceremony, "Let us show these families, our neighbors, that we are here for them. We hold them in our hearts and remember the beautiful souls lost," reported Insider.

Park Hyeon Jeong and Julie Park were among the four people shot at Atlanta's Gold Spa and Aromatherapy Spa. Their names have been shared widely by netizens on Twitter, including Jenny Han and Padma Lakshmi. However, the Atlanta Police Department has yet to confirm their identities.

Hyun Jung Grant was also among people killed at Gold Massage Spa in Atlanta. Randy Park, her son, described her as a single mother who provided for him and his brother.

Forty-nine-year-old Tan of Kennesaw, Georgia, was a licensed massage therapist. She also owned Young's Asian Massage, where the initial shooting transpired.

Police officials arrested a 21-year-old white man responsible for the case. He was identified as Robert Aaron Long.

Rayshard Brooks Video Shows Events Leading to Fatal Shooting By Atlanta Police Officers

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Almost half of people in Northern Ireland believe Scottish independence will prompt a referendum on a united Ireland, an exclusive new poll has found.

Polling by Focaldata for HOPE not hate found that 44% of people in Northern Ireland thought that Scottish independence would make a referendum on the region leaving the UK more likely, with just 33% disagreeing.

This year's report by the anti-fascist and anti-racist organisation has been extended to cover Northern Ireland post-Brexit with detailed polling on people's hopes and fears for the future now that the UK has left the EU.

There is also an overview of key developments within loyalist paramilitaries over the last year.

The HOPE not hate poll found that opinion is split on whether Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely, with 44% believing it does, while 18% think it is less likely. Some 26% say it will not make any difference.

However, a game changer could be if the SNP wins May's Scottish elections and moves towards independence.

Elsewhere, 63% of people in Northern Ireland say they are opposed to the Brexit plans as they now stand while 69% say the EU Withdrawal is going to be bad for the region.

Opinion is evenly divided among those who voted Leave in the 2016 EU Referendum and those who voted DUP in the last general election in 2019.

Only 52% of Leave voters think Brexit is going to be good for Northern Ireland, with 48% thinking it will be bad.

Among DUP voters, 49% think it is going to be good while 51% believe it will be bad.

A majority of Catholics (56%) think Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely, compared to just 31% of Protestants.

Almost two in five voters (38%) think Brexit is likely to lead to "a new constitutional arrangement on the island of Ireland (eg a federal North and South)".

The poll also shows there is growing ambivalence among the English towards a possible break-up of the UK, including amongst Conservative voters.

When asked about the possibility of Northern Ireland leaving the UK and joining together with the Republic, only 28% said that they would be unhappy.

A quarter (26%) said they would be happy, with 40% claiming to be indifferent.

Worryingly, 10% of people said that they would be happy if "loyalists in Northern Ireland start a campaign of violence in order to prevent a United Ireland".

It comes just weeks after loyalist paramilitary groups informed the British and Irish governments that they were withdrawing their support for the Agreement in protest at Northern Ireland's Irish Sea trade border with the rest of the UK.

Age appears to be a key factor in those who claim to be happy with this outcome, with 23% of younger people - who will not remember the Troubles - being happy, compared to just 2% of those aged 65 and over.

The poll found that support for the Good Friday Agreement remains fairly strong in Northern Ireland, although most people think it is not perfect.

A quarter of survey respondents (24%) said the Agreement is maintaining peace and stability and is working well, while 40% believe "it is not perfect but it is better we have it than not".

A further 15% would like the deal to be renegotiated but only 9% want it abolished altogether.

The support for the Agreement amongst Catholics remains strong, with 78% being supportive, broken down into 35% believing that it is working well and 43% expressing the view that it is not perfect but it is better that it is there than not.

The opinion amongst Protestants is more divided.

Only 12% think it is working well, while 40% say it is not perfect but it is better it is there than not - still a majority of 52% accepting the importance of maintaining the Agreement.

A fifth of Protestants (22%) believe that the Agreement should be renegotiated and 14% want it abolished altogether; three times the number of Catholics who hold the same view.

Nick Lowles, chief executive of HOPE not hate, said: "Everyone knows that Northern Ireland faces an uncertain future, grappling with the pandemic and its aftermath in a new post-EU environment.

"The widespread opposition to the new Brexit protocol and pessimism about Northern Ireland's prospects outside of the EU means that some question its future within the UK.

"But the majority still support the Good Friday Agreement, even if some have reservations, and so it's vital that at this stress point, engagement across communities and shared space for dialogue is valued."


(Photo: Traveling to a Tropical Location? Here Are 5 Tips to Help Protect You from the Sun)

There is a reason why so many famous travel destinations are warm all year around. A bright sunny day is always a welcome sight, even if your vacation does not revolve around days at the beach. However, the sun also damages your skin, and it is typically more harmful to people who come from regions with colder weather. In other words, to the exact type of people who love taking vacations in tropical destinations.

If you want to make sure you won't return from your trip red as a shrimp and shedding skin, here are some tips that will help you stay safe from the sun.

1 - Follow recommended sunscreen protocols

Yes, it can be annoying, but there is no getting around it. If you want to get the most effect out of your sunscreen, you need to apply it at least 15 minutes before you leave the house. It takes some time for the sunscreen to properly set and become fully active.

Sunscreen should cover every part of your skin not covered by your clothing, including your face, neck, ears, and the tops of your feet. And you should wear sunscreen even when the day is cloudy, as clouds won't necessarily stop the harmful UV radiation. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours for maximum protection.

2 - Choose the right sunscreen

On top of applying the sunscreen correctly, you also need to be smart about which product you choose. While cheap sunscreens can help prevent sunburns, if you are worried about skin cancer, you need broad-spectrum sunscreen. These are typically graded to protect you against both UVA and UVB radiation. And you should pick waterproof sunscreen so water and sweat won't wash it away as you go about your day.

It's also wise to look into local regulations before you go, as some regions either suggest or require that visitors wear eco-friendly and reef safe sunscreen. Hawaii has recently banned the use of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, for example.

3 - Protect your lips

Wearing sunscreen on your lips is possible, but entirely unpleasant. It's easier to protect your lips by wearing lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen. Staying hydrated will also help stop your lips from getting chapped.

4 - Go for accessories

A big hat and a nice pair of shades won't just look good on your social media profiles. They help protect your body and eyes from the sun. And if you are not going to take a dip in the ocean, you can wear long-sleeved shirts made out of light fabrics. Those will reduce your sun exposure without making you sweat all over the place.

Bear in mind that cheap sunglasses often offer no real protection to UV light. The safest option is to get your sunglasses from the same places where you'd get prescription glasses in your country, and specifically tell them that you want lenses with UV protection.

5 - Watch when you go outside

The sun is often at its harshest between 10 am and 4 pm, which is also peak hours for the amount of UV radiation in the atmosphere. That's a 6 hour period where you should stay inside as much as possible if your goal is to avoid being damaged by the sun.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
A new, more contagious and potentially more deadly variant of the coronavirus is spreading across the US, and health officials are worried.

The B.1.1.7 variant, first spotted in the UK, is not only more easily transmitted, but it also appears to be more deadly. Dr. Anthony Fauci warned about it Friday in a White House coronavirus update.

It was first spotted in Colorado at the end of December, said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical adviser to President Biden.

"Since then it has been detected in 50 jurisdictions in the United States, and likely accounts now for about 20 to 30% of the infections in this country. And that number is growing," Fauci said.

"Of concern is that there are about 50% increase in transmission with this particular variant that has been documented in the UK and there's likely an increase in severity of disease if infected with this variant," he said.

Fauci pointed to one study showing a 64% increased risk of death for people infected with B.1.1.7 compared to those infected with the older, so-called wild-type variant. He showed a second study that indicated a 61% higher risk of death with B.1.1.7.

But vaccines appear to protect well against B.1.1.7 and treatments such as monoclonal antibodies also appear to work against this particular variant, Fauci said.

That makes it more important than ever to get people vaccinated quickly, he said.

"The way we can counter 1.1.7, which is a growing threat in our country, is to do two things: To get as many people vaccinated as quickly and as expeditiously as possible with the vaccine that we know works against this variant and, finally, to implement the public health measures that we talk about all the time ... masking, physical distancing, and avoiding congregant settings, particularly indoors," he said.

Vaccines appear to protect against B.1.1.7 variant

The three vaccines that have so far won emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration appear to protect people well against B.1.1.7.

Real-life use of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines indicate that while the B.1.1.7 variant can elude, somewhat, the immune response prompted by immunization, it's not enough to make the vaccines any less effective in protecting people. That's because the vaccines cause a broad immune response so that even if it's a little weakened, it's still powerful enough to prevent serious disease and death.

There's less evidence about the vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine arm, although it was tested in the US after B.1.1.7 started circulating.

"Preliminary evidence suggests that the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines may provide some protection against a variety of strains, including B.1.1.7 (originally identified in the United Kingdom)," the CDC says in its guidance for fully vaccinated people.

Both BioNTech and Moderna have helped coordinate multiple tests of their vaccines against the variants.

Ugur Sahin of BioNTech and colleagues tested blood from 40 volunteers immunized with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against lab-engineered versions of the B.1.1.7 variant.

"The vaccine remained effective against B.1.1.7 with a slight but significant decrease in neutralization that was more apparent in participants under 55 years of age. Thus, the vaccine provides a significant 'cushion' of protection against this variant," they reported in Science.

Similarly, Kai Wu of Moderna and a team at the NIAID tested blood from volunteers against laboratory versions of B.1.1.7. The variant "had no significant effect on neutralization by serum obtained from participants who had received the mRNA-1273 vaccine in the phase 1 trial," they reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Ravindra Gupta of the University of Cambridge in the UK and colleagues there and in South Africa studied blood taken from older adults with an average age of 62 who had been immunized with Pfizer/BioNtech's vaccine. They did see a "small reduction in neutralization by sera from vaccines that was more marked following the first dose than the second dose," they reported in the journal Nature -- but again not enough to have major effect.

Virus could acquire more mutations

What did worry them was if more mutations were acquired by the virus. Several variants are worrying doctors, including the B.1.351 variant first seen in South Africa and the P.1 variant that is common now in Brazil. Both carry a mutation known as E484K that does seem to significantly evade the body's immune response.

"Worryingly, we have shown that there are multiple B.1.1.7 sequences in the UK bearing E484K with early evidence of transmission as well as independent acquisitions," they wrote.

Several experiments indicate that the B.1.351 and P.1. variants may much more easily evade the immune response prompted by vaccines and also by some monoclonal antibody treatments, which deploy lab engineered immune system proteins to boost immune response.

Not as many experiments have been done using the more recently authorized Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but it was tested in the US after B.1.1.7 was starting to spread; in South Africa after B.1.351 was already the most common variant; and in Brazil after P.1 became widespread.

While it was less effective against moderate disease in South Africa and Brazil than in the US, it nonetheless strongly protected people against severe disease, hospitalizations and deaths in clinical trials.

Viruses mutate all the time, and a few of the mutations have taken hold in variants that have arisen in the US, notably in California and New York. The changes they carry include some of the changes that make the B.1.351 and P.1 variants so much more dangerous than B.1.1.7. So Fauci and the CDC say that makes it even more important to get as many people vaccinated as possible before those variants can spread.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
The boards March 1 decision came on the heels of the State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Healths new public health guidance for education that reduced the social distancing guidelines from six feet to three feet.
The Human Rights Center stands with MEC, UDs Asian American Association, and other colleagues on campus in condemning the mass shooting in Atlanta this week, as well as other episodes of hate targeting members of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, especially since the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic. In the last year, according to a recent study, there have been over 3800 documented incidents of hate crimes against AAPI individuals, and women are more than twice as likely to be targeted as men.

Our Dayton community continues to grieve for the lives lost in the Oregon District in August 2019. In the first three months of 2021, there have been close to 80 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive. Despite demands for action to prevent further gun violence, little has been done by state and national authorities to adopt common-sense gun laws.

The killings in Atlanta are connected to the racial animus and misogyny that have deep roots in U.S. culture. These forms of hatred find expression in words, actions, and movements. Effective responses require identifying and interrupting hate speech; tracking and investigating hate crimes; and countering hate groups organized around toxic masculinity and white supremacist ideologies. In the U.S., the failure to regulate the prevalence of guns in the civilian population makes hate especially traumatic and deadly.

This devastating and tragic event lays bare the negative stereotypes and gender-based discrimination that women - particularly those of Asian descent - face in American society. For women who are migrants and employed in precarious sexualized labor and sex work, the risks of exploitation, violence and even death are exceptionally high.

To truly value the lives and dignity of those lost in Atlanta and all those impacted by gun violence, local, state and national government action is essential to counter Anti-Asian and all forms of hate, prevent sexual and gender-based violence, fund crisis intervention programs, promote community education and adopt common-sense gun laws and policies.
While there are plenty of people whose lives have been thrown into chaos by the lockdowns imposed on us in the name of protecting against COVID, the "free money" sent out without a single Republic vote in Congress went to a lot of people who didn't really need it. The checks amount to Democrats buying votes, so why should they limit the purchase to the truly needy?

A report from Goldman Sachs, which watches financial flows closely, stated (via MarketWatch):

"These payments may be making their way into mutual funds and ETFs, as well as other assets," the Goldman analysts wrote. "All industry categories saw positive net inflows on the week; the largest net purchases as a share of [asssets (sic) under management] were of industrials and telecom.

And in fact, the flows into the financial markets took a huge jump after the checks were mailed out:



Source.

Goldman estimated:

that net flows into global equity funds hit a nominal record of $68 billion in the week ended March 17, which when scaled to the level of mutual-fund equity assets was the largest since December 2014.

The total amount of stimulus checks distributed by 3/17 was $242 billion, according to Market Watch, so over a quarter (28%) of that amount flowed into financial investments. Of course, there probably were other funds flowing into the markets anyway, but the graph above shows that less than $20 billion had flowed in the week before. So, Goldman Sachs's supposition is probably correct, that a substantial percentage of checks sent out were invested by those lucky enough to receive them.

The regulations stipulated that checks would go out to:

... single adults who reported adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less on their 2019 tax returns a one-time check for $1,200. Married couples who filed jointly will receive $2,400. Families will get an additional $500 for each child under 17.

Among the affluent, many receive income that does not show up in the adjusted gross income, for example interest on tax free municipal bonds. Or, they enjoy tax shelters from depreciation or other tax code boons. People whose income is primarily from salary do end up with larger adjusted gross incomes than many wealthier people who are able to manage their tax liability with the help of lawyers and accountants.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
The Bay Of Plentys heralded Boobops Dragon Boat Club star in a new film that hits big screens across New Zealand this week.

The Pinkies Are Back follows the story of the Pink Dragons Dragon Boat Team of Auckland, as they rebuild their team and aim for success on the water despite some of them never having touched a paddle before.

The movie came about through producer and director Lisa Burds passion for dragon boating.

It is a passion project three years in the making, and Lisa was left honoured by the faith shown in her to document their story. The result is a feel-good underdog story, comparable to Cool Runnings, with larger-than-life characters and comedic elements throughout.

I think its a breath of fresh air to have this kind of movie, Lisa beams.

Theres a lot of movies out there, but this one is definitely different. I think everyone could relate to it one way or another, especially a New Zealand audience.

One of the Pink Dragons main rivals in dragon boating are the Boobops. Our regions dragon boating side was formed from shared experiences with breast cancer recovery, as is the case with the Pink Dragons.

That camaraderie and collective spirit is what Lisa hopes to have captured in this film.

Its that whole thing about joining a team and then youve suddenly got 25 friends or at least 22 people on a boat, says Lisa.

You suddenly, instantly, get this whole range of people that you probably would never have met before or associated with. That is whats so fantastic. Before you know it, you make lifelong friends.

Jill Simpson is the Boobops captain and is ecstatic that the film has been made.

Its really going to put a spotlight on the benefits and open it up to a whole lot of people, she says.

Jill also believes that this bond between members of the Pinkies and the Boobops gives them a special connection.

Every dragon boat team is pretty close, but I do think the breast cancer teams have just that little something special. Everybody knows what everybody else has been through.

We say that we have a whole team full of sisters.

Whilst the two teams share a kinship off the water, once the paddling starts that goes by the wayside.

Extremely competitive, the Pink Dragons are the underdogs, says Lisa. Its like dog eat dog on the water. I've never seen such competitive women in my life.

Jill agrees. Oh, absolutely, she says. When you go to a regatta we like competing. You know, we are there to support each other and to support the health and fitness of everybody. But put us out on the water and it is game on.

The Pinkies Are Back was released on Thursday, March 18, and is now available to watch at Rialto Cinemas across the country.
The Dancehall industry recoiled in horror at gruesome images that emerged last night of the mutilated body of a promising young female dancehall artiste, who performs under the nom de guerre, D British.

The 19-year-old female, whose real name is Patricia Green, was allegedly stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend in Budhole district in McNie near the border of St Ann and Clarendon on Thursday. In her community, she is popularly known as Samantha, a customer service representative of Mile End, St Ann.

This is just so sad. She was such as vibrant, lovable human being. She was a promising young artiste, I even booked her for an appearance on TVJ Smile Jamaica last week. This is so disturbing and sad, record producer Javon Likkle Peppa Downer, head of Likkle Peppa Records, told DancehallMag.

I knew her personally, she was an orphan, I used to teach her at a childrens home in Spanish Town, I knew her and her little sister, very nice kids, Likkle Peppa is also the founder of At Risk Youths Foundation, said.

Police reports are that residents heard a female crying for help at about 6:30 pm, and alerted law enforcers. On their arrival, the body of the female, later identified as Green, was found with multiple stab wounds and her throat slashed on a roadway in the community.

She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Based on accounts from some residents, it was suggested that Green went to pick up the young child that she shared with her ex-boyfriend in McNie district. A dispute reportedly developed between them, during which she was stabbed.

Police investigators searching for Greens attacker.

She had recorded singles such as Self Reliant, Wine It, Obsessive, and Suh Mi Like It. Several of her fans and close associates reacted to her tragic death by posting sad emojis and RIP in the comments sections of her audio videos on YouTube.
Feature: Chinese language teachers in Pakistan help carry on friendship

Xinhua) 15:31, March 19, 2021

Students attend a Chinese language class at a campus of the Roots Millennium Schools in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 11, 2021. Currently, there are five Confucius Institutes and two Confucius Classrooms across Pakistan. According to the Pakistani think-tank Pakistan-China Institute, between 26,000 and 30,000 students are studying the Chinese language at various levels in Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Muhammad Mateen Hashmi, a lecturer at the Chinese language department of the Islamabad-based National University of Modern Languages (NUML), said he has seen local residents take an increasing interest in the Chinese language.

This is because of the strengthening of friendship between Pakistan and China, he said, adding that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has prompted more people to learn the Chinese language for getting jobs or working better there.

"People-to-people friendship and knowing each other are deepening every year ... and in the near future I foresee more and more Pakistani people learning Chinese," he said.

Hashmi was a student in Shanghai Normal University in 2012 and got a degree in Chinese language teaching. "I had interest in the Chinese language since I was a kid, rather than the popular language English. Even in my childhood, I knew that I would be learning Chinese when I grew up," he said.

His study of Chinese started as early as 2008. In 2009, he attended a summer camp in Beijing.

"During the summer camp, I had the first hand interaction with native speakers and saw the beauty of the language, so I ended up making my mind to live with the Chinese language by learning and teaching it for the rest of my life," Hashmi said.

In the Confucius Institute in NUML, Zhang Daojian, 47, has been working for more than eight years.

The Confucius Institute, which was jointly established by Beijing Language and Culture University in 2005, is the first of its kind in Pakistan.

"Our main work is to conduct Chinese teaching activities and Chinese proficiency tests. We also collaborate with famous Pakistani universities and schools to teach Chinese. We have over 2,000 students per year on average," said Zhang, vice president of the Confucius Institute, Islamabad.

To help Pakistani students have a better understanding of the Chinese culture and history, Zhang said, his institute each year holds more than 20 cultural events and have organized summer camps to send students to China.

"Our cultural activities include performance, calligraphy exhibition and traditional practices related to various Chinese festivals. The focus is to let local students experience it by themselves, which can stimulate their interest in further exploring the Chinses culture," he said.

Last month, Zhang spent his ninth Spring Festival in Pakistan. "The hospitality and friendliness that the Pakistani people show to the Chinese people in Pakistan are priceless, and I'm deeply touched," he said.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. Their bilateral friendship has been enriched over the years, with the people-to-people bond being cemented, Zhang said.

Zhang said he is happy his work of teaching Chinese helps enhance the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Currently, there are five Confucius Institutes and two Confucius Classrooms across Pakistan. According to the Pakistani think-tank Pakistan-China Institute, between 26,000 and 30,000 students are studying the Chinese language at various levels in Pakistan.

The Millennium Education is cooperating with China's Henan Normal University in operating the Millennium Confucius Classroom in Pakistan.

Sabina Zakir, director for language, outreach and communication in the Millennium Education, said that currently there are over 8,500 students of Chinese language in different schools related to the education organization across the country.

The purpose of offering Chinese language courses is for enhancing the people-to-people contact between the two brotherly countries, she told Xinhua.

"These children are going to be tomorrow's leaders, and they will understand not only the language, it's understanding the culture," Zakir said.

Hashmi said, "The friendship is being passed on to the coming generations with more strength because in the future there will be more people with basic understanding of the Chinese language and more with a fluency in it."


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Race faker Rachel Dolezal will appear in a new documentary about black beauty in which she claims people who criticize her are 'white supremacy folks' and blames her black ex-husband for 'repressing' her.

Dolezal had pretended to be black for more than 10 years until her ruse was revealed in 2015, making headlines, and has now appeared in Jennifer Holness' Subjects of Desire - which debuts at SXSW this week, Daily Beast reported.

Because of the scandal, Dolezal was forced to resign from a leadership position at her local Spokane chapter of the NAACP and was fired from her job as an adjunct professor of Africana Studies at Eastern Washington University.

Rachel Dolezal, former president of the Spokane NAACP chapter, poses for a photo in 2015

Dolezal, who is white, falsely claimed she is black and sparked national outrage in 2015

Dolezal says people who criticize her are 'white supremacy folks' and blames her black ex husband for 'repressing' her. Pictured: a scene from the new documentary Subjects of Desire

Dolezal said in the documentary that she has been a victim of 'shaming and ridicule' since the scandal.

'I've been called an insult to white women and an insult to black women. White women are angry because I did what they never would do and went further, like I put 110,' she said, according to Daily Beast.

'I didn't just be that white ally and do a little bit, I canceled my white privilege. I canceled my hair.'

Dolezal also appeared that to indicate that she received criticism from black women because her scandal was 'like a trigger to post-traumatic stress,' though her comments were not entirely clear.

'For black women, I feel like it's a reaction to pain. It's like a trigger to post-traumatic stress,' she said in the documentary, according to Daily Beast.

'When it comes to white men, that's the group that I am the most scared of on a level of threat because that's mostly the white supremacy folks.'

In the documentary, Dolezal also recalls how her first husband Kevin Moore - a black man she married in 2000 - tried to force her into a 'white mold.'

Dolezal said Moore's actions caused her spirit to be 'repressed,' according to Daily Beast.

'He would make comments about how no white woman has that kind of butt, you need to get a respectable white butt,' she said.

Dolezal only appears briefly in the 103-minute documentary which frames its look at black beauty around the 50th anniversary of the Miss Black America beauty pageant in 2018.

Dolezal said in the documentary that she has been a victim of 'shaming and ridicule' since the scandal

Rachel Dolezal, center, is pictured with her family and adopted children in Troy, Montana, in 1996

Holness told Daily Beast the decision to include Dolezal may seem out of place but that she needed to be included.

'It wasn't a commercial thought. It wasn't like I thought, "Oh my God, if I put her in, it'll be controversial!" No, not at all,' Holness told the outlet.

'I'm doing a film on black women and beauty and this is the first time that I've come across a white woman pretending to be black for 10 years when there wasn't a massive financial benefit,' she said.

'The standard of beauty historically has been white and that has been protected and upheld, so as someone who has that standard, she's blonde with freckles and green eyes, and stepped away from that, there's something there.'
Approximately 2.6 million Australians are aged 70 or over. Loading Theyve got no issue with what vaccine it is, they dont want to know whether it is AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer, they dont care about that. They just want to have it and basically get on with their lives, Mr Shaw said. One person very eager to get the vaccine is Mr Shaws own father, 70-year-old Scott Shaw. Mr Shaw (senior) said he recently had lunch with 15 of his former colleagues in their late 60s and early 70s. Every one of them without question has said they want to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

He said they were concerned about the risk of death or serious illness from coronavirus. Many of Mr Shaws generation are also old enough to remember life before the introduction of a number of routine childhood vaccines. I have memories of seeing kids with polio, said Mr Shaw, who grew up in Melbourne. What they used to do in those days [was attach] irons to their legs so they could walk around, but oh it was just horrible, and that sits very clearly in mind. Mr Shaw said an eagerness to travel overseas again was also a major priority for a lot of his friends. They go to places like Bali  they go on cruise ships. They all want to get back that lifestyle, because thats what they planned for in their retirement, he said.

For Mr Shaw, the wish to travel overseas again is urgent and personal, as he has retired with his wife in the Philippines, but got stranded back in Australia in February last year. Loading Melbourne retiree Graeme Medew, 75, said he was still deciding if he would get a vaccine, due to his history of clots that led to his hospitalisation last year and nearly took me off to Mars. Several countries paused their rollouts of the AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns of reported blood clots. Europes drug regulator has since declared the vaccine safe, after finding no link between the jab and the blood clots. Mr Medew said he would likely take the advice of his trusted doctor on the issue.

Ive always had utmost confidence in my GP  I was sort of just going to take all the lead from his comment. But for other people he knows around the same age, the decision is much more straightforward. Most are keen to get the vaccine, Mr Medew said, as they still avoid the gym and other higher-risk activities. [Theyve] stopped so many things until they get the vaccination, he said. Their attitude is they arent going to risk anything.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Seems like "Vincenzo" writer Park Jae Bum is a fan of Song Joong Ki because he was able to include the actor's previous drama roles in creative and witty ways!

Many fans were quick to notice some of the familiar names that were mentioned and used in the weekend primetime drama "Vincenzo." Specifically in Episode 4, it was when Nam Joo Sung (Yoon Byung Hee) was inside the Jipuragi office, carefully watering lawyer's Hong Yu Chan's (Yoo Myung Jae) plants.

After the lawyer's death due to an incident, Nam Joo Sung became the one taking good care of all the plants in the office.

As he continued to shower the plants, Nam Joo Sung was also seen talking to them, calling them by their names, such as Pungho, Maru, Shi Jin, and Eun Seom.

Are you familiar with these names? We bet many of you are!

You probably met them already years ago, especially if you're a die-hard Ki Aile (Song Joong Ki's fan club). The names mentioned were actually Song Joong Ki's previous drama names. Yes, you read it right!

After some viewers watched Episode 4, the short scene sparked hilarity and was truly unforgettable. Most of Song Joong Ki's drama roles reunited in one drama, but not anymore as a human, but as fresh and beautiful plants!

Pung Ho - "Triple"

Song Joong Ki played the role of Ji Pung Ho in the MBC drama "Triple" in 2009. He was just 24 years old at that time, and his character as Pung Ho gave so much happiness to the viewers for his bright and persistent personality.

If you want to see more of Song Joong Ki's cute and funny acting, start watching this drama. For now, here are some of his precious moments in the series.

Kang Maru - "Nice Guy"

In 2012, Song Joong Ki turned into a brave and smart medical student named Kang Maru. He dreamt of pursuing a career in medicine but due to an unfortunate event, his life became complicated.

The 35-year-old actor, made a remarkable performance in this series. The director of "Vincenzo," Kim Hee Won, previously confessed that because of Song Joong Ki's versatile portrayal in "Nice Guy," she wanted him to play the character of Vincenzo Cassano.

Yoo Shi Jin - "Descendants of the Sun"

Of course, who wouldn't forget captain Yoo Shi Jin, a.k.a. Big Boss, one of his well-known roles in K-dramas "Descendants of the Sun"?

This drama was one of his many successful projects. It was also considered as one of the best K-dramas in 2016. In fact, the drama and cast were able to win lots of awards due to the overwhelming support of fans and viewers from all over the world.

The Song-Song (Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki) couple was also born this year (2016)!

Eunseom - "Arthdal Chronicles"

In this fantasy drama from Netflix in 2019, Song Joong Ki played the character of Eun Seom. Here, he reunited with his "Descendants of the Sun" co-star Kim Ji Won.

Tae Ho - "Space Sweepers"

And of course, one of the memorable names that Song Joong Ki had just used in "Vincenzo" Episode 8, Tae Ho. Others may be surprised that the name was actually from his recent blockbuster sci-fi movie "Space Sweepers."

Vincenzo Cassano hid his true identity by using an alias name Tae Ho. It was when the Jipuragi squad needed to get the interest of Hwang Min Seong (Kim Sung Cheol) to fulfill their mission against the Babel Group.

Further, in "Space Sweepers," Tae Ho (Song Joong Ki) is one of the crews of the spaceship named Victory, and the latter was also mentioned in "Vincenzo" Episode 8 when Vincenzo and Min Seong went on a date in an amusement park.



Viewers found this episode as the best so far, because of the bromance between Song Joong Ki and Kim Sung Cheol. Mind you, they were also co-actors in the series "Arthdal Chronicles"! Indeed, love is sweeter the second time around!





In just a short period of time, fans were able to get a glimpse again of Song Joong Ki's past drama roles. The writer is being lauded for her witty and extraordinary script. She brought comical twists in the story, but we must admit we are all loving every unexpected and brilliant twist in the story.

Surely, wherever you go, or even how many drama projects Song Joong Ki does in the future, one thing we remember is that he will never leaf your side!

Among these characters that Song Joong Ki portrayed before, which one is your favorite? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins
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Inne oferty, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan:
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken may discuss the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project next week during an in-person meeting, Sputnik reported citing the Handelsblatt newspaper.

The officials are set to take part in the NATO ministerial in Brussels from March 23-24. According to the German newspaper, Blinken expects to use this opportunity to meet personally with Maas and discuss the project.

Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of Russian energy company Gazprom and five European partners, aimed at the construction of a twin pipeline to deliver Russian gas to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. The project is a constant target of criticism and sanctions by the United States, which calls it a threat to the energy security of Europe and Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Blinken warned that companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were at risk of facing sanctions and should abandon their work on the pipeline immediately.

Meanwhile, Berlin keeps rejecting extraterritorial sanctions in connection with the Nord Stream 2 project, saying that the pipeline's construction should be completed.


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Tammy Darcy doesnt have an ego. She finds a need to say this aloud, though its evident from the second she picks up the phone from her home in Waterford.

The mother-of-three has dedicated her life to helping teenage girls realise their rightful place in the world through her non-profit organisation The Shona Project. While the rest of us were comparing banana bread recipes this time last year, she was busy writing a new book for struggling teens.

What I wanted to do was to write the book that I needed when I was 14. I just thought back over all the conversations and interactions Ive had with girls, the things they struggle with and the questions that they have, and basically just answer those as best as I could and give them a resource for when theyre struggling, she says.

A sister act

Tammy founded The Shona Project in 2016, having been inspired by her own experiences as a teenage girl, where she went through an early age trauma that led to what she often describes as some bad decisions later on. The name of the organisation has a very special place in Tammys heart.

Shona is my sister. There's a year between us, so we grew up very close. When I was 14 she started to struggle and show symptoms, her memory and balance and concentration, and she was diagnosed with an acquired brain injury. They gave her six months to live. She had surgery and survived but she doesn't really have any quality of life. Shes in a nursing home which is over a two-hour drive from where we live and we havent seen her in a year because of Covid, Tammy says.

The Shona Project for me is a way of making sure that her life has meaning and that people know who she is. Its a lovely tribute to all the potential she had because she was such an amazing young person.

From my own perspective, when all of that was going on nobody really checked in with me or explained to me that this wasnt a normal experience. What Ive come to realise as an older person is that you can experience grief from somebody who hasnt passed away. I dont think thats recognised enough. So many young people are grieving friendships, or opportunities, or parents who have left the home. Thats all a form of grief and loss and sadness that we need more support around.

In the five years since the projects inception, Tammy has given talks to over 13k teenage girls in schools across the country. Shes won awards, built a team of volunteers, created an online support community, and been named as one of the Irish Examiners 100 women of 2021 along with her friend Vicky Phelan  whom she shared an office with for eight years. Yet still, no ego.

Creating a community

I go in and tell my own story and just try to encourage them to challenge their assumptions about what it means to be a woman. A lot of the messages we get from society, even in the last few weeks if you look at the Meghan [Markle] interview, is that women need to be in competition together and that's not the case. What weve done is create a community of amazing women of all ages  from 16 to 70  who all just want to make the world a better place and want to make people feel good about themselves and want to use our own negative experiences in a positive way, she says.

The project has been growing every year, with Tammy even getting to meet with the Duchess of Sussex, the aforementioned Megan Markle, when she visited Ireland in 2018. Not even a pandemic could stop the team, who are celebrating the success of their virtual Shine Festival  a free event that took place earlier this month and featured talks from over 100 inspirational women. Before the event took place, Tammy had 40,000 girls registered to attend. As were speaking, she gets the news that online views have just passed the 1m mark.

These girls need us more than ever. We cant go into schools. We can see theyre so stressed and isolated and anxious. So many of them don't have access to the supports and friends they would have leaned on in the past, so we thought: Right we need to do something big. We need to give them somewhere to go where they feel safe. Between that and the book, I hope there will be resources going forward for them.

Tammys favourite part of the new book, Youve Got This, are the additions by teen ambassadors who wrote about things she hasnt experienced herself, for example dealing with sexuality.

Im 41-years-old and as far as a 16-year-old is concerned that is ancient, she says, laughing. Ive met these amazing girls and wanted to pull them in and be guided by them. I genuinely believe that people sharing their own stories is so much more powerful than statistics. I certainly know for myself as a teenager, I couldn't even identify what was wrong. I couldn't identify why I felt the way I felt.

On top of grieving for her sister, Tammy also dealt with bullying and her parents separating while she was in secondary school. She moved out of home when she was 16 and had her first son at 19-years-old.

It was going on for so long but nobody validated that it was normal and expected for me to be struggling and that my confidence would have been knocked. That was never discussed with me, so I didnt have the language to express what I was feeling. I hope young girls who read this book might think: Thats exactly whats going on with me and maybe then they can talk to someone about it, she says.

Tammy went on to earn a degree in human resources management, followed by an MA in business management, and is currently studying an MA in education.

Young girls get messages that theyre valued for how they look, or how popular they are, or how many followers they have on Instagram and the message I want to get across is that they deserve to be seen and heard. I think for a lot of us, when you go through a hard time you just want to make yourself invisible, she says.

'Surviving, not thriving'

There are so many girls that are surviving but not thriving. Id love for them all to know that no matter what life throws at them, or how people react to them, theyre still worthy and have so much to offer.

Tammy is counting down to the day when she can get back into schools doing what she loves and has a plan in the works to build an online system that can support girls online with low-cost therapy and mentoring.

Schools keep telling us that when we work with the girls, they trust us and connect with us. A lot of these girls are on waiting lists for counselling and therapy and I think a lot of them just need someone to listen. Its going to be a lot of work but everything weve achieved in the last five years has been achieved with one and a half staff members, its all volunteers, and thats not sustainable. We need more funding. Weve proved our worth and what we can do with very little, so I hope people will get behind us, Tammy says.

She also hopes that as pupils return to classrooms, schools can come together to fight negativity amongst students.

I think a great start... would be for a collective agreement that they're going to take care of each other better and that theyre going to let go of any issues from the past and support each other, not judge each other, speak up for each other, and above all else not have this expectation of perfection from each other. Everyone should be allowed to make mistakes and ask for help. Id love for every school, out loud as a group, to start out like that.

Youve Got This (11.99) by Tammy Darcy is out March 26 in bookstores across Ireland

Tammy Darcy's top rules for life

Be yourself

As girls, we constantly compare ourselves to others and see what they have that we dont. She might have beautiful long legs, but maybe you have beautiful eyes. She maybe more academic than you but maybe you have a creative side. Be kind to yourself.

Set goals

Big ones or small ones, it doesnt matter, but setting goals for yourself helps you to focus and stops you from being distracted by negative things around you.

Decide what success means to you

For me, success is creating a positive impact in the world. Nothing will ever be as fulfilling as that.

Not everyone will like you

Some people like chocolate chip ice-cream, some people like passionfruit. Theres nothing wrong with either of them, it's just a matter of taste. Dont water yourself down to try to please people.

Take care of your mental health

Your mind is the same as the rest of your body in that it needs food, exercise, and rest. If you feel your head starts to spin, take five minutes, go somewhere quiet, and just breathe. Make smart choices about what you spend your time doing and who with. If it has a negative effect on your mental health, limit it or cut it out altogether.

Keep an open mind and heart

Challenge the assumptions you have and never accept that your role is already defined. Mix things up a little bit. Dont rush to argue with others, listen to and understand their point of view. Listen more than you speak, and ask 100 questions a day.

When I was younger I got very badly hurt. As a result, I shut myself off from other people and missed out for many years before I learned started to open myself up again. Protect your heart but dont close it completely. You will get hurt, thats part of life and it sucks. But you will also be loved, and it is so worth it.
The staggering growth of COVID-19 infections and deaths over the last month has turned Brazil into the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. Some day next week, South Americas largest country is expected to reach the grim milestone of 300,000 deaths from the disease, 100,000 of which will have occurred in the first months of 2021.

COVID-19 patients lie on beds at a field hospital built inside a sports coliseum in Santo Andre, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, March 4, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/Andre Penner]

The average number of daily infections in Brazil jumped from about 45,000 on February 18 to nearly 72,000 on March 18. On Friday, a record 90,570 new cases were registered. In the last four weeks, the number of Brazilians losing their lives every day to COVID-19 has doubled, and reached a record high on Tuesday with 2,841 new deaths.

While the Brazilian working masses wonder when this nightmare will end, recent developments in the pandemic indicate that the catastrophe in the country is far from having reached its peak.

This week, the public health research institution Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) warned that the greatest health and hospital collapse in the history of Brazil has already taken place. Updated data from Wednesday indicate that 26 of the 27 states in the country have reached 80 percent capacity of COVID ICU beds. In 19 capitals, it is over 90 percent.

Unable to receive adequate treatment, critically ill patients are dying waiting on lines that include thousands of people across the country. In Santa Catarina, a state at 97 percent occupancy of ICU beds and with more than 450 people on the waiting list, 130 patients have already died without receiving intensive care. The states hospitals have adopted a Protocol for allocation of scarce resources during the COVID-19 pandemic with criteria to choose who will be given treatment and a chance to survive, and who will be left to die.

The crowding of health care facilities raises the imminent danger of widespread shortages of basic medical supplies. Stocks of drugs needed for intubation, including anesthetics and muscle relaxants, are already in short supply in hospitals across the country. A report in the daily Folha de Sao Paulo pointed out that 22 ICU medications are already at their limit.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health recognizes that there is an expectation of a dangerous shortage [of oxygen] in small hospitals within a few days, as stated by General Ridauto Lucio Fernandes, adviser to its Logistics Department in a public hearing in the Senate on Thursday. He added, This is happening all over Brazil.

Evolution of ICU bed occupancy in Brazil from December 7, in the beginning of the second wave, to Monday, March 15 (FIOCRUZ)

Brazil is moving at a rapid pace toward the next stage of the COVID-19 catastrophe, which includes the widespread collapse of the mortuary system. Brazilian physician and neuroscientist Miguel Nicoleliswho warned months ago that if a national lockdown were not undertaken immediately, We will not be able to bury our deadpointed this week to indications that this sinister prognosis is already coming true.

On Wednesday, residents of Vitoria de Santo Antao, a town in the interior state of Pernambuco, reported, with photographic evidence, that piles of decomposing bodies have been dumped in the open air in the local cemetery. Nicolelis commented about it on Twitter, Funeral collapse usually starts like this. In small towns. In an interview with UOL, the scientist described such a situation as a risk of greater magnitudes, because we start talking about secondary bacterial infections, contamination of soil, water table, food.

One of the main factors cited by researchers for the rise of cases in Brazil is the dispersion of the most transmissive variant of the coronavirus, originating in Manaus. Studies indicate that the P.1 variant can cause reinfection and be resistant to vaccines, threatening the national vaccination campaign, which has reached only 5 percent of the population with the first dose.

The generation of the Manaus variant, which is now spreading across the planet and endangering the worlds population, was the direct product of a ruling class experiment with the policy of herd immunity.

After a terrible first wave of the pandemic, which provoked a health care and mortuary collapse in Manaus, the right-wing governor, Wilson Lima of the Christian Social Party (PSC), made a bet with the lives of the states population by promoting the unrestricted reopening of economic activity, including schools. This experiment has been repeated throughout the entire country, which has been correctly defined as an open-air laboratory for the creation of more virulent variants of the coronavirus.

Even in the face of this catastrophic situation, Brazils fascistic president, Jair Bolsonaro, continues to pursue a herd immunity policy and the normalization of mass death. In a statement to the far-right press, he implied that reports of maximum capacity of COVID ICU beds throughout the country were false. He questioned: How many are from COVID and how many are from other illnesses?

However, the alternative to Bolsonaros openly sociopathic policy presented by his so-called opponents within the Brazilian political establishment is, at best, a policy of criminal negligence.

A year ago, when not even 50 people had died from COVID-19 in Brazil, the governor of Sao Paulo, Joao Doria of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party, made a cynical criticism of Bolsonaros indifference: These are not fake deaths, Mr. President, and this is not a small flu [as Bolsonaro described COVID-19].

Since then, more than 66,000 deaths have occurred in the state of Sao Paulo, 659 of them on Thursday alone. Dorias so-called Sao Paulo Plan to combat the pandemic, based on an arbitrary system of color-coded restrictions, without any scientific basis, has proven a fiasco. Doria was the protagonist of a campaign for the unsafe reopening of the countrys largest school system, which has killed dozens of educators and caused hundreds of outbreaks in schools since February.

One year ago, as Doria postured as a champion of science, the governors of the northeastern states ruled by the Workers Party (PT) and its allies in the Maoist Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) and the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), created the scientific committee of the Northeast Consortium, inviting scientist Miguel Nicolelis to chair it.

Not only has Nicolelis resigned his presidency of the committee, revealing the chasm between the politics of these governments and science, but this week he openly criticized the attitude of the Governors Forum, presided over by Wellington Dias of the PT, in his interview with the UOL. He declared: I am waiting. For two weeks now I have been hearing the governors say that they are going to organize themselves in that national committee [to implement a coordinated lockdown] that I have proposed since December. The scientific committee of the Northeast supported it. The small talk continues.

Though these forces do not offer even remotely consistent policies to address the calamitous pandemic, Bolsonaro has made it clear that no measures to stop the circulation of the virus will be tolerated. On Thursday, the president filed a lawsuit before the Supreme Court (STF) to overturn decrees by governors imposing curfews in the states of Bahia, the Federal District and Rio Grande do Sul, declaring the measures unconstitutional.

Defending his court action, Bolsonaro underscored his fascistic dictatorial threats, which go hand-in-hand with his genocidal policy in the face of the pandemic. If the court does not rule in his favor, he declared, the government will take the matter into its own hands. Is the population prepared for a harsh social action by the federal government regarding this? What is harsh? It is to give freedom to the people. It is to give the people the right to work. No, this does not mean dictatorship. Yes, indeed, it means exactly that.

The coronavirus recognizes no national borders. An uncontrolled pandemic in Brazil means an uncontrolled pandemic around the world. The working class must answer these catastrophic conditions and the threats posed by the ruling class in every country through independent political action, stopping every nonessential economic activity, guaranteeing full income to every working family and fighting for a socialist internationalist program against the capitalist policies of death and dictatorship.
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One of the strongest arguments against the so-called Equality Act is that it will completely undermine religious freedoms in America. But according to Maggie Siddiqi, a hijab-wearing, progressive Muslim woman, who is also an LGBTQ ally, the reverse is true. Is she right?

Writing for The Hill, Siddiqi claims that the Equality Act does more than protect LGBTQ Americans; it also expands existing civil rights protections for people of faith, as well as for women, people of color, immigrants and more.

Indeed, she argues, We cant allow the opponents of the Equality Act to misrepresent it as an attack on religious freedom. As a Muslim woman who has spent a large part of my career fighting for religious freedom, I know this is the opposite of reality.

In stark contrast, the Heritage Foundation claims that, The Equality Act guts the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and threatens constitutional freedoms by eliminating conscience protections from the Civil Rights Act. If enacted, H.R. 5 would force employers, medical professionals, educators, and religious organizations to allow men into womens shelters, pay for or perform sex-change operations, and engage in speech that violates their consciences. Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies would be forced to violate their belief that every child deserves a mother and a father. Section 2(a)(2) of the bill refers to the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman as a sex stereotype. This stigmatizes the beliefs of hundreds of millions of Americans, including Catholics, Evangelicals, Jews, Mormons, and Muslims.

How can there be such different interpretations of the same bill? How can they come to such polar opposite conclusions?

First, we should note that Siddiqi is the senior director of the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress. Issues of importance to this organization include economic inequality, reproductive justice, religious liberty, racial justice, climate change, LGBT equality, immigration reform, and more.

Accordingly, although she chooses to wear a hijab, she rejects traditional Islamic teaching on LGBT (and related) issues. In that respect, Siddiqi and her organization are decidedly liberal. Her starting point, then, is quite different than that of multiplied tens of millions of Americans who oppose the Equality Act because of their religious convictions.

Second, as a Muslim, she is sensitive to discrimination that can come against her because of her faith. As she explains, In cities and states that have not passed their own nondiscrimination laws, I can be refused service and cast out of any of these establishments, just because of how I choose to pray.

But she has failed to ask in her article, What if a former Muslim, now an anti-Islamic atheist, wanted to teach at a Muslim school? Should the school be forced to hire that person in the name of non-discrimination?

If the answer is Obviously not, then why should that school be required to hire a professing Muslim who was an out and proud gay man if that violates their sacred texts? Why does LGBTQ status take precedence over religious status to the point of forcing people of faith to violate foundational tenets of their religion?

It is one thing to discuss whether a factory should be able to fire an employee because of that persons private relationships and lifestyle choices.

It is another thing to discuss whether a Christian baker can be required by law to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. Or whether a Muslim nursery school can be required by law to hire a man who identifies as a woman. Or whether an Orthodox Jewish synagogue that is used for community weddings can be required by law to host a same-sex ceremony.

Siddiqi argues that religious freedom should only ever be about protecting our own rights to live free from discrimination; it should never be the terms on which we negotiate freedoms for others.

Oddly, she is completely missing the point of our objection to the Equality Act as currently constructed, namely, that it directly attacks our freedoms as people of faith. It tells us that we must violate our own convictions, even in the context of our own homes or places of education or worship, bowing down instead to the preferences (or even demands) of LGBTQ activists and allies.

If this is not the case, why not plainly reinforce the importance of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) rather than completely remove it? If religious freedom is a good thing rather than a bad thing, why does the Equality Act literally gut RFRA?

Pointing to the dangers of the Equality Act, Liberty Counsel cites the case of a Christian mother who contacted Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) to get rehabilitative and behavior services for her eight-year-old son who has autism. AST, like many autism support agencies, receives federal funding to help parents and their autistic children. The previous behavior technician left the position, so AST started to look for a replacement.

When the replacement arrived, the mother was surprised to meet a biological male dressed as a woman, an example that this mother felt would be confusing and unhelpful for her son. In response, the agency told the mother she was discriminating against the woman, and the contract was terminated.

In this case, both the mother and her husband are Christian ministers, and this was a direct violation of their faith and standards. Moreover, this was a matter of what took place in the privacy of their home.

Yet, as Liberty Counsel notes, If HR 5, known as the so-called Equality Act, becomes law, instances like what happened to Jane (pseudo name) will become commonplace and legal.

The reality is that, as constituted, the Equality Act is so dangerous and ill-conceived that even atheists have teamed with Orthodox Jews to oppose it.

All people of conscience should stand against it. And where there are legitimate issues of discrimination or mistreatment to address, let us do so together without undermining one of the most fundamental pillars of our society, namely, freedom of religion.
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Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker made their relationship 'Instagram official' in February by uploading a photo of themselves holding hands to the site.

And the new couple looked very much in love on Friday evening as they stepped out for dinner at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, California.

POOSH founder Kourntey, 41, channeled her edgy side, sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with decidedly explicit words, which she layered under a black peacoat.

Lovebirds: Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker looked very much in love on Friday evening as they stepped out for dinner at Nobu restaurant in Malibu

Kardashian gave a small glimpse of her enviably toned legs in a pair of black trousers with mesh paneling just above the knee.

She wore her lengthy raven tresses in soft waves that flowed from a middle part, while she enhanced her facial features with a subtle amount of makeup.

She drew attention to her plump pout with some nude toned lip gloss and enhanced her already large eyes with a strategic blend of brown eyeshadows.

Kourtney completed her rocker-inspired ensemble with a pair of black shoes that were almost entirely devoured by her unique trousers.

Livin' on the edge! The 41-year-old POOSH founder, channeling her edgy side, sported a vulgar t-shirt, which she layered under a black peacoat for her night out with Travis

Just a peek: Kardashian gave a small glimpse of her enviably toned legs in a pair of black trousers with mesh paneling just above the knee

Meanwhile, Travis kept things casual for their night out in a white graphic tee and a brown bomber jacket covered in patches and pins on one side.

The 45-year-old musician threw on some standard black skinny jeans and slipped his feet into a pair of black and white sneakers.

Blink-182 drummer Barker kept his head covered with a cozy black beanie.

After filling up on delicious Japanese fusion food, the couple were spotted retreating from the restaurant towards Barker's luxury vehicle.

Heading off: After filling up on delicious Japanese fusion food, the couple were spotted retreating from the restaurant towards Barker's luxury vehicle

It's official: Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker made their relationship 'Instagram official' in February by uploading a photo of themselves holding hands to Instagram

Kourtney snagged the front passenger's seat, while Travis happily chauffeured his lady home.

Before taking their relationship to the next level last month, Kourtney and Travis had a longtime friendship due to their close living proximity in Calabasas, California.

The pair both have children from past relationships, with Kourtney sharing daughter Penelope and sons Mason and Reign with ex Scott Disick, and Travis sharing son Landon and daughter Alabama with ex Shanna Moakler.

Since their split in 2015, Scott moved onto Lionel Richie's daughter Sofia, whom he ended things with in August, and is now dating 19-year-old model Amelia Hamlin.

Common ground: The pair both have children from past relationships, with Kourtney sharing daughter Penelope and sons Mason and Reign with ex Scott Disick and Travis sharing son Landon and daughter Alabama with ex Shanna Moakler

The 37-year-old Talentless founder revealed in a preview for the final seasons of Keeping Up With The Kardashians that his close co-parenting relationship with Kourtney put strain on his relationship with Sofia.

'When you first get with someone, everyone is like making changes and oh I will do anything because I'm so happy and so in love and so excited but then when it sinks in and it becomes real life it's a lot different,' Scott told Kourtney in the teaser.

'I don't think I could do it the other way around but I've always been clear that my priority has been my children, my life with them and I even put it out there that taking care of you is one of my priorities.'

In a confessional he dished: 'I realize that Sofia has been an absolute trooper but the truth is anybody dating somebody is going to feel neglected when their significant other is spending more time with their ex than with them.'
In the refined environment of Windsor Castle, a calmness is slowly being re-established following the tremors of that Oprah Winfrey interview.

When not at her desk working, the Queen is said to enjoy playing cards with her lady-in-waiting.

There is a sense of order, not panic, a source says. After all, there are more pressing national matters than the Sussexes salvo of woes.

Worries about the global pandemic and financial earthquake apart, the Queen was greatly relieved to welcome home her husband after four weeks of hospital treatment.

Prince Philip, less than 100 days shy of his 100th birthday, is said to be in good spirits. Yet for all the outward calm, something profound has changed at Windsor  and decisively so.

Throughout her 69 years on the throne, the Queen has been the soul of discretion when it comes to her private thoughts and opinions. Aside from a love of dogs and horses, her feelings have largely remained a secret. But a little less so now.

For these are extraordinary times for the Royal Family. In response to Harry and Meghans incendiary and hurtful accusations  addressed to a global TV audience of millions  the Queen has responded with a show of force.

She has made it as clear as possible that she, and she alone, remains in charge. Such leadership is vital. The Sussexes claims are not just hurtful, they are dangerous to the image of the Windsors and of Britain as a country.

At best, our Monarchy was branded stuffy and staid. At worst, cruel and racist. The storm clouds from the Sussexes Californian home have been brewing for some time.

And ever since then, weve seen the hand and the mind of the Queen more than ever. Take, for example, the uncompromising way in which Harry was stripped of his honours and patronages, the couple banned from carrying out engagements on behalf of the Queen, and from using their HRH titles to further their financial interests.

No longer were the Queens views judiciously concealed. She was unhappy and acted swiftly. The Queen let it be known that she was not only disappointed but also hurt.

Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that Her Majestys reaction to the Sussexes behaviour has revealed more about her decision-making than at any time in her reign so far  apart, perhaps, from the days following Princess Dianas death.

For the Sussexes victim statements to Oprah Winfrey were not merely unexpected in their severity but they destabilised the Royal machine. Prince Charles had been targeted. William had been criticised. His wife had been given a verbal mauling.

With the Royal Family under siege from Harrys Hollywood howitzers  so blatant that one Royal watcher described them as tantamount to treason  retribution had to be sharp and very public.

Of course, this doesnt mean there is no love between the divided Royals. There still is. But with the love there is also deep sadness and a sense of grief. Particularly over the Sussexes not-even veiled allegations of racism.

It has been firmly made clear on behalf of the Queen and her staff that the Royal Family disagrees in the strongest terms with their version of events. A statement, noticeable for its brevity, said that while recollections may vary, the Sussexes concerns were being taken very seriously.

The interview was tantamount to treason... the retribution had to be sharp

Sources say this statement had the full backing of both Prince Charles and Prince William. Meanwhile, at Buckingham Palace, an inquiry  or a review as aides euphemistically prefer to call it  has been launched after an email emerged showing a complaint had been made about the Duchess of Sussexs unacceptable and bullying behaviour towards staff when she lived at Kensington Palace.

Meghan denies the claim and her lawyers have dismissed it as a smear campaign. While it is the Royal Familys duty to remain calm, the tense mood in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle has been noted below stairs, with Palace servants unsettled by the family ructions and allegations against loyal staff.

As one insider said: The place feels like a crumbling mansion  with no one in charge of the housekeeping. With the institution of the Monarchy under attack from 24-hour US news channels, there has been bombshell after bombshell.

The days following the Oprah interview have seen a running commentary on the Sussexes gripes from Meghans friend, Gayle King, the CBS TV anchor. King told millions of viewers on Wednesday that the conciliatory phone calls from the Prince of Wales and Prince William to Harry in the aftermath of the interview were not productive.

It is hard to understand exactly what the Sussexes friends think the couple might gain from all of this. After all, any future phone calls are hardly likely to be more productive if Charles and William fear that details of their conversations  perhaps even verbatim quotes  will be broadcast on prime-time TV within moments of hanging up.

And how must they have felt to learn that part of the deal to screen the Oprah interview involved an agreement that it would be pulled from the schedules in the sad event of Prince Philips death.

Perhaps this is considered good PR in California. In Windsor, they are simply baffled. They are also concerned by one particularly dangerous accusation that has, so far, been little-noticed.

This was the insinuation by the Sussexes to Oprah that there is some sort of distinction between the Queen  whom they have been at pains to say is blameless  and the institution of Monarchy itself.

Just two days before the couple announced that they were to step down as working Royals, Harry discovered that despite an earlier invitation to visit the Queen at Sandringham, he was stopped from going.

We asked if we could come to see her, Meghan told Oprah. Yeah, said Harry. Come up to Sandringham. Love to have a chat. Come for tea. Why dont you stay for dinner? Its going to be a long drive and youre gonna be exhausted. Wed love that.

Her Majesty can do what she chooses - there is no sinister organisation

The moment we landed in the UK, I got a message from the Queens private secretary basically saying, please pass along to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that he cannot come to Norfolk. The Queen is busy. Shes busy all week.

While not blaming his grandmother personally, he claimed the Queen had received really bad advice from courtiers  the men in grey suits, as Meghan is said to have described them.

Harry suggested this was a snub and the implication was that the Queen had no free will and was dictated to by courtiers. Incredulous at the idea that Her Majestys aides, not her, were calling the shots, Oprah asked: Doesnt the Queen get to do what the Queen wants to do? Harry replied: No. When youre head of The Firm, there are people around you that give you advice.

What has also made me really sad is some of that advice has been really bad. No wonder Palace aides are so furious. To try to separate the Monarch from the Monarchy strikes at everything the Royal Family stands for. One source said: Her Majesty can do  and does do  what she chooses.

The Queen is not some sort of puppet. The Queen is the Monarch. The head of the Monarchy. The head of the Royal Family. Her Majesty is the institution. Its not run by a sinister organisation, which is what the Sussexes seemed to be suggesting. The Sussexes went out of their way during their Oprah interview not to criticise the Queen personally.

Indeed, they repeatedly told warm anecdotes about her. Cynics have suggested that this may have been because they were well aware how their popularity had plummeted in Britain and how much further it would fall if they disrespected the Queen. Regardless, the damage had been done.

It didnt help either that they had already said  in what was seen as a challenge to a staid, unreformed Monarchy  that they themselves would carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

Interestingly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, the episode has given renewed prominence to Prince William, who has played an important role in helping the Palace hold the line.

Like the Queen, his response has been deeply personal. As a future King, he could hardly keep silent when asked about the racism allegations, replying during a visit to a London school: We are very much not a racist family.

Those who have worked with both William and his father say that William is more likely to address something head-on. Charles feels deeply but by nature avoids confrontation. William is increasingly acting as The Firms gatekeeper  a role previously performed by Prince Philip.

Royal biographer Robert Lacey describes the task as Royal bouncer  a much grander version of a nightclub doorman keeping trouble at bay.

William is now the Royal Family bouncer keeping any trouble at bay

William was said to be incandescent that his wife was dragged into the firing line during the Oprah interview and that his subsequent phone call with Harry was leaked and then reported on American television in such a vulgar way.

Confrontation with his younger brother is not something William is fond of, but nor is it something from which he shies away. His bouncer duties are bound to increase, with Charles having less of a stomach for the fight and the Duke of Edinburgh having retired from the fray.

Incidentally, a well-placed source has told The Mail on Sunday that the ever-practical Philip has long made his future wishes clear. When the time comes  which all hope will be some way off  there should be a no-fuss funeral.

One source said: Philip has told the Queen that he should just be driven off to the Chapel in Windsor in the back of a Land Rover. No fanfare. No fuss. There is likely to be plenty more fuss emanating from the Sussexes 11 million Montecito mansion, however.

But Her Majesty, a dedicated card player, knows the rules of patience  and will not allow Harry and Meghan to derail the Monarchy she has worked so hard to maintain.

Queen plans diversity drive: Royals will boost existing programmes as Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism claims are blamed for 'unproductive' peace talks with William and Charles

The Queen is to appoint a diversity tsar to modernise the Monarchy, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Sources say the proposed move is an acknowledgment that 'more needs to be done' to champion minorities' rights and follows the explosive claims made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of institutional racism.

As part of a major drive encompassing Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, aides will undertake a 'listen and learn' exercise over the coming weeks which will involve speaking to a range of businesses and individuals about how the Monarchy can improve representation.

Plans seen by this newspaper detail how the Palace will 'seek independent views' to help assess and improve the approach to diversity  including ethnic minorities, the disabled and the gay and trans communities.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey

The potential recruitment of a diversity chief to champion reform is also set out.

A Royal source said: 'This is an issue which has been taken very seriously across the Households.

'We have the policies, procedures and programmes in place but we haven't seen the progress we would like and accept more needs to be done. We can always improve.

'We are not afraid to look at new ways of approaching it. The work to do this has been under way for some time now and comes with the full support of the family.'

The project has been given fresh impetus as Harry and Meghan appear to step up their battle with the Royal Family over racism.

In their interview with Oprah Winfrey, they claimed a family member asked how dark their son Archie's skin might be  although their accounts differed as to whether the alleged comment was made before or during pregnancy.

Ms Winfrey responded: 'Because they were concerned that if he were too brown, that that would be a problem? Are you saying that?'

Meghan replied: 'I wasn't able to follow up with why, but if that's the assumption you're making, I think that feels like a pretty safe one.'

The Queen is to appoint a diversity tsar to modernise the Monarchy as part of a major drive encompassing Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attending the Commonwealth Day Service 2020

Prince Harry said racism had been a major factor in the couple's decision to move to California.

Lawyers draft bully probe questions A law firm brought in by Buckingham Palace to review the handling of claims that the Duchess of Sussex bullied staff is drafting questions to be sent to current and former employees. The allegations  angrily denied by the Duchess were made in October 2018 when Jason Knauf, then Meghan and Harry's communications secretary, detailed his concerns in an email to Simon Case, then the Duke of Cambridge's private secretary. In the email, published this month by The Times, Mr Knauf wrote: 'I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household The treatment of [X, name redacted] was totally unacceptable The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying [Y] and seeking to undermine her confidence.' A spokesman for the Sussexes said the couple were victims of a calculated smear campaign, adding that the Duchess was 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself'. An independent law firm is assessing if 'lessons can be learnt' from the handling of the original complaint with aides past and present invited to contribute. A Palace spokesman declined to comment, but a source said the public should not expect 'a running commentary' on the inquiry, which is unlikely to conclude until next year. Advertisement

Ms Winfrey later conveyed that the alleged comment had not been made by either the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.

In a statement two days after the initial broadcast on the US TV network CBS, Buckingham Palace insisted it took the couple's claims  particularly on race  'very seriously', but pointedly added that 'recollections may vary', suggesting some allegations are disputed.

Prince William said later: 'We are very much not a racist family.' But The Mail on Sunday understands the issue of racism continues to sour the relationship between Harry, his father and his brother  and was the reason Gayle King, a US chat-show host and friend of Harry and Meghan, last week described recent phone calls between them as 'not productive'.

It is understood that the Sussexes feel that while disputed allegations of bullying made against Meghan are the subject of an independent review ordered by the Palace, the claims of racism aren't under formal investigation.

In an intervention criticised for reigniting the furore, Miss King last week said the Duchess has 'documents to back up everything she said', adding: 'It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the Royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant.'

Palace insiders emphasise the Royal Family's strong track record of celebrating diversity, particularly through their support of hundreds of charities in Britain and throughout the Commonwealth.

Prince Charles has even faced criticism for championing diversity.

In 1994, there were critical headlines after he said he wanted to be 'Defender of Faith' rather than 'Defender of the Faith' when he ascends the throne and becomes head of the Church of England.

Prince William has repeatedly spoken out against racism, backing high-profile campaigns including those run by the FA.
So if a Black person like John buys a home in the diverse neighborhood he prefers, his home is likely to not appreciate in value as much as a home in a white neighborhood. But if he becomes a homeowner in a predominantly white neighborhood, making a good financial investment, social penalties can follow: Will a neighbor call the police as he enters his own home? Will he have to alert the police that his Black sons belong in the neighborhood and shouldnt be treated as suspicious? Whatever they choose, Black people risk being penalized by white preferences.

There are no other Black people that live on my street, John said. But he also acknowledged that the appreciation of the house has been phenomenal. In terms of long-term value, I would absolutely choose this neighborhood again, he said. But his vision of raising his sons in the village of Black community life looks very different now.

Enter tax policy to add insult to injury. The typical white family has eight times the wealth of the typical Black family, a racial wealth gap thats fueled by tax subsidies for homeownership.

Between 1940 and 1950 a majority of white Americans became homeowners by riding a wave of anti-Black policies  public and private  that prevented Black families from buying in certain neighborhoods and from taking advantage of F.H.A.-insured loans. By the end of the 1950s, 98 percent of homes built with F.H.A. support after World War II were occupied by white Americans. Black taxpayer dollars were supporting a federal government that was denying them equal treatment.

At the same time that America was solidifying its status as a nation of white homeowners, the post-World War II defense industry was mobilizing and in need of workers. To enable those workers to sell their homes with tax-free gains and move to where the jobs were, the real estate lobby went to work. By 1951, a new tax provision allowed homeowners to avoid paying taxes on gains when they sold their homes, if they purchased a new home of equal or higher value.

Today, if you sell your home at a gain, you can receive up to $500,000 of gain tax-free. If, however, you sell your home at a loss, you get no tax break. (Contrast that with the way the tax law allows losses to be deductible when you sell stock.) Johns $144,000 loss did him no good in terms of taxes. However, if he and his wife sell their Candler Park home, theyll receive a significant tax-free gain.

So even though it is now illegal to discriminate against Black home buyers, tax subsidies that reward homeowners who sell their homes at a gain and punish those who sell their homes at a loss still disproportionately benefit white homeowners and their preferences  helping far too few Black homeowners along the way. White homeowners win while Black homeowners  particularly those who want Black neighbors  lose.
If anyone was still uneducated about the insidious and brutal nature of racism in this country, the recent contemptible slaughter of eight people, including six Asian women, in the Atlanta area, along with the early police statements and media coverage of the crime, should clear everything right up.

On Tuesday, eight people were killed and others wounded at three day spas in the Atlanta area. Police apprehended Robert Aaron Long, who officers said later admitted that he was responsible.

Speaking to the press, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds, who is white, said that despite the fact that most of the victims were Asian women, the killings did not appear to be hate crimes  that race did not appear to be the motive. Instead, Reynolds said, Long has some issues, potentially sexual addiction; he may have frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.

Lashing out.

According to Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee sheriffs office, Long saw the spas as an outlet for him  something he shouldnt be doing, an issue with porn  and he was attempting to take out that temptation.

Yesterday was a really bad day for him and this is what he did, Baker said.
Senior Congress leader on Saturday said India must vote in favour of the resolution calling out "human rights violations" by the Sri Lankan government.

"INDIA must vote in favour of the resolution and call out the violations by the government. INDIA must stand by the Tamils and other communities that have been denied human rights," he said on Twitter.

Chidambaram said the UN Security Council is considering a resolution urging to be accountable for such violations.

"It is sad that continues to deny there were and are human rights violations in that country, especially in respect of Tamils," he also said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Five Zimbabwean refugees have lodged a complaint against the Botswana government over its decision to repatriate them back to their country, an official said on Friday.

Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security director for refugee management and welfare Thobo Letlhage told the state-run Botswana Daily News that the five Zimbabwean males have served her ministry with a statutory notice challenging the ongoing process of taking them back to their homeland.

She, however, said the challenge did not affect the process of repatriating those who had registered to voluntarily return home.

According to Letlhage, those who had registered for voluntary repatriation have been divided into four groups, with the first batch of 48 Zimbabwean refugees having left Dukwi Refugee Camp in central Botswana on Tuesday this week.

A second group of refugees was expected to leave this week while two other batches would be repatriated next week.

The repatriation exercise follows a decision by the Botswana authorities government, Zimbabwe government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that the conditions that initially made the refugees flee their homeland had since changed and they were no longer under threat if they returned home.

There are about 700 Zimbabwean refugees at Dukwi camp, the majority of whom escaped alleged persecution by the government.

Letlhage said should all the Zimbabwean refugees be repatriated, the camp would be left with about nationals of Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

She said the situation in those countries would continue to be monitored and assessed and their nationals repatriated when conditions improved.

JN/APA
A women walks under an umbrella as heavy rain falls at Barangaroo Reserve in Sydney, Australia on March 18, 2021. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Evacuations in North NSW, Rain Hits Sydney

A potentially life-threatening downpour that has flooded rivers and triggered evacuations along the New South Wales (NSW) coast has made its way to Sydney.

Rain has plagued the city for most of the week, but the deluge arriving on Saturday will be on another level, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said.

We might see quite significant flash flooding and weve got a flood watch current for both the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers, bureau flood operations manager Justin Robinson said. Were likely to see a spill from Warragamba Dam and that will then impact those communities downstream.

BoM issued a severe weather warning on Saturday morning covering an area from the mid-north coast to the far south coast of NSW as well as Canberra.

The bureau warned of intense rainfall potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding and damaging winds averaging 60-70km/h with gusts exceeding 90km/h.

It said strong winds may generate damaging surf, with significant wave heights of 5 metres in the surf zone bringing potential for coastal erosion.

While the rain will be substantially heavier than what Sydney copped earlier this week, it will not be of the same intensity that hit the mid-north coast on Thursday and Friday.

SES crews undertook at least 57 flood rescues and responded to more than 1300 calls for help, as a dozen rivers along the NSW coast flooded.

State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, has appealed for the public to not become complacent.

Members of the public in the flood-affected areas need to heed the warnings and advice of the NSW State Emergency Service and all emergency services, he said.

Our message is cleardo not put your life or that of emergency service personnel in danger. Floodwater is extremely dangerous as it can have fast-moving undercurrents that can wash people and vehicles away.

Everyone should always remember to never drive, ride or walk through floodwater, he said.

Major flooding is occurring along the Hastings River at Kindee Bridge, Wauchope and Settlement Point.

The Hastings River at Kindee Bridge peaked at 12.1m about 11 p.m. on Friday and is currently at 9.87m and falling with major flooding.

The Hastings River at Wauchope is currently at 8.5m and near its peak with major flooding.

The Hastings River at Settlement Point is likely to peak near 2.1m about 10 a.m. on Saturday with major flooding.

Major flooding also hit Macksville and Bowraville overnight.

Those living in low-lying areas of Port Macquarie were forced to evacuate on Friday, with a significant number of properties set to be inundated.

Nearby areas of North Haven, Dunbogan, Camden Head, Laurieton were also ordered to leave, as well as those living in Kempsey and along the lower Macleay River.

While the worst of the system has passed, emergency services have warned road and surf conditions will remain dangerous and are telling motorists and boaties to stay home.

The deluge is set to continue well into next week and could deliver the heaviest rainfall since February 2020, when Greater Sydney was hit.

By Tiffanie Turnbull
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Patna, March 20 : Three persons have been arrested in Bihar's Saran district in connection with the murder of Sub-Inspector Rana Raviranjan Singh, the police said.

Singh was found murdered near Dumri Juara halt under the Avatar Nagar police station on Wednesday morning.

Munishwar Prasad Singh, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sadar, said,"During the investigation, all the three accused claimed they were being exploited for unnatural sexual acts by Rana Raviranjan Singh. Hence they decided to kill him." "There were four persons involved in the crime and one of them managed to flee from the spot during the raid," he added.

"As per the accused' Singh called them on Tuesday evening seeking sexual favours at a secluded farm near Dumri Juara halt. Earlier, Singh had promised to give them a new mobile phone. When one of the accused asked him for it, he refused," the SDPO said.

"While one of the accused was involved in the sexual act, three others smashed Singh's head an with an iron rod, killing him," added the police officer.

"We are in the process of verifying the claims of the accused. We are scanning call details and have sent the recordings of phone call conversations of all accused and the Sub-Inspector," the SDPO said.

Singh was posted at Mufassil police station in Samastipur district and had come to his native village on official leave.
Empty vials of Oxford/AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine are seen at a vaccination centre in Antwerp, Belgium March 18, 2021. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

Eastern European Country Limits AstraZeneca Shots After Nurse Dies of Anaphylactic Shock

MOSCOWGeorgias health ministry said after the death of a 27-year-old nurse that coronavirus vaccinations with the AstraZeneca shot would continue only in full-fledged medical centers, the TASS news agency reported on Friday.

The Interior Ministry also said it had opened an investigation after the nurse who had the AstraZeneca vaccine and suffered an anaphylactic shock died on Friday, the RIA news agency reported.

Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of Georgias National Centre for Disease Control, had described the nurses condition as serious on Thursday, Interfax reported.

Our 27-year-old colleague suffered anaphylactic shock after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine and was transported to an intensive care unit in Tbilisi, Gamkrelidze was quoted as saying.

By Polina Ivanova
A news website accused of anti-Semitism has been endorsed by Britains only state-approved press regulator.

Dorset Eye has joined Impress and displays the regulators kitemark on its website as a guarantee of a commitment to the principles of journalism.

Its husband-and-wife founders Jason and Debbie Cridland claim the website is Dorsets only news outlet for the people of Dorset but campaigners have branded it a cover to spread antisemitic hate.

Impress was set up in 2013 with support from the campaign group Hacked Off and Mr Mosley (pictured)

Dorset Eye founders Jason and Debbie Cridland claim the website is Dorsets only news outlet for the people of Dorset but campaigners have branded it a cover to spread antisemitic hate

The website sparked outrage in 2019 after publishing an article which falsely claimed TV presenter Rachel Riley works for the Israeli state propaganda machine. A Labour Councillor was suspended for sharing the article on Twitter.

Impresss decision to accept Dorset Eye as a member raises new questions about the regulator, which has been bankrolled by privacy campaigner Max Mosleys family charity. Almost all newspapers, including The Mail on Sunday, are regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation, a regulator free of state control.

Two years ago, Countdown presenter Ms Riley, 35, who is Jewish, suffered a deluge of online abuse over her vocal criticism of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and her campaigning against antisemitism.

In August 2019, an article in Dorset Eye claimed Ms Riley and her goons will be responsible for another Jo Cox moment by calling out antisemitism in the party  a reference to the Labour MP who was murdered in 2016. For a while, Rachel Riley has been working  not so clandestinely  for (or with) the Israeli state propaganda machine, the article erroneously claimed. Whether she is paid for her hate and propaganda is not for me to say but she is quite obviously (if only to me) a fascist and an Israeli state terrorist sympathiser.

It added: At some point another Jo Cox moment will happen but this time it will not just be MPs who are at great risk. Rachel Riley and her goons will only have themselves to blame if some loose cannon stoops to another loathsome low.

Lisa Lewis, a Labour councillor in Sherborne, Dorset, was suspended after retweeting the article, which is still available on the website.

Another article on Dorset Eye  later removed  described Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as a modern day Judas and a paid agent of Israel. It also warned of another Kristallnacht  a reference to the Nazi destruction of synagogues and Jewish-owned business.

Describing the website as a cover to spread antisemitic hate, the Campaign against Antisemitism last night said: It is unacceptable for a community website which purports to have a warm and fuzzy image to publish antisemitic articles.

Members of Impress, which is officially recognised by the Governments Press Regulation Panel, are required to abide by minimum professional standards. According to its Code of Conduct, publishers must not make prejudicial or pejorative reference to a person on the basis of that persons... race, religion... or another characteristic that makes that person vulnerable to discrimination.

An Impress spokesman declined to say if the Dorset Eye articles had breached its Code of Conduct but said: Going forward their content and newsgathering will be subject to the Impress oversight.

Impress was set up in 2013 with support from the campaign group Hacked Off and Mr Mosley. It has only signed up small publications, with national newspapers refusing to join because they fear it risks imposing state-sponsored regulation on the press.

The Mail on Sunday last year revealed that the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF), an organisation linked to Impress, had given money to 5Pillars, a website accused of publishing conspiracy theories about terror attacks. PINF said the money would have to be repaid if Impress rules against the website.

Dorset Eye did not respond to requests for comment. An Impress spokesperson said: The role of an approved press regulator is not to endorse the actions of those it regulates but to fairly and neutrally investigate and assess the newsgathering practices and content.
Prairie View A&M University announced Friday that it will establish a program in honor of the late Nobel laureate Toni Morrison.

The Toni Morrison Writing Program, slated to launch this fall, will also honor Morrisons former student MacKenzie Scott, a writer and philanthropist who donated $50 million to the college in December. The gift was the largest single donation in the universitys history.

Using $3 million from Scotts gift, Prairie View will endow and kick-start the program, which will offer a writer-in-residence each year and will sponsor a high school writing contest, with the winner awarded a college scholarship.

The selected writer-in-residence will host readings of their work and of other writers to help bring more exposure to the craft and to the legacy of African American writers, particularly those educated at historically black colleges and universities, the university said in a release.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Prairie View A&M University gets $50M from MacKenzie Scott, largest in its history

Emma Joahanne Thomas-Smith, Prairie Views provost emerita, will oversee the Toni Morrison Writing Program. Thomas-Smith, who previously led the honors program and English department at Prairie View, plans to invite university faculty, staff and area high schools to take part in the writing activities.

The new program will also collaborate with literary organizations, including the Toni Morrison Society, a nonprofit comprised of scholars and readers of Morrisons work.

University President Ruth Simmons developed a friendship with the award-winning author after she recruited Morrison to Princeton University as a creative writing professor while Simmons was associate dean of faculty there. It was at Princeton where Scott was a student and Morrison her mentor.

Like Simmons, Morrison was an alumna of an HBCU, Howard University in Washington, D.C. Simmons did her undergraduate work at Dillard University in New Orleans.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A reflection on friendship, banter with Toni Morrison

After Morrisons death in 2019, Simmons told the Houston Chronicle that she and Scott went to dinner at a Princeton dedication event for the author. They kept in touch about things that didnt involve Prairie View, she said.

It was such a surprise, because I didnt ask for anything, Simmons said of Scotts later $50 million donation. It was literally out of the blue.

Morrison, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Humanities Medal, the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the Nobel Prize in literature, is known for her canonical works including The Bluest Eye, Sula, Tar Baby and Beloved, which was made into a film starring Oprah Winfrey in 1998.

brittany.britto@chron.com
A community has been left stunned after three people died in a suspected murder-suicide in Newtownabbey.

A man is believed to have stabbed his mother and girlfriend at separate properties before killing himself.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening. (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX) Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX General view of the scene at Glenville Road, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Stephen Hamilton / Press Eye. 20th March 2021) Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye 20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX) Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX / Facebook

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Whatsapp Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening. (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

Police confirmed the incidents were linked, and a double murder probe has been launched.

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and woman were found at a second property around two miles away.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The deputy Mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, said her thoughts and prayers were with the friends and family of the two women who she said had been "brutally killed.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left absolutely shocked and stunned by the news.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and NIAS ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

Just after 10.55pm on Friday evening, police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area. Officers attended, along with colleagues from NIAS. Sadly, a woman has been pronounced dead.

As officers carried out further enquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area. An unconscious male was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the male was pronounced dead. On searching the property, another deceased female was located.

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

"We would urge anyone with any information which may assist our investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"

Police were at the scene of both properties this morning.

Local people spoke of their shock, while political representatives said more needed to be done to address violent attacks against women.

Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Jim Montgomery posted on Twitter: A very sad incident that has created such shock with so many. My thoughts are with families involved who are suffering such loss and those having to pick up the pieces after this tragedy."

Ms McClelland, the deputy mayor, said: People in Newtownabbey are in shock today following three deaths in what police believe was a double murder.

My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

This is a close-knit community and I know that they will offer every support to those dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Once again it appears that two women have lost their lives in a violent attack. How many more women have to die before our Executive takes action to address gender-based violence?

Mr Finucane, the North Belfast MP, said the community was in shock.

He said: My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

Its important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.

North Belfast DUP MLA Paula Bradley said it was "extremely sad news" to hear of the deaths.

"It just brings that reality home again to us in Northern Ireland that violence against women and girls cannot be tolerated," she told the BBC.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken spoke of his shock. He said: This is terrible news - the loss of three lives is an awful tragedy for the community.

Alliance Policing Board member John Blair said it was the most sad and shocking set of circumstances adding: My thoughts are with family and friends of victims in what they are going through right now.

He said there was a great sense of shock throughout the Newtownabbey community."
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"This spring, think about what colors have special meaning for you and make sure you create, design, play, and/or throw those colors out into the world. Its time to think about what our new beginning will look like in a post-Covid-19 world," writes Indian American author Dr. Amita Roy Shah. Above: Indian laborers dry colored powder for the upcoming Holi, the spring festival of colors, at a field in Jyoti Nagar village on the outskirts of Siliguri on March 19, 2021. (Diptendu Dutta/AFP via Getty Images)
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Voters will weigh in Saturday on a replacement for former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, determine the fate of a variety of local tax measures and pick local representatives in parts of Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday and the state requires that anyone in line by the time they close be given a chance to vote.

Voters can find their precinct information and see a sample ballot through the Secretary of States website at geauxvote.com.

This super PAC for pro-choice women is spending big to help get Karen Carter Peterson elected An outside super PAC dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women is expending almost as much money to elect Karen Carter Peterson to Con

There are 15 candidates in the race to replace Richmond, who gave up his 2nd Congressional District seat after handily winning re-election to join President Joe Bidens White House staff. The district stretches from New Orleans to Baton Rouge

The apparent frontrunners in the crowded field are Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson, both Democratic state senators from New Orleans, and Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers.

If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, a run-off will be held between the top two candidates on April 24.

Though the race is a rare shot at an open seat in the district, special elections typically draw fewer voters than the regular fall races.

+2 Gary Chambers Jr. and Karen Carter Peterson agree on issues, differ in style in WDSU debate Gary Chambers Jr. and Karen Carter Peterson expressed support for a broad range of progressive policies Wednesday night during the only televi

Fewer than 31,000 people in District 2  less than 6% of eligible voters  cast ballots during the early voting period, according to the Secretary of States Office. Thats almost 50% fewer people than cast early votes during the 2018 race for the seat.

The congressional race will be the only thing on the ballot in the portions of New Orleans that are within the district, but voters elsewhere in the region will have a variety of measures to weigh in on.

Bureau of Governmental Research backs Jefferson Parish water and sewer tax proposals The proposals are the parishs plan to replace taxes set to expire at the end of 2022, and voters will either give them a thumbs up or down in the upcoming March 20 election.

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A pair of property tax renewals to fund a new water treatment plant and make other improvements, including installing smart meters, is on the ballot for portions of unincorporated Jefferson Parish and in Kenner, Harahan, Lafitte and Grand Isle.

The sewer and water tax renewals would extend an existing tax for 10 years. The proposal would give the parish the option of increasing the rate of the tax in the future, though a spokesperson for Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng has said there are no plans to do so.

At their current rates, the taxes cost the owner of a property worth $100,000 that has a homestead exemption $12.50 a year. A property owner with a $300,000 homestead-exempt property would pay $112.50.

Portions of the parish will also cast ballots in another special election, this one to replace former state Rep. Charles Henry, who resigned in January due to family obligations.

Republicans Edwin Eddie Connick and Laurie Schlegel and Democrat Raymond Delaney Jr. are vying to fill out his term.

Voters in Westwego will also elect municipal officials.

+3 Westwego race pits Mayor Joe Peoples against longtime politico Robert Billiot Incumbent was outsider four years ago, now faces opponent with 43 years in public office

A 1.69 mill drainage tax to fund drainage improvements is up for renewal in St. Tammany Parish. The tax costs the owner of a $250,000 homestead exempt property about $29 a year.

Tax that covers $4M in annual drainage work coming before St. Tammany voters March 20 St. Tammany Parish voters will be asked March 20 to renew a 1.69-mill property tax for drainage that was first approved 40 years ago and that 

Voters in the Pearl River area will also vote on a 15-mill property tax renewal for their fire district. In Bush, the renewal of a 6-mill recreation district tax is on the ballot. And voters in Covington will also decide whether to permit a $10.2 million bond issue for Coquille Park.

Voters will also decide who should fill the remaining time in the term of St. Tammany Parish Councilmember Richard Tanner, who died in July. His wife, Cheryl Tanner, is running against Toby Cooper.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  The World War I exploits of Sgt. Alvin C. York netted Gary Cooper a best actor Academy Award and Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano a degree, a book deal  and academic backlash.

Mastriano had a deep interest in York long before he led anti-mask protests last year, fought tirelessly to overturn then-President Donald Trumps reelection loss and showed up outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.

His research into York helped earn him a doctorate in history from the University of New Brunswick and a publishing deal with the University Press of Kentucky, but critics argue his work does not hold up to scrutiny.

A crack shot, York led a small group of U.S. soldiers behind German lines while badly outnumbered outside the village of Chatel-Chehery, France. More than 20 German soldiers were killed and 132 captured, and the Tennessee native won widespread fame and the Medal of Honor.

For more than a decade, other researchers have questioned Mastrianos claim to have conclusively proved exactly where York was during the October 1918 battle. They argue his research is plagued with errors and that a walking trail he helped build actually takes visitors to the wrong spot.

In the past two months, University of Oklahoma history graduate student James Gregory has filed complaints with Mastrianos publisher and with the Canadian university.

Many of his citations are completely false and do not support his claims whatsoever, Gregory said in a Jan. 25 email to the University Press of Kentucky, identifying footnotes with no apparent relation to their corresponding book passages.

Both institutions have told Gregory they have opened preliminary reviews.

Pa. Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin) (Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA, file)

Mastriano has not responded to repeated requests for comment, including written questions, from The Associated Press.

The 57-year-old Franklin County Republican, first elected two years ago and pondering a 2022 run for governor, seemed to emerge out of nowhere last year to become a one-man force in Pennsylvania politics.

He has boasted of speaking with Trump at least 15 times and organized an election hearing in Gettysburg that featured Rudy Giuliani and a phone call appearance by Trump.

He was even scheduled to speak on the U.S. Capitol steps during the early afternoon on Jan. 6 and had organized charter buses to Trumps speech. Despite calls from some Democratic Senate colleagues to resign, Mastriano has maintained he broke no laws the day of the Capitol breach and has not been charged.

Before Mastriano entered the political limelight, he organized construction of the 2-mile Circuit du Sergeant York trail, lined with interpretive markers and dedicated amid fanfare in 2008.

But a multidisciplinary team that conducted its own surveys of the general battle area concluded the correct spot is likely about a half-mile south of Mastrianos site.

The issue is not about a few meters difference between the two sites, said Dutch journalist Stephan van Meulebrouck. It is about good research versus bad research and the inability, or even the unwillingness of certain parties in this debate to admit to that fact.

In his 2014 book Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne, and elsewhere, Mastriano has repeatedly dismissed any notion that there is a legitimate dispute about the validity of his preferred site.

Gregory became interested in Mastrianos book as part of his own research into other members of Yorks squad, but had difficulty verifying some of Mastrianos references.

After an Associated Press review found additional questionable footnotes, Gregory sent the Kentucky publisher 35 citations he considers fraudulent. In early March, he made a nearly identical complaint to the University of New Brunswick.

Gregory and other researchers are also highly skeptical of Mastrianos assertion that the photo on his books dust jacket shows York leading German officers and other prisoners. The official U.S. Army Signal Corps caption from 1918 indicates it was taken almost two weeks before Yorks heroics.

In a 2017 email, Mastriano told a reference historian at the Army War College Library that he had no idea why the government photo indicated it was from Sept. 26, but it is simply wrong.

The 59 pages of footnotes in Mastrianos book cite, more than 150 times, Yorks 1928 pseudo-autobiography. Among those references are minor errors such as incorrect page notations  but other mistakes are more substantial.

A section about U.S. soldiers in Yorks unit training in Europe includes two footnotes referring to the 1928 book. But those references lead to Yorks recollections of training in Georgia. In another place, a footnote in a section about York being offered $20,000 a week to join a theatrical revue leads instead to a description of York hunting in Tennessee.

Mastriano, who was stationed in Germany with NATO, has said he spent at least 100 days in the woods around Chatel-Chehery, scouring the area for metal artifacts and other relics of the battle.

He found bullets and bullet casings he believes were fired by York and says those artifacts  along with a period map, battle accounts and other evidence  led him to the spot on private land.

But the other team zeroed in on a different area during surveys in 2006 and 2009. They recovered metal pieces engraved with Yorks unit name and material they believe was dropped when a large group of Germans surrendered, and found the temporary grave locations of Americans buried near Yorks heroic stand.

Among Mastrianos detractors is independent researcher and expert metal detector operator Brad Posey, who first met Mastriano when both men lived in Germany.

Posey had spent about three days helping Mastriano survey the French site, but the artifacts he found and the practices he observed convinced him that Nolans site was far more likely to be correct.

When I went into this, I honestly thought that hes really found the spot, Posey said. After one day with him up there I knew, this is not the right spot.

More:

Ban on meal, lodging payments for Pa. lawmakers introduced as constituents sound off in anger
Only moving ahead of developed countries in terms of new things can we hope to change the national ranking. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a revolution about who will dare to take the lead.

This was the message given by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung at a recent meeting with officials of Bac Giang Province. VietNamNet would like to present the full text of his speech:

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung. Photo: Bac Giang News

The common logic is that if we are weak, we will go behind others. If so, we will always be latecomers. So, the right logic is, we are the weak one, so we have to lead the way. Developed countries exist peacefully in the old, so they will not be interested in the new. Developing countries are poorer and, therefore, are thirsty and adapt faster with the new, with new technology. Only going ahead of developed countries in terms of new things can we hope to change the national ranking. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a revolution about who dares to take the lead.

Digital transformation is about changing the way the system works. Therefore, the heads of organizations must be the ones to lead this transformation.

One way to change the operating model effectively is to just do the opposite of what you are doing. Teachers have to give lectures, but the new way of doing this is for teachers to be tutors; video lectures will be taught by the best teachers. To have a doctor who is good at imaging diagnostics, one must be trained. The new way is to use an artificial intelligence application to assist doctors in diagnosing images. Instead of increasing the number of traffic police officers to enhance security and order in the street, it is the new way to reduce the number of police officers and increase the number of cameras. Instead of developing as many industrial parks as possible, it is better to focus more on building industrial zones 4.0 or IT parks that are green and high-tech, that do not only assembly but also have supporting industries and research and development.

For previous revolutions such as mechanization, electrification and automation, the more you buy, the more you use, the more that products are expensive, the richer the manufacturing companies, and the more their technology is developed. For digital technology, it it is in contrast. The more it is used, the cheaper it will be, the cost per capita will be as close to 0. For digital technology and digital platform, the more it is used, the more intelligent it will be because there is more data. Users decide more about technology development rather than the creator of the technology. Therefore, if Bac Giang is at the forefront of new technology application and the use of new digital platforms, Bac Giang will be the smartest, technologies will be perfected in Bac Giang instead of in the country where the technology is born. In the history of human development, this is the first time that technology users have made a major contribution to technology development.

When a new Industrial Revolution takes place, many difficult things are easy to do. Now the hard things are easy to do, the easy things are difficult to do. When it is difficult, it is necessary to find a new approach, to use new technology, and therefore it is easy to do. The easy thing is still performed in the old way, so it is difficult to do. In the period of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and digital technology, leaders who have big dreams and great aspirations have a great chance of success.

The leaders should focus on setting goals, posing problems, ie stating clearly what they want, stating clearly the amount of money, what the value will be. It doesn't matter how to do it. How and what technology, and what solution is the business of enterprises. Assigning tasks to businesses is to help businesses grow. Solving the province's problems effectively is to help the province develop. Both the province and the enterprise will develop. But the first condition is still the vision of the provincial leaders, from the correct problems posed by leaders.

Digital transformation and smart cities do not have grand projects, should not start with grand projects. We should start with small and medium-scale projects which can immediately solve the problems of the province and bring immediate effects, creating confidence for the government and people to do more.

Digital transformation and smart city go through different stages. Initially, technology enterprises have solutions and applications to offer the government; the government will consider buying and applying these solutions and applications. This is the stage where technologists and businesses are the main players. Next is that the government understands technology better, believes in technology more, and starts to pose problems for technologists to solve with technology. The player is the government.

The third step is to take the people as the center, the problems posed by the government are derived from the needs of the people, bringing value to the people. The government brings people into the center. Step four is the participation of the four parties - the people, the authorities, experts and businesses - from the beginning. These four sides will discuss what and how best to address the needs of people, businesses, and government.

Because digital transformation and smart city is a long-term evolution, open issues, open technology, and open data are crucial to ensure connectivity and interconnection, to be compatible and for further development in the future. Guidance on open systems is issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications. In 2021, the Ministry of Information and Communications will issue the architecture, standards and guidelines.

When doing IT and digital transformation, the concern and worry of a province are often human resources training, including training IT specialists at all levels, and especially training users, who are civil servants and the people. But digital transformation differs from IT at this point: digital conversion platforms are easy to use, like Zalo, Facebook, which everyone can use and the more they use them, the better they are. The province should not be too worried; just pay attention to use digital technology platforms instead of IT software to handle the province's problems.

Provincial leaders may also wonder about what to do first, what digital platforms, which applications are effective, how much the market value is, and which companies do well. For these issues, Bac Giang can consult the Ministry of Information and Communications.

How much money should be spent on IT and digital transformation a year? The world average is 1% of annual budget. Some countries leading in IT spend 2%, for example, South Korea. Bac Giang province should spend about 1%.

Expenses for IT, digital transformation must create value, and this value must be greater than 1% spent. The province must calculate the value created by applying IT, by converting the number. Some intangible, long-term values must also be quantified. If this value is always greater than the amount spent, the digital transformation will always be fine. If the province does not approach this way, there will be potential risks in investment and spending on IT, digital transformation. The Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for guiding how to calculate the value created by the application of IT and digital technology.

I hope that Bac Giang province will be at the forefront of digital transformation, i.e.,digital government, digital economy and digital society, smart communes and smart cities.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung
China-Europe freight trains serve as lifeline for int'l trade amid pandemic

Xinhua) 15:23, March 20, 2021

-- For the past decade, China has launched the China-Europe freight train service in over 60 domestic cities and has connected with major European countries.

-- The rumbling trains have acted as a carrier for the Belt and Road Initiative in terms of boosting trade exchanges between inland Chinese regions and Europe.

-- Despite gloomy international trade prospects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the China-Europe freight train has managed to buck the trend and made more trips thanks to its security and efficiency.

CHONGQING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- With a loud train whistle echoing through the air, a freight train bound for Duisburg, Germany, slowly pulled out of the Tuanjie Village Station of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Friday morning.

"Exactly a decade ago, I signaled for China's first China-Europe freight train, the Yuxin'ou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe), to depart here," Zhang Xin recalled while seeing the train disappearing in the distance. Zhang has dedicated himself to 12 years as head of the station.

For the past decade, the rumbling trains have not only put the once-obscure and dilapidated station on the map but also acted as a carrier for the Belt and Road Initiative, boosting trade exchanges between inland Chinese regions and Europe.

China has launched the China-Europe freight train service in over 60 domestic cities and has connected with major European countries.

A China-Europe freight train is seen at the Tuanjie Village Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

BIRTH AND GROWTH

Before the railway launch, Chongqing, a city more than 2,000 kilometers away from the nearest ports, was hindered by its geographical location. Product exports either took the distant and time-consuming east-bound route via coastal areas for transport via sea or took the expensive air route.

The more time-saving and cost-effective Yuxin'ou railway has thus come into being. It forged ties between Chongqing and foreign countries, including Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, and Germany along the route, with only one-fifth of the cost of air transport and one-third of the sea transport time.

The now bustling station once faced various barriers. Cargos had to go through inspections at every border, and temperature differences may reach as high as 70 degrees centigrade, which posed challenges for electronic products.

With persistent efforts, the railway achieved mutual recognition of customs clearing with countries along the route. It developed a 15-centimeter thick thermal insulation material to tackle significant temperature differences on the way. It also devised a satellite tracking system for containers to ensure safety.

Chongqing has also taken the lead in revamping its former supervision and regulation model based on piles of paper documents and cumbersome procedures into a digital and intelligent one.

Freight trains equipped with intelligent safety locks help improve the customs clearance efficiency, as the import clearance time has been slashed by almost 74 percent compared to a decade ago while the export clearance time has plunged over 97 percent, according to Shan Wei, head of the Chongqing Customs.

Riding the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013, the China-Europe freight train service has entered the fast lane. Chinese cities including Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, and Yiwu have subsequently launched these freight train services.

In June 2016, all railway routes were merged into the "China-Europe freight train service" brand and put on blue coloring.

Statistics showed that it took three years and three months for the freight trains to make 200 trips, but only two months to grow from 800 to 1,000 trips.

A China-Europe freight train passes a highway bridge in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

HOPE AMID PANDEMIC

Trade prospects became gloomy, unexpectedly, in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the global economy and blocked sea and air transport. In the depth of the pandemic, the backlog of international parcels across China once surpassed 1,500 tonnes.

However, the China-Europe freight train has managed to buck the trend and make more trips thanks to its security and efficiency.

Last year, the freight trains made 12,400 journeys and transported 1.14 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) of cargo, up by 50 percent and 56 percent year on year, respectively.

During the pandemic, freight trains continued to operate, loaded with not only garments, toys, electronic products, and tens of thousands of cross-border goods but also anti-epidemic supplies that the European countries were in urgent need of.

As a driver for the China-Europe freight train for ten years, Jiang Tong said he is proud of his work to deliver anti-epidemic supplies.

"I played my part in the global fight against COVID-19 by driving those supplies to people in need," Jiang said.

Also, the freight train service took on the responsibility of securing the stability of the global supply chain when other transport means were hampered.

Prompted by the growing number of people working from home and learning remotely, Taiwan-based ASUSTeK Computer Inc. saw its computer shipments grow exponentially in 2020. Blocked transport, however, exposed the company to default risks.

"The China-Europe freight train helped us overcome that," said Lu Hong, brand director of the company's southwestern businesses.

In 2020, the company sent 1,000 containers via the freight trains in total, an increase of 200 percent compared with the same period of the previous year.

Head of the Tuanjie Village Station Zhang Xin (R) works at the railway station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

WORLD MARKET CATALYST

With the world's largest middle-class consumer group of more than 400 million people, China has become a world market for commodities transported by China-Europe freight trains from other countries.

Jin Haijun, a Chinese businessman in Spain who always wanted to expand his wine businesses in China, was set back by the drawn-out logistics.

It took nearly two months to transport goods by sea previously, which seriously affected the sales of the Vivanco wine produced in Rioja, the best Spanish red wine-producing area, Jin said.

On November 18, 2014, the China-Europe freight train connecting Yiwu and Madrid, the largest small-commodity distribution center in Europe, was launched. It shortened the transport time to ten days.

Now, this red wine is sold to China, the United States, and Japan, and its annual sales reached 200 million bottles.

Thousands of Russian goods such as honey, rapeseed oil, and biscuits have also benefited from China-Europe freight trains to meet Chongqing consumers, according to Liu Xiaomin, manager of the Russian hall of the Belt and Road Commodity Exhibition &Trading Center in Chongqing.

Considering the lengthy transport time, some goods with a short shelf life could not be exported to China, Liu said.

Nowadays, through China-Europe freight trains, German beer, French wine, Spanish olive oil, and Dutch beef are served on the tables of Chinese families. Luxury cars from Europe also appear on the streets of Chinese cities.

In 2020, China overtook the United States as the EU's biggest trade partner, according to the EU statistics agency, Eurostat.
The overflowing of Sydney's largest dam has left the city in 'uncharted territory' and could send floodwaters racing towards its outer suburbs, an expert has warned.

The heritage-listed Warragamba Dam about 70km west of central Sydney started spilling at 3pm on Saturday as a wild rainstorm battered the coast of New South Wales.

The volume of water is expected to increase into Sunday as rainfall and flooding continues, Water NSW said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Saturday afternoon she had been briefed on the dam situation 'in relation to a potential for a one-in-five-year, one-in-10-year, or one-in-20-year event'.

Western Sydney University water expert Ian Wright said the rapid urbanisation of the area around the dam had left residents in the surrounding area on unsteady ground.

Residents in the Warragamba Dam catchment are on high alert and may have to evacuate as the primary reservoir of water supply for Sydney overflows (pictured)

NSW SES have issued an urgent evacuation order for the suburb of Picton located south of the dam as a result of rising flood waters

'The urban development adds hard, impervious surfaces, and drainage infrastructure. In heavy rain, this can rapidly generate high-velocity floodwaters,' he told News.com.au.

He said construction of roads and buildings around the dam since 1990 would stop any spillover from the dam from being absorbed back into the earth.

Ms Berejiklian has warned residents in the catchment area, as well as those in the mid-north coast, the Hunter, central coast and metropolitan Sydney to be on high alert and ready to evacuate.

NSW SES have issued a prepare-to-evacuate warning for the suburb of Picton south of the dam due to the rising flood waters.

'Residents should monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so,' the NSW SES said.

Flood expert Jamie Pittock is less concerned about the Warragamba Dam spilling as he is about tributary rivers downstream from it, such as the Grose River, overflowing and flooding parts of western Sydney.

'There are around 5,000 houses (in western Sydney) that lie below the one-in-100-year flood return interval,' the Australia National University professor said.

Water is pictured spilling over the Warragamba Dam west of Greater Sydney on Saturday

More rain is forecast for the New South Wales coast and other parts of the state, with flood warnings in place across the state

Most housing developments around the world are not allowed to be built in a one-in-100-year area, but successive NSW governments have allowed the irresponsible building of housing in these low-lying locations, Prof Pittock said.

'It's always worrying when there's a flood in western Sydney because it's one of the most dangerous places in Australia for floods.'

Prof Pittock said he was most concerned about Penrith, Richmond and Windsor, as the dam reached 99.2 per cent capacity on Saturday.

Bureau of Meteorology national flood services manager Justin Robinson said a spill at Warragamba Dam could lead to minor flooding in Sydney's west, specifically at Penrith and North Richmond later on Saturday.

The suburbs of Penrith, Richmond and Windsor are of most concern for potential flooding as the dam reached 99.2% capacity on Saturday

'It's a very dynamic and evolving flood situation and we could see some very deep and rapid responding rivers with very high levels,' he said on Saturday.

Mr Robinson said major flooding is possible for people in the Greater Sydney area, with the Hawkesbury-Nepean River areas bracing for significant flooding.

Other dams such as Nepean, Cataract, Cordeaux and Avon are also expected to reach capacity and begin spilling on Saturday afternoon, Water NSW said.

The mayor of Wollondilly Shire Council, the local government area in which Warragamba Dam is located, told AAP he was concerned about flooding in lower areas.

Western Sydney University water expert Ian Wright, said the rapid urbanisation of the region around the dam (pictured) has left residents in 'uncharted territory'

Urgent flood warnings in place as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian advising residents to stay home

Robert Khan cannot remember the dam spilling over in his nearly 40 years of living in the area and said businesses on the main street of Picton were currently sandbagging their stores.

'We've had drought, bushfires and floods. I know it's mother nature but how much can a local business take?' he said.

The dam spill has occurred amid the NSW government's controversial plans to raise the dam wall by at least 14 metres to potentially hold back additional water in the Blue Mountains.

Between 1998 and 2002, the dam was upgraded to increase capacity by constructing an auxiliary spillway after the dam's the last significant spill in August 1990.
TN elections 2021: CM Palaniswami targets DMK over 'dynasty politics' asks people to end it through polls

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Villupuram, Mar 20: AIADMK top leader and Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday slammed the DMK over 'dynasty politics' and took pride in saying that even an ordinary party worker would get the top position in his party.

The DMK has not reformed itself though it was out of power for a decade, Palaniswami said, canvassing votes for Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam who has been fielded from Villupuram constituency for the April 6 Assembly polls.

Dynasty politics was all about a particular family holding the top position in the party again and again and while even an ordinary worker could get the top position in the AIADMK, it was not the case with DMK, he claimed.

West Bengal elections 2021: 684 companies of CAPF to be deployed in first phase of state polls

"It was previously Karunanidhi, and then (his son) Stalin and now Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK youth wing secretary and candidate from Triplicane-Chepauk segment in Chennai) has emerged. This election is all about putting a fullstop to dynasty politics," he said.

Replying to Stalin who alleged a scam in award of tenders by highways department at a poll meeting today in southern Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami said the allegation was a bundle of lies. During the DMK regime, it was only Stalin, who awarded tenders to his relatives, the CM alleged.

In his campaign at multiple locations in this district and nearby Kallakurichi, Palaniswami targeted the DMK and its chief Stalin over several issues. Lashing out at Stalin for a wanton, false campaign that AIADMK was subservient towards the BJP, he said it was a false and defamatory propaganda.

TN elections 2021: DMK chief MK Stalin interacts, poses questions to people against Jayalalithaa

Cohesion between the state and central governments alone could ensure addressing issues faced by the people and it would also help fulfill their aspirations and that is why the AIADMK is friendly towards the BJP, he said.

Recalling DMK's alliance with the BJP in 1999, he said during those days the DMK lauded the saffron party as good since they enjoyed power at the Centre. "If we align with the BJP, they say that it is wrong and if they join hands with them it is right. How is this correct? " he asked and described Stalin as a 'chameleon.'

The DMK is a party without any policy or ideology and it only hankered after power for 'family', he claimed. The DMK is an 'unruly' party which threatened officials even when it was not in power, he alleged, adding the AIADMK regime is governed by the rule of law.

Puducherry elections 2021: Sonia Gandhi wants me to contest Assembly polls, says V Narayanasamy

Hitting back at Stalin for claiming that he became the Chief Minister in 2017 by 'crawling' in front of V K Sasikala, the confidante of late CM J Jayalalithaa, Palaniswami said the DMK chief does not know decorum. "Am I a snake or lizard to crawl," he asked.

"I walked and assumed office," Palaniswami said. Over the past about four years, DMK fancied that the AIADMK would split and the government would be dislodged, Palaniswami said and described Stalin as a man with "bad thoughts."

Only a man with good thoughts could aspire to grow in life, the CM said and asked Stalin to retain the position of the Leader of Opposition at the very least. In his campaign in Chennai, Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating conduct of bull taming sport 'Jallikattu' in Tamil Nadu.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 22:19 [IST]
Double the fun! Ryan Murphy announced the theme for season 10 of American Horror Story, two years after the FX series was renewed in August 2018.

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The shows creator, 55, teased the reveal on Wednesday, March 17, before sharing a clip unveiling the title, Double Feature, on Friday, March 19.

Two horrifying stories  one season, the Friday video read as footage of waves crashing on the sand played across the screen. One by the sea  one by the sand. More to come

Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Murphy captioned the Twitter teaser: #AHSDoubleFeature #AHS10 #AHS @AHSFX @FXNetworks.

Earlier this month, the Glee creator shared a photo from the beach set for the upcoming season. Something wicked this way comes. American Horror Story Season Ten. #AHS10 #AHS, he captioned the Instagram photo of Leslie Grossman and Macaulay Culkin dressed in winter coats on the sand.

A source told Us Weekly earlier this year that the FX horror anthology series was scheduled to film from February 1 to March 6 in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

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All of the cast, writers and production have rented houses there, the source told Us in January. All the houses are very close together. They should all be able to hang out and house-hop very easily! One of the main writers has a big house right on the beach.

Speculation about the new season began to swirl after 20th Century Studios filed an application in Provincetown the same month, requesting permission to film a then-mysterious project titled Pilgrim at 19 locations within the coastal town.

Murphy previously announced that Grossman, 49, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd, Evan Peters, Adina Porter, Lily Rabe, Angelica Ross and Finn Wittrock are set to return for season 10, which was picked up in 2018, but pushed until 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Paulson, 46, confirmed her return to the American Horror Story family in January 2020, telling reporters at the Television Critics Associations winter press tour, I have no idea what it will be.

The Ratched actress, who sat out American Horror Story: 1984 due to other project commitments, added, Im not coming back as a guest part. I would be a central character.

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Culkins participation in the show marks his first recurring TV role in five years, following his stint on The Jim Gaffigan Show from 2015 to 2016.

He hasnt worked in a while, Murphy told E! News in May 2020 of the Home Alone star. So, I have this very, very great, insane part. And I asked to speak to him on the phone and he said OK.  I told him he has crazy, erotic sex with Kathy Bates and does other things. And he pauses and he goes, This sounds like the role I was born to play. So, he signed up right then and there.
The Opposition Congress



led on Saturday released a"People's Manifesto" for the April 6 assembly polls, promising Rs 2000 monthlypension to homemakers, Five kg free rice to all white card holders and five lakh homes to the poor.

A special law to protect the traditions of the Sabarimala lord Ayyappa temple and a Peace and Harmony department on the model of Rajasthan,has also been promised by the

Reaching out to the vast majority of women voters, the front has assured a two years age relaxation for mothers appearing for examinations for government jobs.

Housewives aged between 40-60, who donot come under the Nyay scheme, the minimum income guarantee programme launched by the in 2019,would be entitled for the Rs 2000 monthly pension.

Free food kits to those who had been affected by COVID-19 and no bill hospitals are among the otherschemes of the front, Benny Behanan MP, chairman of the manifesto committee said.

The ruling LDF had also announced pension for homemakers and had hiked the social security pension to Rs 2,500 from the present Rs 1600.

(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.)
Prime Minister Narendra



Modi Saturday launched a frontal attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging her lawmaker nephew Abhishek was the only "single window" in the state without crossing which no work gets done.

He also accused the supremo of presiding over an administration full of 'tolabaj' (extortionists) and corrupt people.

Attending his second rally in the election-bound state in three days, the prime minister alleged Banerjee was engaged in "khela" (game) of appeasement for vote bank

"Industrial units are getting shuttered. You know, a single-window system is created for speedy clearances for industries. In Bengal, too, exists a single window....the single window of 'Bhaipo' (nephew) without crossing which no work gets done," he said without naming Banerjee's nephew and Diamond Harbour MP

The has often accused Abhishek of running syndicates that extort money from common people. In local parlance, syndicates refer to gangs run by toughs who sell substandard construction material to people at exorbitant rates.

Rejecting the outsider tag has given to his party, the prime minister said,"The is the only real party of Bengal. Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded Jana Sangh, the BJP's forerunner. He was the son of Bengal."



Ridiculing Banerjee over the "khela hobe" (game will happen) slogan, Modi said "Didir khela shesh hobe, vikas aarambh" (Didi's game will be over and development will start).

Referring to the 'Ayushman Bharat' health insurance scheme, the prime minister said the government has not implemented it as it thought the Centre will get credit for the measure.

"Mamata Didi stands like a wall to block central schemes," he alleged.

He claimed the previous Congress, Left and the current TMC governments had all stalled West Bengal's development.

Modi also spoke about the alleged killing of around 130 workers by TMC activists since the 2018 panchayat elections.

"Mamata Didi runs a school of brutality where 'tolabaji' (extortion), cut money, syndicate and anarchy are part of the syllabus," he alleged.

(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.)
Brussels, March 20 : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) to implement the bloc's new action plan against racism.

At the opening of the first European Summit Against Racism, von der Leyen on Friday said that the plan recognises that structural racism exists in all areas and that the member States must act, reports Xinhua news agency.

She stressed at the virtual meeting that "anti-racism is a founding principle of the Union", and that the Commission will not hesitate to "resort to justice when necessary" to alert countries that violate the directive.

She said that "a European anti-racism coordinator will be appointed soon" who will have the mission of "bringing the voices of racialised people to the heart of the European institutions".

The European Commission President recalled that this plan against racism was motivated by the "many Europeans who took to the streets" to support the "Black Lives Matter" movement, created after the killing of African-American man George Floyd under police custody.

According to her, this is "the beginning of a common path of constant dialogue and commitment" to "continue to speak about racism, listen to people and associations" and recognise that "knowledge is the basis for change".

EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also said the EU has an "unwavering commitment to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including its contemporary forms".

He pointed out that the EU's new action plan against racism recognises that the problem "is not only perpetrated by individuals, it is also structural," which requires "concrete actions".

The summit, co-hosted by the European Commission and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and in cooperation with the Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup of the European Parliament, was the first time for the 27 member states to meet to discuss the topic.
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)  A prominent victims advocate group on Friday urged Santa Clara University in Northern California to release details about unspecified allegations against its president, a Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden and is now under investigation.

The university said Thursday that the Rev. Kevin OBrien allegedly exhibited behaviors in adult settings, consisting primarily of conversations, which may be inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries." He is currently on leave from the Catholic university.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, released a statement Friday calling on university officials to be more transparent about the accusations so as to encourage others who may have experienced similar misconduct to come forward.

While we appreciate that action has been taken by the Santa Clara board of trustees, we think that the vague statement released by the university does no favors to either the university community or the alleged victims, the statement said.

Tracey Primrose, spokeswoman for the Jesuits West Province, which is overseeing the investigation, would not elaborate on the allegations in a statement to The Associated Press.

Jesuits are held to a professional code of conduct, and the Province investigates allegations that may violate or compromise established boundaries, she said. As with any organization, the Jesuits West Province has confidentiality practices, which is why I cannot provide any additional information regarding this matter.

O'Brien gave the service at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, one of the most prominent Catholic churches in Washington, D.C., in January for Biden, who is the nations second Catholic president, before the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

The priest has known Biden for about 15 years, dating back to when he was serving at Georgetown University, and he also presided over services for Bidens vice presidential inaugurations.

The private Jesuit institution, located in the Silicon Valley, is ranked as one of the top 25 schools for undergraduate teaching nationwide. California Govs. Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown are among its alumni.
Its not news that COVID-19 wreaked havoc on energy markets across the world throughout 2020. But just to recap, it was a real doozy; total energy demand sank by 5 percent, liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand went down by 4 percent, coal by 5 percent, and energy investment tanked by a whopping 20 percent. But amidst the chaos, renewable energy generation managed to grow by a very respectable 7 percent, fuelling plenty of headlines and speculative columns wondering if the era of fossil fuels is already over.

In fact, many experts contend that were already experiencing peak oil. While oil prices and demand have rebounded impressively since their rock-bottom moment in April 2020 when the West Texas Intermediate crude benchmark plunged below zero, effectively paying people to take oil off the market, many world leaders and investors have already begun to aggressively pursue a post-petroleum world. Even fossil-fuel-consuming juggernauts like China are assertively trying to change their trajectory toward a more climate-friendly energy future. Australia, too, has emerged as one of the leaders of this worldwide movement. The country, which has historically relied on fossil fuel extraction for a considerable portion of its economy, is now leaning into decarbonization efforts. This is significant, as Australia is the worlds largest exporter of the worlds dirtiest fossil fuel: coal. The emissions-heavy fuel source accounts for more than half of the countrys coal exports and the country itself is largely run on the other black gold. According to a government website, Australias primary energy consumption is dominated by coal (around 40 percent), oil (34 percent) and gas (22 percent). Coal accounts for about 75 per cent of Australias electricity generation, followed by gas (16 percent), hydro (5 percent) and wind around (2 percent).

Related: The Oil Price Rally Is Officially Over

But all that is set to change in the very near future. This week NERA (National Energy Resources Australia), an affiliate of the countrys Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, released a report entitled Looking ahead: COVID-19 and Australias new energy future, which describes a move away from exporting primary materials such as coal, LNG, iron ore and other minerals. By moving up the value chain, Australia can become a global leader in the advanced manufacturing of smart technologies that can help decarbonise the worlds economies and be commercialised and scaled across different industry sectors, including mining, energy resources, agriculture, space and defence.

A big part of this new and improved Australian energy future will revolve around much-buzzed about green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is lauded for its potential as a clean-burning fuel source because when it is combusted it leaves behind nothing but water vapor. Hydrogen is only as green as the resources used to make it, however. Hydrogen made with fossil fuels is referred to as gray hydrogen (and some refer to hydrogen made using less emissions-intensive natural gas as blue hydrogen.) Green hydrogen, by definition, is made using clean energy.

Australian mining company QEM has already begun looking into green hydrogen opportunities at its flagship Julia Creek site in Queensland, a particularly symbolic green energy pivot at a shale oil deposit site. The green hydrogen venture is not intended to overtake the sites shale oil and vanadium extraction, but to underpin its continued development in a more climate-friendly way and help to more responsibly grow the shale sector, rather than replace it.

Related: Oil Sees Biggest Single-Day Loss Since April 2020



The studies, which are already underway, will examine the use of a green solar-powered electrolyzer at the Julia Creek site, paying special attention to such a projects financial and regulatory requirements. If proven viable, in the short term the hydrogen would be used to power other kinds of non-renewable resource extraction such as those at the Julia Creek site and others across the North West Minerals Province of Queensland. In the long term, green hydrogen would feature prominently as a carbon-free resource for hydrogeneration of QEMs raw oil into transportation fuels.

In addition to being an environmentally salient development, its also an economically savvy move. QEM on Monday said its strategic progression comes amid a buoyant market, supportive government policy and optimal project location, Upstream reported on Monday. The companys advancement of its green hydrogen production strategy comes amid growing investment and interest in such renewable energy ventures from both the private and public sectors.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the case of the SUV with 20 gelatin sticks found outside the residence of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, will also investigate the death of Thane based businessman Mansukh Hiren, who was found dead on March 5.

An NIA officer in Delhi told IANS: "The agency has received a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the case of death of Hiren. And we will soon register a case."

The official said that they are collecting all the documents related to Hiren's death from the Mumbai Police and ATS.

IANS had reported on March 17 that the case of the death of the Mumbai businessman will be transferred to the anti-terror probe agency.

The body of Hiren was found in a creek in Thane on March 5. Earlier Maharashtra's ATS was probing Hiren's death.

On March 3, the NIA had taken over the probe of the explosive laden SUV found outside Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia in Mumbai on February 25. There was also a threat note in the vehicle.

The anti-terror probe agency arrested Mumbai police official Sachin Vaze on March 13. He was sent to NIA custody till March 25.
The Rev. William Barber, a leader of the Poor Peoples Campaign, told me, Some folks hijacked Christianity and decided that they were going to put up a lot of money to promote the idea that to be a person of faith was to be anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-gun, pro-tax cut. Barber calls that theological malpractice.

Jerushah Duford, a granddaughter of the Rev. Billy Graham, agrees: We have seen homophobia, hostility toward womens rights, xenophobia and lack of concern for the poor. She compares the damage right-wing Christian extremists have done to Christianity to the harm Muslim extremists have brought to Islam.

The share of Americans identifying as Christian has shrunk in recent years, while the share calling themselves atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular has grown.

The progressive wing of Christianity is not, of course, new. It began with Jesus.

Woe to you that are rich, Jesus says (Luke 6:24). He advises a rich ruler to sell everything you have and give to the poor, and then suggests it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:22-25).

In the 1960s and 1970s, when progressive Christianity was far more prominent, leftists cited such verses and carried pocket booklets like The Radical Bible and Quotations From Chairman Jesus. I think itll be healthy if progressive Christians reclaim a part of Americas public square and mix things up.

My hope is that we move into a season where Jesus followers are no longer seen as synonymous with hate, exclusion and hypocrisy, but as beacons of love and grace, Duford said, noting that her famous grandfather focused on a message about Gods love. (Families contain multitudes: Dufords uncle the Rev. Franklin Graham remains a staunch supporter of Trump.)

Most churchgoers are still conservative, and white evangelicals voted overwhelmingly for Trump. But if the public face of faith becomes less dominated by right-wing figures, it may become easier for the country to heal its fissures. In the past, secular liberals sometimes stereotyped Christians as intolerant bigots, and conservative Christians sometimes stereotyped liberals as working to suppress freedom of religion. But when the religious/secular divide doesnt neatly overlay the political divide, it may become a bit more difficult for either side to demonize the other.
The officer is the third Chicago cop to be shot within a week. She is also the 16th officer this year shot or shot at, which has outpaced last year at this date, police Superintendent David Brown said during a news conference at the scene.
Rafting companies in the Lake Isabella area are gearing up for a surge in business this spring and summer after recent storms raised expectati
SHELTON  The city is in the middle of deciding what to do with a one-time windfall of federal relief funds heading its way as part of the recently approved $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

Sheltons government is in line for $16.8 million overall, nearly $4.9 million earmarked specifically for education.

According to data released from Congressman Jim Himes office, the city is receiving $4 million in federal relief funds and an additional $7.86 million due, in part, because Connecticut has no county government. The Plan has allocated money for county governments to the individual states. Connecticut is passing it on to local municipalities.

City Finance Director Paul Hiller said there are several restrictions, particularly on the city money. He said the good news is the city has until Dec. 31, 2024, to spend the money.

While receiving no formal details on money use yet, Hiller said he understands the funds can be used for such infrastructure as broadband and water or sewer repairs and upgrades.

We are in the very early stages of discussion as to how and where to spend these funds, Hiller said, adding that the money cannot be used for normal budgetary expenses.

The school portion of the federal funds will go to Chromebooks, educational software and building air quality equipment repairs, educators said, which will amount to nearly $2 million of the funding heading to Shelton.

The Connecticut State Department of Education is passing on $492.4 million in a second phase of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant funds it is receiving.

Sheltons share is $1,815,928, and Superintendent Ken Saranich at the Board of Education Finance Committee meeting Wednesday said the district has plans for every penny.

This is very positive news for the district, Saranich said.

The school board Finance Committee received a list of all proposed items; the full board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations at its regular meeting March 24.

The funding is designed to allow districts to enhance school safety, prevent learning loss and address the pandemic's mental health impact on students. That includes using it for computers or building projects that would qualify under the federal relief funding.

In all, Saranich said, $325,040 will be used to cover educational costs. The purchases include $40,000 for a summer school intervention program, which will provide remedial services this summer for identified students, and $138,250 for a three-year license to use Lexia software.

The district also plans to purchase Great Minds Eureka Math for grades K-6 for $146,790. Saranich said the program is standardized math curriculum, including assessment materials.

The district plans to spend $1,040,007 of the funds to purchase 800 Chromebooks for $323,200; 435 Chromebook carts for $175,740; and 450 laptops for staff at $452,565. The three purchases allow the district to remove some $1.1 million from the technology capital plan that would have needed to be covered by the city.

The district also has $450,881 of proposed facilities costs, which would reduce the short- and long-term facilities capital plan, also covered by the city, by $57,000.

The ESSER II grant has restrictions. It can only be used for improving COVID-19 response coordination between school districts and state, county and local public health authorities; addressing learning loss through assessment, tracking student attendance and engagement in distance learning, and evaluating academic progress in comparison to a student's pre-pandemic performance;

It can be used for need-based outreach for students including children in low-income households, those in foster care, those with disabilities and those struggling with homelessness; purchasing PPE and sanitation supplies and training staff in proper sanitation and personal protection practices; planning and putting in place supplemental instruction like summer camp or aftercare and school facility indoor air quality improvements and repairs.

As part of the capital improvements, District Facilities Director John Calhoun, at the boards Building, Grounds and Transportation Ad Hoc Committee meeting Wednesday, presented a list of 17 proposed capital improvements totaling $768,873.

Those projects include replacing the main office rooftop A/C unit at Long Hill School at a cost of $45,000; reconfiguring the fuel cell and boiler replacement at Shelton High, which will cost $110,000; and repairs to rooftop air quality units at both the intermediate and high schools that come with a $102,000 price tag.

Calhoun said that nine projects - totaling more than $165,000 - can be covered by a Board of Aldermen bond account allocation done last year.

Among the projects under this allocation are replacement of fire alarm panels at Elizabeth Shelton and Shelton Intermediate schools for a $47,000 cost; hand dryer installations at Perry Hill School and the intermediate and high schools at a cost of $30,441; parking lot lighting repairs at the high school, costing $13,375; and the man trap entry project at Booth Hill School, a $35,100 expense.

Calhoun said $152,301 from the BOE COVID reserve fund will cover purchase of a replacement work vehicle at $36,000, summer cleaning supplies at $39,301 and additional cleaning supplies for the present fiscal year, at a cost of $77,000.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army's Honor Guard Battalion wear protective masks as they stand at attention in front of a photo of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping at their barracks outside the Forbidden City, near Tiananmen Square, in Beijing, on May 20, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Why Xi Jinping Is Continuing to Centralize Power

Commentary

During Chinas top political annual meetings, the weeklong Two Sessions that concluded on March 11, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made new moves to centralize power, sparking widespread concern at home and abroad.

Why does Xi continue to centralize power and how does he do it? What will be the result? Lets explore this issue.

Xis Centralization of Power

Since Xi became head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in November 2012, he has taken at least nine major steps to control the party and military.

First, Xi simultaneously holds the three highest positionsGeneral Secretary of the CCP Central Committee, Chairman of the state, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Second, Xi is the head of a dozen committees and commissions. Some of these titles include chairman of the National Security Council, director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, director of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

Third, Xi has established his core position through anti-corruption campaigns. The nomenclature implies that Xi has furthered consolidated power and is considered a paramount leader.

The title core was also given to former CCP leaders Jiang Zemin and Deng Xiaoping. Jiang continues to have influence over major issues in the CCPs domestic and foreign affairs.

Since January 2013, Xi has launched anti-corruption campaigns against the tigers or high-level officials who he regarded as a threat to his rule. Most of the top officials who were purged were loyal to Jiang Zemin, including Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the Standing Committee of the CCPs Political Bureau and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. By October 2016, Xi finally became the core of the CCPs leadership.

Fourth, the Constitution was amended to allow Xi to remain in power for life. On March 11, 2018, Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), approved the removal of the two-term limit on the leadership.

Fifth, on Oct. 27, 2017, the Politburo (Chinas top decision-making body) decided that senior officials are required to report their work in writing to the Party Central Committee and General Secretary Xi every year.

Sixth, when Xi came to power, he placed emphasis on the leadership of the CCP and revised the Constitution accordingly. In October 2017, the phrase, The Party exercises overall leadership over all areas of endeavor in every part of the country was included in the Constitution. In March 2018, another phrase, The leadership of the CCP is the most essential characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics, was added to the Constitution.

In October 2019, Xis book On Sticking to the Partys Leadership Over All Work was published, which contains 70 contributions by Xi from November 2012 to July 2019.

Seventh, Xi revised the Organic Law (Law governing all levels of Chinas courts) of the National Peoples Congress (NPC).

On March 11, the fourth meeting of the CCPs 13th National Peoples Congress adopted a draft amendment to the Organic Law. The revised Organic Law authorizes the Standing Committee of the NPC to appoint and remove the Vice Premier and State Councilors of the State Council, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and members of the CMC when the NPC is not in session. This is the first change in 39 years since the law was rewritten and passed in 1982.

This amendment allows Xi, through his crony Li Zhanshu (a member of the Politburo), to replace the officials who hold these posts, further centralizing the power of the State Council and the CMC in his own hands.

Eight, the CCPs two upholds were established as the most important political disciplines. The phrase means to firmly uphold General Secretary Xi Jinpings core position in both the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, and firmly uphold the Party Central Committees authority and its centralized, unified leadership.

The two upholds have been written into the Chinese Communist Party Disciplinary Regulations, which was revised in 2018. Since then, many senior CCP officials have been investigated and punished for seriously violating the two upholds.

Qiushi, the official theoretical journal of the CCP, published an article on July 15, 2020, and stated, To adhere to and strengthen the Partys overall leadership, the first thing is to achieve the two upholds, which is the most important political discipline and political rule.

The article also said, The two upholds has a clear connotation [sic] and requirements, which are to maintain the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping, who is the core and not anyone else.

Ninth, no successor has been designated.

In the past, the CCP had the practice of designating a successor. However, in the eight years since Xi took power, he has not designated a successor. Although there have been various speculations about Xis successor, none of the potential candidates have been proved true. On March 5, CNN quoted Steven Tsang, director of SOAS China Institute as saying, We know exactly who the successor to Xi Jinping is, its even clearer than ever  Xi Jinping.

Through the nine major steps mentioned above, Xis centralization of power has become second only to that of former CCP dictator Mao Zedong.

Reasons for Xis Continuous Centralization of Power

There are four main reasons why Xi has been consolidating his power.

First, there is a deep state in the CCP.

Before Xi came to power, Hu Jintao was the CCPs General Secretary for ten years. During his tenure, the CCP had a deep state headed by Jiang Zemin and his key henchman, former Chinese vice president Zeng Qinghong, with Jiang and Zengs factions having a big influence over all levels of government and institutions. Hu Jintao was just a puppet for Jiang, and he didnt have his own political network. Even his Zhongnanhai butler Ling Jihua, the then Director of the General Office of the Central Committee, was loyal to Jiang and Zeng. Hus orders could not even go outside of Zhongnanhai where the headquarters of the CCP is located.

Xi also did not have his own connections or proteges before he came to power. At that time, if Xi did not keep a low profile and did not obey Jiang and Zeng, he would not have been able to become the head of the CCP. After Xi came to power, he launched an anti-corruption campaign against tigers in order to seize power from Jiang and Zeng. Many members of Jiangs faction were arrested. However, before the 19th National Congress of the CCP, Xi thought he had succeeded in taking power, so he compromised with Jiang and Zeng and did not arrest them. With Jiang and Zeng still at large, the deep state of Jiangs faction has been trying to drive Xi out of power.

Second, Xi is seeking a third term at the 20th National Congress of the CCP.

By 2022, Xi will have served two consecutive terms as General Secretary of the CCPs Central Committee.

The 20th CCP National Congress will be held next year, and the CCPs Central Committee, its Political Bureau, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, the General Secretary of the CCPs Central Committee, and the Chairman of the CCPs Central Military Commission will all be re-elected.

The 20th National Congress will decide the personnel layout of the 14th National Peoples Congress (NPC), the central government, the Supreme Peoples Court, and the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate in 2023. By then, the President, the NPC, the State Council, the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Procuratorate will all be re-elected.

The Chinese Communist Party has been in power for 71 years and has taken the worship of power to the extreme, where power means fame, wealth, and beautiful women. Under the CCPs system, if you lose power or fail in the power struggle, you may become a prisoner, or even be executed.

For the CCP officials, power and personal gain, and even life and death, are closely linked. Who will rise in power and who will step down at the 20th National Congress of the CCP? A new round of infighting among high-level CCP officials is bound to take place.

One of the most important reasons for Xi to consolidate power is to come out as a winner in this political struggle and to win a third term at the 20th National Congress.

Third, Xi lacks a sense of security and he fears settling old scores.

Under Xi, seven of the senior military and political officials in the Beijing Garrison have been replaced, four of whom were commanders and three political commissars. This shows that Xi did not trust anyone!

On March 5, 2016, Xinjiang Wujie News published an open letter from an anonymous source, which demanded Xis resignation and threatened his family.

Fourth, the end of the CCP is drawing near.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, after the collapse of communist regimes in the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, the CCP has faced a huge existential crisis.

On July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin launched a major persecution campaign against adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong. Since then, the CCP began to move toward total and complete corruption.

When Xi came to power in November 2012, he inherited the CCPs problems that had accumulated over the past decades. By 2020, the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus and which causes the COVID-19 disease, had spread from Wuhan to the rest of the world due to the CCPs concealment of the epidemicthe CCP was plunged into an unprecedented and comprehensive crisis. The CCP has been reduced to the most corrupt political party in the world, and there is no way to save it.

The CCP is already terminally ill beyond cure, and its imminent demise is all apparent. Xi can think of no single silver bullet solution to save the CCP from its inevitable destruction. So, he has to keep turning toward socialism and communism, learn from Mao Zedong, return to the Cultural Revolution, and keep consolidating power again and again.

Xi Jinpings constant centralization of power may pave the way for his third term in the 20th National Congress of the CCP. However, if he is in charge of everything, he is bound to fail in his duties. The absolute power to control everything is bound to lead to absolute corruption. Maos centralization and Stalins centralization brought unprecedented disasters; it is extremely dangerous for Xi to continue to follow the path of Mao and Stalin.

Wang Youqun graduated with a Ph.D. in law from the Renmin University of China. He once worked as a copywriter for Wei Jianxing (19312015), a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee from 1997 to 2002.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
New Delhi, March 21 : The Delhi Police arrested three robbers for sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman and later robbing a man of Rs 30,000 in South Delhi's Fatehpur Beri in two separate incidents. The men were inebriated state and used a scorpio in both the crimes.

According to the police, the three accused, identified as Yogesh, Naveen and Baljeet, intercepted a man in Aya Nagar in Fatehpur Beri and had a scuffle with him. They tried to snatch his mobile phone. Later, the victim's 25-year-old sister came to rescue her brother.

The victim told the police that three persons were in Scorpio car quarreled with her brother in the intervening night of March 18 and 19. When she came out to save him, they sexually assaulted her.

A case under section 376D/365/506 IPC has been registered at PS Fatehpur Beri.

On the same night the three accused robbed a truck driver of Rs 30,000 in Fatehpur Beri who was loading bricks along with the labourers in his truck.

The accused were arrested on the basis of secret input from the forest area in Aya Nagar on Friday.

"On the instance of all the three accused persons, the robbed Brown Colour purse containing the Adhar Card, Driving License and ATM Card of the complainant was also recovered from a vacant plot at Aya Nagar," said Atul Thakur, DCP South Delhi.
A 31-year-old Hindu journalist in Pakistan has been shot dead by some unidentified assailants while getting a haircut at a barber shop in the countrys Sindh province, media reports said on Saturday.

Ajay Lalvani, a reporter with a local television station and an Urdu language newspaper Daily Puchano, died on Thursday after he sustained bullet injuries in stomach, arm, and knee, The News International reported.

He was sitting in the barber shop in Sukkur city when assailants on two bikes and a car drove by and opened fire.

Lalvani was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died.

His father Dileep Kumar said that the family did not have any enmity, dismissing the polices claim of the murder being the result of a personal enmity, according to the report.

The police on Friday registered an FIR against three unknown assailants and launched an investigation.

Condemning the killing, Hindu member of Pakistan's National Assembly (MNA) Lal Chand Malhi said that it is a matter of great concern.

Strongly condemn D killing of yet another journalist Ajay Kumar at Saleh Pat, Sindh. It is a matter of great concern that media persons are increasingly feeling unsafe in Sindh. Offered condolence to the hiers of the victim. Police should (go) beyond forming comtes. (sic), he said on Twitter.

A group of journalists protested against Lalvanis killing and carried out a march after his funeral.

They claimed that the incident was a target killing as they held the Sukkur Police responsible for the incident.

Local traders also observed a shutter down strike against the killing.

Meanwhile, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an American independent non-profit organisation, urged authorities in Sindh province to must immediately launch a credible investigation and apprehend those responsible for the killing.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Premier Brian Pallister toured the provinces fifth mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday in Morden as more Manitobans became eligible to get a shot.

Premier Brian Pallister toured the provinces fifth mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday in Morden as more Manitobans became eligible to get a shot.

"Its wonderful to see this project going forward," Pallister said outside the Access Event Centre, which has been transformed into a health-care facility ahead of Monday's opening. "Were going to start making a lot of people very, very happy, from what I understand, not just from Morden-Winkler area, but all over the province people will be signing up to come here.

"And signing up for hope that we can get to the end of this COVID pandemic safely with our people healthy and active."

The eligibility age for members of the general public dropped to 69 and older, and to 49 and older for First Nations members Friday.

The province intends to open eight more "supersite" clinics over the next three months, said Health Minister Heather Stefanson, who visited the clinic with the premier and area MLA Cameron Friesen.

"Stay tuned on the rest. We want to encourage people to get vaccinated obviously, so well ensure that weve got the appropriate space," she said.

Provincial officials haven't said when or where the other large-scale clinics will open. The clinics operating currently are in Winnipeg, Brandon, Selkirk and Thompson, and at pop-up clinics in some rural communities.

The Morden facility, located about 120 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, opens Monday at 12:30 p.m. It will have a daily maximum capacity of 1,000 doses.

When the clinic opens, it will push the provinces total daily immunization capacity to 19,973 doses, just below the stated goal of 20,000 by April 1, if enough vaccine supply is available.

Health officials said the province will begin a new pilot program at the Morden clinic and at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg to increase the number of doses immunizers can do per hour from eight, and to reduce the time clients spend in the clinic.

Some staff will be dedicated to filling syringes and others to updating records while the immunizers will exclusively deliver shots.

Appointments can be booked by calling 1-844-626-8222 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. or online by clicking here and selecting "Book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment online." Currently, appointments are being scheduled two to three weeks in the future.

Eligibility may open to people over 65 years old as early as next week, officials said earlier this week.

Also Friday, chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin received his first dose of the AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine at an event hosted by the northern First Nations organization Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak.

MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee also received the shot, which was delivered by Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead for the vaccine task force.

Speaking at a press conference, Roussins deputy, Dr. Jazz Atwal, said he has also been vaccinated and encouraged Manitobans to sign up for a shot when their number is called.

"We want to be leaders. We want people to see that the vaccine is safe, that not only are we preaching people getting vaccine, but were showing people that its safe to get that vaccine as well," Atwal said. "The more that we can do to educate the population on the need for vaccine  I think its imperative that leaders continue to do that, public figures continue to do that."

Manitoba's chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, receives the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead on provincial vaccine implementation task force. (John Woods / The Canadian Press)

Provincial data shows 136,453 doses had been injected in Manitoba, including to First Nations, as of Friday afternoon. The province has received 193,760 doses from the federal government, meaning 70.42 per cent have been used.

The province has scheduled 226,980 shots over the next 28 days. As of Friday, 7.8 per cent of Manitobans over 18 had received at least one shot.

A portion of the 20,500 Moderna doses that arrived March 12 have gone to First Nations partners, as the campaign to immunize all adults living on reserve, and in neighbouring northern communities, ramps up.

An official with the Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team said 9,180 doses have been delivered to reserves and the balance will go out next week when the majority of clinics will begin operations. Another 26,500 doses from a Moderna delivery scheduled for March 30 will also go to the effort.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces are planning for deployment to 23 communities in northern Manitoba to support the immunization rollout, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.

This past week, public health officials said approximately 70 congregate-living facilities  assisted-living homes, seniors facilities and group homes  were visited by immunization teams, offering doses to an estimated 3,600 people.

Another 100 buildings, with an estimated 5,000 beds, will be visited next week; a complete list of dates and location is available on the provincial governments website.

The province said details about additional pop-up clinics in remote and rural communities will be released next week.

 with files from Dylan Robertson

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
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The government has said it recognises the 'problems and distress' hare coursing causes for farmers and that it is looking at 'further action' to tackle the crime.

Defra this week responded to an online parliament.uk petition calling for tougher punishments for those who commit hare coursing and poaching crimes.

The petition, created by gamekeeper Edward Coles, has so far attracted more than 12,700 signatures as of Saturday (20 March).

Mr Coles said that at present, the punishment for hare coursing and punishment 'is not fit for purpose'.

"Repeat offenders are not deterred with the small fines handed out, increased fines and custodial sentences are required.

"There needs to be a more of a deterrent," he said.

As well as animal welfare issues there are various other offences that occur during coursing, from trespass, crop damage, and dangerous driving.

Theft and criminal damage are also linked, rural groups have frequently warned, and intimidation and threats of violence are commonplace.

The government responded to the petition by saying hare coursing and poaching was 'one of the UK's six wildlife crime priorities'.

It said 'significant sanctions' were available to the courts to hand down to those convicted of hare coursing.

The maximum penalty that could be imposed for any offence was determined in the relevant legislation, Defra added, and sentencing was 'entirely a matter for our independent courts'.

"When deciding on an appropriate sentence, within the maximum penalty, the courts must take into account the circumstances of each case and consider any aggravating and mitigating factors.

"Where a fine is imposed, this is based on the seriousness of the offence and the court will also consider the offenders financial circumstances and assess what they can reasonably afford to pay.

"Courts must also follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, issued by the independent Sentencing Council," the department said.

In September 2020 Defra convened a roundtable meeting with rural organisations, the police and the Home Office to consider the current position on hare coursing.

Hare coursing was also the subject of a Westminster Hall debate on 1 December 2020.

But Defra admitted that the current response to hare coursing crimes needed to be 'stronger'.

"[We] will continue discussions with all those concerned, whilst considering what further action could be taken," the department said.

It comes as farmers are confidentially sharing evidence of the real prevalence of hare coursing amid fears the crime is significantly underreported.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) launched the survey in collaboration with the National Rural Crime Network, NFU and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

Farmers can complete the hare coursing survey online ahead of its deadline for responses on 31 March 2021.
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A couple of weeks back, we were first introduced to JioBook, an affordable laptop from the house of Jio. Now, we are hearing that the company will be launching this particular laptop alongside a new 5G smartphone. The new report by Economic Times highlights that the company will be launching two new devices this year at RIL's 2021 AGM - a 5G smartphone and the JioBook laptop.

Jio 5G Smartphone

People familiar with the matter mentions that Reliance's 5G-ready Android smartphone is in the works, and it may launch in the second quarter of 2021. This particular smartphone is said to be developed in partnership with Google.

As per the details shared by an executive, the phone's specs have been finalized. However, it looks like there are still some discussions going on regarding the OS. It will most likely have deep integration with Jio's slew of services that are available in the market. Jio is also said to be developing JioOS, a custom version of Android.

We don't know much about this JioOS at this point, but it will definitely offer an optimized performance even with all the Jio applications pre-loaded. That being said, it remains to be seen if Jio will use the standard version of Android or the Android Go OS for entry-level phones.

JioBook - An affordable laptop

In addition to the 5G smartphone, Jio is also expected to launch JioBook, an affordable laptop for the masses. This entry-level laptop is expected to come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 665 SoC under the hood along with 2GB of LPDDR4X RAM paired with 32GB of eMMC storage. It is expected to feature a 1366  768 resolution display as standard but you might be able to configure the laptop with more RAM and storage.

Reliance is said to be collaborating with China-based Bluebank Communication Technology for this laptop. According to the documents reviewed by XDA, the JioBook laptop is in development since early September 2020. We will be learning more about this laptop, and the 5G smartphone in the coming weeks and months, leading up to the AGM.
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We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service.
Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue.

The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website:

We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service.
Kaspersky was selected as the only foreign company in the vendor evaluation of the China Endpoint Security Detection and Response Market 2020" recently released by IDC.

Kaspersky faces greater competition in China market, it needs to continuously develop innovative market cooperation models and establish a healthy security ecosystem, striving to provide security products and services that meet the demands of the China market.

At the same time, today's rapidly changing information technology and cybersecurity environment requires enterprises and organizations to respond to more cybersecurity challenges with limited resources. Many customers in China lack security technology capabilities to fully utilize the capabilities and benefits of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) products, so security vendors need to help enterprises overcome the challenges of time and human resources, and help them effectively respond to evolving cybersecurity challenges through automated detection and response.

Kasperskys team consists of more than 4,000 highly-qualified specialists. An elite group of more than 40 security experts from our Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) operate all around the world and provide leading threat intelligence and research.

In terms of cybersecurity products and services, Kaspersky is building a security ecosystem based on infrastructure-level security products, including industrial networks, enterprise networks, endpoints, mobile and cloud infrastructures. It integrates Kaspersky's products into a robust cybersecurity platform that automates investigation and response, and significantly reduces the average detection time (MTTR) and average response time (MTTD) of the enterprise.

The security ecosystem is constantly evolving and improving, and will eventually enable the SOC to automate incident response workflows using multiple scenario response scripts, where each step can be fully automated, or one-click execution can be set directly within the platform.

Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response is an incident investigation and response tool designed to provide full privacy protection for enterprise networks and critical data/files - all data collection, analysis, and storage are performed on-site, manual incident response is provided and automated work modes are implemented to better provide endpoint and forensic capabilities and full visibility for security teams and SOCs.

Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response shares the same agent as Kasperskys enterprise endpoint security products  Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business, which eliminates additional management and maintenance costs for customer endpoints and ensures that customers' workstations and servers are fully protected from advanced threats and targeted attacks.

Kaspersky endpoint security solutions provide automatic prevention of most common threats, as well as endpoint control, support for advanced detection and prioritization of complex attacks, and support for detailed investigation and effective response to incidents.

Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response provides a unified overview platform for security personnel. All functions can be monitored and controlled from a single console without switching between different tools and consoles and effectively enhancing the work efficiency of enterprise security teams.

Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response can be integrated with Kaspersky endpoint Security product Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business, Kaspersky Anti-Targeted Attack Platform, Kaspersky Sandbox and other solutions to enhance traditional endpoint security services and enable advanced threat detection and prevention, bring great benefits to enterprise including lowering cost, increasing return on investment and reducing the risk of being attacked.

To avoid risks of getting attacked, Alvin Cheng, General Manager of Greater China, Kaspersky Asia Pacific Region shares the following advice:

To provide "blind spot" free visibility and centralized response, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) needs to be integrated with the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP). Enhancing cybersecurity capabilities should be a step-by-step process. Once an enterprise can detect a malicious object using an endpoint protection solution, it can extend existing technology to enable it to understand its source and search for such threats on other workstations.

If the EDR solution can be integrated smoothly with existing endorsement security solutions in a centralized manner, it can reduce the time required for deployment. So, before purchasing a product, ask if the product supports turnkey integration with EPP

If your company has a limited number of employees responsible for security, make sure the EDR solution you choose provides good visibility and automation without overwhelming professionals with irrelevant information. All events should be easily accessible from a single console, and attack spread paths should be visualized to simplify threat analysis. Automated indicators of compromise (IOC) searching and incident response can speed up work and increase employee productivity.

Endpoint security has always been an important link in the overall cybersecurity protection system of an enterprise. As the pace of enterprise digital transformation continues to accelerate, the boundaries of enterprise networks are becoming increasingly blurred and the difficulty of network security protection continues to increase. As an important supplement to traditional endpoint security protection products, EDR effectively compensates for the lack of function of traditional antivirus software with its continuous monitoring and analysis of endpoint security. It has attracted wide attention from technology providers and tech buyers worldwide, and has become an important driving force for the continuous growth of the endpoint security market,  said Zhao Weijing, IDC China Network Security Market Research Manager.
A woman was killed and a teenage girl critically injured early Saturday when their car hit a tree along General De Gaulle Drive in Algiers.

New Orleans police said the woman, 44, was speeding north in a Dodge Challenger with a 15-year-old girl as her passenger but lost control of the car at about 1:45 a.m. She swerved from the right lane to the left, jumped the median curb near River Oaks Drive and struck a tree.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Police did not immediately release other details.
McALLEN  A Border Patrol bus had just disgorged 60 more Central American adults and children into a pop-up COVID-19 testing lab in this border city when Emerson Mayorga pulled to the curb, straining for a glimpse of his wife and toddler son.

I have been searching for days, Mayorga, a commercial painter from Port Arthur, said as he considered the white tents of the testing center. I havent heard anything since they crossed the river.

Mayorga, 32, had not held his wife, Beverly Cardona, or his 21-month-old son, Matheo, since the child was a newborn. The pandemic and the Trump administrations immigration clampdown had made travel home to Honduras impossible.

Then COVID-19 claimed Mayorgas beloved grandmother and mother in quick succession a few months ago. Now, with a new president in the White House, Mayorga had decided it was time to reunite with what remains of his family. So he sent for them. He admits it was hardly an original idea.

We heard that mothers with small children were being allowed in, said Mayorga, who has been a legal U.S. resident for a decade. All Hondurans  everyone  want to come here.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

With the northern spring arriving, the pandemic easing and President Joe Biden vowing to be more humane than his predecessor, migrants have begun flocking to the U.S. border by the thousands again.

While Biden administration officials struggle with their messaging  calling the latest spike a challenge but rejecting the term crisis  U.S. immigration agents continue quickly turning back the vast majority of undocumented migrants as soon as they enter, officials say.

Still, thousands of teenagers migrating alone and adults with very young children are being processed and released to relatives and other sponsors in the U.S. Crisis or not, the surge of migrants, mostly from Central America, has created what most everyone agrees is a chaotic crush.

Border Patrol agents detained 9,500 children and more than 19,000 families in February. Some 71,000 adults traveling alone  many of whom have made repeated crossings  were apprehended as well.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

All told, the numbers of those detained marked a 30 percent increase from January, the final month of President Donald Trumps administration. Experts expect the numbers to continue rising.

While nearly all the adults migrating alone are quickly sent back across the border, U.S. officials announced Thursday that some 14,000 unaccompanied minors are now in U.S. detention.

Several thousand unaccompanied children are being held at a makeshift camp in Donna, near McAllen. Officials plan to temporarily house up to 3,000 migrant boys at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. More youths are being held at a converted oil workers camp in Midland.

Federal officials are converting large family detention camps in Dilley and Karnes County into immigrant processing centers.

We have to do what we do regardless of what anybody calls the situation, said Roberta Jacobson, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico who is now helping coordinate border and immigration policy at the White House.

And the fact is, we are all focused on improving the situation, on changing to a more humane and efficient system, she said.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Floundering economies, endemic corruption, violence and gangland crime have been driving migrants north for decades from the so-called Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Experts say the flow has been swelled by the destruction caused by back-to-back hurricanes last fall and by the belief that the new U.S. administration will treat migrants more favorably.

As vice president in the Obama administration, Biden played a lead role in quashing a similar 2014 rush to the border  spurred by smuggler-fueled rumors of easily obtained U.S. residency for youths and families.

Some 68,000 unaccompanied children and a similar number of adults and children traveling as families were detained then. Most were from the Northern Triangle, and most of them crossed the border into far South Texas.

That tide abated once word spread in Central America that being admitted temporarily to await a court hearing was no guarantee of U.S. residency. Mexico and the U.S. toughened border enforcement.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Trump squelched yet another surge three years ago  one marked by thousands-strong migrant caravans traveling from Central America through Mexico  by further tightening already draconian immigration policies.

The Trump administration pressured Central American and Mexican leaders to stop the caravans. And it forced more than 70,000 asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico or their home countries while waiting for their cases to be heard.

Last year, the administration began refusing entry to nearly all undocumented immigrants on the grounds that they posed a risk of bringing COVID-19 into the U.S. The Biden administration so far has continued that policy, known as Title 42, and uses it to turn away most migrants.

The border is not open, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. And the vast majority of people are being returned under Title 42.

The Biden administration has terminated the so-called Remain in Mexico program and is allowing entry to many of the 25,000 migrants whose asylum petitions are pending. Overwhelmed immigration courts have approved less than 1 percent of recent asylum requests.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

The crisis is coming

Still, here along the final stretch of the Rio Grande, an unknown number of lucky adults traveling with infants, toddlers and preschool children are being released into the U.S. That is largely because the bordering Mexican state of Tamaulipas has refused to accept them.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley, stretching some 100 miles upriver of McAllen to the Gulf of Mexico, has long been the most transited section of the entire 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, accounting for nearly three-quarters of U.S. immigration detentions.

As word spreads that some migrant families may be treated more leniently under Biden, the flow might well increase this spring. In fiscal year 2019, before the pandemic stopped almost all immigration, some 340,000 undocumented migrants were apprehended in the Border Patrols Rio Grande Sector, nearly all of them from Central America.

You can stand at a lectern and say the border is closed, but word of mouth is powerful, said analyst Adam Isacson, who tracks immigration policy at the Washington Office on Latin America, a think tank.

Last week in Reynosa, the Mexican border city nearest McAllen, evangelical pastor Hector Silva eyed the playing children and sullenly huddled adults on the patio of the migrant shelter he founded 26 years ago on the banks of the Rio Grande.

Its not a crisis yet, Silva said with a shrug. But the crisis is coming.

We are receiving the impact of the hope the government of the United States has given to these people, Silva said. Many families are arriving, and many others are being sent back. Its a nightmare.

Some 175 men, women and children were sleeping and eating at the shelter  a fraction of those who have stayed there at any one time over the past year. But now, Silva is allowing in only those who have been tested for COVID-19.

Silva used to limit stays to three days for migrants passing through, but he dropped that requirement when Trumps policies dammed the flow into the U.S. Now, all newcomers are required to be quarantined in a separate building for two weeks. Those who have completed quarantine stay on for weeks longer.

Last week, 45 adults and children were packed into the quarantine room, sleeping on old mattresses or gym mats. Meals are served through the doorway. Those under quarantine didnt mingle with other shelter residents even when they were allowed outside.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Some of those in quarantine had been forcibly deported from Texas. Others had only just arrived after long bus rides across Mexico, unimpeded by Mexican immigration agents or police.

The danger lurking in the migration routes through Mexico was underscored in January, when the charred bodies of 19 migrants, nearly all from Mayan communities in the Guatemalan highlands, were found in the Mexican border town of Camargo along the Rio Grande. Mexican authorities said they were victims of rivalries between smuggling gangs. Twelve Mexican state police officers were arrested in the investigation.

In June 2019, a Guatemalan mother, her toddler son and two other young children died of exposure in a thick bramble near McAllen. They apparently had become lost and disoriented after smugglers took them across the river in a boat.

Still, the gangs that control the Mexican banks of the river have got their business running smoothly, migrants interviewed along the Rio Grande said.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Fees vary, but smugglers currently charge about $600 a head for the quick raft ride to the U.S. side. Passengers are given life jackets. The smugglers send cell phone photos to family members who paid for the crossing, as proof of service.

A video showing dozens of migrants lined on the Mexican bank, waiting to be ferried across, recently went viral on the internet. Customs and Border Protection officials say that so far this year, agents have encountered 19 groups of 100 or more migrants crossing into the Valley.

Once on the U.S. side, the migrants are usually on their own, advised to turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents. Several migrants at the shelter in Reynosa said they had to search an hour or longer to find the Border Patrol.

We are coming now because of the new government, said Rudy Cruz, 25, who traveled here from his hurricane-damaged coffee farm in central Honduras with his 6-year-old son. You see a child as a passport into the United States. Its not easy, but its the only way.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

There is nothing in Honduras, Cruz said. Were just looking for a better future.

Finally reunited

Who gets to stay and who is sent back across the river seems haphazard at best.

Emerson Mayorga said his cousin, along with her husband and two young children, crossed the Rio Grande on March 12  in the same raft as Mayorgas own wife and son. The cousin and her family were returned to Mexico three days later.

It appears to be pure luck who gets in, said Mayorga, who immigrated to the U.S. a decade ago and obtained a green card with sponsorship from his grandmother, a U.S. citizen. Thats why I was so worried.

Photos by Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

After four days of searching for his family members, Mayorga got a call from his wife Tuesday afternoon. Beverly Cardona told him she and their son were being released in Brownsville that afternoon. They had been held in a chilly, crowded building where the food was bad and many people were sick with colds, she said.

Mayorga found them on the open-air platform of the citys downtown bus station, amid a throng of other migrant adults and children awaiting rides to the U.S. heartland.

Parents sat on hard chairs with thousand-yard stares as their children played with coloring books and other toys distributed by a humanitarian group called Team Brownsville.

Mayorga approached his family carrying a few snacks and a toy helicopter for his son. Cardona broke into a wide grin when she noticed him. Matheo eyed Mayorga warily as they all embraced.

Mayorga guided them from the bus station to his car parked at the curb.

He was taking his family home.
Cancer patients across c

Cancer patients across Louth can access free support to manage visible side effects of cancer treatment and Feel like you again.

Daffodil Day, proudly supported by Boots, takes place on Friday 26 March.

As part of Boots Irelands partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, Boots Cancer Beauty Advisors are specifically trained to offer additional support to those with cancer, by providing individual make up and skincare advice to help patients to look and feel more like themselves again.

The free service is available from the comfort of patients homes as a virtual consultation via phone or video.

Anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis in Louth can book an appointment free of charge online. Each session takes approx 20 minutes and are available to book Monday through to Sunday. To book a free consultation at a time that suits, visit: https://www.boots.ie/no7/no7- book-an-appointment

If you or anyone you know is impacted by a cancer diagnosis, contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone: 1800 200 700

To get involved with Daffodil Day, visit cancer.ie/Daffodilday

Daffodil Day, proudly supported by Boots, takes place on Friday 26 March.

As part of Boots Irelands partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, Boots Cancer Beauty Advisors are specifically trained to offer additional support to those with cancer, by providing individual make up and skincare advice to help patients to look and feel more like themselves again.

The free service is available from the comfort of patients homes as a virtual consultation via phone or video.

Anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis in Louth can book an appointment free of charge online.

Each session takes approximately 20 minutes and are available to book Monday through to Sunday.

To book a free consultation at a time that suits, visit: https://www.boots.ie/no7/no7- book-an-appointment

If you or anyone you know is impacted by a cancer diagnosis, contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone: 1800 200 700

To get involved with Daffodil Day, visit cancer.ie/Daffodilday
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A man stands on a poster featuring armed forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as he attempts to douse tear gas during a crackdown by security forces on a demonstration by protesters against the military coup in Yangon's Thaketa township on March 19, 2021.

Police in Myanmar Friday arrested two journalists covering the trial of a civilian official ousted in last months military takeover as brutal crackdowns on anti-coup protests killed at least 10, sources in Myanmar told RFA.

Aung Thura of the BBCs Burmese-language service and Than Htike Aung from a local news agency were at a courthouse in the capital Naypyidaw for the trial of Win Htein, a senior official of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party ousted in the military takeover on Feb. 1.

The two journalists were stopped by two men in plainclothes, believed to be security agents. According to the BBC, the men came to the court in an unmarked van, demanding to see the reporters.

The BBC lost contact with Aung Thura after the two reporters were taken away.

"We are extremely concerned about our BBC News Burmese Reporter, Aung Thura, who was taken away by unidentified men," the BBC said in a statement. It called on authorities to help locate him

Than Htike Aungs outlet, Mizzima News, is one of five domestic news agencies or newspapers that had operating licenses revoked by the military junta earlier this month.

An RFA tally shows that since the coup, about 40 journalists have been arrested with about half still detained.

Despite an atmosphere of menace and increasing brutality by security forces, protesters returned to the streets Friday in multiple cities in the country of 54 million people, and demonstrations were violently suppressed, with 10 people killed, witnesses and citizens social media reports said.

Nine of the 10 fatalities Friday were in the southern Shan state town of Aungban, where witnesses say police opened fire on a group of protesters while trying to clear their makeshift barricade.

A man who was helping the wounded shortly after the shooting told RFAs Myanmar Service that the police confiscated six bodies. At that time eight were known to have died.

We believe they took the bodies to Aungban Police Station. Another died at Kalaw Hospital and another at his home after his friends and family carried him there, said the man, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident.

The man said the shooting happened without warning.

They got out of their vehicles straight away and fired their automatic weapons at the protesters. They didnt even use teargas. They were not shooting single rounds. It was automatic fire like in a war, so people had to run for their lives, he said.

The Myanmar Now news portal reported another protester was shot dead in the northeastern town of Loikaw.

In Yangon, the former capital and commercial center that has been a main stage for six weeks of protests, police and soldiers ordered local residents at gunpoint to clear makeshift barricades from the roads as they searched for protest leaders.

In citizen video, police with guns drawn forced a man to crawl on the ground after he asked them not to make him to carry sandbags.

In Yangons Dawbon township, four people were wounded when security forces fired into residential areas, while in Thingangyun township, security officials damaged 30 vehicles parked by the roadside.

Reuters reported that another shooting death in Yangon was shown on social media, but could not confirm the death.

Meanwhile, in Kawlin, in the Sagaing region, police opened fire on a protest march. Initial reports said that many protesters were wounded.

In Mandalay, the countrys second largest city, residents rode around streets on motorcycles chanting anti-military slogans. The bike rally coincided with protest marches in the citys Myadaung quarter. Soldiers and police were out in force, and the protests remained peaceful.

In nearby Myingyan, a 27-year-old man died Friday, succumbing to wounds sustained when police shot him in the face on March 15. He was the sixth from the city to have been killed by police or soldiers.

Protesters also staged rallies in Mon and Kachin states, and authorities declared martial law in Monywa, the largest city in the countrys northern Sagaing region.

According to statistics from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the crackdown has killed 224 since the Feb. 1 coup, with more than 2,200 arrested, and many in hiding to avoid arrest.

RFA has confirmed more than 200 deaths and many cases of missing people.

International reaction

The envoys to Myanmar from several Western countries condemned the ongoing violence as immoral and indefensible, in a joint statement that addressed recent bloodshed in Yangons Hlaing Tharyar industrial district, where many were killed in the days following the torching of Chinese-owned garment factories.

Internet blackouts and suppression of the media will not hide the militarys abhorrent actions, the ambassadors said in a joint statement on Friday.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a virtual address condemned the violence and called for an emergency meeting of ASEAN to address the issue.

Indonesia urges that the use of violence in Myanmar be stopped immediately so that there are no more victims, he said.

The safety and welfare of the people must be the top priority. Indonesia also urges dialogue, that reconciliation is carried out immediately to restore democracy, to restore peace and to restore stability in Myanmar, said Joko Widodo.

Leaders from Malaysia and the Philippines also appealed to ASEAN to act on the situation in Myanmar.

The comments by the leaders are a rare display of disapproval as traditionally the 10 ASEAN countries refrain from discussing internal issues.

Meanwhile the coup leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing held a video conference with the defense chiefs of neighboring countries in what was his first international event since taking power.

The leaders of the militaries of Indonesia and Singapore expressed concern over the Myanmar situation and urged the general to refrain from using lethal force.

In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives Friday approved legislation condemning the coup by a vote of 398 to 14. The resolution also condemned the detention of Myanmars civilian leaders and called for their immediate release, as well as the restoration of elected members of parliament to their seats.

Lawmakers spoke out against what they called harsh tactics employed by the junta to suppress protests.

"We must make it clear that the United States is watching and that we support the restoration of democracy," said Representative Gregory Meeks, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, while arguing in favor of the legislation.

The European Union is expected to enact similar measures next week.

Protesters in Yangon send a smoke bomb back to the police on 03-17-2021. Photo courtesy of a citizen journalist.

Meanwhile in Paris, the French backers of a major Myanmar hydropower project pulled out of the deal.

Electricite de France (EDF) told the Justice for Myanmar NGO that it was suspending involvement in the Shweli 3 hydropower project over human rights concerns.

Justice for Myanmar welcomed the withdrawal, saying that continuing with the project would have required that EDF conduct business with the junta.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
The descendants of the Pharisees (the Orthodox) are a key to the Second Coming, for they alone are still eager to rebuild the Temple, which Jesus said will be present in the final days.

Author Anthony Cardinale opens eyes to the transformation taking place among Orthodox Jews in The Pharisees Are Coming to Jesus: Secret Orthodox Believers in Israel and America ($20.99, paperback, 9781662810671; $9.99, e-book, 9781662810664).

Cardinale has made various trips to Israel and befriended many of the people there. He has witnessed Orthodox Jews who continue their Temple worship on the Sabbath, yet also meet secretly with other believers in Yeshua (Jesus). He examines the teaching of world-renowned Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, whose eyes Cardinale believes have been opened to the truth of Christ.

Christians will learn that God is removing the scales from Jewish eyes about Jesus, 2,000 years after God blinded them to give Gentiles an opportunity for salvation. The descendants of the Pharisees (the Orthodox) are a key to the Second Coming, for they alone are still eager to rebuild the Temple, which Jesus said will be present in the final days, said Cardinale.

Anthony Cardinale is an award-winning Christian Zionist who began writing about Israel and the Jewish people long before discovering his own Jewish bloodlines. A member of the National Association of Scholars, he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize three times during his years as a reporter with the Buffalo News. He has written for Messianic Times, Jewish Voice Today, Charisma and Ministries magazines, as well as the Orthodox weekly Yated Ne'eman. He also brings to his writings his dramatic touch as an award-winning playwright.

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Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. The Pharisees Are Coming to Jesus is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
New Delhi:

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday attacked Mamata government after state-owned Netaji Subhash indoor stadium has cancelled the bookings in which party president Amit Shah was scheduled to attend a programme on September 11.

The BJP said the move has been taken at the behest of Mamata Banerjee. But, the ruling Trinamool Congress said that it has nothing to do with it.

State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said: "On August 26, we had called up the Netaji Indoor Stadium authorities. They said we were given a pencil (provisional) booking and asked us to come with a no-objection certificate issued by the Kolkata police. But on August 30, we were told that the stadium was booked for the entire month, except for the Durga Puja days between September 26-30."

Shah will be on a three day visit to West Bengal from September 11-13.

TMC sources claimed that the booking for the BJP chief's event at the stadium or its cancellation had nothing to do with any of its ministers or leaders. The stadium officials did not respond to phone calls.

Also Read: Mohan Bhagwat prevented from hoisting tricolour in Kerala school on 71st Independence Day

The development comes a day after a row erupted over the cancellation of booking for an October 3 event, which was to be addressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, by a state-run auditorium.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20)  A Spanish Navy training ship docked in Cebu City as part of the quincentennial celebration of the world's first circumnavigation led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

The Juan Sebastian Elcano arrived at the Cebu International Port on Saturday, which also marked another milestone as the country celebrates 500 years of Christianity after the arrival of Magellan in 1521 in Cebu. It introduced the Catholic faith in the country.

This was represented by the image of the Santo Nino that was given by the Spaniards to Rajah Humabon's wife and Queen of Cebu, Humamay, as a baptismal gift. The explorer also brought a wooden cross that became a historical symbol in the city now known as Magellans Cross.

The Juan Sebastian Elcano arrived in on March 16 first in Suluan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The ship's crew was welcomed Philippine Coast Guard and Navy ships at the Mactan Channel, while Cebu City officials were at the port together with the Amaya Fuentes Milani, deputy head of mission of the Spanish Embassy.

Captain Santiago de Colsa thanked the Filipinos for the warm welcome. He also said, the visit enhances the ties between the Philippines and Spain.

In a statement, Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the military's Central Command, said aside from remembering the historic circumnavigation, the country is also celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Victory of Mactan.

Indeed, we are truly blessed for this triple celebration which significantly defines the journey between two countries that strengthen deeper bonds and friendship paved on the battlefield since 1521, he said.

The Juan Sebastian Elcano is docked from March 20 to 22 at the Port of Cebu before it continues sailing towards Mindanao as it exits the Philippines.
More than half of UK adults have now received their first dose of the vaccine (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has hailed the vaccination of more than half the UKs adult population against Covid-19 as a phenomenal achievement.

Government data up to March 19 suggests that 26,853,407 people aged 18 and over have now received a first dose of the jab  around 51% of the population.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it remains on track to offer the vaccine to all over-50s by April 15.

It comes as countries across Europe have had to impose tougher restrictions amid a rise in Covid-19 cases, with UK scientists warning overseas holidays this summer will be extremely unlikely.

Mr Hancock said: Vaccinating over half of all adults is a phenomenal achievement and is testament to the mammoth efforts of the NHS, GPs, volunteers, local authorities and civil servants in every corner of the UK.

During April, we will continue to vaccinate those most at risk and around 12 million people will receive their second doses as well.

It is absolutely crucial people come forward as soon as they are eligible. When you get the call, get the jab, because the more people who are vaccinated the safer we will all be.

Some 2,132,551 people in the UK  around 4% of all adults  have been given their second dose of the vaccine, while almost 95% of people aged 60 and over have received their first jab, the DHSC said.

Government data suggests that 711,156 vaccines  both first and second doses  were administered across the UK on Friday.

Of those, 636,219 were given in England the highest daily amount since the NHS vaccination programme began, NHS England said.

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Meanwhile, Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Spi-M modelling group which advises the Government, said there was a danger that new variants could jeopardise the vaccination programme later in the year.

Other experts have warned there could be a third wave of Covid-19 infections in the UK and advised people not to consider overseas holidays when restrictions ease later this year.

Infectious disease expert Dr Tildesley told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.

I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country.

What is really dangerous is if we jeopardise our vaccination campaign by having these variants where the vaccines dont work as effectively spreading more rapidly.

Government sources said the UK needs to be wary of what is happening in Europe because in the past that has led to a rise here a few weeks later, although how things will pan out is uncertain.

European countries are seeing pockets of the South African variant, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against this variant.

In the UK, hospital admissions and deaths are still coming down due to the effect of vaccines, but there are worries that cases could rise quickly once restrictions are eased.

Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said while another wave was likely in the UK, the impact could be less deadly than previous ones.

He told Times Radio: I think another wave is possible. Likely, even.

I guess the difference is that another wave will cause substantially fewer deaths and hospitalisations because of high levels of vaccination across the sorts of people who would have ended up in hospital or unfortunately dying if they havent been vaccinated.

So the consequences of another wave are less. I think the challenge is of course we dont know exactly how much less.

Experts believe there will be an increasing disconnect between cases and hospital admissions and deaths going forward, as vaccines work to keep people from dying.

Regarding foreign holidays this summer, Government scientists say it is still unclear what will happen, but the risk of importing cases and variants comes from countries with a higher prevalence than the UK.

In Europe, the French government announced that new lockdown restrictions would be imposed on Paris from midnight on Friday due to an increase in cases.

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Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany may need to apply an emergency break on relaxing restrictions amid a rise in infections.

Poland begins a new three-week lockdown on Saturday, with shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities closed.

Countries including France, Germany and Italy have begun restarting their vaccine programmes with the AstraZeneca jab  reversing earlier decisions to suspend them over blood clot concerns.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will resume in Ireland on Saturday, the Health Service Executive announced.

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On Friday, Boris Johnson gave a double thumbs-up to mark his vaccination as he was given the jab at Westminster Bridge Vaccination Centre at St Thomas Hospital in central London shortly after 6.30pm.
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On Saturday morning, health secretary Matt Hancock said that more people received a coronavirus jab on Friday than on any previous day - including prime minister Boris Johnson. Photo: Reuters/John Sibley

The British government has revealed that half of the UK adult population have now received a first dose of a COVID vaccine.

It also came as Pfizer (PFE) warned the EU to back down on its vaccine threat to stop supply to the UK.

According to the latest government figures, more than 26 million people in the UK have had their first dose of the vaccine. However the actual current total is still to be updated and is expected to be published later.

On Saturday morning, health secretary Matt Hancock said that more people received a coronavirus jab on Friday than on any previous day - including prime minister Boris Johnson.

"Yesterday we vaccinated more people than any day yet," he posted on Twitter (TWTR). "I'm delighted to be able to say that we've now vaccinated HALF of all adults in the UK.

He added: "The vaccine is a national success story - and our way out of this pandemic. When you get the call, get the jab."

Britain and Northern Ireland are now around five million people short of their second target, which is to inoculate the first nine priority groups by the 15 April.

Boris Johnson is also aiming to give a first dose to everyone aged 18 or over in the UK by the end of July 2021.

READ MORE: EU countries resume AstraZeneca vaccine as Scandinavia keeps jab on hold

The news follows a warning from Pfizer, who told the EU not to block vaccines to the UK, as it relies heavily on vital ingredients from Yorkshire, the Telegraph reported.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, previously said she would halt the export of coronavirus vaccines into Britain unless Boris Johnson surrendered British-made AstraZeneca jabs to the EU.

A Pfizer spokesman said: We have been clear with all stakeholders that the free movement of goods and supply across borders is absolutely critical to Pfizer and the patients we serve.

We are working closely with governments around the world, including the UK Government and the European Commission, to ensure the supply of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in accordance with the agreed schedules.

Story continues

WATCH: EU threatens bans on COVID vaccine exports to UK

It also comes as countries across Europe have had to impose tougher restrictions amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, with France going into its third lockdown across 16 regions, including Paris.

UK scientists warned that overseas holidays this summer will be "extremely unlikely" because of the risk of travellers bringing coronavirus variants back to the country.

The UK faces a "real risk" if people travel abroad, Dr Mike Tildesley said.

Foreign holidays are not allowed under current lockdown restrictions and travellers have to quarantine upon return.

WATCH: What UK government COVID-19 support is available?
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday reacted to Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's "bury the past and move forward" remark and said that Pakistan should be serious about making peace with India.

According to reports, Punjab CM Singh said that before talking about stability in Indo-Pak relations, Pakistan should first keep an eye on ISI, adding that infiltration into India from across the border is still happening, Indian soldiers are being killed at the borders every day and Pakistan is dropping arms and heroin into Punjab through drones every other day. He also reportedly said that efforts are being made to create trouble in India which should stop first, only then we can talk peace.

Time To Bury The Past & Move Forward: Army Chief Bajwa Calls For Peace

On Thursday, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa called for India to 'bury the past and move forward as the peace between the two neighbours would help to 'unlock' the potential of South and Central Asia, he said. Addressing a session of the first-ever Islamabad Security Dialogue, General Bajwa also said that the potential for regional peace and development has remained hostage to the age-old disputes between the two 'nuclear-armed neighbours'. Bajwa, however, added that the burden to create a "conducive environment" is on India and noted the role played by the US in resolving the regional conflicts.

Last month, India had said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. India said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility. Stating that 'talks and terror cannot go together, New Delhi has Islamabad to take demonstrable steps against terror groups responsible for launching various attacks on India.

The Pakistani Army Chiefs remarks came a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan made a similar statement at the same venue. Khan opined that India will be benefitted economically by having peace with Pakistan as it will enable the neighbouring country to directly access the "resource-rich Central Asian region through Pakistani territory."
Akram Neghabi has been searching for her son for more than two decades, despite threats, state pressure, and numerous futile attempts to get information from Iranian officials.

Neghabis son, computer science student Saeed Zeinali, was arrested at his home in the Iranian capital in July 1999, a few days after big student protests at Tehran University that were met with force.

Three armed agents said they were taking Zeinali, 22, in for questioning,

They said he would be back soon.

When my husband was detained, we were told not to look for Saeed anymore. They said you have to end this.

Some three months later, Zeinali made a brief phone call to his family, telling them that he was in Tehrans notorious Evin prison and urging them to follow up on his case with the authorities.

"Im well," he said.

That was the last time they heard from him.

Since then, Neghabi has been trying to find him and determine his fate, contacting the judiciary, prison officials, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the police, and even the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But no one has given her a clear answer.

"There is no organization that we have not contacted," she said, adding that "they don't even accept our letters anymore. They dont want Saeeds name to be heard.

Despite all of her efforts, Zeinalis whereabouts are unknown and the mother of three says she doesnt even know if her son is dead or alive.

In 2016, a judiciary spokesman said that no document had been found proving that Zeinali was arrested, adding that he appeared to be missing.

Im a mother whose child was taken away 22 years ago. I want to know what happened to him. Is he alive? I have been left with nothing -- not a sign or a grave -- and Im not sure what to do, Neghabi said in an interview with RFE/RLs Radio Farda.

One day, the pain of the mothers, the sound of their cries, will bring [change]."

She said in past years she even spent hours outside Evin prison and other detention centers with a photo of her son.

"I would go in front of prisons holding a [big] picture photo of my Saeed, [hoping] that maybe someone had seen him," she said. "Maybe my Saeed is an old man now. I [used to] go outside prisons with this hope, but unfortunately [state] pressure and arrests [now] prevent me from doing so."

Neghabi and her daughter were arrested in 2010 and held in prison for two months, where they were questioned and threatened. She has said that she was told by her IRGC interrogators that her son had been martyred.

Her husband, Hashem Zeinali, was detained in 2015 and sentenced to nearly three months in prison and 74 lashes for disturbing public order after he took part in a gathering outside Evin prison in support of the jailed leader of a spiritual group.

Neghabi said her husband got mixed up with those protesters while demanding answers about his son.

When my husband was detained, we were told not to look for Saeed anymore. They said you have to end this, Neghabi said, adding that such pressure has failed to stop her quest.

Neghabi said she will keep demanding justice and accountability along with other mothers whose sons have become victims of Iranian state violence in recent years, including in November 2019, when at least several hundred protesters were killed in the government's brutal crackdown on antiestablishment protests started by a sharp rise in gasoline prices.

The mothers of the missing children have gotten together in recent years to offer each other support while also raising their voices against state repression.

One day, the pain of the mothers, the sound of their cries, will bring [change], said Neghabi, adding that her only hope is that other mothers don't have to mourn a child as she has.

I pray that no more young people are killed or arrested, [beaten, or] tortured, she said. I hope to see that day.

Written by Golnaz Esfandiari based on an interview by Radio Farda's Fereshteh Ghazi
KYODO NEWS - Mar 20, 2021 - 15:50 | All, Japan

The Japanese government has a goal of raising the ratio of women running in national elections to 35 percent by 2025, but two-thirds of active female lawmakers think it will be hard to achieve, a recent Kyodo News survey showed.

The pessimistic outlook came from 66 percent of the survey's respondents as many of them cited a stereotypical view in Japan that politics is men's business and the difficulty of balancing being a mother, wife and politician as two of the main reasons.

Twenty-six percent of the respondents said the goal could be reached with concerted efforts by each political party.

Women accounted for 18 percent of all candidates in the House of Representatives election in 2017 and 28 percent in the House of Councillors election in 2019.

But the percentages of women who won seats in those elections went down to 10 percent and 23 percent, respectively.

With just 10 percent accounting for women, compared with the world average of 26 percent, Japan ranks 166th in the ratio of women in the lower or single house of parliament on a list of 190 countries, according to data by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Japanese political parties tend to pick incumbents when they field candidates in elections, making it difficult for new women to step in.

This tendency is more apparent among the ruling parties. In the October 2017 lower house election, 25 women, or 8 percent, ran for the Liberal Democratic Party, and five women, or 9 percent, ran for the LDP's junior coalition partner Komeito.

"Parties should not field women just as symbols," said Seiko Noda, executive acting secretary general of the LDP. "It is important to have women who can keep winning in elections. We want to increase the number of female candidates gradually."

The government has to come up with more effective steps if it is serious about reaching that 35 percent goal stated in its fifth basic plan for gender equality.

Seventy percent of the survey's respondents proposed the introduction of a quota for female election candidates, and 41 percent called for support such as covering campaign costs by each party.

The survey, conducted from mid-January to mid-February, collected responses from 61 female lawmakers, ahead of International Women's Day on March 8.

Takae Ito, an upper house member of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, shared a story about her first election campaign in 2016, out of an electoral district in Aichi Prefecture.

One of the voters asked her why she was running, saying she has small children to take care of.

Ito also faced a flood of criticism when she created a playing space in her parliamentary office for her daughters, but she later began to have visitors there with their own children.

"There should be politicians who know about ordinary people's lives and the views of ordinary workers," Ito said.
Students of have announced a two-day boycott of classes from Monday in protest against some recent developments at the institution, including the resignations of faculty members and

The Student Government, a student body, also said on Saturday it will be organising a separate movement demanding the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor.

The university in Haryana's Sonipat became the centre of a controversy earlier this week, when political commentator Mehta, who had resigned as its vice chancellor two years back, chose to step down as professor, saying that the founders made it "abundantly clear" that his association with the institution was a "political liability".

Arvind Subramanian, the former chief economic advisor to the government, had resigned from the university two days later in solidarity with Mehta.

The demands of the protesting students include a public acknowledgement by the university founders on Mehta's statement that he felt that he was a "political liability" as well as assuring the Ashokan Community that Mehta will be given a unconditional offer letter.

The students are also demanding an open meeting organised by the founders with the student body, the divesting of administrative powers and roles from founders of the university to the elected representatives of faculty, students and administration.

"We are extremely saddened by the resignations of both professors and incredibly dissatisfied by the conditions under which the resignations took place. Not only have we lost intellectual giants and erudite academics whose scholarship we value deeply, but also our trust and faith in this administration to protect the students within this university from external political pressures. This is a gross violation of academic freedoms and we strongly condemn it," the students' body said in a statement.

"We will not back down in the face of injustice. We will continue our struggle for a more just and equal institution and for true academic freedom at Ashoka and beyond," it added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Newsom Recall Effort Tops 2.1 Million Signatures by Deadline

SANTA CLARA, Calif.The organizers of the Recall Gavin 2020 campaign that aims to remove California Gov. Gavin Newsom from office say they collected more than 2.117 million signatures by the March 17 deadline.

The number is expected to be higher, as the total is still being tabulated.

Gavin Newsom brought this upon himself. He didnt have to lock down 40 million Californians for a year. He chose to do so. He let out the inmates and put us all under house arrest during this pandemic, Randy Economy, senior advisor for Recall Gavin 2020, told NTD Television.

He created the problem; were going to fix the problem. And were going to fix it by having an election be held, and were going to let the voters decide how they want this thing to end, he said.

The grassroots campaign has over 1.9 million signatures that were pre-verified by an independent third-party vendor. About 1.5 million are required to hold a special recall election.

The governor responded to the recall with his own counter-campaign, Stop the Republican Recall, on March 15. The same day, the state Democratic Party also announced it will pitch in $250,000 to stop the recall campaign.

You look at the original sponsors of it, you have someone who is a member, proud member of the Three Percenters, an alt-right militia group; others that are devout conspiracy theorists, that believe in QAnon, said Newsom during a press conference on March 16.

However, the campaigns leaders say that isnt the case.

Orrin Heatlie, chairman of the California Patriot Coalition, RecallGavin2020 Committee, makes a stop at San Francisco City Hall on March 6, 2021, while leading the Recall Gavin road trip from Southern California. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times)

Were every name in the book they can come up with, trying to label us. And thats nonsensical, Economy said. Were Californians. Thirty-eight percent of the people whove signed our petition are Democrats, Decline to States, third party, Green members, Libertarians, reformed partythis is a California movement.

The governor has nationally recognized figures backing his counter-campaign.

Governor Newsom is now having Democrats, such as Elizabeth Warren and Stacey Abrams, as well as Bernie Sanders to attack The Peoples Recall here in California, so bring it on, lead co-proponent Mike Netter said in a statement.

They may try to delay this. We doubt they may have any effective route to challenge the signatures, so they may try and delay this to next year. But were going to fight every day to make sure this election happens this fall, Tom Del Beccaro, chair of Rescue California, told NTD Television.

Del Beccaro thinks the state needs someone who can create consensus among the many different cities, counties, and citizens.

People are dividedsome back Newsom, while others point out his flaws.

One comment under a tweet by the governor says Framing this as a partisan, Republican recall wont do you any favors, given that people both sides of the aisle want you gone.

Another commented, Stop making everything right vs. left. This is actually incompetence vs. competence.

Economy said, This is the largest referendum in the history of America, where people have had to sign a petition, have their names verified by 58 different county registrar voters offices. Its been an awesome process, its been a daunting process, but the people got this done.

The special election will only ask voters two questions: Should Newsom be recalled? If he is, who do they want to replace him?

The campaign wont be endorsing any potential candidate.

Whats Next?

Californias 58 counties will have until April 29 to verify the signatures. After the recall is confirmed, voters will get 30 days to withdraw their signatures.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber then gets 10 days to determine whether there are enough valid signatures to move forward. The budget committee has another 30 days to review the costs and provide an estimate.

After that, the secretary of state would certify the recall petitions. The lieutenant governor then schedules a recall election within 60 to 80 days.
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Today, the Turkic and Iranian peoples are celebrating Novruz, a new year according to the astronomical solar calendar, which coincides with the vernal equinox.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, congratulated allon the International Day of Novruz, the UN Web TVs official website reads, Trend reports with reference to Kazinform.

"Dear friends, each year, Novruz marks a new beginning. Last year, the Novruz celebration coincided with the early days of an unprecedented and devastating global pandemic. This year, the Novruz spirit is more vital than ever. Solidarity between communities and generations is more crucial than ever. Our promise in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind is more essential than ever. Today, we can start to see light at the end of the tunnel. As the world comes together to defeat COVID-19, Novruz serves as an inspiration to recover and rebuild in a more just and durable way, in harmony with nature. I offer my best wishes to everyone marking Novruz. May this day advance happiness, health and harmony to all, a Video Message by Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day of Novruz reads.

This year we are celebrating Novruz in Shusha, in Jidir Duzu, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing the nation from Jidir Duzu, Shusha on occasion of Novruz holiday, Trend reports.

This is a historic event. Every year since 2004, when congratulating the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Novruz, I was saying that we would return to our ancestral lands. I was saying that we would restore the territorial integrity of our country. I was saying that we would celebrate Novruz in Karabakh after the liberation of our lands, and this day has come. Today we are celebrating Novruz in our ancient city Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. This is a historic event, the head of state said.
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Today marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

On 20 March 1961, the company was established by a 29-year-old Peter Hall at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. It soon acquired the name - and reputation - that we know it by today.

To mark the occasion, we have trawled through the archives to highlight some of the RSC's most memorable productions, from classics that have formed its bedrock to musicals that have become global hits.

Happy birthday!

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Unorganised Workers Federation

(gjpT vz; : 3148/CNI)

No.39, Dr. Alagappa Road, Purasawalkkam, Chennai  600084. Fax: 044-26480414 Email: uwf.tamilnadu[at]gmail.com

Date: 06.03.2021

2021 TN State Assembly Election  Unorganised Workers Manifesto  Demands

1. a) The 4 Central Labour Codes Rights posing threat to the existing Welfare Boards and their functions hence the Central Codes must be ignored and State Law - TN manual Workers Act 1982 must be protected and 18 Welfare Boards ( For Construction  Manual drivers-Dhobis  Hairdressers  Tailors  Handicrafts  Palm tree climbers  Handlooms  Leather  Artists  Potters  Goldsmiths  Domestic  Powerlooms  street vendors  Cooks  Fireworks =WORKERS functioning under Labor Department as well as 18 other Welfare Boards under other Departments.

b) The state government must push for the repeal of the new Labour Codes passed by the Centre, which tears down protections for Unorganized and Organized Laborers and Trade unions, and threatens to dissolve Construction and Unorganized worker welfare boards.

2. The Central Laws leading to relegation of agriculture and procurement to Companies and leading to hoarding and price rise of agricultural products and acquisition of agricultural lands for companies without environmental assessment must be repealed.

3. Considering that the Central government is reaping profits worth many lakh crores from low crude oil prices and high domestic fuel prices, the state government must demand that they pay Rs. 1000 per worker family per month as COVID-19 relief.

4. 1% GST revenues must be allocated for all welfare boards of unorganized workers in the Labour Department and other departments. 3% of the Union and State Budgets must be allocated for the social security of unorganized workers. The construction workers welfare board must be allocated 1-2% of construction levy, 1% of road tax must go to auto workers, and 1% of property tax must be given to domestic workers. Such provisions must be made from levies for all categories of workers.

5. a) Following Keralas example, registration in welfare boards, renewal of membership, and disbursement of cash benefits must be implemented through trade unions.

b) Online registration into welfare boards must be enabled without OTP, Caste certificates, or VAO verification and with an Employment certificate from Trade Union and not from VAO or RI.

c) The labourer ID card must be transformed into an individual ID in Agri workers welfare board andall welfare boards must operate under the Labour Department.

d) Cash benefits must be distributed immediately to all those with pending applications.

6. ESI medical benefits, compensation during accidents and sickness, flood relief of Rs. 30,000, accident relief of Rs. 5 lakhs, Rs. 1 lakh for death from natural causes, educational aid for children of workers from Class 1 to higher education, Rs. 25,000 as marriage aid, condition-less pension of Rs. 3000, monsoon relief, homes for those without homes, etc. must be given to all unorganized workers through unorganized workers welfare boards.

7. The neo-untouchability practices of evicting slum dwellers from the central city, relocating them to faraway locations, and depriving them of their livelihoods must be stopped. Instead, housing must be provided in-situ or in nearby locations, especially to workers without houses, so that their rights to life, livelihood, and education can be preserved.

8. In accordance with Supreme Court judgement, pavement dwellers in Chennai and other cities such as Parrys Corner, Koyambedu and in other parts must be given shelters, or housing nearby.

9. Housing for homeless workers must be created on the surplus lands seized by the government under the Urban Land Ceiling Act, and vacant lands within the central city.

10. Migrant workers must be compulsorily registered with welfare boards, and given ID cards, food security through the Public Distribution System, childcare, education, health facilities, minimum wages, overtime wages, PF, and ESI medical benefits.

11. Through State-level and District monitoring committees, a survey of bonded labour must be taken every year, and rehabilitation packages including farm land, housing, education for children, aid for employment, etc. must be given

12. An annual survey of child labourers must be undertaken in the state, with provisions being made for their release, complete rehabilitation. Free, compulsory and good quality education must be guaranteed to all children up to the age of 18.

13. Prevention of occupational hazards and diseases, survey and treatment of diseases, rehabilitation, alternate livelihoods, and compensation must be created for all categories of unorganized workers.

14. Occupation-based demands:

a) Construction workers must be give safety belts, suitable masks and gloves and other safety equipment, alongside the creation of rules for prevention of accidents at the workplace, humane working conditions and equal benefits, monsoon relief, and guarantee of 50% employment for all local workers. There should be price controls on all construction materials including cement, bricks and steel. Sand mining must be stopped, and sand be made for the poor and middle class at a subsidized rate. Prices must be determined for M sand.

b) Central and state government should endorse the provisions of ILO Convention No. 189 for domestic workers. Minimum wages of Rs. 75 per hour must be stipulated.

c) All Urban street vendors must be surveyed and given identity card, vending space, loans and transport as per the provisions of Street Vendors Protection Act and Rules.

d) All auto workers must be given compulsory insurance, with female workers prioritized for all Govt jobs.

e) Free clay must be given to all pottery workers. Free pots must be provided the people on ration cards as part of Pongal packages.

f) Laundry workers must be included in the list of unorganized workers, and must be given state-of- the-art equipment, free iron boxes, LPG cylinders, and housing facilities.

g) All Hairdresser workers must be given free tools, electricity, and house plots and housing.

h) Separate, dedicated welfare boards must be created for salt workers. They must be guaranteed monsoon relief of Rs. 5000, water and toilet facilities at the workplace, rest rooms and childcare facilities, protective eye glasses, footwear,glovesi, health facilities, fair wages, housing and basic facilities.

i) Spinning, Weaving units must employ adult workers and implement minimum wage and overtime wage, night transport, complaints committee on sexual harassment.

j) Hand embroidery units must implement minimum wage and housing.

k) Contract employment system in conservancy sector in local bodies and departments must be stopped. They must be given permanent employment, protective gloves, footwear, masks, and soaps.

l) Waste workers who retrieve recyclable materials from waste must be given sanitized gloves, footwear, masks, soap, and other protective gear from the concerned local bodies, along with identity cards and training to create goods from recycled materials.

m) Pensions and educational aid must be provided by welfare boards for fish workers

n) Villages must be created for members of the Irula tribe to live together. They must be given agricultural land, livestock, aid for cultivation, brick kilns to be operated on a cooperative basis, rice mills, compulsory higher education, and skills training.

o) Narikkuravas must be declared as Scheduled Tribe (ST) by the Central government. The Narikkurava welfare board must be improved, and housing facilities must be provided.

15. Resources-based demands:

a) Surplus lands under the Urban Land Ceiling Act, especially those under benami must be identified and retrieved. Surplus lands and puramboke lands must be allocated as plots for landless workers, and 2 acres each allocated for released bonded labourers and landless farm workers. Agriculture must be protected and organic farming must be encouraged.

b) Panchami lands allocated for marginalized Scheduled Tribe groups during colonial times have been encroached upon. They should be retrieved, and allocated in terms of 2 acres per Dalit - ST family.

c) All the stone quarries in Tamil Nadu must be leased on priority to released bonded labourers, womens groups and cooperative societies.

d) All the salt pans in the control of the central and state governments must be leased to salt pan workers on priority basis.

e) The Forest Rights Act must guarantee land rights, patta, and the right to collect forest products to Scheduled Tribe communities.

f) Coastal land rights being taken away under Sagarmala must be retracted and privatization of Ennore port and Kosasthaliar must be stopped to ensure fishers fishing rights and farmers rights.

g) Fishing rights upto 12 km from the coast must be ensured and the sea between India and Sri Lanka must be made common as before. Surukku nets and Chinese high power engines must be banned.

16. Sexual violence and attacks on SC ST and Minorities must be prevented through Value education from 1st std to higher education, self - defense training, complaints committees, CCTV cameras in vulnerable spots. Financial help for affected persons, Rehabilitation, Fast track courts, Severe punishment for culprits must be implemented.

17. The Employment Guarantee Scheme must be implemented in urban and rural areas , guaranteeing 200 days of employment for all.

18. Prime Minister Awas Yojana allocation must be increased to 6 Lakhs for 300 sq ft unit to manage price escalation.

19. Control Prices of essential commodities and provision of 30 kg rice, Dhals, Millets, cooking oilin ration shops.

20. Complete prohibition of alcohol and drugs must be undertaken and ensured with the help of a special Police taskforce.

21. The Central government should immediately retract its policy to privatize services such as railways, electricity and transport. The schemes and discounts for the elderly and the disabled must not be removed.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers. It is funded by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
(@FahadShabbir)

(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Mar, 2021) DUBAI, 20th March 2021 (WAM) - The World Logistics Passport (WLP), the first ever global freight loyalty programme launched under the directives of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the World Economic Forum in Davos last year to increase opportunities for trade between emerging markets, has expanded into a global network of trade megahubs in 11 nations.

The Dubai-led programme is being rolled out in 11 countries across four continents spanning the global South. India, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia and South Africa are among the nations that have signed on to the Dubai-led World Logistics Passport in the past 12 months.

Speaking about the WLPs success, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum said: "The World Logistics Passport is yet another major initiative that reflects the UAEs vision to shape a brighter future for our world through innovative programmes that foster global trade cooperation. In just one year, we have taken the WLP from vision to reality, bringing together a number of leading nations, logistics partners and multinational corporations in a close-knit alliance focused on trade growth. The WLP demonstrates once again the UAEs keenness to work together with other nations to enhance prosperity and expand growth opportunities for businesses at a time when global markets are seeking to renew their momentum for growth."

"The UAE continues to work with its partners to introduce new initiatives that stimulate trade growth regionally and globally, leveraging its vast expertise in facilitating global trade and its capabilities and experience gained over the years to explore expanded opportunities and create new economic value," His Highness added.

The WLP allows traders and freight forwarders to access benefits in return for increased trade in each of the programmes hubs. By connecting into the WLP network of fast-growing economies, member businesses have the opportunity to diversify into new markets such as Latin America, South Asia or Africa while shoring up their regional connectivity. Many major multinational corporations, including UPS, Pfizer, Sony, Johnson & Johnson, and LG have already registered as WLP members. The network offers over a hundred operational and financial benefits to high-performing businesses.

For governments, the WLP promises improved competitiveness and economic resilience during a time when global markets are seeking to accelerate recovery amidst unprecedented uncertainty in the face of COVID-19 and its implications for global trade.

By reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of the logistics value chain, the WLP is helping firms to remain internationally competitive. Beyond the boost to headline trade figures, the WLP will have knock-on effects for the wider economy through the creation of high-quality jobs and enhanced investment.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group and Chair of the World Logistics Passport Global Steering Group, noted: " We are very proud that Dubai has been at the centre of this exciting and novel initiative. The WLP reinforces Dubais growing status as a major global hub for multimodal trade while connecting other nations with similar aspirations in order to drive global trade and economic recovery."

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation which oversees the WLP, commented: "The rapid development of the WLP demonstrates the world class capabilities that Dubai has developed in the area of trade and logistics, led by key partners such as DP World, Emirates Group and Dubai Customs. These capabilities can be extended to support not only Dubai but also the wider WLP network of trading nations."

Sultan Al Mansoori, former Minister of Economy of the UAE and board Director at both the Investment Corporation of Dubai and DP World, said: " The rapid and continued expansion of the World Logistics Passport demonstrates the strong demand in emerging markets for new trading routes and best in class trade logistics. The WLP also represents a unique opportunity to strengthen trading ties with our Southern neighbours."

Mike Bhaskaran, CEO of the World Logistics Passport, said: " Since its launch, the World Logistics Passport has been welcomed by governments and business around the world for the numerous benefits it delivers to local economies, traders and homegrown business. It is a great example of a public - private partnership delivering impact."

The progress of the WLP network will be showcased during the inaugural World Logistics Passport e-Summit in May. Tagged "the Davos of Freight", the e-Summit will see the meeting of government ministers, global policy makers, and business leaders to discuss the future of global freight and logistics across two virtual sessions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20)  Members of the private sector have agreed to fund their own immunization program as COVID-19 vaccines start to arrive in the country.

"In our town hall meeting last Thursday with the AstraZeneca donors, all companies agreed to fund and pay for the logistics cost of the vaccine rollout," Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said in a statement.

He added this is also to ensure economic recovery that should start in the last quarter, provided no major lockdown is implemented, and the administration of vaccines will be at a "lightning speed."

Concepcion said they already tapped Zuellig Pharmaceutical Corporation as their logistics service provider to ensure effective and efficient rollout of vaccines. A tripartite agreement between the private sector, Zuellig, and the national government will be finalized, he added.

On January 14, the Philippines, through tripartite agreements involving private firms and local government units, was able to procure 17 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, with the first batch expected to arrive by May to June.

"We want to help the government so that we can execute the vaccine rollout in the fastest and most efficient way possible," Concepcion said.

He said they will also pay for logistics costs for the rollout of vaccines for government frontline workers that will be covered by their donations.

"Allowing us to execute, we could focus on the vaccination of our employees, the LGUs could focus on its constituents, and the national government could focus on the rest that are not covered. We need a fast and almost perfect rollout, and the private sector could do this for its employees," he noted.

Currently, the government has received some one million donated doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, which are still not enough to immunize around 1.7 million healthcare workers who are the priority in the vaccine rollout.

Despite this, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government can still reach its target of vaccinating up to 70 million people by the end of the year.
San Francisco, March 20 : The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has permanently banned an alleged work-from-home scammer from selling or promoting business opportunities, who led people to think they were being interviewed for jobs with Amazon.

The FTC alleged that Randon Morris and a number of companies he controlled initiated millions of robocalls to promote sham work-from-home business opportunities, focusing on consumers concerned about working outside their homes because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The $2 million judgment has been partially suspended because of an inability to pay, according to the FTC.

"The defendants lured consumers into purchasing these programmes with false promises that consumers could earn hundreds of dollars a day. They also falsely claimed to be affiliated with amazon.com," the FTC said in a statement on Friday.

"These people used illegal robocalls, lies about income, and people's anxiety about the pandemic to pitch their work-from-home scam," said Daniel Kaufman, acting director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Under the settlement, the scammers will be banned from pitching business opportunities or work-at-home schemes, as well from any involvement with robocalls.

"In addition, the settlement prohibits the defendants from making any claims about how much money consumers can earn, unless those claims are not misleading and the defendants have written substantiation for their claims," the FTC said.

he defendants will be required to surrender the contents of a bank account and the reserves held in two merchant accounts to the FTC.

"If the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial status, the full amount of the judgment would become immediately payable," the commission said.
Today

Cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 80F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.

Tomorrow

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds light and variable.
Delhi reported over 800 COVID-19 cases for the first time this year on Saturday as the positivity rate breached the 1 per cent-mark after over two months, while two more fatalities pushed the death toll to 10,955, as per data shared by the health department.

The number of active cases rose to 3,409 from 3,165 a day ago, according to the latest health bulletin.

The new 813 cases pushed the infection tally to 6,47,161, of whom over 6.32 lakh people have recovered till date.

On Friday, the city had recorded 716 cases while the count on Thursday was 607 and 536 on Wednesday.

The two new fatalities took the toll to 10,955, while the positivity rate rose to 1.07 per cent from 0.93 per cent on Friday, the bulletin said.

Delhi had recorded 425 cases on Tuesday. The cases have been steadily rising over the last few days. The positivity rate had been hovering below the 1 per cent-mark for over two months.

A total of 77,888 tests, including 46,292 RT-PCR and 29,596 rapid antigen, were conducted on Friday, while the number of people under home isolation on Saturday rose to 1,722 from 1,624 a day ago, the bulletin said.

Health experts and doctors have attributed this sudden rise in COVID-19 cases to people turning complacent, not following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and assuming all is well now.

A total of 585 cases were reported on January 1 and 424 on January 3. The daily count had dropped to 306 on January 11 and risen again to 386 on January 12, according to official figures.

The numbers had started to come down in February. On February 26, the month's highest daily count of 256 cases was recorded.

Asserting that the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital was not a cause for worry, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said Thursday the city government had directed officials for stricter tracking, tracing and isolation of cases.

(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.)
Four women have filed a 75-page federal lawsuit against Schuylkill County, Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. and others for what they claim was long-term sexual harassment, including, in at least one case, sexual contact at the courthouse.

The women, all county employees who did not reveal their names in the lawsuit, alleged Halcovage engaged in unwelcome and unwanted sexual comments and/or demeaning and discriminatory sexist comments as soon as he took office in 2012.

As time progressed the frequency and intensity of Halcovages comments intensified, the complaint reads in part.

In their lawsuit filed Tuesday, the women asked for unspecified actual and punitive damages, including back pay, attorney fees and costs. They also demanded a jury trial of the case.

In addition to the county and Halcovage, the women also named County Administrator Gary R. Bender, Assistant County Solicitor Glenn T. Roth Jr., and former and current Human Resources Directors Doreen Kutzler and Heidi Zula as defendants.

Each plaintiff alleged she did not reveal her name due to the extreme hardship such revelation of her identity would cause and the need to protect victims of sexual crime, according to the lawsuit.

None of the defendants has been charged with any state or federal crime. The state attorney generals office recently declined to charge Halcovage with any crimes.

Each plaintiff in the lawsuit, who were all county employees identified as Jane Doe, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4, alleged Halcovage made unwelcome advances. In the case of the first woman, the advance turned into something worse, according to the lawsuit.

Halcovage began kissing (Jane Doe) and ultimately (exposed himself, the lawsuit reads in part. (Jane Doe) feeling emotionally overwhelmed and uncomfortable, due to Halcovages behavior, his substantial position within the county and within the community, and his position of authority over her, begrudgingly performed (a sex act on him).

All four alleged they felt pressure not to make trouble at work.

(They) felt compelled to maintain a good relationship with (Halcovage) to keep their jobs, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on their behalf by Philadelphia lawyer Catherine W. Smith.

Other allegations made by the women against Halcovage included the following:

 Telling them to register as, and do political work for, Republicans if they wanted raises or promotions.

 Making sexually charged comments, including ones about the freeze pops one of the women ate to prevent dehydration.

I like the way your mouth is around that, was one such comment Halcovage made, the lawsuit reads in part.

 Looking at the women in a sexually suggestive manner.

 Making unwelcome comments about their appearances and clothes.

 Concerning Jane Doe 2, saying she was one of his girls and implying they had a sexual relationship, thereby causing considerable friction between her and her female colleagues and resulting in her divorce.

 Concerning Jane Doe, interjecting himself in (her) personal and work life making her feel threatened, including visiting her home, calling her work phone for nonbusiness reasons (often just to sing into the phone) and joining the same gym where she worked out.

Halcovages behavior distressed her greatly, the lawsuit reads in part.

 Interfering with the staffing of the offices.

 Failing to complete his county-mandated sexual harassment training.

 Requiring the plaintiffs and other female employees to pose for photos with him having his arms around them.

These photos humiliated and caused (the four women) extreme distress, the lawsuit reads in part.

 Disrupting the work of the offices.

 Disobeying the directives of Sheriff Joseph G. Groody as to where he should park and disrupted his efforts to ensure the safety of women who complained about him.

The women also allege the county and Halcovage discriminated against them because they are women.

(They) have exhibited a pattern and practice of not only harassment and discrimination but also hostile work environment and retaliation, the lawsuit reads in part.

Plaintiffs also allege Bender and Roth knew of Halcovages actions and did nothing to stop them, thereby helping to create a hostile work environment.

The conduct of the defendants violated both state and federal laws on workplace discrimination and retaliation, according to the lawsuit.

Bender and Roth each declined Thursday to comment on the lawsuit.

I cant comment as to litigation matters, Roth said.

Gerard J. Geiger, Stroudsburg, Halcovages lawyer, and Smith could not be reached Thursday for comment on the lawsuit.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, Scranton.
A heated row broke out at a Joint Policing Committee meeting when Fianna Fail councillor Joe Sullivan accused Cllr Fionntain O Suilleabhan of publicly criticising An Garda Siochana while sitting beside them at JPC meetings.

Cllr Sullivan said an elected member of the Gorey District appeared to be critical of the gardai in a social media post and he didn't think that was appropriate.

'As members of the JPC, our job is to support and work with the gardai,' said Cllr Sullivan.

'The impression I'm getting from the community is that the general public feel the gardai are doing a very good job and their engagement with the community has been first class. For a member to be critical of An Garda Siochana is not on, it's not what we're about', he said.

Invited by the chairman to respond and taking it that the comment was referring to him, Cllr O Suilleabhan said it was disappointing that Cllr Sullivan would seek to engage in 'cheap political point-scoring'.

He said the social media post which he made two months ago, after Christmas, was a comment on a checkpoint in an isolated scenic area at Croghan Mountain on the same weekend that large crowds gathered at Courtown and he was questioning the allocation of resources while acknowledging that the gardai had to do what they were directed to do.

Cllr O Suilleabhan said it would be better use of Cllr Sullivan's time and attention if he addressed the issue of a member of his own party engaging in online bullying and abuse of other members of the JPC.

Following the JPC meeting, he wrote to Chief Superintendent Denis Ferry clarifying the context in which the post was made.

Cllr Sullivan said he didn't know about the online bullying that Cllr O Suilleabhan was talking about and asked if it was a reaction to a recent commemoration that he organised.

He reminded Cllr O Suilleabhan that a person who attended that funeral 25 years ago was one of those involved in the slaughter of a member of An Garda Siochana in the execution of his duty in Adare.

Cllr O Suilleabhan described these remarks as 'most scurrilous' and said he was surprised that Cllr Sullivan would engage in 'this type of muck-throwing at a JPC.'

He said, to correct the record, he did not organise any commemmoration and Cllr Sullivan was not talking objectively. 'I did not organise or support any of the things that he has claimed,' said Cllr O Suilleabhan. 'I think it's very disappointing to go down that road. I don't know what he is trying to achieve. It's the very wrong road to be going down.'

Cllr Pip Breen of Fianna Fail commended the gardai on their excellent work during a very trying time and said if members of the JPC had a criticism, it should be brought to a JPC meeting,not aired in a forum where it was open to a different interpretation. Senator Malcolm Byrne (FF) said he would like to endorse the comments of Cllrs. Sullivan and Breen.
SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told Russia on Saturday to stop spying in his country, a day after prosecutors said they had charged six people on charges of working as spies for Moscow.

Prosecutors said on Friday members of the alleged spying ring, who included former and current military intelligence officers, had passed classified information about Bulgaria, NATO and the EU to an official at the Russian embassy in Sofia.

During the last 18 months, Bulgaria has expelled six Russian diplomats, including a military attache, over suspected spying - straining historically close diplomatic ties between the NATO and EU member and Moscow.

"Once again it could be necessary to declare Russian diplomats as unwanted. And with regards the operation yesterday, I again address their superiors to stop spying in Bulgaria," Borissov said during a trip to the northeastern city of Silistra.

"Friendship is friendship, we have always demonstrated it," he added.

Bulgaria was one of the closest allies of the Soviet Union during the Communist era. It maintains close cultural, historical and economic ties with Russia, which remains the country's main energy partner.

The Russian embassy in Sofia said on Friday that speculation about its alleged involvement should stop until a court rules, calling the case an attempt to "once again demonise" Russia.

The United States, Britain and neighbouring North Macedonia said they stand with Bulgaria against "malign activities" on its territory.

"We fully support Bulgaria's efforts in disrupting an alleged spy ring and taking steps to tackle Russia's hostile actions in its territory," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter on Saturday.

(Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Helen Popper)
In a year unprecedented for its fear and uncertainty amidst the coronavirus pandemic, human buoyancy has proved surprising.

An NBC News report noted that although many countries have seen a decline in mental health, there has been a surprising resilience in how people rate their lives overall, based on this years World Happiness Report.

The worlds happiest country in 2020 was Finland, the top winner for the previous three years, followed by Denmark for second place, and Switzerland third. Iceland and the Netherlands completed the top five, the report said. In comparison, ranked at 19th on the list was the United States.

The report noted that Finlands past wins have been used by the country to promote tourism and its natural beauty.

Compared to other European nations, the small Scandinavian country, with a population of around 5.5 million, has fared relatively well during the pandemic, recording a total of 805 deaths, Johns Hopkins University data revealed.

Helping to protect lives and livelihoods during the pandemic has been the fact that Finland has consistently ranked high on the measures of mutual trust.

NBC news cited a post the Finnish Embassy in the United States tweeted on Friday, which said: For the 4th year in a row, #Finland is the happiest country in the world. It continued, Our #happiness stems from a balanced everyday life, supported by good governance, trust, wellbeing and equality. The pandemic has not changed this long-lasting foundation.

What are the annual happiness ratings based on?

Based on citizens evaluations of their own lives, the report explained that the annual study uses data from the Gallup World Poll. Respondents are asked to assess their life as a whole by imagining a ladder, with the best possible life for them as 10 and the worst possible as 0.

COVID-19 played a role in this years assessment, looking specifically at the relationship between well-being and COVID-19, and also attempting to assess how the coronavirus was handled by governments around the world and to explain why some countries may have succeeded in doing better than others.

The study, a publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, found that considering the global nature of the pandemic and the widely shared resilience when faced with it, COVID-19 has led to only modest changes overall in the country happiness rankings.

NBC cited John Helliwell, an editor of the report and a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia in Canada, who said: Surprisingly there was not, on average, a decline in well-being when measured by peoples own evaluation of their lives.

He added, One possible explanation is that people see Covid-19 as a common, outside threat affecting everybody and that this has generated a greater sense of solidarity and fellow-feeling.

What did the study find in terms of mental health?

The NBC report said that while COVID-19 may not have dramatically affected peoples life satisfaction, such was not the case regarding emotions and mental health, during the first year of the pandemic.

For example, the study noted an approximate 10 percent increase in the number of people who said they were worried or sad the previous day.

READ MORE:
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA)  The Lee County Sheriff's Department is looking to hire some more people and encouraged those interested in law enforcement to apply.

Sheriff Jim Johnson and his deputies held a job fair Friday to meet with potential employees.

The sheriffs department held that job fair at The Bus Stop in Downtown Tupelo. Johnson said the department is offering positions in various departments and added this was a way to get your foot in the door if you were interested in law enforcement.

A lot of times well have an opening come up that we don't know about. We like to have a pool of applicants ready to go," said Johnson. "Thats why its so important to come down, at least get your name in the pot as we say."

Johnson said this job fair was the first of its kind for his agency.
Progressivism: The Strange History of a Radical Idea, Bradley C.S. Watson. University of Notre Dame Press, 2020. 219 pp

As my former constitutional law professor would say, Constitutional government means limited government. But progressives see this proposition as limiting, anachronistic, even reactionary. The story of the conflict between these two visions of America is the subject of Bradley Watsons evocatively written, brilliant and scholarly, Progressivism: The Strange History of a Radical Idea.

One could say, of course, that progressivism begins when Adam & Eve fabricate their own code of conduct after which they hide from God. With the 19th century Higher Criticism, as well as Charles Darwin demoting the Bible to a series of tall tales and mytho-poetry, the way was open for highly schooled, credentialed individuals to privilege a materialistic story of our human and celestial origins. Buoyed up by all the great scientific and technological advances of the early modern era, these up-to-date-people became confident that by applying the methods of science and technology to society, they could avoid the tragic conclusion of the Eden story and fabricate their own earthly Eden.

But Bradley Watson writes: This is contrary to Aristotles understanding that we seek understanding through an examination of all things, according to the methods appropriate to each. That is, unlike the uniformity of physical laws, humans are unpredictably complex, making politics an art which relies on practical, experiential wisdom as well as theoretical wisdom.

This category error, this conflation of apples and angels, of matter and minds is the source of the progressive fallacy. After pointing this out early on, Watson then scrupulously investigates the thinkers who promoted this confusion and their fellow travelers who were itching to rush pell-mell into modernity. He concludes with a finely grained examination of those who ignored or otherwise misunderstood this ubiquitous progressivism despite its egregious departure from the founding doctrines embedded in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And all the more impressive is that he achieves this in only 219 pages.

Kant and Hegel began the departure from the coherent intellectual firmament upon which America was chartered, though each of them did leave alcoves both for God and for the permanent things to hang out. Darwin arriving later, though riding the same wave, finished the project by ostensibly showing how nature accidentally ginned up life and by implication the world and the cosmos. To wit: change was permanent and organisms which didnt adapt, faded into obsolescence. As Watson tellingly writes: In the absence of fixity, morals, politics and religion are subject to radical renegotiation and transformation. Essences are no longer the highest object of inquiry or indeed any objects of inquiry.

In other words, as Groucho Marx said, Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.  And such principles will be, to use John Deweys terms, pragmatic and instrumental, a means to no particular end, cut and paste jobs to keep society progressing; the triumph of technique over truth.

Along with a host of others, Dewey gained traction for his view that the problems caused by industrialization and urbanization had made the Constitution outdated. But the Constitution guarantees free speech to combat corruption and an Electoral College and a Senate to balance the power of property with the power of people.

Despite this relativism, this historicism, progressives co-opted the Protestant Social Gospel Movement and Catholicisms social justice ideology while forming a cult that manifestly remains with us. In Watsons chapter, The Real Presence of Christ, Woodrow Wilson becomes the personification of this merging of the two realms, for he fluently incorporated religious language into his progressivism.  Thus, Communion with God depended on communion with other men. Of course, this blurring of distinctions undermines Jesuss separation of the realms of Caesar and God. But the understandable desire to solve the social question by relying on the reach and taxing power of the administrative state, made Jesuss doctrine also obsolete.

However, this contradiction along with other anti-constitutional features within progressivism would be ignored by historians. The failure to tell the story of these contradictions, and then later how revisionist historians pointed out these contradictions, is the most revealing part of the book.

The giants of 20th century American history, Fredrick Jackson Turner, Charles Beard and Vernon Parrington, paint complementary pictures of corruption and the necessity for evolutionary change in their histories of America though they exaggerated both, as Watson writes. Later progressive historians defanged these points, making these three appear more compatible with the American experience and constitutional order than they were.

So with history historicized, historians told Americas story according to the prescriptions of their guild and the prevailing pragmatism. Richard Hofstadter, for all of his brilliance, was the exemplar of this version of history. Hofstadter in his 1944 book, Social Darwinism in American Thought, wrote that Darwins theory was unique in that it affected not only science but all endeavors. In fact, Darwin was not unique in either category because Newton, not to mention Copernicus and Einstein, had been used in the same way. Regardless, Hofstadter softened Darwin, making his a conservative force, supporting the laissez-faire status quo. Others classified Darwin as a change agent, a precursor to social planning. These intermural quarrels aside, Watson demonstrates that progressivism aimed a dagger at the heart of the Constitution.

Franklin Roosevelt pushed the dagger to the hilt in his pursuit of massive change. After the New Deal and WWII, Hofstadter claimed that Americas tradition of individualism, capitalism, and isolationism had to be abandoned in the face of international responsibility, cohesion, centralization, and planning. The basis for this precursor of never let a crisis go to waste was the axiom that science has proven human nature to be malleable; therefore, notions of conflict and private property that the Constitution assumes should be abandoned. This is Stalinism at a time when, ironically, Stalin was an enemy.

In the chapter, Progressive Historiography in a Countercultural Age, Hofstadter becomes a foil for the 1960s and 70s historians who saw him as favoring crony capitalism because progressives had promoted the efficiencies of centralization. Others argued that progressivism was too diverse to categorize. Still others like historian, Peter Filene, argued that progressivism is dead while at the same time denying that it ever existed. Watson accuses Filene of omitting the central points of progressivism: its indifference or hostility to the Constitution, its faith in experts, its quasi- religious millenarianism. At bottom though, post-modernist Filene does take the materialism inherent in progressivism to its logical conclusion by saying that politics is a mere epiphenomena of deterministic, historical forces.

Historian R. Lawrence Moore was the rare exception in the 1970s when he rebutted Herbert Croly, founder of the progressive New Republic, who wrote that democracy is a movement toward human perfectibility. This utopianism, however, would have startled the founders whose government is based on humanitys imperfections, as Moore noted.

In the 1980s, the revisionist Claremont school broke the silence about the true nature of progressivism. Ignoring the question of who are the true revisionists, Watson proceeds to identify the Claremont school as those scholars associated with Claremont McKenna College, Claremont Graduate University and the Claremont Institute. These scholars are influenced by Leo Straus and Harry Jaffa both of whom were moral realists; that is, they believed in moral absolutes.

Revisionists agree that the 1912 election of President Wilson injected the cult of progress directly into the American political bloodstream. Charles Kesler, laying the groundwork for later scholars, wrote that Wilsons comprehensive vision of progressivism was one of Darwinian movement rather than Newtonian fixity. Kesler sees liberalism as the common ancestor of progressivism in that it opts for change, seemingly oblivious of irony, tragedy and common sense which is say, history.

As the liberal-progressives assume power in 2021, the Chinese flu outbreak has massively increased the governments reach, federal debt skyrockets, the nations Capitol is surrounded by fences manned by thousands of troops while crime in the land spikes. Are these the beginnings of the brave new world that liberal- progressivism has bequeathed us?

Terry Scambray lives and writes in the Great Central Valley of California
Bengaluru, March 20 : The Rashtriya Swaymasewak Sangh's (RSS) highest decision-making body, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), on Saturday passed a unanimous resolution saying that the construction of the Shri Ram mandir is manifestation of the innate strength of Bharat.

The resolution added that this programme has became the unique symbol of spiritual awakening, national integration, social harmony, goodwill and dedication.

"Construction of Ram Mandir programme is the intrinsic strength of Bharat has been invigorated and this programme has become a unique symbol of spiritual awakening, national integration, social harmony, goodwill and dedication," the resolution explained.

The resolution added that along with the construction of the grand mandir at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya, the social and national life inspired by the values of Shri Ram will be established through collective resolve and efforts.

"This will pave the way for building a strong and glorious Bharat which in turn will ensure the well-being of the whole world," the resolution claimed.

The ABPS also appealed to all 'Ram bhakts' including social and religious institutions, educationists and intellectuals of the country to make meaningful efforts so that Shri Ram's ideals permeate through the society.

While the ABPS expressed its gratitude towards all 'Rambhakts' for showing unparalleled enthusiasm and support for the construction of Mandir at Shri Rama Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya.

"The 44-day-long "Nidhi Samparn Abhiyan" (Temple Construction Funds drive) has indeed been the biggest outreach campaign in the history of the world," the resolution stated.

According to the resolution, over 12 crore 'Rambhakt families' from about 5.5 lakh cities and villages have contributed to the construction of the grand temple. All the sections and sects of the society overwhelmingly participated in this campaign.

"People from rural, urban to forest and hilly areas, from rich to ordinary people contributed wholeheartedly to make this campaign a success. The ABPS congratulates 'all Rambhakts' for this unparalleled enthusiasm and support," the ABPS said in its resolution.

The resolution added that this campaign had once again proved that the entire country is always connected emotively with Shri Ram.
A 31-year-old Hindu journalist in Pakistan has been shot dead by some unidentified assailants while getting a haircut at a barber shop in the countrys Sindh province, media reports said on Saturday.

Ajay Lalvani, a reporter with a local television station and an Urdu language newspaper Daily Puchano, died on Thursday after he sustained bullet injuries in stomach, arm, and knee, The News International reported.

He was sitting in the barber shop in Sukkur city when assailants on two bikes and a car drove by and opened fire.

Lalvani was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died.

His father Dileep Kumar said that the family did not have any enmity, dismissing the polices claim of the murder being the result of a personal enmity, according to the report.

The police on Friday registered an FIR against three unknown assailants and launched an investigation.

Condemning the killing, Hindu member of Pakistan's National Assembly (MNA) Lal Chand Malhi said that it is a matter of great concern.

Strongly condemn D killing of yet another journalist Ajay Kumar at Saleh Pat, Sindh. It is a matter of great concern that media persons are increasingly feeling unsafe in Sindh. Offered condolence to the hiers of the victim. Police should (go) beyond forming comtes. (sic), he said on Twitter.

A group of journalists protested against Lalvanis killing and carried out a march after his funeral.

They claimed that the incident was a target killing as they held the Sukkur Police responsible for the incident.

Local traders also observed a shutter down strike against the killing.

Meanwhile, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an American independent non-profit organisation, urged authorities in Sindh province to must immediately launch a credible investigation and apprehend those responsible for the killing.
I knew that my case is being directed by [PM] Nikol Pashinyan's gang; it was obvious. But I did not expect that to the extent that his legal advisor Anna Vardapetyan would direct the investigators, take on the role of prosecutor, investigator, judge, and executioner. Armenias former MP, businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan stated this during a program.

"If the justice [system in Armenia] does not take appropriate steps and does not punish the investigator and her, as I am also a Russian citizen, I will apply to the Russian law enforcement, and they will open her e-mail very quickly. (). I will wait for 5-6 days; if they [the Armenian justice system] do not take steps, I will apply to the Russian law enforcement," added Hayrapetyan.

According to Ruben Hayrapetyan, his and his son's criminal case is a joke. Presenting the criminal case against his son, Rafik Hayrapetyan, he said that it all had started in the beginning of 2016, when he had health problems, his sonwho knew foreign languagesdealt with those matters, talked to foreign doctors, made appointments, etc. But after the April 2016 war, his condition worsened, and therefore he and his family left for Germany where he underwent an operation, but was unable to move freely for 3-4 months. During that time, the director of his son's enterprises in Armenia took loans of more than 60 million drams, bought a taxi service, furniture, jewelry for his girlfriend, and so on.

"My son did not resort to violence, nor did he apply to the law enforcement. He tried to persuade to return the money; he returned a part," said Ruben Hayrapetyan.

According to the businessman, the then Chief of Police Arman Sargsyan instructed to discredit Rafik Hayrapetyan, put pressure on his friend's bride-to-be to say that he had tried to rape her, and so on.

"Immediately after your publication, the prosecutor's office should have confiscated the computers of the so-called 'Anna Vardapetyan' and the investigator; in a normal country they should have done that. There are so much things in that computer," added Ruben Hayrapetyan.
But EU regulators have since investigated and declared it 'safe and effective'

The matter is settled  at least for now.

After 13 European countries halted use of the AztraZeneca Covid vaccine amid claims it caused a rare type of fatal blood clot, EU regulators have investigated and declared it 'safe and effective'.

According to the overwhelming majority of medical experts commenting publicly over the past week, there was never any doubt.

By Friday, many countries had lifted their ban, and more will follow this week.

German health officials insisted the suspension was a bid to 'uphold public confidence'. But their own doctors hit back, warning it would likely have the opposite effect, echoing the concerns of experts in the UK and across the continent.

Other EU countries, including Italy and France, have now been plunged back into lockdowns, hit by a third wave.

People wait to receive their injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at the mass vaccination hub at Robertson House in Stevenage, north of London, on January 11

The crisis makes foreign ministers' decisions to slow their vaccination programmes, even momentarily, seem inexplicable.

Britain's infection rate continues to fall, and the Prime Minister took to the airwaves on Thursday to assure the nation we are still on course to ease restrictions early next month.

Boris Johnson, who had the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine himself on Friday, added: 'It's so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes  the Oxford jab is safe, the Pfizer jab is safe, what isn't safe is catching Covid.'

But has the furore dented trust in the vaccine here? Worryingly, the answer may be yes.

Doctors and pharmacists have told this newspaper they had seen a flurry of jab cancellations due to patients' fears over blood clots.

Dr Nisa Aslam, a GP in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, says worries were having a 'huge impact' on the borough's vaccination programme.

She said: 'People are walking out of their appointment if they can't get the Pfizer jab. We're at the point now where we're struggling to fill slots.'

Tower Hamlets has one of the lowest vaccine uptake rates of any area in the country, with only 70 per cent of over-75s having come forward for their jab, compared with the national rate of 95 per cent.

Black, Asian and other ethnic-minority groups in the area have been particularly hard to reach.

A retired man standing with a cardboard sign of the shape of a Covid vaccine in front of the leaning tower in Pisa, Italy, on March 18

Dr Aslam said: 'We've worked incredibly hard to fight vaccine hesitancy in the community. We've worked with local leaders to try to get the message out that these vaccines are safe.

'Now, because of things leaders from other countries have been saying, people are more worried than ever. It's like we've taken so many steps back.'

Jignesh Mehta, of the Woolwich Late Night Pharmacy, said over the past week they'd had up to 20 patients a day calling to cancel, while other simply haven't shown up.

'Many people have been asking to have the Pfizer vaccine instead of the AstraZeneca one,' he added, saying worries over blood clots was the reason. 'We try to reassure people there is no direct link.'

Azim Ashraf at Woodside Pharmacy in Telford, Shropshire, said: 'We've seen lots of cancellations since the news broke, One woman told us she didn't trust the UK health regulators, but that she did trust Norway.'

Acklam Pharmacy in Middlesbrough has seen no-shows rise from one per cent to five per cent over the past week. But The Mail on Sunday's GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon, who has been working at her local North London hub, said the picture there was more stable.

'We had a couple cancel last Friday,' she said, 'but it's been business as usual otherwise. My big worry isn't cancellations.

'It's that people who won't make an appointment in the first place because of this unnecessary drama, and that it could lead to deaths.'

Ravi Sharma, a director at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said they hadn't had reports of mass cancellations but that 'people are definitely worried' and asking questions about safety.

Boris Johnson, who had the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine himself on Friday, added: 'It's so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes  the Oxford jab is safe, the Pfizer jab is safe, what isn't safe is catching Covid'

He added: 'This hasn't helped our ethnic communities, where many people are already hesitant about vaccines.'

And what of the initial claim  was there anything to worry about, regarding blood clots, in the first place?

After assessing all the available data, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that the vaccine 'may' be associated with 'very rare blood clots associated with low levels of blood platelets'.

Both the EMA's safety committee and the UK's drugs watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), are conducting reviews into five UK cases.

But all medical authorities emphasise that, so far, there appears to be no evidence of a direct link to the jab.

In Norway, one of the first countries to note blood clot cases and raise concerns, doctors floated the idea that a faulty immune reaction might be to blame.

Others suggested the problem may lie with the way in which the vaccine was administered  as jabbing the wrong part of the arm could, in rare cases, cause a clot.

Leading scientists, however, say this is 'entirely speculative'.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday's Medical Minefield podcast, Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics at Bristol University and a member of the Government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said: 'At this point, nobody knows why these people are falling sick, and what the mechanism might be. So it's just that there's been a cluster of unusual cases being reported.

'It is also equally possible that these unusual cases are not in any way related to the vaccination, or that these problems have been caused by Covid infection.'

Experts say ultra-rare side effects are theoretically possible with any jab, but it's often hard to know in these one-in-a-million cases whether they'd have happened anyway.

University of Cambridge statistics expert Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter said the risks were clearly outweighed by the benefits of vaccination: 'The MRHA are investigating these five serious events that happened after 11 million AstraZeneca vaccines.

'Let's suppose the link is causal, although this is unproven. So assume there is around one in two-million chance of this severe event. But suppose two-million people did not get their vaccine.

'At current UK rates, [in a week] we might expect 2,000 to catch the virus, 20 to 30 to be hospitalised and around five to die. That's just one week. These unvaccinated people continue to have that risk for every subsequent week their vaccination is delayed.'

Crucially, for those who contract Covid, the risk of suffering a dangerous blood clot is one in three, according to recent studies. And one in ten patients  even those with a mild initial illness  may be hit by months of ongoing symptoms.

Such statistics show starkly why UK health chiefs chose to press on confidently with the AstraZeneca jab, unlike our European neighbours.

'The vaccine is the thing that will reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying, because your risk of getting Covid is still substantial,' says Prof Finn. '[For Europe] to withhold the vaccine is costing people's health, and causing unnecessary death.'

Given the weight of medical opinion on the issue, why did European leaders decided to scupper their own chances?

Experts in France and Norway say decisions were not only unscientific but undoubtedly 'political'.

In both nations, vaccine hesitancy is rife  France, in particular, has one of the highest levels of distrust in the world, with up to 41 per cent of the population believing vaccination is not safe, according to one study. Just nine per cent of Britons express similar misgivings.

The blood clot saga began to unfurl on March 7, when Austrian medical authorities reported two women had suffered a reaction within two weeks of receiving the jab. One, aged 49, was reported to have suffered multiple thrombosis  clots within blood vessels  and died.

The other, aged 35, had received hospital treatment for a clot within the lungs, also known as a pulmonary embolism.

Both women had received doses from the same batch of AstraZeneca vaccinations, which had been distributed across 17 EU countries.

Two days later, Danish authorities announced the death of a 60-year-old woman linked to blood clots  shortly after she received a dose from that batch.

A health worker prepares a dose of AstraZeneca vaccine today in Ede, Netherlands

This initially led to a theory of a 'bad batch' in circulation.

In the following days, Norway reported three patients, all under 50, with what doctors described as 'an unusual combination' of blood pathologies, including clots, following injection with a completely different batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine  disproving the 'bad batch' theory. One, in her 40s, later died.

On March 12, Norwegian officials announced another death  a health worker in her 30s who suffered a burst artery in the brain soon after her AstraZeneca jab. No blood clot was involved.

But one by one, European countries began to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Dr Gunnveig Grodeland, an expert in immunology at Oslo University, said her government was forced to act as there was already 'a lot of anxiety' about vaccination there.

She points to the 2009 swine flu vaccine controversy, in which the rapidly developed jab called Pandemrix was linked to a handful of cases of the sleep disorder narcolepsy among children.

Although extremely rare  occurring in roughly one in every 55,000 who'd had the vaccine  later studies showed the complication was more common in Scandinavians.

Dr Grodeland agreed the suspension of the AstraZeneca jab was 'largely political' and that 'nobody' in the scientific community that she knew believed that blood clots were a side-effect of the vaccine.

But she still felt it was the right move: 'If the authorities had not [addressed] the anxiety then we would have a bigger problem with trust in the future.'

However she also worried that their actions 'may be interpreted differently, internationally' and feared it may have undermined confidence in other countries.

Meanwhile, French immunologist Dr Francoise Salvadori, from Burgundy University, admitted: 'Anti-vaccine sentiment has been very strong in France for maybe 15 or 20 years. The French have a distrust of [politicians] in general and health policies in particular.'

Germany, she added, has its own issues. Last summer saw a surge of anti-lockdown protests and, in a poll in December, a third of Germans said they'd refuse a Covid vaccine. Authorities already have difficulties persuading over-65s to have a flu shot.

Figures from 2019 show just 35 per cent of them had a jab, compared with 72 per cent of the British.

Germany has a long history of mandatory vaccination  in the 19th Century, citizens were legally obliged to have a smallpox vaccine, and in the 1960s, East Germany required vaccination for diphtheria, tuberculosis and polio. This was enforced with fines.

Historians say that these events have played into a view held by some Germans that having a vaccination  or not having one  is a political statement.

A larger issue, claims Dr Salvadori, may be the ongoing row over the supply of vaccines between the UK and European states.

The EU has approved four vaccines so far  the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson jabs

The EU has approved four vaccines so far  the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson jabs  but manufacturing problems have slowed the bloc's programme.

The EU has also accused AstraZeneca of breaking its contract by not supplying enough doses. The company blames production delays.

Last week, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen admitted they were facing 'the crisis of this century'  and have threatened to halt further vaccine exports from the bloc.

Italy's deputy health minister Pierpaolo Sileri admitted: 'We have fewer than 50 per cent of the expected doses. But I think the same happened everywhere in Europe.'

At present, just under nine per cent of Europeans have received a dose of a Covid vaccine, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, compared with half of all British adults.

Dr Salvadori says: 'The French are very disappointed not to have a vaccine [of their own], and so France will make political choices. The moves [to suspend use of the AstraZeneca jab] I think, are mostly political because, scientifically speaking, it doesn't hold water.'

Indeed, on Tuesday Italian scientists had already declared that both of the deaths they had initially reported were not likely to have been caused by the Covid jab.

In one case, no blood clots were detected and, in the other, the cause of death was a heart attack. Sad, unexpected, but coincidental events.

Dr Salvadori believes the posturing will have done nothing to help improve Europe's spiralling antivax problem.

She added: 'It's very delicate. In France, people would have been suspicious if we hadn't acted in the same way as other European countries, but by stopping, it can also add to doubts.

'People will think, there's no smoke without fire.'
Deliveroo's blockbuster share offering faces a rough ride after institutional investors baulked at the firm's 7.5billion valuation.

Two fund managers who run multi-billion pound portfolios told The Mail on Sunday they wouldn't buy any shares at the price offered by the company's brokers. One said the float was 'ludicrously priced'.

Another big investor said: 'They want a high price but the firm didn't make any money last year.'

Ludicrous: Two fund managers who run multi-billion pound portfolios said they wouldn't buy any shares at the price offered by the company's brokers

Last year, Deliveroo reported a 223.7million loss. But turnover grew to 4.1billion in 2020 from 2.5billion in 2019.

Both fund managers suggested the flotation, which will initially raise 1billion of new funds, might not succeed unless the value was cut to encourage investors back to the deal. The valuation is indicative and a final price has yet to be set.

Deliveroo was set up in 2013 by ex-Morgan Stanley banker Will Shu and a friend, Greg Orlowski. Shu came up with the idea after he struggled to find decent food delivery options while working long hours at the investment bank.

High-profile investors in the business include Amazon, which led a $575million (415million) funding round in exchange for a 16 per cent stake in 2019.

The firm now lists 45,000 UK restaurants. Other floats are seeing strong appetite from investors.

City sources said brokers to Trust Pilot are said to be pricing the Danish consumer review website at the top of its range.

Deliveroo and Trust Pilot follow on from a wave of other listings. In January, boot maker Dr Martens floated in London with a valuation of around 3.5billion. Moonpig, the online card retailer, launched a 1.2billion listing shortly after.

In the US, there has also been a rush of stock market floats. Dating app Bumble floated there in February with a valuation of $8.2billion.

Companies have been tempted to sell shares as stock markets flirt with all-time highs following huge liquidity injections by governments and central banks in the last year.

However, some investors, wary that several recent London floats have done badly, are very sceptical about the wave of new issues.

Aston Martin floated in London in 2018 at 19 a share and saw its shares plunge 98 per cent over the following two years. Eventually, Lawrence Stroll, the tycoon behind the Tommy Hilfiger brand, led a 536million rescue.

Some of the banks involved in the flotation of Aston Martin, such as Goldman Sachs, are leading the listing of Deliveroo.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas will be seen as a guest on Oprah Winfrey's new talk show, Super Soul on Discovery+. The interview's latest promo has caused a stir on the internet as the actress can be heard saying her father used to sing at a mosque.

Reportedly in the interview, Priyanka will be seen talking about her memoir, her Bollywood career, her marriage with Nick Jonas and her plans for the future. In the recent promotional clip, Oprah can be seen discussing Priyanka's memoir Unfinished. Talking about India, Oprah said, "One of the things that was so powerful is the spiritual energy. The sense of connectedness between people and prayer", she added, "it is all so present".

When asked about growing up in India, Priyanka said, "I think in India it's hard not to, you're right - with the swirling number of religions that we have that live within the country as well. I grew up in a convent school - when I went to school, I was aware of Christianity, my dad used to sing in a mosque, (so) I was aware of Islam, I grew up in a Hindu family I was aware of that. So, spirituality is such a large part of India that you can't ignore it."

Baffled by the statement, many took to Twitter asking the actress to elaborate on the statement. One user wrote, "What mosque was letting priyanka chopra's dad to sing in it " while another wrote, "Mashallah Sister Priyanka Ali  Can you tell us more about ur struggle with Islam given you are Indian and Muslims are treated as less than animals in India ?"

Take a look at some Twitter reactions:

Priyanka: my dad used to sing in the mosque

Lol Which mosque piryanka ?   Hinal Patel (@Angelhinal) March 20, 2021

Priyanka Chopra - "My dad used to sing in a mosque. I was aware of Islam" pic.twitter.com/eZho9faIES   (@radium_blue) March 20, 2021

What mosque was letting priyanka chopra's dad to sing in it   Syed Nida Tehseen (@Nida_Tehseen) March 19, 2021

Dear @priyankachopra

How is singing in a mosque makes one aware of Islam? Do many years in India didn't let you know about muslims around you? By this logic- my dad argues cases in court so I am aware of the law. #PriyankaChopra #Oprah  pic.twitter.com/gDbVG5aZT1  Chayan Sarkar (@chayansarkar87) March 20, 2021

Wow ? Singing was allowed in a mosque ? didnt kno ?



Mashallah Sister Priyanka Ali 



Can you tell us more about ur struggle with Islam given you are Indian and Muslims are treated as less than animals in India ? https://t.co/u3J0iKn6lk  EY IE  (@izntdatdeep) March 19, 2021

exactly! And I've seen people saying 'it's not mosques but a "dargah" where u sing' & I'm like, most people watching this wouldn't understand what a "dargah" is, so Priyanka just said mosque cuz that's like the closest thing in English translation. And "singing" is the closest .. https://t.co/MHiOhIZ7ZY  VP (@Pri4Lyfe) March 20, 2021

Priyanka is currently busy shooting for the Amazon original series Citadel in Europe. The show produced by the Russo brothers also stars British actor Richard Madden as the lead. Priyanka will also be seen in Text For You directed by Jim Strouse, and The Matrix 4 with Keanu Reeves.

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Gives Befitting Reply To Journalist Who Questions Her Qualifications To Announce The Oscars

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Didn't Take It Seriously When Nick Started Texting Her; 'I Was 35 & Wanted To Get Married'
Treatment can be tough, but now, doctors are using a flexible robotic scope to see and remove tumors in a minimally invasive way.
West Bengal elections 2021: 684 companies of CAPF to be deployed in first phase of state polls

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Kolkata, Mar 20: The Election Commission will deploy at least 684 companies of CAPF in 10,288 booths spread in about 7,034 premises in five districts in the first phase of polling in West Bengal on March 27, a senior official said on Saturday.

In the first phase, election is scheduled in 30 assembly constituencies of Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, Purba Medinipur (Part 1) and Paschim Medinipur (Part 1), he said. Keeping in mind the Maoist activity in Jhargram district, the EC has decided to deploy 11 paramilitary personnel per booth, the highest in any election in the state so far, the official told reporters.

The other districts where election will be held on that day will have an average of six paramilitary personnel per booth. The official said altogether 144 companies of central forces will be deployed in Jhargram for the election.

"All the 1,307 booths spread over 1,010 premises in Jhargram have been declared as left wing extremist-affected areas and we have decided to deploy 127 companies of the central forces only for booth management. The EC has allotted approximately 11 personnel to manage each booth in this district," he said.

TN elections 2021: DMK chief MK Stalin interacts, poses questions to people against Jayalalithaa

Fourteen companies of CAPF will be used as quick response teams, one for the maintenance of the strong room and another two companies of the central force will be kept in reserve as the strike force in the district and sub-divisional levels in the district, he said.

So far as the other districts are concerned, Purulia has the highest concentration of forces with 185 companies to be deployed in 3127 booths spread over 2025 premises. In Purba Medinipur 148 companies of CAPF will be deployed in 2,437 booths located in 1,686 premises and 124 companies have been allotted for 2,089 booths at 1,363 premises in Paschim Medinipur district, he said.

Bankura which has 1,328 booths spread over 950 premises will have the least deployment - only 83 companies, the official said. About deployment of the state police, he said 22,092 of its personnel will be engaged in the first phase.

The state force includes 173 inspectors, 2,661 sub-inspectors or assistant sub-inspectors, 4,012 armed constables, 13,970 unarmed constables and 1,276 lady constables, he said. The central forces will be mainly deployed in and around the booths and the state force will be used for the maintenance of law and order.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 21:19 [IST]
SPRINGFIELD  Companies continued Thursday to detail their proposed marijuana businesses in Springfield, including a plan to renovate the former Howard Johnsons motel and restaurant in the South End.

The city plans to select up to four retail stores and at least one cultivation business, among other licenses, in its second phase of marijuana business applications. Four recreational marijuana shops were approved in the first round in 2019, with one store open so far, Liberty Springfield on Boston Road.

A total of 17 companies presented plans during online sessions Monday and Thursday. There is a March 22 deadline for formal proposals.

Presenters both days generally emphasized local hiring, diversity, stringent security and safety, and community involvement. Descriptions of Thursdays presentations follow.

Green Gold Group plans a $12 million redevelopment at the former Howard Johnsons and Ann Fields Country Pie Restaurant property at 333-337 East Columbus Ave.

The converted building would host not only a retail marijuana store but also other small businesses, entrepreneurs and community functions, said corporate lawyer James McMahon. The community use would be free of charge and the business use would include furnishings and subsidized rents, he said.

The family-run companys experience includes a 153,000-square-foot cannabis production facility in North Brookfield. Rafael Aronov is company president.

This former bank building at 1391 Main Street in Springfield is being considered as the site of a marijuana dispensary. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 3/19/2021

Origins Sales East LLC presented plans for a marijuana retail store on the first floor of 1391 Main St., formerly a Peoples United Bank.

Company officials said the site is at a key downtown intersection close to Interstate 91 and 291 and the bridge crossing to West Springfield. There is nearby public parking, metered parking and arrangements planned for validated private parking, officials said.

CEO Sean Miller said the company has 10 retail licenses across the U.S., as well as cultivation and manufacturing businesses. The company would hire about 20 employees.

Diem Cannabis plans a marijuana cultivation and retail operation at the former Macys store at the Eastfield Mall on Boston Road. CEO Chris Mitchem said the company is planning a $35 million investment, with retail on the first floor and cultivation on the second.

The project has been two years in the making, and would lead to 300 jobs, he said. Diem is pursuing the project in a partnership with Luiselis Hernandez of Springfield, a local businesswoman.

Deim Cannabis is seeking to open a marijuana business including a retail store, cultivation and manufacturing center at the former Macy's store at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield. (The Republican file photo)

Seven Thirty-Two Cottage Street Inc. revealed plans for a retail store at that address in East Springfield, in an industrial area.

Directors Steven and Michelle Mrowzinski said they are from Long Island, New York, but plan to move to Springfield. The couple purchased the property and have made some improvements, they said. The site is not near any residences, they said.

The company proposed a retail store there in 2018, but it was not selected in the first round.

Apical Inc. presented plans for a retail store at 785 Page Blvd. in East Springfield, formerly Boulevard Machine & Gear. Apicals founder is Kat Kasom of Easthampton.

There are two other buildings on the property and both would be demolished. With existing parking and added space, there should be room for nearly 50 parking spaces, company officials said.

Green Leaf Dispensary is proposing a retail store at 1168 Boston Road. The owner and CEO, Hash Patel, also is CEO and president of 4Bros Inc. and East Coast Pharms, and has an approved medical cannabis business in Holyoke.

There is a long history of restaurant and retail use at the Boston Road site, and the new business would help rejuvenate that area, company representatives said.

City of Springfield Second Phase Marijuana Public Presentation by Proposers City of Springfield Second Phase Marijuana Public Presentation by Proposers Second of two meetings. First was Monday, March 15. Posted by City of Springfield, MA - Office of Communications on Thursday, March 18, 2021

Tree N Brick LLC is seeking a license for a delivery service from its site at 1860 Main St., on the ground floor of The Republican building. It would provide marijuana deliveries in Springfield and surrounding communities.

The company is a sister company of 6 Bricks LLC, which is preparing to open a marijuana retail store at 1860 Main St. Taylor Shubrick is listed as CEO of Tree N Brick, and others involved in the company include Payton and Fred Shubrick and Gyasi Sellers.

RelaxMD LLC presented plans for a dispensary, but said the location has not been finalized.

CEO Richard Laguerre said there would be no walk-ins, as the business would provide marijuana through appointments or home delivery, with people ordering the products online. Highly trained consultants would work with the customers, he said.

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Nepal is a hub for diverse cultures, and with that, it is also rich in cultural and traditional flavours. Most of its foods are inspired by its neighbouring countries but with their own unique twists. One will find a lot of food to try here.

If you are confused about what dishes to try from the multitude of options, here is a list to help you.

1. Dal-bhat

Dal-bhat is known as the staple food in Nepal and is available in almost every restaurant. It consists of rice and lentil soup which is paired with meat curries or any seasonal vegetables. Normally, that (rice) is served in metal plates while lentil soup in a separate bowl. If you are trekking, this dish will fill you with nutrition and it tastes amazing as well. So, dont miss this national dish while you are visiting Nepal.

2. Sel roti

Sel roti is one of the traditional homemade foods loved by most Nepalis. It is a ring-shaped, deep-fried in ghee or oil, sweet bread made with granulated rice and is also known as Nepali doughnut. Sel originated in Nepal and is crucial during important Hindu festivals like Dashain and Tihar. It is also prepared in places of India like Sikkim and Darjeeling where ethnic Nepali people are present. Sel roti is easily available in local restaurants or street stalls.

3. Chatamari

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

One of the loved snacks, chatamari is a must-try when visiting the city. It is very popular among both locals and foreigners in Kathmandu. Chatamari is a Newari snack made of rice flour crepe and is cooked with various vegetable, meat or egg toppings. It is also called Newa pizza as it is round and is similar in shape and look. One can find it in every Newa restaurant. This snack never lets your tastebuds down.

4. Newa khaja set

Photo: Shankar Giri

Newa khaja set is another famous dish that is both tasty and nutritious. It is a combination of several items such as potato, eggs, beaten rice flakes, chhoila, soybeans, achar, etc. This cuisine is filled with its own authentic flavour and is great for your health as well. It is available in every Newa restaurant, listed under the main course as well.

5. Momo

Chicken Jhol Momo

Another all-time favourite of Nepali people is momo. Although it originated in Tibet, it is safe to say that this is Nepali food.

It is a dumpling inspired by Tibetan culinary tradition but with more depth in flavour. It is one of the most loved snacks among Nepalis and somewhat in India. Here in Nepal, it is mostly made out of all-purpose flour and is stuffed with ground meat mixed with finely chopped veggies and other spices for flavour. One can stuff it with other combinations of stuffings as well. It can be found in both steamed or fried versions and is best served with tomato chutney or flavoured soup. Nowadays, it can be found in various types of variations in forms, taste and combinations.

6. Chhoila

Another Newa dish is chhoila. It is spicy, grilled buffalo meat which is popular among many meat lovers in Nepal. From fancy restaurants to street vendors, this dish is easily available all over Nepal. This mouth-watering dish is typically paired with chiura (beaten rice flakes) and is the most important ingredient of samayabaji. Traditionally, the meat used for chhoila is buffalo, but nowadays mutton, chicken, duck, or even mushroom chhoila are also available.

7. Thakali set

Photo: Nasana Bajracharya

Thakali set is one of the most popular food sets in Nepali cities and it originated in Mustang district. This highly demanded set consists of rice, locally grown buckwheat, millet, barley, maize, and dal. At first, kachhyamba, a buckwheat finger chips, is provided as an appetiser, then the main course is served. Rice, masko dal (black lentil soup), spicy potatoes, spinach, and meat curry are served in this course, and lastly for dessert, fermented rice (phopke) is included. So if you are someone who loves flavours, this might be the one for you.

8. Yomari

Photo: Nasana Bajracharya

Another Newa dessert, yomari is so loved that it has its own festival celebrated as Yomari Punhi, usually around December. This festival marks the end of rice harvest for the Newa community and yomari is made and eaten on this day as a product of that harvest. Yomari is made with rice flour and is filled with molasses mixed with coconut or khuwa (dairy product). It is shaped like a fish or a fig and is sweet in taste. It is a delicacy that is available in various areas of Kathmandu city.

9. Gundruk

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Gundruk is a fermented leafy green vegetable pickle that is popular in Nepal. This food is also claimed as national food in Nepal. It is widely available in any Nepali or Gorkhali households and is valued for its unique appetising flavour. Gundruk is prepared by either boiling fermented leafy vegetables with mixed chopped onions, chillies and other spices or made into achar (pickle) straight from the jar. Either way, both taste amazing and are best when paired with dhindo. It is popular among both local and fancy restaurants and is listed as the main course in menus. Dont miss out on your visit to Nepal.

10. Jujudhau

Photo: Nasana Bajracharya

Jujudhau or the kings curd is something that you will not find anywhere else. This is particularly famous in Bhaktapur of the valley. It is a thick and creamy curd, made with buffalo milk, which makes it so rich in flavour and texture than normal cow curd. It is freshly made and it is included in many Newa celebrations so one must visit Bhaktapur to try jujudhau.
Thousands of residents on the storm-battered New South Wales coast have been told to prepare for major floods and evacuations as more heavy rain hits on Sunday.

A huge swathe of the state stretching from the mid-north coast to the Illawarra region was subject to a severe weather warning on Saturday night, with the wild weather forecast to last until Thursday.

To Sydney's north and south-west residents were warned to expect flooding from the Hawkesbury, Warragamba and Nepean rivers - the latter two swollen by the overflow of the city's largest dam at 3pm on Saturday.

Major flood warnings were issued for North Richmond, Windsor and Sackville north-west of Sydney for early Sunday morning, and evacuation orders issued for Hawkesbury River at Grono's Point and Pitt Town Bottoms, and low lying parts of North Richmond.

The once-in-a-century rain storm has already caused the evacuation of 17,000 people across New South Wales, and caused severe flooding on the state's mid-north coast and in the Sydney metropolitan region.

Senior BOM climatologist Agata Imielska said Greater Sydney could expect about 100mm of rain during the next 24 hours or so, but the lower Blue Mountains is expected to get 200-300mm.

Yellow areas are subject to a Bureau of Meteorology severe weather warning of heavy rain and damaging winds for Sunday. The marked locations are subject to evacuation orders or warnings

Parts of Port Macquarie and several nearby towns have flooded been flooded as torrential rain and flooding is expected to continue until mid-next week

The Warragamba Dam, Sydney's main reservoir, began overflowing just after 3pm on Saturday and the spill is expected to increase into Sunday (pictured)

The weather band is moving down from the Kimberley and will reach eastern NSW from Monday night, when it will 'link up' with the slow-moving coastal trough that is causing the flooding in NSW.

Parts of Port Macquarie - received as much as 400mm of rain in the 24 hours to Saturday afternoon - and several nearby towns, have flooded and further south at Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago.

Nine evacuation centres have opened in NSW to cope with the influx of those left homeless by the crisis - seven on the mid-north coast and two in the Hunter region.

The Bureau of Metereology warned heavy rainfall - that will likely lead to flash flooding - is expected for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Sydney Metropolitan, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands districts.

In some areas, heavy rain and flooding may be life-threatening and the next six to 12 hours will see roads likely cut off by water and see an increased risk of landslips.

The Warragamba Dam, Sydney's main reservoir, began overflowing just after 3pm on Saturday and the spill is expected to increase into Sunday, Water NSW said.

Just after 5pm the NSW SES told residents of Picton in the south-west of the city to prepare to evacuate within 12 hours as floodwaters rise to dangerous levels in the Stonequarry Creek.

Later in the evening suburbs near the swollen Hawkesbury River - Pitt Town Bottoms, low lying parts of North Richmond, Grono's Point and Cornwallis - were also subject to an evacuation warning.

For NSW residents not in immediate danger, Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged them to restrict their movements and heed all warnings.

Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the State Emergency Service's 500 flood rescues was 'completely unacceptable'.

EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS FOR NSW ORDERS: - Hawkesbury River at Grono's Point - Hawkesbury River at Pitt Town Bottoms - Low lying parts of North Richmond - Low lying areas of Central Wingham - Taree Estate, Dumaresq Island and Cundletown - Low lying areas of Laurieton and North Haven and Dunbogan - Low lying properties of Bulahdelah - Low lying properties in Kings Point and Macksville CBD - Low lying areas of Wauchope and Rawdon Island - Low lying properties in Kempsey CBD - Low lying properties on the Lower Macleay - Low lying properties in Port Macquarie WARNINGS: - Hawkesbury River at low lying areas of Freemans Reach - Hawkesbury River at Cornwallis - Picton CBD - Gloucester River at Gloucester and Manning River at Wingham - Low Lying areas in North Macksville NSW STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE Advertisement

Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago as parts of the town have flooded (pictured)

Heavy rain and flooding has trigger evacuations on the New South Wales mid coast with over 120mm rain expected for Sydney and residents urged to stay at home

'That's 500 crews that have put their lives at risk because people have not heeded the warnings,' he said.

Search teams are on the water off the coast of Coffs Harbour looking for a bodyboarder in his 60s who went missing mid-afternoon.

In Katoomba, in the upper Blue Mountains, two bushwalkers were cut off by floodwaters on the Six Foot Track with NSW Ambulance saying they were 'extremely fortunate' to have survived.

The rescue required four crews and conditions were difficult with some roads impassable because of flooding.

Major flood warnings have also been issued for the Hawkesbury, Nepean Valley and Colo Rivers as water levels are expected to rise to 'moderate flood levels' from late Saturday to Sunday.

Sydney's Warragamba Dam spills over Residents in the Warragamba Dam catchment are on high alert and may have to evacuate as the primary reservoir of water supply for Sydney overflows. The heritage-listed Warragamba Dam, located about 70km from central Sydney, started spilling mid-afternoon on Saturday, as rain continues to batter parts of NSW. The volume of water is expected to increase into Sunday as rainfall and flooding continues, Water NSW said. Residents in the suburb of Picton have been urged to evacuate their homes after the Waragamba Dam overflowed on Saturday Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Saturday afternoon she had been briefed on the dam situation 'in relation to a potential for a one-in-five-year, one-in-10-year, or one-in-20-year event'. 'All three scenarios being planned for,' she said. She warned residents in the catchment area, as well as those in the mid-north coast, the Hunter, central coast and metropolitan Sydney to be on high alert and ready to evacuate. Flood expert Jamie Pittock is less concerned about the Warragamba Dam spilling as he is about tributary rivers downstream from it, such as the Grose River, overflowing and flooding parts of western Sydney. 'There are around 5,000 houses (in western Sydney) that lie below the one-in-100-year flood return interval,' the Australia National University professor told AAP. Most housing developments around the world are not allowed to be built in a one-in-100-year area, but successive NSW governments have allowed the irresponsible building of housing in these low-lying locations, Prof Pittock said. 'It's always worrying when there's a flood in western Sydney because it's one of the most dangerous places in Australia for floods.' Prof Pittock said he was most concerned about Penrith, Richmond and Windsor. Bureau of Meteorology national flood services manager Justin Robinson said a spill at Warragamba Dam could lead to minor flooding in Sydney's west, specifically at Penrith and North Richmond later on Saturday. 'It's a very dynamic and evolving flood situation and we could see some very deep and rapid responding rivers with very high levels,' he said on Saturday. Other dams such as Nepean, Cataract, Cordeaux and Avon are also expected to reach capacity and begin spilling on Saturday afternoon, Water NSW said. The mayor of Wollondilly Shire Council, the local government area in which Warragamba Dam is located, told AAP he was concerned about flooding in lower areas. Robert Khan cannot remember the dam spilling over in his nearly 40 years of living in the area and said businesses on the main street of Picton were currently sandbagging their stores. 'We've had drought, bushfires and floods. I know it's mother nature but how much can a local business take?' he said. The dam spill has occurred amid the NSW government's controversial plans to raise the dam wall by at least 14 metres to potentially hold back additional water in the Blue Mountains. Advertisement

Sydney's Warragamba Dam (pictured) has spilled over which could cause chaos for many western suburbs

Houses are destroyed after flooding following heavy rainfall in Tinonee, New South Wales

The Nepean River at Menangle Bridge is expected to reach 7.60m on Sunday with water levels to also reach moderate flood levels at Wallacia Weir.

Major flooding is possible along the Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean River.

Minor flooding is current along the Hawkesbury River at Penrith, North Richmond and Windsor.

The Colo River at Putty Road is expected to reach the major flood level of 10.70m on Sunday afternoon.

'It's a very dynamic and evolving flood situation and we could see some very deep and rapidly responding rivers with very high levels,' BOM national flood services manager Justin Robinson said.

River systems on the mid-north coast that have already flooded communities are expected to cop more rain on Saturday night and on Sunday, as Sydney's river systems swell dramatically.

The Federal Government said the wild weather will affect the vaccine delivery of phase 1b to over 6.1million Australians in Sydney and across regional NSW.

The federal government said they were urgently working with doctors administering the vaccine to restore the supply of doses.

'The Department of Health is working directly with GPs on these issues and we ask for the public's patience and understanding with these unforeseen supply delays,' a government spokesperson said.

A car is left stuck in raging floodwater at the Audley Weir in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

A 'mini-tornado' that ripped through Chester Hill damaged the roofs of houses

A young couple's home was seen floating down the Manning River in Taree in startling footage

'The Department of Health is working with logistics companies and doctors to determine when delivers of the vaccines can be received due to heavy rainfall and flooding.'

Speaking in an emergency press conference, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 'extreme weather event' would persist well into next week - with rain not due to stop until Thursday or Friday.

'The last time we got major floods in the NSW the weather event passed in two or three days, unfortunately, this will be a deep-seated, extreme weather event,' she said.

'This is an event that will not be going away in the next few days.'

The weather bureau warned of intense rainfall 'potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding' and damaging winds averaging 60-70km/h with gusts exceeding 90km/h.

A car is left stuck in raging floodwater at the Audley Weir in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

Port Macquarie is now almost underwater as the town is lashed with a huge downpour of rain

Floodwaters in Port Macquarie are seen as residents are told to evacuate after a freak weather event (pictured on Saturday)

The Hastings River flooding in Port Macquarie, NSW is pictured on Saturday morning - as millions brace for a weekend of endless wild weather

The federal government has announced financial disaster recovery assistance for Armidale, Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Nambucca Valley, Newcastle, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens and Tenterfield local government areas.

'A range of practical assistance measures are now available to help people get back on their feet and help councils get on with the clean-up and repairs to infrastructure,' Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the scenes across NSW were 'absolutely heart-breaking' and government was ready to assist, including summoning the Australian Defence Force.
QUINCY, Calif.  The Plumas County Sheriffs Office has issued an alert about telephone scam attempts.

Someone has been calling people and identifying him/herself as a deputy of the Sheriffs Office. The scammer then has told people that there is a warrant out for their arrest, officers said.

The caller has demanded money and other identifying information. The Plumas County Sheriffs Office said this caller may be using the name of an actual deputy or employee of their law enforcement agency.

The Sheriffs Office said their employees and deputies will never demand money or other payment over the telephone, for any reason.

They are warning people not to give out any identifying information or access to their money over their telephones and electronic devices.

If you have been targeted for this or a similar scam, contact your local Sheriffs Office.
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There is light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel.

The possibility of normal life  or some version of it  returning soon is growing in New Jersey, as the rate of new cases plateaus and the vaccine rollout immunizes 2.4 million people a day in the U.S.

But will the coronavirus ever truly be gone?

While its difficult to say for certain, experts believe the virus is here to stay  in one form or another  for years to come.

Why?

Dr. David Cennimo, an infectious disease expert at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said the coronavirus will continue to mutate just like influenza. It could mean the need for annual vaccinations, again, just like the flu.

I think that the goal or the hope is that it becomes a seasonal viral illness, not unlike influenza, or frankly the other  endemic coronaviruses that weve known for years, Cennimo said.

He could foresee normal life with a COVID season, similar to our annual flu season. He said we may one day say: Was this a bad COVID season? Or was this an OK COVID season?

The new variants are already showing how the virus is adapting throughout the globe.

And its unlikely the coronavirus is going to cease mutating, said Dr. Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist at Montclair State University.

However, Silvera said its unlikely the virus will be as severe.

The virus will continue to mutate to the point where it is transmissible but less fatal  less deadly, Silvera said. Its not going to cause as severe an illness over time.

Silvera agreed that the coronavirus could behave similarly to influenza.

Where its endemic in some regions, and potentially eliminated in some areas, but not fully eradicated, she said.

But that doesnt mean the coronavirus couldnt still pose severe problems in the future. In 2009, influenza  the H1N1 strain  led to a pandemic.

Theres always the potential that you have  like we saw in 2009 with the flu  where theres a newer strain thats more transmissible  And then you have a more serious season, she said.

Cennimo said the main concern is keeping people out of the hospital, which the Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson vaccines effectively do, according to trial data.

You may have a couple days of congestion (and) cough instead of people winding up in an ICU or on a ventilator, he said.

Continued vaccination could be key.

If you think about it, thats what  for years  weve talked about with influenza, Cennimo said. People will say, Oh, well, the influenza vaccine is only 40% effective  its bad. Its 40% effective against all infection. But if its keeping you out of the ICU, if its keeping you out of the hospital, period, and youre taking a couple days off of work sick rather than spending a week in the hospital, its a huge benefit.

He said its hard to say whether the nation could develop a vaccine that would eradicate the virus from the population. Other effective vaccines have failed in that mission.

My personal pessimism says no, Cennimo said. And thats mostly because we have a good enough vaccine in (the) measles vaccine that  we could eliminate measles with a concerted effort, and we havent been able to pull that off. Were getting close to polio, but ... if you think about how many decades thats been going on...

Dr. Reynold Panettieri, vice chancellor for translational medicine and science at Rutgers University, also believes its unlikely the coronavirus is going anywhere anytime soon.

Its hard to say, but if I have to look into my crystal ball, my impression is that it is going to be with us for probably a decade and maybe even longer, Panettieri said. Weve seen that with the flu epidemic in 1918.

But he posed a slightly different possibility.

While it is possible that the virus could manifest in the same way as the flu  with the need for annual vaccinations  there are some vaccinations, Panettieri said, that are given every five years.

The same could hold true with the coronavirus, he offered.

In some cases, vaccines have to be given  not every year  but every five years, Panettieri said, citing the Pneumovax 23 (pneumococcal) vaccine, which is administered to older adults every five years.

While only time will tell, people should expect to get used to the coronavirus  in some form  for the foreseeable future.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the state of vaccinations as Vice President Kamala Harris listens (Photo : REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

President Joe Biden deplored a surge in anti-Asian violence in the United States after a deadly shooting rampage in Georgia, and asked all Americans to stand together against hate during a visit to the state on Friday.



Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met for more than an hour with leaders and state lawmakers from the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, which has been rattled by this week's murders of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, after a year of rising anti-Asian violence.



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"Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop. And it is on all of us, all of us together, to make it stop," Biden said after the meeting, calling on U.S. lawmakers to pass a COVID-19 hate crimes bill that would expand Justice Department review of hate crimes exacerbated by the pandemic.



Harris, the first Asian-American vice president in U.S. history, tied the violence to the long history of racism in the United States and likened it to the targeting of Muslims after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.



"Racism is real in America, and it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America, and always has been. Sexism, too," Harris said. "The president and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination wherever and whenever it occurs."



A 21-year-old man has been charged with Tuesday's murders at three spas in and around Atlanta. Investigators said the suspect, who is white, suggested that sexual frustration led him to commit violence. But political leaders and civil rights advocates have speculated the killings were motivated at least in part by anti-Asian sentiment.



Advocates say the surge of attacks on Asian Americans is largely the result of the community being targeted over the coronavirus, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019.



On Friday, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the violence was exacerbated by language used by former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the "China virus" and the "kung flu."



Biden ordered the U.S. flag flown at half-staff at the White House to honor the victims of the Atlanta area shootings.



SHIFT IN FOCUS



The meeting with Asian-American community leaders was a shift in focus of a trip originally planned to promote the newly enacted $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.



Asian-American voters constitute one of the fastest growing racial and ethnic groups in the country and turned out in record numbers in presidential battleground states in the 2020 election, according to data from TargetSmart, a Democratic political data firm.



In Georgia, Asian-American and Pacific Islander voters exceeded their total 2016 turnout by 58%, the firm said. These voters were key to carrying Biden to success in states where the race was close such as Georgia, the firm said.



As he headed to Georgia, Biden stumbled as he climbed aboard Air Force One. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters he was "doing 100 percent fine" and suggested high winds at Joint Base Andrews near Washington may have been a factor.



The Democratic president's trip was initially part of the "Help is Here" campaign, which he kicked off on Monday to promote his promise of "shots in arms and money in pockets," after signing the COVID-19 relief bill into law last week. Biden has traveled to Pennsylvania and Harris has been to Nevada and Colorado to tout the benefits of the package.



Before they met with Asian-American leaders, Biden and Harris received a coronavirus update at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where they thanked health officials for their effort fighting the pandemic.



"This is a war and you are the frontline troops," Biden said. "We owe you a debt of gratitude for all the lives you've saved."



In his remarks after meeting with community leaders, Biden touted the COVID-19 relief bill's benefits for Georgia, saying the state's schools will get $4 billion and state government $5 billion.



"That's going to make it possible to keep a lot of police officers, firefighters, teachers and other first responders on the job," he said.



Harris and Biden also met with Stacey Abrams, a former Georgia gubernatorial candidate whose get-out-the vote efforts are widely credited with helping Biden carry the state last November and their fellow Democrats win two runoffs in Georgia that gave them control of the U.S. Senate.



"If anyone ever wondered if voting can change a country, Georgia just proved it can," he said. But he warned the battle for voting rights was not over.



A bill passed by the Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives this month would restrict ballot drop boxes, tighten absentee voting requirements and limit early voting on Sundays, curtailing traditional "Souls to the Polls" voter turnout programs in Black churches.



Biden and Harris also met U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff and Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.



They discussed the Georgia legislation "along with possible solutions to make voting more accessible," spokeswoman Jean-Pierre said in a statement.



Republicans across the country are using Trump's false claims of voter fraud in 2020 to back state-level voting changes they say are needed to restore election integrity.


The next season of The Bachelor is currently filming with airline pilot Jimmy Nicholson.

On Friday, the 31-year-old was spotted on set with a stunning blonde contestant on a paddle boarding date in Sydney's Sirius Cove.

Things got steamy between the couple as they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed passionately.

Romantic: Jimmy Nicholson shared a kiss with a mystery blonde while filming scenes for the new season of The Bachelor in Sydney on Friday

The blonde beauty showed off her toned physique in a white bikini, while Jimmy wore a pair of board shorts.

A crew containing cameramen and producers were also spotted nearby capturing all the action.

At one point, they filmed a piece to camera with the blonde, who had wrapped herself up in a towel after swimming.

Passion: Things got steamy between the couple as they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed passionately

Tight grip: Jimmy wrapped his arms around the blonde beauty

Fun times: The 31-year-old's looked to be laughing as he and the blonde turned their heads to look at something

All smiles: The mystery lady couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she laughed and smiled

Earlier this month, Jimmy told the Daily Telegraph he was pumped at the prospect of finding The One.

'I am ready to open up my heart and meet someone,' he told the publication.

Jimmy went on to list what he's looking for in his ideal partner. 'I hope to meet someone with similar values that I can have fun with and that shares the same zest for life as myself,' he added.

Stylish: She was dressed in a fashionable two-piece bikini which featured a unique tied knot

Animal: Jimmy wore a pair of leopard print boardshorts to the beach

The look of love! The happy couple smiled and gazed into each other's eyes

They're inseparable! The pair held onto each other tightly with big smiles on their faces

What's that? There was a mic cord attached to Jimmy, which ran down his entire back

'The Bachelor franchise has produced many success stories and I hope to be the next,' he confidently quipped.

According to Sydney Confidential, Jimmy decided to sign up to the dating series after he was stood down from his pilot job amid the pandemic.

He also said that over the years he's struggled to find his perfect match because he's 'never in the same spot for too long'.

Furry friend! The couple were joined by a Border Collie, who seemed to be enjoying the water

Keeping watch: The Border Collie kept a protective watch over the pair

Making an adjustment! The blonde beauty pulled up her bikini top on the paddle board

Relaxing: The blonde leaned back into Jimmy's arms as the dog stood on guard

Growl: The Border Collie cut a stoic figure as he stood tall on the front of the board

Time to go? The couple appeared to be packing things up, with Jimmy picking up the pooch

Sky high! Jimmy hoisted the Border Collie up onto his shoulder and waded through the water

The eligible bachelor is of New Zealand and Fijian heritage, and has not appeared in any of the previous Bachelor franchises.

Jimmy's Instagram account has been made private ahead of the series airing.

He already has a bevy of reality TV mates in his celebrity network, including former Bachelor, Bachelorette and MAFS stars.

Happy times: Jimmy and his love interest couldn't control their laughter by the beach

Muscles: Jimmy showed off his taut abs as he flung his towel open

His famous pals include The Bachelor's Bella Varelis, The Bachelorette's Sam Johnson, and Married At First Sight's Mikey Pembroke.

'He's a really lovely human, definitely deserves to find love!' Bella recently told The Wash.

The 2021 season of Bachelor is currently being filmed, and will likely premiere after Easter.

Step by step! The Bachelor star and the blonde beauty made their way down the sandy steps

Ready for the day? The pair marched through the sand towards the shore

Sword fight! The couple playfully banged their oars together like they were sword fighting

Good boy! A dog trainer in a blue coat tended to the Border Collie on the beach

In February, Daily Mail Australia revealed that the dating series will be shot at a property located in Dural in Sydney's north-west.

The $6.3million property, sits on five acres of land and features French chateau-inspired architecture.

Before setting up in Dural, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette were filmed at a $2.3million property in Oxford Falls, in Sydney's north.

Lights. camera action! Jimmy filmed a confessional with a crew from the show
Nearly a third of French people entered a month-long lockdown on Saturday with many expressing fatigue and confusion over the latest set of restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.

The government announced the new measures on Thursday after a jump in Covid-19 cases in Paris and parts of northern France.

The new restrictions are less severe than those in place during the lockdowns of spring and November 2020, raising concerns that they may not be effective.

"It's exhausting, tiring, it's long. I hope it's going to end quite quickly, although I have questions on how efficient the measures are," Kasia Gluc, 57, a graphic editor said on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris.

The interior ministry said in the night between Friday and Saturday that people could leave home as often as they wanted within 30 km (19 miles), provided they fill in a declaration.

Later on Saturday, Castex's office said the rules had been simplified and that no paperwork was needed during the day within a 10 km perimeter, only a proof of address.

"We have to have a permission slip but compared to previous lockdowns we're still a lot more free to go out. So are we locked down? Yes and no," Antonin Le Marechal, 21, said.

Good weather permitting, many Parisians went to the banks of the Seine river for a walk, a bike tour, or to gather with family and friends.

"As you can see, everyone is eating, taking off their masks," said 20-year-old student Rachel Chea. "It doesn't change anything for me."

The measures raised frustration among so-called non-essential shop owners forced to close down.

Stores allowed to stay open include those selling food, books, flowers and chocolate as well as hairdressers and shoemakers, but not clothes, furniture and beauty shops, according to a list released on Friday evening.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who said a total of 90,000 shops would need to close down, defended the list of stores that could remain open, notably those selling chocolate and flowers just two weeks ahead of Easter.

"I do not at all say that this is ideal, but each time it is done with a simple logic: guarantee the health of the French people while preserving economic activity and shops as much as possible," he told France Inter radio.

The government, which has avoided using the word lockdown to describe the latest restrictions, argues the measures are needed to relieve pressure on intensive care units which are close to overflowing.

A large number of Parisians had left the city before the restrictions came into force at midnight.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell talks to the media at a press conference in Sydney, Australia on May 11, 2020.(Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Push for National Sexual Consent Approach in Australia

A national standard for sexual consent education in schools is needed, the NSW government has said, after thousands of women and girls across the country shared stories of being assaulted as students.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said a national curriculum review currently underway is an opportunity for states and territories to consider how to teach school students about consent.

It comes after a petition of nearly 38,000 signatures calling for change on consent education was started by former Kambala School student Chanel Contos.

The petition is accompanied by thousands of harrowing stories of sexual assault suffered by studentsmany from private, single-sex schools across Sydney.

Mitchell said a review conducted in 2016-17 by NSW found the states syllabus was lacking.

What became immediately clear was consent did not appear enough in the curriculum. It was not a focus, she said in a statement.

All NSW students are taught about consent through the curriculum in an age-appropriate way, from kindergarten through to year 12.

That approach is needed nation-wide, she says, and now is the perfect occasion to raise the issue with formal consultation on the national Health and Physical Education curriculum to begin in April.

Consent needs to be taught early and explicitly, she said. Im looking forward to a conversation with other education ministers about how we better incorporate consent into education and what our standards are.

By Tiffanie Turnbull
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The Long Thanh International Airport and associated transport infrastructure have provided momentum to the property market in HCM Citys eastern region.- VNA/VNS Photo

In particular Aqua City ecological urban area has become appealing thanks to its connectivity, standardised planning, convenience, and ideal geographical location.

The first phase of the Long Thanh Airport project began early this year. It is scheduled to open no later than 2025, with an initial annual capacity of 25 million passengers, eventually rise to 100 million.

Centennial growth momentum

Designed to meet the 4F level, the highest of its kind set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Long Thanh is projected to serve as an aviation hub, both regionally and globally.

Once operational, it will ease existing airport congestion, pave the way for investment and tourism, and contribute 3-5 per cent of the countrys GDP.

Major infrastructure projects such as airports have always helped give a facelift to urban areas. They also facilitate production and business, and trade and tourism, while forming a busy residential community. The central city of Da Nang and the island district of Phu Quoc in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang are examples of this.

Many airport-based urban models have been created globally, contributing to local economic, trade, and tourism development, with Amsterdam Schiphol in the Netherlands an outstanding example.

The Long Thanh International Airport is connected with urban areas and economic zones, so is expected to drive investment and economic development in the southern region.

The project will also give a boost to component projects like warehouses, transport infrastructure, services, and satellite urban areas, leading to an increase in land demand.

Real estate consultancy Savills said the southern province of Dong Nai should reach a new level of development, with a more international focus instead of relying on industry and services, as has long been the case.

It suggested the province develop a closed-loop industrial chain, from production to logistics, and warehouses and transportation to deep-water ports.

The establishment of Thu Duc City in 2021 has also given a facelift to the local area and increased housing supply in HCM Citys eastern area. The scarcity of real estate in the city prompted investment in adjacent provinces such as Dong Nai and Binh Duong, which will spur the market this year.

The recent positive signs from key infrastructure projects like the construction of the Long Thanh International Airport and the establishment of Thu Duc City will create momentum to restart the market, said Duong Thuy Dung, Senior Director of CBRE Vietnam.

Anticipating investment waves

To optimise such opportunities and complete the infrastructure network connected with Long Thanh, Dong Nai authorities have begun the construction of transport projects such as Huong Lo 2 and the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway.

The province has also proposed building two routes leading to the airport: a 3.8-km route running from National Highway No 51 to the airport, and another, measuring 3.5 km, from the HCM City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway to the first route, running in parallel with National Highway No 51. The total funding for the two routes has been estimated at more than VND4.8 trillion (US$209.46 million).

Located within the open urban-economic area in the southern part of Bien Hoa city, Aqua City, invested by Novaland, has found favour among both buyers and investors thanks to its ideal geographic location and scientific planning.

Covering 1,000 ha, it lies on Huong Lo 2, linking National Highway No 51 and the HCM City- Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway.

Located within Aqua City, the urban island of Phuong Hoang opened late last year and has proven its attractiveness thanks to its natural surroundings.

With its unique advantages, from location to planning, Phuong Hoang and Aqua City are expected to rouse the real estate market in HCM Citys eastern area in the time ahead.

DKRA Vietnam JSC said street houses and villas are moving towards areas adjacent to HCM City that boast abundant land funds and convenient infrastructure.

As such, Dong Nai expects to continue making up a large share of supply this year. Major projects on hundreds of hectares each and with scientific planning, like Aqua City, will further catch the attention of customers thanks to their potential for high growth values.
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Denmark reported on Saturday that two people had experienced brain hemorrhages after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, one of whom died. The Danish Medicines Agency said it was looking into whether the condition was a potential side effect.

A spokesperson for the Capital Region of Denmark confirmed the death, and the Danish Ritzau news agency reported that the other person, a female civil servant in her 30s, was critically ill.

Millions of people in dozens of countries have received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine with few reports of ill effects, but the European Medicines Agency, the continents top drug regulator, conducted a review after several countries paused the use of the vaccine. On Thursday, the agency said that it considered the vaccine safe, although it would continue to watch for any connections to blood disorders. It noted that any threat would be very small, and that the shots will prevent vastly more deaths than they might cause.

Recent blood clots and abnormal bleeding in a small number of vaccine recipients in European countries raised questions about its safety, and prompted the suspensions. That created a disruptive pause in vaccination campaigns this week, even as some European countries were entering a third wave of infections.
Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue.

The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website:

We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service.
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Its a bad time to be me when our Legislature is in session.

You see, Im one of nearly half of Americans who cant cover a $400 emergency expense easily. Id have to squeeze it onto one of my credit cards.

My monthly compact SUV payment and studio apartment rent consume more than half of my net monthly income. The other half is for everything else, from car insurance to groceries to  cigarettes.

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My car insurance jumped a little when I moved from Hobbs to Albuquerque in January 2020, and then a lot after some lunatic vandal inflicted $5,000 of damages to my car in July.

I have no beef with grocery prices, pun intended.

But after the proposal emerged to raise taxes on cigarettes another $2 per pack  which would take premium brand prices to a whopping $10 per pack or $100 a carton  I calculated about 7.5% of my annual gross income goes to cigarettes. While a tax hike looks unlikely this session, like many New Mexicans I could reduce the financial pain to 0% if I had the will, or at least less than 7.5% if I find a more economical means to buy cigarettes.

Which reminds me of an effort to do so about 15 years ago when I and my editor at a newspaper in western Pennsylvania looked into duty-free cigarettes from an online Chinese outfit.

The first time went OK, although my gut told me something wasnt right. As I was filling out the online form, I got an international call from a guy who told me to stop messing with the form and he would take my order over the phone. So I did. The cigarettes arrived a couple weeks later in a padded package with Chinese script, and we saved some significant money. Pennsylvania is also very punitive to smokers, although its standard of living is similar to New Mexicos, where 47% of adult smokers are on Medicaid.

So we did it a second time. This time, several weeks went by and our cartons of Marlboro never showed up. Then, one day in the newsroom, we saw an Associated Press story. Phillip Morris had dropped a dime on the Chinese cigarette outfit and a planeload of cartons from China were seized by customs agents at an airport in New York. We didnt even try to get our money back.

If lawmakers raise cigarette taxes in this or a future session, Ill do everything I can to avoid paying the state another nickel. Im already paying the state over $700 a year in cigarette taxes. Ill search the web for tax-free cigarettes, Ill drive to one of the nearby pueblos or Texas, and maybe take another shot at the black market. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation says New Mexico already ranks third in the nation in inbound cigarette smuggling activity, with an estimated 36% of cigarettes consumed in New Mexico deriving from smuggling sources.

When it comes to cigarette taxes and much more, I dont feel like my state government works for me. I feel like it targets me  for my own good, of course.

I also drink a lot of pop and eat a lot of potato chips, though Im hesitant to mention that while lawmakers are still in session. They could make the same argument with sugar and sodium they do with cigarettes  that my lifestyle costs other people money.

As I continue to try to balance my budget, its enough to throw my arms up in defeat. But that would be quitting. And thats just something we smokers have a hard time doing.

Email jtucker@abqjournal.com.
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. The UN member states celebrate March 20 as the International Day of Happiness.

The UN General Assembly declared March 20 as a Happiness Day in 2012.

The UN calls on member states to celebrate this day through respective educational-information programs since search for happiness is the persons main goal.

193 representatives of the UN member states unanimously voted in favor of the decision to declare March 20 as International Day of Happiness.

The Happy Planet Index combines three elements to show how efficiently residents of different countries are using environmental resources to lead long, happy lives. Those are Wellbeing, Life expectancy, Ecological Footprint.

The top ten list of the happiest countries include Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Norway, New Zealand and Austria.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expects representatives of local authorities to develop comprehensive measures to provide support to citizens and businesses in the face of increased quarantine measures in the regions.

"It is logical that local authorities should also think about various forms of support, introducing a lockdown on the ground. Together with the strengthening of quarantine, they should develop a set of measures to support the categories of citizens and businesses in their particular region, which may suffer due to the restrictions of the so-called red zones. I am waiting for relevant proposals from the local authorities to consider and approve them at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine next week," Zelensky said in his video message following the NSDC meeting on Friday, March 19.

The President also said that "the central government will add 100% to the amount of assistance proposed from local budgets to citizens and businesses that have suffered due to the lockdown, thus doubling the amount of support."

In order to make the provision of assistance as transparent as possible, and most importantly - fast, it should be transferred through the Diia portal and application, according to the head of state.

At the same time, Zelensky said that regional support measures cannot be introduced by local authorities in the format "there is a ban, but there is no support," or according to the principle "there is no money, but you should hold up."

The head of state also asked the Verkhovna Rada to be ready to accept as soon as possible all the changes that will become necessary to implement the proposals of local authorities and the government.

"Once again, I call on all representatives of the authorities at any level to act together, and citizens to be vigilant, observe security measures and take care of themselves. Their loved ones. And our Ukraine," Zelensky said.

He also said that in January 2021, along with the introduction of the first lockdown in Ukraine, on his behalf, the government prepared a wide range of support for citizens and businesses in form of direct financial assistance, assistance for children, compensation for partial unemployment, tax holidays and a number of other incentives.
Aizawl : , March 20 (IANS) The central and Mizoram governments are at odds over the influx of refugees from Myanmar after the February 1 military coup in the neighbouring nation that has led to a number of bloodbaths on several occasion.

The Mizoram government opened the gates for facilitation of refugees and migrants from Myanmar in connection with the political development in the Southasian neighbourhood and issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding this.

Hundreds of foreign nationals including policemen and women from Myanmar have fled to Mizoram fearing further military crackdown. The Myanmar military had taken over the country after the coup and sent its elected political actors to jail.

India and Myanmar share 1,643 km-long border and people on either side have familial ties.

After learning about the Mizoram government SOP for refugees, the central government directed the state to immediately revoke it.

On February 26, the Mizoram Home Department issued the SOP addressing all deputy commissioners in the state to facilitate the refugees from Myanmar. The department also directed all the superintendents of police to take necessary action in this regard.

It stated that all Myanmarese national, entering Mizoram in connection with the political development in Myanmar shall be properly identified and complete details shall be collected.

"Deputy Commissioner concerned shall co-ordinate with Village Council members and NGO's, if necessary, for the purpose," the state home administration stated.

The administration stated that those persons and their family members, whose life is in immediate and imminent threat due to political and organisational affiliations in connection with the political development shall be facilitated and treated as refugees.

"Deputy Commissioners shall co-ordinate with Village Council concerned and maintain a register village-wise for the exercise. Further, identification cards shall be issued by concerned Deputy Commissioners after ascertaining and accepting the foreign nationals as refugees," it stated.

The refugees should be given medical care, relief and rehabilitation and security. "Assistance and other basic human needs shall be provided to those persons identified as refugees due to political persecution as per theprovisions of the Mizoram Relief and Rehabilitation of (Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons) Scheme, 2018," it stated.

The central government after learning about the development conveyed its displeasure to the state.

After that, on March 6 the state home department revoked the SOP.

It stated, "The standing operating procedure for facilitation of refugee and migrants of Myanmar in connection with the political development in Myanmar issued by letter February 26, 2021 is hereby revoked." Four days later on March 10, the North East Division of Ministry of Home Affairs issued a letter to chief secretaries of Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Director General of Assam Rifles over the illegal influx of refugees from Myanmar. The ministry directed them not to allow refugees from Myanmar and take appropriate action as per law.

The MHA pointed that state governments have no powers to grant "refugee status to any foreigner" and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

The letter stated that there is a probability of large scale illegal influx into Indian territory through Indo-Myanmar Border due to current internal situation in Myanmar.

"In this regard, MHA has already issued an advisory on February 25, 2021 to chief secretaries of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and also to Border Guarding Force along Indo-Myanmar Border (Assam Rifles) to stay alert and take appropriate action to prevent a possible influx into the territory," it stated.

Now it has been reported that illegal influx from Myanmar has started, the ministry said that "instructions were issued to sensitize all law enforcement and intelligence agencies for taking prompt steps in identifying the the illegal migrants and initiate the deportation processes expeditiously and without delay." The ministry stated that the foreign's division had also issued instructions to chief secretaries through a letter dated February 28, 2021 advising them to sensitize law enforcement and intelligence agencies for taking appropriate prompt steps for identifying the illegal migrants, their restrictions to specific locations as per provision of law, capturing their biography and biometric particulars, cancellation of fake Indian documents and legal proceedings including initiation of deportation proceedings as per provision of law.

"Further it is reiterated that the state governments and Union Territories administrations have no power to grant refugee status to any foreigner and India is not a signatory to the UN refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 protocol," the letter stated.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
France's Grand Est region is moving ahead with its transport projects. Among them, the creation of a new rail link to Luxembourg.

The construction of an improved transport network is making progress in the French Grand Est region. On Tuesday, the region organised a new stage of its "Grenelle des Mobilites". The aim is to develop several "commitments" and "concrete proposals" to improve infrastructure.

Notably, several points are focused on transport to and from Luxembourg. Among them, the Nancy-Metz-Luxembourg RER project. The regional authorities talked about the construction, in several phases, of a "metropolitan express network" equivalent to the Parisian RER, with more trains (and therefore more people) running from Nancy to Metz, all the way to the Grand Duchy: "A train every ten minutes from Metz and a train every seven and a half minutes from Thionville to Luxembourg".

When she was still the French Minister for Transport, Elisabeth Borne already made that promise, which was supported by several local elected representatives. But its implementation will require the resolution of many problems.

Keeping pace with Luxembourg

A first step has been taken with the planned extension of the platforms of several stations north of Metz, in order to run longer trains by 2030. This project also required the purchase of several second-hand TER trains from other French regions. However, it will take until 2040 for this "REM" project to enter a second phase and fully meet the needs of users in the longer term.

The Grand Est region does not focus its transport strategy solely on trains. It mentions in particular the "A31bis", completed in the north by the widening of the Luxembourg A3, and the reduction of "solo drives" (in particular by creating a lane reserved for carpooling and/or public transport).

A potential problem is that the region, if it really considers it essential to coordinate its action with Luxembourg, will have to make major efforts to keep pace with the Grand Duchy. The latter has shown itself capable of financing its infrastructure projects more quickly and more easily.
Jake Gyllenhaal is set to star in military drama Combat Control.

The 40-year-old actor will portray late war hero John Chapman in the new movie based on true events. Chapman died in battle in Afghanistan in 2002 after sacrificing his own life for the safety of his team during a rescue mission.

However, his bravery was only uncovered 15 years after his death after the mission was investigated and the true story revealed by Air Force Captain Cora Alexander.

War movie: Jake Gyllenhaal is set to play war hero John Chapman in upcoming movie Combat Control

This led to his posthumous promotion to the rank of Master Sergeant and his inclusion into the Hall of Heroes.

'Following his death, no one imagined it would take over a decade for the truth of what really happened on that snowy mountainside to emerge. Fifteen years later, Air Force Captain Cora Alexander is tasked with the nearly impossible job of investigating whether Chapman is a worthy recipient of the medal,' the description reads on Deadline.

'Despite no eyewitnesses to his actions and the top-secret world surrounding clandestine operations. Alexander has to uncover the truth, and in revealing Chapman's sacrifice to the world, she forges her own path to self-forgiveness and personal redemption.'

Chapman died in battle in Afghanistan in 2002 after sacrificing his own life for the safety of his team during a rescue mission but his bravery was only uncovered 15 years after his death

Chapman was awarded the militarys highest award on August 22, 2018, the first awarded to a CCT in U.S. history and the first awarded to a member of the Air Force since Vietnam.

Chapman received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Master Sergeant and inclusion into the Hall of Heroes

The movie will be directed by Extraction's Sam Hargrave with Shelby Malone as associate producer and Gyllenhaal as executive producer.

The search for an actress to play Captain Alexander is currently underway, while MGM studios are in discussions to acquire the rights to the film.

Gyllenhaal will next be seen in Antoine Fuqua's remake of The Guilty for Netflix, premiering, later this year.

He is currently filming Michael Bay's action flick Ambulance alongside Eiza Gonzalez and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Meanwhile, Gyllenhaal previously revealed the tips he picked up from co-stars Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon in 2002's Moonlight Mile.

He said: 'I remember Susan telling me, before you have an emotional scene you should drink a lot of water because tears really do dehydrate you.

'These are the things you pick up - I'll never forget! I'll drink so much water before an emotional scene, and people are like, "What's wrong with him?" I won't cry the whole scene, I'll just drink water.'

Military man: It won't be Jake's first stint in a war movie, he also starred in Gulf War movie Jarhead, in 2005 - pictured here

Jake is currently filming Michael Bay's action flick Ambulance alongside Eiza Gonzalez and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. He is seen here filming a scene last week

Gyllenhaal picked up tips from Hoffman on set too, taking note of the actor's intense way of working.

He explained: 'I would watch Dustin get physically - he would get his energy up, he would actually get his blood flowing, which I didn't understand at the time.

'I didn't get, "Oh right, this is your instrument"... I remember him doing pushups and running in place before sometimes just a regular scene where he walked through.'
The United States on Friday announced funds up to USD 9.2 million to support the global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a fund that was launched by Prime Minister in 2019.

Subject to Congressional approval, the commitment is aimed at fostering disaster and climate resilient infrastructure, said the Acting United States Agency for Development (USAID) Administrator Gloria D Steele at the Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

Formally launched by India in September 2019 at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, CDRI is a unique global climate initiative involving the private sector, governments, and multilateral agencies, USAID said.

Physical infrastructure, such as roads, airports, and power grids is integral to a country's development, resilience, and ability to reduce the risk of disasters and respond to them. Yet, such infrastructure is highly vulnerable to climate change and disasters. CDRI is prioritising investments in disaster and climate resilient infrastructure to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts, a media release said.

The development agency said it will support CDRI to develop and share innovations, policy recommendations, and best practices in developing disaster and climate resilient infrastructure worldwide.

It will also help countries incorporate best practices into their infrastructure planning, as well as foster partnerships between governments and the private sector to scale up disaster and climate resilient infrastructure development, USAID said.

CDRI currently comprises the governments of Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bhutan, Chile, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Peru, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Multilateral organisations including the European Union, United Nations, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank; and two private sector associations representing more than 400 companies are also part of it.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The U.S. House on Friday condemned the military takeover in Myanmar, demanding the country's junta release all the people it has detained and allow journalists to work freely. Myanmar's generals must allow the elected Parliament unseated by the Feb. 1 coup to resume its work, lawmakers said in a resolution.

"This military coup has not only set back the countrys democratic trajectory but also snuffed the hopes of the Burmese people for a better future, Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat, said of separate legislation approved Thursday, committing the U.S. to work with Asia states to restore democracy in Burma.

Burma is another name for Myanmar. The U.S. Congress was signaling its "steadfast support for the Burmese people, their democratically elected leaders in detention, and the future of a democratic Burma," Connolly said in a statement.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Odisha govt assures to lift paddy from all registered farmers

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bhubaneswar, Mar 20: A day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assured protesting BJP legislators of resolving paddy procurement issue, the Odisha government on Friday made a statement in the assembly that grain will be purchased from all the registered farmers by March 31. Cooperation minister R P Swain made a statement to this effect in the House as per a ruling given by Speaker S N Patro.

The minister said that during ongoing Kharif marketing season, 61.24 lakh metric tonne paddy worth Rs 11.441 crore has so far been procured in the state. He said, the procurement process will continue till March 31. The total paddy procured in the current khariff season will be 18 per cent higher than that of the previous year.

Now dial, 112 for all emergency services in Odisha

Till March of last kharif season, 51.73 lakh metric tonne paddy was procured and a total of 53.31 lakh metric tonne paddy had been bought by the end of last kharif season, the minister said. Stating that there is a significant rise in the number of farmers taking part in the paddy procurement process this time, the minister said as many as 11.50 lakh farmers have so far sold their produce in the state-run mandis as against 9.30 lakh farmers doing so during last year''s khariff season.

The minister also urged MLAs to report if they find any genuine farmer being deprived of selling paddy so that necessary steps can be taken to resolve the issue. He said measures are taken to smoothen paddy procurement procedure. However, the ministers statement failed to satisfy the opposition as BJP members staged a walk out while Congress MLAs sat on dharna in the well of the house protesting irregularities in paddy procurement. "The chief minister has not kept his words.

He did not turn up to the all party meeting and the government did not assure to procure all paddy lying in different mandis," Naik said. Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra, who sat on a dharna in well of the house along with party colleagues, came down heavily on both the BJD and BJP accusing them of being hand in glove with each other. Mishra sat on dharna for not being allowed to speak over the BJD and BJPs alleged understanding.

"The BJP MLAs had marched towards Naveen Niwas like ''baratis'' and chief minister Naveen Patnaik greeted them on Thursday. The women members of BJD welcomed them with traditional rituals.

"Ministers were also waiting for them at Naveen Niwas. Earlier, we had termed them (BJD & BJP) as brothers which was proved yesterday," Mishra said. Congress whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, termed BJP MLAs march to CM''s residence as "farce". However, Leader of Opposition P K Naik, of the BJP expressed regret on their visit to Naveen Niwas and alleged that the chief minister did not keep his words.

Naik also mentioned that Law Minister Pratap Jena had said that the BJP MLAs had been to Naveen Niwas to wash away their sins. He condemned Jenas statement and asked,"Are we sinners?" "We did not want to go inside; however, we entered Naveen Niwas premises keeping in view the dignity of the chief minister. Later, the chief minister treated us," he said.

Describing the march of BJP MLAs to Naveen Niwas as farce, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, "It was pre arranged. The chief minister knew that the BJP MLAs are coming there." However, Naik said, "It was not we (BJP), but the Congress which is the B-group of the BJD." The house returned to normalcy after an all party meeting convened by the speaker.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 14:25 [IST]
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Stephane Waser's demeanour may be unfailingly measured and unflappable, but still waters run deep: he has in fact fought his way over many difficult hurdles. He made an initial foray into watchmaking in 1998 with TAG Heuer, before spending five years in the tobacco industry and a further three in pharmaceuticals, where he gained extensive experience in managing, developing and marketing international brands.

In the midst of the 2008 crisis, Waser returned to watchmaking, joining Maurice Lacroix in Saignelegier as International Marketing Director. His first task was to transform a product into a brand. Implementing this strategy involved a thorough-going review of the firms identity, the number of watches in the catalogue, production rationalisation, positioning, the target audience, and PR. For the latter, he established partnerships with FC Barcelona and Wallpaper. Having firmly grasped the importance of social media, Waser launched the award-winning digital campaign The French Job. In 2014, he became Managing Director of the brand. With a more youthful and modern energy, Maurice Lacroix sent a clear message, appealing to millennials  a clientele the brand has also been in touch with through its Friends of the Brand programme since 2019.

Stephane Waser  Maurice Lacroix

When it came to watches, Waser knew that the brand needed a best-seller. Looking through the archives, he had the idea of offering a new take on the Calypso, a successful watch produced by Maurice Lacroix in the 1990s, and renamed it Aikon. The six iconic rider tabs were preserved, enhanced by new urban, contemporary styling. The result was an affordable Swiss Made watch with high perceived value yet priced between CHF 1,000 and CHF 3,000. It met with immediate success, and the brand continued to expand the line. At the same time, Waser set about promoting the Manufactures watchmaking knowhow. To do so, he focused on avant-garde complications in the Masterpiece collection, still with the idea of providing Manufacture watches at affordable prices  a strategy that has earned the collection a number of international awards. Today, the brands ascent continues. Indeed, as a yoga enthusiast, Waser is well aware of a fundamental truth: while it may take a long time, success is the fruit of patience and perseverance.

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.

Order now
China will hold the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) from Oct. 11 to 24, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Friday.

The meeting, to be held in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, will review the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework."

Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the COP15 is the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the topic of ecological civilization.

China will earnestly fulfill the obligations of host country, work hand in hand with the international community, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation to ensure the meeting is a complete success, the ministry said.
A new program will formalize temporary farm employment for Georgians in Germany, as low pay and unemployment continues to drive Georgians abroad, Eurasianet reports.

At a rickety old house in a rundown Tbilisi neighborhood, three friends gathered as they prepared to leave the city and their country, some for the first time. They were all applying for a new Georgian government program to recruit seasonal farm laborers in Germany, and had mixed feelings about it.

One, Dato, makes a living delivering food on his scooter and was eager to put that job behind him. Maybe Ill learn something new and go start my own farm when I come back instead of toiling for delivery companies, he said. He teased his friends: I grew up in a village, so I know my way around the farm unlike these two, he said.

Those two, Merab and Giorgi, had more qualms. (All agreed to an interview on the condition that their last names not be printed.) Mid-career professionals with government jobs, they considered it demeaning to swap their offices for manual labor, even temporarily. Still, they had done the math: The new program pays a minimum of 9.50 euros an hour, meaning that they could make 5,670 euros in three months  the maximum term Georgians will be allowed to work in Germany under the program. Giorgi noted that it would take him two years to make that money at his current job.

Picking asparagus in Germany pays better than working for the government in Georgia, said Giorgi.

The guest worker program opened for applications in February and it was immediately flooded, with more than 53,000 Georgians  more than 1 percent of the entire country  applying in the first 24 hours. From the German governments end there is no limit on how many people can apply, Ekaterine Tikaradze, the minister for Internally Displaced Persons, Labor, Health and Social Security, told a press conference on February 11.

The demand can be explained by Georgias grim employment and household income figures. The average monthly salary is just over 1,300 lari, or less than $400. Official figures put the unemployment level at 18 percent, though a recent survey by the World Bank suggests a higher rate, of 34 percent. In any case, both official and self-reported unemployment rates have gone up as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated layoffs. Polls in early 2021 by the Caucasus Research Resource Centers found that one in five Georgians reported losing a job as a result of the pandemic.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must be between 18 to 60 years old, have experience in agriculture and know either basic German or English. Dato doesnt really speak anything other than Georgian, but the program does allow groups to apply together as long as at least one member speaks one of the two languages. Merab speaks German and has visited Germany on vacation.

The current program is a pilot project and there are plans to expand beyond agricultural jobs in the future, Tikaradze said. Georgia also is working with France, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, and Cyprus on setting up similar programs.

Georgian officials argue that the program will allow Georgians to legally make an extra euro in Germany while at the same time acquiring skills they can apply at home. German officials, too, have framed it as a win-win for both countries. Many people in Georgia are well acquainted with the field of agriculture and will be able to contribute to the German agriculture and, after their arrival in Georgia, will contribute in the same field of their country, Germanys ambassador in Tbilisi, Hubert Knirsch, told reporters.

Overall this initiative could benefit Georgian agriculture as well, said Hans Gutbrod, a German who has been involved in Georgian agriculture for more than 10 years. Even if only a handful of the workers bring back techniques, new practices, and an understanding how modern agriculture works, this could be a very positive impact.

Economists argue that knowledge gaps hinder the productivity and profitability of Georgian agriculture, a sector that employs about half of Georgias population but accounts for only 7.4 percent of the nations $17.5 billion economy.

A 2016 study by the United Nations Development Program found that 60 people employed in Georgian agriculture generated as much value as one French agricultural worker. It also noted that while comparable countries like Armenia and Bulgaria were seeing significant increases in productivity, in Georgia it was remaining virtually flat.

From my perspective, the key would be to implement this program well: to try and match workers well (including to organic farms), to offer a short training before and afterwards, to offer some support if some of the returnees want to start, say, their own berry production, Gutbrod said.

The program could also help regulate Georgian migration to Germany. German officials have complained about Georgians abusing a visa-free regime with the European Union, and a program allowing for regular travel could dissuade some Georgians from overstaying.

Others, though, have interpreted the program as a means of evading responsibility for Georgias own economic woes by exporting its unemployed.

Out-migration is the quick fix to the pressing problem of unemployment. Creating jobs at home is more complex, said Felix Hett, director of the South Caucasus Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German foundation. Georgias economic strategy of liberalizing the economy, lowering taxes and reducing regulations is not enough to resolve the countrys employment woes, he said.

A complex employment policy involves investments in education and vocational training, public funding of research and development, and access to credit for small businesses through publicly owned banks, Hett said. These factors are at the core of the German economic success story after World War II.

For Giorgi, Merab, and Dato, though, the concerns are short-term. Giorgi and Merab are trying to work out whether they could keep their government jobs while taking advantage of the German scheme. We will think about it, if we get picked. I can probably negotiate a leave of absence as long as I dont stay in Germany longer than a month, Merab said. Staying at a farm for a month can be a good break from this and hopefully I get to spend a few days in a proper city in Germany.

He pointed out his window, where Tbilisis biggest and oldest cemetery stretched from his yard. Digging potatoes is not exactly my dream job, but then all I see from my window is death, he said.
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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Cuban scientists and directors of state laboratories on Friday said they've reached the last stage in the development of a second vaccine candidate against COVID-19, and are expecting to be able to offer vaccinations to the island's entire population by August. Experts from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) indicated they will start Phase III of "Abdala", a product developed against COVID-19 from the yeast Pichia Pastori.

At the beginning of March, Cuba also began Phase III stage with "Soberana 02," from another research center on the island, the Finlay Institute, with which the island became the only Latin American nation to have its own candidate. As part of the Phase III trials, "Abdala" will be applied to 48,000 people in the eastern provinces of the country: Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Guantanamo, who will join the 44,000 people who have been given "Soberana 02" in Havana.

According to Eulogio Pimentel, Vice President of the drug-producing company Biocubafarma, Soberana is progressing as planned. Three other preparations "Soberana 01", a derivative called "Soberana Plus" and "Mambisa" are also reported to be almost finalized.

"Abdala" is applied in three doses, each two weeks apart. The 48,000 subjects in the Phase II trials will be between 19 and 80 years old and there will be a placebo group for control. Antonio Emilio Vallin, Director of AICA+ laboratories, said that "there is no doubt that by the month of August Soberana and Abdala will have enough capacity to have immunized 100% of the Cuban population." Cuba has reported 65,149 cases of people infected with COVID-19 since the pandemic began a year ago and of them almost 400 have died. The island is currently facing a renewed surge in daily cases since the beginning of the year.

(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)
Youve been searching, clicking, refreshing, refreshing some more, only to see the dreaded no appointments available message.

Maybe youve had your heart race when you see actual COVID-19 vaccine appointment times available, only to have your hopes dashed when the appointment disappears by the time youre done putting in your information.

Maybe youve spent hours on hold with the states vaccine hotline, or in an online queue of thousands, hoping that the appointments that just dropped wont run out before they get to your number.

As your frustration mounts and things start to feel hopeless, you hear that tech-savvy volunteers have been able to book literally thousands of COVID-19 vaccine appointments for eligible people across the state. Some are booking dozens a week, others hundreds.

HOW IN THE HECK ARE THEY DOING IT?

It is possible, said Ashley Overeem, a teacher from Piscataway who has been able to book hundreds of appointments for seniors.

She said it takes patience, the right information and  this is a big one  some internet know-how.

Its not news to anyone, but because the scheduling systems for most of the vaccine sites are entirely online and famously buggy, seniors and others who are less tech-adept are at a huge disadvantage when it comes to booking appointments.

Thats why she and hundreds of volunteers like her are staying up past midnight, getting up early and spending any free moment trying to get appointments for people who need them.

Yes, theyre good with technology. But they also have a slate of tips and tricks theyve learned from experience or other volunteers. One of the biggest is finding out when the appointments are going to drop, or get posted on the vaccine websites so people can book them. Often the appointments are all snatched up within minutes. Sometimes seconds.

Adil Sheikh, a project manager in Plainsboro who volunteers his time helping book appointments for seniors, uses six computers to help him book vaccine appointments more quickly.

Thats why technology is not the only barrier. Some of these tips work only for people who can drop everything at a moments notice, rush to their computer and get booking within a minute or two of an appointment drop  which is going to be a problem if you work in-person job, cant stay near your computer all the time or, of course, dont have a computer or smart phone. And if youre looking for appointments at a certain site, you might have to stay up late or get up early to watch for the appointment drop.

Heres the first tip: Follow the states unofficial vaccine bots. Theyre not actually bots, theyre tech-savvy do-gooders who monitor dozens of vaccine appointment websites (not all of them) and tweet when they have dropped new appointments.

While were talking Ive gotten three dings on my phone because the Meadowlands [vaccine mega site] just posted appointments, Overeem said.

If you dont have a Twitter account, make one. Follow these two accounts: @nj_vaccine and @C19VaxxUpdates. Because those appointments go so fast, you need to set up notifications so that you will get a text, email or push alert whenever theres a new tweet about appointments. (The volunteers recommended downloading the Twitter app and setting up push notifications because the text/email notifications sometimes dont work. Heres an explainer on how to do that.)

Overeem said just because you know appointments just dropped doesnt mean youre going to get one. Maybe they only posted a couple dozen, or maybe 100, and those bots are followed by thousands of people who just got the same alert you did.

Like Valley Health in Paramus just posted appointments for two days. You know that everyone on that Facebook group and that follows that Twitter [account] is going to be on there. And theyre only releasing 30 appointments, she said.

(Kenneth Hsu, who runs the @nj_vaccine Twitter account also has a website and posted this ultimate guide to getting appointments, created by Zachary Ciabattari. Among other things, it includes a list of vaccination sites that you can sign up for a waitlist and be notified when appointments are available.)

Second tip: Join the New Jersey COVID Vaccine Info Facebook page and get your questions answered.

This Facebook group was started by New Jersey natives and sisters Brandi Prell and Brittany Prell Cohen, who wanted to help eligible people get appointments. It isnt just a place for people to connect with the many volunteers booking appointments. The moderators have posted tips and guides and even videos to help you.

Struggling to get an appointment at a Hackensack Meridian Health location near you? Heres a tip sheet on that.

Want to learn more about which sites are easiest or hardest to book and how you can give yourself the best chance? Try this incredible master list of vaccine sites by county with tips (if you scroll all the way to the right) on when the appointments drop and any other tricks.

You can also use the search function within the Facebook group to find other peoples tips and answers to questions that have already been asked.

For instance, if you want to know the trick to get appointments at CVS, click on the magnifying glass on the top right part of the group to open the search function, then type CVS.

A screengrab of the New Jersey Covid Vaccine Info Facebook group showing the button for the search function.

That will show you all the tips about booking at CVS, including when the appointments drop (usually around midnight) as well as this explainer on how to use this round-about technique to find available appointments in New Jersey, even when typing New Jersey wont reveal them.

Amy Heller, who organizes NJ Vaccine Matchmakers, a group of about 900 volunteers who have secured over 11,000 vaccine appointments for seniors, said the Facebook group is a great source of information. If you dont find what youre looking for with the search function, Heller said, you can just ask a question in the group like thousands of others are doing.

And if all else fails, you call us, she said.

You dont actually call. If youre over 65 and need help from Hellers army of volunteers, you can fill out this form and a volunteer will contact you. Anyone who is eligible can also comment on one of the daily posts and another volunteer from the Facebook group will be in touch.

Here are a few more tips about how to actually secure an appointment once youre actually able to access available appointment times on a given website.

First, use autofill. This will make it so when you get to the part of the booking process where youre asked for your info, most of it will automatically populate the fields as soon as you start typing your name. (Heres how to do it on Google Chrome, in Safari, in Firefox and in Microsoft Edge.)

Youre able to autofill the address, so that you dont have to spend that time, Overeem said. Because youre talking about a difference of five seconds and 30 seconds typing in all the information.

The appointments also go so fast that you may click on an appointment time, but by the time you finish filling out your information, it says that time is no longer available. Youll have to go back and start again, and you certainly dont want to have to take another 30 seconds to type in your address again.

If a website asks for your insurance information, volunteers advise people to skip that step, because insurance isnt required. If you do have insurance, you can bring your insurance card to the appointment and give them the information then, Overeem said.

Another trick to try to avoid missing out on that appointment time is to choose a time slot that the fewest people are likely to click on, so youre competing against fewer people in that rush to fill out the information.

Most people will go and pick that top one, the first one that they see, or the last one. They dont always go in the middle, she said.

On some websites, you might be able to click more, use a drop down menu or scroll to the right to see additional available times, and thats an even better bet, she said. The Meadowlands mega site website, for instance, will show several different appointment times but you can use a drop down menu on desktop or scroll on your smartphone to see even more available times.

Since its an extra step to click on that drop down menu, she said, fewer people will be trying to register for those slots. (Heres a how-to guide from @nj_vaccine, and a video below showing the scrolling works.)

The last tip is to try to keep your head up. It may feel impossible, they said, but its not.

Its getting easier. Weve seen a drop in the demand from what we call super seniors, like the over 75 crowd. We are expanding our eligibility to assist, Heller said.

Overeem said if people do their research about when appointments drop and are patient and diligent, it will eventually work out.

If that appointment doesnt work out, theres always another, she said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
(TNS)  Sonoma County is adding artificial intelligence to its wildfire-fighting arsenal.The county has entered into an agreement with the South Korean firm Alchera to outfit its network of fire-spotting cameras with software that detects wildfire activity and then alerts authorities. The technology sifts through past and current images of terrain and searches for certain changes, such as flames burning in darkness, or a smoky haze obscuring a tree-lined hillside, according to Chris Godley, the county's director of emergency management.But emergency workers will first have to "teach" the system to differentiate between images that show fire smoke, and others that might show clouds, fog, or vapor from geothermal geysers. The software will use feedback from humans to refine its algorithm and will eventually be able to detect fires on its own  or at least that's what county officials hope. "It's kind of like learning how to read," Godley said. "What letters can I put together to make up a word?"The county activated the technology Wednesday and received 16 positive reports of smoke  all of which turned out to be permitted burns, he said. Once a seasonal ban on controlled burns goes into effect in April or May, the county plans to ramp up the testing and feedback phase. The hope is that by November, the system will no longer need to be "taught" and can start providing reliable intelligence, Godley said."This is really cutting-edge work, to bring this capability into the hands of local first responders," Godley said. "It's going to take us awhile to make sure we get the bugs out, as it were, and that we really can depend on it because ultimately this is a lifesaving mission." The technology is intended to help officials investigate potential fire starts earlier so they can get personnel out to them more quickly and issue necessary evacuation advisories. It will be particularly useful in spotting fires at night, when fewer bystanders are likely to see smoke and flames and call authorities, as well as in remote areas, Godley said.Sonoma County chose Alchera because it has performed similar work with wildfires in Australia, and offered a competitive rate as it was eager to test the system in the U.S. market, Godley said. Three-quarters of the funding for the $300,000-agreement will come from a hazard mitigation grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The county will provide a $75,000 local match.The remainder of the $2.7-million FEMA grant is being used to strengthen the county's existing wildfire surveillance network by adding six cameras, which brings the total to 26. The grant will also be used to reinforce the communications network that supports the cameras, ensuring that they are able to reliably transmit data back to emergency responders, even if power goes out or is turned off, Godley said.Sonoma County's cameras are part of the ALERTWildfire system, a network of about 746 cameras statewide that are linked by a common viewing platform coordinated by UC San Diego, the University of Oregon and the University of Nevada, Reno. Local dispatch centers can maneuver the cameras by rotating, panning and zooming in or out, and the public can watch the feeds online. Sonoma County sometimes uses the cameras to scope out road conditions or check for flooding near river areas, but they're mostly used to inform firefighting efforts, Godley said.The county started to install the cameras on radio communication towers after a series of devastating fires in 2017, including the Tubbs fire, which killed 22 people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes. The network has already proven helpful to local firefighting efforts, Godley said. When a fire breaks out, crews study the footage to determine its exact location and to glean key details about its behavior, such as how quickly it's spreading, where it's headed and what local wind conditions are like, he said. Such information is crucial to determining what areas might need to be evacuated."This is not just to support firefighters," Godley said. "But also, critically, it's to help us educate and inform our warning efforts." Sonoma County's contract with Alchera runs through February 2023. If the technology is successful, officials expect other places will adopt it, particularly since it plugs into the camera network that's already in place statewide."We ultimately believe its potential could be realized in a year or two," Godley said. "And it could really have a dramatic impact here in California."
The vice principal at an elementary school in Lakewood has been placed on administrative leave while the district reviews whether contact tracing procedures were followed surrounding a COVID-19 outbreak that officials said sickened eight staffers last month.

Lakewoods teachers union, which has been at odds with the administration over its decision to implement fully in-person learning this year, accused the board and school officials of using the vice principal as a scapegoat.

The Lakewood Public Schools Board of Education approved a resolution to place the assistant principal at Ella G. Clarke Elementary School on paid leave at the end of a board meeting on Wednesday night. The action essentially suspends the assistant principal, with pay, through March 31, Michael Inzelbuch, the board attorney and district spokesman, said later in an interview.

Inzelbuch said that neither the assistant principal nor her lawyer had been forthcoming with information requested by Lakewood Superintendent Laura Winters regarding the schools compliance with district-wide procedures to ensure adequate contact tracing in the event of an outbreak.

The action taken by the board, Inzelbuch said, was to help ascertain information and documentation that the superintendent has reported she has not received despite numerous requests, and that I havent received when I asked the employees attorney.

The review by Winters involves the circumstances surrounding an outbreak of COVID-19 during the second week of February that sickened eight staff members from Clarke Elementary, four of them teachers who were hospitalized with COVID-19, said Dawn Hiltner, a spokesperson for the union, the Lakewood Education Association. Hiltner said all four were back to work as of this week.

The school board approved the resolution without discussion in open session at the end of Wednesdays three-hour meeting, after having addressed the issue with the vice principal and her lawyer during closed session earlier in the evening, Inzelbuch said.

Inzelbuch said the vice principal was given the option of discussing the matter during the portion of the meeting open to the public, but she declined. He did not identify the assistant principal or her lawyer by name.

Clarke Elementarys webpage identifies the schools sole vice principal as Madaly Rodriguez-Jones.

A person who answered the phone at the school on Friday said any inquiries had to be addressed to the district office, and Rodriguez-Jones could not be reached independently.

The New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, which represents public school vice principals, did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.

Lakewood is among a minority of New Jersey districts to offer fully in-person instruction this year despite the lingering coronavirus pandemic, though remote learning is an option available to each of the districts 6,400 public school students. The district does not control Lakewoods private yeshivas, where more than 30,000 Orthodox Jewish children and teens are enrolled.

The public schools teachers union has objected to the districts fully in-person approach since the start of the school year, expressing concerns for the safety of its members and of students, their families and the community at large. However, district officials have insisted that schools are safe and that 90% of district families have opted for in-person learning.

Unlike some other districts, where the union has resisted a return to the classroom, Lakewood teachers have been in school, providing in-person instruction.

Hiltner said the eight infections were traced to two of the eight sickened staffers, one of whom appeared to have contracted the virus from the other when the two had dinner together.

HIltner said the union had hoped Clarke would be closed after the administration learned of the outbreak, but the district instead decided to quarantine individuals that were eventually known to have had contact with the sickened teachers. The union does not represent the vice principal.

At a time like this, stability is more important than trying to find a scapegoat for what happened, Hiltner said. Obviously, the schools have been open full-time from the beginning of the year, and weve been saying from the beginning that illness is inevitable. I guess theyre trying to protect themselves and defend their decision to be open full time.

Inzelbuch, however, said the boards action was intended to help find out what happened surrounding the incident.

The superintendent and the board want to know what occurred, how it occurred, why it occurred, Inzelbuch, who reiterated his frequent assertion that Lakewoods teachers have been heroes throughout the pandemic. This is not about who went to dinner with whom. This is about, were the procedures and policies followed that are required by law and required by board policy?

He said the decision to place the vice principal on leave was not a punitive measure. But he said additional action could be taken depending on the superintendents review, which Inzelbuch said could be completed by the end of the month.

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A Canadian professor at York University, Ontario has come under scrutiny after he threatened to fail a student caught in the Myanmar coup. The professor dismissed a request for deferral of examination by a student who was struggling with the internet blackout by the military Junta amid the ongoing civil disobedience movement in the Southeast Asian country. The said professor denied the student requests of postponing the exam even as his worried student cited the inconvenience that he had no access to the wifi due to the political crackdown and civil unrest nationwide.

Screenshots of the conversation of the professor in denial and the panicked student went viral on social media. The Canadian tutor, Emmanoil Theodorescu refused to believe that the international student enrolled at the university was facing genuine issues. In the email, the student explained that communication in his country was snapped by the military coup leaders and that there were days of a total internet blackout. The professor, however, callously responded: Even the internet came down with Covid-19? The outraged student then elaborated, The internet did not come down with Covid-19. There was a military coup where I am living and almost 200 protesters have been shot as of now. The regime has decided to shut off all communications by tomorrow, the student wrote.

Have you ever been so York'd that you've been told to take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for missing an exam because the military junta in your country (Myanmar) was shutting down the internet?



/cc @yorkuniversity pic.twitter.com/C8oCIfgyaP  National Meme Board of Canada (@NMBCanada) March 18, 2021

International students from Myanmar have reported challenges due to timely internet restrictions, and connectivity dipped to as low as 50 percent some days, according to an analysis by the internet monitoring service Netblocks. Reports of frequent internet disruptions by the Myanmar army during the crackdown on the protesters have been confirmed by Myanmar's state-owned Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) and Telenor, an international operator. The Military Junta has also resorted to blocking access to Facebook and other social media sites to deter anti-coup protesters from congregating. There have been reports of a ban on VPN services, and an international IP Observatory, which tracks internet connectivity worldwide even reported that some regions in Myanmar, such as Magaway had zero internet connectivity at one point during the civil unrest.

However, when the Myanmar student clarified with the Canadian teacher if he shall be concerned about missing the exam and there shall be no relaxation despite the internet issues whatsoever, the professor replied, saying of course you should. He continued, The next time you miss something, its over, adding By the way, your remarks (both related to this course and to your home country) made me wonder how you understand reality. Furthermore, the professor argued, People dont get shot for just protesting, but for a lot deeper reasons.

York university issues apology

After the screenshot of the conversation went viral on social media and caused a backlash, Canadas York University issued a statement, saying that it updated response to a serious student accommodation matter. It added, There was a recent communication between a Department of Mathematics & Statistics instructor and a student that does not reflect those values. The university furthermore, apologised as it expressed support for the students difficult circumstance and well-being. It informed that the appropriate actions were immediately initiated against the professor.
On March 19, 2021, television actor, Hina Khan took to her official Instagram handle to drop a series of stunning pictures featuring herself. In the pictures, she can be seen donning a light blue coloured monokini and lounging by the serene beauty of the ocean. One can also see her enjoying the sunshine. It was only a few days ago that the actor jetted off to the tropical islands of the Maldives to relax with her beau, Rocky Jaiswal, amid her hectic schedule.

Hina Khan stuns in a light blue monokini in the Maldives

In the pictures, one can see her flaunting her toned body in a tinted blue monokini. She went for a no-makeup look and kept her short straight hair open. She is seen posing by the infinity pool in various poses as she looked away from the camera. As for the caption, she penned, Ocean Breeze at @kuramathiisland. Loving it with a red heart emoticon.

As soon as the pictures of Hina Khan in monokini were up on the internet, many of her fans and acquaintances rushed to compliment the actor and drop red heart emojis. Priyanka Udhwani commented, Whaaat with several heart-eyed face emoticons. Rahat Kazmi said, Omg... Mind blowing with fire emoticons. While some wrote, Killing it! with a fire emoticon others hailed the actress by commenting, Hottness overloaded with a pair of fire emoticons.

Recently, Hina shared several pictures of herself where she can be seen sporting a multi-coloured co-ord set. She wore a hat and a pair of sunglasses to complete her look. As for the makeup, she kept it minimal and kept her short hair open. She captioned the post as, Travel brings you more Power this is my kind of happy place @kuramathiisland. Love it with a loving face emoticon.

Amruta Khanvilkar commented, Such a cutie with a heart-eyed face emoji. Her Naagin co-actor, Adaa Khan dropped several heart-eyed faces. Priyanka Kalantri called her, Hottie and dropped a pair of red hearts.

A peek into Hina Khan's photos

Image Source: Hina Khan's Instagram

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.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and China's Premier Li Keqiang attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 3, 2018. (Jason Lee/AFP/Getty Images)

Updates on CCP Virus: Pakistan PM Khan Tests Positive

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19 two days after receiving his first vaccine dose, government officials said on Saturday, urging people not to be deterred from getting vaccinated.

Pakistans vaccination roll-out has been met with widespread vaccine hesitancy, and Khans positive test could serve as a setback to the mass inoculation drive in the country of 220 million people, health experts said.

Khan, 68, is self isolating at home, Health Minister Faisal Sultan, said in a tweet, and a close aide said he had a mild cough and fever.

Senior aides stressed that he had likely been infected before he was vaccinated on Thursday.

Patient Zero Emerged October 2019

Between 622,800 to 968,800 people in Wuhan had COVID-19 by April 2020, and the first case emerged between mid-October and mid-November 2019, according to two new studies.

692 percent of a cross-sectional sample of the population of Wuhan developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, with 398 percent of this population seroconverting to have neutralising antibodies, wrote the first research group on The Lancet on Thursday.

Our results define the period between mid-October and mid-November 2019 as the plausible interval when the first case of SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Hubei Province, the second research group posted on Science magazine on March 18.

The results of both research groups revealed data that was different from the Chinese regimes disclosures.

In the past few months, people from different countries have criticized the Chinese regime for its delayed report, accusing the regime of underreporting the pandemic, leading to the CCP virus spreading to other countries.

Italy Reports 401 Deaths, 23,832 New Cases

Italy reported 401 CCP virus-related deaths on Saturday, up from 386 the day before, the health ministry said.

The daily tally of new infections slipped to 23,832 from 25,735 the day before, it added. The country has registered 104,642 deaths linked to the virus since its outbreak emerged in February last year, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain and the seventh-highest in the world.

Half of UK Adults Have Gotten One Dose of Vaccine

The UK says half of the countrys adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, a milestone in the governments drive to reach everyone over age 18 by the end of July.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Saturday that more people received injections on Friday than any day since the countrys vaccination program began in early December.

Germany: Anti-Lockdown Protest Turns Violent in Kassel

Several thousand people participated in a protest in Kassel on Saturday regarding measures against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

German news agency DPA says protesters have clashed with police, with officers using pepper spray and batons against people trying to break through police barriers. There were also several scuffles with counter-protesters.

Denmark Reports 1 Death, Serious Illness, After AstraZeneca Shot

Denmark said on Saturday that one person had died and another fell seriously ill with blood clots and cerebral hemorrhage after receiving the AstraZeneca CCP virus vaccination.

The two, both hospital staff members, had both received the AstraZeneca vaccine less than 14 days before getting ill, the authority that runs public hospitals in Copenhagen said.

Denmark, which halted using the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 11, was among more than a dozen countries that temporarily paused the use of the vaccine after reports of cases of rare brain blood clots sent scientists and governments scrambling to determine any link.

Idaho Legislature Shuts Down Due to Outbreak

The Idaho Legislature voted Friday to shut down for several weeks due to an outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

At least six of the 70 House members tested positive for the illness in the last week, and there are fears a highly contagious variant of COVID-19 is in the Statehouse.

All Veterans, Their Spouses, Caregivers, Eligible for Vaccines Under New Legislation

All veterans, their spouses, and caregivers will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the Department of Veterans Affairs once doses are made available, under legislation finalized by Congress on March 19.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to veterans and their families under the Department of Veterans Affairs.

EU Threatens AstraZeneca With Export Ban

The European Unions executive arm is increasing its pressure on pharmaceutical companies to speed up their vaccine delivery to the continent as virus numbers are rising again in many member countries.

The European Commission said Saturday that AstraZeneca in particular could face export bans to countries outside the EU if it didnt quickly deliver the promised amount of vaccines to the 27-nation bloc.

AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine is one of three vaccines thats approved in the EU. However, its usage has been overshadowed by several problems, including a slow start, recurring delivery problems, and a temporary ban for several days earlier this week in many of the blocs member countries after reports of blood clots in some recipients of the vaccine.

White House Easter Egg Roll Is Canceled for a Second Year Due to Pandemic

The White House is canceling the annual Easter Egg Roll for the second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A spokesman for first lady Jill Biden said Friday the White House will mark the holiday by sending out 2021 commemorative Easter Egg Roll eggs in the coming days to vaccination sites and local hospitals.

President Rutherford B. Hayes started the tradition in 1878.

Katabella Robers, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Nepal's national drug regulatory authority on Saturday granted emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, becoming the third country to approve India's indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine.

A meeting of the drug advisory committee of the Department of Drug Administration decided to issue a conditional emergency use authorisation to India's homegrown government-backed vaccine Covaxin, the third COVID-19 vaccine authorised in the country,The Kathmandu Post reported.

COVAXIN, which demonstrated an interim vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent in the Phase 3 clinical trials India, was approved for emergency use in in January and Zimbabwe cleared it early this month.

had applied for emergency use authorisation for its vaccine in on January 13. Of the three applications filed on January 13, the department had first granted emergency use authorisation to Oxford-AstraZeneca on January 15.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of under the name of Covishiled, was then accordingly brought to the country.

granted emergency use authorisation to BBIBP-CorV vaccine, developed by China's Sinopharm on February 17.

Emergency use authorisation (EUA) is granted for some drugs and vaccines by authorities during a declared emergency when officials can make a judgment that the drug is worth releasing, even without all the evidence that would fully establish its e?ectiveness and safety.

Such a decision is taken when there's enough evidence to suggest that patients have bene?tted from the drug/vaccine.

has used one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by in January under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First' policy. It is now also awaiting another consignment of 2 million AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The latest approval comes as authorities in Nepal said they were suspending their vaccination campaign because of a lack of supply.

Nepal has reported 275,750 cases and 3,016 deaths so far, according to government data.

(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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Anti-lockdown protesters ran riot in central London today, pelting bottles and cans at police who were forced to retreat to their vans.

The thuggery in Hyde Park saw members of the public get up and leave, with parents hurriedly carrying their small children away from the clashes.

Officers wielding batons were seen steadily backing off while projectiles rained down on them - before gathering in number and charging back at the hooligans.

The ugly scenes came after thousands of lockdown-sceptics, including the actor Laurence Fox and the activist Piers Corbyn, rallied in the heart of the capital to rail against the Government's Covid restrictions.

It coincided with similar protests in European states such as Germany, Italy and Austria, which are bracing for a third wave of the virus.

Protesters waving placards reading 'stop destroying our kids' lives' marched down Oxford Street and blocked off Park Lane.

Riot police were still out in force on the streets of the capital tonight as pockets of protesters continued to gather.

Although the march was largely believed to be peaceful - albeit brazenly breaking lockdown, which bans large gatherings - police confirmed they have so far made 33 arrests.

Britain's police has been thrust into the spotlight recently in the wake of the controversial handling of Sarah Everard's vigil, where women were pinned down and arrested at Clapham Common.

The Government's Policing Bill, which passed its first vote in the Commons this week and would hand officers more powers to deal with demonstrations, has also caused anger.

Demonstrations in London, Manchester and Brighton saw activists hold banners urging the ministers to 'kill the bill'.

Today politicians of all stripes have called for Priti Patel to change coronavirus legislation to allow protests.

Hundreds of protesters waving signs marched through central London today after meeting earlier in the afternoon in Hyde Park

Police officers detain a demonstrator in Hyde Park, London, during a protest against lockdown today

Laurence Fox is seen attending a rally in Hyde Park London. The actor is fighting to become the next mayor of London

Riot police were still out in force on the streets of the capital tonight as pockets of protesters continued to gather

The thuggery in Hyde Park saw members of the public get up and leave, with parents hurriedly carrying their small children away from the clashes

Police in Hyde Park this afternoon as clashes with anti-lockdown protesters turned violent

A police officer raising his baton as people film him in Hyde Park, central London this afternoon

Police officers stand around a statue to Britain's greatest Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill during a protest against the lockdown today

A man is restrained by five police officers as others hold back demonstrators filming the arrest

A demonstrator is pushed to the ground by police after outrage at Metropolitan Police's handling of the Sarah Everard vigil last week

An anti-lockdown protesters is arrested and taken away by officers in Hyde Park, London, today

Conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn - the old brother of Jeremy - stands in front of police as he attends yet another illegal gathering

Thousands of protesters holding flares and signs reading 'fear Westmonster not the virus' march through Hyde Park

MANCHESTER: Activists in Manchester rail against the Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill going through the Commons

CORNWALL: A demonstration in Cornwall demanding the Policing Bill, which would hand the police more powers to deal with protests, be scrapped

BRIGHTON: Similar protests happened in Brighton today. Britain's police has been thrust into the spotlight recently

GERMANY: Protests against coronavirus restrictions also broke across Europe. In Kassel, a man holds a giant puppet depicting a devil with a vaccine

London Metropolitan Police said: 'As of 3.45pm, 13 people have been arrested by officers policing the protests in central London. Most of the arrests have been for breaching Covid regulations.

'Our officers are continuing to engage with people attending the ongoing protests in Central London. Those gathering in crowds are being encouraged to disperse and go home.

'Officers will take enforcement action where necessary. This could be a fixed penalty notice, or arrest.'

Police officers pulled protesters down to the ground and cuffed them while other demonstrators shouted 'shame on you'. One man  wearing a hazmat suit and gas mask  was removed from the demo by police.

Thousands marched through the popular Hyde Park setting off flares and waving signs that read: 'Fear Westminster not the virus.'

Another woman at the protest held up a placard which said: 'Yes sex is great, but have you ever been f***ed by the Government?'

A witness said: 'Flares being set off on Oxford Street in front on the police, approx 4,000 unite for freedom march protesters marching across London.'

They continued through the centre of London, with police following the illegal gathering closely. One of the groups in park today, Jam For Freedom, said on its Twitter followers should meet at 12.45pm.

The group said there would be an organised flash-mob, told people to 'look for the smoke flares' and said there would be a 'vigil march' at 1pm.

It told its members: 'You may want to link arms as we march, especially if police are close or trying to take someone.' It added: 'Stay tight, stay aware, stay peaceful and polite.'

There were also expected to be protests against plans to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Those convicted under proposed legislation contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill could face a fine or jail.

People opposed to the legislation were urged on social media to take to the streets over the weekend, using the hashtag #KillTheBill.

The Met said on Friday it was aware of several protests planned for Saturday in breach of lockdown rules banning gatherings of more than two people from different households.

The force said a 'significant policing operation' would be in place in central London throughout the day.

'Those gathering will be encouraged to return home, if they do not, they face necessary and proportionate enforcement action. This could be a fixed penalty notice, or arrest.

Protests in London continued into the night and were seen being confronted by riot police

Police clash with protesters in central London this afternoon amid demonstrations across Europe

Demonstrators holding a banner saying 'stop destroying our kids' lives' march through Hyde Park this afternoon

A woman holding a sign and a man are confronted by police in central London today as the protests picked up the pace

A person holds a sign during a protest against the lockdown, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease in London

Demonstrators holding flares gather in Hyde Park in London during a protest against the coronavirus lockdown today

Police officers haul a demonstrator to the ground before cuffing him in Hyde Park during a protest against the coronavirus lockdown today

Protesters holding a banner saying 'stop destroying our kids' lives' and not wearing face masks march through the streets of London this afternoon

Referring to the protests planned for this weekend, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: 'The Met is committed to working with groups who wish to assemble to protest or for other purposes'

A man lies on the ground as he is cuffed by officers during the protests which has seen hundreds flock to central London today

Thousands walk past busses in central London and hold up signs on their way through the capital during the protests today

Police line up during the anti-lockdown demonstration in London. Protests within the scope of anti-vaccine anti-coronavirus restrictions 'World Wide Rally for Freedom and Democracy' rallies are taking place around the world today

A man wears a coronavirus face mask over his eyes during the anti-lockdown protest in central London this afternoon

ITALY: In Turin, Italy, demonstrators attend an anti-lockdown protest holding signs that say 'freedom' and 'truth'

The masses block up roads as they wander through the streets of central London during the widespread protesting on Saturday

A protester holds a sign reading: 'The emperor has no clothes! Lockdowns and masks don't work. 99.7% survival from Covid. Let's get back to normal'

Demonstrators holding flares and filming with their phones surround police officers at the anti-coronavirus lockdown protest in London today

Some carried large Union Flags as they descended on the streets and clogged up roads during the maskless protest on Saturday

Two women hold up their signs as they make their way through the city centre during the illegal protests on Saturday afternoon

Protesters march through St James's Park up to Buckingham Palace during the anti-coronavirus lockdown demonstration in London today

A protester sits in the middle of the road blocking traffic amid the demonstrations in London

Police officers stand by protesters marching during a 'World Wide Rally For Freedom' protest on Saturday afternoon in London

Referring to the protests planned for this weekend, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: 'The Met is committed to working with groups who wish to assemble to protest or for other purposes.

'But these are not normal times.' He added: 'People who gather as part of the protest risk the health of Londoners.

'That is why we have a policing plan in place to disperse crowds and where necessary, take proportionate enforcement action.

'This will not just be organisers of the protests but participants too - by now everyone knows their part to play in stopping the spread of the virus and thousands have sacrificed much over the last 12 months to do so.'

The protest in London today occurred at the same time as hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Manchester and marched to the Police Headquarters after branding the lockdown a 'crime against humanity'.

Anti-lockdown protests were scheduled today around the country as the UK approaches the anniversary of the first lockdown due to Covid.

Protesters marched three miles from the National Football Museum to the Greater Manchester Police Headquarters in Newton Heath.

They carried with them police reports outlining the 'crimes the government are committing' and expect the force to process each report individually.

Around 500 protesters who rallied together could heard chanting 'freedom' and 'take off your masks'.

One of the protesters, Luke Scott, said he lost his source of income this year due to the lockdown and lambasted the government's decision-making which had 'no basis in science'.

Mr Scott, who runs an events company, said that the lockdown was a 'crime against humanity' which has caused people to suffer financially, physically and emotionally.

Protesters also took to the streets of Manchester and marched to the Police Headquarters after branding the lockdown a 'crime against humanity' today

Hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters march through Manchester City Centre to Greater Manchester Police HQ to hand in crime reports

A demonstrator in Manchester wearing a wig, ski mask and face covering holds a sign reading: 'Mask wearing zombies wake up or comply and die'

Protesters swarm around Greater Manchester Police HQ this afternoon. They carried with them police reports outlining the 'crimes the government are committing' and expect the force to process each report individually

BELGRADE: People take part in a protest against coronavirus restrictions in the Serbian capital of Belgrade

DUBLIN: Protesters march from the Phoenix Park towards the city center during an anti-lockdown rally in Dublin

The 33-year-old said: 'Today we are urging the government to change their regulations around the lockdown.

'We are handing in crime reports at the headquarters to report the crimes the government are committing.

'We are marching against the dangerous language they are using which are causing mental health issues, physical issues, closing businesses.

'No scientific evidence, we don't know if this virus is the threat they say it is.

'My business was destroyed by the lockdown. I lost my income, I have an eight month old child, I have a wife. I've made no money this year.

'These are crimes against humanity.'

And anti-lockdown protesters also took to the streets of Newcastle today, prompting a huge police response in the city centre.

Close to a hundred officers lined a guard surrounding Grey's Monument to prevent any groups from gathering during ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The response comes after Northumbria Police issued a statement earlier urging people not to meet in groups over the weekend.

A spokesperson said: 'We have become aware that a range of groups plan to gather to protest in the centre of Newcastle this weekend.

'We are taking this opportunity to remind people that protests are not exempt from the current Covid legislation. Such public gatherings remain unlawful due to the risk they pose to public safety.

'We recognise the right to protest is extremely important but this right has always had to be balanced against the rights of the wider community.

'We would therefore urge people to take heed of the regulations and Public Health advice. Anyone thinking of visiting the city centre to take part in protest activity should reconsider.

'The safety of everyone, including those participating in protests, other members of the public and our officers will always be our upmost priority.

'People can expect to see an increased presence from officers and we will deliver a proportionate policing response to any activity taking place.'

The Met has come under fire this week for its heavy-handed policing of a vigil on Clapham Common on Saturday in memory of Ms Everard, with Commissioner Cressida Dick facing calls to resign.

The event had been planned by protest group Reclaim These Streets, but it switched to an online event after being warned it would breach Covid-19 rules.

But crowds still gathered to express their anger and grief at the death of the 33-year-old. While largely peaceful, it was marred by scuffles with police and images of some women being bundled to the ground and handcuffed.

Elsewhere today police in Norfolk warned people gathering for a Sarah Everard vigil in a small town tonight risk breaking the Covid laws on gatherings.

Organisers of the vigil - planned for the Market Place in King's Lynn - say local police have been 'consulted and are aware'.

A Norfolk police spokesman said 'We understand the strength of feeling and people's desire to come together to mourn the death of Sarah Everard and make a statement on the issues of women's safety.

'However, large gatherings are not currently permitted under the COVID-19 regulations to prevent the spread of the virus.

'Many people have made sacrifices during lockdown and we must take a consistent approach to policing the regulations and cannot wave the regulations for any one type of gathering.

'We will continue to follow the four Es...to engage, explain and encourage, using enforcement where there are breaches of the law.' The vigil is planned at 6pm tonight.

Thousands of protesters met at the park to listen to speakers before marching through the centre of London this afternoon

Demonstrators march during a protest against the coronavirus lockdown in Hyde Park, London, today. London Metropolitan Police said it would arrest protesters at the illegal event

Police wearing face masks arrest and hold down a protester in near Oxford Street in central London today

Co-organisers Councillor Jo Rust said: 'There is a great strength and depth of feelings and it's important that the women of King's Lynn and West Norfolk are able to peacefully pay their respects and remember the lives of women who have been... while doing nothing more than walking home.

'We will make sure the event is Covid safe and will only allow four people at a time to come and pay their respects. Supporters have been advised to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines.'

Sarah, 33, went missing on March 3 as she walked home from a friend's house in London. Her remains were found in woods in Kent on March 10 and police officer Wayne Couzens has been charged kidnap and killing her.

Another organiser of the King's Lynn vigil, known only as Rosie, said it was to highlight concerns over women's safety.

She said: 'We're all mindful of safety during the pandemic, and will be acting with the utmost respect for Covid guidelines, but Sarah's [death] has brought it home to many of us, that whatever we do, we're not safe.'

Another woman, called Cissy, said: 'Women should be able to walk home without fear of attack, but for most women this isn't the case.

'This vigil is to give us all the opportunity to pay our respects to a young woman who was [killed] while walking home.'

A woman called Jo added: 'There is a great strength and depth of feelings and it's important that the women of King's Lynn and West Norfolk are able to peacefully pay their respects and remember the lives of women who have been [killed] while doing nothing more than walking home.'

They said supporters are advised to attend wearing masks and observe social distancing.

More than 60 MPs joined campaign groups Big Brother Watch and Liberty in writing to the Home Secretary yesterday to say it is a human right to demonstrate.

Tories Steve Baker and Sir Christopher Chope as well as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler signed the letter.

They are calling on Ms Patel to tell police to 'facilitate' protests and avoid forcing them to 'decipher precisely what is required'.

More than 60 MPs joined campaign groups Big Brother Watch and Liberty in writing to the Home Secretary (pictured on Monday) to say it is a human right to demonstrate

Police detain a woman as people gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand, following the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, in London, on March 13

Which MPs and Peers signed Liberty and Big Brother Watch's letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel? Diane Abbott MP Steve Baker MP Paula Barker MP Apsana Begum MP Lord Beith Baroness Natalie Bennett Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Lord Bradshaw Baroness Brinton Richard Burgon MP Dawn Butler MP Dan Carden MP Alistair Carmichael MP Baroness Shami Chakrabarti Sir Christopher Chope MP Wendy Chamberlain MP Daisy Cooper MP Sir Edward Davey MP Geraint Davies MP Tim Farron MP Baroness Featherstone Richard Fuller MP Lord Greaves Chris Green MP Baroness Hamwee Baroness Harris of Richmond Wera Hobhouse MP Rachel Hopkins MP Christine Jardine MP Baroness Jenny Jones Baroness Jolly Mary Kelly Foy MP Ian Lavery MP Clive Lewis MP Tony Lloyd MP Caroline Lucas MP Baroness Ludford Lord McNally Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer Andrew Mitchell MP Layla Moran MP Lord Oates Sarah Olney MP Kate Osborne MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP Virendra Sharma MP Baroness Sheehan Jamie Stone MP Lord Strasburger Zarah Sultana MP Sir Desmond Swayne Lord Taylor of Goss Moor Baroness Thornhill Lord Tyler Sir Charles Walker MP Lord Wallace of Saltaire Baroness Walmsley Claudia Webbe MP Mick Whitley MP Munira Wilson MP Nadia Whittome MP Advertisement

The letter said: 'The absence of clear guidance on these issues has created an entirely unsatisfactory situation, which has persisted to varying degrees for almost a year now.

'The police have no legal certainty as to their duties and powers, protestors have no legal certainty as to their rights, and there is inconsistent application of the Regulations across the country. This cannot continue.'

But the Home Office doubled down on its position that it is still illegal to leave home without and exemption until March 29.

A spokesman said: 'While we are still in a pandemic we continue to urge people to avoid mass gatherings, in line with wider coronavirus restrictions.'

There have been constant anti-lockdown protests throughout the pandemic, often attended by conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn.

But over the last week demonstrations were sparked after the police's handling of a vigil to Sarah Everard. A policeman is facing a charge of murder and abduction.

Organisers cancelled the service at Clapham Common, London, last weekend, but hundreds still attended and clashed with officers.

The day before they had failed to persuade the High Court to overrule the Met in allowing the event to be held.

The judge ruled he would not intervene but hinted human rights of expression and gathering could be considered acceptable excuses.

On Sunday and Monday people took to the streets of Westminister and gathered outside Downing Street and in Parliament Square in protest.

Director of Big Brother Watch Silkie Carlo said: 'The harrowing scenes of police officers using force against women at Clapham Common recently were avoidable and wrong.

'Over the past week, many more demonstrators and even legal observers have been arrested or fined.

'This stain on our democracy is a direct consequence of this government's disrespect for the most basic of British democratic freedoms.'

Sam Grant from Liberty added: 'Last week, the police conceded protest is not banned under the lockdown regulations, but used them to threaten then arrest demonstrators anyway.

'The home secretary must immediately issue guidance to all police forces to ensure socially distanced protests can go ahead and create an explicit exemption for protest in the current regulations.'

Ms Patel has asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to 'conduct a lessons-learned review into the policing of the event' at Clapham Common.

More protests are expected this weekend but the Met said a 'significant policing operation' will be underway to 'engage' with lockdown flouters.

It added: 'Those gathering will be encouraged to return home. If they do not they face necessary and proportionate enforcement action. This could be a fixed penalty notice or arrest.'

A number of demonstrations are expected to take place in the capital, including a rally at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park to support Piers Corbyn's mayoral bid.

The brother of the former Labour leader has been at the forefront of the anti-lockdown movement since restrictions were imposed a year ago.

There are also expected to be protests against plans to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Dame Cressida Dick's tenure as chief of the Metropolitan Police is reportedly 'unlikely' to be renewed following the anger over her officers' handling of Sarah Everard's vigil.

Ms Patel is not expected to extend her contract at Scotland Yard when it expires in April next year, government sources told the Times last night.

Britain's most senior officer has been under fire after widespread condemnation of how the Clapham Common memorial was policed last weekend.

Officers arrested and pinned down women attending the event in honour of the 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard.

Priti Patel (left) is not expected to extend Dame Cressida Dick's (right) contract at Scotland Yard when it expires in April next year, government sources claimed last night

Dame Cressida faced calls to quit from across the political spectrum and was criticised by both the Home Secretary and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Ms Patel said she was 'shocked at the way in which Saturday night's vigil was policed', while Mr Khan was 'not satisfied' with Dame Cressida's explanation.

Yet she refused to bow to pressure and lambasted 'armchair' critics who she said failed to grasp the complexities of policing during the pandemic.

But insiders are said to believe last week's saga was the final straw in what is being viewed in government as a mounting catalogue of blunders.

Dame Cressida came under fire last year for her handling of London's Black Lives Matter protests, which spiralled into chaos and saw violence.

A source told The Times: 'Cressida is not seen as having done a great job... The general expectation is that her contract won't be extended.'

Ms Patel said she retained 'full confidence' in the Met comissioner and the source stressed the pair have a strong working relationship.

In the wake of the protests Mr Khan, who is up for reelection in May, said he did not believe the capital's streets were safe for young women.

He told LBC: 'No, they aren't  or for girls  and it's really important that people of my gender understand that.

'If you're a woman or a girl, your experiences of our city, in any public space, whether it's in the workplace on the streets, on public transport is very different to if you are a man or a boy, and it's really important that people like me in positions of power and influence understand that and take steps to address that.'

After last week's protests Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Commissioner to 'consider' her leadership of the force, adding: 'Cressida Dick has lost the confidence of the millions of women in London and should resign.'

Women's Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer said her position was 'untenable'.
There were two Chinas on stage at the Hotel Captain Cook in Alaska.

There is confident China, which demands the US treats it as an equal by shifting its position from an ascendant superpower to one that has already arrived.

And then there is self-conscious China, which relies on false equivalences on human rights, democracy and the support of patron states to argue its time has come.

Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi, center, and Chinas State Councilor Wang Yi in Anchorage. Credit:AP

Eager to please Xi Jinping and the rising tide of nationalism at home, its two most highly experienced diplomats shed protocol and came as wolf warriors.
The country Victorian town of Moe has languished through a stigma set to raise its ugly head once again after more than 20 years.

Once known for its brown coal deposits in the Latrobe Valley, in Victoria's east, and electricity generation, the town has lived under a cloud of suspicion stemming from a death that remains unsolved to this day.

Jaidyn Leskie was just a baby when he vanished from his mum's home on Narracan Drive, Newborough, just outside of Moe, late on June 14, 1997.

Jaidyn Leskie was just one when he vanished from his home just outside of Moe in 1997. He was found dead six months later

Greg Domaszewicz was charged with the little boy's death, but was found not guilty. The case has haunted Moe ever since

A tribute to little Jaidyn Leskie, who was found dead beaten and bruised in a dam not far from his home in Moe in 1997

His mum's then boyfriend, Greg Domaszewicz, was charged with murder and would endure a trial that put the working class town in the spotlight for a full two months.

Domaszewicz was found not guilty by the jury in December 1998 and the town of Moe would be etched in the minds of Victorians for decades to come.

On Monday, Domaszewicz will emerge from the shadows for the first time in years.

Veteran journalist Liz Hayes tracked down the elusive Domaszewicz as part of her Under Investigation crime series, which will air on Channel 9.

When asked by Hayes whether Jaidyn might have been injured by the car Domaszewicz was working on at his house falling on the toddler, Domaszewicz replies: 'It's a big difference from an accident, to say murder'.

'But nothing happened at all, while he was at my house,' he replies.

Jaidyn's body had been found in Blue Rock Dam - not far from where he went missing - six months after he disappeared.

A pig's head had been thrown at the house and other vandalism on the evening of the toddler's disappearance.

Moe would seem a world away to the good folk of metropolitan Melbourne, who for most would never have known Moe existed until it was splashed all over the newspapers and across their TV screens.

For months the battered face of little Jaidyn greeted them in daily bulletins.

While child killings have become sadly more prevalent, in the late 1990s, it was an atrocity that dragged on into a sad and sorry soap opera.

Jaidyn was just 13 months old when he was reported missing.

He had been in the care of Domaszewicz - an unemployed mechanic - while his mum Bilynda Murphy spent the night drinking in a neighbouring town.

Jaidyn's mum had been in a casual relationship with Domaszewicz after splitting from Jaidyn's father Brett Leskie  the ex-husband of her own sister, and father of her sister's child.

Jaidyn Leskie was killed and his body dumped in a nearby dam. His killer has never been brought to justice and likely never will be

Bilynda Williams, mother of toddler Jaidyn Leskie, arrives at the Coroners Court for the third inquest into the death of her son in 2005

In reuniting those involved with the investigation, former lead detective Rowland Legg told Hayes the tangled family relationships that led to Jaidyn's death were 'not a family tree, but a forest!'

But irretrievably confusing the case  and the events that night  was a bizarre attack made on Domaszewicz's house using a pig's head as a projectile.

While Domaszewicz was picking up Jaidyn's mum from the pub, a local named Kenny Penfold threw the severed pig's head at his front windows.

The attack had allegedly been in retribution, he claimed, for Domaszewicz two-timing with his sister.

When Domaszewicz returned home with Bilynda and reported Jaidyn missing, he claimed the 'pig's head team' must have snatched him.

Jaidyn's mum Bilynda (pictured) had been in a casual relationship with Domaszewicz after splitting from Jaidyn's father Brett Leskie

Jaidyn's mum Bilynda (second from left) with Jaidyn's father Brett Leskie and Jaidyn

Domaszewicz's murder trial, held more than a year later, descended into a circus that went for months.

Few Melburnians old enough will forget the succession of colourful characters that graced the witness box.

It was those very characters Domaszewicz's barrister had used to cast a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury.

Kenny Penfold and his 'pig's head crew' did themselves little favour under cross examination by Domaszewicz's crack legal team.

In fact, they were downright hostile and routinely shouted at the barristers from their position in the witness box.

Of course, all those nominated as suspects by Domaszewicz's defence team have long denied playing any part in the disappearance and death of the toddler.

Domaszewicz has always denied the crime and later claimed he was stoned when Jaidyn disappeared and that he lied to police about his drug-taking that night.

When veteran crime reporter Keith Moor caught up with Domaszewicz in 2014, he continued to deny any wrongdoing.

Brett and Jaidyn Leskie in happier times

He claimed Jaidyn's body was well preserved when found in a sleeping bag in the dam - showing, he said, that the body hadn't been submerged for six months as alleged.

'He was found, like, a lot bigger than how he went missing,' Domaszewicz said.

'The thing is, how did he grow? If he was in the water in that bag, how come that bag could rot  and yet he was all right?'

Jaidyn's devastated mum continued her fight for justice long after Domaszewicz was cleared by the jury.

She pushed tirelessly for a public coronial inquest and when it was eventually granted in 2003 it heard evidence from more than 50 witnesses.

In his opening address, former Attorney-General Jim Kennan, SC, claimed there was evidence of Domaszewicz mistreating Jaidyn in the weeks before his death.

The inquiry went for near on a month, but when it came to an end, the coroner could still not determine who had killed the toddler.

Then State Coroner, Graeme Johnstone, handed down his finding in the Leskie inquest on October 4, 2006.

'The fact that a decision has been made that Mr Domaszewicz disposed of Jaidyn's body does not enable any conclusion to be reached about precisely how the child died  whether by accident or otherwise,' he concluded.

Former lead detective Legg, Keith Moor, historian Doctor Elise Rosser and former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Whealy QC, will come together again in the hope of providing more answers to the unsolved mystery.

Under Investigation with Liz Hayes will present 'Jaidyn Leskie: Little Boy Lost' on Monday on Nine at 9pm.
A letter in which Princess Diana referred to the Queen as 'the boss' has sold for a world record sum of 8,700.

The candid note was part of a cache of 36 letters from Diana sold at auction for a combined 82,000.

They belonged to family friend Roger Bramble who Diana sought for support and advice during some of the most difficult years of her life.

The incredible collection of letters from Princess Diana fetched 82,000 at auction this week

Among them was a thank you note for taking her to lunch which she found a 'much welcome distraction' from her impending divorce to Prince Charles in August 1996 which sold for over 7,800.

In another from October 19, 1995, Diana wrote she feared she had made Mr Bramble, the then Lord High Sheriff of Westminster, late for an appointment with The Queen.

She thanked him for lunch at the swanky Bibendum and joked: 'I just hope your arrival at Westminster Abbey was before the Boss (The Queen) and if not, I expect to have been mentioned in the excuses!'

Mimi Connell Lay, from the auction house, said: 'One of the strongest bidders who bought a lot of the letters is a serious Diana collector based in the UK.

'But we also had some very determined bidding from collectors in America as well.

'People just love Diana, she was enormously popular.

'You learn a lot more about her as a person from reading these letters. You see her character and personality and intelligence come out.

'We are thrilled with the results of the sale and delighted for the vendors and that the proceeds are going to worthy causes Diana was associated with..'

The letter in which Princess Diana (pictured) described the Queen as 'The Boss' earned 8,700

The handwritten notes show the Princess of Wales' distinctive handwriting style and signature

The letter were to Roger Bramble who was a source of support and advice to Princess Diana

The letters, which date from 1990 to 1997, have been hidden away in a cupboard in the Bramble family home for the past 24 years.

The family decided to sell them to show 'what a delightful human being' Princess Diana was.

They were sold by David Lay Auctions of Penzance, Cornwall, for an overall hammer price of 67,900. With fees added on the total came to 82,000.

A letter she wrote noting the first time she had been out since her divorce and under her new title, sold for 7,500.

Diana wrote in October 1996: 'It is the first time Diana, Princess of Wales has actually been taken out to lunch since August 28 - I am very selective..'

A 1992 note in which she described her 'ghastly week' in the wake of the publication of Andrew Morton's biography which revealed she had attempted suicide went under the hammer for 1,350.

The late Princess Of Wales is escorted into the London festival ballet charity event by Councillor Roger Bramble, representing the Lord Mayor Of Westminster

The letters were sold to buyers across the world and proceeds will be split to four funds known to be close to the Princess of Wales

The messages date back to 1990 and run until just a few months before the Princess of Wales' tragic death in 1997

The sale also included a letter sent to Mr Bramble from Diana's mum Frances Shand Kydd in which she described how her daughter joyously danced barefoot while on holiday in Venice in 1990.

She described how their Italian bodyguards 'lusted over her legs'. It sold for 4,000.

The proceeds of the auction, that attracted bidders from all over the world will be split between the English National Ballet, Opera Rara, Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and the Benesh International Endowment Fund.

A statement for the Bramble family said: 'We have been concerned that contemporary portrayals of Diana may become accepted wisdom in the minds of the public.

'We believe these letters reveal the writer to be an affectionate, cultivated and delightful human being and that their wider publication could only do credit to their author.'
Hugh Sheridan surprised fans when he proposed to new boyfriend Kurt Roberts after just three months together.

And now the actor has shared the heartbreaking reason behind his decision to pop the question so quickly.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the 35-year-old revealed that his father Denis Sheridan, 76, is battling a terminal illness.

Revealed: Hugh Sheridan has shared the heartbreaking reason behind his decision to propose to boyfriend Kurt Roberts

'When I found out I said to Kurt; "If we are going to get married then we should probably do it sooner rather than later",' he said.

Wasting little time in getting hitched, the couple have confirmed that they'll officially tie the knot in Sydney on New Year's Eve.

Hugh proposed to Kurt during the first night of his dance performance at the Adelaide Fringe Festival earlier this month.

Tragedy: Speaking to the Daily Telegraph , the 35-year-old revealed that his father Denis Sheridan, 76, is battling a terminal illness. (Pictured together)

'I went out and bought a ring and flew his family to be seated in the audience on the night. He had no idea. It was a really amazing moment,' he gushed.

After proposing, the loved-up pair shared a public embrace and a cheeky kiss before a besotted Hugh ran back on stage and said: 'I just got engaged!'

A friend of the couple's shared footage from the magical moment on Instagram, writing: 'It's not every day one of your besties proposes to the love of his life so excited for you both xx.'

How sweet: Hugh proposed to Kurt, 26, during the first night of his dance performance at the Adelaide Fringe Festival earlier this month

In a recent interview with the Daily Telegraph, the Packed To The Rafters star recently confirmed he and Kurt, 29, star have shacked up together.

Hugh said the attraction was 'immediate' between the two when they locked eyes at a party at a Darlinghurst mansion previously owned by Baz Luhrmann in November.

The actor revealed that he was a little forward with his approach to dating Kurt, so he took a step back and enjoyed courting him in an 'old school' romantic way.

Big day: Wasting little time in getting hitched, the couple have confirmed that they'll officially tie the knot in Sydney on New Year's Eve

'But I was pretty persistent. I messaged him and he didn't respond. And then we caught up again with some mutual friends around Christmas and that's when I realised I just needed to slow down and give him some space.

'So then I started to get very old-school about the whole thing.

'There was no rushing. We just went out for dinners and took things very slowly and I did everything by the book because I knew, deep down, that this guy was a keeper,' he added.

Earlier this month, Kurt, who is the general manager of digital lending at Commonwealth Bank, packed up his stuff and moved into the Hugh's Bondi apartment.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 21:23:58|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, March 20 (Xinhua) -- When Botswana announced its first three confirmed cases of the deadly COVID-19 on March 30, 2020, there were worries amongst locals about their job prospects.

The announcement of the COVID-19 outbreak was subsequently followed by national lockdown and other precautionary measures including international travel restrictions with the aim of curbing the spread and transmission of the global pandemic.

These precautionary measures affected businesses a lot. Many workers were ordered to stay at home with the exception of essential workers. And some started fearing that they will lose their jobs, as the world was brought to a standstill with no movement of people and goods.

Most Chinese business people running businesses in Botswana get their products from China while their clients are mainly from neighboring Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho and Malawi since Botswana has got a tiny population of an estimated 2.1 million people.

"When borders were closed, I nearly fainted thinking that my employment was going to end," said Ratanang Gambule, a 27-year-old shop assistant at Truly Trading (Pty) Limited situated along Haskins Street in Francistown, Botswana's second-largest city.

Gambule said their customers are mainly Zimbabweans and Zambians. And closure of the borders was, according to her imagination, going to spell doom for her and the family of three that she feeds.

However, Gambule said she was surprised that her employers managed to pay her a full salary for April despite the fact she was sitting at home for the whole month.

"The Chinese business people have got the tenacity, perseverance and a unique character that eventually saved our jobs as locals employed by the Chinese," said Gambule, who has been working with her employer for the past five years.

Twenty three-year-old Eyne Madikwe, who works at China Man Shop Number One in Francistown, described the Chinese textile shop owners as innovative. Upon the closure of Botswana's borders, Madikwe said her employer started concentrating on selling household wares.

According to Madikwe, Zimbabweans and Zambians buy clothing items and electrical gadgets in bulk for reselling in their native countries. Since they were no longer coming frequently due to travel restrictions, Madikwe said her employer started introducing products that are more appealing to Batswana (citizens of Botswana).

Many of the Chinese business people in Francistown did implement every trick in the book to avoid loss of jobs at the height of the pandemic, the chairperson of the Francistown Chinese Chamber of Commerce Wang Yi told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

Wang said that at least 18,000 locals are employed by the Chinese-owned businesses in different sectors.

Godisang Radisigo, Francistown mayor, also praised the Chinese business people for sustaining many jobs amidst COVID-19 despite the fact that a number of businesses were forced to retrench. Enditem
Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Firefighters put out a basement blaze with minor damage on Terrace Street late Saturday morning, according to officials.

Director of Emergency Management Rick Fontana said the department responded to a report of a residential fire in a two-story apartment building on Terrace Street at about 11:50 a.m.
Vietnamese land-rights activist Trinh Ba Phuong (center) is shown with his mother, Can Thi Theu, and brother, Trinh Ba Tu, in an undated photo.

Vietnamese land-rights activist Trinh Ba Phuong has been transferred to a new detention center without word given to his family, according to his wife, who attempted to visit him at his former jail this week.

Today, March 19, I went to the Hanoi Police Detention Center No. 1, Phuongs wife Do Thi Thu told RFAs Vietnamese Service on Thursday. When I arrived, they told me that my husband had been sent to another facility but would not tell me where it was, she said.

They also gave me what was left of the money we had given him" to buy food in the jail, she said.

Normally, when prisoners are moved to another place, detention center staff will inform the detainees families, and my husbands surplus deposit should have been moved with him, Thu said, adding, "I dont know why they transferred my husband so suddenly, or whether theyre going to torture him or mistreat him now.

A well-known land-rights activist in Hanoi, Trinh Ba Phuong was arrested on June 24, 2020 with his younger brother, Trinh Ba Tu, and his mother, Can Thi Theu, on charges of creating, storing, and disseminating information, documents, items and publications opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The three family members had been outspoken in social media postings about the Jan. 9, 2020 clash in Dong Tam commune in which 3,000 police stormed barricaded protesters homes at a construction site about 25 miles south of the capital, killing a village elder.

They had also offered information to foreign embassies and other international figures to try to raise awareness of the incident. While all land is ultimately held by the state, land confiscations have become a flashpoint as residents accuse the government of pushing small landholders aside in favor of lucrative real estate projects, and of paying too little in compensation to farming families displaced by development.

'Activities to overthrow'

Also on Friday, a court in central Vietnams Dak Lak province sentenced Tran Nguyen Chuan, a member of the U.S.-based Provisional Government of Vietnam, to a six and a half year prison term on charges of carrying out activities to overthrow the Peoples Government under Article 109 of Vietnams Penal Code.

Chuans indictment charged that he had used his mobile phone beginning in 2015 to access YouTube videos with subversive content and had attended online meetings of the Provisional Government from June 2018 to March 2020.

The Provisional Government was founded in 1991 by soldiers and refugees who had been loyal to the South Vietnamese government prior to the countrys unification under communist rule in 1975. It is headquartered in Orange County, California.

In 2018, Vietnams Ministry of Public Security classified the Provisional Government of Vietnam as a terrorist organization, and four other membersVu Thi Kim Phuong, Le Van Lac, Nguyen Thi Kim Duyen, and Le Van Sangwere also sentenced to lengthy prison terms in March 2021 for their involvement in the group.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler speaks during a rally with U.S. President Donald Trump to support Republican Senate candidates at Valdosta Regional Airport in Valdosta, Georgia, on Dec. 5, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Loeffler Says Conservative Get-Out-the-Vote Drive Key to Countering Stacey Abrams Group and Winning Georgia

Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a Republican, is ramping up the rhetoric around the key role of her new get-out-the-vote drivecalled Greater Georgiato counter Fair Fight, the voter participation initiative founded by former Democratic congressional representative Stacey Abrams. Loeffler has warned that if the GOP cant successfully rebuff Abramss movement, they wont win another seat in the Peach State, regardless of how appealing a candidate they field.

Loeffler said in an interview with The Washington Times that her project is about the reality that if we dont take steps to shore up the states ability to grow the conservative tent in the same way that Fair Fight has grown the liberal tent, it wont matter who runs for office. The numbers will go against us.

Greater Georgia is looking to engage more communities andcruciallyregister more of what it estimates are some 2 million unregistered, right-leaning, voting-age Georgians.

Abrams founded Fair Fight after losing a gubernatorial bid in 2018. The groups stated aims include advocating for progressive issues, encouraging voter participation, and fighting voter suppression.

Top Democrats, including President Joe Biden, have credited Abramss advocacy with helping Democrats win in Georgia, while outlets like The New York Times or BET have tipped their hats, running headlines like The 10-year Stacey Abrams project to flip Georgia has come to fruition or How Stacey Abrams Courageously Dismantled Republican Voter Suppression Tactics to Flip Georgia Blue.

Currently on the agenda for Fair Fight is opposition to several Republican-led election integrity bills in Georgia that aim to curb the use of drop boxes, change early voting hours, limit no-excuse absentee voting, and require ID for absentee voting, among other initiatives. In a tweet retweeted by Abrams, Fair Fight called the bills voter suppression.

Acknowledging the effectiveness of Fair Fight advocacy, Loeffler said Abrams has secured a virtual monopoly on voter registration in Georgia.

Were already seeing that Georgias at a deficit of roughly 8,000 voter registrations a month in terms of Democrat versus Republican registrations, Loeffler said, vowing to beat back that trend with voter engagement and registration drives, and new communications strategies to get out the conservative vote.

Loeffler, a businesswoman who lost a reelection bid in January, left office after a year. She never won an election, having been appointed to the state senate by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, to fill a vacancy that arose when Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) retired due to health reasons.
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Ghosts of the Niger Delta, a new novel on the Niger Delta crisis that crippled Nigerias oil industry from 2005, will be released on Monday, March 22.

The author, Bisi Daniels, disclosed that the novel would be partly serialised in the online paper, The QuickRead, quickread.ng, before its formal publication.

The author of over 12 books, who is also a journalist with decades of experience, chronicles the Niger Delta crisis in revealing details and insider information about Nigerias oil and gas industrys politics through the eyes of an investigative reporter, James Hunter.

For example, it reveals that, In 2005, the United States conducted a war game exercise, predicting the outbreak of violence in the oil-producing area of Nigeria that would lead to expatriates evacuation, including U.S. citizens, and a hike in oil prices.

Six months after the exercise, massive bomb explosions at major oil facilities announce the commencement of violence in Nigeria and resonate worldwide.

Told as a faction, it begins when John Hunter, The NewsHub newspapers award-winning investigative reporter, reluctantly undertakes an assignment to investigate pollution in the Niger Delta. He is held captive in a death camp with an American environmentalist, Jones Coleman, the son of a fictional U.S. Senator.

After being made to bury some of the inmates tortured to death, the duo are worried about their fate when armed youths attack the camp at night.

Jones dashes back to the U.S.

As Hunter recovers in Lagos from the torture, the Niger Delta makes headlines with several armed attacks target oil facilities and many expatriates taken hostage by militants.

This inhibits oil production and immediately impacts the global oil marketplace. Crude oil prices soar, and oil companies and consumers panic.

Hunter rushes back to the region, which is now under the siege of angry militants.

He eventually tracks the militant commanders down at one of their camps after encounters with oil companies, security agencies, and angry residents.

Staring death in the face, he is detained for days. The cold hands of death draw closer when he is later embedded with the militants during an attack on a major oil facility.

Hunter is shocked by their efficiency and their large cache of sophisticated weapons.

With the governments inability to halt the violence, oil companies withdraw more of their staff members from the fields and further reduce crude oil production.

Hunters mission to expose the corruption and exploitation that led to, and resulted from the Niger Delta crisis, makes him a target of many powerful people, including oil thieves, arms dealers, corrupt government officials and politicians. He is followed and attacked at every turn, kidnapped five times but he remains resolute and lives to tell his story.

The author says the novel provides understanding of some of the changes, like the establishment of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board that have happened in the oil and gas industry over the years
Conor O'Callaghan's latest spell-binding novel 'We Are Not In The World' was due to be published last spring. Then the pandemic struck and the publication was postponed until this month in the hope that the world would have returned to normal. That was not to be thanks to the ongoing restrictions.

To mark the occasion, the Dundalk writer travelled across Sheffield, where he now lives, to buy a cigar. The following day, publishers Doubleday had a bottle of whiskey delivered to his home. 'I looked at the guy and thought he looked familiar. He recognised me too - he was from the off-licence where I had bought the cigar and he said it would have saved him the trip if they had ordered it the day before.'

Conor is full of stories. Some writers are reticent saving their tales for the page, but Conor enthusiastically shares the stories which spawned his second novel, and the ones which inform him as a writer.

He first made his name as a poet, winning the Patrick Kavanagh Award for his first collection of poetry, and his debut novel 'Nothing on Earth' was highly acclaimed.

'The hardest thing about being a writer is continuing to do so,' he says.

He studied Creative Writing in Trinity College Dublin in 1997 and as far as he is aware, is the only one of his cohort who still writes.

Getting the Masters Degree was a means to an end.

'I did it purposely,' he says, as it meant he in turn would be able to teach creative writing, thus making a living to support his writing.

After a time spent in the United States, where he taught at Wake Forest University and was co-holder of the Heimbold Chair of Irish Studies at Villanova University.

Nowadays he lectures at Sheffield Hallam University and distance learning at Lancaster University and clearly enjoys the rapport with his students.

'I walked away from America as I missed Ireland too much, it was too far away. There were no jobs in creative writing in Ireland back then so I went to the north of England. Sheffield is not unlike Dundalk,' he says.

Like many emigrants, and he is now resigned to the fact that he will never live in Ireland again, he looks to his homeland for inspiration.

'I left Dundalk in 2003 and haven't lived in Ireland since. I really, really love Dundalk but I know I'll never live there again. You have to make your peace with that.'

'The last time I was in a pub in Dundalk, some kid asked me what part of England I'm from. You can get stuck in both cultures. You're Irish for the people of England and increasingly, the longer you stay away, the more you become a foreigner at home. You are marooned between cultures.'

He loves the story of Oisin and Tir na nOg, which he remembers hearing from Fr Collins when he was at the Friary School.

There are, he says, parallels to be drawn from Oisin getting on his white horse and leaving Tir na nOg for Ireland and the fate of the emigrant. 'During the bad years of the financial crisis, when things were really bad, I would come home to Dundalk and feel like Oisin. All the shops were closed and there was no one around.

'We Are Not In This World' tells the story of Paddy, driving a lorry from the North of England to France, with his daughter as a stowaway.

His life is a mess and he's dreaming of his family home, Tir na nOg, on the coast.

'He's Irish, his daughter is Irish-born but grew up in America,' Conor says. 'They have been apart, have been estranged, and the daughter has been through the wringer.'

The story unfolds through the language of poetry but it's a gritty tale of complex relationships. Six chapters describe the travellers' journey while five chapters are a love story told in reverse.

'I like the idea of backwards stories,' he says.

While Conor says 'nothing much happens in the book', it is an examination of relationships between fathers and daughters, sons and mothers, men and women.

'It's their journey. They are talking shite to each other, the way Irish people do. It's lovely and fun and funny and it doesn't translate to anywhere else in the world.'

It's no accident that the central character is a truck driver. Before he did his Masters, Conor was on a FAS scheme in Dundalk. There was a list of training courses which he could do, so he did truck driving.

'I passed the first test and it was on my licence for years. I thought I'd love to do that, drive a truck, until I realised that I never would. The next best thing was to write about it.'

There's a lot of reminiscing in the book, about times past, good and bad. Although written before the pandemic, there's a sense of longing that seems familiar.

'Everyone has exited from normal life and are waiting for it to recommence,' says Conor. He wonders if, when all this ends and things open up again, will our lives be exactly the same as they were?

'I don't think so. It might be subtle but it will be different.'

He notes that while he lives 'a very solitary life, a contented life, writing books', he has discovered how much he actually needs other people.

'I am a loner and I thought that I had made peace with myself, doing my own thing, writing books, but I do miss people. A lot of people have found this, just the extent that we need other people.'

He got home twice last year and is extremely grateful for 'extraordinary network of people' who look out for his mother Joan.

'We Are Not In The World' is published by Doubleday.
Mumbai, March 20 : Actor Jaaved Jaaferi has worked in innumerable hit films. Besides Bollywood, he has been associated with the medium of television, too, for many years. Recalling one of his most popular stints, as a judge of the dance show "Boogie Woogie", the actor says it taught him a lot in his career.

"When you do something like a 'Boogie Woogie', you interact with the entire country. When participants come from all over the country, you learn so much and connect with families, it becomes a personal connect. The way you talk to them really teaches you a lot. That is interactive as opposed to a 'Takeshi's Castle', where you are just speaking and they connect with your voice. The same is with movies, you are watching it as a third person and you not in it," Jaaved tells IANS.

He adds: "Boogie was interconnected. I think all these things have helped me, as an actor, to broaden my perspective in so many things. Looking at characters, lives, life stories. So, I think yes, it has definitely helped us grow as an actor." "Boogie Woogie" was possibly India's first original dance show, as opposed to the current reality shows based on international format.

Mention that to him and the actor replies with childlike excitement and pride: "'Boogie Woogie' came in 1996. 'So You Think You Can Dance' came in 2004. We were an original concept, we didn't copy any foreign show." The actor returns to television as host of the National Geographic show "Animals Gone Wild".

Talking about how he believes in maintaining balance on the planet, Jaaved says, "I have always loved animals. I believe strongly in maintaining the balance. The balance is between human beings, the planet and the animals, and I personally feel we have pushed the envelope a bit too much with the planet and animals. I think Covid awoke a lot of sensibilities in people. You could see the blue sky, the clear water and animals coming in. I think it was a wake-up call in a way. I hope people realise this because human interest has become very selfish interest. This is the only planet we have."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 06:00:06|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean Ministry of Health reported 7,084 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the highest daily number since the pandemic began in the country in March 2020.

Chilean Minister of Health Enrique Paris said that the ministry is highly concerned about the circulation of new variants from abroad, which is why measures will be tightened for arriving travelers.

He said that the new restrictions will apply to travelers coming from everywhere in the world, though there will be some additional measures for travelers coming from Brazil.

The official explained that all travelers must comply with a 10-day quarantine, without the possibility of exemption, once they arrive in Chile, and isolation in a sanitary residence for 11 days for those who have a positive PCR test within the first 14 days of entering the country.

Travelers who display one or two symptoms of COVID-19 must stay in a residence until it can be confirmed they do not have the disease.

According to the ministry, the country has registered a total of 925,089 cases of COVID-19.

Another 93 people died from the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 22,180. Enditem
OTTAWA, ON, March 19, 2021 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced changes to the team of parliamentary secretaries.

Over the past year, parliamentary secretaries have worked closely with their respective Cabinet ministers to support Canada's ongoing COVID-19 response  from securing vaccines to helping Canadians pay their bills and put food on the table, and ensuring businesses keep their doors open.

These parliamentary secretaries are newly appointed, taking on new responsibilities, or staying in their current portfolio.

The parliamentary secretaries are as follows:

Will Amos remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (Science)

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (Science) Gary Anandasangaree remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rachel Bendayan remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Chris Bittle becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage Pam Damoff remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services Ali Ehsassi remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (Innovation and Industry)

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (Innovation and Industry) Neil Ellis remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Greg Fergus becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government Andy Fillmore remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister, while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister, while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance Anthony Housefather remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour Gudie Hutchings remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Yvonne Jones remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs Irek Kusmierczyk remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Kevin Lamoureux becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen's Privy Council for and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Stephane Lauzon remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors Joel Lightbound remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven MacKinnon remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Soraya Martinez Ferrada becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport Jennifer O'Connell becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health Rob Oliphant remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Darrell Samson remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Peter Schiefke becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Serre becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Maninder Sidhu becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development Francesco Sorbara remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue Adam van Koeverden remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Sport)

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Sport) Anita Vandenbeld remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence Adam Vaughan remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing)

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing) Arif Virani remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

The parliamentary secretaries responsible for assisting the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages are as follows:

Larry Bagnell remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency)

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency) Terry Beech becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.), while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.), while remaining Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Elisabeth Briere remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec )

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Economic Development Agency of for the Regions of ) Terry Duguid remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada) and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency)

remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada) and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency) Darren Fisher becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) Marie-France Lalonde becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario and Official Languages)

becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario and Official Languages) Terry Sheehan remains Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedNor)

This team brings diverse skills and perspectives, and a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles. Alongside their ministers, they will continue to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to make sure people, communities, and businesses get the support they need to get through the global COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we will work to create jobs, grow the middle class, strengthen our economy, and build back better from this crisis.

The Prime Minister thanked the outgoing parliamentary secretaries for their hard work and service over the years.

Quote

"Parliamentary secretaries support ministers to deliver real, positive results for Canadians. I am confident that this team's dedication, skills, and experience will help us continue to fight the global COVID-19 pandemic, keep Canadians safe and supported, and build a more resilient Canada for everyone."

 The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

Parliamentary secretaries are chosen by the Prime Minister to assist ministers. They are an important link between ministers and Parliament, working closely with their colleagues to deliver results that benefit Canadians. They also help advance government legislation, engage directly with Canadians on key government initiatives, and represent the government at home and on the international stage.

Parliamentary secretaries are not members of Cabinet and do not play a formal role in the Cabinet decision-making process. They support their ministers, but overall responsibility and accountability remains with the minister.

The Guide for Parliamentary Secretaries was released publicly for the first time in January 2016 . It provides them with key information about their role and responsibilities within Canada's system of responsible parliamentary government, and outlines the rules and policies that relate to their work as parliamentary secretaries.

Associated Links

This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

For further information: PMO Media Relations: [email protected]

Related Links

http://pm.gc.ca/


In the state legislature, she championed bills to subject lawmakers to public disclosure laws. On the campaign trail, she unveiled a multi-point sunshine plan.

But in her third year as governor, Gretchen Whitmer is taking heat for something shes always championed: transparency.

Both prior to and during Whitmers administration, theres been a glaring hole in Michigans transparency laws: the Legislature and governor are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Its what led the Center for Public Integrity to rank Michigan dead last among states for transparency in 2015, and not much has changed since.

Michigan is not just out of the mainstream. Were out of the universe, basically, on limiting the access for our citizens to better know how its government works, said Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, a longtime proponent of expanding Michigans open records laws.

Sunshine Plan

When Whitmer took office, she moved to make the state government she now led more transparent.

In her first weeks in office, the governor signed numerous executive directives outlined in her Michigan Sunshine Plan that require state departments to create a FOIA Liaison, encourage the live streaming of all state board and commission meetings, and prohibit the use of personal email to do government business, said Whitmer spokesperson Bobby Leddy.

She also voluntarily disclosed information like travel schedules and tax returns.

But she stopped short of voluntarily subjecting her office to the Freedom of Information Act, something she said at a 2019 Michigan Press Association gathering she had considered.

I want to make sure that the Legislature is subject to the same level of accountability, she said at the time, according to the Associated Press. Thats really important. The sun should shine as brightly on both branches.

In Michigan, local governments and state departments are subject to the Freedom of Information Act, which requires them to turn over certain documents, including things like emails and documents on state spending, to members of the public who request them.

Bills pending in the state Legislature would extend the Freedom of Information Act to the governor, lieutenant governor and their staff. The packages also establish a separate Legislative Open Records Act.

Related: Michigan House unanimously votes to include governor, legislature in open records laws

But transparency advocates see flaws in the bills, and previous iterations have ultimately stalled in the legislature.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus crisis has exacerbated the cracks in Whitmers own pro-transparency stance. In the last year, Whitmer has back-pedaled on a no-bid contact-tracing contract that went to a Democratic firm, temporarily relaxed the states FOIA laws due to the virus and subjected the states former health chief to a confidentiality clause around his separation.

Shes since rolled back all those things, most recently waiving the confidentiality clause of the states separation with Robert Gordon. She also put new policies in place that curb the use of confidentiality agreements within state departments (though she doesnt control the Legislature, which has executed dozens of their own.)

Related: Whitmer, Gordon waive confidentiality agreement after backlash

Its also not clear her efforts to make government more transparent under her leadership have worked.

Recently, MLive filed Freedom of Information Act requests with each state department requesting any separation agreements with the departments previous three directors. Five state departments did not provide an initial response within the five business days required by statute (though they did respond after the deadline had passed.)

Thats an increase from a FOIA audit MLive undertook in 2016, before Whitmer took office, when only two state departments failed to respond in the statutorily-required five-business-day window.

Meanwhile, both the Legislature and the governors office remain in the shadows, shielded from public records laws.

Moss, Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, and a number of their colleagues in the House are looking to change that.

Building trust

The House recently approved a package to subject the governors office to FOIA and implement LORA, and similar bills are poised to advance in a Senate committee next week.

Without FOIA as a net to catch corruption, there will always be a sense of suspicion and distrust from the public, said McBroom, a sponsor of the Senate bills.

By placing these laws into effect, we can help build some trust with members of the public, he said. Its not a perfect solution by any means, but I think that it allows people that opportunity to reassure themselves that their governments not hiding something from them.

McBroom points to former Gov. Rick Snyders disclosure of nearly 300 emails related to the Flint water crisis as an example of an exception that should be the norm.

As part of the Senate Oversight Committee, McBroom has requested Whitmers administration turn over documents relating to the COVID-19 policy keeping positive patients in nursing homes.

McBroom said the administration has been cooperative, but having the FOIA law on the books would assure information isnt being withheld.

The bills wont impose FOIA law retroactively and will only be applied to documents starting Jan. 1, 2022.

Moss said the legislation was institution-changing.

This is going to change the way that we operate in Lansing, but we should change the way that we operate in Lansing when we are the worst in the nation in terms of ethics, accountability and transparency, Moss said.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently announced her own transparency agenda to take the state from worst to first. During a press conference, she nodded to the bill package subjecting the Legislature to FOIA, but critiqued the lack of judicial review for appeals if a records request is denied.

The package establishes a separate Legislative Open Records Act, which would send appeals for denial of a records request to the administrator of the Legislative Council instead of judicial review allowed under FOIA.

Benson said the legislation shows promise, but she was discouraged by the loopholes and exemptions the Legislature would receive if the bill passed as written. She called LORA a watered down version of FOIA.

The Legislature does the public a disservice if it gives itself special treatment, she said.

The legislation also doesnt go far enough to satisfy Progress Michigan, a liberal advocacy group thats launching a ballot initiative to subject both the Legislature and governor to FOIA.

The group recently pulled its support for the legislation and announced it would pursue a 2022 statewide vote on repealing exemptions to Michigans Freedom of Information Act pertaining to the governors office and the state Legislature.

Related: Open records expansion poised to advance in Senate committee as group tees up ballot initiative

Moss argues that LORA does still have a third party involved, albeit under the Legislature, but he understands the criticism. Still, he says progress shouldnt be sacrificed for perfection.

I look at this endeavor as a floor, not a ceiling, he said. There are a lot of things we can do to build upon this, but the reality is that we have nothing now. We dont even have a framework for people to make requests of their state government to better know how government decisions are made. Im supportive of efforts to grow this effort, but I think there needs to be a recognition of how far weve come from nothing.

Open communication vs. open records

Michigans local governments became subject to FOIA in 1977. As more lawmakers from local government backgrounds enter the state Legislature, Moss thinks attitudes will change and legislators will be more comfortable with FOIA.

That isnt the case for Republican Dale Shugars, who started his political career on Portage City Council in 1983 and has since held seats in the state House and Senate and currently serves as a Kalamazoo County Commissioner.

Shugars remains hesitant to support sweeping FOIA changes. Although hes had a foot in both worlds, he said FOIA could create more unintentional consequences at a statewide level.

Rather than liberate communication between elected officials, FOIA could put a clamp on frank communication, he said. Those concerns are exacerbated at a higher level, Shugars said, fearing that something said during a brainstorming session could be taken out of context and ultimately damper open discourse.

Theres also the issue of timing. Between the pandemic and a contentious national election, Shugars worries tensions are too high, making weaponizing FOIA all the more tempting.

I understand the frustration, but I just dont think we need more tools to say I gotcha, he said. From an intellectual standpoint, transparency is good, but in the real world its about I gotcha.

Instead, Shugars thinks the Legislature needs a cooling off period before pursuing this widespread of a change.

Experts in FOIA law disagree. Michigans attitude toward transparency needs a swift change, especially after the way COVID-19 has impacted the flow of public records, said Steve Delie, executive director of the Michigan Coalition for Open Government.

Delie is also the Director of Labor Policy at Mackinac Center, where he has seen widespread transparency pitfalls throughout the pandemic resulting in lawsuits against public institutions ranging from city councils to universities.

Public bodies are misinterpreting FOIA law exemptions and using them as swords rather than shields, Delie said.

Michigans overarching culture of being against transparency is rooted in fear and distrust among public officials, Delie said. Oftentimes, the immediate response is to delay, redact and charge as much money as possible to stifle records requests, he said.

Another transparency battle lost was Executive Order 2020-38, Delie said.

In April, Gov. Whitmer signed an executive order that relaxed requirements of government workers responding in-person to FOIA requests during the coronavirus outbreak.

To suspend all access to information about the inner workings of government for at least two months  that was a bit beyond the pale, Delie said.

Even given the caveat of an unprecedented global pandemic, the executive order relaxed the FOIA timeline too much, Delie said. Now, months later, its still having ripple effects.

Despite the order being rescinded in June, Delie said he was receiving responses to FOIA requests citing the executive order for extensions as late as November.

We gave an inch on this, when we needed to for the pandemic, and then it became an excuse that lasted throughout almost the entire year, he said.

Optimism

The pandemic highlighted the gaps in Michigans transparency laws, but that frustration could finally generate the momentum needed to bring Michigan up to speed, Delie said.

These bill packages lead me to be optimistic that because of what weve seen due to COVID and the lack of transparency, that there may be a more revived push for that in the FOIA sector, he said.

Whitmer hasnt taken a public position on the bill packages, but her spokesperson, Bobby Leddy, said the governor supports many elements of Bensons transparency agenda.

Related: Secretary of State announces worst to first agenda to improve Michigans transparency laws

The governor encourages the Legislature to give these measures serious consideration and send her bills that will improve transparency, shine a light on dark money and stop corruption, Leddy said.

John Lindstrom, a longtime Michigan political reporter who retired as publisher of Gongwer News Service at the end of 2019, was covering local government when the FOIA law and Open Meetings Act passed in the 1970s. He remembers local officials being mad about it then, and said political candidates like Whitmer embracing transparency during their campaigns is a relatively new phenomenon.

He thinks about the five juries hes served on, and the instinct to keep discussions where big decisions are made private (courts arent subject to FOIA and theres no push to change that.) But its not the same when somebody is an elected official, he said.

Thats just what you run into is, people basically want to be able to make these decisions, make them without as much interference as possible. And then, you know, see what happens afterwards, Lindstrom said.

The problem is when youre in a democracy, the public has an absolute right to know.

More on MLive:

Michigan House unanimously votes to include governor, legislature in open records laws

Open records expansion poised to advance in Senate committee as group tees up ballot initiative

What to know as Michigan lawmakers debate subjecting themselves, governors office to public records laws
In this March 29, 2017, file photo, a North Korea flag flies by the entrance to the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. North Korea on Friday, March 19, 2021 said it was cutting diplomatic ties with Malaysia to protest a recent court ruling that allows a North Korean citizen to be extradited to the United States to face money laundering charges. AP-Yonhap



Malaysia said Friday it will order all North Korean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, an escalation of diplomat brawl over Malaysia's move to extradite a North Korean suspect to the United States for money laundering charges.



Malaysia's announcement came hours after North Korea said it was terminating diplomatic ties with Malaysia because it committed a ''super-large hostile act ... in subservience to the U.S. pressure.'' North Korea called the money laundering charges an ''absurd fabrication and (a) sheer plot'' orchestrated by the United States and warned Washington will ''pay a due price.''



It's the latest development in growing animosity between Washington and Pyongyang, as the North ramps up pressure on the Biden administration over a nuclear standoff. Ties between North Korea and Malaysia have been virtually frozen since the slaying in 2017 of the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.



Malaysia's Foreign Ministry denounced North Korea's move as ''unfriendly and unconstructive.'' It said the government will order all diplomatic staff and their dependents at the North Korea Embassy to leave Malaysia within 48 hours.



It added that Malaysia was also compelled by North Korea's decision to shut its own embassy in Pyongyang. Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein tweeted that all Malaysian diplomats in North Korea had returned after the embassy's operations were suspended in 2017.



The ministry said Malaysia had sought to strengthen ties with North Korea ''even after the deplorable assassination of Kim Jong Nam in 2017'' and that Pyongyang's decision was ''clearly unwarranted, disproportionate and certainly disruptive'' for regional peace and stability.



Malaysia's Foreign Ministry website said the North Korean Embassy is led by Kim Yu Song, the charge d'affaires and councilor, and six other staff.



''Yes, we will be shutting down. We are now discussing the plans with our staff here and liaising with our government,'' Kim was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.



North Korea has long used Malaysia as a crucial economic hub where it handled trade, labor exports and some illicit businesses in Southeast Asia. Experts say North Korea is taking a tough stance over the extradition because it sees it as a pressure tactic against the North.



''North Korea is taking a hard line because it thinks it must not back down (over the extradition) as it'll then have a war of nerves with the Biden government in the next four years,'' said Nam Sung-wook, a professor at South Korea's Korea University.



Nam said North Korea also likely worries that similar cases involving North Korean nationals could occur in other Southeast Asian countries.



Threatening to cut ties with Malaysia was one of the North's strongest options to express its anger with the Biden administration without jeopardizing an eventual return to nuclear negotiations with Washington, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at Seoul's Korea Institute for National Unification.



North Korea has insisted it won't engage in talks with Washington unless it abandons what Pyongyang's perceives as a ''hostile'' policy. But experts say North Korea will eventually seek to return to diplomacy to find ways to get sanctions relief and revive its moribund economy.



Earlier this month, Malaysia's top court ruled North Korean Mun Chol Myong could be extradited, rejecting his assertion the U.S. charge was politically motivated. Mun had lived in Malaysia for a decade and was arrested in May 2019 after U.S. authorities requested his extradition.



In his affidavit, Mun denied U.S. accusations that he was involved in supplying luxury goods from Singapore to North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions. He denied that he had laundered funds through front companies and that he issued fraudulent documents to support illicit shipments to his country.



After that ruling, Mun's family hired a lawyer to challenge the legality of the extradition. Lawyer Emile Ezra said the new legal bid centered on Mun's right to a fair hearing and also an injunction to stop his extradition.



A Malaysian foreign ministry official said Mun was extradited to the U.S. on Wednesday. The ministry statement said it was carried out only after all legal process has been exhausted. It said it had to reject a series of North Korea's demarches for the government to intervene in the judiciary process.



North Korea and Malaysia established diplomatic ties in 1973, but their relations suffered major setbacks over the 2017 killing of Kim Jong Nam.



Two women  one Indonesian and the other Vietnamese  were charged with colluding with four North Koreans to murder Kim Jong Nam by smearing his face with VX nerve agent. The four North Koreans fled Malaysia the day Kim died. The two women were later released.



Malaysian officials never officially accused North Korea of involvement in Kim's death, but prosecutors made it clear throughout the trial that they suspected a North Korean connection. North Korea denied the victim was Kim Jong Nam and disputed it had any role in the man's death.



South Korea's spy service said North Korea had for several years tried to kill Kim Jong Nam, though he once sent a letter to Kim Jong Un begging for the lives of himself and his family members after an assassination attempt. Longtime North Korea watchers believe Kim Jong Un ordered his brother's killing as part of efforts to remove potential rivals and cement his grip on power.



Amid an earlier diplomatic tit-for-tat, Malaysia scrapped visa-free entry for North Koreans and expelled the North's ambassador before North Korea banned all Malaysians from exiting the country. (AP)


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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 22:50:16|Editor: huaxia

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Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attend a high-level strategic dialogue in the Alaskan city of Anchorage, the United States, March 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue concluded Friday was the first high-level contact between the two countries after Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, had a phone call on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and the first face-to-face talks between high-level officials of the two sides since Biden took office in January.



ANCHORAGE, the United States, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese and U.S. officials concluded here Friday a high-level strategic dialogue that both sides believe was timely and helpful and deepened mutual understanding.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attended the two-day dialogue in the Alaskan city of Anchorage.

It was the first high-level contact between the two countries after Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, had a phone call on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and the first face-to-face talks between high-level officials of the two sides since Biden took office in January.

During the Anchorage talks, the two sides conducted candid, in-depth, long-time and constructive communication on their respective domestic and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues of common concern.

Noting that they came at the invitation of the U.S. side, the Chinese delegation recalled that on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Xi and Biden successfully held a telephone conversation and agreed that the two sides need to strengthen communication, manage differences and expand cooperation, which is of great significance in guiding the growth of China-U.S. relations in the time to come.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that it was an important step to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in their phone talks that the Chinese side came to Anchorage at the invitation of the U.S. side for the high-level strategic dialogue, which was decided by the two presidents personally.

In the past few years, due to the irrational suppression of China's legitimate rights and interests, China-U.S. relations have encountered unprecedented difficulties, the delegation said, stressing that this situation has damaged the interests of both nations and taken its toll on world stability and development, and should not be allowed to continue.

China, added the delegation, is ready to work with the United States to enhance strategic communication, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences and push forward bilateral relations on the track of sound and stable development, so as to create benefits for the people in both countries and promote long-lasting peace and prosperity of the world.

The Chinese delegation emphasized that it is the choice of history and the Chinese people for the CPC to govern, and that China's development cannot be achieved without the leadership of the CPC, which is a high consensus among the Chinese people and a general view of the international community.

Noting that the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the system that best fits China's conditions and the secret to China's development, the delegation pointed out that practice has proved that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the right path, and China will continue to march forward on that broad road.

The governing status of the CPC and the security of China's socialist system should not be damaged, and that is a red line that should never be crossed, stressed the Chinese delegation.

China's development goal is consistent and clear, which is to realize the two centenary goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation through hard work, the delegation said, adding that the fundamental purpose is to ensure a better life for all Chinese people, which is the starting point of all China's policies.

Emphasizing that China will ground its efforts in the new development stage, apply the new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm, and achieve high-quality development, the Chinese delegation said no one can deprive the Chinese people of their right to pursue a better life.

China, added the delegation, always attaches great importance to the protection and promotion of human rights, and gives priority to improving people's well-being and promoting well-rounded human development.

The delegation also stressed that socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics is all people's democracy and consultative democracy, whose core is the people being masters of the country.

China, it added, will not impose its democratic system and values on other countries, and meanwhile will resolutely defend its own political system and values and oppose any attempt to use the human rights issue as a cover to attack and smear China or interfere in China's internal affairs.

The fundamental goal of China's development is to fulfill people's aspirations for a better life at home and contribute through its own development to the development and progress of all humankind, said the delegation.

China has no intention to interfere in the political system of the United States, or to challenge or replace its status and influence, it said, adding that at the same time, the U.S. side should have a correct view of China's political system and development path, of China's major policies and principles, and of China's influence on the world.

The leadership role of the CPC and the core status of the CPC's leader result from China's arduous practice and enjoy the wholehearted support of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, said the delegation, noting that this collective will is rock-solid and unshakable.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that China firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, adheres to independence, peaceful development, win-win cooperation, multilateralism, equity and justice, and continuously promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

China, it added, will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and national dignity, firmly oppose other countries' meddling in China's internal affairs, and independently decide its policies and positions in line with the fundamental interests of the Chinese people as well as people around the world, and on the basis of the merits of various issues.

China itself is committed to the path of peaceful development, and hopes that other countries will also pursue a path of peaceful development, and that all countries will transcend their differences in social system, civilization and religion, and achieve peaceful coexistence and common prosperity, said the delegation.

Win-win cooperation is an important principle of China's development and a golden rule in China's external relations, it pointed out, adding that China has made its development achievements in an open environment, and will promote high-quality development in the next phase with greater openness.

Describing multilateralism as an important cornerstone of the current international system, the Chinese delegation stressed that true multilateralism should uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the basic norms governing international relations, the sovereignty of countries around the world, and the diversity of civilizations, and commit to the democratization of international relations.

It should not be used as a cover to form cliques, turn back the wheel of history, incite division along ideological lines, or instigate confrontation between different groups, added the delegation.

China, it said, is ready to work with the United States to uphold true multilateralism in multilateral mechanisms, represented by the United Nations, and provide more public goods with better quality for the international community.

It added that China consistently maintains that all countries -- big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak -- are equal members of the international community, and that decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving big fists, nor should the big and the strong be allowed to bully the small and the weak.

Stressing that the voices of developing countries should be heard and their rights and interests protected, the Chinese delegation said that respectively as the world's largest developing and developed country, China and the United States should join hands to deepen South-North cooperation, including cooperation in third-party markets for developing countries, and promote the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

The essence of China-U.S. relations is mutual benefit rather than a zero-sum game, said the Chinese delegation, adding that China and the United States are not doomed to pose a threat to each other, differences are no reason for confrontation between them, and neither side can afford the consequences of conflict and confrontation.

China and the United States, it said, should trust rather than suspect each other, understand rather than blame each other, work with rather than obstruct each other, and ensure that they focus on dealing with their domestic priorities and achieving their respective development goals.

It suggested the two countries cooperate on three most pressing tasks facing the international community, namely fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling climate change and promoting world economic recovery.

The two sides, it added, should also strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, eliminate interruptions to bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and make the cake of cooperation bigger, so as to deliver more benefits to the people in both countries and beyond.

Meanwhile, cooperation should be two-way and mutually beneficial, and should address the concerns of both sides in a balanced way, stressed the Chinese delegation.

Noting that the Chinese side has maintained a high degree of stability and continuity in its policy towards the United States, the delegation said China is committed to non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation with the United States, while firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests.

The two sides, it added, should follow the spirit of the Xi-Biden telephone conversation to keep communication channels open, restore normal dialogue and exchange mechanisms, carry out win-win cooperation, properly manage differences, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

The two countries have the responsibility, ability and wisdom to find a way for major countries with different political systems to get along with each other, which will be a historic contribution by China and the United States to human civilization, said the Chinese delegation.

The delegation pointed out that in the past few years, the previous U.S. administration went against the trend of the times, and carried out highly erroneous anti-China policies, which seriously damaged both China's interests and China-U.S. relations.

Because of that, China had to take legitimate and necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, added the Chinese delegation, while urging the U.S. side to eliminate the impact of the previous administration's wrong policy towards China and meanwhile avoid creating new problems.

The Chinese delegation also pointed out that the Taiwan question relates to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and concerns China's core interests, and there is no room for compromise and concession.

China, it added, urges the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, stop official exchanges and military contacts with and arms sales to Taiwan, and cease helping Taiwan expand its so-called "international space."

The U.S. side should handle the Taiwan question in a careful and proper manner, and do not send wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces or try to cross China's bottom line, so as to prevent China-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait from suffering serious damage, added the Chinese delegation.

The electoral system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is a local electoral system in China, and how to design, develop and improve it is China's domestic affair, the delegation said, adding that no foreign government, organization or individual has the right to interfere.

Improving HKSAR's electoral system must follow the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," it said, urging the United States to abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, respect the decision of China's National People's Congress on improving Hong Kong's electoral system, and stop supporting "Hong Kong independence" forces.

It also called on the U.S. side to revoke illegal sanctions against Chinese officials and institutions, stop trying to mess up Hong Kong again, and cease obstructing China's implementation of "one country, two systems."

If the United States continues to go its own way, China will make firm responses, the delegation said.

The claim that there is genocide in China's Xinjiang is the biggest lie of the century, said the Chinese delegation.

The Chinese side is ready to engage in exchanges with the U.S. side on the basis of mutual respect, and the door of Xinjiang is wide open to the world, said the delegation.

However, China will not accept any investigation in Xinjiang based on the presumption of guilt by those who are biased, condescending or behaving like a preacher, it said.

It is hoped that the U.S. side can respect facts, call off attacks against and smearing of China's Xinjiang policy, and abandon double standards on anti-terrorism, it added.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that the 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion.

It is hoped that the U.S. side will abide by its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and refraining from supporting "Tibet independence," carefully and properly handle Tibet-related issues, revoke sanctions against relevant Chinese officials, and cease exploiting Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, added the delegation.

The two sides agreed to follow the spirit of the Xi-Biden telephone conversation on Feb. 11 to maintain dialogue and communication, conduct mutually beneficial cooperation, avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment, forestall conflict and confrontation, and promote sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations.

Both sides expressed the hope to continue such type of high-level strategic communication.

Both sides committed to enhancing dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate change, and they agreed to establish a joint working group on climate change.

The United States reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan question.

The two sides discussed making reciprocal arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination of each side's diplomats and consular officials.

They agreed to hold talks on facilitating activities of each other's diplomatic and consular missions and personnel, as well as on issues related to media reporters, in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

The two sides also discussed adjusting relevant travel and visa policies according to the epidemic situation, and gradually normalizing personnel exchanges between China and the United States.

They also exchanged views on a series of other topics, including economy and trade, military, law enforcement, culture, health, cyber security, climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar, and agreed to maintain and enhance communication and coordination.

The two sides said they will step up coordination and consultation on activities within such multilateral frameworks as the Group of 20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. 
Copenhagen: A volcano erupted near Icelands capital Reykjavik on Friday night (Saturday AEDT), shooting lava high into the night sky after thousands of small earthquakes in recent weeks.

The eruption occurred near Fagradalsfjall, a mountain on the Reykjanes Peninsula, around 30 km southwest of the capital.

Some four hours after the initial eruption at 2045 GMT - the first on the peninsula since the 12th century - lava covered about one square kilometre.

I can see the glowing red sky from my window, said Rannveig Gudmundsdottir, resident in the town of Grindavik, only 8 km from the eruption.
Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness on 20 March as a way to recognise the importance of contentment in the lives of people around the world. The Costa del Sol has its own 'Happiness Lab', that was set up by an Irish resident, Eli McCarthy. She believes that, now more than ever, with a global crisis increasing the need for a boost in spirits, chocolate could provide a much-need dose of happiness. She explains why.

First of all, tell us how you personally define happiness?

There are two concepts I like to think of when explaining happiness. One is the circle, a figure in which there is no start, no finish, no divisions and everything is equidistant from the centre. The other concept is that of happiness as a practice, as in a path or a journey rather than a destination or a prize to be obtained. I think that happiness has more to do with state of mind and an attitude of connectivity and inclusion.

They say chocolate stimulates happiness. Is this assumption purely subjective?

To begin with, cacao contains more antioxidants than most other foods, as well as neuroactive substances, which are scientifically proven to facilitate elevated states of mind. Its single most important property is the ability to provide energy, and this is a key component of happiness, right? Additionally, theobromine (the main active ingredient in cacao) is an alkaloid stimulant, which helps to energise the nervous system while at the same time exerting a calming effect on the brain. It also relaxes the bronchial muscles, making breathing easier, and lowers blood pressure by relaxing the walls of the blood vessels. It also helps in gastrointestinal stress. Modern academic research has proved that cacao increases blood flow to the brain and enhances connections between neurons. In addition, cacao promotes hormonal balance via its magnesium and iron content, and has the ability to lower cortisol. Other cacao minerals, such as copper, impact on healthy bones, immune function and contribute to iron absorption as well as protecting against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

You have mentioned hormonal balance. Is there any truth in the idea of "happiness hormones"?

The cacao fermentation process, (a vital stage in the process of converting cacao into chocolate), produces phenylethylamine. This central nervous system stimulant boosts levels of serotonin and also dopamine neurotransmitters, which are two of the body's most important "happiness hormones". Tryptophan, an amino acid present in cacao, is also linked to serotonin production and the feelings of happiness, satisfaction and optimism.

When someone wants to be happy or, let's say, not down, which 'pills' from your lab do you offer?

To access the largest quantities of happiness-inducing chocolate, choose a dark chocolate with a minimum 70% cacao content. At least 30g to 60g per day... Or, even better, add organic cacao nibs to smoothies, cereals, fruit salad or as a drizzle on pasta, risotto, etc. Cacao nibs are the purest and least processed version in which cacao can be consumed. By reading the label carefully you can ensure happiness by choosing chocolate and cacao with gastronomic and an ethical quality assurance. We view happiness as a circle that connects the working conditions of the farmers on the cacao plantation to the sofa or dining room table where chocolate is consumed. That's why raw material sourcing at our chocolate factory is conducted under the maxim "Find Happy Share Happy".

Does the link between chocolate and happiness go deeper?

Although we are of course a chocolate factory, when I set up Mayan Monkey Mijas with my partner, Jason Godwin, in 2012, it very quickly became apparent that what we were purveying was not just chocolate. Although it is true that the big flavour and mouth-melting silky texture of chocolate awaken intense feelings of pleasure, what most of us really look for (be it consciously or otherwise) when we reach for chocolate, in addition to the taste-related enjoyment, is to access the mood-enhancing and energy-increasing properties it unleashes. This was our eureka moment: suddenly, we realised that while we were a chocolate factory on the outside, at heart, we were what I like to term a "happiness lab" - a space in which the creation and communication of happiness were our real priorities.

Have you personally found happiness?

Happiness is more of a journey than a destination, and it's definitely the journey I'm on in all levels of my life, personally and professionally. My work, alongside my partner and team, at the factory is an amazing channel for communicating happiness to our visitors, our supply chain and also within the business world. This year has been such a challenging one for the planet. There is still so much uncertainty and fear of the unknown, as well as sadness at loss of life and wellbeing on so many different levels. Working in the tourism sector here on the Costa del Sol has been scary in that, like so many other businesses down here, we have watched powerless as our business model shattered with the closure of international borders and the restrictions on movement and activity. Like everyone else, we've had our fair share of stress and worry. Without denying any of that, we've managed to stay sane by keeping the focus on the things we can do to be happy and to bring happiness to others.
Huntington, WV (25701)

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Ecuador's Public Health Minister Rodolfo Farfan resigned on Friday from the post that he held for only 19 days, amid the country's vaccination process against COVID-19, the president's office confirmed.

Farfan, who was the fourth health minister under the current administration and the third to resign during the pandemic, said he was leaving for personal reasons in his resignation letter to President Lenin Moreno.

Appointed to the position on March 1, Farfan replaced Juan Carlos Zevallos, who also resigned amid the questioning of alleged irregularities and blunders in the country's vaccination plan.

His resignation comes at a time of social unrest due to the plan's irregularities and the scandal over a list of well-connected people vaccinated who were not on the frontline of the fight against the pandemic.

As part of an investigation opened on Jan. 29 into the vaccination process, the Attorney General's Office raided the Health Ministry's facilities in Quito on Wednesday.

Zevallos faces charges for the alleged crime of influence peddling in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to benefit family members and people close to the government.

The former minister was in office for almost a year, but resigned on Feb. 26.

Ecuador, which is slowly advancing its vaccination plan, reported 307,429 COVID-19 cases and 11,528 deaths as of Thursday.
A 35-year-old man who decapitated his mother in her Louth home has been jailed for life after he pleaded guilty to murder last week.

Tomasz Krzysztof Piotrowski, who had previously lied to psychiatrists in an attempt to get a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a lesser sentence, was arraigned before and sentenced by the Central Criminal Court less than a week after he was deemed fit to stand trial.

The court heard during the sentence hearing that a photograph on the accused's phone showed him kissing his girlfriend and holding an axe behind her head, which she was unaware of. There was another photo of the accused's hallway where he had positioned an effigy to look like a blood-stained body and written 'you're next' on the floor.

Piotrowski, originally from Poland but with an address at Cherrybrook, Ardee, pleaded guilty to murdering his mother Elzbieta Piotrowska (57) on January 8, 2019 at her home in Clonmore, Ardee. Ms Piotrowska's decapitated body was found in her home that morning after suffering a significant number of stab wounds. An axe and a number of Stanley knives, one of which was blood-stained, were found close to her body.

Piotrowski was arrested on the same day and was subsequently deemed unfit to be tried having been assessed by psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum, Dublin.

However, Mr Justice White deemed Piotrowski fit to stand trial last Friday after hearing evidence from two consultant psychiatrists who had disagreed on the issue. The judge said he was satisfied that the Polish man could find his way around navigating a plea, follow the evidence and make a proper defence.

Giving evidence at trial, Detective Superintendent John O'Flaherty told prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn SC, with Tom Neville BL, that Ms Piotrowski, her husband, the accused and his sister had come to Ireland ten years previously. The accused and his younger sister were not living in the family home at the time of the killing, he said.

Outlining the events of the morning of January 8, the detective said a friend of Ms Piotrowski had called to her home to take her shopping in Dundalk. The friend rang the deceased's doorbell a number of times but there was no answer and when she looked through the letterbox she could see a light on inside and hear the dog barking. The woman tried to call Ms Piotrowski's mobile phone and she could hear the phone ringing inside so she went to the rear of the property to get access through the patio doors, which were unlocked. She found Ms Piotrowski's body lying in a quantity of blood in the hallway of the house.

The head had been removed from the body and it was further down the hallway, said the detective, adding that a broken part of a knife blade was also found on the deceased. There were multiple stab wounds to her shoulder, neck and right arm and the cause of death was decapitation.

The detective said there were concerns about the behaviour of the accused prior to his mother's body being found. Jimmy Crosbie, who ran a local taxi service, said Piotrowski had walked into his house at 8.40am that morning and asked for a lift to his home at Cherrybrook. Mr Crosbie said the accused was holding a Lidl plastic bag at the time.

After the accused was dropped to his home, he rang Mr Crosbie again requesting a lift from Cherrybrook to his girlfriend's house. Mr Crosbie noticed the accused was wearing different clothing and still had the Lidl plastic bag with him. Piotrowski spoke about death on the journey in a way which Mr Crosbie found quite disturbing. At one point, the accused asked the man to stop the car as he said he needed to get rid of the Lidl bag and he put it behind a garage. When the accused got back into the car, he said 'that's it now Jimmy'. Mr Crosbie later contacted his friend who was a garda as he found the events so concerning.

Gardai found shoes and clothing which were blood-stained. When gardai recognised the central role the accused had played in the incident he was arrested at 1.30pm that day.

In his interviews, the accused maintained he knew nothing about the killing of his mother and said he had been threatened by a man whom he owed money to for drugs. Piotrowski said these men must have murdered his mother and ultimately denied involvement.

The detective said that further enquiries revealed that Piotrowski had purchased the Stanley knives on the evening before the killing. Neighbours of the deceased told gardai that they had seen the accused and he had looked agitated and another said he had a 'crazy looking smile'.

The accused's father told gardai that his son had developed psychiatric issues from drug use two years previously and had been admitted to hospital in Drogheda. However, Piotrowski escaped from hospital and went to Poland, where he remained until his mother brought him home. The detective said the defendant had previously been violent to his mother and his parents had paid off 7,000, which he owed to drug dealers from their 'limited life savings'.

The accused had repeated delusional beliefs that the deceased was not his birth mother. When gardai checked his phone they found a false DNA test, which showed Ms Piotrowski was not his mother and the accused had sent this to other family members weeks before her killing. However, this was discounted by Forensic Science Ireland, whose tests showed that his parents were his biological parents.

The defendant has previous convictions from Poland which include escaping from lawful custody, robbery and assault causing bodily harm. He also has a previous conviction from Trim Circuit Court for endangerment.

Roisin Lacey SC, for Piotrowski, said her client went to school in Poland until he was 18 years of age and he followed his family to Ireland in 2011. She said his repeated delusional beliefs continue to persist.

Sentencing Piotrowski to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, Mr Justice White said this was the 'most tragic of cases' and Ms Piotrowski and her husband of 40 years had come to Ireland as hard-working Polish people in 2008 and became welcome citizens of Ardee.

The judge said he had to deal with the very difficult issue of Piotrowski's fitness to plead in the context of his previous history of mental illness. There was no doubt from the evidence that Piotrowski had intentionally set out to murder his mother and had planned to do so, he remarked.

'This is the second case in a matter of months where it's obvious that long-term drug addiction induces serious problems for those who engage in it including a form of psychosis which is drug induced and this led to the most horrific of tragedies,' he added.

He asked gardai to communicate the sympathy of the court to the deceased's husband Krzysztof Piotrowski, their daughter Justina Szuba and the grandmother Czeslawa, who he said had kept the accused when he went back to Poland.

The judge asked for the accused's psychiatric condition to be monitored in prison.

'Painful memories every day'

Justina Szuba, the daughter of Ms Piotrowski, said a tragedy had happened that day, where her brother had 'brutally murdered' her 'beloved mother'. 'I lost one of the most important people in my life. When I think about it longer, I find that I have lost my brother as well,' she said.

Ms Szuba said her life will never be the same again and she struggles with 'suffering, intrusive thoughts and painful memories everyday'.

She said she fears for herself and her children everyday and deals with constant anxiety and stress. She said her children have lost their grandmother 'in ways they should never have heard of' and their sense of security has been shattered. 'They believe that the world is full of dangers,' she added.

Ms Szuba said her parents were inseparable and had spent 40 years together. 'My dad cannot come to terms with the death of his wife, he cannot accept the fact that she was murdered, he cannot accept the fact that his son murdered her. It is a tragedy that cannot be explained, understood or accepted,' she said.

She said her father Krzysztof suffers from depression, anxiety, insomnia, nightmares and intrusive thoughts. He is under medical supervision and takes antidepressants. She said he cannot eat, lost 20 kilograms after the incident, sees no meaning in life and is a 'shadow of himself'.

Ms Szuba said her grandmother Czeslawa had lost her only child and her 'beloved grandson'. She said she cries everyday, refuses to leave the house and 'hides alone'.

In summary, Ms Szuba said it was 'impossible to live an ordinary life after such a traumatic experience' and their lives will 'forever be full of sorrow, regret, fear and suffering'.

Doctors disagreed over Piotrowski's fitness to stand trial

At a hearing last December, prosecution counsel Mr McGinn told the court that Dr Mary Davoren had decided Piotrowski was fit to stand trial following a consultation with him the previous month. During the consultation, Piotrowski accepted that he had lied to psychiatrists in order to get a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a lesser sentence.

In her evidence, Dr Davoren said she was satisfied that the accused was able to describe the various plea options available to him and met the criteria for fitness to stand trial. The doctor said Piotrowski had told her that he considered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity but said he did not want to spend a long time in the CMH.

However, consultant psychiatrist at the CMH Dr Conor O'Neill disagreed. He told counsel for Piotrowski, Roisin Lacey SC, that he believed the accused was still suffering from delusional beliefs, that his symptoms are most likely the result of paranoid schizophrenia and that he was not fit to plead at his trial. He said the accused had an extensive history of multiple substance misuse, particularly cannabis and cocaine, and had tested positive when he was admitted to Cloverhill Prison in January 2019.

Dr O'Neill said the accused man believes that the deceased is not his real mother but a witch who used black magic to harm him. He addressed a suggestion that the psychotic symptoms could have been the result of drug use by saying that the symptoms persisted when Piotrowski was treated for lengthy periods in different hospitals, including the CMH, where he did not have access to illegal drugs.

In cross-examination, Dr O'Neill agreed with Mr McGinn that the accused recognised that a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity would not be in his interest as it would delay his return to Poland, which the accused was anxious to avoid.

The doctor said he assessed Piotrowski in September last year as being unfit to plead and having seen him several times since then and having viewed reports by other psychiatrists, his opinion had not changed.

He said that while Piotrowski had recently denied being mentally unwell he continued to describe beliefs that are delusional. In his opinion, Dr O'Neill said the accused was actively psychotic, did not have the capacity to instruct counsel and was not fit to be tried.
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I want to thank the people for putting their faith in me. I am ready to serve. https://t.co/RiBtNmWtVi  Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 18, 2021

Some 2,000 grown people believe that actors are better world leaders than actual politicians, and would make better fits to fight off a theoretical alien invasion . This the main finding of a recent poll conducted by One Poll in the UK and commissioned by TV channel Blaze, Deadline reports.At the top of the list is the man whose social media bio boast I killed the Predator, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The fact that the famous actor has experience as a politician, since he served as Governor of California, probably weighed heavier in the balance for him with responders, the media outlet notes.Otherwise, the top 20 list of public figures most likely to save our planet in an alien invasion is packed with celebrities. Will Smith landed at number two, somehow predictably. Also predictably, Bruce Willis , Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver and Gillian Anderson made the cut, while least expected appearances include Sir David Attenborough and Piers Morgan. One could smooth-talk the aliens and the other would rant them away.Actual politicians Brits think could cut it include former POTUS Donald Trump, who landed on the eighth position, current VP Kamala Harris at 19 and current POTUS Joe Biden at the bottom of the list, on the 20th spot. The results of the poll show just how much faith regular people have in politicians, a spokesperson for Blaze says.Arnold Schwarzenegger is a strong choice for dealing with an alien invasion , bearing in mind hes not only a screen action hero but was also Governor of California, the spokesperson explains. Although its worrying to see that so many celebrities with fictional alien experience are considered by many to be better candidates than our current crop of world leaders.For what its worth, if the aliens come, Arnold is ready.
Isla Fisher, her husband Sacha Baron Cohen and their children relocated to Australia last year.

The Perth-raised actress, 45, discussed making the move across the Pacific from Los Angeles with her family to Stellar magazine, on Saturday.

'I just feel so safe, I suppose the word is cosy, when I'm in Australia. It's where I grew up,' she said.

'I'm the happiest when I'm home': Isla Fisher (pictured) discussed coming home to Australia with her husband Sacha Baron Cohen and their children Stellar magazine, on Saturday

'I'm the happiest when I'm home. I miss it when I'm not here. I don't feel any pressure when I'm in Australia. I don't have to say or do or be anything. I mean, I don't even have to wear shoes,' the Godmothered star added.

She also briefly touched on motherhood in the interview, a topic which she loves dearly but rarely discusses to protect her children's privacy.

Isla shares three children with her comedian husband Sacha Baron Cohen, 49.

Moves: The Perth-raised actress, 45, made the move across the Pacific from Los Angeles with her family last year. She said of being back Down Under: 'I just feel so safe, I suppose the word is cosy, when I'm in Australia... I miss it when I'm not here'

Keeping mum! She also briefly touched on motherhood in the interview, a topic which she loves dearly but rarely discusses to protect her children's privacy. Isla said: 'All parents are just trying to protect their kids... If I give any quotes about them, that would haunt them'

She told the publication: 'All parents are just trying to protect their kids. And I feel like if they wanted to be in the public eye that's up to them. If I give any quotes about them, that would haunt them. They will be teenagers one day!'

Isla and Sacha first met at a party in Sydney back in 2002, they tied the knot in Paris in 2010 after she converted to the Jewish faith.

The couple initially relocated temporarily to escape 'Trump's America' at the end of last year.

Still going strong: Isla and Sacha (right) first met at a party in Sydney back in 2002, they tied the knot in Paris in 2010 after she converted to the Jewish faith. The couple initially relocated temporarily to escape 'Trump's America' at the end of last year

Loved up: The Confessions of a Shopaholic star previously told Australian Marie Claire in 2018 that meeting Sacha was like 'winning the lottery'

The Confessions of a Shopaholic star previously told Australian Marie Claire in 2018 that meeting Sacha was like 'winning the lottery'.

Tellingly Isla, who relocated to Los Angeles early on in her career, admitted to the publication at the time: 'juggling a family in LA isn't easy.'

'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 - it's easier to put your kids to bed and have a wine with friends.'

From Summer Bay to stardom: Isla's first big role on Australian TV was as Shannon Reed on Home and Away from 1994 to 1997

Big Hollywood break: She eventually moved to the US in 2002 and got her big Hollywood break in the 2005 comedy, Wedding Crashers

Isla's first big role on Australian TV was as Shannon Reed on Home and Away from 1994 to 1997.

She eventually moved to the US in 2002 and got her big Hollywood break in the 2005 comedy, Wedding Crashers.

Since then she's starred in a slate of hits including Confessions Of A Shopaholic, The Great Gatsby, Now You See Me and Nocturnal Animals.
China has banned Tesla cars from its military complexes, citing security concerns relating to the vehicles' cameras, according to Reuters sources.
Another local success story shared her experiences with thousands of young women during the recent Shine festival.

Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch spread some of her magic over the proceedings, but, also speaking from her home in London, said she found this lockdown tougher than the first.

'I'm naturally very introverted, so when the first lockdown came along, I was like, great, I've always wanted to be locked away in my house so I can read books!' she said laughing. 'But now it's dragging on a bit long and I miss people, and performing.'

Evanna, who is originally from Termonfeckin, and went to school in Greenhills, also has a successful career in the theatre, and a podcast, but it now turning her hand to yet another talent.

'I'm writing a book at the moment, and that has really helped me to have a focus, and if I didn't have that, I'd start to contemplate the meaning of life too much!'

While most people know that Evanna shot to fame playing Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series of movies, they might not know it was the Late Late Show that gave her her first break!

'I was just 11 and I was showing off my home-made jewellery, and when I watch it back, I see I wasn't a natural at TV, I was so shy,' she laughs. 'Acting gave me a lot of confidence and moving outside of your comfort zone can sometimes make you feel so nervous you can barely function, but it is always worth trying new things.'
The Clark County chapter of the largest and oldest Hispanic organization in the country on Friday called for District Court Judge Darvin Zimmerman to resign and for his cases be reviewed for potential bias.

Zimmerman, 70, last week disparaged a young Black man killed in October by Clark County Sheriffs Office deputies, as well as the mans father.

Zimmerman made the remarks to a member of the court staff in a recording that was broadcast on YouTube. He was unaware that his comments had been caught on the mic.

The Southwest Washington Chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens joined a growing chorus of groups and leaders to call for Zimmerman to step down.

Zimmerman cannot serve as a fair judge over those he does not regard as equal human beings, the organization said in a statement.

The organizations mission is to advance the economic condition, education, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs nationwide.

The local group said in a statement that it wanted all cases that have come before Zimmerman to assess whether his personal racial views may have affected his decisions.

Relief must be provided to those who have stood in before him, many of whom have had language barriers or been people of color, in any case where the repellent views of Judge Zimmerman may have influenced the resolution, the groups statement said.

Ed Rosales, president of the organization, said the judge should not continue to collect a salary.

I find it repulsive that hes getting paid, Rosales.

The judge this week said he would take time off in light of calls for him to step down. Zimmermans annual salary is $190,116 a year.

Wendy Ferrell, associate director for the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts and a spokeswoman for the Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Gonzalez, said any review of Zimmermans cases is the purview of the local presiding judge.

Clark County Presiding Judge Kelli Osler did not immediately respond to an email asking about a potential review of Zimmermans cases.

Ferrell called Zimmermans comments disturbing but said Gonzalez declined to comment on Zimmermans remarks because potential sanctions against the judge may end up before the Washington Supreme Court.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially before midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
A lot has been said and written about the late elder statesman Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, popularly known as LKJ, who passed on to the world beyond and was laid to rest recently. He was a man of many parts that no single individual comment or testimony can exhaustively cover.

Though it is said that no man is perfect, LKJ excelled in virtually every area of life he impacted. From journalism (as a practitioner and administrator) to politics and governance, (first, as Executive Governor of Lagos State and later, as Minister of Works), he was first class. He left indelible footprints on the sand of time. Indeed, so huge are his footprints that many generations to come will struggle to match.

In all these areas he distinguished himself as a man of great ideas and seriousness of purpose but not effusive. He was a man of many parts: a devout Muslim who respected the religion of others, a mass social mobilizer, and an amiable, considerate, kind and compassionate leader to his followers, associates and millions of admirers around the world.

That is generally speaking. Now, to the chore of this article; which is, my personal experience under the shadows of the great journalist and the diverse ways he positively impacted my life. There is no way I would narrate this experience without telling a part of my lifes story.

It all began 49 years ago, after my two-year Higher School Certificate programme at the famous Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa, now in Osun State. I had worked briefly as a sorter at the Ibadan Post office and followed it up with a one-year stint as a teacher at Molusi College, Ijebu Igbo, now in Ogun State. I returned to Ibadan to live in the house of Chief Gabriel Akin-Deko, my uncle; still thinking of what to do with my life.

Then fortuitously, in January 1972, my bosom friend, Eric Teniola, then a cub reporter with the Nigerian Tribune, talked me into applying to the newspaper as a cub reporter. I did and two days later, I got an appointment letter to start work on 2 February, 1972.

I resumed as early as 8 a.m. dressed smartly in one of the few shirts I owned. At 10 a.m., a black Peugeot 404 salon car drove into the one-storey building housing the Nigerian Tribune offices situated at Adeoyo Road, a few meters from the famous Adeoyo Hospital, Ibadan. The stairs and the upper floor of the storey building were made of wood. Solid wood.

I did not see the occupants of the black car but heard footsteps moving into one of the rooms. Some minutes later, the editor of the newspaper, late Ikhan Yakubu, walked in and met me in the newsroom. He walked into his office beckoning me to follow. He had an intimidating huge frame. He sat down and asked, You are the new cub reporter?

Yes sir, I replied.

He nodded, and told me a few things. Then, he rose up suddenly and asked me to follow him. I did. He walked me into an office where I met someone in simple Buba and Sokoto native attire. I would later discover that simple style of dressing to be part of the mans signature.

My editor introduced me, saying: Young man, this is our boss, the Managing Director of this company.

I prostrated to greet him.

Whats your name? he asked me, his face expressionless. I did not hear what he said. So, he repeated the line: What is your name?

Lawrence Mofoluwaso Olamiti, I stammered.

I will call you by your first name, Lawrence, he said, his face still dead pan.

The man talking to me was none other than the great Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, Managing Director of the Nigerian Tribune; my Managing Director.

Though a little rattled and intimidated standing in front of this man with expressionless face, still meeting the man for the first time gave me an inner joy, an unquantifiable peace. Then the man peered from behind his thick-rimmed glasses and asked my editor, Ikhan Yakubu, to excuse us.

Now, face to face with Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, I noticed a wry smile playing on his lips. I couldnt decipher whether he was smiling or sending me a message. Suddenly, he flipped out a ten kobo coin and said, Go and buy booli (roasted plantain with groundnut).

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But I am not hungry sir, I said most respectfully without looking at him.

He did not answer me. Rather, he started writing. Suddenly, he intoned: They are for me.

As I prepared to storm out of his office to go and buy the local snacks across the road, he said in a soft voice: We are eating together.

Eating together with my MD? Eating together with the great Jakande? I wasnt sure I heard him right. I was momentarily paralyzed with fear. But the fear evaporated as soon as I saw him devouring what he described as his breakfast at 3.20 p.m.

After doing justice to the booli and groundnuts, he cleared his throat and told me to sit down. And he began to lecture me on how to become a crack reporter.

For you to showcase yourself as a successful journalist, you must dream it, think it and romance it. A serious-minded journalist does not go hungry, neither does he have appetite for food. What we have just taken with a bottle of coke is to energize us, he lectured me. From that day on, Papa Jakande developed sdeep interest in me and a deep symbiotic relationship began between father and son, with my journalistic father calling me Lawrence, my baptismal name, from that day.

The next day was eventful. Pa Jakande arrived from Lagos around 1 p.m. He got a call from somewhere that the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was boiling as workers went on strike and had trooped out in large numbers to demonstrate with placards clamoring for the removal of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Mr. Cole.

Immediately, the MD called the Editor and asked him to assign me to cover the event. I went in company of my dear late friend, photojournalist, Dada Osasona, on his scooter. I kept wondering why my MD would assign a green-horn reporter like me to cover a demonstration of that sort.

All the same, we went to UCH, and came back to write what I observed. I did my best, dotting the is and crossing the ts. I took my story to the Editor; he did not even look at it. Rather, he directed me to LKJs office. I knocked and entered. He was still writing. In those days, there were no typewriters allocated to any of the journalists in the newsroom to type his story. We wrote our stories in long hand, and gave them to the typist attached to the newsroom; who would knock the handwritten stories for us.

I stood before Alhaji Jakande for close to an hour. He never lifted up his head to acknowledge my presence. When he was done with his writing, which I later discovered was the editorial comment for the next day, he handed the copy to me for onward transmission to the typist. Then, he began to read my story. Once quick glance at the stuff, he lowered his glasses and looked directly into my eyes.

My heart raced. What is it now, I asked in my mind. I dont know whether he saw my expression or not. But he gave me a second look, then suddenly, he said, with wry smile:

You have just written a composition good for a school essay, he said. Thus, began my second lecture for the day. He took the pains to teach me how to structure a news story. He tore what I had written into pieces and told me to go and re-write it while waiting for the picture. In a nutshell, I re-wrote the story five times. Finally, he okayed it after many amendments with his green pen.

When the picture landed on his table, he sent for me. He showed me one of the pictures where he saw me holding one of the posters with the inscription Cole Must Go. LKJ asked me what I was doing with the poster.

I was engrossed with the protest. In my excitement, I did not know how I got one of the posters and joined in shouting Cole Must Go. I replied sheepishly.

LKJ burst into laughter. I never saw him laugh so heartily. He told me afterward that a good reporter never gets himself involved in an event he goes to cover. You dissociate yourself from it to get an unbiased story.

When he felt satisfied with my story, he gave me some money to buy roasted plantains, groundnuts and coke. From that day on, I improved on my writing skills and he was satisfied with my rapid progress.

LKJ picked special interest in me as he recommended me for a three-month reporting course at the newly established Nigerian Institute of Journalism at Apogbon on Lagos Island in November 1972. I was barely five months on the job as a cub reporter. I did well in the course. I passed with distinction. Upon my resumption of work at Ibadan, I got a pleasant surprise. I was promoted to the post of News Editor to succeed Mr. Fola Oredoyin.

Few days after my promotion I got a message from LKJ from Lagos directing me to get ready for an assignment in Ile-Ife. It was a special lecture to be delivered by Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the then University of Ife, Ile-Ife. I got to the office as early as 6 a.m. My MD drove in at 6.30 a.m. from Lagos. Pronto, we were on our way to Ile-Ife. We rode in his popular black 404 Peugeot.

The event went well. On our way back to Ibadan, not quite five kilometres from Ile-Ife, LKJ coughed as if he wanted to clear his throat. Have you written your story? he asked me.

No sir, I answered, I will do so when we get to the office

Again, he began to lecture me on how to write good stories without notes. First, he said, the salient part of the lecture would form the introduction to build a solid structure for the story.

Then, he started dictating the intro and the rest of the story to me to write while he was driving. Amazingly, I got the byline for the first-class story I did not write. It was a priceless gift of journalism lesson I could not get from the classroom that LKJ gave me.

LKJ gave the Nigerian Tribune its unique character as a fearless tabloid till date. The powerful editorial comments of the newspaper from the era of Papa Awolowo/Akintola political feud in the old Western Region to the periods of Nigerias military regimes, to the Awo/Shagari era of the Second Republic, back to military rule in those days, came from LKJs arsenal. Some of the editorials landed me in detention in the then Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO) gulag at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

I remember the day the Federal Military Government came out with one of their unpopular policies. We got the news at 5 p.m. at our wooden one-storey building along Adeoyo Road, Ibadan. LKJ was about leaving for Lagos. He decided that a no-holds-barred editorial should be written for the next days edition of the Nigerian Tribune. He was racing against time. He beckoned me to come with him, but demanded to ride in my Volkswagen Beatle while his driver would drive his car behind us. I remember his son, Tunde, was in the Peugeot.

LKJ took over the wheel and asked me to start writing as he dictated the editorial. It was a laborious exercise as we had to navigate through the uncompleted Lagos-Ibadan expressway back to the old road. He finished dictating the comment within one hour by which time we had arrived in Ijebu Ode.

He stopped and asked me to read it to him. I did, and he made a few corrections. He patted me on the back and I drove back to Ibadan. I got to the office at about 9 p.m. The earth-shaking editorial was published on the front page the following day. Back then, hot metal was the technology used for the type-setting before printing.

LKJ was deeply interested in my capacity development. He soon organised another training for me. He arranged for me to attend a two-year course at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos. That was in 1974, and my set was the second. Initially, I told him I had no money for the course as my meagre salary was not enough to take care of myself and my poor family. My father, a catechist, was serving God virtually without salary. LKJ assured me of his support and gave me study leave with my monthly salary paid all through the period of the course.

A year later, he recommended me for the prestigious Thompson Foundation Senior Editorial Institute in Wales, England. I was also on study leave with my full salary paid. I also trained at School of Journalism in Germany.

God used my boss, LKJ, to help me build a successful career in journalism. Most of what I have achieved till date, by the grace of God, are traceable to my professional practice under LKJ. He saw to my welfare while with the Nigerian Tribune and after. As far as journalism is concerned, he was my Guardian Angel. He was always there for me. He gave me a lifeline at a time I needed it most. His impact in my life is immeasurable.

In his active days, LKJ always had a serious, though calm, expression on his face which made many to fear him. But beneath this facial expression was a good heart, full of compassion and milk of human kindness. For many of us who worked closely with him, our experience of him was that of a leader who sought the welfare of his employees and extended a helping hand before they could even ask.

May his great soul rest eternally in perfect peace. Adieu, Boss and great mentor.

Folu Olamiti, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE) and media consultant writes from Abuja.
Rome, March 20 : The new Italian government under Prime Minister Mario Draghi has passed its first major financial aid package to counter the effects of the pandemic, worth 32 billion euros ($38 billion).

The package, passed on Friday, aims to support industries worst affected by the pandemic such as tourism, stabilise the labour market and accelerate the country's vaccination campaign, reports dpa news agency.

"We are aware that this is only a partial answer," Draghi told reporters on Friday, adding that this was the best that was currently possible.

The plan includes almost 5 billion euros to support the health sector, especially the country's vaccine drive, as well as security, Finance Minister Daniele Franco said.

Meanwhile, 8 billion euros will bolster the labour market and combat poverty.

Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank, became Prime Minister last month, influencing the decision on aid.

The support package had been in the making for some time but there had been disagreement over several areas.

The previous government of Giuseppe Conte in 2020 already implemented billion-euro packages to support the country's battered economy.

The number of cases in Italy has risen drastically in March, and several regions have been declared red zones and are subject to strict lockdown rules.

The seven-day incidence rate of cases per 100,000 people in one week has risen to 260, experts said on Friday.

Italy's coronavirus caseload and death toll currently stand at 3,332,418 and 104,241, respectively.
The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
Odds are you may not have heard of Sigrid Kraag  but you are likely to hear a lot more about her. The Dutch politician, a former UN official and outgoing trade minister, led her party to considerable gains in this past weeks parliamentary elections in Netherlands.

You probably have heard of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is set to win a fourth term in office and become one of the EUs longest serving leaders.

Ireland more usually likes his traditional Dutch view of the European Union as better fitted for free trade than for poking its nose into other policies  such as taxation  which he deems better left to national governments.

Rutte was solid in his support for Ireland throughout the Brexit tangles. Against that, he stood strongly for a long time against the EU borrowing on international money markets for a post-Covid-19 recovery fund and has been a critic of things like farm funding.

The gains for Kraag and her D66 party, which is vastly more pro-EU, could bode well. Her influence could steer Netherlands  an important, prosperous country with 17 million people  in a far more pro-EU direction.

The Netherlands election was the EUs first big Covid-19 election and the status quo, led by Rutte, is likely to return to power after months of coalition-making. But two more elections  in Germany and France  loom into view with much bigger EU implications.

The outcome of those votes carry considerable knock-on effects for Ireland and potential lessons for Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar, who despite their problems are likely to soldier on towards the outer limit of another election in February 2025.

The mother of all EU elections happens on Sunday, September 26, in Germany when the curtain finally comes down on Chancellor Angela Merkels four terms in office spanning 16 years.

The ever-prudent manager threw caution to the winds last July by backing an EU plan to hit world borrowing markets and put together a package worth 1.8trn in total, to pilot the 27 nation bloc until 2027.

Early signs are there may be a major changing of the guard in Berlin where Mrs Merkels Christian Democrats have dominated post-World War II government for 50 of the past 70 years.

Two important regional government elections, in Baden-Wurttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, last Sunday delivered big blows to her party.

Read More

Merkels government won plaudits this time last year for managing emergency Covid care along with stellar tracking and tracing systems.

But now a very poor vaccine roll-out, with jab shortages and logistical problems, have seriously disabused a population weary of a tight lockdown since late October.

Merkels successor as party leader, Armin Laschet, may not be the standard bearer in the September elections as a would-be chancellor. That role may now go to the head of their sister party in Bavaria, Markus Soder.

But the partys vaccine woes are compounded by scandal around improper lobbying and public procurement.

Serious change is in the German air with suggestions that the Green Party are back and may form coalitions which do not involve Merkels party.

The story in France is equally uncertain where President Emmanuel Macron was to have faced a dress rehearsal in regional elections this coming June.

These would have indicated how his own re-election battle next April and May might go.

However, the pandemic has pushed these French regionals into the autumn as rising virus case numbers force a tougher lockdown on the country.

It is already assumed Macron will once again face off in May 2022 against Marine Le Pen, whose rebranded Front National is now called Le Rassemblement National, or National Rally. Last time, in May 2017, Le Pen bombed in a face-to-face television debate.

This time her partys support is nudging 50pc in some opinion polls.

She will be much harder to beat and a Covid-19 weary populace may have difficulty staying with Macron whose recent shifts towards the political right are disenchanting for the centre and left voters in France.

A Le Pen win in France would cause a political earthquake in the European Union, threatening the projects very existence.

But it is clear the fate of Merkels successors in Germany, and Macrons re-election hopes in France, now turn on the vaccine roll-out.

This has got off to a very bad start and the past week saw the shortages and logistics problems worsened by the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine pending further adjudication by the European Medicines Agency which restored it.

The Berlin and Paris governments are under very immediate and serious pressure and are impatient with the EU and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyens threats to companies of patent revocations and export bans may be useful short-term political devices. But they are not medium to longer-term solutions to a vaccine supply blockage which must be urgently resolved.
NEW YORK, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

EXPERT ALERTS



Resilience During COVID-19

The K9 Heroes Who Serve and Protect Our Troops

#Givefluencer Ken Honda Says "Maro Up" Is Key to Success

Police Forces Should Reflect, Understand Communities They Serve

Healthcare Workers: 3 Self-Care Steps to Renew Caregiving

Is VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) Possible for You?

A Word of Warning: The Coming Tax Tsunami

Ease Stress With Mindfulness

4 Benefits of Spiritual Guidance

Nutrition During Chemotherapy

MEDIA JOBS

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

AP Style Rules: COVID-19, One Year Later

Blog Profiles: Cult Film Blogs

Resilience During COVID-19

Jo Deaton

Senior Director of Nursing for Behavioral Health

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center

The first thing is to acknowledge and accept that none of this is "normal." We are used to crises that resolve within a matter of days or weeks, not a global crisis of this magnitude. However, through difficulty comes resilience.

Since it's been a year since COVID-19 took hold in the United States, Jo Deaton offers 5 ways to stay resilient during the pandemic.

Website: www.aahs.org

Media contact: Justin McLeod, [email protected]

The K9 Heroes Who Serve and Protect Our Troops

Kristen Maurer

President

Mission K9 Rescue

"How well do you know the dogs who serve and protect the U.S.? An MWD is a Military Working Dog that is owned by the Department of Defense (DoD). They are trained at Lackland AFB in a specialty, and they deploy and return with their assigned handler and special unit. Unfortunately, MWDs are considered to be 'equipment.' Therefore, if they are retired overseas, the DoD does not transport them back to the U.S. to be adopted by either their handler or civilians. That's where [rescue] comes in  to meet the immediate need to bring these warriors home.

A CWD is a Contract Working Dog that is owned by a private company. They work for companies contracted by the DoD to serve alongside our MWDs, and they perform the same tasks protecting our troops. CWDs are not attached to a special unit, so they remain in active service and are reassigned to other areas where needed. Sadly, some contract companies do not bring these warriors back when they are retired. They have to wait for someone to hear about them, adopt them, and pay the costs to bring them home."

Kristen Maurer is the president of Mission K9 Rescue, an animal welfare group dedicated solely to rescuing, reuniting, rehoming, repairing, and rehabilitating American working dogs. Since 2013, the group has provided a wide array of services to working dogs in an effort to offer them a comfortable and peaceful retirement. Mission K9 focuses on retrieving dogs both from overseas and national shelter situations where they are suffering without proper care or medical attention. Their work has been featured numerous times in the national media, including appearances on "America with Eric Bolling" and "Pit Bulls & Parolees." Learn more at www.MissionK9Rescue.org.

Online Press Kit: www.MissionK9Rescue.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.MissionK9Rescue.org

Contact: Anita Jakab Kovacs, [email protected]

#Givefluencer Ken Honda Says "Maro Up" Is Key to Success

Ken Honda

Author

Ken Honda

"When it comes to money, I have heard many people say they want more but rarely anyone who says they have too much. And I've met only one man who said he had enough: my mentor, Wahei Takeda. Most people around the world are unfamiliar with this great man, but to put it in relative terms, he was like the Warren Buett of Japan. I believe my success is a direct result of Wahei's philosophy of saying 'arigato'  thank you  consistently, and applying his 'maro up' philosophy to my own life and business.

What is maro? The word is short for magokoro, which means true or sincere heart in Japanese. You could say maro is strong in those who have a pure heart and lead an upright life. Even in Japanese, it's somewhat hard to dene maro, but it could be called a state of selessness  the opposite of ego.

Wahei said that those who are in touch with maro always create win-win situations for themselves and the people around them. If you have a pure heart and true sincerity, not only will people treat you better, but you'll begin to feel the whole universe support you as well. When your maro increases, Wahei says you 'maro up' and invite many miracles into your life."

Money and happiness expert Ken Honda is a best-selling self-development author in Japan, with book sales surpassing seven million copies since 2001. His latest book is called "Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money" (June 4, 2019, Simon & Schuster). Ken studied law at Waseda University in Tokyo and entered the Japanese workforce as a business consultant and investor. Ken's financial expertise comes from owning and managing several businesses, including an accounting company, a management consulting firm, and a venture capital corporation. His writings bridge the topics of finance and self-help, focusing on creating and generating personal wealth and happiness through deeper self-honesty. Ken provides ongoing support through mentoring programs, business seminars, therapeutic workshops, and correspondence courses. Ken is the first person from Japan to be voted into the Transformational Leadership Council, a group of personal and professional development leaders. He is fluent in Japanese and English; lived in Boston, Massachusetts for two years; and currently resides in Tokyo, Japan. Learn more at KenHonda.com.

Online Press Kit: www.KenHonda.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: KenHonda.com

Contact: Anita Jakab Kovacs, [email protected]

Police Forces Should Reflect, Understand Communities They Serve

Clayton Moore

Author

Good Cop, Black Cop: Guilty Until Proven Innocent

As the United States continues to grapple with issues of racial equity in the wake of last summer's Black Lives Matter protests and the ongoing Defund the Police movement, Moore offers the following insights for law enforcement groups' consideration:

"1) It's unreasonable to think we can diversify the police overnight. That's a long-term project.

2) While we're working toward that, we can do better at educating officers about the customs and cultures of the people they're tasked with serving.

3) It's not just white officers who need this. All of us have unconscious biases. Even officers of color become enculturated with the idea that people of color are more likely to commit crimes because they're dealing with a higher percentage of people of color being arrested  but this is only part of the story.

4) Cybercrimes, abuse, and other 'white collar' crimes are happening all around us but can go undetected for years. Money buys space  i.e., privacy. Physical crimes such as robbery, murder, and drug sales that happen in high-population areas are far easier to detect, obtain evidence on, and solve quickly.

5) It is a fact that there are more men and women of color in the criminal justice system. What has not been established  because it would require full knowledge of all crimes being committed and a full profile of the perpetrators  is that people of color, blacks in particular, are actually committing more crimes. Due to the hidden nature of 'white collar' crimes, however, this notion persists.

6) We need to make a concerted effort to look at all the factors and see how the mismatch between the racial makeup of police departments and the people they serve factors into bias and police brutality.

7) We need greater diversity in our police forces and better cultural awareness training."

Communication expert, speaker, and retired police sergeant Clayton Moore is the author of "Good Cop, Black Cop: Guilty Until Proven Innocent." The book shares Moore's battle with and victory over racial discrimination as the first black officer in a small-town USA police force. Learn more at GoodCopBlackCop.com. #goodcopblackcop

Online Press Kit: ClaytonMoore.OnlinePressKit247.com

Website: GoodCopBlackCop.com

Contact: Anita Jakab Kovacs, [email protected]

Healthcare Workers: 3 Self-Care Steps to Renew Caregiving

Dr. Jan Bonhoeffer

Author, infectious disease and vaccine safety expert

Dr. Jan Bonhoeffer

"1) Start With Your Heart: Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and focus your attention on the area of your heart. Feel your breath flowing in and out, breathing a little slower and deeper than usual, five seconds in and five seconds out. Activate and sustain a regenerative feeling such as appreciation, care, or compassion. You may want to remember a situation with someone or something where you felt really, really well. Take this energy with you and have a good rest of the day.

2) Bring Presence to Your Practice: By simply bringing attention to your breath, watching it flow effortlessly into and out of your body as you cultivate an attitude of patience and curiosity, you will be able to bring mindfulness to every moment of your day. Even if your schedule is jam-packed, there are usually brief opportunities to bring yourself back to 'beginner's mind' and awareness of your breath while washing your hands or writing up your notes.

3) Practice Healthy Habits for Better Sleep: Be a creature of habit. Sleep like your ancestors. Power down and drop off."

Dr. Jan Bonhoeffer (SAY Yon Bon-hoffer) is a global expert on infectious diseases and vaccine safety, and a thought leader on efforts to transform how medical professionals care for their patients  and themselves. His new book is "Dare to Care  How to Survive and Thrive in Today's Medical World." Visit www.heartbasedmedicine.org.

Online Press Kit: DrJanBonhoeffer.OnlinePressKit247.com

Website: www.heartbasedmedicine.org

Contact: Anita Jakab Kovacs, [email protected]

Is VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) Possible for You?

Dr. Alan Lindemann

Obstetric physician and maternal mortality expert

Dr. Alan Lindemann

"In most cases, you may have a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) as long as your C-section incision is left to right rather than up and down. When I jointed my first practice after residency, I began doing VBACs after one previous C-section. I then offered VBACs after two C-sections, even three C-sections. A nurse practitioner came to see me with four previous C-sections. She knew and understood her options, and wanted to try a VBAC. Her labor and delivery went fine. She delivered her fifth child vaginally with no problems. The patients simply need to be monitored carefully. Checking for uterine rupture is to be expected."

An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, "Rural Doc" Alan Lindemann, M.D. teaches women and their families how to create the outcomes they want for their own personal health and pregnancy. In his nearly 40 years of practice, he has delivered around 6,000 babies and achieved a maternal mortality rate of zero! Learn more at LindemannMD.com.

Online Press Kit: www.dralanlindemann.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: LindemannMD.com

Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected]

A Word of Warning: The Coming Tax Tsunami

Pamela Yellen

President

Bank on Yourself

"Saving in tax-deferred accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs is much less appealing going forward. The Society of Actuaries has pointed out that if all things are equal, you'll come out the same whether you defer your taxes until you take retirement distributions  or you pay your taxes up front and then can take tax-free withdrawals. However, if tax rates go up over the long term  which now appears inevitable  you will end up paying far more in taxes.

Most people look at their retirement plan balances and think it's all theirs. They often forget they'll owe the IRS taxes on every penny they've put in and every penny of growth they've deferred for decades. According to the Center for Retirement Research, 'it's a very big deal when people realize they only have two-thirds or three-quarters of what they thought they had.' And that statement was made several years ago before the federal debt exploded!"

Financial security expert and best-selling author Pamela Yellen investigated more than 450 savings and retirement planning strategies seeking an alternative to the risk and volatility of stocks and other investments. Her research led her to a time-tested, predictable method of growing and protecting wealth she calls Bank on Yourself that is now used by more than half a million people.

Pamela is the author of the New York Times best-selling book "The Bank on Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future." Her new book is "Rescue Your Retirement: Five Wealth-Killing Traps of 401(k)s, IRAs and Roth Plans  and How to Avoid Them" (www.FreeRetirementPlanRescueBook.com).

Online Press Kit: www.pamelayellen.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.FreeRetirementPlanRescueBook.com

Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected]

Ease Stress With Mindfulness

Julie Potiker

Author, mindfulness expert

Mindful Methods for Life

"People and situations disappoint or annoy us sometimes. That's just a part of life  but it doesn't have to be a part of life that ruins our whole day when it happens. Practicing forgiveness and letting go is a wonderful way to reduce stress and increase your access to calm.

There are some wonderful meditations available on these topics. I enjoy the Insight Timer meditation app, and they have a whole category on forgiveness, with meditations and talks from some wonderful teachers. Here's a free meditation called "Loving Kindness & Letting Go" to get you started."

Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Through her Mindful Methods for Life program offerings and her book  "Life Falls Apart, but You Don't Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos"  Julie helps others bring more peace and wellness into their lives. For more information, visit www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com.

Online Press Kit: www.JuliePotiker.OnlinePressKit247.com

Website: www.MindfulMethodsForLife.com

Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected]

4 Benefits of Spiritual Guidance

Diana Cole

Spirit Translator, author

Diana Cole

"1) You will experience less conflict, drama, and stress in your life.

2) You'll learn to stop staying stuck in the pain of the past and start recognizing the meaning, purpose, gift, and lesson in your experiences.

3) You will learn how to quiet your inner turmoil so you enjoy more calm during the day and better sleep at night.

4) You'll learn how to pay attention to signs and intuitions, connect with your deep inner knowing, and bring more of what you want into existence."

Diana Cole is a spirit translator, thought leader, and author. Passionate about spirit guidance, she is committed to teaching people how to access it for themselves so they may find freedom from pain and limitation and live a life of abundance, fun, and inspiration. Diana offers her empowering tools for spirit guidance in group settings, speaking engagements, live workshops, and through her vibrant Instagram and Facebook communities. She is the author of "Spirit Translator: Seven Truths for Creating Well-Being and Connecting With Spirit" (St. Martin's Press, August 2020) and co-author of "Pillars of Success" (August 2020) with Jack Canfield. Diana's first children's book, "Alina the Positive Thought Warrior," is due to be released at the end of 2020. Learn more at www.DianaCole.com.

Online Press Kit: www.dianacole.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.DianaCole.com

Contact: Klaudia Simon, [email protected]

Nutrition During Chemotherapy

Monica Tomazic, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, and Maureen Shackelford, MS, RD, LDN,

Registered dietitians specializing in oncology nutrition

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center

Eating well during chemotherapy can help you maintain your weight and improve how you feel during treatment. A well-planned strategy and support from your cancer care team, can help you navigate any obstacles to maintain optimal health throughout treatment.

Tomazic can provide tips for eating well during chemo. She recently wrote a blog about this topic: https://living.aahs.org/cancer/tips-for-eating-well-during-chemotherapy.

Media contact: Justin McLeod, [email protected]

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AP STYLE RULES: COVID-19, ONE YEAR LATER. It's time for another quarterly roundup of timely AP Style rule reminders. And since National Grammar Day took place March 4, we're sharing some of our favorite tweets from that day throughout the post: http://prn.to/3c2Y3iH.

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Mr Stephen Ashitey Adjei, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)in the Tema East Constituency has suggested that the party must work towards marketing a new Flagbearer for Election 2024.



He said, the party presented a particular flagbearer for both Elections 2016 and 2020, but the Ghanaian electorates rejected him, we must re-examine our product for the electoral market and present a new product.



Mr Adjei told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Tema that the National Executive Committee of the party and functional executive must create an enabling environment for notable party members to contest for the flagbearership slot.



He said former President John Dramani Mahama had performed his bid for the party and nation, and humans had their limitations, as a party we must look at the bigger picture for the general interest of the nation.



Mr Adjei expressed concern that former President Mahama developed a close relationship with some leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a situation which he described as dangerous.



He, therefore, suggested to the party to look out for a flagbearer that would unite all the NDC members to fight a good course and win power in Election 2024.



Under our current leader, you could see that the party is divided and no party can win elections in Ghana with a divided front fighting against themselves, he alleged.



He also condemned some party loyalists with the penchant for attacking leading members including; Members of Parliament, the current Speaker of Parliament, National, Regional, Constituency leadership, and Council of Elders.



Mr Adjei who is also known as Moshake said some of the party commentators who were making divisive comments against some well-to-do members of the party were doing a dis-service as that at the long run could dent the image of the party.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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In a tranquil lakeside setting that is already a retreat from the everyday, the award-winning Spa at Nita Lake Lodge welcomes you to a transcendent wellness experience. From soothing and rejuvenating massages, scrubs and body treatments to the latest in results-driven beauty technology such as HydraFacial and body contouring lasers, The Spa is sure to restore, relax, and reinvigorate the senses. Thanks to our exciting new beauty & esthetics expansion, together with rooftop hot tubs, the revitalizing eucalyptus steam room, and the serenity of the relaxation lounge, the award-winning Spa at Nita Lake Lodge is unmatched in Whistler.

Nita Lake Lodge is a recipient of the Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2020 - #4 Top Resort in Canada.

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1 Amy Taub Study ASDS 2017 Poste

2 Via deep tissue heating

3 Effect of bio-electrical muscle stimulation on chronic low back pain and abdominal muscular endurance and strength by Mark C. Yezak, BS, DC; Reid Amedee, BS, DC; Brett Baer, PT, DPT; Robert Williams, BW, MED Houston Spine and Rehabilitation Centers

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Politics in this country is a strange game. Most of those in this game are behaving like the blue jackal. As the story goes, the gullible animals believed the jackal. But the truth made them know the real character.

Editorial

The Director of the State Intelligence Service, Major General Suresh Salley, has complained with the Criminal Investigation Department against MP Nalin Bandara. The reason for this is that this Member of Parliament is making a serious insult against the Director, SIS. We think, after reading both parties versions carefully, that the insult of this Member of Parliament has done irreparable harm to the aggrieved party. There is no alternative but to seek legal redress in the hope of justice based on fairness.

According to Nalin Bandara, the Director SIS maintained links with Saharan, the alleged mastermind of the 2019 Easter bombings, during his time at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia. Bandara further alleges that Suresh Salley had conspired with Saharan to carry out the terrorist attack that took place during the administration in which Nalin Bandara also represented.

***

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Similar serious allegations were made by MPs Manusha Nanayakkara and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, but there is no credible evidence to support any of these hideous allegations. These parliamentarians are abusing the power of immunity, saying any vulgarity without any responsibility and accountability and influencing the fundamental freedom of life.

It is disgraceful how these people are abusing their immunity in Parliament. Every citizen of this country is disgusted about that. The shameless habit of blaming someone else for covering up their failures without fulfilling their responsibilities seems to be a skill that many of these people were born with. We will have no country left if we do not work towards the end of this primitive culture of political vulgarism. These individuals must be held accountable not only outside Parliament but also within Parliament. If they cannot maintain the discipline required as public representatives, they should be sent to a rehabilitation centre for at least a year or so and taught the basic discipline needed to behave in front of a country.

It is not a new experience that the intelligence services of this country have become a victim of this unscrupulous political camp. Many intelligence officers in the country have been lost and permanently paralyzed due to their irresponsible behaviour. There are examples of this throughout history. The ugly behaviour of the MPs mentioned above can only be described as another incident in that unpleasant history.

Nalin Bandara has made his accusation in the form of a revelation made by a person who secretly witnessed the alleged conspiracy of Saharan and Major General Suresh to carry out the bombings. Nalin should take full responsibility for his statements as this is a serious issue not only related to individual rights ensured by the constitution of the country but also the matter of national security. The serious allegations made by him must be proved with evidence before the country and the people. That is how responsible politicians should behave.

But politics in this country is a strange game. Most of those in this game are behaving like the blue jackal. As the story goes, the gullible animals believed the jackal. But the truth made them know the real character.

If politicians like Manusha Nanayakkara, Field Marshal Fonseka, Nalin Bandara and Ashoka Abeysinghe are so interested in finding out about Saharan and his new mode of terrorism, why cant they search the flight records of this terrorist? Why arent they requesting copies of the official letters sent to Ranjith Madduma Bandara, who was the Minister of Law and Order by the then the Director SIS Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena? Then the country and the people will know whose negligence and indifference led to these attacks were. It is a heinous crime to ignore the basic methodology of knowing this truth and to make accusations against officials who have served the country.

Before writing this piece, Nalin Bandara was contacted by a member of our editorial board. We asked him if there was enough evidence to substantiate the allegations made by him against the Director of the State Intelligence Service. He carelessly responded by quoting something from a website. Other than that, he says he has no evidence or other independent information about the allegations. Oh, what a tragedy!

This is the nature of the response of someone who came as a representative of the people in the name of democracy. They think that they can cover up their mistakes by putting a lot of rubbish in the minds of the people. Their only public service is to socialize any filth that comes to their minds and to satisfy their selfish desires by assassinating the character and tarnishing the reputation of government officials or other personalities for narrow publicity. Other than that, they do not have the brains or the feeling to mention anything important to the country.

Nalin Bandara and his gang, who schemed to assassinate the character of an officer and tarnished his self-esteem and embarrassed his family members, cannot be acquitted of their wrongdoings by assigning responsibilities to a third party. No one with the slightest sense of justice should support such insidious tactics. Only then will they be able to eradicate this vulgar political culture from society. That is the first step in real social reform.

The action taken by the Director of State Intelligence should be commended. Because there should be a national program to bring to justice those cynics who abuse the power of the people by disguising themselves as MPs. The damage to the country and the people can be minimized by taking appropriate action without delay. This is a part of restoring the foundation of national interest.
I would cry as quickly as I could, because I was supposed to show emotion, she said. But then it was like, OK that was one level we needed to clear you on. We have many levels. It was abundant. On other occasions, he involved Grace (not her real name), who was a few years younger, in the sessions. Grace declined to comment. He would put Grace and I together and make us do things to each other, which we did so we could get out of there. Ms Ring said she escaped Kenja aged 21 and was working for a merchant bank in 1996 when she was asked give evidence for Dyers, who was on trial in Sydney for the sexual assault of her former Canberra flatmate and three other girls in the late 1980s. She said she practised the evidence she was told to give with Kenja people, including that Dyers never processed children without a chaperone and his door was always open, neither of which were true. Then Dyers raped her in an adjoining room. The next day she betrayed her friend.

I remember her looking at me so evilly because she knew I was defending Ken, Ms Ring said. I was still under that spell and hed just taken me right back to where he had me. The jury returned verdicts of not guilty on three counts of sexual assault and was unable to agree on the other eight charges. In 1999 he was found guilty of indecent assault, but the conviction was quashed on appeal. Ms Milos was also abused by Dyers under the guise of processing. She joined Kenja aged 11 with her single mother in 1989, and was soon manoeuvred into a friendship with Grace, who was a few years older. She was Kens muse, Ms Milos said. He would parade her on stage as a person who does workshopping with him ... and how those sessions were benefiting everyone else. Milana Milos, left, performing in the Kenja play Klowning in 1991. One weekend, Ms Milos and Grace were invited to the house that Dyers shared with his wife, Jan Hamilton, on the clifftop at Bundeena. They spent the day repotting plants and helping in the garden, before Dyers asked the girls into his bedroom for a processing session. Grace and Dyers removed their clothes.

He was telling me that what they were doing wasnt sex. But I could see their body parts going into each other. The girls did not speak of what had happened on the train home. The next time Dyers invited them both into a processing session, Ms Milos was asked to remove her clothes as well, and soon she was asked to participate. I was told that I was helping everyone too now, Ms Milos said. I was put up on stage. But it became confusing because often only Grace was brought up on stage. I was thinking, Im doing all this work for everyone. The games were too much for me. Ken Dyers (left) pictured with his partner Jan Hamilton outside court in 2006. Credit:Lisa Wiltse Ms Milos could not bear to tell her mother, but found it difficult to explain why she no longer wanted to be in Kenja and started to act out at school. In 1991 she refused to attend the funeral of two close family members who died in a house fire because Dyers said he would need to process her afterwards. Her family never understood. Ms Milos left Kenja in 1992 and a year later she left home.

Dyers widow Jan Hamilton, who runs Kenja, said she had never heard the womens allegations before they were put to her by the Herald. We do not believe that these new allegations have any truth whatsoever, Ms Hamilton said. For that reason, we do not accept the proposition that we are furthering any hurt. Only Kenja and Fairbridge Restored, a British charity now under administration, have not agreed to join the National Redress Scheme, among hundreds of organisations that have had claims lodged against them. Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said organisations should take responsibility for past wrongs, but it was more important that survivors were able to access redress, and the government would now examine funder of last resort provisions. We have used all levers available to the Commonwealth to sanction institutions which shirk their moral obligations, Ms Ruston said.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 15:18:29|Editor: huaxia

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An archaeologist works at a sacrificial pit of the Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

CHENGDU, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese archaeologists announced Saturday that some new major discoveries have been made at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China, helping shed light on the unified, diverse origin of the Chinese civilization.

Archaeologists have found six new sacrificial pits and unearthed more than 500 items dating back about 3,000 years at the Sanxingdui Ruins in Sichuan Province, the National Cultural Heritage Administration announced in the provincial capital Chengdu.

So far, archaeologists have unearthed various important cultural items from four of the pits, including pieces of gold masks, gold foil, bronze masks, bronze trees and large numbers of ivories. Pieces of miniature ivory sculptures, carbonized rice and seeds of trees were also excavated. The rest of the newly discovered pits are still under excavation.

"Surprisingly, we have unearthed some never-heard-of-before bronze ware items," said Lei Yu, with the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute. "For instance, some large and delicate bronze ware items have bizarre-looking dragon or cow designs on them."

Photo taken on March 16, 2021 shows bronze wares and ivory unearthed from a sacrificial pit at the Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

In another major discovery, residues of silk and textile products were unearthed for the first time at Sanxingdui, indicating "the ancient Shu Kingdom was one of the important origins of silk in ancient China," according to Tang Fei, head of the excavation team and chief of the institute.

The new pits sit next to two sacrificial pits discovered in 1986. They are rectangular, with areas ranging between 3.5 square meters and 19 square meters. Together they form an area in which people of the ancient Shu civilization offered sacrifices to heaven, earth and their ancestors, and prayed for prosperity and peace.

The Sanxingdui Ruins is dubbed as one of the greatest archeological finds of mankind in the 20th century. The site was accidentally discovered by a farmer when he was digging a ditch in the 1920s. Covering 12 square km, the ruins are located in the city of Guanghan, about 60 km from Chengdu and are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back at least 4,800 years and lasting over 2,000 years.

"The new discoveries will enrich and deepen our understanding of the Sanxingdui culture," said Song Xinchao, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

This undated file photo shows ivory carving relics unearthed from a sacrificial pit of the Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archeology Research Institute/Handout via Xinhua)

The ancestral types of some bronze items unearthed at Sanxingdui can be found in the Central Plains or other areas along the Yangtze River, which is powerful evidence of frequent exchanges and the unified, diverse origin of the Chinese civilization, according to Chinese researchers.

Jay Xu, head of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, told Xinhua that the highly developed bronze ware art at Sanxingdui "made it outstanding among many regional civilizations in China and unique among ancient civilizations."

In 1986, a large number of unique relics were unearthed in the No. 1 and No. 2 pits, arousing global interest. So far, more than 50,000 pieces of relics have been unearthed at Sanxingdui.

More than 30 institutions have participated in the latest round of excavation work, featuring the use of modern technologies and integration of excavation and preservation. 
New Delhi, March 20 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday launched an education mentoring programme aimed at providing mentorship for students in government-run schools in the national capital in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Launching the programme at Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), Sisodia said the initiative would help students in government-run schools by providing mentorship in various courses - B.Tech, M.Tech, PhD and MBA.

He said under this programme, more than 200 students of IGDTUW would mentor more than 1,000 students studying in different Delhi government schools, especially girl students.

"With the education mentoring programme, the Delhi government wants to empower students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. We want our students, especially girls, to receive the right guidance which will help them build sustainable innovations. It is our vision that Delhi girls equally dominate the STEM sector," added Sisodia, who is also the Delhi Education Minister.

The Minister also asserted that though India has done some major innovations in every field of work, most of these innovations are mostly led by men.

The participation of women has been abysmal when it comes to innovation, especially in STEM.

"According to a study I recently came across women form only 33 per cent of the total workforce in research and innovation in STEM in South Asia," the Minister added.

Addressing the mentors who would be guiding Delhi government-run school girls Sisodia said, "If I have to speak about the enrolment rate of pre-primary and primary schools, nearly 21 lakh children are enrolled every year. However, only 10,000 girls take up STEM studies in higher education. Our students and teachers are continuously endeavouring to work hard in this field but we need to fill this gap. Therefore, your participation and mentoring will play a crucial role."
A two-alarm fire caused by an overwhelmed electric outlet at a Little Woods duplex displaced 19 residents and four pets Friday evening, the New Orleans Fire Department said.

Investigators suspect the fire started in a back bedroom of a one-story brick double in the 8500 block of Bill Street at about 5:10 p.m. The fire quickly spread to other rooms and created a cloud of smoke.

It destroyed one side of the double where four adults and five children lived, firefighters said. The other side, where two adults and a child lived with a puppy, a snake and two bearded dragons, sustained smoke and water damage.

Two other residences were damaged by smoke and water, one of them by fire as well. A total of four adults and three children lived in them.

Forty-four firefighters working out of 16 vehicles controlled the fire at 5:54 p.m., the Fire Department said.

Robert Tucker, who lives in Fairbanks, bought his Tesla Model 3 in South Carolina and drove it to his new home in Fairbanks.
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An 18-year-old woman, Idowu Biletiri, on Saturday allegedly stabbed her elder brother, Kehinde, to death at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that trouble started when the suspect returned home after leaving the house for some days without any trace of her whereabouts.

Her deceased brother queried her on her return, seeking to know where she had been since she left home.

It seemed she was angered by the question and then went straight for a kitchen knife which she stabbed her brother with to death.

Only the two of them were at home when the incident occurred, this has thrown the whole community into confusion and mourning, the source said.

Meanwhile, the state police commands spokesman, Tee Leo-Ikoro, said the incident had not been reported officially to the command.

Mr Leo-Ikoro said the case was rather reported to the Ondo State Security Network, code-named Amotekun Corps.

I can confirm that the incident occurred but it was reported to Amotekun Corps and they are in charge of the case now and until it is reported to the police, we cannot carry out any investigation, he said. (NAN)
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You know you've reached superfan status when a show's theme tune is enough to induce levels of excitement normally reserved for a hefty scratchcard win or a weekend away with the girls.

It's been two long years since we last heard that heart-racing, crescendo-building, Line of Duty score (trailers aside) and, 'Mother of God', I am living for the crime drama's return.

Well, I say two years, but in truth, I was given a sneak preview of the opening episode of series six last week, ahead of a virtual Q&A with show creator Jed Mercurio, executive producer Simon Heath and cast members Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and special guest, Kelly Macdonald. Did it live up to its hype? Put it this way, I watched it again the following evening; this time taking notes in my little, black AC-12-styled notebook. I don't intend to miss a trick. Tomorrow night's airing of episode one will be my third viewing but there'll be no spoilers from me. Like the dutiful fan that I am, I shall conduct myself to the letter of the (BBC) law.

Crime is my favourite genre of television, dating back to a pre-teen obsession with Charlie's Angels and a crush on one half of detective duo, Starsky and Hutch. As a birthday treat, many moons ago, a friend arranged for me to spend the day on the set of ITV's long-running cop show The Bill, where I was put in handcuffs and locked up in a prison cell for the craic. If there's a crime show on, I'll watch it - Morse, Murder, She Wrote, even Midsomer Murders at a push. But Line of Duty is in a different league, because it makes the viewer think. With its fast-paced action, intense interrogation scenes, complicated twists and turns, red herrings and so many acronyms, you'll need a PhD to know your OCGs from UCOs, it really puts your brain to work. Pop out to make a cup of tea mid-episode and you could miss a vital look, a word or a key character getting chucked over the stairs. I first stumbled upon LoD back in 2012 when it was launched on BBC2 with little fanfare. In series one, the three central characters were DS Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston, Vicky McClure's DC Kate Fleming and flawed 'super-cop' DCI Tony Gates, played by Lennie James. AC-12 boss, Superintendent Ted Hastings, played by Fermanagh man Adrian Dunbar, had a lesser role but as the show began to gain momentum, that changed. Ted Hastings, of course, is now a national treasure and his colloquialisms are as legendary as the man himself. 'Now we're suckin' diesel' had non-Norn Iron viewers scratching their heads and rushing to Twitter to decipher what the heck Hastings was on about. If Ted turns out to be the fourth member of H, the bendiest of bent coppers, I'll issue a REG-15 on Mercurio myself. In its BBC Two home, Line of Duty became the channel's best-performing drama in 10 years. Its move to BBC One in 2017 saw even more viewers tune in. The finale of series four, featuring Thandie Newton in the guest role as the cop under suspicion, drew in a whopping audience of 10 million. Each series Mercurio pulls off a master-stroke when it comes to casting his guest actors. Stars like James, Newton, Keeley Hawes, Daniel Mays, Stephen Graham and this season's Kelly Macdonald, are all brilliant at their craft. But it's the core team of AC-12, on its relentless quest for those bent coppers, that is the glue that holds this show together. Let's hope they don't become unstuck when 'H' is finally revealed.


The UK is on the verge of reaching the major milestone of giving more than 50% of the adult population their first dose of coronavirus vaccine (Frank Augstein/PA)

The UK is on the verge of reaching the major milestone of giving more than 50% of the adult population their first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Government data up to March 18 suggests that 49.9% of the population aged 18 and over have received a first dose, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson received his first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, a rise in coronavirus infections has led to countries across Europe imposing tougher restrictions, with UK scientists concerned about outbreaks of the South African variant.

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Government sources said the UK needs to be wary of what is happening in Europe because in the past that has led to a rise here a few weeks later, although how things will pan out is uncertain.

European countries are seeing pockets of the South African variant, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against this variant.

In the UK, hospital admissions and deaths are still coming down due to the effect of vaccines, but there are worries that cases could rise quickly once restrictions are eased.

Experts believe there will be an increasing disconnect between cases and hospital admissions and deaths going forward, as vaccines work to keep people from dying.

Regarding foreign holidays this summer, Government scientists say it is still unclear what will happen, but the risk of importing cases and variants comes from countries with a higher prevalence than the UK.

On Friday, Mr Johnson gave a double thumbs-up to mark his vaccination as he was given the jab at Westminster Bridge Vaccination Centre at St Thomas Hospital in central London shortly after 6.30pm.

Leaving hospital he told reporters: I literally did not feel a thing and so it was very good, very quick and I cannot recommend it too highly.

Everybody, when you get your notification to go for a jab please go and get it. It is the best thing for you, best thing for your family and for everybody else.

The Prime Minister had previously dismissed concerns it was linked to blood clots, and told the nation it was safe at a press briefing on Thursday.

Mr Johnson was treated in the intensive care unit at St Thomas Hospital in April last year after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

His jab comes as England became the first of the four UK nations to pass the milestone of giving a first dose of vaccine to more than 50% of the adult population.

A total of 22,337,590 people had been given a first jab as of March 18, according to NHS England.

This is the equivalent of 50.5% of the population of England aged 18 and over, based on the latest estimates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A separate milestone has been passed in Wales, where one in 10 of the total population is likely to have had both doses of the vaccine.

Expand Close Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a double thumbs up after receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine (Frank Augstein/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a double thumbs up after receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine (Frank Augstein/PA)

In Europe, the French government announced that new lockdown restrictions would be imposed on Paris from midnight on Friday due to an increase in cases.

Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was facing a third wave of the pandemic, adding the new measures will last for four weeks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany may need to apply an emergency break on relaxing restrictions amid a rise in infections.

Poland begins a new three-week lockdown on Saturday, with shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities closed, while other countries including Italy and Spain have opted for curfews in a bid to reduce the rate of transmission.

Earlier, Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said the UK must keep the South African Covid-19 variant at bay as some European countries reported a third wave of infections.

Prof Ferguson, who spurred the UKs decision to go into lockdown last March, warned that a group of European countries are seeing increasing levels of coronavirus cases.

I've just received my first Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine dose.



Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS staff and volunteers who helped make this happen.



Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much.



Let's get the jab done. pic.twitter.com/mQCTMAkB8d  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 19, 2021

Perhaps more concern for the UK though is that some countries are notably seeing a significant fraction, 5-10% of cases, of the South African variant, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

That is the variant we really do want to keep out of the UK.

A study published on Thursday by Oxford University suggested that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs could struggle against the South African variant and may end up offering limited protection.

Researchers said the South African variant should be the focus of any efforts to create new vaccines that may be needed next winter.

Prof Ferguson said there are important decisions coming up with regards to dealing with variants, including how much the ban on international travel is relaxed.

One way of dealing with variants may be through introducing testing of people coming into the country, he suggested, but added: These are policy decisions.

Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Countries including France, Germany and Italy have also began restarting their vaccine programmes with the AstraZeneca jab  reversing earlier decisions to suspend them over blood clot concerns.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will resume in Ireland on Saturday, the Health Service Executive has announced.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said: We welcome the review by the European Medicines Agency and the positive outcome.

We will now put in place the updated information and advice recommended by NIAC, and begin rescheduling vaccinations starting with a relatively modest number tomorrow (Saturday).

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and effective and its benefits in preventing Covid-19 hospital admission and death greatly outweighed potential risks.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have said that the jab is safe and have encouraged people to take up their vaccine appointments.

In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has urged people to watch a potential Wales rugby Six Nations Grand Slam at home within their household.

He added: The last thing we want is to mark a potential Grand Slam weekend with a surge in Covid cases.
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian congratulated President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the occasion of Nowruz (New Year), the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

In his letter President Sarkissian expressed confidence that the multilateral relations between Armenia and Kazakhstan, which are based on firm friendship and mutual understanding, will continue to develop consistently.

He wished his Kazakh counterpart and his family good health, happiness and success, and to the good people of Kazakhstan  peace and prosperity.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Mumbai, March 20 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) early Saturday attempted to 'recreate' the crime scene in which a SUV (Scorpio) with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat note, was parked near the Antilia, the home of top industrialist Mukesh Ambani, officials said.

The NIA ferried arrested Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Vaze -- currently in its custody till March 25 -- to the spot and tried to play out the crime scene, as it could have happened, around half a kilometre away from Antilia.

Secured by a large posse of Mumbai Police, the NIA made Vaze 'walk down the road' near Antilia from the spot where the SUV was recovered, to check his gait, movement, timings, etc, to tally with the investigations and evidence collected so far in the case.

This was an important field probe trip for NIA with Vaze who has previously been taken to various other locations in Mumbai and Thane to recreate the entire set of circumstances culminating in the SUV imbroglio on February 25.

The NIA has till date seized around six high-end cars/SUVs, including two Mercedes, a Scorpio, an Innova and a Toyota LandCruiser Prado, which are undergoing special forensic tests by an expert team from Pune.

While some of these vehicles were used by Vaze some were also driven by Thane businessman Mansukh Hiren, who was found dead in the Thane Creek wetlands on March 5.

The development came hours after an NIA team comprising IGP Anil Shukla and SP Vikram Khalate met the new Mumbai Commissioner of Police Hemant Nagrale, Joint CP (Crime) Milind Bharambe and DCP (Crime) Akbar Pathan, at the police commissionerate on Friday.

The NIA is probing the SUV case while the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad is investigating the Hiren death matter.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
ANALYSIS: Canada has several immigration options to support the settlement of French-speaking foreign nationals outside of Quebec.

Immigrate to Canada as a French speaker ANALYSIS: Canada has several immigration options to support the settlement of French-speaking foreign nationals outside of Quebec.

Immigrate to Canada as a French speaker ANALYSIS: Canada has several immigration options to support the settlement of French-speaking foreign nationals outside of Quebec.

Immigrate to Canada as a French speaker ANALYSIS: Canada has several immigration options to support the settlement of French-speaking foreign nationals outside of Quebec. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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For several years, the Government of Canada has been stepping up its efforts to attract Francophone immigrants to communities outside Quebec.

These efforts are driven by declines in francophone populations across the country and the importance of ensuring their survival and reversing a trend that is threatening the very fabric of Canadas linguistic dualityconsisting of both English and French speakers.

Typically, French-speaking foreign nationals will consider Quebec as an immigration destination of choice in Canada. Quebec is the only province in Canada where French is the only official language and approximately 80 per cent of Quebecers speak French as a first language, according to Statistics Canada. Canadas Francophone community, however, extends far beyond Quebecs borders to numerous communities across the country.

To ensure the vitality and sustainability of these communities, Francophone and Acadian associations have been working hard to attract, recruit, welcome and integrate Francophone newcomers.

In 2018, the Government of Canada set a target of 4.4 per cent of Francophone immigrants settling outside Quebec by 2023. The Immigration Department has also invested additional funds in settlement services for Francophone immigrants in recent years. Most recently, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) started giving Francophone and bilingual applicants more points in the Express Entry system.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

Francophone immigration outside Quebec in 2020

Recent efforts lead to steady growth in the number of francophone newcomer settlements across Canada. This, of course, until last year where almost all provinces saw a decline in the number of new Francophone permanent residents in 2020, according to government data.

For example, Alberta recorded 465 new Francophone permanent residents in 2020, compared to 600 in 2019, a decrease of about 23 per cent. New Brunswick saw a decline of more than 25 per cent. Ontario, which has the largest francophone population outside of Quebec, saw a 35 per cent drop in new permanent residents last year.

Only 184,370 new immigrants came to Canada in 2020, well below IRCCs target of 341,000. This was the weakest year for Canadian immigration since 1998. Still, the strong start to the current year suggests that Canada is well-positioned to meet its ambitious goal of welcoming 401,000 immigrants by the end of the year.

Can speaking French be an asset when immigrating to a Canadian province other than Quebec?

The answer to this question is yes.

This is true not only for getting a work permit but also for those seeking to immigrate to Canada permanently.

In 2016, Canada launched a work permit option called Mobilite Francophone as the latest addition to the International Mobility Program (IMP). Mobilite Francophone aims to facilitate the hiring of skilled French or bilingual workers for employers in certain regions of Canada outside the province of Quebec.

The stream expedites the process when hiring French-speaking or bilingual foreign workers in management, professional, technical or skilled trades positions if the job offer is located in a French-speaking minority community outside of Quebec. It allows Canadian employers to skip the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process, which is often required when hiring foreign talent.

When it comes to permanent residency, Francophones receive additional points under Canadas main skilled worker immigrant selection system, called Express Entry. Designed to select applicants who meet the criteria of the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the system recognizes French language skills and awards points for high levels of French language proficiency. This means that between two applicants with similar work experience and academic backgrounds, an applicant who is proficient in French will have a better chance than one who is proficient only in English.

In addition to the Express Entry system, Canada has a successful Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Provincial governments administer their own unique immigration programs, and some have streams specifically designed to recruit French speakers and help them integrate into francophone communities. Such is the case of Ontarios French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which allows Express Entry candidates with advanced-intermediate French ability to get an enhanced OINP provincial nomination.

Nova Scotia also invites French-speaking candidates through its Labour Market Priorities Stream.

In addition, PNPs allow candidates to submit test results confirming French ability for PNP streams in which language ability is a factor. Essentially, French language skills are considered no less valuable than English language skills in many PNP streams.

What is the best way to immigrate to Canada as a Francophone?

It depends on your goals.

If you want to study, there are dozens of reputable institutions across Canada that offer quality French or bilingual education and programs at both the college and university levels. The work permit route will allow you to get a job, and therefore have some economic and financial security when you come to Canada. Once in Canada, if you enjoy the experience, you can begin to explore permanent immigration options. If, on the other hand, you absolutely want to immigrate and do not want to be limited by the conditions of a work permit, applying for permanent residence in the first instance may be the best option for you.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Growing up in the volatile economy in Hawaii, I was used to seeing businesses come and go. Small businesses might thrive in the beginning, lose their novelty, and then slowly fade away. Other local staples would become statewide chains, and they eventually would lose their homestyle feel and appeal.

Every shop seemed ephemeral. Except one, which seemed permanent as our daily bread: Loves Bakery.

Loves Bakery made the buns for our barbecues. The stuffing at our Thanksgiving. The doughnuts at our parties. Its iconic red-and-white-checkered packaging, ingrained in my childhood memories, conjures up celebrations, family and home. It seemed like Loves always had a seat at the table, in my family, and in the history of Hawaii.

But after years of decline, and a devastating gut punch from COVID-19, Hawaii received the dreaded news: On March 31, Loves will cease all operations.

Loves products were familiar and ubiquitous. It supplied our local grocery stores, schools, hotels and restaurants with breads and baked goods. It also supported the Hawaii Foodbank and many other local nonprofit groups. When it closes later this month, nearly 1,800 customer accounts will be permanently discontinued, which amounts to 400,000 loaves distributed weekly. This will mean that many local managers will need to restructure their supply chains, which officials warn will drive up their costs.

Its the trickle-down effect, Hawaii Restaurant Association Executive Director Sheryl Matsuoka said in a KHON2 interview. As the hotels and restaurants are not open, then, of course, we are not ordering from Loves, and now this is one of the casualties of this pandemic.

The company blames COVID-19 for its demise. By the end of the month, the production lines will sputter to a halt, and the deliveries it has made for more than a century will stop. Itll also be laying off all 231 of its employees.

Loves local management is committed to closing its doors in a responsible manner. We wish to thank all of our employees, suppliers, customers, friends, neighbors, and business partners for their loyalty and support, the company said in a statement to the media.

Wendy A./Yelp

Loves was originally named Biscuit & Bread Co. and was founded in 1851. Its name comes from its founder, Robert Love, a Scottish baker who immigrated from Sydney, Australia.

To put those 170 years in context, the company predates the Civil War, the 1918 flu pandemic and the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. When Love started the company, King Kamehameha III was the king of Hawaii.

The city of Honolulu, at the time, looked very different. There were only about 10,000 residents, compared to the nearly 340,000 that live here now. Foreign laborers were just starting to arrive, the islands first post office had just opened, and Hawaii transhipped whale oil and bone.

Loves bakery, in some ways, grew and struggled with the island, and the world. It sold bread before the invention of the Model T, before the first Wright Brothers flight and before the 19th amendment, which allowed women to vote. Furthermore, Loves was making bread when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

In fact, many of the major events in Hawaiis history played a role in the companys evolution and growth. The two world wars, for example, created a demand so large for bread and baked goods that it decided to run its bakery 24 hours a day at the time.

As the island grew, Loves expanded, adopting a wholesale model by 1932. Then, to respond to increased demand for bread and baked goods during World War II, it opened a new plant in Kapahulu, Hawaii, in 1943. It featured a 144-foot-long oven that put out 8,000 loaves an hour. The company claimed that it was the biggest in the world at the time.

By 1945, Loves was flying its products to neighboring islands by charter plane. The bakery called the plane a flying bakery truck.

During these periods, Loves brand image and presence in Hawaii survived, despite alternating ownership. The Love family owned the bakery until 1968. They eventually sold it to ITT Continental Baking, which held on for 13 years before selling it to First Baking Co. of Japan in 1981. By 2008, managers at the firm returned ownership to local investors in Hawaii, which they promised would bring new investment to upgrade the company to adapt for the future.

Nat N./Yelp

In more recent years, though, local competition started to heat up. La Tour Cafe, a growing wholesale and retail bakery, expanded from its Oahu Chinatown origins. It recently acquired contracts with Costco, Whole Foods and Hawaiian Airlines, among others, to purchase its baked goods and desserts.

We have worked diligently to cut expenses, to maintain our market share and to remedy our operational difficulties, however under the current business environment we are no longer able to continue operations, Loves Bakery said, in a statement to the media.

But Love's always felt like Hawaiis bakery, so the announcement of its closure set a new tone for the future of Hawaiis economic prospects.

Loves said it was seriously delinquent on rent costs. It also said that it did not qualify for another round of receiving a Payment Protection Program loan. A first PPP loan that it received in April provided the bakery with about $2.8 million, according to government records. Loves reported using all of it on payroll expenses.

Loves was not the only business in Hawaii to struggle, of course; many other businesses have been forced to close their doors during the pandemic. Through April to September, 43% of businesses experienced extreme hardship covering rent costs, another 40% struggled with covering payroll and another 36.7% struggled with covering operating expenses, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. More than one in 10 companies had permanently closed by September, according to a survey on Yelp.

James M./Yelp

Loves also blamed Hawaiis geographic isolation for its struggles, citing supply-chain disruptions as one of the main reasons for closing.

COVID-19 has also impacted many of our mainland suppliers causing delays in the ingredients and replacement parts for our aging bakery equipment, its Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter and Hawaii Dislocated Workers Act notice said. With the decline in revenue and the increasing expenses to keep a bakery running, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations as a faltering business.

Loves hired Oahu Auctions to liquidate its equipment and fixtures in April. Where all its employees will go when the business shutters is something well have to wait and see.

The closure, in retrospect, looks like a direct case study for Hawaiis leaders and entrepreneurs. After 170 years, Loves bakery stood the test of time, but in the aftermath of the pandemic, it could not maintain its ability to be a self-sustaining business. To move forward, the next businesses will need to grow into the economies of scale that Loves had, work with local suppliers and competitors, and also diversify its clientele.

For the rest of us in Hawaii, well need to reckon with all these business closures. And with so many of them, there will be opportunities for the next batch of entrepreneurs to restructure our economy. In that sense, well have the opportunity to fall in love with new businesses.

For now, though, all we can do is say farewell to our beloved bakery, and begin to imagine a Hawaii without it.

Nathan Bek is a finance and journalism major at UH Manoa. He is the former CEO of Lucys Lab Creamery, and he is the current chair of the Calvin Shindo Student Venture Fund at UH.
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The start of 2021 marked a new chapter in the life of John Bondura.

Bondura, of New Philadelphia, put away his handcuffs and gun and retired on Dec. 31 after 32 years as a Pennsylvania state constable.

In January 1988, while serving as a per-diem fish warden for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, he realized he needed a full-time job and the corresponding income.

Becoming a constable interested him and, with assistance from now-retired Magisterial District Judge Earl Matz, he was appointed as a constable by the Schuylkill County Court.

Bondura said he subsequently became certified as a state constable. Constables are elected in the respective municipalities in which they live, but do not have the authority that a state constable has in performing work for the courts.

Busy, varied career

Bondura said that over his 32 years he has carried out over 100,000 jobs for the courts in Schuylkill County, including serving landlord tenant and civil complaints; arrest warrants; protection from abuse orders; and subpoenas.

He has also served paperwork for courts in other areas of the country that needed his services in Schuylkill County.

I served papers for Alaska, Maricopa County, Arizona, the Michigan Supreme Court and the New York State Superior Court, Bondura said.

He also served papers for magisterial district judges in counties other than Schuylkill.

There are 500-plus magistrates in Pennsylvania and I have worked for 92; thats one fifth of the magistrates in the state, Bondura said. We (constables) do anything the courts generate and need us to serve.

Bondura said constables have a rich history in Pennsylvania, being the first law enforcement officials in the 1600s. Constables would patrol their areas keeping the peace, lighting street lamps and performing other duties.

He said that, although constables today do a variety of jobs for the courts, their main duty is to provide protection and peace at election polling sites for the primary and general elections.

Bondura watched the polling sites in New Philadelphia where he was reelected constable numerous times since being appointed in 1988.

Moreover, he said constables not only have the power to do everything police officers do, such as placing wanted persons under arrest, but are also trained and versed in landlord and civil law.

The position requires 40 hours of yearly training  20 hours of classroom and 20 hours of firearms instruction  that is mandated by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

We do constant training and updates the same way as police officers do and our boss is basically the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, he said.

A lot has changed

Bondura, 64, said that when he started the job, most people respected law enforcement.

Society today is more hostile to authority, he said. A lot has changed.

Nevertheless, those on whom he is sent to serve paperwork are not all bad people, Bondura said.

There are a lot of good people out there that just get into a situation that needs to be addressed, he said. Everybody is not bad. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.

Bondura professed no regrets about becoming a constable and will miss working with the magisterial district judges and their staffs.

When you deal with someone for over 30 years, you get to know them and they become your extended family, Bondura said. They become part of your family and that I will miss.

He has fond memories of working with the many magisterial district judges throughout his career, including David A. Plachko in Port Carbon.

Bondura will be missed by his office, the judge said.

J.B. was my constable since my first days in office, Plachko said. He was a trusted public servant that provided invaluable services to my court and constituency.

His knowledge and advice on constable issues will certainly be missed and I wish him the best as he enjoys his retirement.

Although he will not be serving the courts any more, Bondura plans to run for constable in his hometown in this years election.

I will be just in New Philadelphia and be there for two elections a year, he joked.

The decision to retire from his position as state constable, Bondura said, was not a hard one to make.

He and his wife, Georgeann, who retired after serving as a clerk for Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker in Shenandoah, will now have more time together.

The time and stress is not there anymore, Bondura said of retirement. I highly recommend it.
Homeless Man Stole $10,000 Worth of Tools From Construction Site, so Company Owner Hires Him

A homeless man who walked away with an estimated $10,000 worth of tools from a construction site later returned to the scene of the crime to make amends. The business owner was livid, but soon had a change of heart and hired the thief.

Surveillance footage caught 33-year-old Travis Sueyoshi stealing from a TSW Fabrication construction site on Koaki Street in Waipahu, Hawaii, on two separate occasions in January. Owner John Paul Cates was understandably vexed by the theft.

We work hard for our stuff. Its a family business, he told Hawaii News Now. I was like, were going to find this guy. Cates posted fliers around the neighborhood offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who could identify the tool thief.

Surveillance footage shows 33-year-old Travis Sueyoshi stealing from a TSW Fabrication construction site on Koaki Street in Waipahu, Hawaii, in January. (Courtesy of John Paul Cates)

Three days later, Sueyoshi returned to the site a third time, not for another break-in, but to confess that he was the one. He claims he was having a hard time, which led him to commit the transgression.

I felt wrong for what I did, he said.

Cates recalled, He said, Ill work it off. Ill do whatever. Somewhere in that conversation, the moment changed.

The business owner had a better idea.

Rather than calling the police, or enlisting the homeless man to work off his debt, Cates hired him.

We really want him to grow with us, Cates explained. And we really want to find a place for him to lay his head at night. A legitimate place.

Cates told The Epoch Times: If left up to me, I hate anyone that steals from me, and as a human I wanted retribution for such. However, as a believer in Christ and in salvation, my heart changed for Travis and something inspired me to help change his life, as opposed to further the bad road he was heading down.

Since being hired late January, Sueyoshi has shown up dutifully at 7 a.m. every morning, despite having no home or means of transportation. He takes his responsibilitieskeeping the site clean and well-organizedvery seriously.

Cates hopes his new employee will eventually take up steel working as a trade, and he is already practicing his construction skills.

Travis Sueyoshi after being hired on by TSW Fabrication. (Courtesy of John Paul Cates)

Part of me hopes I last long with [TSW Fabrication], and I become one of these guys on the roof, he said. Once back on his feet, Sueyoshi, a father of three, hopes to reconnect with his kids.

After more than a month, he is still with the company and seems to be doing better.

The owner insists his gesture was not about him or his company but about Gods mercy in spite of wrongdoing. And that is the most important part.

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Weve assumed for years that more telecommuting and other flexible work schedules could benefit the mental health of employees and pay dividends for the environment and everybody's cost of doing business.

The Great Work From Home Experiment of 2020 didnt just confirm that in many cases its quite doable and that its not always ideal  in no small part because it inhibits relationship-building and the spontaneous conversations that can spur creativity. It also gave attentive managers (and employees) an idea of which situations dont work as well as expected and which work better than expected, and how to improve the outcome  and to know when it cant be improved.

Workers at 25% of SC agencies will be back in-person March 15. All will return by April 5. One out of four state agencies  including several of South Carolina's largest  will have workers back to their job sites full-time a little more than a week after an order from Gov. Henry McMaster.

Smart employers are using that information to adjust their workplaces  shuttering brick-and-mortar offices in some cases, trading for smaller spaces that accommodate a blend of in-person and remote work in others and returning to an all or nearly all in-person workforce in others.

Were glad to learn that state government is doing the same  although in a slower, more deliberate way than businesses and nonprofits.

State employees started moving back to their offices last summer; only 27% who worked for state agencies were still telecommuting when Gov. Henry McMaster ordered them to return to the office this month, although 45% of higher education employees were still working from home.

S.C. law long has allowed telecommuting where agencies can demonstrate that its cost-effective and efficient, but only a few hundred of the 75,000 state employees used that option before the pandemic. And theyre the only ones who will be allowed to continue telecommuting, absent special pandemic-related circumstances, for the time being.

But State Human Resources Director Karen Wingo tells us that the governors order for nearly all employees to be back in the office by this past week came with the expectation that the Department of Administration would evaluate the lessons from the pandemic, look strategically at telecommuting for state government and develop more robust guidance over the next several months to help state agencies decide whether and how to allow more telecommuting.

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That guidance needs to take into account more than the traditional and immediate efficiency savings  recognizing, for example, that although its the employee who saves time and money from not driving to and from the office every day, our environment benefits from less carbon pollution, and taxpayers benefit if enough people stay home to reduce wear and tear on our roads and even reduce the need to widen or build more roads.

We got behind the idea of more telecommuting in 2019, when the Charleston Regional Development Alliance launched an effort to encourage major employers to shift their hours, try compressed work weeks and allow more employees to telecommute, noting that if just 4% of commuters either stayed home or avoided rush hour, we could take 6,700 vehicles off the road. Thats the equivalent of adding a lane along the length of I-526. And similar benefits could be realized in any of our largest cities.

The biggest challenge for state government telecommuting, Ms. Wingo says, is that our mission is to be accessible to the citizens of the state of South Carolina, which means more of them need to be physically present in the office than would be the case in businesses.

The other challenge is being able to do what every employer needs to do  determine which employees have the self-discipline to work from home, and which need the motivation of a manager nearby to be productive  but doing it in a way that complies with personnel rules that require people who do the same job to be treated the same. Working that out will be essential, and if it requires changing not just procedures but laws, the Legislature will need to do that.

The other thing the Legislature needs to do is make it clear that while most state employees probably will need to continue to work from the office most if not all of the time, it expects state agencies to be aggressive about at least giving employees the option of working from home.
Burma Number of Civilians Slain by Juntas Forces Grows As High School Student, Mother Among Killed

People carry Aung Kaung Htet after he was shot on Saturday in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy

With the deaths of a high school student and the mother of three children, the total number of civilians slain by Myanmars military regime has reached 238.

The two were among seven killed on late Friday night and Saturday by the juntas security forces.

Since early February, the junta has staged fatal crackdowns on protesters across the country who are opposed to military rule. Myanmars armed forces seized power in a coup on Feb. 1.

The regimes deadly response to civilian opposition has sent shock waves internationally, prompting condemnations from the United Nations and the leaders of a number of Western countries as well as some in Southeast Asia.

Saturday marked the sixth week of protest against the regime. Despite the bloody crackdowns and arrests, Saturdays protests across the country provided evidence that the anti-regime movement is not on the wane.

Aung Kaung Htet,15, of Yangons Thaketa Township, proved that with his life.

His neighbors remembered the high school student as a very active boy who had taken part in every anti-regime protest in the area since February.

Locals said soldiers and police stormed into their neighborhood about 3 p.m. when protesters, including Aung Kaung Htet, were already dispersing.

They sprayed live rounds for nearly 10 minutes, a witness told The Irrawaddy.

A bullet pierced Aung Kuang Htets cheek before exiting through his neck. Despite being rushed to a hospital, the boy didnt make it, becoming one of the youngest martyrs of the anti-regime protest.

A few hours before the high school student was hit, Ko Thet Paing Soe, 28, lay in the pool of blood in Kyaukmyoung in Tamwe Township in Yangon after being hit in the head by a bullet from security forces. His family held his funeral in a rush,within hours after his death, for they feared that police and soldiers would come to seize the body. Security forces have done that in some cases.

In Myanmars upcountry town Pakokku in Magwe Region, Daw Malar Win, 39, stepped out of her home to learn what was going on when she heard gunfire in her neighborhood on Friday night. It turned out that police and soldiers had launched an assault on people who had taken to the street in defiance.

She is just an onlooker. She couldnt run when soldiers stormed into the street and was beaten. She was on her knees and pleaded with them not to arrest her, a witness told The Irrawaddy.

But the mother of three children was hit in her thigh, beaten and taken away. On Saturday morning, her family was told to retrieve her body.

There are bruises on her face. Its evident that she was tortured [while in] custody, said a student union member who helped the family retrieve the body.

On the same night in Yangon, Ko Kyaw Zwa and Ko Myo Myint Aung, 27, were on their neighborhood watch duty to alert residents in case of night raids by thugs and soliders in Hlaing Township. Soldiers and police arrived about 10:30 p.m. and started shooting.

Ko Myo Myint Aung was shot when he rushed to help Ko Kyaw Zwa who was [had been hit] in the head. He was hit in the arm-pit, and the doctor said the bullet his pierced lungs and heart, a family member confirmed to The Irrawaddy.

The military-owned Myawady Television channel said two men died as soldiers and police fired warning shots in Hlaing Township on just to scare off those who attacked security forces.

In Myanmars ruby town Moggok in Mandalay Region, 26-year-old Ko Naing Lin Aung faced the same fate when he was on neighborhood vigilante duty on Friday night.

On Saturday in Bago, a town in north of Yangon, a man was shot dead after being hit in the head. Three people were wounded by security force gunfire.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the continuing brutal violence by the military in Myanmar.

He said the military continued to defy calls, including by the Security Council, to end violations of fundamental human rights and return to the path of democracy. He added that a firm, unified international response was urgently needed.

In response to the military brutal responses to protesters, Indonesia President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called for a special ASEAN summit to address the situation, in the member country.

You may also like these stories:

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On Thursday, Helen Shih was doing the kind of work thats occupied much of her time since the novel coronavirus was identified in Wuhan, China in late 2019: trying to help Asian Americans in the Houston area cope with both the pandemic and the scapegoating that many have faced because of their ethnicity.

Two days earlier, a man had gone on a killing spree in the Atlanta area, killing eight people at three spas. Seven of the victims were women, and six were Asian, with four being of Korean descent. So there was a vigil to organize, among other things.

It was a shock to me but it was also not a surprise, because I felt like something like this was going to happen, said Shih, a medical pharmacist based in Pearland who serves on the board of United Chinese Americans. Its not a matter of if its going to happen  its a matter of when.

The suspect, a 21-year-old white man, reportedly denied that the slayings were racially motivated, telling law enforcement officers that he has suffered from sex addiction and was trying to eliminate a source of temptation.

Some seem to have taken that claim at face value, as if the word of an alleged mass murderer carries more weight than the plain facts. A spokesman for the Cherokee County, Ga., sheriffs office told reporters that the suspect had a bad day, and this is what he did.

People are very angry and frustrated, Shih told me.

HOUSTON REACTS: 'Stop Asian Hate' vigil, rally held at Discovery Green

Many, she added, were having doubts about how much they trust the criminal justice system to handle this case, especially given the comments about the suspects supposed sex addiction, and the implication that his decision to target these three spas should be understood in that context: A lot of this put the burden back on the community, as if Asian women are to be blamed.

That anger and frustration are entirely understandable, as is the grief and fear many Asian-Americans are feeling in the wake of the spa shootings  and not for the first time.

Its been more than a year since the first cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the United States, a threat that became real for many in our area when the Houston Rodeo was shut down on March 11, 2020. This entire time, advocates for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons have been sounding the alarm about the rhetoric used by some leaders to describe the situation.

Then-President Donald Trump led the charge last year, referring to COVID-19 as the Chinese Virus, and sometimes, even more belligerently, as Kung-Flu. This coarseness found an appreciative audience at his campaign rallies.

And even the more well-mannered members of his party, who were eschewing such language themselves, defended the presidents decision to peddle it. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, for example, defended Trumps use of the phrase the Chinese virus last year, even as he himself was referring to it as the coronavirus.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Deadly Atlanta shooting rocks Houston's Asian American community

China is to blame, Cornyn said in March 2020, after being asked about Trumps language, because the culture where people eat bats and snakes and dogs and things like that  these viruses are transmitted from the animal to the people, and thats why China has been the source of a lot of these viruses .

Even at the time, it was wrong  short-sighted as well as callous  to dismiss fears of Asian Americans being targeted as idle, or animated by an excess of politically correct sensitivity. On March 14 that year, three members of a Chinese-American family, including a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old, were stabbed at a Sams Club in Midland. A store employee was also injured in the attack, which the FBI quickly determined to be a hate crime.

The suspect indicated that he stabbed the family because he thought the family was Chinese, and infecting people with the coronavirus, the agency noted in a report, which was prepared by the FBIs Houston office and obtained by ABC News.

The report warned that the stabbing would likely not be an isolated incident: The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United Statesbased on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations.

That has sadly proved to be the case. On Monday, state Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat from Houston, introduced a resolution in the Texas House condemning anti-Asian racism. It notes that the group Stop AAPI Hate received more than 2,800 reports of anti-Asian discrimination between March 19 and Dec. 31, 2010, ranging from verbal assaults and shunning to physical assaults, including on elders.

The resolution is co-authored by the three other AAPI members of the chamber: Democrat Hubert Vo, also of Houston, and Republicans Angie Chen Button of Garland and Jacey Jetton of Richmond.

Some Republicans have arrived at the stance that Americans who object to such language are evincing a disdain for free speech.

U.S. Rep Chip Roy, a Republican who represents Texass 21st Congressional District, illustrated this attitude during a Thursday hearing on the Atlanta-area attacks held by the House Judiciary Committee.

There are old sayings in Texas about find all the rope in Texas and get a tall oak tree. We take justice very seriously. And we ought to do that. Round up the bad guys, said Roy, who was apparently quoting the Oklahoman Toby Keiths song Beer for My Horses rather than an old Texas saying, per se.

Roy continued: My concern about this hearing is that it seems to want to venture into the policing of rhetoric in a free society, free speech, and away from the rule of law and taking out bad guys.

His remarks drew a passionate rebuke from U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, a New York Democrat. Your president, your party and your colleagues can talk about issues with any other countries that you want, but you dont have to do it by putting a bulls eye on the back of Asian Americans across the country, on our grandparents, on our kids, she told Roy. This hearing was to address the hurt and pain of our community to find solutions, and we will not let you take our voice away from us.

You can, of course, believe in the rule of law and the pursuit of justice while also believing that the broader community has a role to play in upholding a climate of respect for each others dignity and humanity.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Let's focus on coronavirus solutions rather than blaming China

I recalled a comment Shih made a year ago, when we were all coming to terms with what the pandemic might mean. She and other AAPI community leaders were already warning about the harm that Trumps incendiary rhetoric  widely seen as a way of deflecting blame from his administrations botched handling of the public health crisis  might bring.

Its really not fair to us, Shih said at the time.

Thats right. It isnt fair that Asian-Americans have been breezily targeted this way and that even now, in the wake of a mass murder that targeted these three particular businesses, that were being asked to reserve judgment about the suspects motives  as if misogyny were separable from racism, in any case.

It remains the case that glib rhetoric about the Chinese virus serves no useful purpose, and contributes to a climate of casual vilification that has real and tragic consequences for our neighbors well-being, livelihood and lives.

erica.grieder@chron.com
Senior U.S. and Chinese officials concluded Friday what Washington called "tough and direct" talks in Alaska that laid bare the depth of tensions between the world's two largest economies at the outset of the Biden administration.

The run-up to the talks in Anchorage, which followed visits by U.S. officials to allies Japan and South Korea, was marked by a flurry of moves by Washington that showed it was taking a firm stance, as well as by blunt talk from Beijing warning the United States to discard illusions that it would compromise.

"We expected to have tough and direct talks on a wide range of issues, and that's exactly what we had," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters moments after the Chinese delegation left the hotel meeting room.

 'Defensive Response'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, standing beside Sullivan, said he was not surprised that the United States got a "defensive response" from China after it raised its concerns about Chinese human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as cyberattacks and pressure on Taiwan.

But Blinken said the two sides also had intersecting interests on Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and climate change. "On economics, on trade, on technology, we told our counterparts that we are reviewing these issues with close consultation with Congress, with our allies and partners, and we will move forward on them in a way that totally protects and advances the interests of our workers and our businesses," Blinken said.

Members of China's delegation left the hotel without speaking to reporters.
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Britain reported 96 more coronavirus deaths on Saturday, taking the number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive test result to 126,122, daily government figures showed.

A further 5,587 people have tested positive for the disease, up 1 per cent from last Saturday's figure of 5,534.

Last Saturday, 121 deaths were recorded, meaning fatalities have fallen by 21 per cent in seven days.

Today's figures marked only the fourth time since the second wave that deaths have dipped to double figures. The last Saturday to see double figures was on October 10.

The figures come as Britain today passed a huge milestone in its fight against coronavirus as the number of adults to have been given a vaccine passed the halfway point - a day after the country recorded a record number of daily jabs.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed the 'national success story' and reiterated that it was 'our way out of this pandemic'.

Government data up to March 18 shows 49.9 per cent of adults had a first dose of the vaccine, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark. Those figures are expected to be updated later today.

Yesterday the vaccine drive hit a record high after 660,276 doses were dished out across the country in the previous 24 hours.

Elsewhere in the crisis:

A top British scientist who is leading Covid-19 vaccine research warned the Government faces a 'challenge' to deliver all second jabs within 12 weeks due to supply issues;

Ursula von der Leyen threatened to halt exports of AstraZeneca vaccines if the EU does not receive its deliveries first, in a worsening row over delayed shipments that has caused international tensions;

A government scientist warned foreign trips are 'extremely unlikely' for Britons this summer as Europe struggles to control a surge in coronavirus cases;

Politicians across the House of Commons have called for Priti Patel to change coronavirus legislation to allow protests despite lockdown;

Billionaire tax exiles, an oil-rich nation and Saudi royals have claimed millions of pounds under the furlough scheme, an investigation reveals;

Boris Johnson yesterday joined the millions of vaccinated Britons after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab;

Angela Merkel said she will have the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after lifting her government's ban in a stunning U-turn;

Today's new cases figure brings the total number of coronavirus infections since the stat of the pandemic to 4,291,271.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 148,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

Mr Hancock said today: 'I'm absolutely delighted to tell you that we have now vaccinated half of all adults in the united kingdom.

'It's a huge success and I want to say many, many thanks to all those involved, including the half of all adults who have come forward.'

He added: 'The UK vaccination programme is a big success story. It's down to the hard work of many, many people.'

The vaccine programme had been steadily gaining pace this week, after 529,119 total doses were given out on Tuesday and 581,855 on Wednesday.

Some 26.2million Britons have now received their first dose, the equivalent of half the adult population in Britain, and two million have received both injections.

Despite the promising week, the NHS is gearing up for a significant shortage of vaccine doses next month due to supply issues in India.

The figures come as Britain today passed a huge milestone in its fight against coronavirus as the number of adults to have been given a vaccine passed the halfway point - a day after the country recorded a record number of daily jabs. Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) hailed the 'national success story' and reiterated that it was 'our way out of this pandemic'

A shipment of five million Oxford shots has been delayed, for reasons have not been made clear, with No10 holding talks with New Delhi to get the roll-out back on track.

It means Britons over 40 who were expecting to be called for their appointments next month will need to wait until at least May. Ministers are instead prioritising current stock for over-50s and for people due their second doses.

Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome, welcomed the vaccine milestone.

He said: 'To have vaccinated half of the UK's adult population in under 3 months is remarkable. Soon we'll have covered 99 per cent of those at high risk of dying from Covid-19. The UK should be proud of this achievement and the scientists, healthcare workers and volunteers who got us here.

'But we need to start thinking beyond our borders. The UK has access to 100 million surplus vaccine doses. Almost enough to vaccinate every citizen twice. These doses won't be of use in the UK. It's time we begin sharing doses with those most in need globally.

'This is more than a question of ethics  it is a scientific and economic imperative. If left to spread unchecked in large parts of the world, the virus risks mutating to an extent where our vaccines and treatments no longer work  leaving us all exposed. Science has given us the exit strategy, but it will only work if its benefits can reach the maximum number of people around the world.

NHS England figures show 79 per cent of over-55s in the country had at least one dose of the vaccine by March 14, but London is significantly lagging behind in uptake

Statistics from the MHRA show that while 78 per cent of all first doses were Pfizer jabs between December 8 and January 24, this split reversed between February 7 and March 7 so that it only accounted for 34 per cent. Just nine per cent of all first doses in the week to March 7 (200,000) were supplied by Pfizer

'It is not enough to champion the importance of equitable access  we urgently need confirmed timetables for sharing doses through Covax. The UK should lead the way on this.'

Conservative MPs were also quick to congratulate Health Secretary Mr Hancock after the monumental vaccination figure was reached.

Baroness Morgan tweeted: 'A remarkable achievement - thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. For the first & last time ever I'm sorry not to be over 50!'

Conservative Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton, said: 'Half of all adults vaccinated - what a Herculean achievement!'

Tory Rob Butler posted: ''Vaccinating half of all adults in the UK is an astonishing achievement.' The MP for Aylesbury added: 'Thank you to everyone in & around Aylesbury for your contribution.'

MP for Bury St Edmunds Jo Churchill said: 'An incredible milestone - we have now vaccinated half of all adults in the UK. When you receive your invitation please #getthejab!'

And Conservative MP for BurySouth Christian Wakeford put: 'Might be waiting a bit for mine but this is a massive achievement. To everyone who has helped get us this far - Thank you.'

But in an unexpected blow for sun-starved Brits earlier today, Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new Covid variants which are less susceptible to vaccines.

The Warwick University professor, who is a member of the Spi-M modelling group, warned it means overseas jaunts for the average holidaymaker are in doubt.

Dr Tildesley told the Today programme: 'I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.

'I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country.

'What is really dangerous is if we jeopardise our vaccination campaign by having these variants where the vaccines don't work as effectively spreading more rapidly.'

The good vaccine news came as EU chief Ms von der Leyen threatened to halt exports of AstraZeneca jabs if the EU does not receive its deliveries first, as the row over delayed shipments that has caused international tensions deepened.

The EU chief told the pharmaceutical company it has to come through on deliveries to the bloc or it would block exports of jabs made on its turf.

In an interview with Germany's Funke media group she said: 'We have the option of banning a planned export.

'That's the message to AstraZeneca: you fulfil your contract with Europe first before you start delivering to other countries.'

Her warning came as the European Union struggled to speed up its Covid inoculation campaign, just as many member states are battling rising infection rates that have forced renewed restrictions.

France and Poland have both imposed partial lockdowns as cases begin to soar again in the countries.

Von der Leyen said AstraZeneca had delivered only 30 percent of the 90 million vaccine doses it had promised for the first quarter of the year.

The company has blamed production delays at its EU plants in Belgium and the Netherlands, but European officials are furious that AstraZeneca has been able to deliver its UK contract in full while falling short on the continent.

Britain does not rely on exports of AstraZeneca from the EU  with the vast majority of the UK's 100million jab order from the company being made at home with 10million made in India  but the bloc did block an export of 250,000 jabs to Australia at the start of the month.
Amid rise in new Covid-19 cases in the state, Tamil Nadu Government on Saturday ordered closure of schools for classes 9,10 and 11 from March 22 till further orders.

The state administration said the online classes will continue.

After 80 days, the number of new Covid-19 cases per day crossed 1,000 on Friday to touch 1,087 in Tamil Nadu, of which 421 are from Chennai. The number of active cases in the state stood at 6,690, while total positive cases were 8,64,450.

Across the state 73,201 samples were tested while 610 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals.

Nine people died on Friday due to Covid taking the number of total deaths to 12,582 till now.
CRESSONA  Parts for some of the vehicles that are sold at Sands Ford are made less than a few miles away at Hydro.

The pretty amazing fact that the production process comes full circle in Schuylkill County was highlighted with a tour Friday at the plant by dealership management.

Sands Ford owner Jarod Sands, sales manager Chris Halvin and service manager Vince Bobbin were able to see the parts up close, and they brought along the finished product  the Ford vehicles  for the Hydro employees to see.

Employees at the aluminum manufacturer make side and front frame rails for the electric Mustang Mach-E and roof rail support tubing for the F-150 pickup.

Ryan Braunsberg, Hydros automotive program launch manager, demonstrated the extrusion process used to create the parts, which are then shipped to Fords manufacturing facility in Dearborn, Michigan, for assembly.

The tour included stops in Hydros pressing room, where testing is done to check against Fords safety standards, and the newly opened Pressed 20 complex, where the vehicle parts are made.

Karen Reidler, in inside sales, and Matt Landis, Hydros outside regional manager for Ford products, were also part of the tour.

The aluminum tubes for the trucks have been made at Hydro since 2013 while production of parts for the Mustang, which is new to the automotive market, began in October.

Nyle Wallick, a lab supervisor at the plant who accompanied Sands, Halvin and Bobbin on the tour, said it was pretty amazing to see the product they made on tables next to the vehicles in which they are installed.

It was Wallick who gave Sands the idea to tour the facility. He had stopped by the dealership three weeks ago to look at vehicles and, in talking to Halvin, mentioned the aluminum parts in the vehicles were made at the plant.

Sands said he was impressed by the facility and the work that goes into making the extrusions.

I really liked the level of care, quality and testing they put in the product, he said. For me, I see the finished products, and seeing that level of work go into it, it makes me feel great about it.
The heartbreaking news out of Atlanta, where eight people are dead following what police say was a murderous rampage by a young white man across three businesses owned by Asian Americans, is a reminder of many things.

How cruel human beings can be to one another. How hatred of women still flows in the veins of some men in ways that beggar the imagination. How in an instant an event can intensify feelings of insecurity for minorities in America.

The grief of the survivors and of the victims family members  and the pain, anger and fear of other Asian Americans  is so tangible that many of us have been left wondering what we can do to help in this moment of crisis.

We believe the answer is clear. All Americans of goodwill should seek to find a way, in their own circumstances, to send a message of inclusion, of love, of embrace and solidarity to the millions of Americans who are of Asian descent. In Houston, this is a special responsibility for all of us because in this city and in suburbs nearby, Asian Americans have been a large, visible part of the fabric of our community for generations.

In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 331,000 residents of Harris County  about 7 percent of the total  were Asian Americans. What these neighbors are owed is simple: A sense of safety that has been missing for years, but the lack of which has been brought into sharp relief by the killings in Georgia.

While many have latched on to the alleged shooters claims to police that he was driven by a sex addiction and the fact that the businesses were massage parlors to downplay the racial component of the killings, the fact is the gunman targeted three Asian businesses and killed six women of Asian descent at a time when attacks on Asian Americans have been growing.

Last year, during the crippling pandemic which the former president insisted on calling the China virus or kung flu, more than 3,700 reports of discrimination were made to the group, Stop the AAPI Hate. Most of these involved verbal discrimination, slurs and other menacing behavior at businesses owned by Asian Americans. But 11 percent of the reports involved physical assault, and others involved being spit at, shunned or harassed online.

In Texas, a Burmese father and his two young sons were attacked in Midland by a man who said he targeted them because he thought they were Chinese and infecting people with the coronavirus. A Vietnamese American veteran in Irving coughed while standing in line to vote and was told by a woman that Asians were spreading the coronavirus and she didnt want to partake in that mess that yall started. In Houston, a woman at a parking lot on Buffalo Speedway screamed at an Asian-American couple to Get out of our country! Get out of the United States!

These incidents have weighed heavily on Houston residents, just as they have across the country.

It was just a matter of when, 29-year-old Melody Tan told Houston Chronicle reporter Anna Bauman. The community has been speaking up. We knew this was going to happen. This was the end result of all of these subtle or less explicit forms of racism  they were all leading up to this.

In the wake of the attack, the Houston Police Department has stepped up patrols in areas of the city where Asian American-owned businesses are clustered, and officials have rushed to reassure community members they will be protected and are valued.

The attacks on the Asian American community are an outrage, Mayor Sylvester Turner said, and its on all of us to stop it.

Both forms of action  the talk and the patrols  are necessary and valuable.

But the message of solidarity will only be felt if it is spread by many ordinary voices, too. Thats where all of us can play a role in making our city the kind of place we want it to be: safe, inclusive and full of love.

On Saturday, there will be a vigil at Discovery Green at 5 p.m. Attending will be one way to show solidarity with Asian Americans in our part of Texas. But there are other ways, especially in the midst of a still deadly pandemic, to voice our support and remain socially distanced.

There is no room for hate or for violence in Houston. Our success as a city depends on embracing everyone who lives here and making all who share these streets feel welcome.

Each of us should seek in our own way to send that message, whether its through speaking out if someone is being targeted for their race or ethnicity, organizing against sexual and gender-based violence, educating ourselves and examining our own unconscious biases, supporting a business, or simply reaching out to our neighbors and letting them know we are there.

We must each do our part to signal that everyone who calls Houston home is a permanent thread in the weave of this beautifully diverse and ultimately optimistic city.
New York, NY , March 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTC Disclaimer: 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.

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Traditional telescopes are gradually becoming obsolete as they are bulkier and require lots of work to zoom the desired object. Therefore, there is a need for an upgraded device with more functionalities for viewing distant objects. The 2021 StarScope Monocular possesses features that allow you to get rid of the traditional telescope.

Zoom Feature - Even the best mobile devices fail to zoom up long distances like the 2021 StarScope Monocular zoom and even capture images that often turn out to be very blurred. Opportunely, this is not the case with the 2021 StarScope Monocular telescope. The remarkable Monocular has an x10 magnification power that enables you to see exceptionally far distances as if they were close and noticeably clear. You will not need to fret about blurred images. Aside from that, the product has a wide lens. It comes with an exceptionally excellent 50 mm wide lens. Therefore, this Monocular allows you to get a wide view of whatever scenery or object you want to look at.

Even the best mobile devices fail to zoom up long distances like the 2021 StarScope Monocular zoom and even capture images that often turn out to be very blurred. Opportunely, this is not the case with the 2021 StarScope Monocular telescope. The remarkable Monocular has an x10 magnification power that enables you to see exceptionally far distances as if they were close and noticeably clear. You will not need to fret about blurred images. Aside from that, the product has a wide lens. It comes with an exceptionally excellent 50 mm wide lens. Therefore, this Monocular allows you to get a wide view of whatever scenery or object you want to look at. BAK4 Crystal Prism Lens - A BAK4 Crystal prism lens. Often the BAK4 lens is combined and featured in all excellent binoculars. BAK4 Crystal prism lens is the highest quality used in the making of binoculars. Since the 2021 StarScope Monocular features a BAK4 Crystal prism lens, it assures you that its manufacturers did not come to the optical instrument market or world to disappoint. Therefore, the purchase is assured of customer satisfaction and remarkable production.

A BAK4 Crystal prism lens. Often the BAK4 lens is combined and featured in all excellent binoculars. BAK4 Crystal prism lens is the highest quality used in the making of binoculars. Since the 2021 StarScope Monocular features a BAK4 Crystal prism lens, it assures you that its manufacturers did not come to the optical instrument market or world to disappoint. Therefore, the purchase is assured of customer satisfaction and remarkable production. Multi-Coated HD Glasses - Multi-coated HD glasses and lens enable the Monocular to be strong, reliable, and useful. The Multi-coated HD glasses and lenses are not susceptible and do not break with ease like other Monocular do.

Multi-coated HD glasses and lens enable the Monocular to be strong, reliable, and useful. The Multi-coated HD glasses and lenses are not susceptible and do not break with ease like other Monocular do. Compact and Lightweight - The 2021StarScope Monocular is compact and lightweight. When you are traveling, outdoor gaming, camping, taking a walk, or hunting, you can easily capture sceneries with the exceptional tool. StarScope Monocular can fit in any pocket or daypack without weighing you down. It measures 320 grams in weight; the piece does not take up a lot of space in your bag and can be fixed to helmets.

The 2021StarScope Monocular is compact and lightweight. When you are traveling, outdoor gaming, camping, taking a walk, or hunting, you can easily capture sceneries with the exceptional tool. StarScope Monocular can fit in any pocket or daypack without weighing you down. It measures 320 grams in weight; the piece does not take up a lot of space in your bag and can be fixed to helmets. Pocket-Friendly Price - The device is pocket friendly. When you compare purchasing binoculars to a Monocular, the Monocular is a cheaper option. The 2021 StarScope Monocular does not require you to invest a lot of funds. It is available at a very affordable price compared to binoculars or any other related optical device with similar features.

The device is pocket friendly. When you compare purchasing binoculars to a Monocular, the Monocular is a cheaper option. The does not require you to invest a lot of funds. It is available at a very affordable price compared to binoculars or any other related optical device with similar features. Can Be Used by Visually Impaired Persons - If you are looking for a 2021 Monocular telescope suitable for use by visually impaired persons, StarScope Monocular is the one. The Monocular possesses a wide application. Hence, the device makes it suitable for use for people with vision issues.

If you are looking for a 2021 Monocular telescope suitable for use by visually impaired persons, StarScope Monocular is the one. The Monocular possesses a wide application. Hence, the device makes it suitable for use for people with vision issues. Durability - Another additional feature of the remarkable Monocular piece is that it is made from durable materials. It is characterized by a BAK4 Crystal prism lens, an expensive technology incorporated in exceptional binoculars. Besides, the premium Monocular is both fog proof and waterproof. The device can also last for many years; thus, you are assured that you can get the tool's longevity.

Another additional feature of the remarkable Monocular piece is that it is made from durable materials. It is characterized by a BAK4 Crystal prism lens, an expensive technology incorporated in exceptional binoculars. Besides, the premium Monocular is both fog proof and waterproof. The device can also last for many years; thus, you are assured that you can get the tool's longevity. Versatile Application - The 2021 StarScope Monocular has a very versatile application. Most news broadcasts highlight that it is really ideal for most outdoor activities. When using the state-of-the-art Monocular, you can get super sharp photographs taken from extremely far distances.

The 2021 StarScope Monocular has a very versatile application. Most news broadcasts highlight that it is really ideal for most outdoor activities. When using the state-of-the-art Monocular, you can get super sharp photographs taken from extremely far distances. Precise CNC/CAD Construction - The remarkable optical piece has an inbuilt computerized numerical control system. The Precise CNC/CAD construction enables it to perform many of its top advanced functions with great ease and get wonderful photos.

Pros and Cons of This Premium Monocular

Since the product is a premium one, it has various pros and cons. There are numerous advantages of the 2021 StarScope Monocular that make it worth every coin. At a glance, the pros of this product include:

The excellent device is resistant to water and fog. Subsequently, you can use the StarScope Monocular while it is raining or fog surrounding the environment without much hassle.

The 2021 StarScope Monocular is resistant to scratch, as when it is rubbed on even a rough surface, you will barely see any form of scratch.

The device has an x10 magnification power with HD pictures. Consequently, it allows you to see things you can barely see with your mobile phone or even bare eyes.

It has an inbuilt compass.

Youll be assured to get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The premium optical tool is compatible with your smartphones such as iPhone and Android.

The optical instrument can be used with or without a phone camera.

Additionally, the device has a low weight and size; hence, it can be easily grasped in hand.

50 mm lens allows you to get an extensive view of whatever scenery you want to capture.

When used to take photos, it produces them in crystal clear, sharp, and HD format. The photos do not look blurred at all.

The optical instrument works with most tripods, which allow you to get good and clear photos without using your hands.

--- Visit the official website here! ---

Starscope Monocular Cons

While this product has a couple of drawbacks, they do not outweigh the exceptional telescope's benefits. Some of them include:

You may not have a broad view of objects as with the optical tool since it comes with a single eyepiece. Therefore, one has to purchase it promptly.

StarScope is better for personal use, especially phone camera use, hence not suitable for professionals. For professionals, the 2021 StarScope Monocular review suggests that you make use of binoculars.

Another additional drawback of the 2021 StarScope Monocular is the lack of relaxed vision. Consequently, the users experience rapid eye fatigue and irritating sidelight effects.

Unfortunately, shipping can be slow when you buy the tool as it may take up to 7 days.

The device is suitable for brief views of distant objects, as they are not suitable for observing distant moving objects.

How Much Does a 2021 Starscope Monocular Cost?

StarScope Monocular vary in terms of durability, size, and features, and if you want well-priced offers, visit the website. At a glance, most devices cost from $47.99-$260. The Monoculars are available in one, two, three, or four units. Besides, each of these units has a price alluded to them. They can be bought in packages of one, two and three. A bigger package means a bigger discount. Click here to discover the current discount!

Is the 2021 Starscope Monocular Any Good?

From the benefits and features enlisted in this article, the 2021 StarScope Monocular is a great steal. There are numerous Monoculars around in the market that assure you of clear photos. However, they are not waterproof, scratch-resistant, and fog-proof. Besides, the device possesses remarkable features common in binoculars such as powerful magnification, a featured in-built compass, 50 mm wide view, 1100 mm far view, and more. Aside from that, the product works exceptionally well even without your smartphone close at hand. As shown on the StarScope Monocular review's sales page, users who have made purchases have praised the product due to its pros and left many positive critiques.

How Does the 2021 Starscope Monocular Really Work?

This section of StarScope Monocular review will answer one of the common questions about the device: How does the remarkable device function or really work? Keep in mind that Monoculars work by refracting light through a series of lenses and prismsthe Monocular works using a BAK4 prism commonly used in $1000 binoculars. This tool has a telescopic lens and an adjustable diopter that allows you to alter the focus by turning the knob on top of the 2021 StarScope Monocular. If you use spectacles, you will want to remove them as they enable you to see and get the best view due to the adjustable eyecup. All you have to do is focus the dial till you observe very sharp images. When holding the optical tool, you may be able to use it with one or both hands. Using both hands is suitable if you seek stability. However, you may not want to use both hands as the device is compact in nature as it measures 155 mm in length.

Fortunately, StarScope Monocular has a tripod attachment; hence you can use the device hands-free. The tripod attachment allows you to affix tripods to its -20 socket. That means that you can fix tripods in a  inch socket with 20 UNC threads. Besides, the optical telescope is suitable for use in Android and iPhone operating systems, making it easy for you to use the tool with any phone. Attach the telescope up to the camera on the front of your phone, then capture distant objects using the 10x zoom capability feature. Lots of StarScope articles had featured claims that the device enabled them to capture distant things as if they were close when they were otherwise unable to capture on camera and mobile phone devices, both iPhone and Android. Additionally, you can use the optical tool without your phone camera, and you will still be able to get really great content. Visit the official website here to find a discounted price!

How to Clean the Monocular

The cleaning process is quite effortless. The 2021 StarScope Monocular comes with a lens brush, which you can use to clean it. Alternatively, the users can also make use of a microfiber cloth.

What Makes the 2021 Starscope Monocular Special?

The most extraordinary attribute of the product that makes it exceptional is its quality. Its excellence can be attached to its primary materials, which are ruggedized tubular steel or aluminum materials. Besides, the quality is enabled by lenses themselves. The lenses are 100% multilayered green lenses that have an eye relief of around 20 mm, and they feature a field-of-view of 93/914m. At the same time, the lenses have a scratch-free protectant; hence, the 10x fixed optical zoom and 42 mm objective lens are always protected.

2021 Starscope Monocular Customer Reviews

Many StarScope Monocular reviews have positive reactions about the outstanding device. A review affirmed the manufacturer's 30-day money-back guarantee. StarScope Monocular Reviews exhibited that other customers stated that they used the telescope and collected their best vacation memories. Other StarScope Monocular Reviews showed most tripods that are standard in size would be suitable for the device and works well. Besides, there are StarScope Monocular reviews that stargazers will benefit from this product. The customers who love to stargaze, stare at the moon have taken some epic photographs. You can alternatively check the critiques to operate the product to acquire crisp and perfect pictures. Visit the official website to see more customer reviews!

Why the 2021 Starscope Monocular Was Made

Its manufacturers made the high-quality device due to the need for a unique and outstanding Monocular that can trump other Monoculars in the market with their quality, use, and portability. Another critical driving force to make it was that people who went outdoors usually miss a moment because of the distance. The manufacturer desired every traveler to feel world-class equipment  a somewhat sappy and market-oriented one. The manufacturer then created the latest and most innovative telescopic CNC technology up to date.

Who Is Starscope Monocular Designed for?

At a glance, the state-of-the-art light-weight product was designed to be used by the common folk. StarScope was designed to make it easy and simple for an amateur to operate without much hassle. Therefore, the common folk will get to enjoy world-class smartphone Monocular telescopes with great affordability. The 2021 StarScope Monocular is one of the best investments you can have in your life as it has great design, versatility, and excellent materials. Besides, you should opt for the product if you are tired of carrying around heavy, expensive camera equipment during travels and outdoor activities such as camping, mountaineering, travel, backpacking, bird watching, and hunting. If you are a content creator who wants to make wonderful content pictures for work, you may opt to use the instrument.

Why Would I Really Need the Starscope Monocular Telescope?

If you love outdoor activities, enjoy hiking, experience new things, observe animals, you can get to see many good things from a distance using this lightweight product. Subsequently, you may want to capture them on your camera, and the StarScope Monocular telescope allows you a simple method to do so effortlessly in no time. The telescopic lens will allow you to capture a high-resolution photo by eliminating external light, making it impossible to miss a wonderful moment. Besides, the tool comes in handy for lots of content creators who want high resolution and crispy photographs for their profiles.

Where to Buy the Starscope Monocular

While you may be able to purchase the device from a lot of platforms like eBay, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and even other related stores, the ones got from these stores are often considered unauthentic. Other than that, you may run the risk of buying defective products from these sources and avenues. Therefore, as a caution, it is advised that you make your purchase through the official website to ensure authenticity and quality at all times. At the same time, through the product's website, you would be able to get the best price deals, such as free shipping that allow you to save your coin on this piece of kit. The official website has a lot of detailed information on where to buy StarScope Monocular for the smartphone camera in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and other related countries.

--- Get the Best Price Right Here ---

How to Pay for Starscope Monocular

You can be able to make your StarScope payments through two payment options, either PayPal or credit card options. StarScope works with credit card companies such as Stripe, Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover. According to the official website, you can save up to 50% off if you order up to 5 Monoculars in a single order. While checking out, the website offers an easy and suitable option for you to pay over an extended period.

Information on Shipping

Some critiques show that it took a week or so before their lens was delivered. However, when purchasing, make an order and await its confirmation as the product's delivery may take up to four or seven days. You can contact the customer care team through the official email address, support@StarScopeMonocular.com, to follow up on your order.

Money-Back Guarantee

The manufacturers ascertain that the chances of returning the product due to quality issues are meager, but they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Therefore, you can be able to return the device to the manufacturer within 30 days if it is broken or you don't like it. However, this is a condition if you purchase it from the manufacturer's official website. Alternatively, you can check the StarScope Monocular review from customers if you doubt the 30-day policy.

Choosing the Really Perfect Monocular

Typically, Monoculars have a magnification of 6x to 10x., so you should look for a Monocular with good Monocular power. While the piece offers a resolution of 10x, you should note that a higher magnification will allow you to see further and in more detail. To choose the right lens size, you should consider the Monocular specs. Typically, most Monoculars have a lens of 20 mm to 42 mm. A big lens allows you to see a wider view. Furthermore, a big lens enables you to have a better, brighter image when looking through your Monocular as StarScope has a 44 mm wide lens size.

The Monocular's size and weight is another important consideration. Most Monoculars are very compact and can fit into your pocket, and the star scope is relatively small as it measures 165 mm in length and 320 grams in weight. Therefore, you can easily carry the device in a small carrying bag, pocket, or put it in your car. Check whether your Monocular is made suitable for all weather conditions. The StarScope Monocular is 100% waterproof and fog-proof.

--- Visit the official website here! ---

Other Technical and Physical Features

The telescope measures are 165 x 52 x 45 mm, has an exit pupil diameter of 3M, an eye relief of 20 mm, and a field of view of 93/914 mm. Moreover, it has an anti-skid frosted sure grip and a well-streamlined design. The design enables it to be extremely handy and ergonomic when held with the hand each time. A StarScope review stated that the Monocular wouldn't simply budge out of your hands even if you are clumsy. The only available color of the piece is black, and its primary material is advanced polymers that promote its lightweight build and style.

Starscope Monocular Review - Final Thoughts

If you've been thinking of how you would be able to turn your smartphone into your own sentry, you can do so by transforming the Apple or Android smartphone camera into a miniature Hubble telescope to capture the universe and get to keep various memories. At the same time, if you spend a lot of time in nature, traveling, hiking, or even visiting popular tourist destinations like the Eiffel Tower, you might need to take a perfect picture with your phone.

The StarScope Monocular device is beneficial, and it has featured constant praises in the StarScope Monocular review. Aside from that, it has proved to be one of the invaluable pieces for lots of smartphone content creators who take and upload photographs on their various social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Unfortunately, one of the cons of the product is that you cannot use it for a long time, resulting in an eye strain.

Contact Info

Quality Performance Limited, 377 Valley Rd #1123, Clifton, NJ 07013

Homepage: https://www.starscopemonocular.com

Support: https://support.starscopemonocular.com/hc/en-us

Phone:

United States & Canada: 855 288 4558

United Kingdom & Ireland: 033081 80844

Australia & New Zealand: (02) 5133 5684

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.

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Gary Rhodes reportedly left 6.4m in his will, following his death in November 2019.

The celebrity chef, who died suddenly aged 59 after suffering a seizure from a bleed on the brain, allegedly left his entire fortune to his beloved wife Jennie, 60, according to figures from London's Probate Office.

Gary was well-known for his appearances in shows including MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen, and also hosted his own culinary series Rhodes Around Britain.

RIP: Gary Rhodes has reportedly left 6.4 million in his will, following his death in November 2019 (pictured in 2013)

According to The Sun, Gary's 2012 will decrees Gary's widow Jennie will be left the entirety of his fortune and all of his personal items, including his cars.

It's also believed Jennie has taken over management of Gary's two restaurants in Dubai, where he'd resided since 2011.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Gary Rhodes' estate and the London Probate Office for comment.

Generous: The celebrity chef, who died aged 59 after suffering a seizure from a bleed on the brain, allegedly left his entire fortune to his wife of 30 years Jennie (pictured 2008)

Gary grew up in south London before moving to Gillingham in Kent. He met wife Jennie at catering college and they wed in 1989. They have two sons, George, 30, and Sam, 32.

His death shocked the culinary scene when he collapsed at his home in Dubai with a 'bleed on the brain' in November 2019.

The father-of-two died a short time later after being rushed to the nearby Al Zahra Hospital.

Legend: Gary was well-known for his appearances in shows including MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen, and also hosted his own culinary series Rhodes Around Britain

His friend Jaideep Bhatia previously told MailOnline: 'Gary had a terrific day filming his new TV series in one of the most scenic parts of Dubai and was happy and excited as he sat down for a ham sandwich with Jennie.

'He had showered before dinner - and did not fall while doing so - and enjoyed a relaxed meal with his wife. He was then preparing for bed when he suddenly collapsed.

'I have been in very close contact with the family at this difficult time and want to end speculation that he fell and hurt himself - he was not injured.

'The collapse was due to natural causes beyond anyone's control and he died later in hospital despite efforts to save him. Everyone who knew and loved him is heartbroken. It's so sad.'

Tragedy: His death shocked the culinary scene when he collapsed at his home in Dubai with a 'bleed on the brain' in November 2019

Gary's death was later confirmed in a statement from his family, stating: 'In order to end painful speculation surrounding the sudden passing of our beloved Gary Rhodes OBE, the Rhodes family can confirm that after a successful day shooting with Rock Oyster Media for ITV here in Dubai, Gary returned home in a very happy mood for a peaceful evening with his wife Jennie.

'After dinner, Gary unfortunately collapsed in their residence and was rushed to hospital but unfortunately passed away due to subdural haematoma.

'At this time, there are no other details and the family would again request privacy around this very tragic loss and again, thank friends and family for their ongoing support at this time.'

Known for his trademark spiky hair, Gary earned his first Michelin star at the age of 26, and went onto be known as one of Britain's first 'rock star' chefs.

He was famed for fronting shows MasterChef, MasterChef USA, Hell's Kitchen, Ready Steady Cook and Rhodes Around Britain throughout his career.
He deserves a few lines or even a few pages in history books, but he was so mediocre as a person and so unremarkable as a politician that it would be difficult for him to leave any kind of a mark in history. He needed constant doctors' supervision, and all the places where he lived were equipped with medical devices. He was slowly dying before the eyes of the whole world. Of course, his painful condition began to reflect on his ability to rule the country. He was forced to often interrupt his duties or shift them to a constantly growing staff of personal assistants. His work day was significantly reduced. Gradually he stopped understanding of what was happening around him. However, many influential but deeply immoral and corrupt people from his circle were interested in him appearing in public from time to time, at least as a formal head of state. By literally helping him walk, they achieved the worst: his old age, weakness and illness became the subject not so much of the sympathy and pity of his fellow citizens, as of irritation and ridicule, which people expressed more and more openly. But the point is not only that he will never be remembered as a "great" or "strong" leader. He was, in essence, a boring and incapable bureaucrat who had no big dreams, no interesting ideas and plans, no original style. Both in character and in intellect, he was a dependent, indecisive and shallow person, whom even his closest associates treated with considerable disdain. They followed him not because they believed in his ideas, but because it was beneficial for them at the moment.

If you are following American politics at all, the passage above should sound like the opinion piece by the New York Times. But it is not. These are quotes from Russian presidential historian Roy Medvedev's article "Political portraits: Leonid Brezhnev".

Leonid Brezhnev ruled as a Soviet dictator from 1977 to 1982. Being a young child growing up in the Soviet Union, I remember only the last years of his life. Even children understood that the country was ruled by a decaying corpse. Brezhnev's ill health and inability to make any meaningful decisions were apparent for everybody to see. Even though he was thoroughly hidden from even the ever complicit Soviet media, he looked ill on the rare occasions when he appeared in public.

Joe Biden's mental decline is becoming apparent to everybody. Forgetting names, not understanding numbers, not knowing members of his own administration, and multiple referrals to his V.P. as "president" are just a few of the examples that a man considered the leader of the free world is cognitively struggling and is not able to govern the country in any meaningful way. His rarely appeared in public during his presidential campaign because of his utter inability to either speak in public or give any coherent answers to the media. After the inauguration, he continues to avoid the press, and he has not given a press briefing for longer than any other U.S. president in 100 years. If that does not worry you, then you are not paying attention.

In addition to being mentally incapable to govern, Joe Biden was not a gifted political figure even in his younger days. His 40-year-old political career is mainly remembered for his gaffes. He has no achievements to his name. He has changed his positions on every major political issue depending on what was the agenda of the day. He never had any strong beliefs or personality and leadership to carry these beliefs into reality.

Biden ascended to the Presidency the same way Brezhnev did  not by honest and fair elections, but by the scheme orchestrated by a ruling political machine. American political mob took a page from the old Soviet playbook. That mob is now paving a path to destruction of American society, hiding behind a mumbling but politically convenient corpse.

Soviet people in the '80s had 70 years of practice, so they knew a con when they saw one. Most American people don't. If they don't wake up now, they'll soon be living in what will be the new and improved version of the Soviet Union.

Image: Marc Nozell via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
As downplaying the threat of pandemic for several critical weeks, a less commonly known fact is that Chinese authorities deliberately sacrificed health workers to maintain their lies.

Annie Sparrow writes for Foreign Policy that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) efforts to silence doctors not only fuelled the pandemic but also compromised the world's ability to spot the next one.

The reason for the cover-up is unclear, although it is speculated that some factors may have been a reluctance to cancel political meetings and a fear of public panic.

The authorities, instead of notifying the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of pneumonia, decided to censor information and conceal the virus, whilst silencing doctors who tried to warn their colleagues. To curb panic, hospital leaders refused to authorise masks and personal protective equipment (PPE).

According to Foreign Policy, despite growing infections - hospital authorities refused to believe that the spread of the virus among humans was possible or that staff members were infected. These falsehoods eventually influenced the WHO's decision to not immediately declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, which it did for Ebola, Zika and H1N1 virus.

"The delayed understanding of transmission dynamics cost the lives of unknown numbers of health care workers in China, contributed to the deaths of tens of thousands more abroad, and superpowered the pandemic," wrote Sparrow.

By December 27, 2019, Wuhan authorities knew that the virus threat was serious, as several patients without links to the market had been identified, and at least one health care worker had been infected. Doctors understood the threat and tried to warn others, but Chinese authorities stopped them before doing so.

The authorities instead engaged in a pattern of demonstrable lying and covering up, threatening doctors involved in early warnings and restricting information. When formally acknowledged the outbreak, authorities told the WHO they had no idea what was causing it.

When the WHO asked to verify the outbreak, Wuhan Public Security Bureau reported it had "taken measures" against eight "law breakers" and warned against "manufacturing, believing, or spreading rumors", instead of replying within 24 hours.

The Chinese government's cover up led WHO experts to make deadly mistakes, notably when on January 5, it passed on its minimal information from Beijing in a post entitled "Pneumonia of Unknown Cause", writes Foreign Policy.

While the was denying human-to-human transmission, on December 31, health authorities began transferring 59 known and suspected cases to Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. At the infectious disease unit, a cast-iron gate kept family members out, while inside, security guards prevented medical staff from leaving.

On January 11 and 12, Chinese authorities told the WHO there had been no new cases since January 3, but in fact, at least 20 health care workers already had confirmed COVID-19, and dozens more had been clinically diagnosed.

Beijing's announcement on February 14 that 1,716 health care workers had been infected sent shock waves around the medical world. Of those, 230 people were staff at the Central Hospital of Wuhan, one of the hospitals at the epicentre of the outbreak, wrote Sparrow for Foreign Policy.

According to Sparrow, China's medical censorship is particularly dangerous because physicians are indispensable for surveillance of emerging threats. The Chinese government's attempt to cover up SARS led to the revision of the International Health Regulations and an international mindset that Beijing had learned its lesson, but the only lesson it learned was to better cover up outbreaks.

Earlier this year, China let a second WHO-led mission into China but denied it access to essential data on the earliest patients recorded with COVID-19.

Even though the virus has been successfully controlled in the nation, the authoritarian system of party-line censorship and cover-up at all costs had facilitated COVID-19's spread in the first place.

"This time, China has cost itself, and the world, the only reliable warning system in the country where it may be most needed," Sparrow concluded.

(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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Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning another COVID surge could be on the horizon of Americans relax their mask-wearing and social distancing.

The infectious diseases expert, 80, made the claim during an interview with Chris Hayes on MSNBC Friday night.

COVID cases across the US have started to plateau at around 55,000 per day in recent weeks, leading some to speculate that the pandemic is almost over, given the vaccine roll-out and the onset of warmer weather.

But Fauci told Hayes that the 55,000 number is concerning and could lead to a sudden spike.

'Instead of continuing to go down at a sharp line it's plateaued. Once it's done that, there's a high risk of another resurgence. We've seen that with previous surges. The other three [surges] that we've had in this country,' the top doctor explained.

'Don't declare victory prematurely. We still have a ways to go, plateauing at 50,000 cases a day is not a good place to be. And that's where we are. We've got to keep pushing to get it down even further.'

Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning another COVID surge could be on the horizon of Americans relax their mask-wearing and social distancing

Many parts of Europe are currently heading back into lockdown as the number of COVID-19 cases rise there. Fauci fears the US may follow suit if Americans continue to let their guard down.

'Europe tends to be three or four weeks ahead of us in the dynamics of the outbreak,' Fauci stated.'

'They went up, came down, plateaued. They pulled back on the mitigation methods. They stop wearing masks. They opened up the bars. They did the things that we warned shouldn't be done and now Europe is seeing, in general, a surge of five to ten percent. I hope that doesn't happen here, but it looks like it's starting to do that.'

The doctor is encouraging Americans to redouble in their efforts to mask and maintain distance despite widespread fatigue.

He stated: 'We just have to hang in there a bit longer because every day that goes by you get two to three million people more vaccinated and as we get out of March into April and May, a lot more people will be vaccinated, which would make it a lot less likely that you'd see a surge.'

Fauci repeated his claim on Saturday morning during an interview with TODAY, stating: 'When you have that plateauing, that's usually the forerunner of another surge.'

On Friday, there were 61,413 new COVID-19 cases recorded across the United States. That is up slightly from the average of the previous seven days, which is 56,316.

Some conservative politicians have accused Fauci of fear-mongering and of overemphasizing masks and social distancing in a bid to maintain relevance

Fauci Under Fire: Top Doctor Accused of Fear-Mongering Dr. Anthony Fauci has become a polarizing figure in American public life, with many conservatives criticizing him for giving citizens incorrect information at the beginning of the pandemic. Back in March 2020, Fauci told Americans that wearing face masks was not necessary. He later backtracked on that statement, but has defended himself. 'I don't regret anything I said then because in the context of the time in which I said it, it was correct. We were told in our task force meetings that we have a serious problem with the lack of PPE,' he said last July. Since then, Fauci has urged Americans to remain vigilant against the virus, emphasizing the importance of face masks, as well as other measures such as social distancing and hand washing. Fauci has also clashed with President Trump, who described the top doctor as a 'disaster'. 'People are tired of Covid. People are saying whatever. Just leave us alone. They're tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots,' Trump said last October. But even with Trump out of office, Fauci has continued to emphasize the importance of mitigation efforts, prompted some conservatives to accuse him of fear-mongering in a bid to maintain relevance. In recent months, he has hit headlines for a number of reasons: January 26: Fauci encourages double masking, saying that wearing two forms of face coverings 'makes common sense' February 20: Fauci refuses to give CNN's Dana Bash a concrete answer when she asks whether fully vaccinated grandparents can hug their grandchildren February 22: Conservative pundit Meghan McCain calls for Fauci to be replaced, stating: 'The fact that Fauci cant tell me that if I get the vaccine, if Ill be able to have dinner with my family is terribly inconsistent messaging' February 23: Fauci says 'it's possible' that Americans may need to wear masks until 2022 February 24: Fauci claims he still won't dine outdoors, restricts visitors to his home and only visits the grocery store during off-peak hours - despite being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 March 18: Republican Sen. Rand Paul accuses Fauci of wearing masks as a form of 'political theater' after he has been fully vaccinated. Fauci claimed that those who were vaccinated against COVID were still at risk from variants March 19: Paul blasted Fauci on Tucker Carlson Tonight stating: 'He lies to say the mask makes a difference when in reality he knows better,' Paul said on the Fox News show Friday night. 'He's wearing two masks for theater. He is immune and he knows he will not get it but he's not being honest with the American public' Dr. Anthony Fauci has become a polarizing figure in American public life, attracting both ire and acclaim Advertisement

In the past year, 29.7 million Americans have tested positive to COVID-19.

A staggering 541, 145 people across the country have died from the disease.

However, the death rate has decreased since record highs at the beginning of the year, and Americans are feeling increasingly optimistic given that the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out has increased in efficiency.

According to the CDC, 41.9 million Americans have now been fully vaccinated.

An additional 35.1 million Americans have received their first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

But experts say it is now a race between the virus and the vaccine with troubling new variants spreading which could threaten to weaken or evade the effectiveness of the injections.

'I think it is a race against time,' said Dr. Stephen J. Thomas, SUNY Upstate Medical University's chief of infectious disease to the New York Times. 'Every single person that we can get vaccinated or every single person that we can get a mask on is one less opportunity that a variant has.'

States along the East Coast, in particular, appear to be struggling to reduce their cases.

This, coupled with the fact many governors are now relaxing state restrictions is placing added pressure on the effort to drive the infection rate down further.

Businesses including bars, indoor gyms and casinos are reopening and increasing capacity. Restaurants are also reopening and indoor dining is also making a return.

Some public health experts warn this could increase the risk of spread - especially with the new variants, though others - such as Florida officials - defend re-opening and say people can be trusted to be careful.

However,the experts have expressed alarm as college students descend on the Sunshine State for Spring Break.

Thousands of maskless revelers have been seeing partying on packed beaches and in teeming bars in spite of the public health risks.

Experts have expressed alarm as college students descend on the Sunshine State for Spring Break. Thousands of maskless revelers have been seeing partying on packed beaches and in teeming bars in spite of the public health risks
From an encounter specialist to running his social networking platform and designing a WhatsApp like indigenous messaging app -- suspended Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze has done it all. Vaze has been in the spotlight for his suspected involvement in the bomb scare at Mukesh Ambani's Antilla residence.

Vaze has also delved into the world of technology, encrypted content, social media, cyber-security and communication. The suspended Mumbai cop also authored two books and had 6 trademarks registered against his name. He once sued Bollywood actors Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza for copyright infringement.

Vaze was under suspension due to his alleged role in the Khwaja Yunus custodial death case before his reinstatement in June last year.

Here's an overview of the other-life lead by the tainted Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze:

Vaze's Messaging App

Before Vaze's suspension following his alleged role in the Khwaja Yunus case in 2003, he worked on technology-related crimes such as cyber-crimes, bank frauds etc. Following his suspension, Vaze used his cyber skills and experience with technology in creating several tech platforms and products.

His messaging and communication app 'Direct Baat', which was aimed at enterprises, government agencies, and high-profile individuals, was a paid service. Vaze claimed that the Direct Baat app was "the most secured communication suit on earth".

The platform was launched in October 2018 and was decked with features like messaging, video calling, and file sharing. The app co-designed by techie Sanyog Shelar.

The Google Playstore link provided by its developers is now obsolete, suggesting that the App has been removed.

Vaze's People Search Engine

The former Mumbai cop also ran an India-centric people search engine, that he claimed to offer free and paid services to its users. Vaze's Indianpeopledirectory.com, launched in the year 2012, claims to provide search-related services including name, address, contacts and background search.

Vaze's 'Marathi Facebook'

Vaze launched his version of Facebook for Marathi speaking users in 2010. The now-defunct platform promoted itself as the 'Marathi Facebook' and called for the Marathi population to log into their 'Marathi Facebook' and connect with friends and colleagues.

Similar to Mark Zukerberg's Facebook, Vaze's social media platform offered users "unlimited photos, post links and videos".

The Trademark Cop

Sachin Vaze had also filed six trademarks claims against his name for services associated with law, security, computer hardware and social networking. Some of these trademarks claims included "LAPCOP", "KNOW YOUR LAW", "A Fascinating Side of Life" and "LAI BHAARI".

Vaze, leveraging his trademarks, sued Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza for copyright infringement when the couple launched a Marathi movie with the same name in 2014.

Vaze's written work

Vaze authored two books on the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack.

His 2012 Marathi book "Jinkun Harleli Ladhaai" claimed to provide an inside account of "the minutest details about planning of the attacks, execution by the terrorists, counter attacks by Mumbai Police and NSG and the comprehensive investigation of the court cases".

Vaze co-authored his second book 'The Scout' with another former cop Shirish Thorat. The 2019 English book presented "the definitive account of David Headley and the Mumbai Attacks".

(Edited by Vivek Dubey)

Also Read: Ambani bomb scare: NIA makes Sachin Vaze walk near Antilia to reconstruct crime scene

Also Read: WhatsApp was down for 50 minutes, development down in Bengal for 50 years: PM Modi's dig at Mamata

Also Read: Modi govt's vehicle scrappage policy: All you need to know
In less than one week, people in West Texas found out about the transparency and competency of the Biden White House.

On Thursday, in a damming report about the Biden administrations handling of migrants at the border  specifically those transported to a former man camp in Midland County  the Associated Press provided a report that might as well have been a white flag of surrender.

The converted camp has faced multiple issues in four days, the report stated. The AP  hardly a right-wing news agency -- noted the 10-plus percent of the camp residents that have tested for COVID-19 and at least one juvenile that has been transportated to a local hospital.

The report also noted that most of the Red Cross volunteers staffing the site dont speak English and the lack of new clothes available for the camps population.

And no case managers were on site to begin processing the minors release to family elsewhere in the U.S., the AP reported.

Bringing in teenagers while still setting up basic services "was kind of like building a plane as it's taking off," said an official, who the AP reported declined to be named due to government restrictions.

The report also noted that HHS has turned to the American Red Cross to care for teenagers in both Midland and Dallas, a departure from the standard practice of having paid, trained staff watch over youths. Red Cross volunteers sit outside portable trailers in Midland to monitor the teenagers staying inside, according to the report. Staff from HHS and the U.S. Public Health Service are also at both sites.

Neither HHS nor the Red Cross would say whether the volunteers had to pass FBI fingerprint checks, which are more exhaustive than a commercial background check. Both agencies have declined repeated requests for interviews, according to the Associated Press.

Heres the deal. What we have learned is that the Biden Administration  when tasked with the supervision and care of less than 500 juvenile migrants showed a level of ineptitude that Democrats have charged on former Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump.

Dont get me wrong. This wont be Bidens Katrina or anything like that, but does anyone feel confident that the federal government can take care of the complex issue if it boots the ball all over the place here in West Texas? Their communication with local officials has been a huge problem and speaks to a lack of transparency that should be difficult to swallow no matter your party affiliation.

Again, this isnt spin of Fox News Channel or another cable news station, this is the Associated Press reporting. And the HHS officials showed the AP an email it claimed had been sent to local officials in Midland late Wednesday that it had no plans to bring more teenagers to the site. The problem here was the mayor, county judge and sheriff told the Reporter-Telegram late Thursday afternoon that they hadnt seen such an email.

Again, this is our experience with how the new administration does business, and it hasnt been a good one.

It would be great to put politics aside and say lets concentrate on the juveniles in Midland County who are here through no fault of their own. The Reporter-Telegram has tried to do that, interviewing people, like Pastor Dawn Weeks of Odessa, who was part of an effort to provide needed supplies. I also encourage all readers to look at Pastor Darin Woods column in todays edition. The First Baptist Church senior pastor again reminds us about how God expects us to treat those who have been brought to our county.

I think this community will step up for those kids, but we also can be frustrated that when it came to a problem in our region of the nation, the Biden administration wasnt up to the task. President Biden told us to expect better, and instead, those migrants and the residents of Midland County, the Permian Basin and our region got worse.




Near a sports bar, bail bond offices and taco trucks sprouts one solution to the puzzle that is San Franciscos devastating homelessness crisis.

This fall, 145 people who have struggled with chronic homelessness will move into a new permanent supportive housing development rising across the street from the hulking Hall of Justice in the South of Market neighborhood. These are folks whove been living on the citys streets for more than a year and suffer from some mix of mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction and developmental disabilities.

The best part of the new housing? The project at 833 Bryant St. is being built faster and cheaper than the typical affordable housing development in San Francisco, the ones that notoriously drag on for six years or more and cost an average of $700,000 per unit. This project will take just three years and clock in at $383,000 per unit.

So, of course, theres already a fight to ensure this kind of success never happens again  with several city supervisors saying theyre unlikely to support another project like it.

At issue is how the project was built so quickly: with modular units made in a Vallejo factory. Each unit was trucked across the Bay Bridge, strung from a crane and locked in place like a giant Lego creation. San Francisco unions dont like the method because it leaves them out, but considering the citys extreme homelessness crisis, City Hall cant afford to toss the idea.

The homeless crisis in San Francisco is so pressing, it demands a change from business as usual, said Nathaniel Decker, a scholar at UC Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation, who has a new report out praising 833 Bryant for saving time and money.

Homelessness has been increasing, and COVID has only made that worse, Decker said. That, to me, is justification for changing the way things are done.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

The project also benefited from a unique pairing between Tipping Point, the philanthropic organization that aims to reduce poverty, and the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund, which raises private and public money to create affordable housing. Having the money up front sped development, as did Senate Bill 35, the 2017 state law that provides streamlined permitting for some affordable housing projects.

A recent tour of 833 Bryant showed the promise of this kind of project, which didnt feel slapdash at all. The apartments include a bathroom, kitchenette, closets and space for a bed and other furniture, and windows angle toward the skyline rather than the imposing and ugly Hall of Justice. The first floor will include community space, social services and retail.

Its not just homeless housing  its housing! said Daniel Lurie, chair of the board for Tipping Point. We want it to be beautiful.

The thoughtfully designed project helps in the citys epic battle to house residents of all income levels, particularly the very poor. So whats to argue about?

This is San Francisco. Theres always something to argue about. In this case, most of San Franciscos construction trades unions object vociferously because theyre cut out of the deal.

The manufacturer of the modular units, Factory OS in Vallejo, has contracted with the Carpenters Union of Northern California. Its workers perform all the tasks that would usually be split in San Francisco among plumbers, electricians, carpet layers and others.

Factory OS employs many people just released from prison who dont have as much training as San Franciscos union members. It has partnered with San Franciscos revered Delancey Street, the nonprofit that provides vocational training to formerly incarcerated people who need second chances. That seems like a true San Francisco value.

But Larry Mazzola Jr., president of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, said journeymen in his plumbers and pipe-fitters union make $76 per hour plus benefits. He asserted that workers at Factory OS make just $20 per hour, but the factorys CEO, Rick Holliday, said the figure is actually $40 to $45.

Mazzola said hes sending a letter this week to the mayor and Board of Supervisors outlining mistakes and over-costs at the 833 Bryant site, which is being developed by Mercy Housing, though he didnt have many specifics yet.

The quality is crap, to put it basically, he said. They dont have plumbers doing the plumbing. They dont have electricians doing electrical. They get them from San Quentin, and theyre not trained at all. Were going to fight vigorously with the city not to do any more of these.

Doug Shoemaker, president of Mercy Housing, said he didnt know what Mazzola was talking about. The quality of the project, he said, is high. Holliday, too, said there was no basis to Mazzolas claims.

Were doing it differently than its been done in the past, and that creates some friction, Holliday said. We havent pleased them, and we never will.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Friedenbach, director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said shes a fan of modular housing and would like it to expand in San Francisco. The lower cost and shorter timeline, she said, make such projects an important investment to solve the humanitarian crisis that unhoused folks are facing.

So can more modular housing units pass muster at City Hall despite union objections? That remains to be seen.

To their credit, the unions backed three other modular projects that should all be completed next year: 256 units at 1064 Mission St., 141 units in Mission Bay and 105 units on Treasure Island. But they refuse to support more.

Mayor London Breed is open to more modular projects, her spokesperson said, considering them another tool in housing low-income people. But city supervisors are mostly reluctant to oppose the powerful unions.

Board President Shamann Walton said, I believe in good, high-wage union jobs for people, and I want everything built to be safe. Im not sure we get that with modular.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai said he wouldnt support another modular project unless it includes jobs for San Francisco unions. Supervisor Myrna Melgar agreed and said the city should reconsider building a modular factory here that employs the citys union workers, an idea scrapped for being too expensive.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Supervisor Dean Preston said hed need to see the specifics of another project before weighing in. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said its complicated and that he is open to more modular housing, but that the city needs to be sensitive to the hard-won gains of some of the last middle-class jobs. Supervisor Hillary Ronen expressed similar sentiments.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani said shes fully supportive of more modular projects. We need to take every opportunity to get people indoors as quickly as possible, she said, and modular construction is an important tool in that effort.

Supervisor Matt Haney said he supports more projects, but would like to see them built in other parts of the city and not just in his district. Supervisors Connie Chan, Aaron Peskin and Gordon Mar didnt return requests for comment.

Housing homeless people quicker and cheaper and providing good jobs for people just out of prison seems like an equation that adds up for San Francisco.

Thats the story of this project, Lurie said. This is doable. We have solutions.

If only San Francisco would use them.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf
Mr. Sterne said that the state had not linked any coronavirus outbreaks to gyms since they reopened everywhere in the state last year, or fitness studios, which have been allowed to operate outside of the city for months.

Also, he pointed to the states increasing number of vaccinations. As of this week, more than two million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in the city.

But arent fitness studios more dangerous?

Reopening fitness studios has been a particular sticking point for city officials, who contend that packing people into a room where they are breathing hard and could sweat through their masks is a hothouse for the virus.

Katie Muehlenkamp, who owns two Bar Method studios in Brooklyn, noted that fitness classes have been open in the rest of the state and in neighboring states for months, often with far less-stringent restrictions than those they will face in the city.

I am absolutely confident that we can provide as safe an environment in fitness studios as that you can see in every other industry thats operating right now, Ms. Muehlenkamp said.

But researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study in February that linked high-intensity exercise to outbreaks in gyms in Chicago and Honolulu. The outbreaks occurred even though classes at the gyms were limited to 25 percent of their usual size, with only 10 to 15 people in attendance.
Tirupati, March 20 : Raising the tempo for the April 17 Lok Sabha by-election in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh BJP President Somu Veerraju on Saturday resorted to religious politics by calling Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy a 'Yesu Babu' (Jesus Babu).

He referred to him in this fashion while claiming that Reddy is branding all the schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his own schemes.

"Back then Chandrababu, now Yesu Babu. Reddy's government emblazoned its own stickers on Modi's schemes," Veerraju said.

The BJP leader claimed that a bunch of schemes such as YSR Rythu Bharosa, Jaganna Todu, YSR Arogyasri and others are Modi's schemes which have been locally renamed.

The YSR Arogyasri is the new avatar of Rajiv Arogyasri, which was originally launched by Reddy's father and former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy in 2007.

Meanwhile, Veerraju met a group of lawyers in the temple town on Saturday and sought their support for the BJP-Janasena candidate for the forthcoming bypoll.

Earlier, he claimed that the people of Tirupati will teach a lesson to the ruling YSRCP in the by-election.

"Reddy is going berserk with power. But BJP and Janasena leaders will not be scared of YSRCP's threats," he claimed.

At a meeting to review poll preparedness on Friday, Veerraju had alleged that government officials are working for the ruling YSRCP and called on the party cadres to hit back at its alleged injustices.

He said the BJP will campaign along with the Janasena, its local ally run by actor-politician Pawan Kalyan, for the election, adding that the Prime Minister's thought process will be their arsenal for the bypoll.

Aimed at wooing the Telugu people, the BJP leader has been huckstering Central government schemes for several days now, trying hard to drive home the message that the BJP is doing a lot for the southern state.

However, it remains to be seen as to how much support the saffron party gets, as depriving Andhra Pradesh of the special category status and railway zone and now vowing to privatise the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant will not bode well for the BJP.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Lupe Barron is Cabreras brother and has been involved with suicide prevention since his death. His family didnt know he was suffering from depression because he was always happy, she said. His family noticed he was a little down a month before his death but thought it was related to things going on in his life.
Meet the Mayor: John Stephens Steps Up to Fill Vacant Costa Mesa Seat

Costa Mesas most recent city council meeting ended on a high note for former city councilmember John Stephens, who was appointed to replace outgoing Mayor Katrina Foley.

Foley will vacate her council seat after being elected onto the Orange County Board of Supervisors on March 9.

Council members and constituents in support of the March 16 appointment highlighted Stephens civic leadership experience and community involvement, both as a former city councilman and mayor pro tem from 2016 to 2020.

He has served on the citys pension oversight committee, the Costa Mesa High School Foundation, and Cosa Mesans for Responsible Government, among others.

Councilmember Don Harperalong with opposing constituents who called in to the virtual city council meeting well past midnightmade a case for the vacated seat to be the subject of its own special election.

Ultimately, the time frame and cost to taxpayers werent supported by the council majority.

Stephens will serve out the remaining two-year commitment that Foley began when she won her election as Costa Mesa mayor last November.

A practicing trial attorney with his firm, Stephens Friedland LLP, Stephens and his wife of more than 33 years, Amy, have resided in Costa Mesa since 1989 with their four children.

Top Priorities

In his new role, Stephens said he will focus on four areas.

The first will be seeing what revenue and expenses look like, and dealing with our revenue shortfall, as well as completing our 2021 budget due at the end of June, Stephens told The Epoch Times.

To assist in those efforts, Stephens says that the implementation of Measure Q, the Costa Mesa retail cannabis tax and regulation measure, will be essential.

Passed by a majority of Costa Mesa voters last November, Measure Q increased the gross receipts tax on recreational cannabis sales from 4 to 7 percent. Revenue from the tax could generate up to $3 million annually for the citys general fund, the city said.

Combating homelessness is also among Stephens goals.

Our homeless shelter, and of course, the housing element requirements will also be a priority, he said.

The state has mandated that Costa Mesa provide 11,000 new housing units in order to meet the California Housing Element Law.

We will also be working with the community to open up [our economy] and implement the programs and benefits the city will receive as a result of the passing of the American Rescue Plan.

Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will help cities across the nation bridge major budget deficits resulting from the ongoing government-mandated Covid-19 restrictions and permanent closure of many businesses.

Despite some looming challenges ahead, Stephens is optimistic about his new role.

We have a terrific council and city staff on board, he said. I anticipate a good and smooth transition.
Hundreds of terrified residents across NSW could lose their homes as life-threatening flash flooding pummels houses, with emergency experts warning people to stay indoors or evacuate.

With unrelenting rainfall up of to 100mm, parts of NSW's coast have already been ordered to evacuate due to the wild weather stretching from the mid-north coast of NSW down to Illawarra, south of Sydney.

NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has ordered evacuations in suburbs including Taree, Dungog, Wingham, Port Macquarie and Laurieton.

The streets and shops at Wauchope are flooded after relentless rain on Friday night and Saturday morning

This car was almost completely submerged after flash flooding on the mid-north coast of NSW

The Macksville bridge on the NSW mid-north coast is submerged in water after heavy rain

Popular tourist haven Port Macquarie was reportedly hit with 187mm of downpour in less than 24 hours.

Evacuation warnings area are also in place for low-lying areas including Macksville, Kings Point, Crescent Head and Kempsey.

'Some of those locations will probably have floods of record in those areas,' SES spokesman David Weber said.

'We are asking people to please act on all advice given by emergency services immediately.'

Evacuation centres and orders following NSW North Coast flooding Evacuation orders have been issued by the NSW State Emergency Service for low lying properties in these areas:  Central Wingham and the Wingham Peninsular  Taree Estate, Dumaresq Island and Cundletown  Laurieton, North Haven, Dunbogan and Diamond Head  Kings Point and Macksville  Wauchope and Rawdon Island  Bulahdelah  Kempsey CBD  Lower Macleay  Port Macquarie Source: NSW SES Advertisement

Sydney residents are also advised to stay inside, with the shift expected to move towards Wollongong on Saturday afternoon.

'This will be the difference between what could seem like inconvenient rain, to actually something that might be quite dangerous and threatening,' Agata Imielska from the Bureau Of Meteorology said.

'It is really important for Sydneysiders to be mindful about reconsidering their plans.'

The development comes as Warragamba Dam, which is Sydney's primary water source, is at risk of spilling over as a dangerous weather system pushes over Sydney.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Jonathan Howe said the dangerous coastal trough has seen major flood warnings issued for the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers.

'We are expecting 100-150 millimetres across the metro area [of Sydney] and inland into places like Canberra through the weekend,' he told the ABC.

'There is real concern for the Warragamba Dam which is currently at 95 per cent capacity, and if we add 200 millimetres over the weekend, there are likely to be spillages from that dam.'

Volunteers, some of whom have worked overnight, load up sandbags for local residents at the Penrith on Saturday

A flood rescue team prepares for a potentially busy afternoon at the Penrith branch of the SES on Saturday

Volunteers filling sandbags for local residents in western Sydney at the Penrith branch of the SES
Puducherry elections 2021: PM Modi all set to address election rally in Pondy on March 30

India

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Puducherry, Mar 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally in poll-bound Puducherry on March 30, to canvass votes for the NDA. A spokesperson of the Puducherry unit of the BJP told reporters on Saturday that the election rally would be held at the AFT mill here on Puducherry-Mudaliarpet route.

Puducherry goes to poll in single phase on April 6. This is the second time that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be on a visit during the run up to the Puducherry Assembly polls as he had addressed a rally on February 25 after unveiling several centrally sponsored development projects at a different venue that day.

The AINRC heading the NDA has fielded its candidates in 16 out of the total 30 segments, while the BJP has fielded its nominees in nine constituencies and the AIADMK in remaining five seats.

If 'Chaiwallah' won't understand tea workers' pain, who else would, asks PM Modi in Assam

As of now there is no commitment on the Chief Ministerial candidate on the part of the NDA.

Among the key contestants are AINRC founder leader N Rangasamy, former PWD Minister A Namassivayam and the president of the local unit of the BJP V Saminathan. The AINRC has fielded two women candidates while the AIADMK and BJP have not fielded any woman contestant in the poll.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 16:22 [IST]
The government has given the go-ahead for 11 billion euros of support to be paid to businesses most affected by the pandemic, including those in the tourism industry.

It says seven billion of this will be in the form of direct aid, to compensate small and medium firms (SMEs) and the self-employed, in some 100 sectors considered to have been hit hardest by the health crisis, for up to 40 per cent of the loss in income. Other companies will be compensated for up to 20 per cent. Apart from the package of subsidies that will not have to be paid back, other measures will be applied to the whole productive network.

KEY POINTS OF THE PLAN Direct aid. Non-repayable: Between 3,000 and 200,000 euros for companies and the self-employed who lost at least 30 per cent of their income in 2020 compared to 2019 due to the pandemic. Self-employed: Those who pay under the module system can apply for up to 3,000 euros. Compensation: The companies will receive assistance to compensate for up to 40 per cent of the additional drop in income for SMEs and up to 20 per cent for the rest of firms. Restructuring of debt. Beneficiaries: Companies which have ICO loans. The line of assistance is three billion euros, giving a green light to the deductions and conversion into participatory loans. Recapitalisation fund. Concept: The sum of one billion euros will be allocated, and this will be managed by Cofides. The aim of this measure is to provide financial muscle to the companies in order to begin the economic recovery from the effects of the pandemic.

Minister of Finance Maria Jesus Montero and Minister for the Economy Nadia Calvino gave details of this programme after it was approved at a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

They explained that of the seven billion euros of direct aid, two billion will be exclusively for the Canary and Balearic islands, which they said had seen the greatest drop in GDP because of their reliance on tourism. However, the allocation of the funds has aroused controversy and the details given have only led to new uncertainties.

The direct aid will benefit companies whose income dropped by 30 per cent in 2020 compared with 2019. It will enable them to pay expenses such as salaries and rents, debts to suppliers, and electricity bills. Montero said the authorities will be able to tell who has lost 30 per cent of their turnover with information from the tax authority.

The amounts paid will be between 3,000 and 200,000 euros. Calvino said that the self-employed who pay under the module system will be able to receive up to 3,000 euros, while other self-employed people and companies will be eligible for between 4,000 and 200,000 euros.

Uncertainty over timing

The main uncertainty is when this money will reach the companies and how much each region of Spain will receive. Montero said she was sure that the agreements with the regional governments will be signed within a month and a half, and they will be responsible for paying these non-repayable grants to the companies.

She said the money will be paid according to the same criteria as the EU React funds, although the data on the impact of the pandemic is being updated in each region. In the first distribution of assistance funds, Andalucia received about 19 per cent of the total for the country.

One condition for receiving this financial support is that the companies must continue their activity until 30 June 2022 and may not pay out dividends or increase the remuneration of senior management in the next two years.

In addition to the direct assistance, the decree includes a line of three billion euros which will be managed by the ICO to extend the periods and amounts of the guarantees. This will enable the credits to be converted into participating loans, and will give the green light for the deductions. A new Code of Good Practice will be put into effect in the banking sector for this purpose.


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A planned 24-hour strike by 40 SIPTU members at Camphill Communities in Duffcarrig was reduced to a four-hour protest by off-duty employees as families and friends of the residents said they are 'gravely concerned' about the welfare of their loved ones.

The protest which took place at the entrance to the centre on Saturday morning last, was held to highlight underfunding issues and working conditions at Duffcarrig which the union claims are putting the welfare of residents at risk.

SIPTU Industrial Organiser Ger Malone said members are stretched beyond capacity with unrealistic workloads and inadequate resources resulting in many suffering from various stress related illnesses, including burnout and anxiety.

She said that since healthcare and social care workers voted unanimously for industrial action on February 26, the situation has worsened further. 'HIQA carried out inspections of the homes on March 2 and have issued management with 28 days' notice of proposed decision to cancel their registration. Management have informed staff that HIQA found significant non-compliance issues in all areas.'

She said employees are of the firm belief that the 'seriously deficient model of care being pursued by the HSE is not sustainable' and unless fundamental issues are addressed, vulnerable residents will be deprived of the quality of life they deserve and workers of a decent working environment in which they are valued and remunerated in line with the caring professionals that they are.

'We are calling on management to demonstrate that they are committed to changing the current failed model and for the HSE to provide adequate funding for them to do so', said Ms. Malone. 'Our members have been raising these matters for over two years and are at breaking point from trying to make this model work and they simply cannot continue.'

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Camphill's CEO, Ann Sheehan, thanked staff and management for the huge effort put in over recent days to address some of HIQA's concerns and said the organisation is appreciative of the decision by the staff and their union, SIPTU, to suspend industrial action pending the outcome of talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in two weeks' time.

'HIQA has raised a series of concerns with Camphill in its 28-day notice including governance, oversight and protection issues in Duffcarrig,' said Ms Sheehan. 'Camphill and our staff and management team at Duffcarrig are implementing a number of measures in relation to safeguarding and improving the building facilities and we are making a submission to HIQA during this 28-day notice period setting out the measures that will be taken by the Camphill Communities of Ireland (CCOI) to meet regulatory compliance.

'In the meantime it is important to stress that the centre will continue to provide essential services and Camphill has taken immediate measures to ensure that residents are safe and receiving a full service. Additionally we have been communicating with both our residents and families to ensure that they are updated on the measures being taken.'

Ms Sheehan concluded by saying that the board, management and staff of Camphill deeply regret the failings found in Duffcarrig and they are all totally committed to addressing the issues identified by HIQA.

A spokesperson for HIQA said the inspection report would be published 'in due course, in line with HIQA processes' but that it did not comment on its engagement with specific centres.

The 28 days notice requires management to demonstrate their ability to respond to the issues identified in the inspection and according to SIPTU, there are significant remedial measures being carried out which are placing even greater workloads on exhausted staff.

'Members do not believe it possible to achieve the required standards without addressing all of the contributory failure factors with funding being a major one. SIPTU has engaged with management and whilst all members are responding without hesitation to requirements in extremely difficult circumstances, management have failed to produce anything that has convinced members that they are committed to changing the current failed model and that is not acceptable.'

Meanwhile, the Camphill Families and Friends Association (CFFA) representing the families of residents in Camphill communities in Ireland said it is 'gravely concerned for the health and well-being of our loved ones living in Duffcarrig.'

In a statement issued on Saturday, the CFFA said Camphill management have been working to bed in a new service model based on employed staff supported by volunteers.

'Many of the staff who support and care for our loved ones in Duffcarrig have found themselves working what SIPTU believes to be excessively long hours and doing jobs that are beyond their capacity.

'As a consequence, many of these staff are suffering stress-related illnesses including burnout and anxiety. The strain and the tensions have not gone unnoticed by our loved ones and are adversely affecting their quality of life. And all this at a time when Covid restrictions make it difficult for families to meet with their loved ones and show them love and support.

'Camphill families have always valued the respect and dignity shown to every individual within communities and beyond. Moving from the traditional approach of shared living to an employee-based model, we expect that fundamental principles of fairness and mutual regard be upheld. We expect the value and contribution of each person to be recognised. This includes ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of staff members, ensuring they work in a happy, safe and supportive environment and that they are compensated appropriately.

'The CFFA implores management and staff to meet in a spirit of respect, trust and collegiality and speedily resolve their differences in a way that ensures our loved ones continue to live in a place that they can call "home". CFFA acknowledges the decision of union members to scale back their planned work stoppage to a public protest, a choice which chimes with a basic tenet of life in a Camphill community: 'The more that individuals work for the good of society and for the needs of others, and the more that each person is supported by everyone else to lead a dignified existence, the greater the well-being of society as a whole and everyone in it.'


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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 16:42:34|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- An officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force was killed when his parachute got entangled with the parachute of another airman during an air exercise on Saturday, the Air Force said.

An Air Force official told Xinhua that the accident occured during a parachute jumping training exercise in Ampara, in the Eastern Province, when the parachutes of the two airmen collided over 8,000 feet in the sky.

The other Air Force man sustained injuries and was rushed to the Ampara Hospital.

The deceased officer was identified as a 34-year-old Squadron Leader of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Enditem
The U.S. Air Force has suspended its training activities at a range in southwest Scotland after a local community lodged complaints that the noise disturbed a nearby Buddhist monastery.

With help from the U.K. Ministry of Defence, the service is reviewing its training protocols to determine how best to conduct "multiple events" it had been holding near the Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre for the past seven months, said Capt. Kevyn Lee-Anne Kaler, spokeswoman for the 352nd Special Operations Wing at RAF Mildenhall.

"We were unaware of concerns from the local community, and we regret the disturbance that this has caused," Kaler told Military.com in an email Friday. The news was first reported by Stars and Stripes earlier this week.

Read Next: Lawmaker Urges VA to Take Away Benefits of Vets Who Assaulted Capitol

Kaler added that the 352nd, which has more than 1,100 assigned personnel, will continue other training "to maintain readiness and vital capabilities within the theater."

According to a petition posted on Change.org, local residents said the location of two long-range rifle ranges within the valley of Eskdalemuir near the monastery is "inappropriate."

"Eskdalemuir, a remote Scottish valley is home to the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Europe," the petition states. The webpage was launched two weeks ago.

"Established in 1968 as a centre for world peace, Samye-Ling hosts tens of thousands of visitors each year from across the world, who come to take part in courses and retreats and to enjoy the peace and tranquillity not just of Samye-Ling, but of the whole valley," it states.

As of Friday, more than 20,400 people had signed the petition.

It was not clear how the Air Force was made aware of its disturbance to the local community, but the landowner, George Birrell, had been in negotiations with the service to expand the range with two permanent target areas and a cabin, according to The Scotsman newspaper.

Birrell told the newspaper he wanted to draw more law enforcement groups "that would want training on such things as security and counter terrorism [activities]."

"We are 100% not talking about an infantry battalion turning up. We are looking at small groups of between six and ten people," Birrell said.

News of the expansion riled residents of the monastery -- which hosts about 50 monks, nuns and other non-ordained members -- who said the increased noise would threaten a space intended for peace and harmony.

Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, the monastery's abbot, told The Scotsman he had raised objections to the plan.

"Thousands of people come to Samye Ling for courses and to meditate," he said. "They all feel strongly opposed to this plan. I have many friends from around the world who are determined to raise their voices in opposition to it."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Navy Faces Lawsuits over Expanded Growler Jet Training in Pacific
The start and end of the path from the Donacarney schools to Bettystown

The proposed pathway from the Donacarney schools to Bettystown has been resubmitted for approval to the environmental and heritage sections of Meath County Council after it was found that 'a few requirements' were needed with the proposal.

The project has been years in the planning process, but recently received 200,000 towards its construction.

Council officials said that it was over Part 8 thresholds and needed environmental studies and studies in relation to the environmental and flood risks had to be undertaken.

They were then reviewed and had to go back to the consultants three weeks ago and resubmitted.

Cllr Sharon Tolan was bitterly disappointed with the ongoing delays, saying it had beem going on for four years.

She told the recent area council meeting that councillors were 'getting it in the neck' over the delay.

She said there were ongoing fears for teenagers who walked the dark road at night.
The renaissance of electrification that we're seeing in passenger vehicles unfortunately won't likely adapted to heavier forms of transportation  such as airplanes, cargo ships and semi tractor trailers  in the foreseeable future. Today's batteries simply can't hold enough power to sufficiently offset their weight and bulk. But that doesn't mean that we can't still take steps to reduce the carbon footprints of our commercial people and cargo movers.

In his new book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, tech luminary Bill Gates  with the help of countless subject matter experts  lays out his comprehensive plan to halt the oncoming environmental apocalypse, blunt the effects of human-caused climate change, and keep Earth habitable for the next generation.

Penguin Randomhouse

Adapted from How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates, published on Feb. 16, 2021 by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright  2021 by Bill Gates.

Not long ago, my friend Warren Buffett and I were talking about how the world might decarbonize airplanes. Warren asked, Why cant we run a jumbo jet on batteries? He already knew that when a jet takes off, the fuel its carrying accounts for 20 to 40 percent of its weight. So when I told him this startling fact  that youd need 35 times more batteries by weight to get the same energy as jet fuel  he understood immediately. The more power you need, the heavier your plane gets. At some point, its so heavy that it cant get off the ground. Warren smiled, nodded, and just said, Ah.

When youre trying to power something as heavy as a container ship or jetliner, the rule of thumb I mentioned earlier  the bigger the vehicle you want to move, and the farther you want to drive it without recharging, the harder itll be to use electricity as your power sourcebecomes a law. Barring some unlikely breakthrough, batteries will never be light and powerful enough to move planes and ships anything more than short distances.

Consider where the state of the art is today. The best all-electric plane on the market can carry two passengers, reach a top speed of 210 miles per hour, and fly for three hours before recharging.* Meanwhile, a mid-capacity Boeing 787 can carry 296 passengers, reach up to 650 miles an hour, and fly for nearly 20 hours before stopping for fuel. In other words, a fossil-fuel-powered jetliner can fly more than three times as fast, for six times as long, and carry nearly 150 times as many people as the best electric plane on the Market.

Batteries are getting better, but its hard to see how theyll ever close this gap. If were lucky, they may become up to three times as energy dense as they are now, in which case they would still be 12 times less energy dense than gas or jet fuel. Our best bet is to replace jet fuel with electrofuels and advanced biofuels, but there are hefty premiums that come with them.

The same goes for cargo ships. The best conventional container ships can carry 200 times more cargo than either of the two electric ships now in operation, and they can run routes that are 400 times longer. Those are major advantages for ships that need to cross entire oceans.

Given how important container ships have become in the global economy, I dont think it will ever be financially viable to try to run them on anything other than liquid fuels. Making the switch to alternatives would do us a lot of good; because shipping alone accounts for 3 percent of all emissions, using clean fuels would give us a meaningful reduction. Unfortunately, the fuel that container ships run on  its called bunker fuel  is dirt cheap, because its made from the dregs of the oil refining process. Since their current fuel is so inexpensive, the Green Premium for ships is very high.

Would most people be willing to accept these increases? Its not clear. But consider that the last time the United States raised the federal gas tax  imposed any increase at all  was more than a quarter century ago, in 1993. I dont think Americans are eager to pay more for gas.

There are four ways to cut down on emissions from transportation.

One is to do less of it  less driving, flying, and shipping. We should encourage more alternative modes, like walking, biking, and carpooling, and its great that some cities are using smart urban plans to do just that.

Another way to cut down on emissions is to use fewer carbon-intensive materials in making cars to begin with although that wouldnt affect the fuel-based emissions weve covered in this chapter. Every car is made from materials like steel and plastics that cant be manufactured without emitting greenhouse gases. The less of these materials we need in our cars, the lower their carbon footprint will be.

The third way to cut down on emissions is to use fuels more efficiently. This subject gets a lot of attention from lawmakers and the press, at least as it pertains to passenger cars and trucks; most major economies have fuel efficiency standards for those vehicles, and theyve made a big difference by forcing car companies to fund the advanced engineering of more efficient engines.

But the standards dont go far enough. For example, there are suggested emissions standards for international shipping and aviation, but theyre almost unenforceable. Which countrys jurisdiction would cover carbon emissions from a container ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

Besides, although making and using more efficient vehicles are important steps in the right direction, they wont get us to zero. Even if youre burning less gasoline, youre still burning gasoline.

That brings me to the fourth  and most effective  way we can move toward zero emissions from transportation: switching to electric vehicles and alternative fuels.

We can speed up the transition by adopting policies that encourage people to buy EVs and creating a network of charging stations so theyre more practical to own. Nationwide commitments can help drive up the supply of cars and drive down their cost; China, India, and several countries in Europe have all announced goals to phase out fossil-fueled vehicles  mostly passenger cars  over the coming decades. California has committed to buying only electric buses by 2029 and to banning the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.

Next, to run all these EVs we hope to have on the road, well need a lot of clean electricityone more reason why its so important to deploy renewable sources and pursue breakthroughs in generation and storage.

Finally, we need a massive effort to explore all the ways we can make advanced biofuels and cheap electrofuels. Companies and researchers are exploring several different pathwaysfor example, new ways to make hydrogen using electricity, or using solar power, or using microbes that naturally produce hydrogen as a by-product. The more we explore, the more opportunities well create for breakthroughs.
March 20, 1936

Heavy flooding hits region, state

Heavy rains across the Mid-Atlantic and New England states caused flooding issues that led to heavy destruction and death in the Northeast region of the United States.

Locally, the waters of the Lackawanna River had started to recede but worries about the Susquehanna River continued.

In Scranton, work crews from the citys Department of Public Works were helping to pump out the flooded basements of homes in the low-lying areas of the city along the Lackawanna River.

Members of the 109th Infantry in Scranton had been activated to special duty to help aid the flooded areas of the Wyoming Valley.

Lake Scranton was used as a runway for a Coast Guard amphibious plane. The plane, piloted by Lt. Perry S. Lyons, was flying around the region documenting the flood damage from above.

The reports out of the Wyoming Valley were that the Susquehanna River hit 33.06 feet the evening of March 19, but the waters had begun to recede. Portions of South Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke, Kingston and Plymouth were underwater. An American Legion home in Wilkes-Barre serving as a temporary shelter for 300 people reported that they were without water and sanitary services.

Other parts of the state were also dealing with flooding. In Pittsburgh, health inspectors were going about the city to make sure food tainted by the flood waters was destroyed, and the U.S. Coast Guard arrived to aid in rescue work. In Harrisburg, two U.S. Navy planes were flying above the city parachuting food to people stranded in their homes due to the flooding. In Williamsport, several deaths had been reported along with heavy property damage.

Outside of Pennsylvania flooding conditions were severe. It was estimated that over 100,000 people had been left homeless due to flooding in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Officials in Hartford, Connecticut, reported that 15% of the city was underwater. In some parts the floodwaters were 20 feet deep.

Maine Gov. Louis Brann reported that the flooding caused $15 million worth of damage to his state.
InterContinental Hotels Group, owner of brands such as Six Senses and InterContinential, is eyeing 50 percent growth in the number of properties within the next two years.

Rajit Sukumaran, IHG managing director, Southeast Asia and South Korea, said the plan to increase the number of hotels in Vietnam is part of a global strategy that has been consolidated by Vietnams recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Seashore at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in the central city of Da Nang, Vietnam. Photo by Shutterstock/SenSeHi.

Hailing the governments efforts to control the pandemic, he said all this companys hotels in Vietnam have started to welcome guests again and seen a surge in bookings by both leisure and business travelers.

The British company has 13 properties in Vietnam with 3,700 rooms, including at luxury brands Six Senses and InterContinential.

Vietnam recorded a 79 percent decline year-on-year in the number of foreign visitors in 2020 due to travel restrictions amid the pandemic as the country received 3.83 million foreign tourists against a record 18 million in 2019, according to official data.
A travel security expert predicts business travel will surge back when international borders are opened, but travellers will find a changed world awaiting them.

Rodger Cook, the security director of World Travel Protection, says as international travel starts to resume in the wake of vaccine rollouts, travellers will face a world thats different in important ways.

The company, owned by insurance giant Zurich via its Cover-More brand, supports travellers who get into trouble overseas with issues such as medical evacuations, and also with security and logistics for business travellers.

It has maintained a command centre in Brisbane for years and unveiled a refurbished CBD centre almost one year ago  just as the pandemic was taking hold.
NEW YORK, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating FG New America Acquisition Corp. ("FGNA" or "the Company") (FGNA) relating to its proposed merger with Opportunity Financial. Under the terms of the agreement, FGNA shareholders are expected to own 30% of the newly formed company.

The investigation focuses on whether FG New America Acquisition Corp. and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, and 2) whether the transaction is properly valued.

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We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2019 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.

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Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to accuse New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, led an impeachment protest against him in Manhattan on Saturday while a dueling group rallied to support the embattled governor.

Boylan gathered with a group of 100 activists in Washington Square Park while a group of about 40 came to Cuomo's defense outside his office on Third Avenue in New York City.

'Abuse does not confine itself to one person or one area,' Boylan said, according to the New York Post.

'Someone who abuses their power doesn't just do it to one woman or one community. They do it on some level to every person and every community.'

Lindsey Boylan, center, gathered with a group of 100 activists in Washington Square Park to call for the impeachment of Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Lindsey Boylan, center, and other politicians held a rally to impeach Cuomo in Washington Square Park on Saturday

Protesters gathered with signs noting to 'tax the rich' at a gathering of around 100 activists in Washington Square Park while Lindsey Boylan speaks

A young girl holds a sign calling to 'house the homeless' during a protest in Washington Square Park to demand the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

New York Assemblyman Ron Kim, pictured, attended the Washington Square Park protest to demand the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday

An anti-Cuomo protester holds a sign that reads 'impeach Cuomo! House NY!' as demonstrators gathered at Washington Square Park

New York Senator Julia Salazar, left, is pictured with Boylan at Washington Square Park to demand the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday

Boylan called on the New York State Assembly in acting swiftly to impeach Cuomo, WABC-TV reported.

'We have courageous leaders like majority leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, who we can count on to do the right thing,' she said.

Boylan, a Democratic candidate running for Manhattan borough president, also slammed State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a longtime ally of the governor, and accused him of leading a 'sham investigation.'

'Speaker [Heastie] on the other hand, wields his power to protect the governor and uphold a system that dismisses and abuses us,' Boylan said.

'New Yorkers deserve a transparent and honest impeachment process, not a sham investigation led by people with ties to Governor Cuomo.'

Alyssa McGrath said Cuomo ogled her body, called her and her co-worker 'mingle mamas' and asked about her lack of a wedding ring as well calling her beautiful in Italian

Anna Ruch (left) and Ana Liss both accused Cuomo of inappropriate behavior

Charlotte Bennett, 25, accused Cuomo of propositioning her in his office in June

Karen Hinton (left), a press aide, and Jessica Bakeman accused Cuomo of inappropriate actions

In her speech, Boylan also reiterated her accusations made against Cuomo, WABC-TV reported.

'In December, I spoke truth to power on the harassment and bullying I faced working for Governor Cuomo,' she said.

'When the governor should have been focused on leading us out of this pandemic, he was instead focused on covering up the deaths of 15,000 New Yorkers and smearing me and my reputation.'

She added: 'Since sharing my story, six more women have come forward with their experience of being bullied, harassed and assaulted by the governor of New York.'

In fact, at least seven other accusers have come forward with allegations against the governor.

On Friday, Alyssa McGrath, 33, said the governor, 63, ogled her body, called her and her co-worker 'mingle mamas' and asked about her lack of a wedding ring, according to The New York Times.

The New York Times conducted several interviews with McGrath over the past week in which she described the governor's pattern of flirtatious banter.

She also claimed he looked down her shirt to compliment her on her necklace, told her that she's beautiful in Italian and kissed her on the forehead during an office Christmas party in 2019.

DailyMail.com has reached out to McGrath for further information and additional comment.

McGrath, the eighth woman to have now accused the New York governor of sexual harassment, also recounted another Cuomo accuser describing her own allegations to her, which were detailed by The Times Union of Albany last week.

The unnamed woman, who was Cuomo's sixth accuser, has claimed Cuomo groped her breast in the Executive Mansion.

'She froze when he started doing that stuff to her,' McGrath told The New York Times.

She added: 'But who are you going to tell?'

McGrath said that the co-worker, with whom she regularly spoke and talked to about interactions with Cuomo, told her that he asked her not to talk about the alleged incident.

'He told her specifically not to tell me,' McGrath said.

Other politicians also attended the protest on Saturday, including New York Assemblyman Ron Kim and New York Senator Julia Salazar. Members of the Communist Party were also seen gathered in Washington Square Park on Saturday to call for Cuomo's resignation.

Lindsey Boylan, left, is pictured with New York Senator Julia Salazar, center, and New York Assemblyman Ron Kim, right, at a protest calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign on Saturday

A large group of crowds march on streets to protest New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo in Manhattan of New York City on Saturday

Protesters call for Andrew Cuomo to resign as members of the media look on during a gathering in Washington Square Park on Saturday

Members of the Communist Party gathered in Washington Square Park on Saturday to call for the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo

At the pro-Cuomo rally, his supporters held homemade signs reading 'Cancel Karen Culture Not Cuomo' and 'Do Not Resign.'

Karen Gregorski, 73, of Manhattan, defended Cuomo as 'an emotional guy' to the New York Post that the allegations of harassment and abuse that have been leveled by Boylan and seven other women.

'He's an emotional guy, he's Italian. He kissed someone or he touched someone's cheeks? Come on,' Gregorski said.

'If he touched my cheeks, I'd give him a kiss.'

A sign at a protest in support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo reads 'innocent until proven guilty' and 'no resignation without complete investigations'

A photo posted to Twitter shows a man named Ben from Calabria, Italy, who came out to support the governor and 'admires Cuomo's leadership'

A woman, left, holds a sign that reads 'Gov. Cuomo's resignaation is anti-democratic' in English and Spanish on Saturday

A photo posted to Twitter shows a gathering of supporters of protesters in support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo outside his office

Photos posted to Twitter show supporters of Gov. Andrew Cuomo holding signs that read 'Stand with Governor Cuomo' on Saturday

A photo of a sign from the pro-Cuomo rally reads 'leadership New York needs' and 'stand by Cuomo' as well as 'do not resign'

Some of the pro-Cuomo gatherers are Puerto Rican and noted that the governor has previously supported the community after Hurricane Maria

Another supporter, Lourdes M. Rojas, posted images from the rally on Twitter and told New Yorkers who love him they 'should be here,' adding that the allegations against him 'do not rise to the level of criminal offenses.'

Rojas posted a photo to Twitter of a man named Ben from Calabria, Italy, who came out to support the governor and 'admires Cuomo's leadership.'

'Let me just say this, we all thought Cynthia Nixon was a big competitor for Cuomo and she still lost,' she tweeted.

'The fact that the crowd was small doesn't mean anything. Cuomo's supporters are diverse and huge in numbers, more than you can ever imagine

She continued: 'Furthermore, you cannot convict anyone based on a conversation that was misinterpreted, although the line of questioning was received to rise to the level of sexual harassment by the accuser, and although he is the Governor, you still cannot convict on free speech, we still live in a democracy.'

'In most of these cases, it's a he said, you said. Any prosecutor would prosecute on evidence. There is no evidence,' she added.

The slew of allegations against Cuomo started when Boylan, a former special advisor to Cuomo, claimed he had forcibly kissed her in 2018 and propositioned her for sex - and allegedly said that if he were a dog, he would try to 'mount' her.

In February, second accuser Charlotte Bennett, 25, came forward and alleged that Cuomo asked her about his sex life complained to her about being lonely during the pandemic. She had served as an executive assistant and health policy adviser in the Cuomo administration until November.

Anna Ruch, the third accuser, came forward in early March and claimed Cuomo put his hands on her bare back and asked her if he could kiss her during a wedding reception in September 2019.

Fourth accuser, Ana Liss, served as a policy and operations aide to Cuomo from 2013 to 2015. She claimed that Cuomo called her 'sweetheart' and kissed her on the hand.

The same day that Liss came forward as an alleged victim, Karen Hinton - a former press aide for Cuomo - claimed he was physically 'aroused' when he allegedly hugged her more than two decades ago, becoming his fifth accuser.

The seventh accuser, Jessica Bakeman formerly worked for Politico New York and claimed Cuomo took her hand and did not let go after shaking it, and in another incident put his arm around her shoulder while telling stories to her colleagues.

On Thursday, another woman opened up on Twitter claiming then-Attorney General Cuomo 'entered her personal space' and flirted with her.

Bloomberg reporter Valerie Bauman, who was 25 while covering New York state politics for the Associated Press, said: 'Afterward, a fellow reporter loudly observed that Andrew Cuomo seemed very into me. I was embarrassed, but least it wasn't my imagination, I thought.'

The investigation into claims Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women has now widened to probe whether his top aides tried to intimidate his accusers and whether they failed to follow the complaint process signed into law by the governor himself.

New York Attorney General Letitia James' office is investigating the actions of some of the embattled governor's top officials to determine if they enabled his inappropriate behavior, retaliated against his accusers and handled the complaints correctly, according to some of the women who have spoken to investigators.
Investors should still exercise caution when investing in the current environment. All fronts seem to be posting gains, whether in the equities, bonds, and cryptocurrency markets. The situation is confusing, and you could fall into a false sense of security. For dividend investors, taking unnecessary risks isnt an option, regardless of the market environment.

Fortunately, the TSX has a slew of reliable income stocks. However, if youre risk averse and chasing long-term financial goals, Fortis (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) is the most logical choice. The utility company is well positioned to survive the fallout from COVID-19 and withstand future economic downturns. You can buy it now and hold forever.

Investment thesis

Fortis has a market capitalization of $24.8 billion and is the leading utility company in North America. The number one investment thesis is that its utility assets are virtually 100% regulated. Fortiss regulated power contracts are the principal reasons for the solid revenues and stable cash flows.

When you invest in this utility stock, you get access to top-quality electrical utilities, not only in Canada but in the U.S. and the Caribbean as well. The company is the main supplier of electrical power in Prince Edwards Island and Newfoundland. In British Columbia, Arizona, and New York State, Fortis distributes natural gas.

The high-voltage power lines in the U.S. Midwest stretches 25,100 kilometres. Regarding earnings, Fortis derives about 65% from its U.S. operations. The company has been operating since 1885 and has grown to be one of the top 15 utilities in North America. It has 10 utility companies under its wings.

Tumultuous COVID year

The COVID year was tumultuous for most businesses across several industries. Fortiss net earnings attributable to common equity shareholders for the full-year 2020 dropped 26.9% to $1.2 billion versus the previous. Nevertheless, its president and CEO David Hutchens described 2020 as a successful year on many fronts.

Story continues

Fortis instituted various customer relief initiatives in its utilities last year. It includes the temporary suspension of non-payment disconnects and late fees, delayed customer rate increases, and the deferred recovery of costs. The companys community investments were more than $15 million. The fund includes a $5 million allocation for community support in response to the global pandemic.

Capital expenditures reached $4.2 billion. For the period from 2021 to 2025, Fortiss five-year capital plan is worth $19.6 billion. The budget is $800 million more than the previous plan because of two new major capital projects at FortisBC Energy. Management will also make additional investments in technology systems and storm hardening.

Fortis will fund the capital expenditures primarily from internally generated funds or cash from operations. Since Fortis hopes to deliver a cleaner energy future, it targets a 75% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 from a 2019 base year.

When the five-year capital plan is complete, Fortis expects its rate base to be around $40.3 billion. The long-term growth in rate base assures support for earnings and dividend growth.

Dividend growth

The utility stock currently pays a 3.85% dividend. However, would-be investors should know that Fortis plans a 6% average annual dividend growth through 2025. The goal hinges on the successful execution of the five-year capital plan and reasonable outcomes for regulatory proceedings. In 2021, Fortis investors are up 3.3% year to date.

The post 1 Reliable TSX Stock to Buy Now and Hold Forever appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Christopher Liew has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends FORTIS INC.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2021
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A government scientist has warned foreign trips are 'extremely unlikely' this summer as Europe struggles to control a surge in coronavirus cases.

In an unexpected blow for sun-starved Brits, Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new Covid variants which are less susceptible to vaccines.

The Warwick University professor, who is a member of the Spi-M modelling group, warned it means overseas jaunts for the average holidaymaker are in doubt.

The warning comes as Britain's vaccine tsar blasted 'irresponsible' European leaders for encouraging anti-vaxxers by casting doubt over AstraZeneca's jabs.

Kate Bingham hit out at Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel after they suggested the vaccines were not effective on the elderly.

The 55-year-old former head of the Government's vaccine task force said she 'would not be happy to have leaders undermining a vaccine'.

Labour has called for the immediate introduction of a 'comprehensive hotel quarantine system' in the face of rising coronavirus infections across Europe.

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: 'The renewed surges of Covid across Europe are really worrying.

'The UK's first priority has to be to protect the progress made by the vaccine - that means we need a comprehensive hotel quarantine system without further delay.

'Of course we all want international travel to resume, but safety has to come first.

'It is too early to say if there can be any changes to travel advice on May 17, as numbers in many European countries are increasing so sharply. We have to be led by the science, not arbitrary dates.'

Meanwhile Professor Sir John Bell - part of the vaccine taskforce - slammed France for not giving the Oxford jab to under-55s after saying it was not for the elderly.

The Oxford University immunologist warned the changing advice was undermining confidence in the whole vaccination programme.

And Professor Andrew Hayward said 'another wave' of cases was possible in the UK but said its consequences would be less due to high levels of vaccination.

A meagre 12 per cent of the EU population has had a vaccine as a staggering 15million doses of AstraZeneca jabs remain stockpiled but unused.

France and Germany are going through third waves of the pandemic and Paris was this week plunged into another month-long lockdown.

Pfizer yesterday urged the EU to back down on its threat to block vaccine exports to the UK, claiming Britain could hit back by impounding crucial UK-manufactured ingredients for vaccines produced in Europe.

Elsewhere in the never-ending crisis:

Politicians across the House of Commons have called for Priti Patel to change coronavirus legislation to allow protests despite lockdown;

Billionaire tax exiles, an oil-rich nation and Saudi royals have claimed millions of pounds under the furlough scheme, an investigation reveals;

Boris Johnson yesterday joined the millions of vaccinated Britons after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab;

Angela Merkel said she will have the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after lifting her government's ban in a stunning U-turn;

Britain yesterday saw Covid cases fall again, dropping by a quarter from last week to 4,802 positive tests in a day while deaths also dropped by 42 per cent to 101.

A government scientist has warned foreign trips are 'extremely unlikely' this summer as Europe struggles to control a surge in coronavirus cases. Pictured: Benidorm today

Two British expats enjoy their beers on the seafront in the sun in Benidorm this afternoon as others dream of heading abroad

Britons enjoy themselves on the beach in the sun with alcohol in Benidorm while others wait to see if they can get a holiday abroad in this year

Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new variants which are less susceptible to vaccines (pictured: A cyclist passes on the empty Grand Place of Lille, northern France today)

People enjoy the sun on the stairs of the opera theater in Lille, France, on March 20, 2021, on the first day of a new lockdown in France aimed to curb the spread of the Covid-19 cases

People enjoy the sun on the banks of the Deule river in Lille, France. The new restrictions apply to around a third of the country's population affecting, Paris and several regions in the north and south

People out and about by the banks of the Deule river in Lille. French schools will remain open during the latest wave of restrictions

Protests SHOULD be allowed! Dozens of MPs pressure Priti Patel to allow demonstrations during Covid crisis Politicians across the House of Commons have called for Priti Patel to change coronavirus legislation to allow protests despite lockdown. More than 60 MPs joined campaign groups Big Brother Watch and Liberty in writing to the Home Secretary to say it is a human right to demonstrate. Tories Steve Baker and Sir Christopher Chope as well as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler signed the letter. They are calling on Ms Patel to tell police to 'facilitate' protests and avoid forcing them to 'decipher precisely what is required'. It comes as activists are expected to take to the streets across Britain again on Saturday as they call for an end to Covid restrictions. Advertisement

Dr Tildesley told the Today programme: 'I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.

'I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country.

'What is really dangerous is if we jeopardise our vaccination campaign by having these variants where the vaccines don't work as effectively spreading more rapidly.'

Outbreaks of the South African variant in countries throughout the Continent is causing particular concern, sparking calls for tougher travel restrictions.

Some experts fear European getaways in May and potentially in the summer months - much anticipated by millions of Britons - are now a doubt.

Britain's vaccination roll-out has been a huge success - with a record 660,276 jabs administered yesterday - but the picture in the Bloc looks different.

The EU has overseen a shambolic vaccine distribution programme and the number of positive tests is on the up in countries such as France, Spain, Germany and Italy.

The worry for British experts is that such scenes earlier in the pandemic have often foreshadowed a similar scenario in the UK.

Vaccine Tsar Ms Bingham told the Telegraph: 'If I was sitting in those countries, I would not be happy to have leaders that are undermining a vaccine that could actually protect.

'The data are coming through every day showing how effective it is in the elder people. The UK's done really well because we've had astonishingly high take-up.

'Whereas if you've got leaders basically saying ''I'm not taking that vaccine'' it's completely irresponsible. There's no other word for it, actually.'

Left: Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new variants which are less susceptible to vaccines. Right: Kate Bingham hit out at Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel after they suggested the vaccines were not effective on the elderly

People walk over a deserted bridge in a cloudy Paris this week, where people will once again have to fill out a form to justify their movements to authorities

While Covid deaths in France have been steadily falling since last year, there are fears the trend could reverse as cases continue to rise

A deserted street in the French city of Nice yesterday as several areas of the country go into a new month-long lockdown

The Covid variants circulating in the UK: PHE has six variants 'under investigation' - including strains from the Philippines and Antigua and several which spawned in the UK. It has four more which it describes as 'variants of concern'

Pfizer warns EU NOT to block vaccine exports Pfizer has urged the EU to back down on its threat to block vaccine exports to the UK, claiming Britain could hit back by impounding crucial UK-manufactured ingredients for vaccines produced in Europe. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen issued the warning this week amid the shambolic distribution of jabs on the continent. She threatened to block exports of vaccines to Britain while complaining that the EU was 'still waiting' for Astazeneca doses to be delivered from the UK, where the vaccine drive is far outpacing efforts on the continent. It comes amid criticism of European leaders for suspending the Astrazeneca jab over blood clot fears despite there being no evidence that the injection increases the risk. Both European and British regulators have insisted the vaccine is safe and that the tiny handful of clotting cases - out of millions of jab recipients - is not linked to the injections. It is thought there are currently 7.5million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine sitting un-used in Europe as a result of the bans. However, von der Leyen's threat has sparked a response from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and partner BioNTech. The firms have told Brussels of the potential power held by the UK, which could see officials preventing raw materials needed for the jab being shipped from northern England if the row continues. Advertisement

A new month-long lockdown was imposed in Paris and other regions across the Channel this weekend. Scientists fearing as many as one in ten of the 35,000 daily cases reported in the French capital are the South African variant.

Officially known as B.1.351, it is the Covid strain concerning scientists most because it makes the current crop of jabs slightly less effective.

While vaccination offers some protection to Britain, there are still millions of young people who are well down the waiting list and most likely to spread the virus.

Experts are not urging the PM to change the current plan to ease restrictions but caution is being exercised and a surge could prompt a change of thought.

Oxford University's Sir John warned the changing advice in France was undermining confidence in the whole vaccination programme.

He told the Today programme:'It doesn't make any sense. The whole thing looks completely crackers. They are changing the rules almost every week.

'They are really damaging people's confidence in vaccines generally - not just the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'They are sitting on a massive stockpile of vaccines that they haven't deployed yet and at the same time they have got a massive wave of the new variants coming across the country.

'You couldn't make it up.'

He added: 'If there are clotting problems associated with the vaccines - I am not saying there are, but if there were - they are at a very tiny level compared with the problems you get if you get the disease. If you want to die of a clot, get Covid.'

Mr Macron was slammed when earlier this year he claimed the Oxford jab was 'quasi-ineffective' for the elderly.

Mrs Merkel also came in for criticism when she said she would not take that vaccine and said it was not to be used on over-65s.

Kate Bingham hit out at Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel (pictured with Ursula Von der Leyen a in 2019) after they suggested the vaccines were not effective on the elderly

Super-wealthy subsidised by the taxpayer Billionaire tax exiles, an oil-rich nation and Saudi royals have claimed millions of pounds under the furlough scheme, an investigation reveals. The super-rich owners made the 'obscene' claims for taxpayers' cash for staff who were sent home after their businesses, which include the Ritz Hotel and Harrods department stores, were closed under coronavirus restrictions. The cost of the scheme is set to hit 66bn when it comes to an end in September, helping push the UK's national debt well over 2trillion. The recipients include the Qatari owners of Harrods and the Ritz, who claimed 3million in December alone, and members of the Saudi royal family received up to 55,000, according to the Guardian. Advertisement

Her claims came despite the European Medicines Agency saying they were fine for all age groups. Mrs Merkel yesterday backed down and said she would have it.

Pfizer yesterday urged the EU to back down on its threat to block vaccine exports to the UK, claiming Britain could hit back by impounding crucial UK-manufactured ingredients for vaccines produced in Europe.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen issued the warning this week amid the shambolic distribution of jabs on the continent.

She threatened to block exports of vaccines to Britain while complaining that the EU was 'still waiting' for Astazeneca doses to be delivered from the UK, where the vaccine drive is far outpacing efforts on the continent.

Both European and British regulators have insisted the vaccine is safe and that the tiny handful of clotting cases - out of millions of jab recipients - is not linked to the injections.

It is thought there are currently 7.5million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine sitting un-used in Europe as a result of the bans.

But Ms von der Leyen's threat has sparked a response from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and partner BioNTech.

The firms have told Brussels of the potential power held by the UK, which could see officials preventing raw materials needed for the jab being shipped from northern England if the row continues.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen issued a block warning this week amid the shambolic distribution of jabs on the Continent

Statistics from the MHRA show that while 78 per cent of all first doses were Pfizer jabs between December 8 and January 24, this split reversed between February 7 and March 7 so that it only accounted for 34 per cent. Just nine per cent of all first doses in the week to March 7 (200,000) were supplied by Pfizer

The UK deal with Serum in India was announced on March 2 but Mr Poonawalla had warned ten days earlier that supplies were not running smoothly. Pictured: A map of vaccine manufacturing sites across Europe and India

Supply figures for the vaccines were always expected to dip in April and May, according to projections published by the Scottish Government in January  before the UK had struck a deal for 10million doses from India. Therefore, the India delivery delay is believed to be separate from these figures

Britain's daily Covid cases drop by a quarter in a week to 4,802 while deaths fall by 42% to 101 Britain yesterday saw Covid cases fall again, dropping by a quarter from last week to 4,802 positive tests in a day while deaths also dropped by 42 per cent to 101. Two other weekly studies, by the Office for National Statistics and the Covid Symptom Study, showed cases are still coming down significantly, and the country had its best ever performance in the vaccination drive on Thursday when it administered a massive 660,276 jabs including 528,260 people getting their first. But SAGE has warned that a resurgence of Covid in Europe could soon lead to a rise in infections in Britain, saying the country is at a 'more fragile point' than it was a few weeks ago. Cases are on the rise again in countries including France, Germany and Belgium and one of No10's top scientific advisers has warned that spikes on the continent tend to lead to a spike in Britain two to three weeks later without any obvious link to travel. What ties the two together isn't clear, they said, but ministers and officials in the UK must watch closely in the coming weeks to make sure infections don't take off again. SAGE yesterday upgraded its estimate of the R rate - how fast the virus is spreading - in Britain, pushing it closer to one to a possible 0.9, meaning the outbreak is not shrinking as quickly as it was in February and late January. But SAGE cautioned the R rate is based on data too old to take into account the effects of reopening schools and experts say the rate is no longer a key measure of the country's outbreak because case increases don't have the same effect on hospital admissions or deaths - which will be the key warning signs in future - thanks to huge vaccination efforts. It is a promising sign that cases are still continuing to come down despite a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for Covid that came with schools reopening - there are now an average of 1.5million tests per day, up from 843,000 per weekday at the end of February. Advertisement

A chemicals firm in the small town of Snaith, North Yorkshire, signed a five-year contract with the EU before Christmas and has since delivered 'fatty molecules' to Pfizer factories in the bloc, according to the Telegraph.

If Boris Johnson and his top team move to stop deliveries flowing across the Channel, it could see production at its main site in Belgium halted completely within weeks.

A senior Government source distanced themselves from the suggestion, but Pfizer and BioNTech are believed to have issued a private warning over the ramifications if Downing Street is provoked further.

Lipid nanoparticles - specialised fatty molecules used to encase the vaccine and make sure it is safely administered to human cells - are in short supply globally, and the drugmaker is said to be 'heavily dependent' on supplies from the UK.

Croda International is one of only a handful of companies in the world which can supply the substance and has quadrupled its factory capacity to meet demand, which it predict will generate more than 90m in sales.

A Pfizer spokesman told the Telegraph: 'We have been clear with all stakeholders that the free movement of goods and supply across borders is absolutely critical to Pfizer and the patients we serve.'

Mr Johnson yesterday joined the millions of vaccinated Britons after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

The PM, 56, gave a thumbs up after having his inoculation at St Thomas' in London - the same hospital he was admitted when struck down with Covid in April last year.

Encouraging others to also get jabbed, he said he 'literally couldn't feel a thing' when his nurse, Lily, injected him in his left arm.

By receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine himself, Mr Johnson is sending the strongest possible signal he believes it to be safe following hesitancy from European leaders.

Countries including France, Germany and Italy had suspended use of the jab after a handful of recipients - out of millions - experienced blot clotting.

Faced with comparably sluggish rollouts and low take-up, their action was widely condemned as a political calculation - which has now been reversed.

Italian PM Mario Draghi on Friday night said that he will have the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Mr Johnson added: 'Listen to the scientists, listen to what the European Medicines Agency had to say, to what the MHRA [the British regulator] has said.

'The risk is Covid - this is a great thing to do.'

Boris Johnson yesterday joined the millions of Britons to be vaccinated after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab

The Prime Minister, 56, gave a triumphant thumbs up after having his inoculation at St Thomas' in central London - the same hospital he was admitted to when struck down with Covid in April last year

No10's vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi got his first dose of a coronavirus vaccination yesterday morning in Lewisham. He was jabbed by NHS England's director of primary care Dr Nikki Kanani

NHS England figures show 79 per cent of over-55s in the country had at least one dose of the vaccine by March 14, but London is significantly lagging behind in uptake

PM gets jab almost a year after fighting for life with Covid Boris Johnson's Covid jab tonight comes almost a year after he was severely struck down with the disease. After testing positive on March 27, 2020, the Prime Minister was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital with 'persistent symptoms' on April 5. On April 6, he was moved into intensive care and was unable to carry out his prime ministerial duties, forcing Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise. Mr Johnson later said 'it could have gone either way' and paid tribute to the medics who saved him. Pinning the blame for his vulnerability on his weight, he subsequently resolved to get fitter and started early morning runs in the grounds of Buckingham Palace as well as cutting back on his penchant for cheese and wine. The Prime Minister has since declared he is 'bursting with antibodies'. Advertisement

Britain has now vaccinated over half of its adult population and the rollout yesterday hit a record pace after 660,276 doses were dished out.

Mr Johnson tweeted: 'I've just received my first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine dose. Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS staff and volunteers who helped make this happen.

'Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much. Let's get the jab done.'

Latest Department of Health data shows 528,260 first doses were administered on Thursday, on top of another 132,016 second shots.

Fellow cabinet ministers including Grant Shapps, Therese Coffey and Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi have also been jabbed.

The PM's jab will put him among the thousands of Britons expected to receive their vaccine.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a 'mammoth team effort' had led to Britain hitting record pace, while health minister Lord Bethell pointed out it meant nearly one per cent of the country had been jabbed in a single day.

The programme had been steadily gaining pace this week, after 529,119 total doses were given out on Tuesday and 581,855 on Wednesday.

Some 26.2million Britons have now received their first dose, the equivalent of half the adult population in Britain, and 2m have received both injections.

Despite the promising week, the NHS is gearing up for a significant shortage of vaccine doses next month due to supply issues in India.

A shipment of four million AstraZeneca shots from has been delayed, for reasons that aren't totally clear, with No10 holding secret talks with New Delhi to get the roll-out back on track.

It means Britons aged over 40 who were expecting to be called for their appointments next month will need to wait until at least May while ministers prioritise current stock for over-50s and for people due their second doses.

Britain has already identified up to 351 cases of the variant, sparking surge-testing to root out other cases of the variant. This week two areas of London saw surge-testing ordered after cases of the South African variant were identified there

Oxford and Pfizer jabs are more effective against Brazilian variant than initially feared The coronavirus vaccines being rolled out in Britain work better against the Brazilian variant than first feared, research suggests. An Oxford University study found its vaccine and the jab made by Pfizer perform just as well against the P.1 strain that first emerged in Manaus as they do against the Kent variant. The vaccines, already in the arms of 25million Britons, have shown to be highly effective against the UK dominant Kent strain, reducing deaths and hospital rates by more than 85 per cent. Scientists initially feared the P.1 variant would be resistant to vaccines because it has a number of worrying mutations on top of the ones it shares with the Kent strain. There have so far been 12 cases of the Brazilian variant in the UK  nine in England and three in Scotland. All of the patients had either direct or indirect travel links to Brazil. The study exposed blood samples from vaccinated people to various Covid variants and monitored their antibody responses. It found the vaccines produced nearly three times less antibodies against the Kent and Brazil variants when compared with the original strain. The researchers said this was still more than enough to neutralise the viruses. However, the jabs stimulated up to nine times less antibodies when exposed to the South African variant, which has been detected in hundreds of people in the UK. Advertisement

Meanwhile, MailOnline yesterday revealed Britain has almost stopped giving out the Pfizer Covid vaccine to new patients so it can save supplies for second doses.

The NHS in England appears to now be rationing the jab, which was used to kick off the rollout in December, and only used it for one in 10 new patients in the first week of March.

It comes after NHS figures revealed how vaccine uptake rates differed across the country, with only 60 per cent of over-55s in parts of London receiving their first doses compared to almost 90 per cent in parts of Worcestershire.

There are 21 areas of the country that have yet to hit more than 70 per cent of this age group, and 17 of them are in London.

For comparison, the Isles of Scilly has vaccinated 822 of its 876 over-55s  giving it an uptake of 93.8 per cent  and Stafford, Mid Suffolk and the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire have all jabbed more than 89 per cent.

Uptake figures are based on the latest population estimates by Public Health England's National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS).

Officials insist vaccines are divvied out evenly across the country, suggesting poor uptake is to blame. Health chiefs are concerned about high levels of vaccine hesitancy among black and ethnic minorities, fuelled by anti-vaxx messages on social media.

England's vaccine roll-out was widened to over-50s this week but a shortfall in the vaccine supply next month is expected to mean millions of over-40s won't be inoculated until May.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock this week revealed supplies would be used to mop up the over-50s who haven't already been jabbed, while ensuring Britons don't miss out on crucial top-ups. Diverting supplies to inner-city neighbourhoods with low uptake rates will stop areas leading the way from moving down the priority list.

MailOnline's analysis of the latest vaccine statistics shows most parts of the country are well on their way to achieving the target of offering first doses to all over-50s by April 15.

But most of the capital is seriously lagging behind in the roll-out to over-55s, with more than half a million in the age group yet to receive a jab in London.

Uptake was worst in Hackney (59.2 per cent), Newham (60.2 per cent), Kensington and Chelsea (61.1 per cent), Southwark (61.3 per cent) and Westminster (61.4 per cent). Nearly 90,000 over-55s still have to come forward for a jab in those boroughs alone.

Ministers scramble to diffuse stand-off with India by insisting it isn't blocking shipments Ministers were yesterday scrambling to defuse the standoff with India over 5million missing doses of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine, with No10 holding secret talks with New Delhi to get the roll-out back on track. Matt Hancock yesterday admitted a delayed shipment from the Serum Institute of India was a key factor in shortages that will slow the campaign down next month, meaning millions of over-40s will have to wait until May to get their first dose. But in front of the entire nation last night, Boris Johnson  who is due to travel to India in the coming months to secure a lucrative post-Brexit trade deal  claimed Narenda Modi's government had 'not stopped any exports'. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden waded into the confusion and repeated the claims of the Prime Minister, saying India was not 'withholding vaccines' and that the SII had 'some supply issues'. Asked if Mr Modi's administration was blocking exports, Mr Dowden told LBC: 'No. India is not withholding vaccines, and I pay tribute to the work of the Serum Institute. They have had some supply issues with 5million doses.' It comes as one of the Government's top scientific advisers insisted Britain's vaccine in shortage in April won't hamper the UK's inoculation drive. 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, an Imperial College London epidemiologist whose grim modelling spooked ministers into the first blanket shutdown last March, dismissed fears that the hold-up could threaten plans to ease lockdown. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the delay was 'slightly disappointing' but insisted it shouldn't have an 'enormous effect'. And he added that No10 still has 'enough' supply to continue with the programme  which has already vaccinated almost 26million Britons. Another Imperial scientist said it was 'unrealistic to imagine the first dose roll-out will be as fast'. Professor Robin Shattock, who is involved in vaccine research, said the delay was 'manageable', however. Advertisement

On the other end of the spectrum, 35 areas of the country have vaccinated more than 85 per cent of people in that age group.

The Isles of Scilly, Stafford, Mid Suffolk and Wyre Forest had jabbed more than 89 per cent, followed by the Isle of Wight (88.7 per cent), Wyre (88.3 per cent), Babergh (87.9 per cent), Malvern Hills (87.4 per cent) and Harborough (87.2 per cent).

East Suffolk has vaccinated 88.5 per cent of its over-55s despite being one of the very few local authorities in the country to have more than 100,000 people in the age group.

The data also showed just 64 per cent of carers working in people's homes have taken up the offer of the vaccine.

Uptake among the group  who work with the most vulnerable people in society  is lowest in Barnet in north London (28.5 per cent), Barnsley in south Yorkshire (29.3 per cent) and Bath and North East Somerset (29.3 per cent).

Meanwhile, official data suggests Britain has almost stopped giving out the Pfizer Covid vaccine to new patients so it can save supplies for second doses.

The NHS appears to now be rationing the jab, which was used to kick off the rollout in December, and only used it for one in 10 new patients in the first week of March.

In January, when AstraZeneca's vaccine first got approved, Pfizer's still accounted for three quarters of all first doses but this fell to just nine per cent in the first week of March, when only 200,000 new patients were given it.

MailOnline understands deliveries of the Belgian-made jab will be smaller from April because of a planned reduction and there is also a risk the EU will try to rescue its shambolic roll-out and try to block shipments from reaching the UK.

Ministers must be careful with the supply they do get because they're already over halfway through supplies planned up to June - and they owe around 10m people a second dose.

The Department of Health said everyone will get their second doses within 12 weeks as planned. Both the Department and Pfizer declined to comment on the delivery schedule but insist there is no problem with supplies, amid reports on social media of Britons being told there is a shortage.

AstraZeneca's vaccine, which is available in much larger quantities, is now taking over as the country's staple vaccine as medics rattle through the priority lists.

But a hiccup in supplies of that because of a blocked shipment of 5million doses from India - combined with a need to reserve Pfizer stocks - means the number of people getting first doses will be 'significantly constrained' in April, the NHS has warned.

This means millions of people in their 40s will likely have to wait until at least May to get their first doses. But Whitehall insiders are still hopeful that some will get jabs ahead of schedule, amid claims under-50s would be invited by Easter.

Figures in the MHRA's Yellow Card reports, which record people's reactions to the vaccines, show that the proportion of first jabs that are Pfizer's has tumbled.

While 78 per cent of all first doses were Pfizer jabs between December 8 and January 24, this split reversed between February 7 and March 7 so that it only accounted for 34 per cent.

The vaccine was used for 1.2million first doses between December 8 and January 4 before Oxford's got approval.

AstraZeneca's came into use on January 4 but by January 24, Pfizer's still accounted for 78 per cent of all first doses - 5.4m out of a total 6.9m.

Come February, when AstraZeneca's was being churned out at a rate of 2million per week, the proportion of new patients who were getting Pfizer's jab started to come down but it remained a mainstay of the rollout.

It had accounted for 60 per cent by February 7, when AstraZeneca started to gain ground.

Weekly data available from early February shows the proportion of weekly first-dose vaccines that were Pfizer ranged between 30 and 50 per cent in February.

But it then plummeted to just nine per cent in the first week of March, when only 200,000 people out of 2.2million were given the Pfizer jab.

In that most recent week the number of second doses was about equal to the number of first doses, suggesting a pivot in the way the jab is being used.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'Vaccines will save thousands of lives and reduce hospitalisations and any vaccine approved by the MHRA is proven to be both safe, and effective.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Photo: Nicholas Johansen Protesters gather in Kelowna's Stuart Park on Jan. 30, while counter-protesters stand across the street.

A BC Supreme Court judge has ruled the COVID-19 public health order prohibiting outdoor protests was unconstitutional.

In a decision Thursday night, released by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ruled that while the ban on in-person, indoor church services was an infringement on British Columbians' Charter rights, it was "reasonable and proportionate" under Section 1 of the Charter. But he did not find the same could be said about the the ban on outdoor protests.

The decision may not have many real-world consequences moving forward though, as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry amended her order on Feb. 10, allowing for outdoor assemblies for the purpose of communicating a position on a matter of public interest or controversy, subject to my expectation that persons organizing or attending such an assembly will take the steps and put in place the measures recommended in the guidelines posted on my website in order to limit the risk of transmission of COVID-19."

As such, the provincial government conceded to Chief Justice Hinkson that the ban on outdoor protests prior to Feb. 10 were of no force and effect during that time.

Dr. Henry's amendment to her public health order on Feb. 10 was not widely publicized though. In fact, on that same day, Kelowna RCMP Superintendent Kara Triance issued a public statement, warning that a Feb. 13 protest in Stuart Park would be "unlawful." Despite the warning, no fines were issued.

For many months, a group of varying size has gathered in Kelowna's Stuart Park every Saturday to protest B.C.'s measures that have been put in place to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Organizer David Lindsay, has been handed several $2,300 fines prior to Feb. 10 and he's spoken to the organized crowd in the past about why he thinks Dr. Henry should be arrested for her handling of the pandemic.

Alain Beaudoin of Dawson Creek had organized three protests against what he called "draconian restrictions in December of 2020, and he was ticketed during the last one. Beaudoin was one of the petitioners represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms in its recent legal challenge of B.C.'s COVID-19 measures.

With no opposition from the provincial government, Chief Justice Hinkson agreed the ban on protests infringed on Beaudoin's' 2(c) and 2(d) Charter rights, which guarantees the right of peaceful assembly and of association.

But despite ruling the order had no force and effect, Chief Justice Hinkson reluctantly stopped short of ruling Beaudoin's $2,300 ticket invalid, after the province argued they nor the judge had been provided with any specific information about why the ticket was issued.

The validity of the ticket does not necessarily depend upon the constitutionality of the impugned orders, Chief Justice Hinkson said. I should not adjudicate on their validity without the factual background that resulted in their issuance.

It's unclear if Beaudoin will seek a separate judicial review of his ticket, or how the ruling will impact others who've received similar tickets.

Castanet has reached out to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to see if the government will continue to pursue payment of these fines, but a spokesperson said they would likely not have a response until next week.
Here's what you need to know: Saturday, March 20
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Mar, 2021 ) :The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are going through the most critical period of their history but they will not compromise on their freedom and right to self-determination.

He expressed these views while talking to media at Kashmir House here on Saturday along with Prof Dr Farhan Mujahid Chak and leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, AJK Chapter.

The state president said that the people of occupied Kashmir had offered unprecedented sacrifices for their freedom and the right to self-determination and kept the Kashmir issue alive, and the state of Pakistan had always supported them in their just struggle.

In spite of all out difficulties, the Kashmiris are determined to take their liberation struggle to its ultimate goal, he added. Terming the Kashmir issue as an international dispute that exists at the agenda of the United Nations Security Council as an unresolved issue, President Khan said that the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India on the Line of Control will not put the Kashmir issue on the back burner.

"The LoC agreement aims to reduce tensions along the Line of Control and ensure the safety of human lives. It is in no way indicates that the issue of Kashmir will be put to the back burner," he emphasized.

The President said that the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir kept the Kashmir issue alive by offering unprecedented sacrifices for freedom and their birthright, right to self-determination.

The AJK president maintained that by virtue of the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people and efforts of their sympathizers and well-wishers, the Kashmir conflict is today echoing in the leading parliaments of the world, and the rights of Kashmiri people are being extensively discussed in the US Congress besides the parliaments of the UK, Europe and ASEAN states.

"This is ample proof that the international community now sees the Kashmiri issue in the context of ground realities instead of believing in the false and unfounded Indian narrative," he added.

Sardar Masood Khan said that India is settling its non-Kashmiri citizens in the disputed territory under the heinous plan of perpetuating its illegal occupation of Kashmir, but the Kashmiri people would valiantly frustrate all its evil designs.

Speaking on this occasion, Dr Farhan Mujahid Chuk said that we would have to intensify our efforts to further project the Kashmir issue on the international level. He said that the foolish acts of the incumbent Indian regime had provided a unique opportunity to the Kashmiri people to project their cause on the international level.

Self-determination is the fundamental right of the Kashmiri people and no power on the earth can deprive them of this right, Dr Chak asserted. Other APHC leaders reiterated their pledge to continue the liberation struggle relentlessly despite all odds Responding to various questions, the AJK president said that we would have to see whether India is sincere in resolving the Kashmir issue through talks or like in the past, it is using the talks offer as a time-buying ploy.

To another question, Sardar Masood Khan said that we have great expectations from the new US Administration and we hope that President Biden besides activating the UN Security Council on the Kashmir issue will exert pressure on the Indian Government to secure an end to human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.

Among the All Party Hurriyat Conference leaders who were present on the occasion were Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Hussain Khatib, Ms Shamim Shawl
Swedish dramas hit SBS on Demand this Thursday.

Season Two of Spring Tide begins (S1 will also be made available again) while thriller Partisan begins.

Spring Tide

All ten episodes available to stream. In Swedish with English subtitles.

Olivia Ronning (Julia Ragnarsson) and Abbas el Fassi (Dar Salim) are affected by two different murders in two different cities, Marseille and Stockholm. They are each pulled into their respective cases, which are connected somehow. Customs agent Bengt Sahlman is found hanging dead in his home by his 17-year-old daughter Sandra. Olivia, just home from a long trip, passes Sahlmans home as Sandra comes running out of the house in panic. This becomes the prelude to Olivias involvement in young Sandras fate, which resembles Olivias own: both of her parents are now dead. It is soon determined that the suicide was a murder, and the case lands on Mette Olsatters desk. A blind woman is found brutally stabbed to death in Marseille. When Abbas sees a picture of the murdered woman, Samira, in a French newspaper, he recognises the love of his life. Abbas decides to go to Marseille to find out what happened to her. He asks Tom Stilton, who has contacts in the Marseille police, to accompany him. Olivia, Tom, Abbas and Mette do everything in their power to solve the two cases, and despite their previous differences, Stilton and Olivia find themselves back together and start working together. Again.

Partisan

All five episodes available to stream. In Swedish with English subtitles. Partisan takes place in the idyllic surroundings of Jordnara, a gated community that runs a very successful organic farm that distributes vegetables. The story starts off with Johnny (Fares Fares, Chernobyl) entering Jordnara with the assignment of being their new truck driver at the farm. Johnny gets to know Nicole and Maria, who are spending their summer in the gated community as foster kids. Johnny soon starts to suspect trafficking. The more Johnnys concern for the girls grows, the more focus they take from his main mission. Who is Johnny and what is his true agenda? Thursday March 25 on SBS on Demand.

Related
Friends did a surprisingly good job of filling in the backstories of its six main characters. By the time the series wrapped, fans had learned that Ross Geller, Monica Geller, and Rachel Green all grew up on Long Island. Writers revealed that Joey Tribbiani grew up in Queens as the only boy in a large family and that Phoebe Buffay had a tragic childhood. Chandler Bing explained where his propensity to use sarcasm as a coping mechanism came from, too. The one thing Friends fans never learned was where Ross went to college. Some clues could clear things up, though.

Ross Gellers Ph. D was earned at Columbia University

Ross was proud of his Ph. D, and well, he should be. Earning a Ph. D in a science field is no easy task. Although his alma mater is almost never mentioned, Buzzfeed News alleges he earned his doctorate at Columbia University in New York City.

David Schwimmer as Ross Geller | Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

RELATED: Friends: The Many Reasons Ross Geller Was the Least Likable Friend

Columbia University is one of the worlds leading universities, and its doctoral program in the earth sciences is especially competitive. The Ph. D program only accepts a handful of students each year. Assuming Ross completed his program at Columbia, he would have been considered a highly desirable candidate for most jobs, including the one he had at the start of the series.

His ungraduated degree is never mentioned, but fans have some ideas about where he may have attended

Ross and Chandler never actually mention where they earned their undergraduate degrees from. All fans know is that they went to school together. Logistically, it would make sense for the pals to have attended college in New York since a flashback episode showed Monica and Rachel visiting Ross at college. Since Monica is supposed to be about two years younger than Ross, it seems unlikely that Jack and Judy Geller would have sent her off out of state to visit Ross.

David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing | Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Still, some fans have reason to believe Ross and Chandler were Hawkeyes during their college days. In season 10, a flashback shows a college campus. One fan identifies the building shown as Calvin Hall at the University of Iowa. It would make sense for Ross to have attended the school. The University of Iowa has an impressive Earth and Environmental Science program, including a large fossil repository. His SAT score of 1250 would have also been enough to get him into the school. While it is a competitive score, it certainly wasnt competitive enough for an Ivy League school, like Columbia or Yale. According to Prep Scholar, a school like Columbia generally considers students who scored 1400 or higher on the SAT.

Friends Fans point out some discrepancies when it comes to Ross Gellers education

Friends fans have spotted some inconsistencies when it comes to Rosss educational pursuits. Namely, he seemed too young at the start of the series to have already earned his Ph. D. In the earliest episodes of Friends, Ross was grappling with his divorce from his first wife, Carol Willick. He mentions that hes 26 and already divorced. By that point, Ross was working and had already earned his doctorate.

Cast of Friends | Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

RELATED: Friends: Monica and Rachels Apartment Number Makes No Sense

According to CBS News, the average Ph. D student is 33 years old before completing their program. It takes most candidates about eight years to complete their coursework. While a student could complete a Ph. D in five to six years, Ross would have still been pretty young. That, of course, assumes he completed his undergraduate at the average age of 22. Ross would have needed to breeze through both undergraduate and doctoral studies to be established in his career when the show started. While its possible, Ross is never depicted as a genius who skipped multiple grades, making his lightning-fast collegiate career seem unlikely.
The boy, who was shot in the facial area, was inside a vehicle in the 6100 block of South Michigan Avenue at around 4 p.m. Friday when another vehicle pulled up alongside and someone inside fired shots into the vehicle, police said.
Vicky McClure and the Line of Duty cast were left beside themselves when they discovered Happy Days legend Henry Winkler is a fan of the show.

The American star - who is best known for playing iconic Arthur 'The Fonz' Fonzarelli on the long-running sitcom - tweeted his love for the BBC cop drama last year, much to the excitement of the cast.

Asked by Cosmopolitan UK who the most surprising celebrity Line Of Duty fan has been, the actress, 37, said: 'We did have The Fonz, aka Henry Winkler, tweet us that he's a fan of the show which was the biggest moment for us all.

'Biggest man on earth!' Vicky McClure and the Line Of Duty cast were left beside themselves when they discovered Happy Days legend Henry Winkler is a fan of the show

'He's the biggest man on earth! It's gone stateside! And who's cooler than The Fonz?

'So that's always stuck with me.'

Henry, now 75, took to Twitter at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last March to suggest what his fans should binge watch during lockdown.

Touting his own series Barry, he tweeted: BINGE WATCH - after Barry of course... LINE OF DUTY... and SPIRAL!'

It's a thumbs up from Fonzie! The American star - who is best known for playing iconic Arthur 'The Fonz' Fonzarelli on the long-running sitcom - tweeted his love for the BBC cop drama last year, much to the excitement of the cast

Lockdown viewing: Henry, now 75, took to Twitter at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last March to suggest what his fans should binge watch during lockdown

Two months later, under an ad for Acorn TV promoting British crime series, he wrote: 'Do not forget LINE OF DUTY!'

Henry's sure to be tuning into the new series of Line Of Duty when it hits screens this Sunday for its sixth run.

Vicky went on to tell Cosmo that the cast have 'loads' of nickames for one another behind-the-scenes.

'We have loads, but calling each other '29' has stuck since day one. Neil Morrissey [who played DC Nigel Morton] asked me what the time was, and I just said '29', and now it's how we all refer to each other,' she told the publication.

Asked by Cosmopolitan UK who the most surprising celebrity Line Of Duty fan has been, the actress, 37, said: 'We did have The Fonz, aka Henry Winkler, tweet us that he's a fan of the show which was the biggest moment for us all' [pictured in 1984 with Scott Baio]

In-jokes: Vicky went on to tell Cosmo that the cast have 'loads' of nickames for one another behind-the-scenes

On whether they ever pull pranks on the set of the show, she went on:'Martin Compston [DS Steve Arnott] and I are always trying to make each other jump.

'The annoying thing is he's really good at it, and I'm crap!'

Vicky spoke about her career away from the immensely popular cop show. 'I'd love to work with Julie Walters or Kathy Burke - they are pure talent for me and I get such a sense of truth when I watch them. They inspire me,' she said.

Nearly time: Line Of Duty returns to BBC One on Sunday night at 9PM

Speaking about her breakout role in This Is England, she revealed the momentos she kept from filming.

'I kept a brown Fred Perry shirt that [my character] Lol wore, and I kept the box that Combo [played by Stephen Graham] made from matchsticks in the film. I'll never give that away,' she said.

She added: 'Line of Duty made us all a coat with 'AC-12' and the badge on the arm, which is lovely to have.'

Line Of Duty returns to BBC One on Sunday night at 9PM.
LIMA, Peru, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- InRetail Pharma, S.A., a corporation (sociedad anonima) incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Peru ("InRetail Pharma", the "Company" or "we"), today announced that US$340,315,000 aggregate principal amount, or approximately 85.08% (the "Tendered Notes"), of its outstanding 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Notes") were validly tendered and not withdrawn by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 19, 2021 (the "Early Tender and Consent Date") in accordance with InRetail Pharma's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated March 8, 2021 (the "Statement"), pursuant to which the tender offer and the consent solicitation are being made.

In addition, the Tendered Notes represent consents sufficient to effect all of the proposed amendments to the indenture governing the Notes as set forth in the Statement. The proposed amendments eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain events of default and reduce the minimum notice period required for optional redemptions of the Notes to three days, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Statement. InRetail Pharma plans to execute a supplemental indenture (the "Supplemental Indenture") effecting the proposed amendments to the indenture governing the Notes.

Holders that validly tendered prior to the Early Tender and Consent Date, and whose Notes are accepted, will receive a total consideration of US$1,032.03 per US$1,000 principal amount of Tendered Notes, which includes a consent payment of US$30.00 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the early settlement date, which is expected to be on March 23, 2021 (the "Early Settlement Date").

The Company's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for the Tendered Notes is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, which are more fully described in the Statement, including the consummation of the concurrent offering of senior notes by the parent of the Company, Patrimonio en Fideicomiso D.S. 093-2002-EF-InRetail Consumer, a Peruvian trust ("InRetail Consumer"), acting though its trustee, Internacional de Titulos Sociedad Titulizadora S.A., resulting in net proceeds to InRetail Consumer (for further contribution and/or loan to the Company) sufficient to fund the total consideration of all Tendered Notes and the redemption price of all untendered Notes. This condition is expected to be satisfied upon the closing of InRetail Consumer's offering of 3.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 that priced on March 11, 2021.

Although the Company has no legal obligation to do so and the selection of any particular redemption date is in its sole discretion, the Company currently intends to issue a notice of redemption pursuant to the redemption provision of the Supplemental Indenture to redeem any Notes that remain outstanding following the Early Settlement Date. This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption under the redemption provision of the indenture governing the Notes.

The Company has retained Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Santander Investment Securities Inc. to serve as the dealer managers and solicitation agents for the tender offer and consent solicitation. Questions regarding the tender offer and consent solicitation may be directed to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at Attn: Liability Management Group, +1 (800) 820-1653 (toll-free), +1 (212) 538-2147 (collect) and/or to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at Attn: Latin America Debt Capital Markets, +1 (866) 846-2874 (toll-free), +1 (212) 834-7279 (collect) and/or Santander Investment Securities Inc. at Attn: Liability Management Team, +1 (855) 404-3636 (toll-free), +1 (212) 940-1442 (collect).

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the information agent (the "Information Agent") and depositary (the "Depositary") for the Offer. Any questions regarding procedures for tendering Notes or requests for additional copies of the Statement, the Letter of Transmittal or other materials should be directed to the Information Agent at: Attn: Michael Horthman, banks and brokers, +1 (212) 269-5550, toll-free, +1 (866) 796-1271, email, [email protected].

None of the Company, the dealer managers and solicitation agents or the information agent make any recommendations as to whether holders should tender their Notes and deliver consents pursuant to the tender offer and consent solicitation, and no one has been authorized by any of them to make such recommendations. Holders must make their own decisions as to whether to tender their Notes and deliver consents, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.

This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The tender offer and consent solicitation are being made solely pursuant to the offer documents.

The tender offer and consent solicitation do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not permitted by law or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

In any jurisdiction in which the tender offer and consent solicitation are required to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and in which the dealer managers, or any affiliates thereof, are so licensed, the tender offer and consent solicitation will be deemed to have been made by such dealer managers, or such affiliates, on behalf of the Company.

The new notes offered pursuant to the concurrent U.S. Dollar offering have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to any U.S. persons, except (a) to qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A, and (b) outside the United States to non U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, including, without limitation, changes in our business or acquisition strategy or planned capital expenditures, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About InRetail Pharma

InRetail Pharma is a corporation (sociedad anonima) incorporated under the laws of Peru. InRetail Pharma is the leading pharmacy chain in Peru in terms of revenue and number of pharmacies and a leading pharma distribution company. InRetail Pharma's pharmacy retail platform includes two brands with differentiated value propositions: Inkafarma and Mifarma, with 2,165 pharmacies in all of Peru's 24 departments as of December 31, 2020.

SOURCE InRetail Pharma, S.A.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's deputy leader and negotiator, and other delegation members attend the Afghan peace conference in Moscow. Photo: Reuters

The Afghan government and the Taliban agreed yesterday to try to accelerate peace talks at a meeting in Moscow. It followed an international conference there on the peace process, Afghanistans top peace official and a Taliban spokesman said.

The US, Russia, China and Pakistan called on warring sides to reach an immediate ceasefire at the conference, held in Russia just six weeks before a deadline agreed last year to withdraw US troops.

We expressed our readiness to accelerate the (peace) process, Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistans High Council for National Reconciliation, said. They (the Taliban) did as well.

Moscow hosted the international conference on Afghanistan on Thursday, at which the nations involved issued a joint statement calling on the Afghan sides to reach a peace deal and curb violence, and on the Taliban not to launch any offensives in the spring.

They also said they did not support the restoration of the Islamic emirate.

Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem took issue with the statement, saying it was up to the Afghan sides to decide their system of governance.

What is stated in the declaration is against all principles and is not acceptable, he said.

Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Talibans political office, warned Washington against keeping troops in the country beyond the agreed date.

After that, it will be a violation of the agreement. So, in that case, if there is action, of course, there will be reaction, he said.

Washington agreed last year to withdraw its troops by May 1 after nearly two decades, but President Joe Bidens administration is reviewing its plans for Afghanistan and says all options remain on the table.
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Home Minister Anil



Deshmukh said on Saturday evening that he will file a defamation case against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh for accusing him of corruption.

Deshmukh, an NCP leader, had tweeted earlier refuting Singh's allegation that he had asked police officers to collect money from bars, restaurants and other establishments.

In a statement, Deshmukh also asked why Singh was keeping silent for so long, and alleged that the IPS officer, shunted out from the post of city police commissioner on Wednesday, was only trying to save his own skin in the Sachin Waze case.

"The allegations made by Singh are false and I am filing a case of defamation against him," Deshmukh said.

"In the Mukesh Ambani case and the Mansukh Hiran death case, Sachin Waze's involvement was established and the trail was to reach Param Bir Singh. It is due to this possibility that these allegations have been leveled," Deshmukh said.

On Thursday, a day after Param Bir Singh was shunted out, Deshmukh had said he was transferred after some of his colleagues committed "serious and unforgivable mistakes".

Singh alleged in his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that Deshmukh had told Waze that he had set a target of collecting Rs 100 crore a month, half of it from nearly 1,750 bars, restaurants and similar establishments operating in the city.

" If Sachin Waze told him about this in February, why was Singh quiet till now? Singh took the decision to reinstate Sachin Waze after 16 years (after he was suspended in Khwaja Yunus custodial death case)," Deshmukh said.

"Sensing trouble in the explosives case, Singh has leveled baseless allegations to blackmail the government. This is a conspiracy by Singh to mislead the probe into the explosives and Mansukh Hiran death cases," the minister said.

The chief minister should order an impartial probe in Singh's allegations, he added.

Waze was arrested by the NIA last week in connection with the recovery of explosives-laden Scorpio near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence here last month.

The NIA has also taken over the case related to the mysterious death of Mansukh Hiran, from whose possession the SUV had been allgedly stolen.

(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.)
SC asks CBSE, CISCE to place on record objective parameters for assessment of class 12 students in two weeks.
President Moon Jae-in, left, talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a summit meeting in 2017. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae





By Do Je-hae







Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Seoul next week is renewing attention to the country's role in Korean Peninsula issues.







The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Russia's top diplomat will be in Seoul March 23 to 25. One of the top objectives of the visit is to take part in a ceremony for the 30th anniversary of relations between the two countries, as well as talks with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong.







"Minister Chung will hold talks with Minister Lavrov on March 25 and exchange views on bilateral relations and the Korean Peninsula as well as share comprehensive views on a range of global issues."







The visit comes amid rising interest in the possible revival of multilateral discussions on the Korean Peninsula such as the six-party talks under the new Biden administration to resuscitate momentum for Moon's peace process.







The two countries have been enjoying active diplomatic exchanges despite the COVID-19 pandemic.







President Moon Jae-in sent ruling party veteran Woo Yoo-keun to Russia in December 2020 as a presidential envoy to discuss celebrations for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties and explore ways to further enhance bilateral relations.







Moon also spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Sept. 28, and invited the Russian leader to Korea.







"We hope to continue close communication and cooperation between the two countries for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, we hope President Putin's visit will be realized as soon as the COVID-19 situation is stabilized, providing an opportunity for the two leaders to continue their dialogue on the development mutually beneficial and future-oriented bilateral relations," the presidential office said in a statement.



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Elementary school students walk to classes to begin their school day in Godley, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. LM Otero/AP Images

Only 5 school-associated COVID-19 cases were detected among students and teachers exposed and tested across 20 schools in the district.

The rare school-associated infections were attributed to poor mask usage or close lunch seating.

Schools can reopen safely even when seating is 3 feet apart if other measures like masks are heeded, the CDC says.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Rates of COVID-19 transmission were high in Salt Lake County, Utah, this past December and January, but in one school district, they remained very low thanks to mitigation measures like mask-wearing, a March 19 report out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Specifically, only 0.7% of teachers and students who'd been in close contact with an infected peer or colleague contracted COVID-19 from them at school. None of the 20 schools analyzed experienced a coronavirus outbreak.

The authors say the report demonstrates how mitigation measures like mask wearing and restricting extra-curricular activities can make school reopenings safe - even, as was the case in the schools studied, kids can't always sit a full six feet apart.

In accordance with this report and other studies, the CDC changed its physical distancing guidance for K-12 schools Friday, saying 3 feet of space is enough between students, in most circumstances.

The school-associated cases were traced to improper mask wearing or close seating at lunch

To conduct the study, CDC researchers looked at 20 K-6 schools in one Salt Lake County school district between December 3, 2020 and January 31, 2021.

They identified 1,041 students and teachers susceptible to COVID-19 who, while at school, were in close contact with 51 of their COVID-positive peers and colleagues. "Close contact" meant they'd been with the infected person, while contagious, for 15 minutes or more in a classroom, cafeteria, school bus, or at recess.

After testing 735 of the 1,041 contacts, the study authors found only 12 had contracted the disease, and only five had contracted it at school. In those school-associated cases, transmission seemed to occur because the infected person wasn't wearing their mask properly or was sitting near someone at lunch.

Story continues

Wearing masks and staggering breaks can prevent transmission even if some students and teachers are COVID-positive

The study authors credit the school's mitigation strategies with preventing higher rates of spread and outbreaks in schools.

For example, students were put in cohorts where possible, and most schools staggered lunch, gym, and other activities like library use and art classes. They also limited, or made virtual, in-person extra-curriculars and events like sports, assemblies, performances, and field trips. 86% of teachers reported that their students always wore their masks, except when eating and drinking.

Such strategies proved successful, despite the fact that kids were spaced a median of 3 feet apart, and teachers often had closer than 6-feet interactions with their kids in small group settings without any plexiglass or other barrier.

Even when the school district loosened its quarantining guidance in mid-December - only requiring a close contact of an infected person to quarantine if one or both hadn't been wearing masks - rates of school-associated COVID-19 cases didn't change. That guidance shift led to over 1,200 student in-person learning days saved, the report says.

This could be a model for other schools

The study had some limitations. For one, the genome-sequencing technology to differentiate school-based transmission from community transmission wasn't always available. Plus, some contacts of infectious people could have been missed, and some identified contacts may have already been unknowingly immune to COVID-19. The findings also can't be applied to new COVID-19 variants that weren't circulating in the Utah community at the time.

But the study authors say the Utah schools can serve as a model for others looking to resume in-person learning safely.

"When 6 ft distancing is not feasible," they write, "schools in high-incidence communities can still limit in-school transmission by consistently using masks and implementing other important mitigation strategies."

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If you're a recent university grad, it can be maddeningly difficult, when looking for work, to get your foot in the door. To get your foot in the door, you need to have some work experience. But to get some work experience, you need to get your foot in the door.

It's okay, if you're a recent college grad, to feel trapped in a catch-22. In some cases, you truly are.

Thankfully, though, that you can find a decent gig that rewards all your schooling: tutoring. There will always been a demand for doctors, because doctors heal, and there will always be a demand for tutors, because tutors teach.

As a recent college grad, there's a good chance you're qualified to work as a tutor in the subject area you majored in. If you got into a top tier college, you could also tutor the SAT.

So, how can you know if you'd make a good tutor?

You Enjoy the Area or Major You Specialized In

Someone who isn't enamored of biology probably won't enjoy spending hours teaching the subject, just as someone who doesn't enjoy pickles won't enjoy eating pickles every day.

Good tutors, like good profs, tend to enjoy the subject they teach. Their enthusiasm can be contagious and motivating. A math tutor in Winnipeg provides an essential service for students who are struggling, and can be a rewarding job for someone who believes in the importance of the subject.

This isn't to say you need to be in love with the subject you teach. Being curious about or interested in the subject can be enough. But being in love with the subject you teach certainly won't hurt.

You Enjoy Working with Kids

Being a tutor in most cases means spending time with kids from different age groups. Being comfortable around kids is key.

Tutors aren't babysitters. Neither are they authority figures. Tutors are more like very smart and personable older peers.

As a tutor, you won't have to tell a kid to behave, or anything of the sort. You will, however, have to spend lots of time at their side, so it's important that you enjoy their company, are able to gain their trust, and talk to them peer to peer.

You Don't Mind Travelling

Online tutoring is becoming increasingly popular. Due to the pandemic, in fact, it's now the norm. But in-person tutoring may make a comeback, and if it does, tutors will once again have to travel from place to place. Only few tutoring services offer in house tutors. Most tutors, whether freelance or with a service, have to travel around.

In places like New York City, this means taking many subway rides. In a more suburban city like Winnipeg or Kitchener-Waterloo, you might need to have a car. Tutors can arrange to be paid for their commute time, though, so you can be rewarded for your travelling efforts.

You're Patient

Some pupils learn faster than others. Some may speed through certain concepts only to spend a month or more stuck on one. Everyone learns differently. A good tutor, like a good teacher, must be patient and able to work with their students according to their unique needs and learning styles.

Perhaps the best thing about becoming a tutor is that you get to spend more time developing your own knowledge. It's one thing to study something as a student, and quite another to teach it. So if you're ready for an exciting adventure, get in touch with a local tutoring service to find out more.
During a meeting with President of the Bundestag and former Minister of Finance of Germany Wolfgang Schauble, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine views Nord Stream 2 as a geopolitical threat for the whole of Europe.

According to the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Shmyhal and Schauble discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation on March 19 within the framework of a working visit of the government team to Germany.

"Denys Shmyhal thanked Wolfgang Schauble and the Bundestag deputies for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, and also noted that Ukraine considers Nord Stream 2 as a geopolitical threat for the whole of Europe," the statement said.

Also, the Prime Minister expressed hope that Germany will play an active role in de-occupation of Crimea, in particular within the framework of the new Crimean Platform initiative.

Shmyhal also told the President of the Bundestag that with an active support of German partners in Ukraine, the decentralization reform continues, which, according to him, has already proven its effectiveness in improving the quality of public services and bringing them closer to the residents of territorial communities.

It is reported that the head of Ukrainian government also thanked the deputies of the Bundestag for last year's adoption of the resolution on establishment of a Documentation Center in Berlin dedicated to the history of the National Socialist occupation.

"We hope that our request for the construction of a separate monument in memory of millions of Ukrainians who died during the Second World War will be supported," Shmyhal said.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi are likely to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference, as per sources. They will attend the 9th Ministerial Conference on March 30 in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe. After several years, both India and Pakistan foreign ministers will be seen under one roof.

As they will be attending the meeting on March 30, Islamabad is trying to push for the meeting between both ministers. The development comes from Pakistan's side-- by their Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. On Thursday, while speaking at the Islamabad security dialogue, the Pakistani Army Chief said, "We feel it is time to bury the past and move forward". Earlier at the same platform, Imran Khan talked about trade in the region can only prosper if India takes the first step".

Earlier in the week, India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla also desired neighbourly ties with Pakistan. He said India desires good neighbourly relations with Pakistan and is committed to addressing issues, if any, bilaterally and peacefully. He further said that any meaningful dialogue can only be held in a conducive atmosphere and the onus is on Pakistan to create such an atmosphere.

'Heart of Asia'

The conference was launched on November 2, 2011, in Turkey and have 15 countries as part of it. It is a decade-old regional initiative on security and cooperation for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. Most of the countries are Afghanistan's neighbours and west Asian countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE as part of it. India hosted the same meet in 2016 in Amritsar.

Bury The Past & Move Forward: Bajwa

On March 19, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa called for India to 'bury the past and move forward' as the peace between the two neighbours would help to 'unlock' the potential of South and Central Asia. Addressing a session of the first-ever Islamabad Security Dialogue, General Bajwa also said that the potential for regional peace and development has remained hostage to the age-old disputes between the two 'nuclear-armed neighbours'. Bajwa, however, added that the burden to create a "conducive environment" is on India and noted the role played by the US in resolving the regional conflicts.
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In most African churches today, warfare prayers have assumed a dimension that does not indicate that worshipers have come in contact with Jesus Christ and His teachings. Most often, it is difficult to distinguish between the prayers of Christians and incantation of herbalists or witch doctors.

It is disheartening to hear Christians praying for their human enemies to die, for people who have offended them to run mad, and for poverty to visit the household of their perceived enemies. The most worrisome aspect of this trend is that worshipers come out before the congregation to testify how they prayed and somebody died and the entire congregation celebrates.

Many of the proponents of this dangerous prayer argue that if Christians do not pray their enemies to death, definitely the enemies will eliminate them through their witchcraft powers. Pastors usually cite Exodus 22:18: "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live". They also make reference to some portions of the book of Psalms where David prayed against his enemies.

The Old Testament scriptures that support Christians dealing with their physical enemies without mercy are incongruous with the teaching of Christ and the New Testaments teaching on spiritual warfare. Jesus is of the opinion that we should love our enemies and show them kindness (Mathew 5:44). Apostle Paul told us that our weapons of warfare are not carnal. He also identifies who our real enemies are: For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens" (Ephesians 6:12).

The early Christians had many enemies who persecuted them. Did they pray against them? After Peter and John were released by the council with a warning never to speak in the name of Jesus again, they came back and gave the report to the church and they all lifted their voice to God with one accord and prayed. We are going to look at the prayer points and see whether it is in harmony with the prayers in our African churches today.

"When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:24:30 NIV).

A critical analysis of the prayer reveals the hearts of the disciples who have denied themselves and carried their crosses to follow Jesus. They first extolled God and reminded Him of His wonderful creation. They equally referred to God's word as written in the book of Psalms. Then they presented their adversaries before God and all their threats and persecutions, asking God to give them the boldness to continue preaching the Gospel. They pleaded with God to stretch out His hand to heal and perform signs and wonders, as His presence in their ministry will inevitably strengthen them and give them boldness to continue speaking in the name of Christ. They did not pray against their persecutors.

Had the disciples killed Apostle Paul with prayers, who would have evangelized the gentile nations? Who would have written the epistles of the New Testament? They had good reasons to pray against Paul and others who conspired and killed Stephen, but they did not. Even Stephen in his dying state did not pray against them. Rather, he prayed that God should forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. Jesus prayed the same kind of prayer for those who crucified Him. Where are we basing these wicked prayer points against enemies that are prevalent in our churches today?
With a likely meeting of Jaishankar, Qureshi Indo-Pak tensions set to thaw further

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 20: External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar will come face to face with his Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi at Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan later this month.

The two leaders would be taking part in a meeting on Afghanistan. On March 30, the two ministers will be taking part in the Heart of Asia conference in Dushanbe, where the future of Afghanistan would be discussed. The two leaders are likely to meet on the sidelines of this meeting.

There have been several positive developments when it comes to relations between India and Pakistan in the past few months. Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that it is time for both India and Pakistan to bury the past and moved forward.

After LoC ceasefire agreement, onus on India for progress: Imran Khan

He said that the potential for regional peace and development always remained hostage to the disputes and issued between the two countries. We feel it is time to bury the past and move forward. The responsibility for a meaningful dialogue rested with India, the General also said.

His statements come after Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan made similar overtures towards India.

Khan said that India would benefit economically by having peace with Pakistan. He said that this would enable New Delhi to directly access the resource rich Central Asia region through Pakistan territory.

"India will have to take the first step. Unless they do so, we cannot do much," Khan said while delivering the inaugural address at the launch of the two-day Dialogue.

Our neighbour will have to create a conducive environment, particularly in Kashmir, Gen Bajwa said. He also said that any effort to improve ties without addressing the core issue would be vulnerable to external political factors.

"The Kashmir issue is at the heart of this. It is important to understand that without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute through peaceful means, the process will always remain susceptible to derailment to politically motivated bellicosity," he also said.

India had last month said that it desires normal relations with Pakistan in a terror free environment. Officials tell OneIndia that the onus would be on Pakistan to create an environment that is free from terror, hostility and violence.

In February, India and Pakistan announced that the ceasefire was being observed from the midnight of February 24. The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere, a joint statement read.

The statement issued by the armies of both countries said that the move followed a discussion between India's DGMO, Lt. General Paramjit Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Nauman Zakaria.

The Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact. The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere.

In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other's core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021, the joint statement read.
Good Luck Jerry: Janhvi Kapoor Wraps Up Shoot, Says 'Ill Miss All Of You Is A Massive Understatement'

Bollywood actor Janhvi Kapoor on Friday announced the wrap-up of her upcoming movie 'Good Luck Jerry', for which she had been shooting in Punjab. The 'Roohi' actor took to her Instagram handle and announced the same by sharing pictures from the sets and thanking her team. She captioned the post as "I can't believe it's a film wrap. So many things have happened, changed, evolved, been learnt and unlearnt during the course of and because of this shoot."

She added, "But through all of it I used to be so excited to come to set and see all these faces and trouble them and laugh with them and work tirelessly and unitedly to create something that was exciting all of us. I'll miss all of you - is a massive understatement. And thank you for everything." See the post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Janhvi Kapoor (@janhvikapoor)

The pictures, which were shared by Janhvi, included the movie's director Siddharth Sengupta and the entire crew of 'Good Luck Jerry' could be seen posing. The film has been shot in Punjab and will be helmed by Aanad L Rai.

Meanwhile, Janhvi was recently seen in 'Roohi', which was produced by Dinesh Vijan and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba. The film marked the first-ever collaboration of Rajkummar and Janhvi. The horror-comedy also became the first film to arrive in theatres after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting allowed cinema halls nationwide to operate at full capacity from February 1 with COVID-19 safety protocols put in place.

Health authorities are scrambling to vaccinate millions of frontline workers and vulnerable people before winter starts, but the biggest vaccination campaign in Australian history will be partially delayed because of flooding in NSW.

About 6.1 million more people become eligible for the vaccine from Monday under phase 1b of the campaign. The Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald have been told the Therapeutic Goods Administration is expected to approve the locally made AstraZeneca vaccine  a critical step in unlocking millions of new doses  as soon as Monday, and these doses will ship out across the country from later this week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a vial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Credit: Getty

Underscoring the precarious nature of the vaccine rollout, the federal government said on Saturday that Sydney and NSW would face a delay of several days the vaccine rollout because of the heavy rains, flooding and wild weather in the state.

A federal government spokesman said overseas-sourced vaccines would be delivered to most of the country by the end of the weekend but logistics companies were having difficulties accessing some areas of NSW. More details about the delays are expected on Sunday.
Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) has revealed that when she needs to unwind, her husband, Sam Worthington, is always there for her.

Speaking to Russh magazine, the model, 33, disclosed that 'when her body needs to recover' she likes to have a little time alone.

'I try to sleep it off. My husband is incredibly supportive and will take the kids out for a few hours while I switch off, sleep etc,' she told the publication.

Insight: Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) has revealed that when she needs to unwind, her husband, Sam Worthington, is always there for her. Speaking to Russh magazine, the model, 33, disclosed that 'when her body needs to recover' she likes some time alone. Lara is pictured

Lara added that she enjoys a good old scroll on social media - namely the short video platform, TikTok, which is popular with children and teenagers.

'Zoning out for me means no work talk, no emails... maybe some funny TikTok videos and a long nap,' Lara said.

Elsewhere in the interview, Lara said that if she needs to revive herself quickly, she has a tried and tested method.

Nap time: 'I try to sleep it off. My husband is incredibly supportive and will take the kids out for a few hours while I switch off, sleep etc,' she told the publication. Pictured with Sam and their children

Free time: Lara added that she enjoys a good old scroll on social media - namely the short video platform, TikTok. 'Zoning out for me means no work talk, no emails... maybe some funny TikTok videos and a long nap,' Lara said. Pictured with Sam

Lara told the magazine: 'Guaranteed to help is drinking water. Sounds so simple but if you slowly sip roughly a litre of water over a fifteen-minute period you will feel a huge difference.'

She added that she takes notes from supermodel Kate Moss too, revealing: 'That or Kate Moss's famous head-in-an-ice-bath remedy'.

Lara and Avatar actor Sam, 44, married in 2014, and share sons Rocket and Racer together.

She added that she takes notes from supermodel Kate Moss too, revealing: 'That or Kate Moss's famous head-in-an-ice-bath remedy' is perfect for a quick pick-me-up

The loved-up couple also welcomed their third child, a baby boy, in June last year, but have yet to reveal his name.

Lara only recently returned to Australia in January, after being based in the US with her family for several years.

According to Who magazine last year, the couple decided to relocate back to their native Australia for an 'extended stay.'
Who will be the next CM of Assam? Sarbananda Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

BJP's attack on Badruddin Ajmal is attack on Assam: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Guwahati, Mar 20: The BJP's constant "vilification" of Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal and his party AIUDF is an attack on Assam, its brotherhood and peace, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Gandhi said the BJP and RSS are attacking Assam, its culture, language, tradition, history and identity. "It is not an attack on Ajmal, but on Assam. It is an attack on Assam's brotherhood and peace," he said when asked about the BJP slamming the Congress' alliance with Ajmal's AIUDF.

The BJP and RSS have damaged the state and the country by demonetisation and GST, he alleged. "It is only about 'Hum Do, Humare Do' (we two, our two). It has destroyed the country. Our manifesto in Assam is a step towards rectifying those damages. It is an attempt to give a foundation to Assam," Gandhi told reporters after releasing the party's manifesto.

Puducherry elections 2021: Sonia Gandhi wants me to contest Assembly polls, says V Narayanasamy

"It is not about Ajmal, but to protect the culture, language, tradition, history and identity of Assam," he said. The Congress, which was in power for 15 years in Assam since 2001, has formed a 'Grand Alliance' with AIUDF, BPF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), RJD and Jimochayan (Deori) Peoples Party (JPP) to fight the assembly elections against the BJP-led NDA.

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to BJP national president JP Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, every ruling party leader has been raising the issue of AIUDF's alliance with the Congress at their election rallies.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 19:49 [IST]
During a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Mongolia Iskander Azizov, Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga suggested launching the production of Russias Sputnik V anti-coronavirus vaccine in his country, TASS reported citing the Montsame news agency.

"The president stressed that Mongolia has the potential for producing the vaccine, and asked the ambassador to examine the possibility of producing Russias Sputnik V vaccine in Mongolia and to submit the proposal about cooperation in this matter to the Kremlin," Montsame reported.

The Russian ambassador replied that he would immediately inform Moscow about Mongolias initiative.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed preparations for upcoming celebrations of the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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The Vice- Chancellor of University of Lagos, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and another botanist, Temitope Onuminya, have won 2021 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) grants.

Nonye Oguama, a Principal Assistant Registrar, Corporate Affairs of the institution, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

According to Mrs Oguama, the awards are part of the 2021 Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) programme, funded by the European Union.

Mr Ogundipe, a Professor of Botany, won a national level grant of 38,000 euros for his project proposal: Implementation of the Biodiversity Information and Data System for Coastal Ecosystem in Nigeria.

Mr Onuminya, on the other hand, won an institutional level grant of 18,850 euros for implementation of a BID project proposal: Expanding the Visibility of the Lagos Herbarium through Digitisation and Mobilisation of Plant Specimen Data.

The university of Lagos is rejoicing with them (mentor and mentee) and wishes them successful implementation of their proposals, Mrs Oguama said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the GBIF, an international organisation with Secretariat in Copenhagen, focuses on making scientific data on biodiversity available through the internet.

It provides human resources and technical infrastructure enabling publication of and access to large volumes of data gathered over centuries about the earths species.

(NAN)
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"Growing up alongside the volatile economy in Hawaii, I was used to seeing businesses come and go," writes Nathan Bek.

"Every shop seemed ephemeral. Except one, which seemed permanent as our daily bread: Loves Bakery."
Few shows whip their fans into a frenzy like Line of Duty does. The anticipation surrounding series six of the BBC police drama is immense - heightened, perhaps, because of a delayed air date (filming had to be halted thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic).

You see, Ted Hastings' famous catchphrases - "Mother of God!" - Jed Mercurio's clever, twist-heavy writing, and the impressively high calibre of guest stars are just a few elements that make Line of Duty stand out in the world of TV dramas.

And you won't be disappointed by the seven new episodes, which are set 18 months on from series five, and see the return of stars Vicky McClure (DI Kate Fleming), Adrian Dunbar (Supt Ted Hastings) and Martin Compston (DS Steve Arnott), alongside new faces Shalom Brune-Franklin and Kelly Macdonald.

Here, we chat with those stellar cast members to find out more.

Scot Macdonald is this series' guest lead; she plays Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson, a senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case.

Her suspicious conduct attracts the attention of Anti-Corruption and, as AC-12 uncover deeper and darker information, DCI Davidson could turn out to be their most dangerous adversary yet

Meanwhile, we know there's a fourth and final H yet to be identified within the Central Police (that's the codename for a network of corrupt police which has been discovered in the previous series, remember?).

The cast members are all very careful not to give away any spoilers, but Nottingham native McClure (37) says: "I think what we can safely say is that we're all facing consequences from series five.

"Kate's always had a slightly tricky personal life, very dedicated to the job - and remains so."

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Scottish star Compston, who hails from Greenock, gives a little more away about the drama to come.

"The relationship between all the characters is probably a bit strained after everything they've been through - and Steve is struggling personally with his back," reveals the 36-year-old, who we saw lead another BBC drama, The Nest, last year.

"He's getting more and more problems with painkillers.

"There's some darker stuff for him because he's kind of got this image in his head that he's sort of like Super Cop and he doesn't want to give that image away, so he's kind of coming to a breaking point.

"There are some brilliant scenes as an actor in there so I was really excited reading it, and hopefully did the material justice."

Feeling the pressure

Discussing what we can expect from her role in the show, Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire star Macdonald suggests her character is "tortured" and "lonely".

"I was extremely nervous to become involved in the project," she says.

"The guest lead status does feel pretty momentous. It was a bit like being the new James Bond! So, it's very flattering, and also exciting and nerve-racking."

Twenty-six-year-old Brune-Franklin, who's appeared in Our Girl, plays "diligent" DC Chloe Bishop, and was also incredibly scared arriving at the readthrough with the cast.

"I remember having a mental breakdown in the toilets before, going to my friend [on the phone]: 'I don't think I can do this, they're all in there!'" The rising star - who was born in the UK, but moved to Australia as a teen - confides the difficult dialogue was the most challenging part of the role, recalling how the police interview scenes were sometimes half-hour-long takes. But there's a huge amount of support on set, she enthuses.

"Martin was always going, 'You're going to be fine. If you mess up, we'll just go back and go again'. But I was like, 'I can't be the person to mess up, I'm brand new!'"

Extra challenges

Brune-Franklin also admits that filming during Covid meant the shoot was a more "lonely experience" than it would have been normally because the cast weren't able to socialise together as much.

And asked how she has found life in lockdown, This Is England star McClure says it "has been what it's been for everybody - scary and difficult. You've just got to be careful of how much news you watch".

Compston, meanwhile, reflects on what was "heartbreaking" about returning to film Line of Duty in Belfast, after the first lockdown last spring.

"There's a wee lovely restaurant below the place we used to stay and you can see a lovely couple who ran the place was packing up, shutting down," he says.

"And it's the same back home in Greenock. People's livelihoods have been decimated by this, and they're gonna be living with repercussions.

"So, it really made you appreciate the fact that we can get back to work, and you don't take it for granted."

Behind the scenes

Many of us have turned to entertaining posts and videos on social media to cheer us up during the pandemic, and for Line of Duty fans, one in particular may come to mind.

Last October, McClure posted a clip on Twitter of her, Compston, and Dunbar performing a TikTok dance, and it quickly went viral.

"This is Vicky and her evil sense of humour; she ambushes you," quips Northern Irish star Dunbar (62) whose breakout role came in 1993 when he starred in Bafta-nominated film Hear My Song.

"She goes, 'Right, we've all got to dance' and you go, 'What are you talking about?' And she goes, 'Just dance to it!' The next thing you know a million people have watched it.

"A lot of the things that Vicky asks you to do is for charity and stuff like that, so you naturally go, 'Yeah, this is obviously for some kind of worthy cause, I don't mind making an idiot of myself'"

"That was for a worthy cause! We were going through a rough time as a country and I just wanted to make people smile and I knew if I got you two on a TikTok it would do just that," McClure chimes in, laughing.

Plus, she notes, "when you are on set and it is quite wordy and there's a lot going on and it's quite stressful", messing about and being a bit silly with co-stars is "what's got to happen".

"I don't know if I could do a job without being able to do that."

And who knows what other funny videos from the Line of Duty set could be shared online next

"We spent days perfecting an AC-12 Christmas song which we never got round to releasing," teases Compston. "I thought it was pretty good in the end!"

Line of Duty, BBC One, Sunday, 9pm
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, to further strengthen the states law enforcement apparatus, with dedicated District Technical Units, along with District Narcotic Units, Social Media Units, Forensic Units and Anti-Sabotage Checking Teams, in all the districts.

Announcing the move, aimed at further strengthening the states law enforcement machinery to address the new challenges of policing and investigation, the Chief Minister said after stabilising the law and order situation over the past four years, his government was now focusing on augmenting law enforcement further, with more touchpoints to tackle the new-age crimes, like Digital/Cyber Crimes, and enhance the safety and security of women and other vulnerable sections of the society.

Captain Amarinder Singh

Apart from 3100 domain experts to combat specialised crimes, 10000 police officials will be recruited, of which 33% will be women, at the level of SI and Constables, to expand the ground force and ensure more effective policing, said the Chief Minister.

With the changing nature of crime necessitating support and interventions by domain experts for the effective prevention/detection of crime, the Punjab Police would soon recruit around 3100 Specialist Police officers & domain experts in the fields of Law, Forensics, Digital Forensics, Information Technology, Data Mining, Cyber Security, Intelligence Analysis, Human Resource Management & Development and Road Safety Planning & Engineering, said Captain Amarinder, who also holds the Home portfolio.

The pioneering initiative, designed to transform the police force, will make Punjab the first state in the country to induct Domain Experts, said the Chief Minister, as the state government geared up to scale the Police department to the next level, after successfully implementing a slew of drastic measures, in line with the governments promise to ensure rule of law and maintain law and order in the state, and secure the well-being and safety of the common man.

Giving details of the initiatives, DGP Dinkar Gupta said the Domain Experts would include around 600 Law graduates, 450 Crime Scene Investigators, about 1350 IT experts with specialist qualifications and experience in law, Commerce, forensics, digital forensics, data mining, data analysis etc. for deployment as Cyber Detectives, Financial Detectives, Homicide Detectives, Sexual Assault and rape Detectives etc.

Dinkar Gupta

In addition, the Punjab government will also recruit around 460 qualified and trained Counsellors, Clinical Psychologists and Community & Victim Support Officers for deployment at the Family Counselling Centres and Women Help Desks in all districts of the State.

To further augment women power in the police department, 3400 new women police officials will be recruited as part of the drive to enroll 10000 more police officials in the Punjab Police, mostly in the rank of Sub-Inspector and Constables. This translates into 33% women of the total recruitment, in line with the state governments commitment to provide equal opportunity to women to compete with men for various positions in the Punjab Police, said Gupta. Out of the total recruitment of women, about 300 women will be recruited as Sub-Inspectors and more than 3100 would be inducted as Constables in Punjab Police.

The DGP said that once these specialized Police officers get recruited and join the Police department in 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2021, each of the 382 Police Stations in the State will have a dedicated Police Station Law Officer and a Community & Victim Support Officer. Similarly, 170 major Police Stations of Punjab, including Border Police Stations, will have dedicated Forensic Officers, Crime Data Analysts. In addition, Cyber Crime Detectives will be placed in each of the 100 Sub-Divisions in the State.

Punjab government

The initiatives are aligned to the states focus on protecting the safety and dignity of women, for which the Captain Amarinder Singh government has also recently launched the 181 Helpline and the Night Pick-Up and Drop-off facility. In addition to the establishment of Family Counselling Centres in the 3 Police Commissionerates and urban districts of the State, to ensure speedy resolution of disruptive issues relating to matrimonial and familial discord, Women Help Desks would soon be functional from all the 382 Police Stations of the State to support women, children and senior citizens in distress and deal promptly with cases of domestic violence etc.

Women police officers deployed at Women HelpDesks will serve as a single-point-of-contact for the women living in their area. The names and phone numbers of designated officials will be put up on the Punjab Police website. Punjab government would be recruiting around 460 qualified and trained Counsellors, Clinical Psychologists and Community & Victim Support Officers for deployment at the Family Counselling Centres and Women Help Desks.

Further, in view of the increasing number of fatal accidents as a result of the increase in vehicular traffic, 15 qualified Civil engineers and planners will soon be recruited as Road Safety Associates to facilitate safe and smooth flow of transport across the highways and roads of Punjab.
Mumbai, March 20 : As the humid Mumbai summer climbs to its peak from April, the biggest anxiety for the 8,000-odd tribals surviving in 27 hamlets (padas) inside the Aarey forests is facing yet another water crisis during the scorching hot months.

Though flanked by the biggest fresh waterbody, Vihar Lake, these tribals -- living here since centuries -- are deprived of their share of drinking and agriculture water for their parched lands.

This summer, however, their thirst may be somewhat quenched, thanks to the initiatives by a local citizen group and welcome help from a corporate group.

Earlier this week, RewildingAarey group with generous help from Aries Agro Ltd. rolled out a pleasant present for the tribals -- 15 large gleaming blue water-wheels -- as a pilot project.

"We handed over the rollable water-wheels for the women farmers in Khambachapada, Gaodevipada and Maroshipada hamlets. Each has a capacity of 45 litres and can be rolled up or down any type of surface," said a volunteer Sanjiv Valsan.

Until now, the womenfolk rushed to stand in long queues, then trudge long distances within the Aarey forests -- spread across around 15 sqkm -- climbing and descending hills with head-loads of metal or plastic pitchers with a capacity of 5-litres or so, and most of it spilt out on the rough return trek.

"The bigger issue is that the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) releases piped water only for one hour, while the Aarey Colony doesn't allow any water-harvesting or groundwater use. This is the status in the heart of the country's commercial capital," rued Valsan.

RewildingAarey coordinator Brian J. Phillips said that the Vihar Lake water is diverted for use by the city folk, and the tribals who carry out organic farming for a living are being willy-nilly nudged out of the forest to make way for lucrative projects.

Aries Agro Ltd. Chairman and Managing Director Rahul Mirchandani said this is the first time the company is experimenting with the water-wheels in an urban forest like Aarey in Mumbai.

"This is part of our CSR activities all over India where we have given away over 5,000 such water-wheels in remote or needy villages across two dozen states in the past 18 months or so..." Mirchandani told IANS.

He said that after studying the feedback from the tribals, the company would consider rolling out more water-wheels for the Aarey hamlets to help resolve their daily water woes, which become critical in the summer.

Each water-wheel costs an average of Rs 2,000, is sturdy and long-lasting, avoids wastage, is easy on the users as it can be moved even with one hand, making it useful for women carrying infants also, explained a villager.

Valsan and Phillips say the water-wheels could be useful for the 'RewildingAarey' initiative with more tree plantations especially in some of the balding patches.

On the recent initiative, they said only one village Nausachapada gets fully piped water, but in the remaining 26, women gingerly balance 3-4 pitchers (handa) on their heads for their daily quota, at times spending almost the entire day in the venture.

Other Aarey volunteer groups say in the long run, the plan is to solve the water problems of the entire region, digging wells, rain-water harvesting, supply from the Vihar Lake and other sources, planting more trees, ensure availability of water and delivering it from the sources to the consumption spots, etc.

The green Aarey has been a red-hot political issue in the past few years and shot into global headlines after a staggering 2,141 (out of 2,185) trees were hacked in 40 hours, or roughly 1 full-grown tree per minute, in October 2019, by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) to clear the ground for a Metro Car-shed.

After a massive public outcry, the new Maha Vikas Aghadi government decided to shift the carshed to another location and added 800 acres more as 'forests' in Aarey, linking it to the adjoining 103-sqkm Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

The lush-green Aarey houses many big and small wild animals, birds, insects, including several which figure on global endangered lists, a variety of plants and other natural bounty - a real jungle within a concrete jungle! (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has made two key Cabinet changes, a move condemned on Saturday as unacceptable by his powerful governing partner, Abdullah Abdullah, at a time when the U.S. is ratcheting up the pressure to reach a peace agreement with the Taliban.

In May 2020, Ghani and political rival Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement, two months after both declared themselves the winner of the September 2019 presidential election. Under the deal, Ghani remained president of the war-torn nation while Abdullah was named head of the country's National Reconciliation Council, which has the authority to handle and approve all affairs related to Afghanistans peace process. Abdullah would also be able to appoint half of Ghanis Cabinet and issue executive orders.

On Friday, Ghani dismissed Interior Minister Masoud Andarabi, appointing Hayatullah Hayat as caretaker minister. In recent years, Hayat had served as governor of southern Kandahar province.

There was little explanation from the government for the changes, but the moves angered Abdullah. This decision is against the interests of the country in the current situation and is unacceptable, he said in a statement released Saturday.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Yasin Zia was appointed acting defense minister. He replaced Asadullah Khalid, who had been receiving treatment abroad for severe injuries sustained in a 2012 suicide bombing, according to an official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said Khalid will be returning to Afghanistan sometime soon.

Khalid was head of Afghanistans intelligence at the time of the attack. He has received treatment in the United States and has periodically returned there.

The changes come as a May 1 deadline nears for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and America has increased pressure on both the national government and the Taliban to end decades-old fighting.

Story continues

The Cabinet changes could be a sign that Ghani is pushing back against the U.S. and oppositions increasing support for an interim administration. Ghanis critics have accused him of clinging to power. He says he will leave office only through elections.

The statement from Abdullahs office said the decision to remove Andarabi came without consultation, without justifiable reason or reasons, was hastily (made) and in opposition to a political agreement between the two parties.

The new appointments come as Afghanistan experiences a nationwide spike in bombings, targeted killings and other violence as peace negotiations in Qatar between Taliban insurgents and the Afghan government stall.

The Islamic State groups local affiliate has claimed responsibility for some of the violence, but many attacks go unclaimed, with the Afghan government putting the blame on the Taliban. The insurgents have denied responsibility for most of the attacks.

On Thursday, Russia hosted the first of three international conferences aimed at jump-starting the peace process ahead of the May 1 deadline for the final withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from the country.

The Taliban warned Washington on Friday against defying the deadline, promising a reaction if it does, which could mean increased attacks by the insurgent group.

The talks in Qatar between the Afghan government and the Taliban have stalled, but Russia voiced hope that the talks in Moscow could help reinvigorate them.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
A leading detective with Melbournes sexual offences investigation team says the issue of sexual consent within teenage relationships is a major problem, with many young people believing they cant say no to their partners demands.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ben Jarman said that there were many common misconceptions about sexual offending and encouraged those who believed they had been assaulted to speak to police even if the alleged offences were historical.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ben Jarman, who works with the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team. Credit:Justin McManus

Theres a lot of this in regards to consent, especially in terms of sexual intercourse and relationships. Young people, or any person in fact, but especially in young people, not understanding consent is an ongoing thing, he said.

You need consent every single time an interaction happens, and it is ongoing. So a person can actually withdraw their consent during the intercourse or the sexual act.
A chicken coop in Northern Italy was accidentally blown up by an army tank taking part in military exercises, local police have said.

The accident happened on Wednesday evening. The farm owners discovered the damage the following morning.

The chicken shed had partially collapsed and a large number of chickens were killed in the accident, which happened on the outskirts of Vivaro, a small town close to an army shooting range.

An investigation into the accident has opened up in the nearby town of Pordenone, local media have reported.

The town is located north of Venice.

The main question raised in the investigation will be to try and answer why the tank had fired in the general direction of the town, rather than the area reserved for shooting.

Read more:

Local media also reported that magistrates have impounded the tanks involved.

The army did not make any immediate comment.

The Italians are not the first army to make a mistake during training.

In 2002, the British Army accidentally Spain while trying to land in Gibraltar during an exercise. The mistake was revealed by a former head of the Royal Navy.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 01:20:03|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for a peaceful presidential election in the Republic of the Congo, said his spokesman.

Ahead of Sunday's presidential election in the Congo, Guterres stressed the need to respect civil and political rights, notably the right to vote, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

The secretary-general encouraged the media and social media users to promote social cohesion, and called on all stakeholders to refrain from hate speech or incitement to violence and resolve any disputes through dialogue and legal channels, said the statement.

Guterres stressed that peaceful, inclusive and credible elections are essential for sustainable peace in the Republic of the Congo, it said. Enditem
Jailed Kuttawa Man Faces Additional Charge

By West Kentucky Star Staff

EDDYVILLE - A Kuttawa man arrested March 12 on drug offenses has been charged with an additional crime.The Lyon County Sheriff's Department arrested 46-year-old James Michael Howard following an investigation into suspected drug trafficking. Officers said he had methamphetamine and intended to sell it, and a subsequent search led to the seizure of drugs, electronics, containers and a vehicle. Howard faces trafficking and possession charges, along with DUI.On Friday, the Sheriff's Department said Howard has been charged with a probation violation. He was on probation for previous meth-related charges and a DUI at the time of his most recent arrest.Howard remains in the Crittenden County Detention Center.On the Net:
As a geriatric medicine fellow at Harvard Medical School, Boston, I received fantastic mentorship from Dr Andrea Wershof Schwartz, an expert in telemedicine (video clinic visits) for older people.

Little did I realise, that experience would become an essential skill during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine is a visit between a doctor or healthcare worker that takes place remotely using technology.

How does telemedicine work?

Your doctor may offer a telephone or video visit instead of a face-to-face visit. They will explain how it works and ask for details such as your telephone number or email address.

What are the advantages of telemedicine?

icon For patients living far away or with medical problems, it is more convenient.

icon It prevents transmission of COVID-19.

icon Family members or friends can join you at the visit, either in person or via video.

icon Your doctor may not need to wear a face mask.

Will the doctor be able to fully assess me at a telemedicine visit?

Usually, my patients have to tell me how their home is laid out. On a video visit, they can show me around the room or whole house if they wish. I can see how the patient walks in their own environment or how they organise their medications.



I can complete many aspects of physical examination such as memory tests, observing walking and inspecting skin and feet. I can also pick up on low mood or shortness of breath. If a patient is familiar with checking their own weight or blood pressure, I will often ask them to do these measurements.



The main disadvantage is that I cannot complete my full examination. If I am worried about a patient and think they need to be seen face to face, I arrange that either as an emergency in our Geriatric Emergency Multidisciplinary Service at CUH or at our geriatric medicine clinic.

Tips for Accessing Telemedicine

icon If you would prefer not to do a video visit, ask if it can be done on the telephone or in person instead.

icon Check if you or a family members phone has a camera or computer/tablet device.

icon Wear your glasses or hearing aids during the visit.

icon Consider writing down any questions you may forget during the visit.

icon Sit in a comfortable place.Ask your doctor to repeat themselves if you didnt hear the question or the connection was interrupted.

icon If you are not sure how to use the camera on your phone, ask a family member or you can call one of these free supports:



ALONE B Connect:

Tel 01 679 1032

Email- bconnect@alone.ie

Generation Tech:

Tel 01 963 3288

Email- ineedhelp@generationtech.ie



I have had the pleasure of meeting patients via video in their homes from Cape Cod to Carrigaline and hope to continue this service for those who want and need it even when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.




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We had some Spring, and then some Winter again, and now its Spring again!

Thank you Mimi:

Beth Moore has once again created waves in the SBC, perhaps for the last time. In a phone interview on March 5, she told the Religion News Service, I am no longer a Southern Baptist. While the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) may view her departure as insignificant, they are deeply misguided. It is impossible to overestimate the impact of Beth Moore. Intensely private, deeply prayerful, and passionately biblical, she is clearly called to uplift women. For decades, Beth Moore has remained a part of the SBC and has taught women how much Jesus loves them and what he can do in their lives. Hilariously real, Beths books and Bible teachings have shown us how to laugh at ourselves, how to cry over disappointments, how to confront our fears, and how to hold tightly to Jesus whatever happens. In this way, she has guided millions of women through the wilderness of life. Like Moses who led the people of Israel through the desert, Beth has helped women navigate difficult, even ferocious challenges, including a brutal misogyny she herself has faced. She can and does represent women with their backs against the wall. Beth has fiercely defended womens dignity and agency in her work. As hundreds of cases of sexual abuse, hidden by the SBC, were made public, Beth Moore bravely disclosed her own harassment and abuse. In doing so, Beth validated womens experiences in a patriarchal world. At the same time, Beth also called her denomination to account. In an October 9, 2016 tweet she wrote: Wake up, Sleepers, to what women have dealt with all along in environments of gross entitlement & power. A powerful leader, Beth understood that her response to demeaning and abuse spoke volumes to countless women she served worldwide and over whom she has enormous influence. But rather than address their abuse of power, Southern Baptist leaders shifted the blame onto Beth. They demeaned her as liberal, pointing to her tweets that called out Christians who condoned immoral, un-Christian leadership in our government. Little did they know that teaching from the pulpit and exposing abuse in her denomination and their collusion with harassers makes her a prophet not a heretic! Later, in 2019, when Beth was bullied by John MacArthur and told to go home, she didnt; she continued teaching the Bible to whoever would listen. She showed the power of following Jesus over critics like MacArthur. By staying put, she made clear that she had no intention of abandoning her ministry. It was an act of resistance that reclaimed church as home for womena place to use ones God-given gifts. Beths holy boldness exposed the fleeting influence of bullies whose actions disqualify them as leaders. Last week, she did it again, but instead of showing resilience through staying, she did it by leaving. Gracious as ever, Beth said she loves Southern Baptist people but cannot identify with some of the things in our heritage that havent remained in the past. Was this a loving rebuke to a denomination blinded by a legacy of power and patriarchy? Its not yet clear.

Inequality and the doctor:

CHICAGO  Inequality in the doctors office. Structural barriers, bias and death gap are at the intersection of race and medicine, the challenges cut deep. But there is hope. Local physicians are working to expand diversity and access in communities left behind when it comes to their health where people are struggling to survive. It takes three of her grandchildren to help Windora Cooper safely exit her Near West Side home and get to a taxi that takes her to dialysis or a doctors appointment at least three times a week. At a recent appointment at the Rush University Medical Center, a nurse reviewed the over one dozen medications the 69-year-old takes daily. My mom is a trooper. she has gone through a lot, Shalonda Cooper, her daughter, said. She has high blood pressure, she has diabetes, she has gout and shes a dialysis patient. And in 2015, Windora Cooper had a massive stroke that left her unable to speak or walk. Since 1979, Dr. David Ansell has been at the familys side, not just caring for the Coopers but studying their health and learning from their experiences. The relationship changed the trajectory of his career. It was almost as if everything I learned in med school wasnt incorrect, but it was insufficient, he said. He found that he could help our whole family with this information with our mom, Shalonda Cooper said. And that was his way into our neighborhood to see what we were dealing with. The farther Ansell travelled West of downtown, he noted a steady increase in structural barriers. Food and job insecurities fed poor access to care and ultimately contributed to diminished life expectancy. Life expectancy in the Loop, you could live to be 85 or 90, Ansell said. But you go seven stops down the Blue Line in Garfield Park and life expectancy plummets to under 69 years. The death gap he wrote about was echoed in a recent Sinai Chicago study. Researchers found the fatality rate for the Black population in Chicago is 65 percent higher than for the whites. It had to sink in. It took me many, many years until I understood that the degree of disease and illness I saw in my patients was not just due to their beliefs, behaviors and biology, he said. It was my observation and my study as an epidemiologist that it was something about neighborhood conditions themselves that was promoting poor health. However, he was taught to treat diseases, not economic deprivation.

Thank you Philly:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The lights of Philadelphia might not shine as bright in the coming weeks as a coalition in the City of Brotherly Love tries to prevent millions of migrating birds that pass through twice a year from slamming into skyscrapers and crashing to the sidewalk. Bird Safe Philly on Thursday announced the Lights Out Philly initiative, a voluntary program in which as many external and internal lights in buildings are turned off or dimmed at night during the spring and fall. The problem of artificial lights attracting birds to their deaths in the city is not new.

We have specimens in the academys ornithology collection from a kill that happened when lights were first installed on Philadelphias City Hall tower in 1896, said Jason Weckstein, associate curator of ornithology at Drexel Universitys Academy of Natural Sciences. The coalition, which includes Audubon Mid-Atlantic, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and two local Audubon chapters, formed after the citys largest mass-collision event in 70 years was reported last October. Hundreds of dead birds were found around the city. Conditions were perfect for a heavy migratory flight and imperfect given that there was a low ceiling of clouds and rain, Weckstein said. That in combination with Phillys bright city lights was a disaster for many fall migrant birds winging their way south. Birds navigate during migration using celestial cues and when they cannot see stars on a cloudy night they get confused by bright city lights, according to experts.

Public Officials face this Covid Challenge:

FRONT ROYAL, Va. (AP)  In this rural swath of Virginias Shenandoah Valley, former President Donald Trump remains deeply admired, with lawn signs and campaign flags still dotting the landscape. The vaccines aimed at taming the coronavirus, however, arent so popular. Laura Biggs, a 56-year-old who has already recovered from the virus, is wary of taking the vaccine. Reassurances from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have done little to ease her alarm that the vaccine could lead to death. The way I feel about it is: I dont need the vaccine at this point, she said. And Im not going to get the vaccine until it is well established. That sentiment demonstrates the challenge ahead for public health officials as the U.S. intensifies its efforts for widespread vaccinations that could put an end to a devastating pandemic that has left more than 530,000 dead. The campaign could falter if it becomes another litmus test in Americas raging culture wars, just as mandates for mask-wearing were a point of polarization at the onset of the virus.

Wonderful announcement:

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli archaeologists on Tuesday announced the discovery of dozens of new Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing a biblical text found in a desert cave and believed hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago. The fragments of parchment bear lines of Greek text from the books of Zechariah and Nahum and have been dated around the 1st century AD based on the writing style, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. They are the first new scrolls found in archaeological excavations in the desert south of Jerusalem in 60 years. The Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of Jewish texts found in desert caves in the West Bank near Qumran in the 1940s and 1950s, date from the 3rd century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. They include the earliest known copies of biblical texts and documents outlining the beliefs of a little understood Jewish sect. The roughly 80 new pieces are believed to belong to a set of parchment fragments found in a site in southern Israel known as the Cave of Horror  named for the 40 human skeletons found there during excavations in the 1960s  that also bear a Greek rendition of the Twelve Minor Prophets, a book in the Hebrew Bible. The cave is located in a remote canyon around 25 miles south of Jerusalem. The artifacts were found during an operation in Israel and the occupied West Bank conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority to find scrolls and other artifacts to prevent possible plundering. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war, and international law prohibits the removal of cultural property from occupied territory. The authority held a news conference Tuesday to unveil the discovery.

Just dont tell the apocalypticists!

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  Scientists in the U.S. and Canada are opening new fronts in the war against so-called murder hornets as the giant insects begin establishing nests this spring. The scientists said Wednesday that the battle to prevent the apex predators from establishing a foothold in North America is being fought mostly in Whatcom County, Washington, and the nearby Fraser Valley of British Columbia, where the hornets have been spotted in recent years. This is not a species we want to tolerate here in the United States, said Sven-Erik Spichiger of the Washington state Department of Agriculture, which eradicated a nest of the Asian giant hornets last year. The Asian giant hornet is not supposed to be here. We may not get them all, but we will get as many as we can, he said of eradication efforts this year. Paul van Westendorp of the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries said the hornets pose threats to human life, to valuable bee populations needed to pollinate crops and to other insects. Its an absolutely serious danger to our health and well-being, he said. These are intimidating insects. One major front will be setting thousands of traps this spring to capture queens that are trying to establish nests, officials said. Both government agencies and private citizens will set traps, they said. Another effort is underway to determine exactly where in Asia these hornets came from, to try and learn how they are getting across the Pacific Ocean, scientists said. The theory is they are crossing on cargo ships, Spichiger said. While hundreds of the hornets were killed when the nest in Whatcom County was destroyed last October, only a handful of the hornets were spotted in British Columbia last year, van Westendorp said.

Jenkins weighs in:
Men in Saudi Arabia have been prohibited by the government to marry women from four countries  Pakistan, Chad, Bangladesh and Myanmar, ANI reported recently citing reports from Saudi media. The Saudi government has put in place strict regulations making it mandatory for men in the middle eastern nation to submit valid documents to the government, before marrying women from the aforementioned nations.



Some unofficial figures estimate that at least 5,00,000 women are currently residing in Saudi Arabia from these four countries, the men who wish to marry a woman from these countries have to first submit required applications through official channels to the Saudi government, Makkah Police Director Major General Assaf Al-Qurashi was quoted as saying by ANI.



Only when the government has permitted the man to marry a woman from any the above four countries, the marriage proceedings can be taken forward. Moreover, men who have undergone a divorce, are not allowed to apply for another marriage within six months of their divorce. Also, the applicants must be aged over 25 years and must produce documents that are signed by the local district mayor. Additional papers include the identity proofs along with a copy of the document that details the whereabouts of the family.

Al-Qurashi further said, "If the applicant is already married, he should attach a report from a hospital proving that his wife is either disabled, suffering from a chronic disease, or is sterile."

Report from 2014

Meanwhile, a similar report surfaced in the digital space in 2014 where men were prohibited in Saudi Arabia, from marrying women who hail from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chad, and Myanmar. It is yet to be ascertained as to why the government has issued such regulations. However, Pakistan and Myanmar have received widespread criticism from the international community and the United Nations, for the number of human rights violations cases that are on the rise in these countries. More details over the regulation that was passed in 2014 and is now making rounds of the internet are still awaited.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the Lanting Forum on China-U.S. relations in Beijing, China, on Feb. 22, 2021. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

How Chinese Communist Media Spin the Open Clash at the US-China Talks

Commentary

There was no doubt that the U.S.-China talks, which began on March 18, would be very difficult despite the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, repeatedly calling it a high-level strategic dialogue. However, as soon as the talks began, the Chinese Foreign Ministry immediately changed its tone from dialogue to confrontation.

At a press conference on March 19, spokesman Zhao Lijian said, the opening statements were fiery and theatrical. State-run media Xinhua quickly followed Zhaos briefing in its report by stating that the U.S. side provoked disagreements first and that the opening statements were fiery and theatrical, which is not what China wishes to see.

The open clash completely exposed the lie the CCP spread to its domestic audience that this was a so-called China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue.

What is odd is that the CCP media reported about confrontation to its domestic audience, and so quickly this time.

The U.S.-China High-Level Strategic Dialogue Is Falling Apart

At the Chinese Foreign Ministry press briefing, a CNN reporter asked: China has said that the U.S. side gravely exceeded the time limit in their opening remarks and broke diplomatic protocols, which is no way to welcome guests. So why did China accuse the U.S. of gravely exceeding the time limit?

Zhao didnt respond to the question directly, but described the opening session as fiery and theatrical, and said the U.S. side wantonly attacked Chinas domestic and foreign policies, provoking disagreements.

Whether or not the United States exceeded the time limit was not the issue, it was the Americans making critical remarks that agitated the CCP.

The CCP insisted on the meeting, and had specifically referred to it as a high-level strategic dialogue, which the U.S. side did not do. Now, presumably with the approval of the top leaders, Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi made a fiery play as the CCPs wolf warriors.

From the high-level strategic dialogue to the abrupt fiery display, the CCPs propaganda media was forced to shift its tonefrom originally improving U.S.-China relations to lashing out at the United States.

After the intensive four-party talks between the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, and the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-Korea 2+2 talks, the CCP may realize that there is little hope to improve U.S.-China relations, and rather only greater pressure.

The CCPs top leaders are left with no options. They use their complete control over access to information inside China to incite Chinese people to patriotism and blame the United States.

Behind the Abrupt Change in Tone of the CCPs Media Outlets

CCP media rarely report serious diplomatic disagreements, and mainly focus on praising the leadership and the CCPs achievements.

The direct exposure of such fiery moments is extremely out of character for them. It completely disrupts the CCPs conventional practices and protocol. And therefore, it reveals the significance of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship to the CCP high officials.

On the eve of the talks, Xinhua was excited and issued a number of reports, such as Chinese Delegation Officials hold Background Briefing on U.S.-China High-Level Strategic Dialogue, Yang Jiechi Explains Chinas Position in Opening Session of U.S.-China High-Level Strategic Dialogue, Wang Yi Explains Chinas Position in His Opening Remarks of U.S.-China High-Level Strategic Dialogue, Zhao Lijian Says U.S.-China Dialogue Opening Remarks Will Be Followed by a Formal Session, Hoping Both the U.S. and the Chinese Sides Will Move in the Same Direction.

Other mainland were quick to reprint and repost the reports.

At the Chinese Foreign Ministry press conference the CNN reporter also asked Zhao, Chinas state media and social media have given a lot of coverage to what the Chinese delegation said, including with eye-catching big-character posters. So I wonder if the Chinese side had domestic audience more in mind when making these statements?

Obviously, the foreign media reporters immediately sensed the difference and saw the CCPs shift to inciting nationalism as a last resort.

Is the CCP Ready for Open Confrontation With the United States?

Zhao said at the press conference that the Chinese delegation were chilled by the biting cold.  We hope the U.S. can meet China halfway.

Zhaos remarks highlighted the CCPs weakness.

In the report, Yang Jiechi Explains Chinas Position in His Opening Remarks of China-U.S. High-Level Strategic Dialogue, Xinhua falsely stated, the China-U.S. High-Level Strategic Dialogue is an important initiative implemented with the consensus of the two heads of both countries through their phone call, and it was also decided by the two heads personally.

But it was not covered in the call between Biden and the head of the CCP Xi Jinping on February 10.

The report said that the CCP hope[s] this dialogue will be sincere and frank. Evidently, the CCP was baffled by the American side speaking sincerely and frankly.

The Xinhua report was supposed to state the CCPs position, but instead reiterated the contents of the CCPs two sessions. It ended with the statement that Chinese people are more closely united around the CCP Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core.

The report said in Yangs opening remarks that he does not think the overwhelming majority of countries in the world would recognize that the universal values advocated by the United States or that the opinion of the United States could represent international public opinion, and those countries would not recognize that the rules made by a small number of people would serve as the basis for the international order.

He said, The United States is not qualified to speak to China in a condescending way, and the Chinese refuse to take it.

Wangs statement, as reported by Xinhua, went one step further, saying that China certainly in the past has not and in the future will not accept the unwarranted accusations from the U.S. side.

All other mainland media outlets were quick to echo Xinhuas propaganda that the CCP was making a stand to compete with the United States for supremacy, or at least to be on an equal footing.

The CCPs state-run media have said a great deal on behalf of Yang and Wang. It should not be difficult for them to continue to play tough, but who will bear the consequences? The CCP can certainly blame the United States again, however, will it really solve the dilemma the CCPs top leaders face?

Zhong Yuan is a researcher focused on Chinas political system, the countrys democratization process, human rights situation, and Chinese citizens livelihood. He began writing commentaries for the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times in 2020.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Seguin, Texas (78155)

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Thunderstorms. High near 80F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near an inch..

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Chennai, March 20 : The implementation of the vehicle scrappage policy will not only give a boost to the vehicle makers and their suppliers but also to the non-life insurers for multiple reasons, said industry experts.

The reasons they give in support are: the value of new vehicles is high so the premium income will be high; all the new vehicles will have third party insurance cover as currently many old vehicles - two and four wheelers - do not have that cover; with better safety features and better road conditions the claims outgo will also be less and a new category of clients - vehicle scrappers - will be there.

Motor insurance accounts for a major chunk of revenue for the insurers.

"Growth in insurance premium will sync with the increase in sale of new vehicles. Some people may go for additional vehicles instead of scrapping their old vehicles due to reasons like sentiment and others," Roopam Asthana, CEO and Whole Time Director, Liberty General Insurance Ltd told IANS.

Asthana said a lot of areas are to be ironed out in the case of the vehicle scrappage policy.

He also agreed that there may be a spurt in electric two wheelers as compared to four wheelers as the latter is priced high as compared to petrol and diesel powered ones.

"From insurers point of view, the electric vehicle numbers are currently low. The claims outgo may be high as the electric vehicles are mostly based on replacement instead of repairs," Asthana said.

"There will be a premium spike initially when new vehicles are bought in good numbers and then there will be a slight dip and later the premium income will be steady. The third party premium segment will be steady," Saurabh Bhalerao, Associate Director (Research), Care Ratings, told IANS.

According to Bhalerao, older vehicles will continue as long as the policy allows.

"A new industry - vehicle scrapping units - will come into being. That will be a new business segment for the non-life insurers," Asthana said.

Announcing the vehicle scrappage policy in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the ecosystem is expected to attract additional investments of around Rs 10,000 crore and 35,000 job opportunities.

India has 51 lakh light motor vehicles (LMV) which are older than 20 years and 34 lakh LMVs which are older than 15 years. Around 17 lakh medium and heavy commercial vehicles are older than 15 years without a valid fitness certificate, Gadkari said.

The vehicle scrappage policy proposes to de-register commercial vehicles after 15 years in case of failure to get the fitness certificate. As a disincentive measure, increased fees for fitness certificate and fitness test may be applicable for commercial vehicles 15 year onwards from the date of initial registration.

The private vehicles are proposed to be de-registered after 20 years if found unfit or in case of a failure to renew registration certificate. As a disincentive measure, increased re-registration fees will be applicable for private vehicles too after this period.

The government also proposed that all vehicles of the Central government, state governments, Municipal Corporations, Panchayats, State Transport Undertakings, Public Sector Undertakings and autonomous bodies with the Union and State governments may be de-registered and scrapped after 15 years from the date of registration.

In the next few weeks, draft notifications will be published and be in the public domain for a period of 30 days to solicit comments and views of all involved stakeholders, Gadkari said.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in)
A 52-year-old man arrested in Creggan yesterday morning has been charged with terrorism offences.

Head of the Police Services Serious Crime Branch Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray said: A 52 year old man who was arrested under the Terrorism Act in Creggan, Derry/Londonderry yesterday, has been charged on suspicion of a number of terrorist offences. These include preparatory acts of terrorism, possession of explosives with intent and possession of articles likely to be of use to terrorists.

"He was arrested as part of Operation Ledging, a discrete, stand-alone strand of Operation Arbacia, looking specifically at the New IRAs bomb making activities as well as the groups storage of explosive devices and equipment, and is due to appear in Laganside Court tomorrow at 10am.
Albania has started inoculating health workers from Kosovo. On March 20, about 200 Kosovar medics were bused to Kukes, an Albanian town close to the border with Kosovo, to get vaccinated against COVID-19. They received AstraZeneca vaccines that Albania had secured earlier this month. Kosovo is the only country in Europe that has not yet started to vaccinate its population. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has said that his country is ready to provide broader coronavirus-related assistance to Kosovo and that it was important to begin with the vaccination of health-care workers. Kosovo expects to receive more than 100,000 of its own AstraZeneca doses through the UN-backed COVAX program for poorer countries.
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Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has said that the new Secretariat should bring glory to the country. It should be constructed in such way that it should stand the test of time, he said.

The Chief Minister was speaking after inspecting the works at the site. The CM examined samples of red and beige coloured sand stone and natural Gwalior stone models brought in from Rajasthan. The stones had been chosen by a team that toured Delhi and Rajasthan, among others.

He walked to the southwest side and examined the construction works, the quality of pillars and beams. The CM made several suggestions to R&B minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy and representatives of the construction agencies.

Later, the CM reviewed the progress of the work at Pragathi Bhavan.

Telangana is making rapid strides in development and welfare and has become role model for others. Against this backdrop, we have to construct the Secretariat to reflect our self-respect and it should also become a role model for other states, he said.

Stating that the premises should provide comfort both for employees and visitors, he asked officials to create wide inner roads and sprawling lawns with flower plants.

He suggested construction of fountains of Dholpur stone like those near Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
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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Mumbai Saga

Cast: John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Amole Gupte, Suniel Shetty, Kajal Aggarwal, Rohit Roy, Anjana Sukhani, Prateik Babbar

Direction: Sanjay Gupta

Rating: * * (two stars)

BY VINAYAK CHAKRAVORTY

Sanjay Gupta's latest is an extension of his trademark "Shootout" films, reloading familiar uber-violence with old-school Bollywood drama about cops, gangsters and the self-seeking political set, packing in loud dialogues and the essential naach-gaana.

Coming after "Shootout At Lokhandwala' and "Shootout At Wadala", and at a time when everything about cinema is being drastically reorganised, "Mumbai Saga" needed to have some sort of a USP. It doesn't -- Gupta and team seem confident that bringing back a whiff of what worked once upon a time in Bollywood would be enough to rake it in at a time when the audience is only cautiously returning to the halls.

Like the "Shootout" films, "Mumbai Saga", too, banks on a slice of real life to set up its fictional action-drama quotient. This time, Gupta falls back on a crucial phase of Mumbai's contemporary socio-politics -- the eighties and the nineties - when the city's mills, spread across prime property, were brought down in order to facilitate the construction of high-end highrises, and malls.

At the core of the story is Amartya Rao (John Abraham), a made-to-order Bollywood hero who stands up against the goons of a local tough, Gaitonde (Amol Gupte), when they harass local shopkeepers for 'hafta'.

As Amartya goes for the big bash-up - reducing Gaitonde's bunch of baddies to pulp -- he catches the eye of a local politician, Bhau (Mahesh Manjrekar), who realises Amartya could be moulded into an essential ally in his bid to rule the city.

Following template, there is a cop 'hero' to take on John's gangster antihero. Emraan Hashmi as Inspector Vijay Savarkar takes up the challenge of thwarting Amartya's formidable rise, but not before half the film is through.

The film adheres to the Bollywood textbook of yore while setting cop hero-versus-Robinhood antihero tussle between Emraan and John.

Sanjay Gupta and Robin Bhatt's screenwriting narrates a gangster's story from a gangster's point of view, so the storytelling is naturally structured to glamorise Amartya. John makes the most of it, banking on brawn power and scoring as an action hero in a film that mainly centres on his machismo to garner mass appeal. He lives up to his action star billing, though he could have toned down the tendency to ham in the drama scenes.

In contrast, Emraan Hashmi is mostly left tackling a role that pales in the swagger-strutting contest. A cop chasing a gangster in a gangster flick is always a tough act to win the 'taalis' and seeties' with. In any case, Vijay Savarkar comes across as a character that could have been written better.

Sanjay Gupta has smartly cast two filmmakers with proven acting credentials in pivotal supporting roles. Both Mahesh Manjrekar and Amol Gupte approach primarily cliched characters with a certain fresh approach, which is definitely an asset for the film. Almost all of the remaining cast have little to do.

"Mumbai Saga" comes across as an attempt to celebrate the cliches that defined Bollywood success in the heydays of the masala film. Sadly, the film gets entangled in the web of the very cliches it sets out to toast, mostly because it lacks ample imagination in storytelling and depth in execution.

-- Syndicated from IANS
We shall live in this region; but the biggest problem in this region is that we are perceived as an enemy and we perceive as an enemy. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday said this during a meeting with the residents of Nerkin Bazmaberd village in Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.

"We have to record that this closed chain must be managed in some way because this is the biggest challenge that we and others have.

Next, we need to record that the [Nagorno-]Karabakh [(Artsakh)] issue is not resolved, no matter how much the Azerbaijani leadership says it is resolved. There will be many questions about why our boys died [in the recent Artsakh]. Our boys died so that when the president of Azerbaijan states today that the Karabakh issue is resolved, we will be able to say that it is not resolved because Azerbaijan's plan was that there should be no Armenians physically left in Karabakh. But today Artsakh exists, there are Artsakh Armenians; this is thanks to our fallen soldiers, the army," he added.

According to Pashinyan, the way to move forward is to unblock the regional communications. "There will be many speculations in this issue, but the opening of communications shall be a step towards the solution of the age-old issue I mentioned.

People gather, shout,' Nikol, traitor!' Can anyone explain in what that betrayal is? Is it in that we [the incumbent Armenian authorities] have not looted [like the previous authorities] ()? For 20 years, when the people were talking about looting, they [the previous authorities] were saying that, 'We are maintaining an army, we are maintaining a front line.' Then in [April] 2016 it turned out that we are fighting with the weapons of the [19]80s, and today they tell us, 'Why didn't you do this, do that during these two years?' (). Yes, we are guilty of not resolving in two years the issues that you have not resolved in 20 years, and let the people punish usas they see fitfor that sin," Nikol Pashinyan said.


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Authorities have filed murder charges against a South Jersey man sought in a Bridgeton killing.

Tyzir Hall, 21, of Clementon, is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses in the Feb. 8 shooting that killed Shaheed Little, 31, of Sicklerville, and wounded two others, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office.

Police responded to a home on the 400 block of South Avenue around 3:45 p.m. that day for a report of shots fired.

They found Little, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and a woman suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. They continue to recover from their injuries, police said.

Hall should be considered armed and dangerous and anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgeton Police Department Detective Sgt. Kenneth Leyman at 609-381-1225 or Detective Sgt. Ryan Breslin of the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office at 856-207-2738.

Information may be shared anonymously on the prosecutors office website by visiting CCPO.TIPS or via the police departments website at BPD.TIPS.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
New Delhi, March 20 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) head and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will address a 'kisan maha sammelan' in Punjab's Mansa district on Sunday, party sources said.

The sammelan to be addressed by Kejriwal at 2 p.m. is being organised by the AAP.

Party sources told IANS that the event is being organised to extend support to those farmers who have been protesting against the Centre's three farm laws.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at three borders of the national capital -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur -- for nearly four months now.

Delhi's ruling AAP had promised free electricity and water supply at all the protest sites.

As part of the AAP's strategy, the party will be organising four such sammelans -- the first was in Meerut on February 28, the second in Punjab on Sunday and the last in Haryana's Jind district on April 4.

AAP sources added that Kejriwal's visit to Punjab is a part of the party's action plan for the state's Assembly elections scheduled for next year.

"We have been working for Sunday's event for the last two-and-a-half months. Several meetings were convened across district of the state to garner support for the kisan maha sammelan," said a Punjab party worker on condition of anonymity.

Senior AAP leader and co-incharge for Punjab, Raghav Chadha, on Friday claimed that the party will form the state government in 2022.
Galena Mining Ltd (ASX:G1A) (FRA:GM6) continues to progress exploration and pre-development work at the Abra Base Metals Project in Western Australia, targeting the start of construction in the first half of this year and first production in 2022.

The company recently released more broad high-grade lead-silver results in the fifth and final batch of assay results from the 2020 drilling program at Abra which are expected to support the upcoming mineral resource update.

This program had three objectives - lead-silver orebody infill, drilling into selected prospective metal-rich zones for potential life of mine plan optimisation and gold-copper exploration.

Establishing mineable zone

Galena managing director Alex Molyneux told Proactive's Andrew Scott that the company had completed a 57-hole drilling program for about 25,000 cumulative linear metres of drilling.

He said: To put that in perspective, it takes Abra to about 100,000 metres of drilling overall  so 25% of all of the drilling thats ever been done on Abra.

The copper-gold assays that we put out are really significant because we hit copper and gold in the first hole we targeted and that copper hit was 26.9 metres at 1.4% which is a very wide intersection and within that was 8.9 metres at 2.3% copper.

These are the kinds of thickness and grades youre looking for if you want to establish that theres a mineable zone down there.

We also had more than eight holes in the silver drilling that had cumulative significant thicknesses of more than 50 metres - and we only declare something significant if it has a +5% lead grade - so all in all the drilling program did really well.

Resource update pending

The company has retained Optiro Pty Ltd to incorporate the extensive data received from the 2020 drilling program into an independently prepared updated mineral resource estimate.

With the inclusion of the final assays into the model, an updated estimate is expected to be completed within the coming weeks, enabling the commencement of an updated mine plan.

Abra Project drilling density following completion of the 2020 Abra drilling program.

Pre-construction work underway

Following finalisation of the US$110 million Taurus Debt Facilities and receipt of a further A$20 million investment tranche from Toho Zinc, construction tasks at Abra were recommenced in December 2020.

Molyneux said that project development works were now around 15% complete.

He said: We have been doing pre-construction activities and what we might call site enabling activities which include things like constructing the mine site village, site road works, site clearing and constructing the box cut.

Out of the overall total capex budget probably by the end of this month, well be about 15% done for the whole project.

The works that weve done are quite material and the main pieces of the remainder of the project are really just the construction of the plant and the commencement of the underground mining.

Galena continues to target the commencement of the procurement/construction phase of Abras plant and deployment of the underground mining contractor in the first half of 2021.

Funding agreements

Molyneux said: In November we signed a debt facilities agreement with Taurus Funds Management for the provision of US$110 million worth of debt.

That facility is broken into two parts, the first piece of that facility is unconditional and a US$70 million piece of that facility has a condition that we complete our infill drilling  which we did.

We now need to complete a resource update and put that through the model and as long as the model shows were in compliance with their financial covenants  then the whole facility becomes unconditional.

Together with the Taurus facility, weve also got our cash resources ($30 million cash in bank as at the end of December), we also have another $40 million of investment tranche coming from Toho Zinc of Japan.

Targeting first production in 2022

The feasibility study for the project envisages the development of an underground mine and conventional flotation concentration processing facility with a 16-year life producing a high-value, high-grade lead-silver concentrate containing around 95,000 tonnes of lead and 805,000 ounces of silver per year after ramp-up.

Molyneux said: Weve got the funding in place and the resource announcement will be really interesting because shareholders can see if were on track to release the rest of the facility.

The company will then progress the final investment decision which will allow it to move forward with the plant and the underground mine construction.

Based on the current schedule, first production of high-value, high-grade lead silver concentrate at the Abra project will commence in 2022.
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A British-Asian businessman who calls himself 'the Sikh Michael O'Leary' will launch a Ryanair-style airline offering cut-price flights to India as soon as July.

Flypop, founded by former City bond trader Nino Singh Judge, plans to operate long-haul no-frills flights at half the cost of rivals.

It will initially offer two direct routes from the UK  to Amritsar and Ahmedabad  with return fares from 299.

Goal: Flypop, founded by former City bond trader Nino Singh Judge, plans to operate long-haul no-frills flights at half the cost of rivals

Judge is deciding whether to launch from July 1  operating his planes under partner airlines' licences through a lease arrangement  or to start flights in October after obtaining a full Air Operator Certificate licence from the CAA aviation regulator.

'As soon as restrictions are lifted, there is an opportunity to go,' Judge said. 'Right now my cash burn is so minimal I can time my launch exactly when the demand is there and when I can fill my planes.'

He founded Flypop in 2014 and has since been raising money to get to the point where he can operate flights. He has raised 7million of funding from private Punjabi and Gujarati investors, plus 5million from the Treasury's Future Fund.

Judge said budget long-haul is 'a tough market to crack', but airlines can succeed if they take an aggressive approach to offering low fares.

He said: 'If my prices are only 30 per cent lower [than competitors], I will have failed.' Judge describes himself as a 'champagne socialist' who wants to share half his wealth with those in need. 'I aspire to be as ruthless as Michael O'Leary but as benevolent as the Archbishop of Canterbury,' he said.

Flypop will capitalise on the slump in business and first-class travel during the pandemic, which led to airports slashing landing fees. The cost of leasing planes has also dived, with one aircraft firm slashing monthly charges from 720,000 to 290,000.

Flypop's negotiations are led by former Ryanair director Charlie Clifton, who is close to securing a deal to lease up to ten planes from either Boeing or Airbus. It will start with two and add an extra aircraft every six months. Clifton is also haggling with airports over landing fees and will launch Flypop's routes from the airport offering the best deal. Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham and East Midlands are among the preferred options. Heathrow has been ruled out due to its steep charges.

Judge hopes Flypop will hit a 100million valuation by January when he will look to raise 25million from institutions and retail investors by listing on the London Stock Exchange. It will then buy more aircraft and roll out flights to Indian cities not served by major airlines, such as Calcutta, Pune and Goa, and links to New York, Toronto, Chicago, the Caribbean and Africa.

He said Flypop presents 'a huge post-Brexit opportunity', opening up direct trade routes to South-East Asia. Each of its planes will carry up to ten tons of cargo.

The airline will be carbon-neutral, planting a tree for each passenger, and will match each meal bought on board with one delivered to the homeless in the UK and India.
Pot has always been a fool-killer for phonies like Kamala Harris, our purported vice president.

Two of her most embarrassing, hypocritical political moments come down to pot, and now there's going to be a third.

According to Fox News:

Five White House staffers have been fired because of their past use of drugs, including marijuana, press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. Marijuana has become a delicate issue for President Joe Biden's administration because 15 states and Washington, D.C., allow for recreational usage, despite a federal prohibition. The administration has tried not to automatically penalize potential staffers for legal behavior in their communities by developing a more flexible policy, Psaki said in a statement to The Associated Press. "In an effort to ensure that more people have an opportunity to serve the public, we worked in coordination with the security service to ensure that more people have the opportunity to serve than would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use," Psaki said. "While we will not get into individual cases, there were additional factors at play in many instances for the small number of individuals who were terminated." The Daily Beast website first reported the firings Thursday night.

Would this be the same White House that claims to be all in for marijuana legalization? The same Democrat party, 85% of whose members support the total legalization of pot?

Well, gee. Somehow marijuana use in the White House is still a firing offense, even for those who come from the 15 blue states where pot use is perfectly legal in contradiction to federal law. That's a stance the White House's Attorney General nominee said he would explicitly respect.

But somehow, that doesn't apply to the Biden White House, (though one might expect an exception for Hunter). Somehow, federal law, all of a sudden, actually matters, contrary to everything else the Biden administration has promoted.

And that creates problems for Kamala Harris, crime fighter extraordinaire, who as prosecutor put at least 1,500 small-time pot users in prison, yet says she's all in for marijuana legalization:

For Harris, this puts the spotlight on all her hypocrisies on the matter once again.

Harris, recall, was the one who giggled her way through a 2019 Charlamagne Tha God radio interview during her presidential campaign, in an attempt to court black voters, with Cheech and Chong drivel like this:

Q: They say you oppose legalizing weed. KAMALA HARRIS: That's not true. Q: I know. HARRIS: And look, I joke about it  half-joking  half my family's from Jamaica. Are you kidding me? ... Q: Have you ever smoked? HARRIS: I have.

Her Stanford professor-emeritus dad, of course, blasted her for her cheap negative stereotypes about Jamaicans.

There also was this:

"I have [smoked marijuana]. And I inhaled. I did inhale," Harris said. "I think it gives a lot of people joy. And we need more joy in the world."

There also was this:

Charlamagne tha God: What was you listening to when you was high? What was on? What's on with me? (Deejay known as) DJEnvy: Was it Snoop? Kamala Harris: Oh, my goodness, (near-giggle) yeah, Snoop. (another nod and a near-giggle) Definitely Snoop, uh hunh. (More lolling around with a pause) Tupac. For sure. For sure.

Which brings us to her second hypocrisy. Neither of those famous gangsta rappers were around and making music when Harris was supposedly hard at work smoking pot in college. They were around when she was district attorney in the Oakland, though, putting young black pot offenders in prison, keeping them in beyond their terms. So was she smoking pot and giggling about it while listening to Tupac, and still throwing young black drug offenders in prison? That's quite a picture.

That's what enabled one of her presidential primary rivals, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, to deliver to Harris a campaign death blow at a Democratic debate. Remember this?

Gabbard: I want to bring the conversation back to the broken criminal justice system that is disproportionately, negatively impacting black and brown people all across this country today. Now, Senator Harris says she's proud of her record as a prosecutor and that she'll be a prosecutor president. But I'm deeply concerned about this record. There are too many examples to cite but she put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana. She blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts forced her to do so. She kept people in prison beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California, and she fought to keep a cash bail system in place that impacts poor people in the worst kind of way. Jake Tapper (moderator): Thank you, Congresswoman. Senator Harris, your response? Harris: As the elected attorney general of California, I did the work of significantly reforming the criminal justice system of a state of 40 million people, which became a national model for the work that needs to be done. And I am proud of that work. And I am proud of making a decision to not just give fancy speeches or be in a legislative body and give speeches on the floor but actually doing the work, of being in the position to use the power that I had to reform a system that is badly in need of reform. That is why we created initiatives that were about re-entering former offenders and getting them counseling. It's why, and because I know the criminal justice system is so broken, it is why I'm an advocate for what we need to do to not only decriminalize but legalize marijuana in the United States. Tapper: Thank you, Senator. I want to bring Congresswoman Gabbard back in. Gabbard: The bottom line is, when you were in a position to make a difference and an impact in these people's lives, you did not and worse yet in the case of those who are on death row, innocent people, you actually blocked evidence from being revealed that would have freed them until you were forced to do so. There's no excuse for that and the people who suffered under your reign as prosecutor  you owe them an apology.

And boy, the Democratic Party establishment, which had picked Harris as their favorite, made sure Tulsi was punished for that little impertinence.

But it was completely true, and it exposed Harris as a flamin' hot hypocrite, even as she claims she's all in for pot legalization now.

According to Politico, Harris is innocent, and decrepit old Joe is the one who's against it:

He's just not ready to embrace cannabis. Despite a shift in public opinion toward legalizing marijuana over the past 30 years, the president's more conservative approach to weed policy is well-known on Capitol Hill. When the Daily Beast reported late Thursday that "dozens" of young White House staffers had been suspended, asked to resign or placed in a remote work program after admitting to prior marijuana use, pro-cannabis lawmakers were dismayed Friday but hardly shocked. "It is another very vivid example of the clash between outmoded past policies, and where America is, and where America is going," Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Capitol Hill's unofficial weed czar, said in an interview. "It's not, probably, surprising."

Politico and other Democrats are trying to rationalize the White House opposition to pot in the White House as a relic of Biden's past tough stance on crime in the 1990s.

Many Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have shifted their positions on cannabis legalization in recent years. But Biden  who, as a senator, shepherded the 1994 crime bill that disproportionately hit communities of color and set mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana possession  has never truly warmed to the idea. As recently as last year, Biden's staff rejected marijuana legalization as part of the Democratic Party policy platform. It was a step backwards from 2016, when the party made history by endorsing a "pathway" to legalization.

But that won't protect Kamala, who was part of that 'tough on crime' trend of the 1990s, same as Joe.

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki is trying to spin the matter by saying it was only a few of them who got canned.

According to a statement given to the Associated Press:

In an effort to ensure that more people have an opportunity to serve the public, we worked in coordination with the security service to ensure that more people have the opportunity to serve than would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use," Psaki said. "While we will not get into individual cases, there were additional factors at play in many instances for the small number of individuals who were terminated."

According to Fox News:

But Psaki also said the Biden administration has updated its hiring policies to ensure that past marijuana use does not automatically disqualify staff from serving in the administration. Psaki on Friday tweeted that the administration "announced a few weeks ago that the White House had worked with the security service to update the policies to ensure that past marijuana use wouldn't automatically disqualify staff from serving in the White House." "As a result, more people will serve who would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use," Psaki added. "The bottom line is this: of the hundreds of people hired, only five people who had started working at the White House are no longer employed as a result of this policy," she said.

Which is spin and nonsense. Federal policy since the 1980s has been to excuse minor instances of marijuana usage. Psaki is claiming that's a big change from Biden, once again plagiarizing someone else's policy.

As for the people let go, one wonders what it took to get them out -- smoking pot in the White House? Selling and dealing drugs? Showing up stinking of reefer? Had to have been something bad, given the already lax standard.

Which brings us back to Kamala, who bragged of getting high, supposedly in college. She got high, and then prosecuted others, then said she was all in for marijuana legalization, and now serves a White House that won't let potheads in.

Seems the Biden/Harris administration is all in for forcing private employers to hire marijuana users, with all the dullness of mind that entails in their workforces, given their stance on legalization, but they sure as heck don't want that stuff around in their White House. Laws and punishment for the little guys around marijuana legalization, just not the same for themselves.

Photo Illustration by Monica Showalter with use of screen shot from MSNBC via shareable YouTube, filtered with FotoSketcher, and two Pixabay / Pixabay License images.
The mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia this week, whose victims were predominantly Asian American, have thrown into relief the surge in anti-Asian violence in the United States amid the relentless demonization of China by the US government.

A make-shift memorial is seen Friday, March 19, 2021, in Acworth, Ga., in the aftermath of the shootings [Credit: AP Photo/Candice Choi]

The motives of the shooter remain unclear, but in the wake of the attacks, the US ruling class has only escalated its efforts to whip up anti-China sentiment, including open appeals by sections of the political establishment to anti-Asian prejudice and violence.

On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans, which had been scheduled weeks in advance. The opening statement by the ranking Republican on the committee, Texas Representative Chip Roy, was a racist diatribe and open incitement to violence. Referring to the Chinese as Chi-Coms, a racist slur, Roy declared, I think theyre the bad guys.

He added, Thats the reality of what I tend to refer to as the Chi-Coms. And Im not going to be ashamed of saying I oppose the Chi-Coms.

He favorably invoked the legacy of lynch law in America, declaring, Theres old sayings in Texas about find all the rope in Texas and get a tall Oak tree. He demanded that the government round up the bad guys and take out the bad guys.

Roy said violence against Asian Americans was being blown out of proportion and claimed that those who take exception to racist speech are engaging in censorship.

Instead of exposing anti-Asian racism, Roy demanded that Congress condemn China for engaging in modern day slavery. He denounced China for what theyre doing to build up their military  throughout the Pacific and accused the Chinese regime of seeking to hide the reality of this virus, implying that COVID-19 was created as a bioweapon.

Roys violent diatribe met with only meek protest from Democrats on the committee. Chairman Steve Cohen (Democrat from Tennessee) replied that the incidents I mentioned in my opening statement were being spat at, slapped in the face, lit on fire, slashed with a box cutter, and shoved violently to the ground.  Thats not speech.

Fighting back tears, Congresswoman Grace Meng accused Roy of putting a bullseye on the back of Asian Americans across this country, on our grandparents, on our kids.

Otherwise, committee members were silent on Roys racist incitement of violence.

In remarks Friday following a meeting with Asian American representatives in Atlanta, President Joe Biden hypocritically condemned the scapegoating of Asian Americans in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding his platitudes about unity, Biden has continued and intensified the demonization of China carried out by his predecessor.

Sign for the Gold Spa massage business in Atlanta, the day after multiple people were killed at three massage spas in the Atlanta area [Credit: AP Photo/Ben Gray]

While foregoing Trumps crudely racist demagogy, including labeling COVID-19 the Chinese virus and Kung Flu, Biden has continued in all fundamentals Trumps belligerent and militaristic policy toward China.

The Biden White House has expanded Trumps delisting of Chinese companies from US stock exchanges, left in place Trumps anti-China tariffs and continued to enforce Trumps restrictions on Chinese students.

At the same time, the Biden administration continues to promote Trumps false charge that China is engaged in genocide against its Muslim population, as well as the baseless claim that COVID-19 may have been created in a Chinese laboratory.

Across the entire US media and political establishment, there is a de facto agreement not to discuss the relationship between the rise of anti-Asian racism and Washingtons pursuit of great-power conflict against China.

A case in point is the New York Times, which this week published an editorial observer column declaring that China poses a threat and asserting that the US must retain a military and technological edge.

The same day, the Times online edition carried an editorial titled, Asian-Americans Are Scared for a Reason, which condemned bigotry and demagoguing. But the editorial did not raise the obvious question: Do not the declaration of China as a threat and attempts to blame it for the deaths of over a half million Americans constitute racist incitement? To ask the question is to answer it, in the affirmative.

The entire sordid history of anti-Asian racism in America is intimately linked with the predatory aims of US imperialism. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 came amid the carve-up of China by the imperialist powers, accompanied by the fomenting of xenophobia directed against the yellow peril.

In 1942, the US government ordered the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans, claiming they were a national security threat based on their ethnicity.

Now, too, the surge in racist violence against Asian Americans coincides with a major escalation of the US conflict with China.

In a meeting with Chinese officials in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened with a furious denunciation of China that in substance echoed the words of Republican Representative Roy, accusing China of carrying out cyberattacks against the United States and economic coercion.

In a speech last month, Blinken identified China as Americas central adversary, declaring China to be the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to challenge the United States.

The efforts of the Trump and Biden administrations to demonize China have had a pernicious effect on public consciousness. Nine in 10 Americans now see China as a competitor or an enemy rather than a partner, according to a Pew Research poll conducted last month. Two-thirds of respondents have cold feelings toward Beijing, up from 46 percent just two years ago.

The fact that both Republican and Democrat administrations have framed the relationship as strategic competition and highlighted numerous threats that China has posed, its not surprising that more and more Americans  have an unfavorable view of China, noted Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

A central aim of the promotion of nationalism and chauvinism is to deflect internal social antagonisms outward by attempting to scapegoat an external enemy.

The American working class must come to the defense of Asian Americans who are being vilified as part of the drive by the ruling class to divide the working class while pursuing its homicidal policy of herd immunity in response to the pandemic.

Even as the world remains in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US and its allies are focusing their efforts not on eradicating the virus but on preparing for war. The Pentagon recently requested the doubling of funds for its Indo-Pacific command, while the UKs Johnson administration plans to increase the number of nuclear warheads in Britain by 40 percent.

The struggle to eradicate COVID-19 is inseparable from opposition to war, racism and xenophobia. The enemies of American workers are not their Chinese brothers and sisters, but the oligarchs who profit from the deaths of millions around the world. All efforts to blame China and Asian Americans for the pandemic, whose horrific toll is attributable to the greed, ignorance and criminality of the capitalist oligarchy, should be dismissed with contempt.
Provided by Texas Department of Public Safety

A person of interest wanted in connection to the murder of a Hale County man last fall was arrested in California on Thursday night.

According to prison records, Alexander Yoichi Duberek, 24, was arrested for a felony and is currently being held at the San Diego Central Jail. Duberek is wanted in connection to the murder of Chad David Luera, 30, of Hale County. The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a wanted poster for Duberek in late January.
Vaccine delivery to Sydney and much of regional NSW will be delayed as a result of severe flooding, the Department of Health has said.

Most locations in the country will have received vaccines by the end of the weekend, except for parts of NSW affected by extreme weather.

'Vaccine delivery is being affected in Sydney and across multiple regional NSW locations,' the department said in a statement on Saturday.

'The Department of Health is working directly with GPs on these issues and we ask for the public's patience and understanding with these unforeseen supply delays.'

The wild weather across New South Wales has delayed the delivery of vaccines to Sydney and regional NSW

Most locations in the country will have received vaccines by the end of the weekend, except for parts of NSW affected by extreme weather

Separate to the severe weather, the federal government again defended 'hiccups' in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Saturday amid complaints of disorganisation and delays.

Federal Liberal MP Jason Falinski stood firm for the government on Saturday when Labor MP Josh Wilson alleged a failure in 'basic administrative competence'.

Mr Wilson argued there had been plenty of time to ensure the vaccine booking system worked, that enough vaccine doses were being distributed and that people were being prompted to have the jab.

He likened it to organising a child's birthday party.

'You make sure the email address on the party invite actually works. You don't invite 30 children if you can only get 10 in the pool,' he said.

Mr Falinski rejected the analogy - saying the vaccine was being rolled out to 25 million people.

'There will be hiccups along the way in the rollout of this vaccine,' he told ABC News.

'We have zero community transmission so we can get take the time to get this right.'

Separate to the severe weather, the federal government again defended 'hiccups' in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Saturday amid complaints of disorganisation and delays

He sung the government's praises for ensuring the vaccine is produced domestically - unlike Canada - which remains at the whim of overseas facilities.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan also lauded that decision by the federal government, as the European Union threatened to block exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'We've been talking with the EU about this,' he told reporters.

'We've obviously got a very strong point of view as to what the EU should do.

The horrific wet weather battering NSW is expected to continue until Thursday or Friday

'(But) the domestic supply is absolutely critical. It won't be too long until we're producing nearly a million doses a week.'

More than 250,000 virus jabs have been administered in Australia, a long way off the four million Prime Minister Scott Morrison said would be completed by the end of March.

Doctors say the federal government should have tempered expectations of a fast COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as they reassure patients they will get their jabs.

Mr Morrison held a round-table meeting with peak medical bodies in Melbourne on Friday to discuss the country's biggest ever vaccination program.

The next phase of the vaccination rollout begins on Monday, and includes people aged over 70, Indigenous Australians over 55, younger adults with a medical condition or disability, and workers deemed at critical or high risk.

Incredible drone footage has captured the mid-north coast town of Port Macquarie completely submerged as flood waters create a path of destruction in the area

More rain is forecast for the NSW coast and other parts of the state, with flood warnings in place and the premier advising residents to stay home

The effort will involve more than 1,000 GP practices and 100 Commonwealth clinics.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said the government should have been clearer with the public that 6.5 million people would not be able to get their jab in the first week when the country only has 200,000 doses.

One new case of coronavirus has been recorded in Western Australia, in a returned traveller who is in hotel quarantine.

The state currently has 13 active cases, the Department of Health said on Saturday.

On Friday, 2437 people were vaccinated. To date, 30,571 West Australians have received a COVID vaccine.
A day before the final two county-level mask mandates expired in eastern Idaho, two of the regions most populated counties were the nations worst COVID-19 hotspots.

The metropolitan area of Idaho Falls is the nations top hotspot for new coronavirus cases by population over the past two weeks, and Rexburg is close behind in third place, according to the New York Times coronavirus outbreak tracker. A White House Coronavirus Task Force report from March 12 lists both Idaho Falls and Rexburg as the only two metro areas within Idaho that are in the red zone for high rates of infection and positive tests.

From March 1 to March 17, 1,201 Bonneville County residents have reportedly been infected with the coronavirus, according to the local health district. In Madison county, 312 new infections were reported so far this month. Across eight mostly rural counties in Eastern Idaho Public Health, 1,817 new cases were reported in that time. The state of Idaho, meanwhile, reported just under 5,000 new cases, according to state numbers.

BY THE NUMBERS Number of new daily cases of COVID-19 on average over a seven-day period, as of March 19: Ada County: 17.1

Canyon County: 13.5

Bonneville County: 59.6

Madison County: 41.9

Statewide: 17.3 Source: coronavirus.idaho.gov Idaho Press staff

Its not the first time Rexburg has been that high on national charts. Last fall, as thousands of college students returned to the roughly 40,000 population area, it became one of the nations worst hotspots, according to the Times.

The latest hotspot designations cap two weeks of reversals in eastern Idahos coronavirus infection decline.

The rapidly rising infection rates for eastern Idaho have come after regional officials stepped away from issuing any pandemic control measures, despite warnings of more infectious virus variants. On March 4, the Eastern Idaho Public Health board voted to stop issuing mask mandates as routine orders of business. The health board set the last two mandates, in Teton and Bonneville counties, to expire on March 18.

Rural and metropolitan areas alike in the region have driven up the states reported coronavirus case count, flooding hospitals with more COVID-19 patients and pushing intensive care units to stress levels unseen since last November, when hospitals narrowly approached a resource crisis that wouldve left the sickest to wait to access precious resources while doctors try to save people with the best chance of survival.

By Tuesday night, about 90% of all staffed ICU beds in the region were full. An average of eight were available over the past three days, according to the health district. In Idaho Falls, which holds the bulk of the regions less than four dozen staffed ICU beds, four of 39 beds were free last week, the Post Register previously reported.
Charges have been dropped against people arrested last summer during Black Lives Matter protests in Worcester, as the district attorneys office said there was insufficient evidence to move forward in court.

Protesters rallied in Worcester last June following the death of George Floyd, who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After marches downtown, protesters and police clashed in the citys Main South neighborhood.

The freedom to assemble, to speak, and to petition the government are among the most fundamental constitutional rights of a free society. These rights, however, do not protect or encourage violence -- whether it is violence thoughtlessly inflicted on our fellow citizens, their property, or purposefully directed at law enforcement officers. Such violent conduct is always properly the subject of criminal prosecution, Senior First Assistant District Attorney Jeff Travers said in a statement.

Nineteen people were arrested, including four Clark University students.

After a careful review of the cases ended today, the District Attorneys Office has concluded that insufficient evidence exists to proceed further with the prosecution of the charged crimes. In a society governed by law, the chaos and disorder of the night in question must now yield to the deliberate and thoughtful application of governing legal standards established for trials, Travers said.

Police at the time said the group assaulted officers with rocks, bottles and glass and were damaging property and lighting fires. Officers used smoke grenades and pepper ball rounds to disperse the crowd and make arrests. The pepper ball rounds contain oleoresin capsicum, the same ingredient found in pepper spray.

A student claimed that police told the crowd they could go home without facing arrest.

When confronted with large protests that contain individuals who employ indiscriminate violence, police officers have the extraordinarily difficult task of restoring order, distinguishing perpetrators from protesters, and charging those responsible with crimes, Travers said. The events of June 1, 2020 were such an occasion when police were presented with violent and dangerous conditions and placed themselves in harms way. The majority of these cases involved the application of an 18th Century law that courts have struggled to apply in a modern context.

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This is something you don't see every day.

A pod of rare killer whales swam alongside a fishing boat out in Galveston on Wednesday, according to boating company Galveston Party Boats, Inc.

"Rare killer whale sighting from the New Buccaneer's 30-hour trip today," the boating company posted on Facebook. "These beautiful creatures put on quite the show - enjoy."

Check out the video below:

READ MORE FROM PRISCILLA: I visited a San Antonio 'living land museum' you can only access 2 Saturdays a month

The fishing boat left on a 30-hour trip for tuna fishing and saw the creatures Wednesday morning about 130 miles south of Galveston, the Galveston Party Boats, Inc. told MySA.com. This was the first time the captains have ever seen killer whales in the Gulf of Mexico, the business said.

Captains Matt Smith and Sam Hardeman, who weren't available for an interview at the time this article was published, told Fox 26 Houston that they first thought they were pilot whales, but then quickly realized they were orca whales. Smith said they stayed swimming alongside them for about 30 minutes.

"I've never seen an orca out of Galveston before," Hardeman told Fox 26 Houston. "I was very surprised to see them."

Smith said they had about 30 people on the boat for that trip, adding he's never seen anything like this. He said he's only ever seen them at SeaWorld.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told MySA.com it's "uncommon" to see whales off the coast of Galveston. NOAA also shared a 2020 preliminary report that estimated 267 killer whales live in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The most recent final stock assessment in 2012 estimated just 28 orcas in that region.

READ MORE: Here's why San Antonio's Northside looked dusty earlier this week

Galveston Party Boats are original operators of catamaran fishing vessels in Galveston, according to its Facebook page.

The species is not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, but like all marine mammals, is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The killer whale, also known as orca, is one of the top marine predators. It is the largest member of the Delphinidae family or oceanic dolphins. Found in every ocean in the world, they are the most widely distributed of all cetaceans (whales and dolphins).

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
A do-it-yourself test for human papillomavirus, that an expert says resembles a really long earbud, could reduce deaths from cervical cancer among those who do not have access to screening, particularly Indigenous women.

Experts from the Cancer Council of NSW and the Australian National University are lobbying for self-testing to be expanded to women who either dont live near testing or feel uncomfortable having an HPV test (previously known as a pap smear) by a clinician.

Australia is tracking to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate cervical cancer, which kills about 250 women a year.

Ashlee Williams having her hair shaved off.

But testing rates are lagging behind among Indigenous women.
The Oort cloud, postulated in 1950 by the Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, defines the periphery of the solar systemextending out beyond 100,000 times the Earth-sun separation. It contains billions of icy rocks larger than Manhattan Island, as bricks left over from the construction process of the solar systems planets. The Oort objects on orbits that come close to the sun appear as long-period comets when their ice evaporates by heating from sunlight. One of the large long-period comets may have disintegrated 66 million years ago, producing the Chicxulub impactor that killed the dinosaurs.

The outer boundary of the Oort cloud reaches halfway to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. Therefore, if other stars possess Oort clouds similarly to the sun, these clouds touch each other like collections of densely packed billiard balls.

Since the farthest rocks are loosely bound to their parent star, they can be easily dislodged into interstellar space by the gravitational disturbance of a passing star. Such objects will inherit the motion of their parent star relative to the local standard of rest (LSR) because their initial orbital speed around the star is small. It was therefore surprising to find that the first interstellar object discovered, Oumuamua, was nearly at rest in the LSRgiven that only one in 500 stars are stationary there.

Despite early attempts to associate Oumuamua with a specific star of origin, it is impractical to do so for interstellar objects because a line of sight in any direction on the sky intercepts numerous Oort clouds which fill up the volume of the Milky Way. Another surprise from Oumuamuas discovery in 2017 was that the expected abundance of interstellar rocks lost from Oort cloud analogs is too small by orders of magnitude than the value needed to explain the inferred population of Oumuamua-like objects. The nurseries that give birth to Oumuamua-like objects must be different from what we know about the solar system.

Recently, Alan Jackson and Steven Desch suggested that Oumuamua might be a nitrogen iceberg. This represents a rare oddity, never seen before among the numerous bodies within our own Oort cloud. If the first interstellar object ever detected is made of pure nitrogen, that would imply that such nitrogen icebergs are common. Generally, nitrogen is produced together with carbon through the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen, or CNO, cycle in stellar interiors. The Spitzer Space Telescope placed tight limits on the presence of carbon-based molecules near Oumuamua, strengthening constraints from the absence of ((OK?)) visual signs of sunlight reflected from a cometary tail. To explain the deviation exhibited by Oumuamua from an orbit shaped by the suns gravity, about a tenth of its mass had to evaporate based on momentum conservation. Any nitrogen evaporation would have changed the tumbling period of Oumuamua and caused jitter, well beyond the observed limits. In addition, a nitrogen iceberg would have inherited the motion of its birth star, unlike Oumuamua, which originated in the local standard of rest.

The far reaches of the Oort cloud are not protected from bombardment by interstellar particles. The density of the protective solar wind declines inversely with distance squared, and the wind is stopped by the interstellar medium at a distance that is about 100 times the Earth-sun separation. This stopping boundary, called the heliopause, is still about 1,000 times smaller than the extent of the Oort cloud. In a recent paper I wrote with Merav Opher, James Drake and Gabor Toth, we showed that the heliopause is shaped like a nearly-round, puffy croissant. Outside of it, the Oort cloud objects are exposed to the same environment as interstellar objects are, unprotected from damage to their surface by impacts of energetic cosmic rays, dust or interstellar gas particles.

How did the outer Oort cloud form? One possibility was suggested in a recent paper with my student Amir Siraj, which showed that a temporary twin companion to the sun in its birth star cluster, could have trapped the observed population of outer Oort cloud objects from the cluster environment. This process could also explain the possible existence of distant planets, like the hypothetical Planet Nine.

But an even more striking realization is that most objects within the Oort cloud volume may not be bound to the sun. In another paper with Amir, we showed that the recent discovery of the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov, which most likely originated from an Oort cloud around another star, implies that interstellar objects may outnumber solar system objects within our own Oort cloud. In other words, the Oort cloud objects bound to the sun are swimming in an ocean of background interstellar objects that come and go. Moreover, the discovery of 2I/Borisov implies that about a percent of all the carbon and oxygen in the Milky Way galaxy may be locked in interstellar objects.

Interstellar objects range from dust particles up to the size of planets. Cosmic dust was known to exist in interstellar space for more than a century, supplementing the solar system dustknown from its reflected sunlight, which is observed as zodiacal light. Free-floating planets were identified recently by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), which discovered several such planets through the imprint of their gravitational lensing effect on the brightness of background stars.

Altogether, it appears that the Milky Way is filled with objects, some bound to their parent stars but the majority floating through interstellar space. Studying free-floaters as they cross our backyard in the solar system saves us from the need to visit their birth sites, which would require very long trips. With our existing chemical rockets, it would take about a tenth of the age of the Earth to reach the center of the Milky Way.

Most interestingly, the newly discovered population of interstellar objects enables a search for bottles among all the rocks that arrive to the shores of the solar system. These bottles may carry important messages from other civilizations out there. Quoting Immanuel Kant from his book Critique of Pure Reason, If it were possible to settle by any sort of experience whether there are inhabitants of at least some of the planets that we see, I might well bet everything that I have on it. Hence I say that it is not merely an opinion but a strong belief (on the correctness of which I would wager many advantages in life) that there are also inhabitants of other worlds.
SC asks CBSE, CISCE to place on record objective parameters for assessment of class 12 students in two weeks.
In an annual UN-sponsored report, Finland has been named the happiest place in the world for the fourth year in a row. The World Happiest Report saw Denmark in second place, followed by Switzerland, Iceland and the Netherlands. New Zealand was the only non-European nation in the top 10. The UK, on the other hand, fell from 13th to 17th place.

The United States shot up to number 14 - up four spots from last year when it ranked 18 - even beating out Canada, who slipped to number 15 this year. According to the report, data from analytics researcher Gallup asked people in 149 countries to measure their own happiness. Measures including social support, personal freedom, gross domestic product (GDP) and levels of corruption were also factored in.

Most unhappy country

The country deemed the most unhappy in the world included Afghanistan, followed by Lesotho, Botswana, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The report authors said that there was a significantly higher frequency of negative emotions in just over a third of the countries. However, they added that things got better for 22 countries. It is worth noting that several Asian countries fared better than they had in last years rankings' China moved to 84th place from 94th.

According to BBC, John Helliwell, one of the reports authors, said that people see coronavirus as a common, outside threat affecting everybody and that this has generated a greater sense of solidarity. Further, Helliwell added that Finland ranked very high on the measures of mutual trust that has helped to protect lives and livelihoods during the pandemic.

(Image: Unsplash)
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Three people have died after a suspected murder-suicide in Newtownabbey, Antrim.

A man is believed to have stabbed his mother and girlfriend at separate properties before killing himself.

Police confirmed the incidents were linked, and a double murder probe had been launched.

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and woman were found at a second property around two miles away.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The deputy Mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, said her thoughts and prayers were with the friends and family of the two women who she said had been "brutally killed.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left absolutely shocked and stunned by the news.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

Just after 10.55pm on Friday evening, police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area. Officers attended, along with colleagues from NIAS. Sadly, a woman has been pronounced dead.

As officers carried out further enquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area. An unconscious male was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the male was pronounced dead. On searching the property, another deceased female was located.

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

"We would urge anyone with any information which may assist our investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"

Police were at the scene of both properties this morning.

Local people spoke of their shock, while political representatives said more needed to be done to address violent attacks against women.

Ms McClelland, the deputy mayor, said: People in Newtownabbey are in shock today following three deaths in what police believe was a double murder.

My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

This is a close-knit community and I know that they will offer every support to those dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Once again it appears that two women have lost their lives in a violent attack. How many more women have to die before our Executive takes action to address gender based violence?

Mr Finucane, the North Belfast MP, has said the community was in shock.

He said: My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

Its important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken spoke of his shock. He said: This is terrible news - the loss of three lives is an awful tragedy for the community.

Policing Board member John Blair said it was the most sad and shocking set of circumstances adding: My thoughts are with family and friends of victims in what they are going through right now.

He said there was a great sense of shock throughout the Newtownabbey community.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

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Photo: The Canadian Press Erin O'Toole

Efforts to get official Conservative policy to recognize that climate change is real have failed.

Fifty-four per cent of voting delegates at the party's virtual convention voted against the motion, which also stressed the need for highly-polluting businesses to take more responsibility to reduce emissions.

The results of the vote will be a blow to Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, who told the party's grassroots in a Friday evening speech that an ambitious climate change agenda is a must if the party hopes to win power.

The motion expanding the party's existing policy on the environment was one of the most contentious of the package put before delegates.

To make it into the party's official policy, motions need what's known as a double majority: a majority of delegates as well as a majority of delegates in a majority of provinces.

The motion on climate change had the fiercest opposition from the western provinces, with delegates from New Brunswick and Quebec showing the most support.
Instagram is expermenting a new feature that might discourage people from sharing posts to Stories. It recently started testing this new feature that disables sharing posts to Stories, it is now adding labels to posts that have been reshared from the feed.

According to screenshots shared by TestingCatalog, Instagram is adding labels that say Reshared Post for those posts that are shared from the feed. This applies to photos, videos, and even Reels. Instagram already has an option for users to share Reels as Stories or to their feed. Those who share Reels as Stories have the label Created with Reels. With the latest experiment it looks like Instagram wants to further discourage users from sharing feed posts to Stories. This feature is however, in testing and hasnt been officially announced yet.

Instagram labels for reshared posts. (TestingCatalog)

Instagram was recently spotted disabling the ability to share feed posts to Stories in Argentina, Thailand and Chile. Users who are part of the test see a notification that reads, We hear from our community that they want to see fewer feed posts in stories. During this test, you wont be able to add a feed post to your story.

Instagram says this test is based on user feedback on not wanting to see feed posts on Stories. But this may negatively impact some users especially creators and businesses wanting to grow their presence on the app. It may also affect users wanting to support other businesses or accounts by sharing their posts to stories.

It looks like Instagram is trying out different tests to limit resharing posts to Stories. Removing the feature completely will most likely disappoint users so the labels could be a more lenient way.
It was Saint Patricks Day a few days ago but the pandemic persists so there wasnt much partying happening here in Spain.

Paddys Day 2020 was the first time in my life that I spent our national holiday at home; thankfully, Culture Ireland presented days and nights of fantastic virtual events. But it was also the first time that I was under a Stay-at-Home order from a government in a State of Alarm, enforced by police armed with big fines and guns.

RELUCTANT CELEBRATIONS

One year on from the pandemonium, this mid-March was jammed with our first pandemic anniversaries. However, I sensed a global reticence to acknowledge these unwelcome milestones: one year since the WHO announced that we were in a global pandemic, a year after hundreds of countries lockdowns had kicked in, since the first Covid-19 deaths occurred in each region.

There was little media attention given to looking back over this universal phenomenon. Too soon, I thought. Were still in the middle of it, our newsfeeds overflowing with ever-changing restrictions, new traumas, hopes and disappointments. I feel that nobody is in the mood for reflection  were still in survival mode.

So, it continues to surprise me when people ask why a particular set of restrictions is being imposed in their area that, to them, just doesnt make sense. Like the fact that a hairdresser cant open in Kilkenny, yet thousands of people fly in and out of Dublin airport every day. Or, why schools have been open in Spain since September, and bars most of the time since last June. Yet people havent been allowed to go for a pint in their local pub for a year in Ireland.

But we all know by now that no country is getting everything right nor getting everything wrong. Each government is making an incalculable number of decisions on the hoof, with hundreds of variables based on their citizens and culture, their demographics and economy, on the climate, even.

A PANDEMIC PADDYS DAY

I dont socialise much, preferring to write at home, communicate virtually with my loved ones around the world and, in my free time, go exploring by bicycle. But my ex-pat friends wanted to celebrate March 17th in the local Irish pub, soaking up the atmosphere. So, I met up with two English men and a Swedish woman in the late afternoon. With an allergy to Irish pubs abroad, and an ever-decreasing tolerance for alcohol consumption, I was comforted by the fact that all bars had to shut at six pm until restrictions were eased later in the week, when the hospitality sector would then open until 10:30 nightly.

As I cycled the few kilometres to a pub that I probably wont re-enter for another twelve months, I heard the familiar rumble of loud belly-laughs in the distance. I knew instantly that it was emanating from Antos, and not from one of the many Spanish cafe-bars on the same strip. All fifty seats on the huge patio in front were occupied and I rode up to a sea of green and white, many people wearing giant leprechaun hats  which looked extra incongruous above sunglasses. The scene was right out of a summer day in Temple Bar, except that these drinkers were a generation older.

As I approached Antos, the sound of the chats and laughs flowed onto the street and around the neighbouring, mostly empty bars, and I was struck by a rare nostalgia. I tuned into to the accents, not believing that there could be so many Irish people in such a remote tourist village off-season. About a quarter sounded Irish, the rest were mainly British, peppered with some German, Dutch and Scandinavian  most of the latter groups occupy the nearby nudist camps.

I bought my 4 pint of Guinness with blackcurrant, which is far cheaper than it is in its native country but double the price of a domestic beer. In fact, according to Eurostat, Spain sells the cheapest alcohol in the Eurozone. But it was great value for the pint of Irish memories that it filled me with. I also got a glass of the black stuff for my Swedish friend. She had never liked stout but with the drop of black added, she was very pleasantly surprised. I felt I was following in the footsteps of our national saint  converting people to Guinness one stout-heathen at a time.



Im reminded of Flann OBriens poem:

The Workmans Friend

When things go wrong and will not come right,

Though you do the best you can,

When life looks black as the hour of night 

A pint of plain is your only man.

When moneys tight and hard to get

And your horse has also ran,

When all you have is a heap of debt 

A pint of plain is your only man.

When health is bad and your heart feels strange,

And your face is pale and wan,

When doctors say you need a change,

A pint of plain is your only man.

When food is scarce and your larder bare

And no rashers grease your pan,

When hunger grows as your meals are rare 

A pint of plain is your only man.

In time of trouble and lousey strife,

You have still got a darlint plan

You still can turn to a brighter life 

A pint of plain is your only man.



End.
Open Joint-Stock Company River Routes was established in Turkmenistan with the view of further improving the activities of the country's transport system. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree to this effect at a government meeting via video link.

The document instructs the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen Sea and River Routes Agency to change the organizational and legal form of River Routes production association under the Agency and transform it into Open Joint Stock Company River Routes in accordance with the established procedure.

The document also authorizes the Turkmen Sea and River Routes Agency and the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashi to become founders in the aforementioned OJSC with shares in the authorized capital of 10 and 50 percent, respectively.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
(Natural News) A Waking Times article is condemning the narrative being pushed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and mainstream media that Americans can have their freedom back if they just roll up their sleeves and take the vaccine.

Its science-based. Its sensible. You can hug your grandkids again. If youve been waiting to get a haircut, see the dentist, you can do that, former CDC Director Tom Frieden told CNN.

The article hinted that the government is trying to condition the mind of the people that it can grant or revoke the freedom of the people based on whether or not they take the shot.

We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love, said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, in a statement last week. There are some activities that fully vaccinated people can begin to resume now in the privacy of their own homes.

Walenskys remark seemed innocent, but she was essentially telling people that they cant get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love unless they get vaccinated. She was effectively telling unvaccinated people that there are some activities they still cant do even in the privacy of their own homes.

Requiring a vaccine for freedom is exactly the opposite of freedom, the article said.

No person should be forced by government regulation or societal pressure to receive any medication or treatment, including vaccines, against his or her will. This is the very foundation of freedom, it added.

Mainstream pushing narrative that vaccines lead to freedom

The Waking Times article also pointed out how mainstream media, as well as health professionals, were pushing the narrative that vaccines are needed for freedom. (Related: Do we need a vaccine bill of rights, or does the Constitution already protect health freedom?)

One example it listed was Leana Wen, an emergency physician and former health commissioner for Baltimore. In an interview with Chris Cuomo on CNN, Wen expressed her discontent with states going back to normal without touting the vaccine as the reason for doing so.

We need to make it clear to them (Americans) that the vaccine is the ticket back to pre-pandemic life, Wen said. We have a very a very narrow window to tie reopening policy to vaccination status.

Wen noted that if everything has reopened, the government could no longer use the notion of getting back to normal as an incentive for people to get vaccinated. She said freedom must be limited, otherwise people wont line up to get the shot.

People dont really need an incentive to get vaccinated. What they need is an assurance that the vaccine is safe.

But the excuses given by health officials and vaccine manufacturers for every death following vaccination are hardly an assurance.

Number of deaths following vaccination continues to rise

Less than three months into the countrys vaccination drive, data is showing that deaths linked to vaccinations are rising. The publicly available Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) website shows 1,136 deaths through Feb. 26, although the CDC told the Epoch Times in an email that as of March 8, there were already 1,637 deaths following vaccination. (Related: Compilation of recent stories and videos covering COVID vaccine injuries, side effects and DEATHS.)

Out of the 1136 deaths recorded in VAERS, 94 (8.3 percent) died on the same day they got the shot, 150 (13.2 percent) died the day after, 105 (9.2 percent) died two days after and 68 (6 percent) died three days after. A total of 587 (51.7 percent) died within a week, 215 died within 7 to 13 days and 124 died within 14 to 20 days.

People over 60 made up 85.8 percent of the total deaths according to VAERS. There were five deaths among those aged 20 to 29; 10 in those aged 30 to 39; 23 in those aged 40 to 49; and 69 in those aged 50 to 59.

Countries from other parts of the world, Europe in particular, have already taken steps to prevent unnecessary deaths because of coronavirus vaccination.

Some 24 countries have temporarily halted or promised to halt, distribution of the AstraZeneca jab following reports of serious adverse reactions, including bleeding, blood clots and extreme drops of platelet count in the blood. No such cases had been reported in Sweden, but it still suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The U.S., on the other hand, didnt blink despite having far more deaths that could be associated with vaccines. Instead, as the Waking Times article pointed out, the mainstream media, the Big Tech and the government has continued to push the idea that the vaccine is 100 percent safe and that the Americans need it for freedom.

Follow Immunization.news to learn more about the adverse side effects of coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

WakingTimes.com

TheEpochTimes.com
The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has called for applications in a prescribed format from eligible and interested candidates for filling Fourteen (14) vacancies to the post of Graduate and Diploma Apprentice Trainees in NMPT to be posted at Panambur in Mangaluru, India on a fulltime basis. The offline application process towards the same started on March 11, 2021 and closes on or before March 25, 2021.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Graduate and Diploma Apprentice Trainees posts in NMPT Organisation New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) Educational Qualification Graduation/Diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Computer Science engineering disciplines and commercial practice Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Panambur Salary Scale Rs. 7,000 up to Rs. 8,000 per month Industry Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Application Start Date March 11, 2021 Application End Date March 25, 2021

NMPT Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for NMPT Apprentice Jobs 2021 through NMPT Recruitment 2021 must meet the age criteria as per the NMPT norms, with a relaxation in the upper age limit to reserved categories as per NMPT guidelines as specified in the NMPT Notification 2021.

For details regarding the application fee for NMPT Apprentice Jobs 2021 through NMPT Apprentice Recruitment 2021, refer to the official NMPT Notification 2021 given at the end of the article.

Also Read: IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021 For 227 Senior Resident/Tutor (Specialist) Posts, Apply Offline Before April 05

NMPT Recruitment 2021: NMPT Vacancy Details

Post Name No. Of Vacancies Graduate Apprentice Trainee 07 Diploma Apprentice Trainee 07 Total 14

NMPT Recruitment 2021: Educational Criteria

Desirous candidates applying for NMPT Apprentice Trainee Jobs 2021 through NMPT Recruitment 2021 must possess a Graduation/Diploma in Mechanical, Civil, Computer Science engineering disciplines and commercial practice as detailed in the NMPT Notification 2021.

NMPT Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates to NMPT Apprentice Trainee Jobs 2021 through NMPT Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting, Merit and Document Verification as notified in the NMPT Notification 2021.

Candidates selected to NMPT Apprentice Trainee Jobs 2021 through NMPT Recruitment 2021 will be paid a stipend on the scale of Rs. 7,000 up to Rs. 8,000 per month.

Also Read: GPSC Recruitment 2021 For 243 State Tax Inspector Posts, Apply Before March 31

NMPT Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for NMPT Apprentice Jobs 2021 through NMPT Apprentice Recruitment 2021 must fill the application form in a prescribed format post-download from the NMPT Notification 2021 and send the same to the "Secretary, Aministration Department, NMPI, Panambur" along with relevant supporting documents on or before March 25, 2021 through a proper channel.

Download NMPT Notification 2021 PDF for Application Form

Download NMPT Notification 2021 PDF for Graduate and Diploma Apprentice Trainees posts
A New Jersey man was arrested this week after federal officials say he attacked two people on a plane while he was in possession of methamphetamine.

John Yurkovich Jr., 45, of Middlesex County, was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 728, which departed Newark Liberty International Airport at 8:14 a.m. Wednesday bound for Miami, according to the FBI and public records.

Less than an hour into the flight, Yurkovich became unruly and assaulted multiple people, FBI special agent Joseph Hamski wrote in a criminal complaint on Thursday.

The incident apparently began when Yurkovich got out of his seat and walked to the rear of the plane. When he returned, he was acting erratic and appeared to be off-balanced, the complaint states.

Yurkovich demanded a flight attendant bring him water, then he removed a bag from the overhead compartment and appeared to fish out a pill and swallow it, according to the complaint.

When a passenger nearby put his arms up to keep Yurkovich from falling on him, Yurkovich allegedly grew enraged, took off his face mask and shouted: Dont f------ talk to me. Dont f------ touch me, the complaint states.

The complaint alleges Yurkovich punched the passenger several times in the face and head, breaking his glasses and causing him to bleed from an ear. (The passenger later required seven stitches to close a cut to his ear, the FBI said).

The passenger, who was wearing his seatbelt during the assault, wrapped his arms around Yurkovich and tried to pull his shirt up over his head, the complaint states.

By then, several other passengers jumped up and tried to stop the assault. One of them was punched in the nose by Yurkovich, causing (the nose) to bleed and swell, the complaint states, adding that a doctor later determined the passengers nose had been broken.

A flight attendant brought the passengers zip-ties, which they used to place on Yurkovichs wrist and restrain him until the plane could land, according to the complaint.

A doctor aboard the plane, who witnessed the fracas, retrieved his medical bag and injected Yurkovich with a shot of Benadryl in his buttock to help sedate him, according to a report from a police officer with the Charleston County Aviation Authority.

Police at the airport said they found Yurkovich face down on the floor, his shirt covering his face, and his wrists restrained with zip-ties and a belt. Airport police searched Yurkovich, finding 2 grams of methamphetamine on him, the FBI said.

The pilot told the FBI he declared a Level 3 emergency due to a riot (that) had ensued on the plane, and he diverted the flight to South Carolina.

Yurkovich was held in South Carolina on drug charges. He also faces federal assault charges and criminal acts on an aircraft, the FBI said.

Public records show Yurkovich has addresses in Middlesex and Monmouth counties. He states on his Facebook profile that he is a branch manager for a mortgage company, attended Piscataway High School, and lives in Old Bridge.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 01:58:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon registered on Saturday 2,253 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 436,575, the Health Ministry reported.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus in the country went up by 51 to 5,715.

Caretaker Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan said on Saturday that his ministry has signed a new contract with Pfizer-BioNTech to provide Lebanon with 750,000 additional vaccines in May and June, raising the total number of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to be administered in Lebanon to 910,000 doses.

"This allows the completion of the vaccination process of the most vulnerable groups which should reduce the death rate and the intensive care bed occupancy rate," Hassan said.

The minister added that the government has opened the way for the private sector to import COVID-19 vaccines which will accelerate the vaccination process. Enditem
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Success: Sales grew by 50 per cent when Andy Street ran John Lewis

Andy Street is one of few high profile businessmen to make the switch to front-line politics in recent years.

And, by his own assessment, he has 'thrived'.

Four years ago he beat Labour  by the slimmest of margins, 4,000 votes  to become the West Midlands' first mayor.

In six weeks, his constituents will be called to the polls for a second time.

His former business  by sheer coincidence  is at its own crossroads.

Last year, the John Lewis Partnership struck a blow to the heart of his region when it permanently closed its giant Birmingham shop  and has warned more closures will follow later this month.

Street, who takes questions on the chain's future in his stride despite the five-year gap since running it, has criticised Birmingham's closure as a 'dreadful mistake'. He now reflects on the lines he believes the group should not cross.

'The flagship shop was Birmingham and I thought that was a mistake. Long-term, the John Lewis brand needs presences in the big regional cities,' says Street.

'My own view is that you have got to continue to invest in that part of it. You have got to find a way of winning on the high street. Even if there's a challenge to profitability in the short term or you end up doing different things, broader services, in the space. You've got to stick at it.'

You have got to find a way of winning on the high street. Even if there's a challenge to profitability in the short term

He was 'fortunate' to run it at 'a relatively good time'  sales grew by 50 per cent.

But he insists: 'First of all you have to be a brilliant retailer. I mean that was what we always did, wasn't it? In the good years, we were winning market share pretty convincingly by having the best product at the best price with the best service. I still believe that has to be the essence of John Lewis's distinction.'

Now the 57-year-old says: 'I gave it all up because I wanted to serve my home city and region.

'It wasn't called 'levelling up' back then, but I believed there were opportunities for people in the West Midlands to do better than we had in the previous 30 years.'

Street is perennially  and genuinely, it seems  enamoured by a city that he says should compete with Paris and Berlin.

In his mild Brummie accent, he describes Birmingham as a 'sophisticated city centre' with diverse job opportunities. 'I believed that we could get much more out of this major regional economy  and that the whole of the UK economy, including London, would be better for it.'

He adds: 'Before the pandemic there was evidence that was beginning to happen. We had an economy that grew at 25 per cent in the five years to 2019, the fastest anywhere outside London.

Levelling up was happening. We saw young Londoners moving to the West Midlands  a positive net brain drain

'Levelling up was happening. We saw young Londoners moving to the West Midlands  a positive net brain drain.

'The economy was reshaping. Jobs we were creating before this were in digital and financial services  and they have been sustained.

'The vacancies are now coming back here faster than the national average and the booming sectors are tech, digital, health and life sciences  a huge 200million investment into the Birmingham Life Science Campus, for example.' But he admits the pandemic has 'bashed regional economies really hard'.

An estimated 100,000 job losses across the West Midlands in sectors such as hospitality are 'about the same as we gained in the previous three years. A horrible symmetry.'

Myriad employment schemes are not just about draining jobs from London, though.

A new faculty at Wolverhampton college will train hundreds of electric vehicle mechanics, for example, and a local Kickstart youth employment programme has a target of 20,000 jobs.

'The ingredients are all there. But is this all at the scale we need? Probably not. We need to see the Prime Minister's plan  the Skills Fund commitment, for example  we need to see it feeding through on the ground.'

He says the future can still be bright in a post-Covid recovery. HS2  'a one-hundred year investment' and a Metro extension can provide vital support to the recovery.

I think there's a long-term opportunity. These are places where your money goes a lot further. The quality of the houses, access to green space...

'I think there's a long-term opportunity. These are places where your money goes a lot further. The quality of the houses, access to green space  these are things that people have really cared for in the past 12 months.'

Street says he fought hard for Government funding to unlock derelict industrial sites across the region into light commercial or residential  'old factories, copper works, steelworks and warehouses, some that have been stuck for 30 years and now they've got the go-ahead.'

He also predicts something 'dramatic' will happen with the now empty John Lewis store. There are 'a number of potential suitors' he hints.

Will it be better than having a John Lewis?

'Of course not! It will be different. Newer. Something that benefits from that huge footfall in one, well-connected, central place. Just think about the big malls in China and the Middle East with eSports or ski slopes. And don't forget this is the youngest city in Britain  so that also has to be thought about too.'

He admits 'of course' he's nervous about the upcoming election.

'I've savoured the past four years. Others can judge, but this is a very different political job and I felt like this job was made for me.

'I'm proud to be a member of the Conservative party but I am not whipped by them. My only loyalty is to the citizens of this region and doing the right things for them.'
About 250 Kosovo health-care workers traveled from Kosovo to the Albanian city of Kukes on March 20 to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a health official in Kosovo said.



Health-care workers were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which Albania secured on March 12. The shots were administered in Albania because Kosovo has not yet formally begun its own vaccination program.



Its a very good feeling. We are a first group to be vaccinated, and we are honored to come to Albania for a vaccine, Hamide Miftaraj, a doctor at the family medical center in Drenas, said in a statement to RFE/RLs Balkan Service.



We hope that vaccines will very soon arrive in Kosovo, too, so that all our colleagues and the population in general get vaccinated, she added.

The Federation of Health Trade Unions of Kosovo (FSSHK) announced on March 19 that 250 Kosovar health workers would be sent for vaccinations in Kukes. The head of the FSSHK, Blerim Syla, said in a press release that another 250 health workers are authorized to be vaccinated in the coming days.

Kosovos Ministry of Health said that a list of Kosovar health workers was sent to Albanian authorities, who had previously expressed their readiness to vaccinate them in Kukes.



The announcement came after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) deemed the AstraZeneca vaccine "safe and effective" following its suspension by many countries because of reports that a small number of people developed blood clots after receiving it. Most of the countries that suspended the vaccine started administering it again after the EMA decision.



Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said during a visit to the vaccination center in Kukes that Albania is ready to do even more for Kosovo but that, for the moment, "it is important to start vaccinating health workers."



Rama said companies do not allow the vaccine to be reexported.



We have started with 500 [health-care workers]. We will definitely continue. We will not leave them there alone because, in the end, we are one," Rama said.



Kosovo is expected to receive its first vaccines from the World Health Organization's COVAX program for poorer countries. The delivery is expected to be 100,800 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.



The Ministry of Health in Kosovo in early January announced that it had secured 535,000 dosages of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. But Pfizer officials have told RFE/RL that they are still in discussions with the government of Kosovo over the purchase of the supply.



Kosovo is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases. It registered 828 new cases on March 19, the highest number of daily infections so far this year.



Valbon Krasniqi, director of the University Clinical Hospital Service, warned on March 19 that all hospital capacities may be exceeded in March due to the increased number of cases.



Since March 2020, health authorities in Kosovo have registered 80,621 cases of infection and 1,744 deaths from COVID-19.
On the FactCheck page, The Associated Press tracks down some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals that were shared widely on social media. The AP takes those untrue stories, checks them out and sets the records straight in this weekly series of news articles.


JERUSALEM (AP)  Thousands of Israelis demonstrated outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night, calling for the longtime prime minister's ouster in a final show of force ahead of this weeks parliamentary elections.

The weekly protests against Netanyahu have taken place for nine months. But they have lost strength in recent months in part due to cold winter weather and after early elections were declared in December. Saturday's night's gathering in central Jerusalem was the largest protest in months.

The grassroots protest movement believes Netanyahu cannot serve as prime minister while he is on trial for multiple corruption charges. Many also object to his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Netanyahu is counting on his highly successful vaccination campaign to propel him to victory. Some three-quarters of the countrys adult population has been vaccinated in under three months, and the economy has reopened in recent weeks. But over 6,000 Israelis have died from COVID-19, the economy has been hard hit by repeated lockdowns, and unemployment remains in double digits. Many of the protesters have lost their jobs or seen their businesses suffer due to repeated lockdowns.

Its in our hands, read a sign on a giant Israeli flag. We are saving the country. We are fighting corruption, we are the hope, said another banner.

Opinion polls have forecast a tight race on Tuesday, with Netanyahu and his religious and nationalist allies struggling to secure a majority of seats in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament.

If the polls are correct, Israel could be facing weeks of horse-trading and even the possibility of an unprecedented fifth consecutive election in just over two years.
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It was a Thursday evening, the regular night on which Kenja members stood up in front of the group and boasted of their win of the week: a job promotion, perhaps, or an award at school, which they notched up to the personal improvements theyd achieved in Kenja. Michael joined three or four people lined up to speak before the 40-strong gathering. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach as he took his turn at the rostrum.

After flying home to Sydney, where he and Marti lived in upmarket Bellevue Hill, he drove to Kenjas Personal Evolvement Centre, which occupied one floor of a featureless five-storey office block in inner-city Surry Hills. Although Kenja had satellite operations in Melbourne, Canberra and western Sydneys Parramatta, this was the organisations nerve centre in Dyers home town, where the culture of devotion and conformity to its leader was the most intense.

Hearing Alison describe how Kenja loyalists turned on her after her confession to her ex-boyfriend, Kenjas all-too-familiar playbook of discrediting its accusers came into focus. Having helped Dyers stay out of jail long enough to abuse his own daughter, Michael was now determined to make things right.

For Michael, a successful businessman, Alisons harrowing confession was a wake-up call. For years, other girls had made accusations against Dyers, but Michael had been convinced by Kenjas inner sanctum that their stories were spurious, that it was all part of a conspiracy against the organisation. In the 1990s, hed poured $500,000 into Dyers legal defence against 11 charges of sexual assault involving four girls.

After word of her claims spread through this organisation, which many describe as a cult, she was evicted from her Kenja-owned apartment, and estranged from her mother, Marti, a Kenja zealot. Alisons father, Michael, up until then a Kenja loyalist and one of its founding members, knew his daughter was telling the truth when she blurted out her story to him in a Melbourne hotel days later.

In early 2007, Alison DeCamp, then 19, chased her ex-boyfriend through an inner-Melbourne park following a late-night argument in which she disclosed she had been repeatedly raped between the ages of 12 and 15. When she caught up to him, she revealed that her rapist was Ken Dyers, the leader of Kenja Communication  the self-styled spiritual training organisation to which they both belonged  and that it had occurred in Dyers Sydney office.

They say the truth can set you free. They dont tell you it might cost you your relationship with your mother, or the people you thought were your closest friends. Nor that it can leave you penniless and put your father behind bars, if only briefly.

He slammed his hand on the kitchen island bench and one of the visiting women suddenly sat down on the floor, kicked her legs in the air and shouted: Ah youve assaulted me! The second woman chimed in: Yes, you assaulted her! Ive seen you assault her! It was like a Monty Python script.

There were just three people looking at me like stunned mullets, he would later tell a magistrate. I dont recall the exact words that I was using at the time but I was making a point about my outrage, particularly at Marti, just at her lack of response to her daughters pain 

The following night, Michael was alone at home when his wife turned up with two other women, both senior Kenja members. He tried to convince them to hear Alisons allegations.

Then he returned to the Kenja offices. By this time, it was 9.30pm and people were leaving. Im going to stand outside this place every night until people listen to me; if I have to carry placards I will, he insisted to those coming out. His old friends shuffled past without meeting his gaze.

Someone pressed a mobile phone into his hand, claiming Dyers was on the line, but Michael pushed it away. A senior Kenja member convinced him to move into a separate room, where his concerns could be heard privately. It was a ploy to shut him up: he was left in the room alone. After a while he drove home, where he sat in his car, thinking.

Michael didnt get much further before members of the audience started jeering, some rising to their feet and yelling. Sit down! What do you think youre doing? This is inappropriate. There are new people here, youre disturbing the class.

I want to speak about some experience Ive had, he began carefully, aware of how litigious Dyers could be. His daughter had been very badly treated by Dyers, he told the group, and he was extremely upset about it.

Kenja quickly grew. It started with about 20 members in Sydney and Noosa but soon opened offices in Melbourne and Canberra (the Noosa office later moved to Brisbane). By the early 1990s, its membership had swelled to about 200. Dyers and Hamilton owned several apartments across Sydney, which they leased to members. They lived in a large house overlooking the ocean at Bundeena, an hours drive south.

Kenja opened its first office with money raised from membership fees. Members paid about $400 a week for classes, with some concessions, and were expected to undertake fundraising activities such as sausage sizzles. Many earned money by selling chocolates or flowers at railway stations, so they could pay for their classes in cash.

Jan Hamilton was Dyers loyalist and defender, an actress who had been cast as the lead part in My Brilliant Career, only to be replaced by NIDA graduate and future Oscar nominee Judy Davis after some of the scenes were filmed. Hamiltons chief role in Kenja  beyond managing her husbands mercurial temper  was running klowning classes, which she adapted from acting school. She claimed these would help members get in touch with their inner child. The couple did not have children, though Dyers had two from one of his earlier two marriages.

As an organisation, it attracted the lost, the lonely, the hopeful and those seeking a more meaningful life. Dyers was a charismatic showman with a Walter Mitty complex who rewrote his CV as a court-martialled soldier and encyclopaedia salesman to fit an image of success, turning himself into a war hero and entrepreneur whod once invented a new type of egg carton.

Ken Dyers and Jan Hamilton co-founded Kenja in Sydney in 1982. He was 60, she just 32; the groups moniker was an amalgam of their first names. The idea was to help people clear negative, self-sabotaging thought patterns through one-on-one processing sessions developed by Dyers. With the concept drawn from Scientology, Dyers and his client would sit opposite one another, so close as to be almost touching knees, staring into one anothers eyes for hours. These sessions were wrapped into a broader social scene which involved eisteddfods, sporting competitions and Friday night dancing, and promised personal and professional success to its followers.

Youve got to be kidding, Michael said. The three women holed themselves up in the bathroom, where they made dozens of phone calls to Ken Dyers partner of 29 years and Kenja co-founder Jan Hamilton, and other members of the organisation. (Marti rejects Michaels version of events.) Police arrived at the house to find three hysterical women pointing the finger at Michael. He was charged with assault and spent the night behind bars.

The proceedings dragged on for years, through retrials, dropped charges and acquittals. Finally, in October 1999, Dyers was convicted of a single act of indecency with a 13-year-old girl back in 1988. He spent a week in jail before making bail pending an appeal, and in 2002 the High Court overturned the conviction on a technicality.

Germain says the Kenja executive  who still retains a position of seniority there  asked her to tell a story that one of the complainants had threatened to put a hair dryer in another girls bath. She refused. But I did tell one lie that had quite an impact: that [one complainant] told me shed never had a private session with Ken, she says. That was a lie, I knew. I believed I was fighting for good and justice.

[A Kenja executive] had read all the transcripts and shed say, We need someone to say this,  recalls Germain, a 67-year-old retired maths teacher, who is talking to Good Weekend from her home in Cooran, a small town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. I remember someone saying, Why dont we just tell the truth? because we all thought he was totally innocent and she said, We have to fight lies with lies. So a lot of people told lies.

Former Kenja members have since admitted to lying on the stand on behalf of Dyers. Sue Germain was one of the groups senior members during the 1980s but left in 1990. She would later tell police she helped fabricate evidence to get the charges against Dyers dismissed. Diaries that recorded his one-on-one sessions with the girls had been replaced by fake ones, she said, and witnesses for Dyers staged a mock trial to rehearse what they would say in court.

Charged with 11 counts of sexual assault, Dyers appeared at the Sydney District Court in 1996 before a rowdy gallery filled with Kenjas supporters and detractors, for a trial that lasted several weeks. Dyers barrister described the proceedings as a star chamber prejudiced against his client (an accusation that would result in his practising certificate being suspended for eight weeks). After giving evidence, Mutch was followed out of court by Kenja members with walkie-talkies.

In 1993, however, things started to go awry, when three sisters and another girl reported to police that Dyers had sexually abused them at his Bondi apartment in the 1980s, when they were aged between eight and 15. Earlier that same year, Liberal MP Stephen Mutch had raised allegations under parliamentary privilege that Dyers had molested young girls, only to be accused by a Kenja woman of having sexually assaulted her. (After investigating, police did not pursue the charges against Mutch.)

The first time he touched her, she was overcome with shame and begged him to find another way to solve her problems, but it only made him cross. He complained to the other woman that there must be something wrong with Alison, and they both stormed out, leaving her alone and afraid in the room. But the sessions continued, and over time, she learnt to tolerate them. She began to think of Dyers as her first boyfriend. He once told her she was his mistress.

I knew as soon as Ken started grooming me, and as soon as he asked me to take my top off the first time [at age 12], I knew what was going to happen.

His office had a sparsely furnished annex, with a mattress leaning against one wall and a shelf with a box of tissues on it. He took Alison into this room and asked her to remove her clothes, lie down on the mattress and open her legs. Another woman was standing in a corner, but her eyes were closed. Alison started to cry. I knew as soon as Ken started grooming me, and as soon as he asked me to take my top off the first time, I knew what was going to happen, she says. I mean, I knew. During most of the abuse I was not really there.

During one of her weekly processing sessions in Surry Hills, Dyers told Alison he had something important to discuss. Men in the group had been imagining themselves performing sexual acts with her, and she needed to be cleared psychically as a result. You will be a dumping ground for peoples sexual degradation, he warned her. You will have no future other than [as] a psychic slut.

It all began in 1999, when 12-year-old Alison was living with her parents in Bellevue Hill, attending the nearby St Catherines private girls school, and doing her homework at Kenjas offices in Surry Hills in the afternoons. Her weekends were also consumed by Kenja, with activities scheduled over both days and klowning classes on Saturday nights.

Dyers public profile , achieved through the court battles, may have receded but his sexual assaults of young girls did not. Speaking from her apartment in Brooklyn, New York, where she moved in 2008 to start a new life, Alisons voice races and falters, a blend of Australian and American accents. With an open face and a wide smile which sends her eyes into creases, she sometimes finds it hard to hold back tears as she relates the long series of events that led to her revelation of Dyers sexual assaults to her father and ex-boyfriend.

Then one day in 2003, when she was 16, she was called into the vice-principals office at St Catherines to speak to police officers. They were investigating a new sexual assault allegation against Dyers, this one made by a good friend of Alison, whod suggested they might like to talk to her, too. Did anything like that happen to you? a blonde policewoman asked Alison.

It was a conversation Alison looked back on for years afterwards. Up until then shed been a passive victim; now the power was hers to seize. For a daring instant, she considered telling the truth. I was through the abuse by that stage anyway, she says now. Hed found younger girls, to put it bluntly. But no, she told the officer. Nothing like that had ever happened. Her friend was a liar.

Alison concedes now that she was the liar: during that time she lied about many things, from telling her non-Kenja schoolmates that she was busy at the weekend because she had scored the lead part in the musical Annie, to telling a room full of Kenja people that the same friend who went to police was in an incestuous relationship with her father.

Basically everyone in Kenja has done pretty terrible things, emotionally abusive things, to fellow Kenja members because thats how it worked, Alison says. Thats how they kept everybody compliant, because whos going to leave and pretend theyre a victim of something when everyone is culpable?

Police looked into the allegations that Alisons friend and another girl had levelled at Dyers, but the investigation petered out. Then in 2005 it emerged that Cornelia Rau, an Australian citizen, had been a member of Kenja before she was notoriously incarcerated in immigration detention  an episode fictionalised in the 2020 ABC television series Stateless. Rau had joined Kenja when she was already displaying signs of mental illness; she had quickly deteriorated in the climate of mind games cultivated by the group. Shed been expelled from Kenja a night after receiving a humiliating dressing-down by Dyers at a Melbourne eisteddfod.

The revelation that Kenja had a cameo in the Cornelia Rau scandal that was engulfing the then Howard government reanimated the police investigation. A strike force was formed and on October 27, 2005, Dyers was arrested and charged with 21 counts of aggravated indecent assault and one of aggravated sexual assault against two 12-year-old girls in 2001 and 2002. Sue Germain was slated to give evidence for the prosecution. Alison was recruited to give evidence for Dyers. Jan Hamilton asked me to invent a story, Alison would later tell a magistrate. But as events played out, she was never asked to take the stand.

By early 2007, Alison, then 19, was living in Melbourne with her Kenja boyfriend and a Kenja flatmate. Alison and her two brothers had been born into Kenja and her parents were among its most valued members. Nursing hopes of extricating herself from the organisation after school, shed moved from Sydney to Melbourne to study journalism at RMIT. But the network soon drew her back with offers of jobs and friendship. She cleaned a Kenja members house for a while, and worked for two Kenja women who sold heat packs and exercise machines in shopping centres.

She and her boyfriend broke up, and not long after, Alison discovered she was pregnant. One night, after a messy argument that began at his house and continued on a chase through Clifton Hill, she blurted out that Dyers had raped her. She pleaded with him not to tell a soul. It was the first time Id ever said it out loud and I was only saying it for sympathy, Alison recalls. I was saying and doing anything I could to get him to stay with me 

He did stay, but he did not keep his promise. A few days later he marched into Kenjas Bourke Street office in Melbournes CBD, full of bluster about Dyers not being allowed to get away with what hed done. Alison was summoned for a chat with the centre director. I spilled my guts to her, Alison recalls. What was I going to say? She told me that [my boyfriend] had told her everything and at that point I knew  the game was up. Alison spoke defiantly, naming women whod been present when the abuse took place.

Everything I told [the boyfriend] was true and I think you know it and its probably even happened to you, she said. The director came back even angrier: How dare you tell these lies about Ken, the best friend you ever had!

At 11pm that night, a young pharmacist in Richmond looked up from the counter to see a furious woman stride into the shop with a chubby, red-faced teenager in tow. The woman  the centre director  handed over a statutory declaration written by the teenager for the pharmacist to witness being signed. It read: Ken Dyers did not rape me. Signed: Alison.

But there was no taking the secret back. Alison called her mother, Marti, to tell her the truth. Why now? Why are you bringing it up now? Marti replied.

Alison flew home to Sydney, where Marti tried desperately to get her to meet Dyers and Hamilton, first barricading her in a bedroom and later persuading her to get in the car for the trip across town. Alison jumped out near the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park and got a friend to drive her to the airport. (Marti rejects this version of events. In a written statement, she said Alison flew into a rage on discovering her boyfriend had been sleeping with another woman; that Alison threatened her with a broken bottle, pulled paintings off the wall, and left the house, warning her never to contact her. She said that was the last time they spoke. I believe, and all the evidence I am aware of, points to Alison making up the story that Ken Dyers raped her in an effort to manipulate her boyfriend not to leave her, Marti said.)

A few weeks later, Kenjas Melbourne director sent Alison a bill for money she claimed Alison owed the group, including the cost of entry to an eisteddfod and a handbag her mother had bought her several months earlier. It was the exact amount Alison held in her bank account. She paid up, the locks were changed on the apartment she rented from Kenja, and all her belongings down to her pet bird, Buttercup, were put out on the kerb. Finally, she was out of the organisation shed grown up in: penniless, homeless, largely friendless and effectively motherless. But free.

Michael was overseas on business and while Alison did not think he would believe her, she knew she could ask him for money. When he inquired what was going on, the stories about Dyers abuse came streaming out. He believed her. He flew directly to Melbourne. We were staying at the Hilton and it was the first time Id seen him break down, Alison says. I know now that if Id ever told Dad [earlier] something had happened with Dyers, it would have been all good. I really should have trusted myself he would be there for me.

Michael was still married to Marti, but the marriage had been shaky for some time. This would be the final straw; divorce proceedings soon followed.

Alisons father, Michael. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

On April 10, 2007, two weeks after Alison spilled her story to her father and hed been released from police lock-up on the assault charges (he would later be found not guilty), he accompanied his daughter to a Sydney police station to report Dyers for sexual assault. It took a policewoman several days to take Alisons statement, while she recalled precise dates and details. Dyers had once assaulted her on her birthday, she remembered, giving her a present on a day her friends had forgotten. Her statement ran to about 100 pages.

Crucially, her statement included another, more recent, sexual assault. Around June 2006, while her mother was downstairs, Dyers had molested her at his home in Bundeena. This allegation was the lucky break police needed because the charges against Dyers that had been animated by the Cornelia Rau affair were stalled in the courts.

On the morning his lawyer rang to tell him that police wanted to interview him in relation to Alisons allegations, Dyers was not concerned. Only a few weeks earlier a judge had accepted that Dyers, in his 80s and unwell, was unfit to stand trial. It took his wife to remind him he was on bail at the time of the 2006 allegation: if police decided to press charges, hed most likely go to prison.

I didnt realise that. Now I do, and what it means, he said, according to Hamilton in litigation she later brought against the NSW Police. They want to revoke bail. They want to kill me. If I go to jail, Ill be murdered. I need some space; can you get me a cup of tea? When she returned, his rifle was cocked to his chin. Just let me go through with this, he begged.

Alison was standing thigh-deep among toddlers in Gordon on Sydneys north shore on July 25, 2007  by this time shed deferred her journalism degree, moved back to Sydney and was working as a preschool assistant  when her father called to deliver the news. Ken is dead, he said. She could hear herself bawling as children milled around, trying to find out what was wrong, while the centre director castigated her for answering her phone at work.

A few months after Dyers suicide, Alison was invited to audition for a part in Chekhovs Three Sisters at Sydneys West Pymble Community Hall. She had dabbled in amateur theatre over the years, and saw on social media that some of the people involved in the production knew a few of her friends. But when Alison entered the hall, she saw the people running the audition were Jan Hamilton and her sister Amanda, dressed as men and speaking in Russian accents.

Recalling that Dyers had shot himself, and aware Kenja loyalists regarded her as the villain in his demise, Alison began to shake. Can you tell me the name of that woman? Is that Jan Hamilton? she asked the woman handing out scripts. The woman had never heard of Kenja, nor of Jan Hamilton. Theyve not given me their real names, she explained, only their characters names. Alison handed back the script. Im sorry, I cant go through with this. Alison called out to her father, who was waiting for her in the car park: Its Jan, its Jan. Jans here and shes wearing a wig and a moustache.

Alison sought an apprehended violence order against Hamilton. The court proceedings were vintage Kenja, with Hamiltons supporters giggling through the evidence. Hamilton denied shed been at the hall on the relevant night and offered video evidence of herself elsewhere, the camera lingering on a newspaper and its date, and the time on a clock. Unfortunately for her, a date briefly displayed on the tape was from eight days later. Magistrate Roger Clisdell found the video had been doctored to provide a false alibi and requested it be sent to the NSW attorney general with a view to laying charges for perverting the course of justice. No charges were laid.

Clisdell also took into evidence a lecture series Kenja had produced designed to rehabilitate the reputation of Dyers. It was presented like a melodramatic play, with the Alison character called Miss Potato and played by somebody with tennis balls under her shirt to exaggerate the size of her breasts. In my view, it is an extraordinary production, which is somewhat childlike while being aggressively destructive of certain reputations, Clisdell said. He granted Alison an AVO.

Sue Germain, a former Kenja member, says she is now haunted by guilt for lying on the witness stand on behalf of Ken Dyers. Credit:Paul Harris

Just over a decade after Ken Dyers death, in 2018, Jan Hamilton lodged a claim against the NSW Police in the states Supreme Court, accusing them of driving her husband to his death. She claimed police were prejudiced against Dyers and that raising the 2006 incident with Alison that was alleged to have occurred while he was on bail was a deliberate strategy to put him behind bars again. Hamiltons claim failed, but the proceedings allowed Alisons evidence to be aired in court for the first time.

In a lengthy statement provided to Good Weekend, Hamilton says she was disappointed with the judgment. In her version of events, the police actions were the extension of a long campaign of persecution against Kenja. She says she has no knowledge of any sexual abuse by Dyers at all, ever.

The attack on Ken and Kenja has been a terrible travesty. Ken was a thoughtful, intelligent, caring man. He had a wealth of experience which he brought into the Kenja organisation and through it thousands of people over decades flourished and led happier and more fulfilling lives, she says.

Sue Germain says she lives with the guilt of knowing her lies enabled Dyers to keep offending. One of the 12-year-old girls assaulted in 2001 and 2002 was someone close to her, and Hamiltons failed action allowed her for the first time to read the young womans account of what Dyers had done. There was a line in there that really will haunt me forever and that was when he said, Youre frightened of sex, arent you? and she said, Im only 12. 

Germain now concedes her earlier unwillingness to believe the claims against Dyers was wilful blindness. When youve invested so much in a place, you cant confront that theyre doing all of that.

Michael also had to build a social network away from the influence of Dyers and Hamilton. When youre totally immersed in Kenja, it seems like the centre of the universe, he says. As soon as I left, his stature and her stature shrank, until they were just a couple of nobodies.

Alison DeCamp now lives in the United States: In Australia, you tell people you were in a cult and they say, Thats crazy; in the US they say, Which one? Me, too.  Credit:Jonathan Thorpe

Alison jokes that her move to the US in 2008 was a strange one for somebody looking to seek refuge after leaving a cult. In Australia, you tell people you were in a cult and they say, Thats crazy, whereas here you tell someone and they say, Which one? Me, too.  For a while she owned a pie shop in New York, but it folded amid the pandemic. She moved to Virginia late last year with her American husband, David DeCamp, an anti-war journalist and activist who she met online. Recently, she bought a mobile pie and coffee cart. The couple are expecting their first child.

The lockdown in New York gave her time to reflect on choices and the lies that allow us to live with ourselves. It was the worst time of my life by a very, very long way, she observes of her Kenja years. She has not spoken to her mother in 12 years, although she says she would forgive her in an instant if ever forgiveness were sought. Marti chose not to believe her daughter, while Dyers chose to take his own life rather than face justice. Alison has made peace with that. Its justice enough for me.

Marti rejects Alisons version of events; her response, along with a statement from Jan Hamilton, who refutes the allegations against her and Ken Dyers, are below. Kenja addresses some of the historical allegations at kenja.com.au.



Edited statement by Jan Hamilton, Kenja co-founder

The allegations of sex abuse that were levelled against Ken were utterly inconsistent with his character. Ken was very hostile to the sexualisation and exploitation of women. At Kenja he often spoke out against, and warned women to be alert to, sexually predatory behaviour. That was Kens reputation amongst the women at Kenja. I have no knowledge whatsoever of any sexual abuse by Ken at all, ever.

Portraying Kenja as a cult was the prosecutions mode of attack to bolster the allegations [of sexual assault]. It had to be used because the allegations themselves were in many cases so bizarre, improbable and beyond belief that the only way to get a jury to believe them was to promote the viewpoint that everybody was a brainwashed zombie in the cult and that a monster ruled it.

The courtroom provided a more dispassionate and forensic arena to scrutinise the claims. The results were acquittals. Kenja did not bring false charges or make false allegations against anybody. It did not make false allegations against men whose daughters later made allegations against Ken.

I have never been involved in creating false evidence. I was not involved in a fake audition.

Edited statement by Marti, Alisons mother

Given my close emotional bond with Alison as a mother, the idea that I would not have observed a profound effect on her behaviour if she was being molested weekly over years is simply inconceivable. In her interactions with Ken Dyers I observed her being open, happy and warm towards him and showed him respect and affection over many years. Her allegations were made in very definite circumstances and a sharp break from her past behaviour towards Kenja and Ken.

Lifeline: 13 11 14

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.
West Bengal Chief Minister



on Saturday slammed the BJP, branding it as the "biggest extortionist" in the world, which should never be allowed to rule the state.

Banerjee, speaking at an election rally at Haldia in East Midnapore district, also accused the saffron party of orchestrating riots, killing people and torturing Dalit girls.

"BJP is the biggest 'tolabaz' (extortionist) in the world... Just see the amount of money it collected under the PM Cares Fund. If the people of West Bengal want peace and a state free from riots, then the Trinamool Congress is the only option," she asserted.

The eight-phase West Bengal Assembly elections will get underway on March 27.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A woman was found guilty of felony murder on Friday in Limestone County.

Kandes Lambert was charged with the robbery and shooting death of Brenton Gatlin in 2017. The jury began deliberating Friday afternoon.

This was Limestone Countys first murder trial since the pandemic put jury trials on hold last year. A sentencing hearing is set for June 5.

District Attorney Brian Jones said the delay in these murder trials has been hard on victims families who want justice.

Jones provided this statement:

Jury of 11 women and 1 man found Kandes Elizabeth Lambert guilty of Felony Murder.

I want to thank the jury for their attention in this case and for their dedication to their fellow citizens of Limestone County. This was a huge step for this county. This was the first criminal jury trial since the COVID shutdown and we were uncertain as to how a jury would react to our new norm. This jury was very patient and understanding of our COVID protocols and undertook their task with diligence.

While I was glad to be trying a jury trial, I was pretty apprehensive about all the new technology that our judges have installed in their courtrooms. The old adage that you cant teach an old dog new tricks was definitely a concern here, but I was pleased that everything worked smoothly & we are already thinking of ways to improve our presentation methods for the trial next week.

This is the second trial of the three defendants accused of killing Brenton Gatlin. The family and I are looking forward to the final trial in April, so that this family can put this behind them and can finally finish the grieving process.
Next public forum on Colorado Behavioral Health Administration

Health Management Associates will host a second virtual public forum for Colorado individuals, peers and family members with behavioral health experience from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 24.

The session includes breakout groups to provide input and brainstorm ideas.

To sign up, go to https://healthmanagement.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvd-quqD4uGtIeUcrTbcUzN5Eh-t0CPZJs.

An online survey about the creation of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration also is available at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc45XPt_EB1LSXEG1Kb8r2RZfJdiG2tmIYxbGfyeZILRYyw8w/viewform?fbzx=-2207643165969687712.

For general information, see https://cdhs.colorado.gov/about-cdhs/featured-initiatives/behavioral-health-reform/change-management.
(Getty Images)

The Biden administration has come under fire for restricting the access of reporters to facilities at the border as a surge of migrants cross into the United States.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas travelled to the border on Friday with a group of senators from both parties. The Biden administration blocked journalists from joining the trip, something reporters usually can do when members of the cabinet make trips of this kind with lawmakers.

Despite promises to be more transparent, the administration has blocked access to border facilities for the media, CNN reported. At least 14,000 children are detained at migration facilities.

Radio Television Digital News Foundation executive director Dan Shelley slammed the lack of media access in a statement: "The President promised things would be different. Turns out he was right but in this case not the way we had hoped.

Read more:

The Trump administration allowed journalists into juvenile migrant detention facilities. He must fix this immediately.

At a time when the southern border of the United States is undergoing a historic surge of migrants, it is more important than ever that journalists be allowed the necessary access to report accurately and independently on the Border Patrols response to the increased arrival of migrants and the wellbeing of those housed in Border Patrol facilities.

NBC's Jacob Soboroff pointed out that while the Trump administration gave media access to the border facilities, they did so "because they wanted to explain to us and show us the cruelty of the separation policy. They wanted everyone to see that. Now it's the Biden administration's turn to open the doors so we can fully tell the story of not just where they want to go but why they want to go to that place and show the American public ourselves."

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One of the senators on the trip with Secretary Mayorkas, Chris Murphy of Connecticut described what he saw, tweeting that "[hundreds] of kids" were "packed into big open rooms. In a corner, I fought back tears as a [13-year-old] girl sobbed uncontrollably explaining [through] a translator how terrified she was, having been separated from her grandmother and without her parents."

He later clarified that "kids are no longer separated from their parents at the border (in this case, the girls parents are in the US). But even though kids can now stay and apply for asylum, if they are travelling [with] relatives who arent parents, the relative cant stay".

Texas Senator Ted Cruz tweeted about the Mayorkas trip: "No press. No cameras. What is Biden hiding? Next week, Im bringing 15 senators to the border. DHS said NO to our request to bring media. Outrageous & unacceptable. I will continue to fight for press access so every American can see this crisis for themselves!"

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday that the media had not been allowed into border facilities holding children because of pandemic restrictions. But she added that the administration is still "committed to transparency, and we're considering potential options, and we hope to have an update on that soon," according to CNN.

She added that they want "a pool of media to be able to have your own visuals and get your own footage of these facilities".

The Independent has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
The Egyptian parliament recently commended the Ministry of Education on approving a new school subject: common values. The course examines religious values and verses that have the same meaning in the three Abrahamic religions  Judaism, Christianity and Islam  in a move that will allow Egyptian students to study verses from the Jewish religion for the first time ever.

Kamal Amer, the head of the parliamentary defense and national security committee, said in parliament Feb. 26, The Ministry of Educations approval of the subject of religious values shared between the divine religions expresses the states keenness to spread the values of tolerance and fraternity.

The three religions include common values that students must study to be able to confront the extremist and takfirist ideas that backward groups are working to spread in society, Amer said, adding, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is keen to teach the youth the values of respect for others, tolerance and rejection of fanaticism and extremism. This is why the Ministry of Education decided to teach the subject of common values in schools.

On Feb. 14, the Ministry of Education approved the parliaments proposal on the subject of common values between all the Abrahamic religions and the principles of tolerance, citizenship and coexistence.

Deputy Minister of Education Reda Hegazy said during his Feb. 14 meeting with the defense and national security committee, Due to its importance, the subject will be factored into students' GPA, even though religious classes are not counted.

Farid el-Bayadi, a member of the defense and national security committee and author of the proposal, also called for the removal of Islamic religious texts from a number of subjects such as Arabic.

He told parliament on Feb. 14, Including religious texts in subjects such as Arabic, history and geography is too dangerous.

Teaching religious texts through subjects not related to religion leads teachers to interpret such texts in extremist and subversive ways and studies have established a link between this issue and the spread of extremist ideas, he added.

Rumors circulated on social media about the removal of Quranic verses from school curricula, prompting the Ministry of Education to issue a statement Feb. 19 saying there was no such plan.

These are only rumors aimed at spreading speculation about the states commitment and interest in religion, given its importance in educating the youth, the statement said.

The ministry stressed, The teaching of Quranic verses and hadiths in educational curricula entrenches moral values such as tolerance, cooperation and moderation.

In 2015, the Ministry of Education worked to remove texts and subjects that lead to extremism and incite violence, removing from the Arabic language curriculum texts about Salah al-Din and Uqba ibn Nafi, which made reference to fighting, guerrilla warfare, the expulsion of Christian Crusaders from Egypt and burning enemies alive. The state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper also published a report about an Arabic language lesson for grade three that promoted the ideas of the Islamic State and burning animals alive in a jihadist analogy.

In 2015, the Ministry of Education formed a committee to review religious educational materials and submit passages of violence, extremism and intolerance to the Ministry of Endowments and Al-Azhar.

Bayadi told Al-Monitor, The decision to teach this subject in schools will play an important role in spreading principles and values that stand against extremism and hatred.

He explained, Teaching students texts that carry common values from the three Abrahamic religions is essential in terms of strengthening the principles of humanity. The crisis lies in extremist interpretations of texts that may lead to intolerance and hatred.

Asked about his ideas to promote the principles of citizenship and tolerance in school curricula, Bayadi said, In addition to teaching interfaith shared values in schools through this subject, students should undertake voluntary services and activities to serve the community, as this would promote the principle of coexistence.

He added, The current religious curricula must be developed so that their goals promote the fight against intolerance and extremism.

Journalist Kamal Zakher told Al-Monitor, The decision to teach the subject of common values cannot alone confront extremism because Egyptian society is riddled with extremism and intolerance.

Zakher went on, The extremist society surrounding students has a bigger detrimental effect than a mere school subject. Therefore, it is imperative to choose appropriate teachers for the subject of common values because most of the time the task of teaching religious subjects is assigned to teachers who are not qualified to do so. Some of them are extremists and use the platform to convey their ideas to students.

It is important for students to study religious texts from all Abrahamic religions in order for them to grow more tolerant, but the problem lies in backward currents that attack the teaching of any religion different to theirs, he concluded.
Canada's top doctor says there's concern that an increase in more transmissible variants of the COVID-19 virus may be threatening the country's progress in containing the spread of infections.

Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam looks on during a technical briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic, in Ottawa, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada's top doctor says there's concern that an increase in more transmissible variants of the COVID-19 virus may be threatening the country's progress in containing the spread of infections.

And while Canada's vaccine rollout has been gaining speed over the past few weeks, Dr. Theresa Tam says the country is in a "crucial moment" in the battle between vaccines and variants.

"If we don't slow down the spread of the variants, Team Vaccine is at risk of falling behind," Tam said in a press conference Friday.

"But if we can hold on and give it that last push, by keeping up with personal protective measures and limiting our contacts to the extent possible, we will clear the path for Team Vaccine to cross the finish line."

There have been nearly 4,500 variant cases of COVID-19 in Canada, with 90 per cent of those related to the variant first detected in the U.K., Tam said, adding that in parts of Canada, variants of concern are making up a higher proportion of all new cases.

The country's vaccination rollout, while still reaching only a small minority of Canadians, has been having some positive effects, she added.

Ontario expanded vaccine rollout plans Friday, broadening the age groups that will be eligible for their first vaccine doses starting next week, while Quebec opened up vaccinations to anyone 65 and older.

Tam said rates of COVID-19 are dropping in people 80 years of age or older, and there is a "downward trend" in outbreaks at long-term care homes.

"Each week a new high is being set for the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered with over 670,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered this past week alone, and more than 3.5 million doses administered to date across Canada," she said.

Still, less than 10 per cent of Canadians have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, Tam noted.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday a million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be delivered every week through the end of May. Canada is also finalizing a deal with the United States to get 1.5 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca from its southern neighbour by the end of March. The doses will have a minimum shelf life of 60 days, said Procurement MinisterAnita Anand.

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization updated its recommendations for AstraZeneca this week, saying the vaccine could be administered to those over 65.

In light of the change in recommendations, starting Monday Ontario pharmacies in certain regions will offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot by appointment to those 60 and older. They previously only offered that shot to residents aged 60-64.

Ontario residents aged 75 and older will also be able to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the provincial booking portal.

The province said more than 50 per cent of Ontario residents aged 80 and older have received at least one vaccine dose.

Quebec, meanwhile, says it intends to vaccinate five million people with a first dose in the next 100 days. The province is looking to enlist up to 50 companies to operate vaccination hubs once its immunization campaign extends to people under 60, Health Minister Christian Dube said.

Quebec administered a daily record 38,459 vaccine doses on Thursday. Roughly 9.8 per cent of the province's population has received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

Vaccine eligibility in Manitoba is expanding to people 69 and older and First Nation people 49 and older.Trudeau said the federal government will be deploying the Canadian Armed Forces to Northern Manitoba to help roll out vaccines in First Nations communities that are otherwise hard to reach.

Dr. Jazz Atwal, Manitoba's acting deputy chief public health officer, says health officials are now strongly recommending people get tested for COVID-19 before travelling to First Nations communities.

While progress continues on Canada's vaccine front, Tam noted now is not the time to relax public health guidelines.

Timing of upcoming holidays such as Easter, which is two weeks away, will be cause for caution, Tam said, urging people to "hold on a bit longer" to public health restrictions.

"There is a sense ... that this has been going on for so long that many people are having some difficulties keeping things up. So I do think this is absolutely not the time to let go of those measures."

But as more people become vaccinated, Tam noted public health measures will need to adjust to the changing epidemiological trends.

In addition to the protection offered by vaccines, Tam said the approaching warmer weather will be another welcome barrier to spread. She encouraged people to get outside and avoid the enclosed, crowded spaces with poor ventilation that remain high-risk settings for transmission.

"We got to really give people some of these kind of activities to look forward to," she said.

Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo said Friday that while the number of older patients requiring hospitalization and ICU admission for COVID illness is decreasing, serious conditions are still being seen in some younger individuals.

He said some parts of the country may need to implement stricter measures to deal with any surges of COVID cases.

"There really is, I think, a caution and a warning that everyone is still at risk, with respect to either coming down with it or transmitting COVID-19 to others," he said. "And so I think we really can't let go."

Alberta is dealing with a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Officials reported 696 new cases on Friday, including 130 variants of concern.

The number of new daily cases has not been that high since the middle of January. The daily case number had fallen to as low as 224 on Feb. 8 but has been above 500 on each of the last three days.

To date, over 922,000 cases of COVID-19, including more than 22,500 deaths have been reported across Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.
Thursday marked the fourth anniversary of the monstrous life sentences handed out to 13 innocent Maruti Suzuki workers on March 18, 2017. The vindictive ruling was the culmination of a witchhunt and legal frame-up of the workers by the police, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and state Congress Party governments, and the courts for the sole crime of leading the fight of the ruthlessly exploited workforce for better conditions and wages against the Japanese-owned multinational automaker.

Police escort the framed-up Maruti Suzuki workers

Twelve of the 13 sentenced workers comprise the entire original leadership of the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU), a union established by the workers in a bitter struggle against a corrupt pro-company, government-backed union.

The draconian sentences were handed down by a partisan state court, where the presiding judge shamelessly ignored crudely fabricated police evidence against these workers and gaping holes in the prosecutions arguments. In a brazenly pro-company ruling, the judge justified the lack of any testimony from workers during the trial on the grounds that they would only have followed the line of the MSWU or would have been intimidated by it.

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki managers were allowed to testify and their version of events was treated as the gospel truth. As the World Socialist Web Site observed in its detailed five-part series analysing the court case, Judge Goyals judgment was not based on a genuine weighing of the evidence. Rather, it was constructed to arrive at a predetermined outcomethe outcome demanded by the Indian ruling elite.

The 13 workersRam Meher, Sandeep Dhillon, Ram Bilas, Sarabjeet Singh, Pawan Kumar Dahiya, Sohan Kumar, Ajmer Singh, Suresh Kumar, Amarjeet, Dhanraj Bambi, Pradeep Gujjar, Yogesh and Jiyalalplayed leading roles in the year-long militant struggle that began in 2011 for the formation of their own independent union in opposition to the company-imposed stooge union at the Maruti Suzuki auto manufacturing plant in Manesar. They were first arrested almost nine years ago following a management-orchestrated provocation at the plant in July 2012.

As the COVID-19 pandemic erupted last spring, over 2,300 prisoners in various prisons in Haryana were paroled temporarily and allowed to go home. The Maruti Suzuki 13 were also temporarily released, but now the state government is asking prisoners to return to their cells, claiming that the pandemic is under control. In fact, new daily infections have been consistently over 25,000 over the past week.

According to reports received from former Maruti Suzuki workers contacted by the World Socialist Web Site, the trials and tribulations these workers have gone through have exacted a terrible toll.

One of the workers, Pawan Kumar, was tragically killed after being electrocuted while on parole at his family home. Two others are suffering from serious illness. Ajmer, who was the legal advisor of the MSWU prior to his incarceration, is battling cancer, and Jiyalal, who was the chief accused, has a brain tumour.

The 13 victimized Maruti Suzuki workers

For many of these families, the young workers were the sole breadwinners. In a strong display of solidarity, former and current Maruti Suzuki workers have raised hundreds of thousands of rupees every year to support all the families of the imprisoned workers.

During the almost five years between the arrest and detention and the March 18, 2017 sentencing of the Maruti Suzuki workers, the Indian government and judicial authorities, including Haryanas Congress Party chief minister, repeatedly urged that the workers be subjected to exemplary punishment to reassure investors. The Hindu-supremacist BJP government that came to power in 2014 at the national level was as strident as the previous Congress Party government in trying to make an example out of the workers.

From the outset, the Stalinist-led trade union CITU and AITUC federations, the trade union arms of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the older but smaller Communist Party of India (CPI) refused to mount any meaningful and sustained action to free the victimized workers.

Despite having a considerable presence in the Gurgaon-Manesar manufacturing belt where the Maruti Suzuki plant is located, the unions refused to organize any determined action to free these courageous workers. The last public action they organized in support of the jailed workers was in April 2017, and this was only conducted due to their fear of losing all credibility in the eyes of militant industrial workers.

Today, neither the Stalinist trade unions nor their parent political parties bother to even mention the ongoing plight of the imprisoned Maruti Suzuki workers. Yet the CPMs English-language daily, Peoples Democracy, was forced to acknowledge that the fate of these workers has been invoked by other employers to intimidate their own workforces.

During sentencing argument, the state prosecutor Anurag Hooda called upon the judge to pitilessly hand out death sentences to the 13 workers. Acting more as a shameless agent of international capital than as a judicial official, Hooda openly stated that any worker opposition has to be ruthlessly suppressed to maintain Indias reputation as a cheap labour haven for international capital.

Said Hooda, Our industrial growth has dipped, FDI (foreign direct investment) has dried up. He continued, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is calling for Make in India, but such incidents are a stain on our image.

While the judge ultimately rejected the death sentence and instead imposed life imprisonment, the state government continues to this day to appeal the decision in a bid to have the workers executed.

The Maruti Suzuki workers struggles emerged in 2011 from bitter grievances and anger against the sweatshop working conditions, contract labour and constant management abuse at the auto plant. The subsequent widespread rebellion included actions such as strikes, plant occupations and spirited resistance against violent police crackdowns.

Finally, in March 2012, the workers successfully compelled the company and the state government to grant formal recognition to the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU) as the sole legitimate representative of workers at the plant.

Soon afterwards, the MSWU presented the management with a charter of demands that included the complete abolition of the hated system of contract labour. Management refused to negotiate.

Then, on July 18, 2012, the company administration, still smarting from the workers unrelenting defiance, provoked a dispute inside the plant. A supervisor hurled vulgar caste-based abuse at the Dalit (formerly termed untouchables) worker Jiyalal. During the melee triggered by this provocation, a mysterious fire broke out which led to the death by smoke asphyxiation of the human resources manager Avanish Kumar Dev.

Seizing upon Avanish Devs death, management worked hand in glove with the then Congress Party-led state government and mounted a ferocious witchhunt over the next several months.

Hundreds of workers were rounded up in a police dragnet, and the management took this opportunity to dismiss 546 permanent and around 1,800 contract workers. Among the detained were 148 workers, who were tortured by the police and languished in jail for over three years for crimes they did not commit.

In a tacit admission that this vicious witchhunt had no legal basis, the court felt compelled to release 117 workers, either because no evidence was presented against them or because their arrests were carried out on the basis of lists supplied by the company. The state government continues to appeal these acquittals, demanding that the workers be charged.

Eventually 13 workers were convicted of murder and 18 others of lesser charges.

Avanish Dev, despite being a senior manager at the company, was deeply resented by other managers for his sympathy towards the workers. He assisted the workers in registering their newly formed MSWU with the Haryana state authorities back in 2012.

The Stalinist parties bear the greatest responsibility for the defeat and isolation of these courageous workers. Both the CPM and the CPI now consider themselves as strident guardians of the Indian bourgeois constitutional order and participate in this political cesspool with great gusto.

They constantly exhort the workers they formally represent to lend political support to the bourgeois Congress Party, presenting this deadly enemy of the Indian working class as a progressive alternative to the Hindu-supremacist BJP government led by the authoritarian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The fate of the Maruti Suzuki workers testifies to the fact that Congress is not a progressive alternative, since it was the Congress Party Haryana state government that took the lead in violently smashing the MSWU and witchhunting its leaders.

The day after the sentencing was announced in March 2017, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) launched a global campaign to mobilize the international working class to demand the release of the 13 Maruti Suzuki workers.

The objective conditions for the intensification of this campaign four years on exist with the dramatic upsurge in working class struggles in India and internationally over recent months. In the face of a new wave of pro-investor reforms by the Modi government, including the gutting of labour laws and the expansion of the use of contract labour, a series of militant strikes and protests by autoworkers and other sections of industrial workers have erupted, like the three-month strike by over 3,000 workers at the Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TMK) plant near Bengaluru.

In India and around the world, protests have also erupted among all sections of workers in response to the criminal indifference shown by the ruling elites of every country to workers lives amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

To beat back the threat of state repression and fight for decent-paying, secure jobs and safe workplaces, and to take up a struggle against the insatiable drive for corporate profits by multinationals like Maruti Suzuki, workers entering into struggle in India and around the globe should demand the freedom of the 12 surviving Maruti Suzuki class war prisoners!
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/19/2021



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

star Matt James has wiped his Instagram account and deleted all of his postings.Although he didn't delete his actual Instagram account, Matt removed all his photos, content and comments from it on Friday.Matt, 29, has not addressed why he chose to wipe his Instagram clean from photos of his time on as well as personal pictures of friends and colleagues from years past.However, Matt chose to erase his Instagram activity just two days after his winner and ex-girlfriend Rachael Kirkconnell defended Matt against "repulsive" attacks and "racist insults" she had seen from people online.After Matt announced he had broken up with Rachael on : After the Final Rose amid her racism controversy, Matt was apparently subjected to harassment, verbal attacks and hate from people."I am taken aback by what I've seen tonight. If you think that attacking a person I care about with racist insults is what I would ever want, you haven't been listening," Rachael wrote in a Wednesday post on her Instagram Stories."Some of the things I've seen being said to and about Matt are repulsive."Rachael herself even turned off comments on her latest Instagram post so people couldn't slam her or her ex-boyfriend."I respect the decisions that Matt has had to make during this experience," Rachael continued in her stern message to followers."If you are directing hate towards him, please stop. Recognize someone's humanity and think about the impact your words have."On Tuesday, just one day after aired its Season 25 finale and After the Final Rose special on ABC, Matt tweeted, "Google Therapist Near me," which led many fans to question and be concerned about Matt's mental health and wellbeing.However, Matt's older brother John assured everyone Matt is doing okay during a Friday appearance on the Higher Learning podcast, which is hosted by Season 13 ette star Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan."I called him for that very same reason just to see where his head was at," John explained of the tweet, according to Us Weekly. "He's in a good spot. He's good. People don't need to worry about Matt."John reportedly added of star, "It's kind of like he's going through a detox phase, of all the stuff that he was dealing with ABC and being in the spotlight and doing interviews. He's in a better place."Matt revealed on After the Final Rose he initially brushed off racism allegations against Rachael as rumors and wanted to support and protect her, but once more evidence emerged of her wrongdoing, he had to "check" himself and how he felt about continuing a relationship with her.Matt said he ultimately ended his relationship with Rachael not long after she released a public apology on February 11 for her previous racially-ignorant and racially-insensitive actions.Rachael was accused of bullying a girl in high school for dating a Black man -- which Rachael's mother Kim Kirkconnell insists isn't true -- and recently liking offensive photos on Instagram, such as two friends posing in front of a Confederate flag.In addition to an image of Rachael dressed in Native-American costume that circulated online, photos also resurfaced of Rachael attending an antebellum-plantation themed "Old South" fraternity party at Georgia College & State University in 2018.Rachael admitted on After the Final Rose she had been "living in ignorance" at the time and never stopped to think about what her actions represented, the people she might be hurting, or the trauma her behavior could cause.Matt claimed Rachael initially didn't understand why her antebellum-party photos were "problematic" for him and their relationship, which led him to the conclusion Rachael simply didn't understand his life or perspective as Black man in America.Matt therefore said Rachael must do the work to educate herself on her own and it's not his weight to bear or responsibility to help her.Rachael wrote on Instagram while the special was airing on ABC, "While I never expected this outcome, I respect his decision completely."Rachael added of her breakup, "Of course I wish circumstances were different, but I still feel blessed for the time we did have together and the memories we made. I got to fall in love, and I truly believe he was the love of my life . He will always hold a piece of my heart."Rachael also said she believes "there is a reason for everything" and one of her biggest disappointments was the scandal "overshadowing" the beautiful women and their stories on Season 25.Matt confessed on After the Final Rose his feelings for Rachael won't go away overnight, but he hasn't confirmed or denied whether the door is open for reconciliation down the road.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Party above individual: LDFs message by not giving Shailaja another shot

As social media debates Shailajas exclusion, CPI(M) comes out in defence of decision

Congress led UDF releases People's' manifesto, promises 5 lakh homes to poor

India

oi-Deepika S

Thruvananthapuram, Mar 20: The Opposition Congress led UDF on Saturday released a''People's Manifesto'' for the April 6 assembly polls, promising Rs 2000 monthlypension to homemakers, Five kg free rice to all white card holders and five lakh homes to the poor.

A special law to protect the traditions of the Sabarimala lord Ayyappa temple and a Peace and Harmony department on the model of Rajasthan,has also been promised by the UDF.

Reaching out to the vast majority of women voters, the front has assured a two years age relaxation for mothers appearing for examinations for government jobs.

Kerala assembly elections 2021: Mathrubhumi C-Voter survey says Vijayan likely to retain power

Housewives aged between 40-60, who donot come under the Nyay scheme, the minimum income guarantee programme launched by the Congress in 2019,would be entitled for the Rs 2000 monthly pension.

Free food kits to those who had been affected by COVID-19 and no bill hospitals are among the otherschemes of the front, Benny Behanan MP, chairman of the manifesto committee said.

The ruling LDF had also announced pension for homemakers and had hiked the social security pension to Rs 2,500 from the present Rs 1600.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 13:26 [IST]
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Wheres the sense? A specialist has given me a referral for a scan and a biopsy of an abnormal lymph node. I contacted the imaging service and was advised that if both matters were addressed at the same appointment, the cost of the biopsy would be payable by me. However, if it were undertaken on a different day, a substantial part of the cost would be payable by Medicare. The long and the short of it is that I will be attending on two separate days, reducing productivity, adding to traffic congestion, increasing carbon emissions, and taking up valuable space in the health system.

Vera Boston, North Fitzroy Elite school, elite jobs The comment by Wesley Colleges principal, Nick Evans, that the school is a microcosm of Australian society (The Age, 20/3) is risible. I am sure he is sincere in wanting to root out the appalling behaviour towards girls and women exhibited by many of his students. All well and good and long overdue. However, the cohort of Wesley students preparing for careers in law, medicine, stockbroking, merchant banking, pharmacy, dentistry etc is not representative of society. Where are the kids who plan to work in the trades, public sector, armed forces, police, nursing, shearing, fruit picking, supermarkets and so on? I rest my case.

Don Lyell, Murrumbeena

More power to women Until there are at least an equal number of women (of all colours) in positions of power, nothing will change. Men are not going to relinquish power that easily unless women are in their faces, all day, in the highest offices of power. It is that sad and that simple.

Anna Hayman-Arif, Ringwood East Undermining the cause The Age ran a full-page ad by Pointsbet, using a young female in a very tight, revealing, red dress to advertise betting (Sport, 20/3). It is in very poor taste in these difficult times when women are trying to make a point  respect  which is nowhere to be seen in this ad.

Tina Van Wees, Somerville Men face this too, surely

Katharine Anderson (Sunday Age Letters, 14/3) says she has made a stand against being categorised by her marital status and that the categories of single, married and divorced are an example of my relationship to a man defining who I am. Surely men completing forms are asked the same question. And these days, we can be in heterosexual or same-sex marital relationships, so the gender of a partner is irrelevant in this example.

Heather DCruz, Geelong West The economic benefits Noel Whittaker (Sunday Age, 14/3) looks at possible increased funding for aged care. Taxes spent on providing aged care are not necessarily a major fall in disposable income across most of the working population, as he says. If the funds are used for hands-on care, then, via the wages of carers, it is ploughed back into spending in the Australian economy.

Gerry OReilly, Camberwell Lessons in spycraft, 101 Your front page reports that foreign spies are targeting Australias mining and agricultural industries in a bid to get sensitive information on how the nation is diversifying trade away from China (The Age, 20/3). I suggest we refer them to the relevant Australian Bureau of Statistics publications.

Robert Gordon, Hawthorn
Its pathway to power is building new networks rather than disrupting old ones. Economists debate when the Chinese will have the worlds largest gross domestic product  perhaps toward the end of this decade  and whether they can meet their other two big national goals: building the worlds most powerful military and dominating the race for key technologies by 2049, the 100th anniversary of Maos revolution.

Their power arises not from their relatively small nuclear arsenal or their expanding stockpile of conventional weapons. Instead, it arises from their expanding economic might and how they use their government-subsidized technology to wire nations be it Latin America or the Middle East, Africa or Eastern Europe, with 5G wireless networks intended to tie them ever closer to Beijing. It comes from the undersea cables they are spooling around the world so that those networks run on Chinese-owned circuits.

Ultimately, it will come from how they use those networks to make other nations dependent on Chinese technology. Once that happens, the Chinese could export some of their authoritarianism by, for example, selling other nations facial recognition software that has enabled them to clamp down on dissent at home.

Which is why Jake Sullivan, Mr. Bidens national security adviser, who was with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for the meeting with their Chinese counterparts in Anchorage, warned in a series of writings in recent years that it could be a mistake to assume that China plans to prevail by directly taking on the United States military in the Pacific.

The central premises of this alternative approach would be that economic and technological power is fundamentally more important than traditional military power in establishing global leadership, he wrote, and that a physical sphere of influence in East Asia is not a necessary precondition for sustaining such leadership.

The Trump administration came to similar conclusions, though it did not publish a real strategy for dealing with China until weeks before it left office. Its attempts to strangle Huawei, Chinas national champion in telecommunications, and wrest control of social media apps like TikTok, ended up as a disorganized effort that often involved threatening, and angering, allies who were thinking of buying Chinese technology.

Part of the goal of the Alaska meeting was to convince the Chinese that the Biden administration is determined to compete with Beijing across the board to offer competitive technology, like semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence, even if that means spending billions on government-led research and development projects, and new industrial partnerships with Europe, India, Japan and Australia.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 18:35:25|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on March 19, 2021 shows tourists visiting the ancient Houliu Township in Shiquan County of Ankang City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Shiquan County has boosted tourism to promote rural vitalization and develop the local economy. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
Free speech suffered a blow: Raghuram Rajan on Ashoka University exits

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 20: Expressing his views on the exit of Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian from the Ashoka University, eminent economist Rahguram Rajan has said free speech is the soul of a great varsity and wondered whether "pressures will go away" by showing a willingness to barter the soul.

Earlier this week, the Sonipat-based Ashoka University -- a leading varsity that offers courses in liberal arts and sciences -- found itself at the centre of a controversy after political commentator Mehta and economist Subramanian resigned.

In a Linkedin post, former RBI governor Rajan said that free speech has suffered a "grievous blow" in India this week as professor Mehta, one of India''s finest political scientists, resigned from the Ashoka University.

"The reality is that professor Mehta is a thorn in the side of the establishment. He is no ordinary thorn because he skewers those in government and in high offices like the Supreme Court with vivid prose and thought-provoking arguments," he said.

Give BJP a chance in this election, will lay down our lives for you: PM Modi in Bengal

On the recent developments at the varsity, Rajan -- who is a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business -- said, "Free speech is the soul of a great university. By compromising on it, the founders have bartered away its soul." He further said, "And if you show a willingness to barter your soul, is there any chance the pressures will go away? This is indeed a sad development for India," Rajan said.

Mehta''s exit from the varsity was followed by professor Arvind Subramanian''s resignation.

Rajan also quoted a few lines from Subramanian''s resignation letter which said, "That even Ashoka - with its private status and backing by private capital - can no longer provide a space for academic expression and freedom is ominously disturbing. "Above all, that the University''s commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question makes it difficult for me to continue being part of Ashoka."

Rajan noted that if Ashoka''s founders believe "they have compromised with the powers that be in the greater interests of the university, they are wrong".

According to Rajan, it is not that Mehta has much sympathy for the opposition either. "As a true academic, he is an equal opportunity critic. He is, and I hope will continue to be, one of the intellectual leaders of liberalism in India," the former RBI governor said.

Rajan also quoted Mehta from his resignation letter that said, "After a meeting with founders it has become abundantly clear to me that my association with the university may be considered a political liability."

Rajan opined that Mehta and Subramanian''s statements suggest that Ashoka''s founders have succumbed to outside pressure to get rid of "troublesome" critics.

He added that Ashoka''s founders should have realised that their mission was indeed not to take political sides but to continue to protect the right of people like professor Mehta to speak.

A query sent to the varsity on the recent developments remained unanswered till the filing of the story.

The faculty members at the university on March 18 had written to the vice chancellor and board members, expressing anguish over Mehta''s resignation.

The alumni council of the university had also released a separate statement on March 18 expressing solidarity with Mehta, who stepped down as the VC two years ago and resigned as a professor earlier this week.

The faculty members have noted that Mehta''s exit has set a "chilling precedent for future removals of faculty" and is a "matter of great anguish.
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Postal services provider TTPost yesterday shut its branches in Port of Spain and San Fernando after dozens of people rushed to collect senior citizen pension and public assistance grants and would not adhere to physical distancing rules.

Eventually, police were called to disperse the crowds.

Several elderly people at the St Vincent Street branch in Port of Spain complained about not being able to collect their pension cheques because other unruly ones refused to socially distance and abide by the law amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stella Griffith, 68, of Diego Martin, said she was adhering to rules of social distancing, but there were other people who came for their public assistance and disability grants and were refusing to listen.
GREENWICH  Called a huge healer and a supporter of the people of Greenwich, Nancy Brown was remembered as a history-making icon in town government who was committed to providing for those less fortunate by those who knew and loved her.

Brown died on March 11 at Bridgeport Hospital from complications of lymphoma. She was 88.

A town resident for 65 years, Brown served as the towns director of community development from 1978 until 2007  the first Black woman to head a town department in Greenwichs history.

She had this way about her that was very confident and self-assured, Myra Klockenbrink, Browns daughter-in-law, said Friday. But at the same time, she was very self-effacing. She won so much recognition and accomplished so much  but she never wore it.

She had this sort of Southern manner that was so gracious, and she demurred from a lot of the limelight and attention that was afforded her, Klockenbrink said. When she was recognized she was always gracious. She had a lovely way about her.

Brown, who had been living in assisted living until shortly before her death, never lost what made her special  not even when she was hospitalized, Klockenbrink said.

The staff at both tripped over each other to attend to her because she was just so lovely, Klockenbrink said. Everyone who came in contact with her, I think, was elevated just by her presence.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, remembered Brown fondly on Friday. Himes knew Brown from his role as chair of Greenwichs Democratic Town Committee and through his time on the Board of Estimate and Taxation and as chair of the housing authoritys board of commissioners.

She was so important to the town, Himes said. He recalled her work to administer the community development block grants, which provides vital support to nonprofit services around town. She was always associated with that effort, and so many philanthropic efforts and the towns social services. She was a huge healer and a supporter of people of Greenwich.

After leaving the role of the towns director of community development in 2007, Brown became more active in town politics, he said. But she didnt want to be seen as a partisan politician.

She was a wonderful person, Himes said. She was one of those rare people who never had a bad thing to say about anyone. She was always so thrilled to volunteer and be a part of things in town.

First Selectman Fred Camillo offered his condolences to her friends and family.

Nancy was always a positive presence around town, Camillo said. I did see her for many years and I never remember seeing her without a smile on her face. Thats a pretty good legacy to leave. She was always smiling, always nice and always upbeat.

Browns civic and social commitments covered much ground. She was a member of Family Centers Inc.s board and served on Greenwichs Representative Town Meeting. She also helped found the Urban League of Southwestern Fairfield County in 1969.

In 1976, she became the director of the First Womans Bank and Trust, which her family described as a pioneering bank for women that granted loans regardless of gender or marital status. It also educated women about building credit and taking out loans.

Her passion for helping people stood out to former Selectman Drew Marzullo, who was in regular contact with Brown until the pandemic hit last year.

I can honestly say Nancy Brown was one of the most influential people I have ever met, Marzullo said. Kind, formidable, funny and always available to offer advice when needed. I loved and adored her on every level. To say she will be missed would be an understatement.

Browns family recalled that she actively campaigned for presidential candidates Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, whose election in 2008 was of great personal significance to her.

I remember her telling me how proud she was to vote for then-Sen. Barack Obama, Marzullo said. And thought the day he was elected would never come. But it did. And how happy she was.

All of Browns work in the community, particularly in helping girls and women, earned her a YWCA Greenwich Spirit of Greenwich award in 2014. YWCA President and CEO Mary Lee Kiernan, who knew Brown well, expounded on Browns impact on Greenwich and said she was one of my she-roes.

Nancy was truly a brilliant and thoughtful and moral leader for this community and for the region, Kiernan said. She had an incredible work ethic. She was always a lens on gender and race equity in her work. She was incredibly productive and constructive in her role as the community development block grant administrator and in her many roles as a volunteer with the Fairfield County Community Foundation and other organizations.

She also did volunteer and advocacy work for the Women and Girls Advisory Council. Among her honors, Brown was named Woman of the Year by the Greenwich Women Civic Club in 1987 and received the State Office of the Treasurer Contributions to the Community Award in 2005, the Greenwich Bar Association Liberty Bell Award and the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Browns life and legacy were celebrated this week at a Greenwich DTC meeting by BET member Jeff Ramer.

Town resident Howard Richman, who worked with Brown on Democratic campaigns, including his own, recalled her as a friend he had known for decades.

She was always somebody who put herself after everything she did for the community, Richman said. She got involved in so many different ways, and she made the town a better place through everything she did for the community.

Brown left a powerful legacy, Former Republican First Selectman Peter Tesei said. He remembered her work in community development  she meticulously administered the program with a detailed knowledge of all the organizations seeking assistance  and noted her leadership in chairing the housing task force for the 2009 towns Plan of Conservation and Development.

Nancy was a very elegant woman, Tesei said. She was very committed to providing for those less fortunate living in Greenwich.  I found her to be a true joy to work with and someone who made a difference in the lives of people in town who needed that advocacy.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
Over the past years, YouTube has grown into a massive multi-media platform, from watching funny videos and music hit singles to following streamers and vloggers alike.

Now, the music-video platform is releasing a new feature that can detect copyright infringement on its desktop version before content creators can upload videos online .

New YouTube Copyright Issue Detection Feature

Gadgets360 reported that YouTube will now actively check copyright infringements from uploaders who make money out of the multi-media platform. The content creator who violates this new rule may lead to their video being pulled down or, worst, the channel being banned from the platform.

Also, YouTube Studio will implement a new feature that counts how many subscribers the content creators have in real-time.

In a recent tweet from Matt Navarra, the new feature is shown for creators on YouTube Studio with the new "Checks" feature. This feature will check for any copyrighted content uploaded on Google's video-sharing platform before the video is being uploaded. It uses YouTube's Content ID system that scans the content against a copyright database and reports it to Google if anything is found.

YouTube has a new video upload screen featuring additional copyright checks before publishing (on desktop)



h/t @YasserM86 pic.twitter.com/YR4gxdL2Na   Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) March 16, 2021

Digital Music News stated that YouTube is slowly rolling out this feature. The Checks feature takes about three minutes to scan the uploaded video for copyright infringement. YouTube stated that uploaders would have to access an on-screen estimated-completion timer.

Creators can go ahead and post their videos before the Checks feature step finishes. However, it is worth noting that it might impact the video's visibility or monetization of the video if an issue is found.

Also Read: What Are the Top Strategies To Recruit More YouTube Followers?

It is unclear if the Checks feature has the provision to highlight exactly what part of the video contains infringed material. Youtube prefers to keep such things open to interpretation, which allows it to apply rules arbitrarily.

According to WIPR, passing the Checks stage still means that videos uploaded can be flagged for copyright infringement at a later stage. Furthermore, the new YouTube feature will include "ad-suitability" issues that could prevent uploaders from earning a share of ad revenue if the videos do not meet Google's advertiser-friendly content guidelines.

Timestamps From Copyright Owners

WIPR also reported that on a July 2019 update, Google required timestamps from copyright owners to specify where in a video the alleged infringement was located. Google said it was responding to concerns from creators over unclear infringement claims or second-long snippets of music.

Google stated that while they support copyright holders' rights, YouTube has dealt with almost all the music companies and TV broadcasters today. The company is concerned about the vague, untested requirements of the new directive.

The search engine giant continued to create serious limitations for what YouTube creators can upload, risking creator's revenue to traditional media and music companies for the multi-media platform and potentially devastate the many creators who have built their entire livelihood through the platform.

Related Article: 5 Things to Know When Downloading a Video From YouTube
Anti-COVID cooperation offers formula for better China-U.S. relations, say experts

Xinhua) 15:13, March 20, 2021

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Calling on Washington to seek cooperation with Beijing where national interests overlap, experts stressed that anti-COVID-19 cooperation between China and the United States has offered a "formula" for better bilateral relations.

In an article published in the South China Morning Post on Thursday, Cheng Li, director and senior fellow of the Brookings Institution's John L. Thornton China Center, and Senqi Ma, a graduate student at Columbia University, said that during the pandemic, medical experts and scientist from both countries have "communicated extensively."

As noted in the article, during the pandemic, the two countries conducted a series of cooperation programs and "sometimes started joint research projects."

The cooperation between epidemiologists and medical experts in both countries is "remarkable," and offers a "testimony" to how relations between the two countries should be handled, the article said.

Citing examples including "the institutional collaboration on pathogenic mechanism, clinical treatment and vaccine development," the experts said all these professional ties and exchanges laid a "solid and dynamic foundation of cooperation among medical professionals and other communities on which both governments can build."

In the article, they also called on the two countries to avoid competition "at the expense of much needed cooperation in some areas, especially saving lives."
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) has announced it will host National Agriculture Day on March 23, 2021. This will mark the 48th anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for National Ag Day 2021 is "Food Brings Everyone to the Table."

National Ag Day

On March 23, 2021, the ACA will host a virtual Ag Day event. Registration for the virtual event is free. Additionally, the ACA will bring approximately 100 college students to Washington "virtually" to deliver the message of Ag Day to the Hill.

These events honor National Agriculture Day and mark a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. Many agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate.

National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. The ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public's awareness of agriculture's role in modern society.

The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

Understand how food and fiber products are produced

Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products

Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy

Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry

In addition to the events on March 23, the ACA will once again feature the Ag Day Essay Contest. The winning essay will be presented on National Ag Day.

Visit www.agday.org for more information and tools to promote Ag Day in your area.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Pickett

[email protected]

(913) 491-1895

Related Images

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Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzRb31MOtVU

SOURCE National Ag Day
Police searching for missing British woman Sarm Heslop in the US Virgin Islands say her boyfriend has not let them search their luxury catamaran where she was last seen.

The US Coast Guard was alerted to Sarm Heslop's disappearance at 11.46am on Monday when her boyfriend, American yachtsman Captain Ryan Bane, could not find her aboard the 47ft Siren Song.

Divers have since joined the search amid concerns the 41-year-old from Southampton fell overboard.

Police say American yachtsman Captain Ryan Bane (right) has not allowed officers to search the 500,000 vessel, anchored 120ft from secluded Frank Bay

Sarm Heslop, 41, has not been seen since Monday and officers have allegedly been stopped form going aboard the vessel

Police searching for the missing 41-year-old from Southampton have been scouring land and water off the island of St John, where the yacht was moored.

But the officers have allegedly been stopped from stepping foot on the Siren Song by Mr Bane.

Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) spokesman Toby Derima said officers had performed an 'initial land search', adding on the BBC: 'Soon after reporting Ms Heslop missing, Mr Bane acquired the services of an attorney.

'Upon his attorney's advice, Mr Bane exercised his constitutional right to remain silent and denied officers' requests to search the vessel.'

Boyfriend Bane had earlier said the couple had been for dinner in a restaurant, leaving at 10pm in line with the local Covid curfew and taking their dinghy back to the three-berth, 500,000 vessel, anchored 120ft from secluded Frank Bay.

They went to sleep, Ryan says, and when he woke at 2am after his yacht's anchor alarm sounded, Sarm had gone.

It comes as a friend of Sarm's in the UK said they were told that her phone, passport and belongings had all been left behind on the yacht.

The friend added: 'We would like to thank all the local community for their support in searching for Sarm both on water and land.

'They have been so amazing but we urge them not to give up until she is found or we have more information.'

Heslop is described as a slim 41-year-old woman with a southern English accent and a tattoo on her left shoulder.

A search of land and sea has been undertaken by the police and an army of local volunteers

She was last seen on board on Sunday before her boyfriend called the Coast Guard's San Juan station reporting that 'his girlfriend may have fallen' from the yacht.

The Leopard 4700 luxury catamaran was moored off the coast of St John, the third-largest of the US Virgin Islands.

Police spokesman Toby Derima said: 'Divers from various law enforcement agencies have searched hundreds of square feet of water for Heslop.

Volunteers from the Virgin Islands have also scoured the area around Cruz Bay during daylight hours, police said.

Sarm Heslop vanished from 47ft yacht, the Siren Song, on March 7, while it was moored off the coast of St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands  and she hasn't been seen since

'Unfortunately, this effort proved unsuccessful,' said Derima who added that the search will continue.

An island source in St John where the boat was last seen said that they are very concerned about her welfare.

'An Englishwoman has gone missing on our island and we are appealing for help in trying to locate her, 'they said.

'Every day that goes by and we don't have any news about her is a major concern for us. We need to locate her as soon as possible.'
From time to time, whether motivated by politics or articulating a misinformed position, commentators will seek to claim Trinidad and Tobago is a failing state.

I take serious umbrage to that because when one understands what a failing state or economy looks like, it is clear we are very far from that. In fact, by independent measures, we are closer to the opposite side of that spectrum.
Schools have been told to use a perspex screen between students and interviewers in the upcoming Leaving Cert oral exams.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has issued guidance on the running of the orals, including necessary public health measures.

The Leaving Cert orals start next Friday, March 26 and run until April 15 and Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) orals will run in May.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, the orals are taking place face to face, and schools have been told to maintain a two-metre distance between the interviewer and the candidate.

Read More

However, while mask wearing is the norm in post-primary schools, the SEC says it was not appropriate for the orals.

Exams chiefs say masks would interfere with proper and clear communication and with the creation of a clear recording that properly shows the candidates level of communicative proficiency

However, perspex screens are to be used and schools must also ensure that rooms are adequately ventilated, although also ensuring that external noise does not interfere with the interview or its recording.

Other health-related instructions include the cleaning of all surfaces and the digital recording equipment between interviews

Because of Covid, this year the orals are not being conducted by State appointed examiners and, instead, teachers in the same school or from another school in the area, will record the interviews and send them to the SEC for marking.

Teachers are being paid 19.56 for each interview except in the in the case of Leaving Cert Irish Foundation Level , where the rate is 14.60.

Any student who wants to take a language in the June exams, which also has an oral component, must sit the orals, However, sitting the orals is not necessary if a student is being assessed language only for an accredited grade.

Where students have been unable to attend school physically and are continuing with online education, the orals can be carried out remotely, such as on Zoom.

The school can make similar remote interview arrangements for other candidates who cannot go to the school for Covid -19 related or otherwise medically certified reasons.

The guidance states that a remote interview should not be made available to a candidate simply as a matter of preference.

The school must be satisfied that there is no safe and feasible way to carry out an on-site interview.

In cases where orals are conducted remotely, schools have been told to submit only an audio recording, and not a video recording.

In such recordings, they have to ensure that the student does not have access during the interview to materials other than those required for the interview, or access to any other person who might prompt or assist them.

The guidance says this can be achieved by arranging for the student to show the interviewer the full surroundings of the room and the desk or table they are at, following which the camera should be arranged in such a way that the door of the room is visible, and the candidate remains within shot.

If the presence of another person in the room during the interview is necessary for medical or other support reasons, then they should remain behind the candidate and visible.




YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in the Aragatsotn province for community visits, the PMs spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan said on Facebook.

Meeting-discussions are expected with the residents of the province.

The Prime Minister will also pay tribute to the memory of fallen servicemen and will meet with the families of our soldiers fallen at the recent Artsakh War, Mane Gevorgyan said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Warsaw, March 20 : The Polish government has announced a new nationwide partial lockdown after the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases exceeded two million.

Starting from Saturday, only a select number of shops, among them supermarkets and pharmacies, located in shopping malls with over 2,000 square metres of retail space will be allowed to operate, Xinhua news agency reported.

Service providers, such as banks, hairdressers and opticians, have also been given a pass.

Cinemas, theatres and museums will have to remain closed, and schools will return to online learning.

The restrictions have already been in place in four of Poland's 16 provinces, including Mazovia, where the capital Warsaw is located.

In the last 24 hours, 25,998 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed, taking the total since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 to 2,010,244.

Since then, 48,807 people in Poland have lost their lives to the coronavirus.

According to the Health Ministry, over 60 per cent of the new infections involve the coronavirus variant first detected in Britain, which is more contagious and more lethal than the original strain.

"Also, an increasing number of children are among the infected," the Ministry's Press Secretary Wojciech Andrusiewicz told journalists.

Currently, 400 children are hospitalised with symptoms, he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A federal jury in Marshall, Texas, decided on Friday that Apple infringed a patent related to digital rights management. Apple has been ordered to pay $308.5 million to closely held Personalized Media Communications (PMC).

Personalized Media had sued claiming Apple infringed its patent with technology including FairPlay, which is used for the distribution of encrypted content from its iTunes, App Store and Apple Music applications.

One expert for Sugar Land, Texas-based Personalized Media had calculated Apple owed $240 million in royalties. After a five-day trial, the jurors in Texas ordered Apple to pay a running royalty, which is generally dependent on the level of sales or usage.

The Bloomberg report further noted that "The lawsuit was originally filed in 2015, but Apple challenged the validity of the patent at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. A U.S. appeals court last year reversed the boards decision that certain patent claims were invalid, thus reviving the case for trial.

Google and its YouTube service won a patent trial lodged by Personalized Media in November over different patents. A case against Netflix is pending in New York.

It should be noted that PMC licenses exclusively its own internally invented patent. PMC does not acquire 3rd part patents for assertion. Meaning, the label 'Patent Troll' can't be attributed to PMC.
Heres some of what you had to say. (These emails have been lightly edited and condensed.)

I have been a Republican and lifelong conservative. Voted for Trump twice. I grumbled about his tweets, but our country needed some bootstrap politics. Then the pandemic hit. His China blame was spot on. His daily briefings were encouraging; I was scared. All of us at the office kept on masks, agreed Trump was doing fine, and then the exposures started. Pretty soon, no agents came in to the office. Trying to get some satisfaction from Trumps press briefings was harder and harder. He said things that made no sense; it was getting worse, not better. I started watching Andrew Cuomos briefings, and he made more sense  to my surprise. It was a comfort, and Trump started sounding like a moron. I stopped watching Trump. I even voiced, for the very first time, I might not vote for him to my sister. We both complained that his constant nonsensical tweets took away from his virtues. Nonetheless, we voted for him  but this time with a boatload of apprehension. Post-election, I was surprisingly not upset. Biden acted so gracious, and I appreciated the total lack of meanspiritedness. Within days, I wanted Trump gone from the White House, gone from the stage, gone from American politics. We need a low-key, decent person to lead us out of this polarized minefield of a nation. Biden was the better choice. I am glad he prevailed.  Andrea MacAulay, Jacksonville, Fla.

I was a Democrat until Ronald Reagan. I supported Donald Trump from his earliest campaign events. If anything, the pandemic and the draconian, sometimes arbitrary response of the local, state and some smaller municipalities has been a bungled mess. No one really knew what to do. No one was prepared. People should be given guidelines and take personal responsibility. The closure of businesses, should be as brief and limited as possible. I am concerned about a communist, totalitarian-like methodology having been imposed. I believe states rights are important. The pandemic has altered my view to push me further to the right. Despite the horrific numbers of reported deaths (as a conservative I am skeptical of the actual numbers), I have not known anyone who died while my millennial-aged children got mild cases. Governor DeSantis is my hero for courage and common sense.  Gwen Baker, Wellesley, Mass.

I am a 75-year-old woman who first watched our countrys unity shredded by the Vietnam War. Throughout the decades since then, I was naive enough to believe that our nations people counted being an American above disparate views. That naivete was squelched during the Trump years. But I held on to hope that the specter of a pandemic would draw Americans back together. The past year has once again proven me naive. But the threat of Covid has only pulled us further apart. To mask or not to mask? To lock down or not to lock down? To take the vaccine or not to take it? These have become political weapons, separating us. So, how has Covid changed my views? Sad to say, it has eradicated the last of my hope for American unity. I am relieved to be as old as I am.  Tina Rosato, Black Mountain, N.C.

Although Im currently registered as a Republican, Ive never been a fan of Trump. His handling of Covid-19 gets an F grade. His approach has led to many more deaths than would have happened had he taken a leadership role. I will forever blame Trump for my 98-year-old mothers Covid-19 case. The Trump White Houses response to the pandemic, its claims regarding voter fraud that kept Trump from a second term, and its effect on the Republican Party in general have transformed me into a voter who will likely vote Democrat for the rest of my life.  Leslie Bates, Xenia, Ohio

By most measures I considered myself a staunch progressive. Since the advent of the pandemic and subsequent crippling lockdowns, I now find myself more closely aligned with many Republican principles that I never would have thought possible a year ago. Democrats in my opinion have revealed themselves as having put politics in front of people. The lockdowns have caused far more harm than they prevented. I had always considered Democrats to be the party of equity, progressive ideals, and liberty. Yet, Im seeing them stripping our rights with lockdowns which perpetuate inequality since the most vulnerable are hit hardest, closing schools which are meaningfully jeopardizing our childrens well-being and future, and finally censoring free speech under the guise of hiding misinformation. Parents (mothers in particular), children, and the impoverished have been disproportionately hurt by lockdowns. These are groups Democrats traditionally safeguarded. Where is that safeguarding now? I used to be a bleeding Democrat but now Im not so sure.  Joanna Barron, San Francisco
This settlement is unacceptable given the consequences of addiction. Between 2013 and 2016, overdose deaths in Illinois linked to synthetic opioids increased tenfold, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Nationally, opioid-related deaths have quadrupled since 1999 and drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for people under 50 years of age. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the crisis, with communities across the nation reporting increased opioid and other drug-related overdoses, according to the American Medical Association. And these statistics dont consider the growing number of Illinoisans who suffer silently or those who will become addicted to opioids by way of a routine surgery or other medical event in the future.
A festival management company that imported 10m worth of Chinese ventilators for the HSE which were never used sold two high-spec luxury cars for approximately 325,000 on the same day earlier this year.

Roqu Media International, a sister company of Roqu Group, sold a 2017 Maserati Gran Turismo and a 2017 Ferrari 488 Spyder to a dealership in Dublin on January 26.

The Irish Examiner understands that Roqu CEO Robert Quirke, is no longer resident in Ireland.

Mr Quirke did not respond to queries as to where he is currently domiciled, nor as to the purpose of the two car transactions made on behalf of his company.

Roqu first purchased the Maserati on March 14, 2020, nine days before the company received 14.1m from the HSE for the procurement of 328 ventilators from China.

In the end, just 64 devices were delivered, with Roqu returning 3.8m, while the HSE has engaged the services of legal firm Philip Lee to aid it in recouping some or all of the 10.3m outstanding via dispute resolution.

Roqu Media International sold the red Maserati to the north Dublin dealership for 75,000. The car had no outstanding financial repayments due on it at the time, meaning it had been owned whole. The four-year-old model subsequently went on sale for 100,000.

The trade price for the Ferrari, which was sold to the same dealership, is unknown at present, though motor industry sources have suggested that such a car aged four years would be expected to fetch a sale price of roughly 250,000.

Separately, Roqus more recent venture, a health passport smartphone application, has been rebranded for a second time.

Health Passport Ireland, which became Health Passport Europe earlier this year, is now known as Health Passport Worldwide.

Health passports are one of many possible solutions being considered by governments worldwide as to how to effectively reopen society while maintaining Covid-19 restrictions.

A duplicate website to that for Health Passport Europe had been set up for Health Passport Worldwide, and for a time ran in tandem with the other site, though the former now links to the newly branded product, as does the Health Passport Ireland site.

Mr Quirke did not reply to a query as to why the venture was apparently rebranding for a second time.

From last July, Mr Quirke had lobbied the HSE repeatedly as to its interest in a further initiative involving his digital Covid passport, despite the outstanding issues stemming from the previous ventilator transaction.

Last month Health Passport Europe had been a gold sponsor of the Health Summit, an annual event held in Ireland, and addressed by the CEO of the HSE and the Minister for Health. Mr Quirke had also been billed as addressing the event, but in the end did not do so citing work commitments.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 19:31:50|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's first deep sea port is at 48 percent completion and will begin commercial operations in the first quarter of 2023, an official said Friday.

"The investors have given us the commitment on the first quarter of 2023 completion date. We will fulfill all our parts to make sure this date becomes reality," Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, said on his working tour of the Lekki Deep Sea Port at the Lagos Free Trade Zone.

The Lekki Deep Sea Port, which is being constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), is occupying 90 hectares of the entire 830 hectares of land carved out for the Lagos Free Zone, created in 2012 to enhance the economic position of Lagos as a manufacturing and logistics hub in west Africa.

"With the level of work we have seen, I'm truly excited. It is more gratifying that we are taking up this assignment with all energies required and we all can see what we can achieve when we work together," he said.

Sanwo-Olu said the size of the deep seaport will allow 18,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity vessels, which are four times bigger than the ones berthing at the existing Apapa seaports in the state, thereby scaling down the cost of container transportation from any part of the world.

When completed, the deep sea port is expected to generate more than 170,000 direct and indirect job opportunities and serve as an alternative to decongest the sea ports in Apapa, the governor said.

Zhang Wenfeng, the managing director of CHEC in Nigeria, told Xinhua on the phone Saturday that the Lekki Deep Sea Port project is progressing well and that CHEC will make sure the first deep sea port in Nigeria will be completed on time in 2023. Enditem
Excited German tourists in face masks spilled out of Palma airport this afternoon, among the first to arrive at the popular holiday destination after Germany last week lifted quarantine requirements for travellers returning from the Balearic Islands.

Tourists are still not allowed to stay in hotels or holiday lets in Germany, leaving foreign holidays one of the few options for those wanting to get away, although the German government still advises against non-essential travel.

"It is very, very, very exciting and it feels wonderful to be flying again, even if it is for only one week," said tourist Bettina, who works for a travel company, as a group of exuberant young holidaymakers danced outside the airport.

The new arrivals had flown in from various German cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. They all had to provide test results not more than 72 hours old at the airport showing they were COVID-free.

"It was an amazing opportunity to be able to come here despite the coronavirus, said student Linda Tlucker, 23, who had travelled from Berlin for a two-week holiday.

But while German tourists can enjoy the Balearic resorts, Spaniards will be unable to do so because of a ban on travelling between regions over Easter, leaving many angry.

TIMELY BOOST

Asked about the restrictions facing Spaniards, Tlucker said: "It's probably not that fair. But if the region says it is OK (for us to come), there is not much citizens can do about it."

The return of German tourists provides a timely boost for one of Spain's hardest-hit industries. Foreign visitors to Spain fell 80% to 19 million in 2020, the lowest level since 1969, because of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions.

In 2020 the tourism industry accounted for between 4% and 5% of Spain's national output, according to estimates from the Funcas think-tank, down from 12% in 2019.

It was not all smiles at the airport, however, as the sun-seekers were met with drizzly weather conditions.

"The weather is quite bad and it feels like being in Germany," one said.
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Boston will be moving into a modified Phase 4 Step 1 of the states COVID reopening plan on Monday, which includes some important differences from the Baker administrations plan.

Beginning on Monday, the indoor gathering limit will increase to 60 people, with the outdoor limit going up to 100. Gov, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said on Friday during a press conference. Gov. Charlie Bakers new rules for indoor and outdoor gatherings cap at 100 and 150 people, respectively.

Indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks in Boston will be allowed to reopen at 12% capacity starting Monday; but venue operators must submit a safety plan to the citys licensing board.

Indoor performance venues, like concert halls and theaters, will also be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity in the city with no more than 500, permitted attendees are assigned seats. Indoor recreational activities, like laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, and escape rooms will be allowed to open at 50% capacity.

Limits for private events in the city will stay at 25 people outside and 10 people inside, Walsh said.

Officials are closely monitoring the citys test positivity rate. The city will accelerate its reopening if it can achieve a positivity rate of 2.75% or below, Walsh said.

This is consistent with the cautious approach that weve taken throughout the pandemic, Walsh said.

There were 237 new COVID cases and two virus-related deaths reported in Boston on Friday, according to Walsh. New cases are still below the citys threshold of concern, Walsh said.

The citys positivity rate has been flat at 3.5% in recent days.

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Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou's lawyer ridiculed and rejected the testimony of Canadian border officers who dealt with her before her arrest at Vancouver's airport 27 months ago, telling the judge at the Meng's extradition hearing on Friday she should be "very cautious" and "very sceptical" of their honesty.

Parts of their testimony were "entirely ridiculous", said lawyer Mona Duckett, as she made the case that the Canada Border Services Agency [CBSA] unlawfully obtained information from Meng without informing her of her right to legal counsel, in a covert evidence-gathering exercise on behalf of the American FBI.

Duckett told the Supreme Court of British Columbia that CBSA Superintendent Sanjit Dhillon's questioning of Meng, after she arrived at Vancouver's airport on December 1, 2018, was "probative of nothing but US assistance".

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Dhillon had asked Meng questions about Huawei's business in Iran. "Those, remarkably, are connected to the US fraud warrant," said Duckett sarcastically, referring to the US request that Meng be arrested.

Her answers' value to Canada was "zero...the value is only to a US audience," Duckett said. "I would urge the court to be very cautious about officer Dhillon's evidence."

The latest arguments about whether Meng's Canadian charter rights have been abused - part of her two-year court battle to avoid being sent to face fraud charges in the US - came hours after the espionage trial of Canadian Michael Spavor in China.

Meng's treatment upended China's relations with Canada and the US; Spavor and fellow Canadian Michael Kovrig were detained in China in the days after her arrest. Spavor's trial in Dandong was conducted on Friday behind closed doors in less than three hours. No verdict was released.

Story continues

Kovrig is due to go on trial on Monday. Canada considers both men victims of arbitrary detention, who were arrested in a retaliatory action.

Meng's lawyers say her treatment by Canadian police and border officers was an abuse of power that trampled on her rights, and she should be freed as a remedy. The border officers who questioned her and seized her electronic devices did so not to further a legitimate immigration process, but to illicitly help American investigators, the lawyers say.

In this file photo taken outside the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver on March 6, 2019, protester Louis Huang holds photos of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who are being detained by China. Photo: AFP alt=In this file photo taken outside the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver on March 6, 2019, protester Louis Huang holds photos of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who are being detained by China. Photo: AFP

On Friday, Duckett was scathing of Dhillon's colleague, Border Servicers Officer Scott Kirkland, who had told the court he handed over Meng's phone passcodes to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in error, and he only realised this possibility during what Duckett derisively called a "eureka moment" at a meeting a couple days after the arrest.

"He is a witness of whom this court should be very sceptical," said Duckett, who said the passcodes had no value to the CBSA, and were instead wanted by the FBI.

CBSA airport chief Nicole Goodman had testified that Kirkland "turned white" at the meeting when he expressed concerns about whereabouts of the note.

But this might not have been at Kirkland's realisation of a mistake, said Duckett, but at "the realisation that his mistake was going to be found out".

Other parts of Kirkland's evidence, in which he said it was possible Meng could have been ordered to return to Hong Kong, were "entirely ridiculous" said Duckett, in light of the fact he knew she was going to be arrested.

On Thursday, another of Meng's lawyers, Tony Paisana said that Kirkland's evidence about handing Meng's passcodes to police by accident had been a "complete fabrication".

Meng's lawyers have also depicted her as the victim of a political prosecution, tainted by the comments of former US president Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that appeared to link her case to a US trade deal with China.

Meng, who is Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, is accused by US prosecutors of defrauding HSBC bank by lying about Huawei's business dealings in Iran, thus putting the bank at risk of breaching US sanctions on Tehran. She denies the charges.

Her long fight against extradition may be nearing its final stages. The current phase of hearings, which will also address arguments that the US has no jurisdiction under international law to bring the fraud charges, is scheduled to continue until April 1.

The last arguments and a committal hearing are scheduled for April 26 to May 14, after which Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes must decide whether to free Meng or approve her being sent to the US to face trial.

However, appeals could drag out the process for year, and the final decision on whether to extradite her will rest with Canada's justice minister.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2021 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2021. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Editor: It is election time again. Fran Kovaleski is running for reelection as Lackawanna County register of wills.

I recently heard Kovaleski reportedly works from her home in Florida during the months of January, February and March. I believe this is outrageous.

Lackawanna County taxpayers pay Kovaleski to work from her home in Florida. This supposedly has gone on for years. Lackawanna County should have rules set in stone that if you work in the county you must live here year-round, not just for nine months.

Kovaleski should work in Lackawanna County. Remember this when you go to vote in the May 18 primary election.

FAY FRANUS

SCRANTON

Editor: Thanks to The Times-Tribune staff for the wonderful surprise to see our parents, who passed away from COVID-19 last year, featured in the March 7 Sunday Times front page article, The lives we lost.

Im sure members of all the other families who lost loved ones and were mentioned in the story were equally and pleasantly surprised at the newspapers invigorating portrayal of family memories.

I can only imagine the time it took to dive into the newspapers archives for stories about each lost soul. My sisters and I had forgotten the poem our mother attempted to find authorship of, which the storys condensed biography brought to our attention.

My fathers biography reminded me of the free roof we put on a city residents house for the Hill Neighborhood Association. I had forgotten all about it. My father and I were in the general contracting business for 40 years and I miss him dearly, as well as my mom. They each passed three days apart from COVID-19 complications.

We thank staff writers Brooke Williams and David Singleton and all the staff who contributed to illustrate how this pandemic has touched so many lives.

BOB QUELL

SCRANTON

ALICE DAVIS

THROOP

Editor: There certainly exists a serious disconnect in the way some in our American society perceive social issues. We get this sense in reading The Times-Tribune March 1 editorial, State death penalty itself should die.

Many would agree that the death penalty is a barbaric anachronism putting the United States and Pennsylvania in a league with some of the worst regimes on the planet. Many, however, ask why The Times-Tribune will not use such a forceful statement on abortion and place the United States and Pennsylvania in the same regime when it comes to abortion. There is the disconnect.

To many, abortion is just a concept and not a killing. Discussion of the subject never gets to the actual procedure and the ugly details. By what twisted logic can anyone talk about advancing a moral and just society while supporting and defending policies that permit and even fund depriving children in the womb of their most fundamental right, life itself? Is it not time that the pendulum be recalibrated to reflect on the death penalty and the sanctity of life?

The words of St. Mother Teresa in her 1979 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech bear reflection: Abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace today. Because if a mother can kill her own child  what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me there is nothing in between.

One would actually wonder why we still have the death penalty.

ANNE and JOE GRADY

SCRANTON

Editor: On March 10, the Pennsylvania Legislature introduced bills banning abortions at six weeks.

These bills would prevent pregnant people from getting abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy  only about two weeks after a missed period. This is before many people even know that they are pregnant.

Pennsylvania politicians exploit COVID-19 to try to ban abortion. They waste taxpayers time and money by continuing to focus on slashing access to reproductive health care. Six-week bans on abortion have been struck down each time they have been challenged. Courts in states such as Kentucky, Mississippi, North Dakota, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee easily have blocked those states bans, acknowledging that it is unconstitutional for a state to prohibit a person from choosing abortion before viability  regardless of any exceptions made in the law.

When politicians attack health care, they disproportionately impact those who already face barriers to health care: people of color, immigrants, women, members of the LGBTQ community, young people, those with low incomes and people who live in rural communities. Politicians should focus on expanding access to health care, ramping up the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, helping families and businesses access aid and making communities healthier.

These misguided priorities have weakened our public health infrastructure when we need it the most. Our message to our patients is this: Our doors are open. To everyone in Pennsylvania, abortion remains safe and legal here and in the other 49 states. Our mission remains to provide care, no matter what.

MELISSA REED

WARMINSTER, BUCKS COUNTY

PLANNED PARENTHOOD KEYSTONE

Editor: Please ask members of Congress to support House Resolution 135 designating May as Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month.

Spondyloarthritis affects 3.2 million in the United States, more than rheumatoid arthritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis combined. Painful symptoms can begin in childhood and typically occur before the age of 45. Some people with spondyloarthritis progress to spinal fusion and become prone to fractures, thoracic kyphosis or eroded peripheral joints, especially the hips and shoulders.

Inadequate awareness of spondyloarthritis led to the average delayed diagnosis between seven and 10 years.

Early diagnosis is critical in effectively treating the disease, preventing certain complications and improving quality of life and function for those impacted with spondyloarthritis.

MARIA TILBERRY

DUNMORE
Irans powerful conservatives in control of the countrys new parliament have begun collecting signatures for a motion that could effectively lead to the impeachment of two powerful ministers in President Hassan Rouhanis Cabinet.

In their draft bid, those lawmakers are set to summon Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh to grill him on a list of 20 cases of incompetency, which they believe have dealt serious damage to Irans economy. They have also prepared a lawsuit against the veteran minister, which they plan to file with the Iranian judiciary as early as next week.

We do believe that his continued presence in the Oil Ministry will no longer serve national interests, said Ebrahim Rezaee, who is a member of the parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. Rezaee also attacked the oil minister over his concentration on selling crude rather than boosting oil byproducts. During Zangenehs tenure, we have seen competitors occupy Irans position at the international oil market, the conservative lawmaker added. Zangeneh is also accused by hard-liners of stalling the development of Irans oil industry after a mass exodus by international energy giants following the US departure from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018.

In a counterargument, however, the Rouhani government says Zangeneh has been facing a series of tremendous challenges trying to mitigate the impacts of US pressure on Irans oil industry and get Irans crude flow through unconventional markets despite crippling sanctions. In the economic war imposed by Washington, Zangeneh has earned the title of the general from his supporters.

The other minister facing the rage of conservative lawmakers is Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli. Appointment of incompetent local governors and mismanagement of the aftermaths of floods and earthquakes are among the multiple accusations the interior minister has to answer to. Yet the most pressing issue concerns his handling of the governments fuel price scheme. The controversial plan was implemented in November, sparking nationwide rallies led by lower- and middle-class Iranians, who argued that the price hikes would further shrink their purchasing power and drain their pockets.

During the unrest, Rahmani Fazli came to be known as the face of the state, leading what was seen as an iron-fist response to the public discontent. According to official data, at least 200 Iranians were killed in the street clashes, while other accounts put the death toll at way higher levels. A few months into the crisis, a group of Reformist lawmakers in the preceding parliament went out of their ways to impeach the same minister. Nevertheless, an informal directive from the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made them abort the plan.

Since the start of his second term in 2017, Rouhani has bid farewell to eight ministers in his 19-member Cabinet: Four have resigned, three have been impeached and one has been dismissed. Should the ongoing impeachment motions succeed, Rouhani will have to face yet another crisis in the closing year of his term  one he may not find easy to head off. Article 136 of the Iranian Constitution stipulates that once half of a Cabinet's ministers lose their seats, the sitting president must seek a new vote of confidence from parliament for his entire Cabinet.
After taking a brief beak last week, the US rig count resumed its upward climb this week.

Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes and data analytics firm Enverus reported Friday the US rig count rose nine to 411 for the week. While well above the record low 244 reported last August, the count is still 361 rigs below the 772 recorded in March 2020.

There were 318 rigs drilling for oil, up nine for the week. A year ago, there were 684 rigs drilling for oil, 346 more than this week. There were 92 rigs drilling for natural gas, unchanged for the week and 14 below the 106 at work a year ago.

Texas lost one rig to 202, 195 below the 397 at work statewide last March. Texas was the only producing state to post a decline this week.

New Mexico jumped seven rigs to 67 and was joined by Louisiana and North Dakota as producing states to gain rigs.

The Permian Basin added four rigs for 216 at work in the region, 189 below the 405 active last year.

Lea County, New Mexico, was the most active county in the Permian, rising seven  the biggest jump among Permian counties  to 37. Eddy County, New Mexico, followed with 30 rigs, unchanged for the week.

Midland County had 23 rigs at work within county lines, up one. Reeves County had 21 rigs, down one for the week. Howard County reported 19 rigs, unchanged for the week. Loving County had 15 rigs, unchanged. Martin County dropped four  the steepest decline among Permian counties  to 14. Upton County was unchanged at 12 rigs.

Enverus Rig Analytics reports the count is up 5.5 percent in the last month but still down 41 percent year-over-yera. The largest increases by major basin were in the Gulf Coast (up six to 50) and the DJ Basin (up two to 15).

In the Gulf Coast, half of the week-over-week increase was in Webb County, Texas, where operators are showing renewed interest in gas windows of the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk. SM Energy ramped to two rigs after averaging one rig last year. Cimarex Energy also made an appearance in the data, with one rig drilling a vertical well targeting an unknown formation in the southwest corner of Webb County. The company hasnt spudded a well in the county since 2011 and has yet to drill a horizontal. Lewis Energy added the third rig week-over-week after it averaged one over the last five months. Before that, it hadnt spudding a well in the region since September 2019. Laredo Energy and EOG Resources are also running rigs in Webb County.

In the DJ Basin, Bison Oil & Gas ended its six-month drilling holiday by adding a rig in March. The other addition was due to rig downtime the prior week. The basin is also up by five rigs month over month.
Local representatives have expressed anger over Wicklow Harbour missing out on millions in funding to rejuvenate the whole harbour and port area.

Wicklow County Council applied under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) for works at harbours in Wicklow town, Arklow and Bray to carry out improvements to infrastructure and to support development in the harbour areas and to enhance facilities.

However, while 7.14 million was secured for Bray, both Wicklow and Arklow Harbour missed out. The application sought in the region of 10 million for both harbours.

Fianna Fail Finance Spokesperson Senator Pat Casey is seeking an urgent meeting with Ministers to discuss the lack of funding for Wicklow projects, and believes the fact that all five of Wicklow's TDs hail from north of the county may have played a role in only Bray Harbour receiving funding.

Senator Casey said, 'Over the past number of years I have pointed out that time and time again Wicklow loses out when it comes to securing major Government funding. With the formation of this Government and the appointment of two Cabinet Ministers, I and others expected this to change. Unfortunately this is not happening and while I welcome the 7.4million for Bray, this is one of the lowest allocations announced so far.

'Wicklow Town and Arklow had vitally important projects submitted, and these have received no funding whatsoever. We have five TDs elected from Bray and Greystones and this is now resulting in a lack of support for projects outside that area. This is not good enough. Arklow, Wicklow town, and all our towns and villages are entitled to fair representation and this announcement is very worrying.

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'I will be speaking to Ministers involved with funding projects this week and I will be demanding that all of Wicklow is treated fairly. We have two Cabinet Ministers in Greystones and all five TDs are from the north of the county and this is now resulting in Wicklow projects not being supported.

'This is totally unacceptable, and I will be seeking answers on this. We also received one of the lowest allocations in the whole country. Only County Offaly and Westmeath received less, while other counties were awarded funding for multiple projects,' said Senator Casey.

Cllr John Snell, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, said he was 'shocked' to hear Wicklow Harbour wouldn't receive any funding, and hopes the lack of investment won't impact on the potential for the harbour to act as the possible operations and management base for the Codling Wind Park.

'I was shocked and more than annoyed at Wicklow Harbour missing out because I know how much hard work went into the application,' said Cllr Snell.

'All the indications were that it was a project that would be funded. The lack of funding will delay the whole rejuvenation of the harbour area. The rejuvenation works would also would have assisted Wicklow Harbour's position as the idea location for the operations bade for the Codling Wind Park. I felt they both went hand in hand.

'It's the second time Wicklow Harbour has missed out. Last year the harbour lost out to Arklow as the base for the SSE Renewables' Wind Park. We have been working really hard to secure Wicklow Harbour as the base for Codling and the lack of URDF funding is a massive setback.'

Cllr Gail Dunne is also seeking a meeting with Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD, to discuss the matter.

'It's hugely disappointing to see Wicklow Harbour ignored again, especially when you see the level of funding other counties managed. I was very hopeful the application would be successful. The decision has really angered me and the funding would have been huge for the whole port area. There is another round of URDF in the summer and hopefully Wicklow Harbour will be successful with that application,' said Cllr Dunne.
By SA Commercial Prop News

Liberty Life has taken a space at Menlyn Corner, a prime green location in Pretorias trendy Menlyn which has established and joins a number of other green buildings in the area. Image gallery



Wealth Management Group, Liberty Life has taken a space at Menlyn Corner, a prime green location in Pretorias trendy Menlyn which has established and joins a number of other green buildings in the area.

The on-going development of shopping centres and property developments continues to attract business interest in the city of Pretoria. Menlyn, located in the east of Pretoria and an established commercial node, seems set to continue on this growth path, with the new Menlyn Corner now home to wealth management group, Liberty Life.



With its close proximity to the N1, on the corner of Atterbury Road and Lois Avenue, the Menlyn Corner office precinct offers convenient access off the Atterbury and Garsfontein Road interchanges. Also, good public transport links, including Gautrain buses linking to the Hatfield Gautrain station, and plenty of nearby amenities such as upmarket restaurants, banks, hotels and gyms, make Menlyn Corner a compelling proposition for corporates.



Developed by Growthpoint, Menlyn Corner joins a number of other green buildings in the area. According to John Jack, Director for Galetti, the energy efficiency of the building was one of the key deciding factors for Liberty Life, when considering the 3,600sqm they will occupy within the 10,000sqm AAA-grade building.



Liberty Life decided to consolidate their numerous offices so as to reduce overheads and from the outset, they stipulated the need to find a building that operates in an environmentally sustainable way, says Jack.



According to Growthpoints Debbie Theron, Menlyn Corner was specifically designed to provide appropriate responses to commercial green objectives. She comments, A heat pump incorporated into the construction of the building uses between 30% and 50% of the electrical energy that electric heating of the same capacity would require.



Other energy efficient features include the facade thats designed according to the requirements of new energy standards, the building design that complies with new fresh air regulation and the air conditioning system that allows for separate zones to be activated, resulting in substantial energy saving.



The Menlyn area has proven to be a popular commercial node for a while now, but says Galettis Hugo Moller, the new developments have all stemmed from the iconic Menlyn Maine development.



He explains, Some notable properties have been built in the last 6 years and Menlyn Main, home to Nedbank and Sage, both 4-star green buildings of around 10,000sqm  undoubtedly spurred this growth. Other developments include Menlyn Corporate Park, the 25,000sqm, fully let green development and Podium House, the 10,000sqm complex thats secured 95% tenancy in just over 10 months. Summit Place is another, which is currently under development, and has already completed Powertech's head office, in addition to signing Protea Hotel Fire & Ice and numerous other tenants.



Menlyns proximity to sought after suburbs such as Faerie Glen, Lynnwood, Moreleta Park, Waterkloof Glen and Woodhill contributes further to the high demand the area is experiencing as more and more corporates opt to call Menlyn home.
President Biden officially tapped former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson to be the next NASA administrator on Friday.

Nelson would become just the fourth former astronaut to lead NASA if approved by the U.S. Senate. As a congressman, Nelson flew as a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia in January 1986, the last mission before the Challenger disaster.

Nelson, a longtime Orlando resident, represented Central Florida in Congress before serving three terms as a U.S. senator. He was defeated for a fourth term by Republican Rick Scott in 2018.

He was considered one of the staunch advocates of NASA and the space program in his years in Washington, serving as the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee that oversaw the program.

Nelson already had the backing of his former colleague across the aisle, Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

I cannot think of anyone better to lead NASA than Bill Nelson, Rubio said in a statement Thursday. A Scott spokesperson only said Scott would consider Nelson as he does all White House nominees.

Nelson also drew support from outgoing NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, despite comments from Nelson around the time of Bridenstines own confirmation hearing that the head of NASA ought to be a space professional, not a politician.

Bill Nelson is an excellent pick for NASA Administrator. The Senate should confirm Bill Nelson without delay, Bridenstine said in a statement.

Bridenstine resigned after Biden was sworn in and oversaw Americas return to domestic spaceflight. He said Nelson has the political clout, diplomatic skills and influence to lead the United States back to the moon and eventually to Mars.

Nelson was considered one of the staunchest advocates of NASA and the space program in his years in Washington, co-sponsoring a 2010 bill that created the dual track of allowing commercial companies to kick-start their own space programs while also paving the way for NASA to move beyond low Earth orbit to the moon and Mars.

But reports Thursday of Nelsons eventual selection also drew many negative comments from backers of commercial spaceflight, for which Nelson was initially skeptical, as well as for his backing of the controversial Space Launch System, or SLS, launch vehicle.

The SLS will launch Orion capsules into space as part of the Artemis moon mission, set for 2024. But it is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule, with a successful test run on Thursday coming after a previous test in January had failed.

This article is written by Caroline Glenn and Steven Lemongello from The Orlando Sentinel and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
The Army is moving to double the physical standards grace period for soldiers who give birth. According to a service announcement released Friday night, new mothers in the Army will have 365 days, up from 180, to get back within body fat standards.

"Soldiers will not be entered into the Army Body Composition Program or face adverse administrative actions during this timeframe," officials said in a release. "In addition, Soldiers who are between 181 to 365 days postpartum and were flagged and entered into the ABCP after their pregnancy ended will have their flag removed and they will be removed from the ABCP program."

The change applies to soldiers on active duty and in the Reserve. It comes amid a military-wide conversation about how the services can better support women and mothers in uniform. A thread this month shared on Twitter by the account @thearmymomlife showed a series of photographs of fit female soldiers, many flexing or lifting weights, alongside documents showing they are outside Army body fat standards.

Read Next: Some Troops See Capitol Riot, BLM Protests as Similar Threats, Top Enlisted Leader Says

For women in the Army, body fat maximums range from 30% to 36%. Body fat is assessed if a soldier falls outside height and weight maximums, and is calculated by taping the circumference of the neck and waist -- a system that has long been criticized as inaccurate.

Outside the Army, calls are also mounting for change.

In January, Military.com reported on a woman who was facing discharge from the Marine Corps after failing to fall back inside standard height and weight parameters within the required nine months.

"I had to make the conscious and correct decision to put my daughter's health above my weight loss," Gunnery Sgt. Julianna Pinder wrote in an appeal letter.

In Friday's announcement, Army Resilience Directorate chief Dr. James Helis said service leaders should "ensure nutrition counseling, weight management, and behavior modification resources are available to the Soldier" following childbirth.

"I encourage all leaders to proactively provide education and resources to these Soldiers to help them regain their individual readiness," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael A. Grinston said in a statement.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Related: These Marines Devoted Their Lives to the Corps. Then They Were Singled Out for Having Children
In the first part of Theatre Baton Rouge's production of "Clybourne Park," Black people are moving into an all-White neighborhood.

Fifty years later in Act Two, White people are attempting to gentrify Clybourne Park, which is now an all-Black neighborhood.

Then and now, the residents are uneasy with the prospective changes.

The questions Bruce Norris asked in his 2010 play are still relevant in 2021, with race relations at the forefront in America. That's one reason Andrew Nathan Vessel jumped at the chance to direct "Clybourne Park."

"This is happening in our backyard," he said. "It's slowly starting to happen in Baton Rouge. People living in low-income neighborhoods are starting to see things change around them. But is this change coming with ill intent or is it coming from a place of people wanting to help these communities?"

"Clybourne Park" runs from March 25 to March 28 on the TBR Main Stage, 7155 Florida Blvd. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at theatrebr.org.

Norris loosely based his story on Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 classic, "A Raisin in the Sun," exploring the adversity surrounding a Black family's decision to move from Harlem to the all-White Clybourne Park after receiving an insurance settlement.

Norris' play picks up where Hansberry's left off, moving in Act Two set in the same house in present day.

The same cast performs both acts with each actor playing two parts.

"With 50 years separating them, the characters in each act live in two different worlds, with completely different societal conditions and life circumstances," said Robby Wilson.

Wilson plays grieving father Russ, whose son died by suicide after being shunned by the community upon his return from the Korean War. In Act Two, he is the affable Dan, who is renovating the property.

"I've portrayed a lot of characters through the years, some good, some bad," Wilson said. "I've been far more uncomfortable playing Russ than almost any of the outright villains I've played before. He isn't a bad guy and, in fact, the little interaction he has regarding the issue of race seems to paint him as fairly progressive. But then, near the end of the act, he reacts in a way that shows he still holds a very 1950s attitude toward race relations.

"It's uncomfortable because it made me realize, no matter how 'enlightened' I feel I am today, had I been born in a different time or to different parents, I could very easily have grown up with some very ugly feelings and prejudices."

Allyson Lee experiences the differences between the two acts through the eyes of two Black characters, Francine and Lena.

"The biggest difference is that Francine has more restraints as a Black woman in the 1950s, especially working for a White family," she said. "In order to make a living, she cannot speak her mind without facing deadly consequences."

But circumstances have changed when Lena comes onto the scene.

"She has the ability to speak freely and definitely embodies that," Lee said. "However, the two ladies are still connected by the fact that Black women often face the frustration of being overlooked or unheard."

Ren Price plays Albert and Kevin, also Black characters from two different eras. He found sticking to the lines difficult at times.

+3 Theatre Baton Rouge delivers much needed laughs with 'The Odd Couple' "The Odd Couple" premiered on Broadway more than 50 years ago, but its comedic story still delivers the laughs.

"The biggest challenge for me with these characters is finding reasons not to speak," he said. "That sounds funny, but as much as Ren wants to come out of his characters and give the other characters a piece of my mind, I have to quiet my inner self and justify my silence amid chaos."

Price added that the play has taught him just how much history repeats itself "in the most surprising and discreet ways."

Finally, there's David Hanks, who plays Karl, the only character from "A Raisin in the Sun" in the first act and an academic named Steve in the second.

"At the center of the play is a footlocker," he said. "To me, it symbolizes all the horrors and scars of the past we wish we could bury and never confront again."

But, he added, the past cannot stay buried and a reckoning must occur.

"Today, with protests and demonstrations for justice, hopefully progress will be made toward healing, but people must first be willing to honestly and openly confront the past," he said. "Hopefully, that is one message the audience takes home."
Manchester United will face European debutants Granada for a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League, while Arsenal will take on Slavia Prague.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have been rewarded for their hard-fought last-16 success against AC Milan with a tie against the Spanish newcomers, who squeezed past the Norwegian's former club Molde in the previous round.

They had previously come through a challenging tie with Serie A side Napoli beforehand.

Man United's reward for beating AC Milan is a Europa League quarter-final with Granada

Arsenal, who overcame Olympiacos to reach the last eight, were paired with Slavia Prague

The draw for the remainder of this season's Europa League was made in Nyon on Friday

Europa League draw QUARTER-FINALS Granada vs Manchester United Arsenal vs Slavia Prague Ajax vs Roma Dinamo Zagreb vs Villarreal First legs April 8; Second leg April 15 SEMI-FINALS Granada/Manchester United vs Ajax/Roma Dinamo Zagreb/Villarreal vs Arsenal/Slavia Prague Advertisement

Granada boast a couple of players familiar with playing the Red Devils, with former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado and Chelsea loanee Kenedy among the key members of Diego Martinez's squad.

Arsenal meanwhile, take on Slavia Prague  who have already knocked out two British sides in this year's competition.

The Czech outfit beat Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City in the round of 32, before seeing of Steven Gerrard's Rangers on Thursday night, in match marred by serious allegations of racism against defender Ondrej Kudela.

Arsenal made it through after holding out at home to Olympiacos, sealing their place in the last eight thanks to a 3-2 aggregate win, despite losing 1-0 at home on Thursday night.

Elsewhere, Tottenham's conquerors Dinamo Zagreb have been rewarded for their herculean effort with a tie against Spanish side Villarreal.

Ajax will face Roma over two legs, both having been Champions League finalists in the last three years.

In the semi-final draw, the two English sides have been kept apart, with United set to face either Ajax or Roma.

Arsenal could be set for a reunion with former boss Unai Emery should they meet Villarreal in the last four.

First leg ties are set to be played on Thursday April 8. The second legs will be on Thursday April 13.

The former Tottenham forward Roberto Soldado plays for Spanish club Granada

Slavia Prague made the last eight following a fiery second leg meeting with Rangers

Dinamo Zagreb will face Villarreal next after their astonishing last 16 victory over Tottenham

SCROLL DOWN TO RE-LIVE HOW THE DRAW UNFOLDED
Sarah Hunter Frazer is a nurse at Medical Outreach Ministries, a clinic in Montgomery for people who live in poverty. Shes been asking her patients for weeks if theyll take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Theres a lot of fear, theres a lot of wait and see approach, she said.

Her most vulnerable patients are more likely to agree to a vaccine than the younger ones, she said. Those that are more critically sick are not questioning as much.

To understand the picture more deeply and to hopefully address patients underlying worries, Frazers clinic is doing a formal survey on feelings about the vaccine.

The results so far are surprising to staff. Of 200 patients polled, 60 percent say they want the vaccine, 25 percent are unsure, and the rest dont want it.

The greatest reason for hesitancy among all groups? Worries about paying for the vaccine. Thats despite the fact it is free.

Weve just been thinking all along that everyone knows its free, but obviously not, said clinic director Molly Stone.

The initial survey results show 66 percent of clients at the clinic, which serves people living at 200 percent of the poverty level or below, reported worries about cost as a reason for vaccine hesitancy, surpassing all other reasons.

The federal government is covering the cost of vaccines. Providers are allowed to bill insurance companies for the cost of administering the vaccine, which is why they ask for insurance cards. Patients cannot be billed for vaccinations.

Stone and her staff speculate that because vaccine clinics are asking people to bring their cards, those who lack coverage may not realize its not necessary to have for a free shot.

We just assumed it was lack of transportation or I dont know enough people whove gotten it or Im scared, or I dont know enough about it, said Stone, citing possible sources of hesitancy, including historical concerns among African American clients about the federal syphilis study at Tuskegee.

Experts say anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of the population will need protection to reach herd immunity, a point when the chain of COVID-19s viral transmission will be slowed and eventually stopped.

Polling from the Pew Research Center found that 77 percent of Americans say they are willing to get the shot. People in lower-income groups are among the most hesitant about vaccines, researchers found.

The clinic is gearing up to offer vaccines on site. To do so, they first had to purchase a new refrigerator. In anticipation of the need for education around vaccines, Stones clinic is partnering with a non-profit group called Sostento, which is working with free and charitable clinics nationwide to address barriers to pandemic care.

We know that this is an urgent issue, said CEO Joe Agoada about the vaccine rollout. The group conducted the poll as a pilot in Alabama to learn more about the questions patients have.

We dont want to be throwing things against the wall and see what works, said Agoada who added that a lot of sources of information and misinformation about vaccines on social media and in the news creates a noisy environment to break through with tailored messaging.

Another unexpected finding is most patients at the clinic do not want to get information about vaccines from their churches or places of worship. Sostentos next step is to develop messaging in partnership with local clinics based on the survey results.

Weve got ways we can text message, email, (or) provide a flyer stapled to their medicine bag, said Stone.

Written responses to the survey havent been included in results yet, so the picture is incomplete. Frazer, the nurse, says her conversations with patients reveal a broad range of concerns.

A lot of people were saying that theyve heard there were all these people who have died immediately from the vaccination, and Im like, that is not true, you do the research and fact finding.

The takeaway of the survey may be a hopeful sign for the clinic, given that worries about cost may be relatively easy to overcome, said Stone.

Its actually kind of good news, she said. Because that we can handle (explaining), oh, its free.
Front: Robbie and Lila Sinnott with (back) Linda Keating from the Marie Keating Foundation and Tom and Laura Sinnott, owners of Wexford Preserves, at Hook Lighthouse. Photo: Mary Browne

Artisan food producer Wexford Home Preserves has unveiled its 2021 marmalade season range and the New Ross business is donating 50c a jar to the Marie Keating Foundation from the sales of its new pink grapefruit marmalade.

This year sees the introduction of a new Sicilian Pink Grapefruit Marmalade - made by hand with organic pink grapefruit and lemons from organic citrus farm Il Biviere in Sicily.

Wexford Home Preserves owners Tom and Laura Sinnott said: 'We all know that charities have really struggled in the last year to raise funds and many of our lives have been impacted by cancer. The Marie Keating Foundation works tirelessly to help in cancer prevention, awareness and support.'

For every jar of Wexford Home Preserves Sicilian Pink Grapefruit Marmalade sold, Wexford Home Preserves will donate 50 cent to the Marie Keating Foundation.

Based at the Waterford Road Business Park, family run business Wexford Home Preserves is a multi award-winning company that sells its products nationwide.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 10:43:18|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Cuba on Friday began phase 3 clinical trials of its Abdala COVID-19 vaccine, Marta Ayala, director general of Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, told a press conference.

"Three doses will be administered to participants with two-week intervals" in-between, she said, adding that the country has set up 20 clinical sites and more than 40 vaccination centers to keep pace with the trials.

The inoculation of volunteers with the homegrown vaccine candidate is expected to start Monday, four days after the phase 3 trials was approved by the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices.

The study, which is due to be completed by July, plans to enroll some 48,000 participants aged 19-80 from the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Granma.

Cuban started phase-3 clinical trials for its domestically manufactured Soberana 02 vaccine earlier this month.

On Friday, the Caribbean nation recorded three more COVID-19 related deaths and 735 new cases, taking the national counts to 387 and 65,149 respectively. Enditem
Massachusetts city becomes 2nd to legally recognize polyamorous relationships

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The city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is home to Harvard University, has officially recognized polyamory, making it the second city in the state to do so.

Last week, the Cambridge City Council approved an ordinance amending the citys existing statute so that domestic partnerships are not limited to only two people.

The city of Sommerville, Massachusetts, the community just north of Cambridge, implemented a similar change last summer.

A domestic partnership in the city that is home to Harvard University is now defined as the entity formed by two or more persons who are not related and "consider themselves to be a family. They must file a registration stating that they are in a relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment and intend to remain in such a relationship."

The revised policy removes the requirement that everyone in the partnership must live together and also scraps a section that makes domestic partners submit proof of their familial relationship to the city.

"Polygamy was foreseeable because the arguments in support of same-sex marriage always had broader implications, said Joseph Backholm, a senior fellow at the Christian conservative activist organization Family Research Council, wrote in an email to The Christian Post Thursday.

Those fighting to redefine marriage refused to discuss those implications because they were more concerned with getting what they wanted. Those who were concerned about the long-term implications of same-sex marriage were called bigots and fear-mongers. Now, it turns out, they were simply correct.

Tweeting on the Cambridge policy change last week, Andrew Walker, a professor of ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, mused sarcastically that the polyamory ordinance was no biggie though, because the revolution is happening with great amounts of winsomeness and $1,400 checks, referring to the recently-dispersed stimulus funds from the federal government.

The recently formed Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition (PLAC), which gave input concerning the change in Cambridge, said in a statement that they hoped that it will be a wave of legal recognition for polyamorous families and relationships in 2021.

Among those in the new coalition who praised the move were members of the American Psychological Associations Committee on Consensual Non-Monogamy.

As CP reported in July 2019, no date was given as to when this particular APA division was formed. But a Facebook page for the task force is dated April 2018. The work of this APA task force expressly aims to reduce "stigma" on practitioners of polyamory.

Other advocates backing the change likened the embrace of polyamory to other kinds of families.

Non-nuclear families  such as single parents supported by relatives, step-families, open adoption families, multi-generational families, multi-parent families, and polyamorous families  have changed the landscape of American society, and yet, many of these diverse family structures are not protected or recognized by the law," Alexander Chen of the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic said in a statement.

The policy change comes on the heels of other recent developments on family law.

Last month, a California judge permitted all three members of a gay male throuple to be listed as the parents on two children's birth certificates.

It was really important to be recognized as the family that we are, and thankfully we live in California, which is a state that, after some teeth pulling and fighting, actually did then allow us to do that, so that was amazing," one of the men said in an interview with an Australian talk show.
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Gatherings to honor the dead have happened since the dawn of humankind. In our modern era, when a loved one dies, families come close, gather their ranks and lean on one another for support during a 
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President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke at Emory University in Atlanta on Friday.

The two spoke about Tuesday's shootings and addressed the rise in Anti-Asian hate crimes.

Biden said that, Georgia and its voters, 'made it possible to pass the American Rescue Plan."

See more stories on Insider's business page.

In heartfelt speeches on Friday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed Tuesday's shootings at Atlanta-area Asian-owned spas, honoring the victims and calling for an end to attacks against Asian Americans.

Biden and Harris met with AAPI leaders in Georgia prior to the speech, on a day that was originally scheduled to be a thank you rally for their supporters and a celebration of the passage of the COVID-19 relief bill, the American Rescue Plan.

"Too many Asian Americans are walking down the street and worrying," Biden said, with he and Harris addressing the 3,800 incidents of hate reported by Stop AAPI hate in the wake of the pandemic.

Biden spoke about the "public health crisis of gun violence," in relation to Tuesday's attacks, where a gunman targeted three Asian-owned spas, killing eight and wounding one.

The President also focused largely on the American Rescue Act and singled out Georgia voters and the fight for voting rights in the state. He thanked the voters and Georgia's newest senators, Sens. Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff, saying that because Warnock and Ossoff were elected, "you made it possible to pass the American Rescue Plan."

"If anyone ever wondered if voting can change a country, Georgia just proved it can," Biden said, adding that 88% of adults in Georgia would benefit from stimulus checks.

"The best thing we can do to fight against this virus is setting aside politics and embracing science. The right to vote is fundamental, and record turnout in the midst of a pandemic should be something to celebrate not attack," Biden remarked.

Adding that the administration met its goal of administering 100 million COVID-19 vaccines in sixty days, forty days ahead of schedule, Biden added that, "Now is the time for optimism, but not a time for relaxation."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Throughout much of the humanitarian crisis in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray over the last few months, access for journalists and aid agencies has been severely restricted, making it difficult to verify reports of what was happening on the ground. Now, that's changing, and a clearer picture of the violence is coming into focus.

Nine doctors in Ethiopia and one in a Sudanese refugee camp told CNN that they've seen an alarming increase in sexual assault and rape cases since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive in Tigray. A CNN team also spoke with several women who described being raped by Ethiopian and allied Eritrean soldiers as they fled the fighting. One doctor at a hospital said more than 200 women had been admitted for sexual violence in recent months, while many more cases have been reported in rural villages and centers for internally displaced people, which have little or no access to medical care.

"The women that have been raped say that the things that they say to them when they were raping them is that they need to change their identity -- to either Amharize them or at least leave their Tigrinya status ... and that they've come there to cleanse them ... to cleanse the blood line," Dr. Tedros Tefera, who works at a refugee camp in Hamdayet, Sudan, told CNN. "Practically this has been a genocide."

BBC also provided a deeper look at what's happening in Tigray, detailing a growing crisis in Shire, a city of 170,000 which has seen a huge influx of people seeking refuge from the fighting. Per BBC, aid agencies estimate that around 200,000 people are living in Shire's makeshift camps. Read more at CNN and BBC.

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San Antonios coronavirus numbers remained at their much-reduced pace Friday as local officials reported 138 newly diagnosed cases and one more death.

The citys risk level is still classified as low and improving, as it was a week ago.

The seven-day rolling average of local new cases has dropped steadily to 143 per day  down from 298 per day only two weeks ago, 639 per day four weeks ago and 1,361 per day six weeks ago.

On Friday, 201 patients sick with the coronavirus were being cared for in San Antonio hospitals, including 34 new patients admitted in the past 24 hours. Among those hospitalized, 75 were being monitored in intensive care units, while 41 were on ventilators to help them breathe.

The latest victim to die after contracting the virus was a Hispanic woman in her 50s being cared for at Methodist Hospital. She died some time in the past two weeks, city officials said.

Our fight against COVID-19 is not over, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. There have been supply disruptions in the vaccination process. And its critically important that as we await more members of our community getting vaccinated, we all wear our masks, practice social distancing and wash our hands. Then, of course, when its our turn, get vaccinated.

On ExpressNews.com: A guide to getting vaccinated in San Antonio

As of Thursday, 220,124 people had been fully vaccinated in Bexar County against the virus, while 389,049 people had received their first doses only, Nirenberg said.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff he expects all local school districts personnel who want to be vaccinated will have done so by the end of next week.

But Nirenberg said the city and the state still arent receiving enough vaccines. We really need to see those numbers increase  not just here in San Antonio, (but) throughout Texas and really throughout the country, he said.

Nirenberg said he expects the Metropolitan Health District to issue updated guidance to schools within the next week or so.

Since the pandemic began one year ago, public health officials have recorded 201,411 cases of the virus and 2,996 deaths among Bexar County residents. At least 160 more deaths reported by the state are still being investigated by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.

Nearly 196,000 Bexar County residents have recovered from the virus in the past year, according to the latest numbers posted Wednesday. That amounts to a recovery rate of 97 percent.

On ExpressNews.com: Free COVID tests offered to San Antonio, Edgewood students, families and school staff on Saturday

In nearby Comal County, public health officials reported only 17 new coronavirus cases Friday. The county has 244 active cases of the virus  including those of 42 residents who are currently hospitalized.

Since the pandemic began one year ago, Comal County has recorded 9,512 cases of the virus and 303 deaths among its residents.

Among those who contracted the virus in the past year are 8,965 residents who have recovered. That amounts to a recovery rate of 94 percent.

Across Texas, 2,552 newly confirmed coronavirus cases and 843 new probable cases were reported Friday, along with 158 more deaths.

Throughout the pandemic, nearly 2.4 million Texans have been diagnosed with confirmed cases of the virus, while an additional 377,151 cases are considered probable.

During that same one-year period, 46,235 Texans died after contracting the virus, according to state health department statistics.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare
New Delhi: Graduate Aptitude Test For Engineering (GATE) results have been declared. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has announced the results of the GATE 2021on Friday (March 19).

The candidates who have appeared for this examination can visit the official website of the Graduate Aptitude Test For Engineering (GATE). The candidates will need to log in with their credentials in order to check and download their result.

Graduate Aptitude Test For Engineering (GATE) examination 2021 was conducted by IIT Bombay on February 6, 7, 13, 14 at multiple centres across India.

Falguni Banerjee Naha, Public Relation Officer, IIT Bombay said "A total of 913275 Admit cards were issued to the candidates to appear for GATE 2021 examination, which was conducted on 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th February 2021. Two additional days namely, 5th and 12th February were used to ensure safety measures at the examination centres as per the social distancing model with isolation facility."

Out of the total 7,11,542 candidates who appeared for the GATE 2021 exams, merely 17.82% (1,26,813) have passed the exam. 98732 male and 28081 female candidates passed the exam.

Graduate Aptitude Test For Engineering (GATE) examination 2021 was conducted in a total of 27 papers which includes two newly introduced papers viz., Environmental Science and Engineering (ES) and Humanities and Social Sciences (XH).

Candidates can download the official scorecard for Graduate Aptitude Test For Engineering (GATE) examination 2021 from the GOAPS portal from March 30 to June 30 2021.

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'I'm asking for a home, I work, I can afford to pay rent but yet I'm arguing and fighting for months to get a place to call home.' Stock photo

A young Gorey man has found himself living from couch to couch as he struggles to secure accommodation in his early 20s having grown up in foster care.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, turned 23 in March 2020 and was in full-time education at the time. He had been availing of Tusla's aftercare programme, which is available to those aged 18 to 21 but can be extended to 23 if someone is in full-time education.

When the pandemic hit last year, he said he was told by Tusla that his aftercare supports would stay in place until he finished his studies in June of last year but to his surprise, all support was dropped in March 2020.

'I've been in foster care since the age of three and, last March, I told Tusla that after college was finished I'd be going back to Wexford as that's where I'm from, grew up here and I have family and friends,' said the young man.

'I was told that I'd be automatically assigned to Focus Ireland and that a support worker would be set up to get a plan for me. They tried to get someone for me at the Wexford office, but no one would take me on. The reason for this was that there was no one available and there was a lack of supports.

'When it came to March, Covid came and I was still in college doing my dissertation.

'At the start of March, Tusla called to confirm that all of my supports were being extended until I finished my education, which I thought was great but, two weeks later, I heard that they'd be cutting all of my supports. Tusla said that they had to re-evaluate everyone to see if they could afford to support themselves. I was unemployed and in full-time education but they decided that I did not need the supports and that was it'.

The young graduate said that was the last contact he had from Tusla.

'They cut me off suddenly at a time when I needed the most supports. I rang them to ask about HAP and rent allowance, they answered my questions but they wouldn't do any advocating on my behalf. They didn't try to source me accommodation and I got no support from Focus Ireland.'

He said that he felt abandoned by the system during a pandemic and that entering emergency accommodation now would be the last resort.

The young man has been staying with a friend since last March but it was only ever meant to be on a short-term basis.

'We could get reported to the landlord or kicked out. I have made it somewhat of a home, but I'm aware that it could change at any minute and my friend will be moving out at the end of the month.

'The clock is ticking and although there's pressure, it's not like I can try harder as I've done everything I can do. I contacted Focus Ireland last week and told them about the situation, but they could advise me to do anything else than what I am doing now.

'My brothers are renting locally and I stay on their couches from time to time but I can't go back to the foster family as they now have two other children they've fostered. My foster mother told me that I should just take the emergency homeless accommodation in Wexford when I'm offered it, whenever it is which is another thing I'll have to wait for, but the way I see it is I can't move into emergency accommodation in the middle of a pandemic and be expected to work back in Gorey and have a mentally well state of mind. Once I'm kicked out of where I am now, my only option I feel is couch surfing full time as emergency accommodation is the last resort.

'I'm extremely frustrated as I've looked for a place to live non stop, I've emailed letting agents constantly. I'm asking for a home, I work, I can afford to pay rent but yet I'm arguing and fighting for months to get a place to call home'.

He explained that he is on the housing list and has qualified for HAP but has not been able to use it as he hasn't been able to secure accommodation.

'I have always had rental references, a month's rent and deposit saved up even before starting my new job last September. The problem is that Gorey rent prices are staggering. A new property will get listed for two days before the contract is signed by the new tenants. I've viewed a few dozen places, in some cases I'm the first person to view it. I tell the agent I want to take this place, I have a deposit, I have the month's rent up front and my references but I'm still not successful.

'Having been in foster care, I'm aware of others who are bound to be in the same situation as myself eventually. Research show that more than a third of those who leave state care become homeless or at risk of homeless'.

He said that he has been in contact with local politicians.

'I've been in touch with (Cllr) Andrew Bolger and (Senator) Malcolm Byrne and they've tried their best and been very helpful, they're trying to push my case on. I'm in constant touch with the housing officers in the council but it's not really going anywhere at the moment.

'I'd hope to stay in Gorey but I've been looking for places outside of Gorey, as I drive, but it's the same situation half an hour outside. Prices aren't as bad but it's just the demand, it's crazy. At the moment, the way it's working out is that any letters I have are sent to the foster home, I can't get letters changed to the address I'm staying at. I am working now but have other jobs lined up for whenever the lockdown ends but that's not going to help the housing at the minute. I think it doesn't matter how much money you have as it's not going to solve the problem,' he said.

In a statement, Tusla said that a comprehensive assessment of need determines the level of service that will be offered to the young person referred to the after care service.

'Whilst it is not appropriate for Tusla to discuss individual situations in the public domain, we will look at the details of the case in question. Where someone is not happy with their engagement with the agency we would be anxious to hear from them so we can support them in whatever way possible. Tusla is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for young people in care, to adequately prepare young people for leaving care, and to ensure consistency of support to these young people in after care from 18 years and up to 21 years of age. This may be extended until the age of 23 if a young adult is in full time education or accredited training, in line with the 1991 Child Care Act.

'After care looks to build on the skills and capacity that young people have learned and developed during their time in care.

In relation to the housing situation, Tusla said: 'While the agency does not have a direct remit in the area of homelessness, Tusla pro-actively works with partner organisations such as Local Housing Authorities and the Department of Environment to advocate for young people leaving care, and to advance housing schemes for care leavers in Ireland.'

Cllr Andrew Bolger, who has been working with Wexford County Council on this case, said that a system must be put in place so that those in need can be helped before their situation reaches crisis point.

'HAP works in the short-term and it's a short-term vehicle for a long-term issue but we need to start building houses. I've been told by Wexford County Council that with more social housing coming along, this will free up rental accommodation and it might alleviate a place for this man to go into but you're basing that on luck, which is not something you want to do,' said Cllr Bolger.

'We need to find a system or mechanism that allows people to come forward before they become homeless. There's other people who could be financially secure on Monday and something could happen in that they're not OK by the weekend. We need to get in there early and work on early intervention. I don't have all the answers but we need to have the discussion.'
The gunman who shot dead eight people at three Georgia spa facilities on Tuesday was reportedly treated for sex addiction at a rehab center less than a mile from where he began his rampage.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, allegedly attended sessions at the evangelical HopeQuest center in Acworth - located just down the road from Young's Asian Massage Parlor, where he killed four people.

After shooting up that parlor, Long then drove 27 miles into Atlanta, where he killed four more people at two other spa facilities.

The accused reportedly told police that his attacks were motivated by his sex and pornography addictions.

Long, who grew up as a Southern Baptist, was treated at HopeQuest on two separate occasions, according to San Francisco Gate.

He first entered treatment there in 2019, before returning the following year, his former roommate, Tyler Bayless, told the publication.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, was a patient at the evangelical HopeQuest center in Acworth - just down the road from Young's Asian Massage Parlor, where he killed four people

Long, who grew up as a Southern Baptist, was treated at HopeQuest on two separate occasions, according to San Francisco Gate

Long first entered treatment at HopeQuest (pictured) in 2019, before returning the following year

Bayless claims Long blamed his troubles on pornography, and bought a flip phone that was not connected to the internet in a bid to avoid 'temptation'.

HopeQuest has ties to 'several large evangelical churches in and around Atlanta' and makes frequent references to God on its website.

One statement on the site reads: 'Although most men struggle with lustful thoughts, acting on those thoughts - whether through fantasy and masturbation, using pornography... is always hurtful to God'.

In addition to treating sex and pornography addiction, it has also reportedly offered 'conversion therapy' for those who are gay and bisexual.

HopeQuests's founder and creator, Roy Blankenship, advertises himself as 'ex-gay'. He is not longer associated with the facility.

The center's current director of clinical programs, Wayne Carriker, also considers himself 'ex-gay'.

It's unclear when Young last visited HopeQuest, and it is not known whether he was an inpatient or an outpatient. The facility has refused to comment.

Long was in close proximity to the rehab facility when he killed four people at Young's Massage Parlor on Tuesday.

The HopeQuest center is reported to have once offered 'conversion therapy' for gay and bisexual people

It is unclear whether Long was an inpatient who stayed at the facility. It's possible he may have simply attended sessions held during the day

The rehab is set on several acres of wooded land, offering tranquil surrounds for those struggling with sex and porn addictions

Prior to going inside the parlor, Long was seen on surveillance video sitting in his black Hyundai Tuscon for an hour and watching people enter the business.

Long then reportedly spent 72 minutes inside the parlor, suggesting that he may have gotten a massage before opening fire.

Photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com in the aftermath of the shooting show bloodstains on the floor inside the spa and sheets in disarray on massage tables.

The victims of the Young's Massage Parlor attack have been identified as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44.

HopeQuest is located just down the road from Young's Asian Massage Parlor, where Long killed four people on Tuesday

Images exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com show blood staining the floor inside Young's Asian Massage Parlor after the bodies had been removed

Delaina Yaun, 34, was killed while inside Young's Asian Massage Parlor

Paul Michel, 54, was an Army veteran who was installing a security system at Young's Asian Massage Parlor in Cherokee County when he was shot dead

Xiaojie Tan, 49 (right), was the owner of Young's Asian Massage spa; she is survived by her daughter Jami Webb (left), a recent University of Georgia graduate

Long then drove almost 30 miles to Atlanta, where he entered Gold Massage Spa and killed three women.

The deceased have been identified as Soon C. Park, 44; Hyun J. Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69, and 63-year-old Yong Yue.

Long then went on the run and was driving to Florida to target porn-industry locations when he was arrested 150 miles south of Atlanta, police said. Officers rammed his Hyundai off the road to take him into custody where he is said to have confessed to the killings.

Police say they found Long thanks to help from his parents, who recognized him from surveillance footage posted by authorities and gave investigators his cellphone information.

Six of the eight victims were of Asian descent, prompting protests against racial violence across the country.

Incidences of hate crimes against Asian-Americans have soared in the past year.

This map shows the locations of the three shootings in the Atlanta area and the place where Long was ultimately arrested
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Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Dr. Faisal Sultan Saturday said that the COVID-19 case positivity ratio has become doubled in the past few days reaching 9.5% from 4%

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Mar, 2021 ) :Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Dr. Faisal Sultan Saturday said that the COVID-19 case positivity ratio has become doubled in the past few days reaching 9.5% from 4%.

Addressing a media briefing, Dr. Faisal said that Covid cases are jumping up for the past two weeks and urged the citizens to strictly follow COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent the disease in the wake of a sudden increase in the number of infections in the country.

"We regularly monitor positivity ratio at national, provincial and city level and when it increases it incurs burden on healthcare capacity. The pressure is mounting in the Federal capital, Peshawar, Karachi, and major urban centers of Punjab." He said that keeping in view the disease risk certain restrictions were imposed focusing on high-risk sectors with mass gathering, however, he said that an overall poor administrative compliance of guidelines and actions was seen and requested all provincial administrations to seriously take note of this.

He said that there are certain variants of the virus originating from the African States where travel restrictions will be imposed to contain disease spread.

He said that senior citizens' walk-in registration was introduced for above 70 year age citizens and now they can visit for vaccination from all listed vaccination centers.

He said that this time is not of any complacency rather strict compliance of SOPs. "COVID-19 is a deadly virus but we can control it just as we controlled it by following the SoPs during the first wave." Dr. Faisal said that the government is seeking full cooperation of the citizens in adhering to the SoPs. "We can save precious lives including those of our near and dear ones by taking preventive measures." He asked the citizens to wear a mask, maintain social distance, wash hands with soap frequently and avoid crowded places.

He said that two tranches of procured vaccine will reach by end of month. He urged the healthcare workers and those eligible to get vaccinated to protect themselves as well as their loved ones.

He said that better services are being ensured at COVID-19 vaccination centers to facilitate the senior citizens. He said that keeping in view the interest of senior citizens for COVID vaccination, the staff and number of centers are being increased.
Will file defamation case against Parambir Singh: Anil Deshmukh

India

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Mumbai, Mar 20: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Saturday evening that he will file a defamation case against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh for accusing him of corruption.

Deshmukh, an NCP leader, had tweeted earlier refuting Singh's allegation that he had asked police officers to collect money from bars, restaurants and other establishments. In a statement, Deshmukh also asked why Singh was keeping silent for so long, and alleged that the IPS officer, shunted out from the post of city police commissioner on Wednesday, was only trying to save his own skin in the Sachin Waze case.

"The allegations made by Singh are false and I am filing a case of defamation against him," Deshmukh said. "In the Mukesh Ambani case and the Mansukh Hiran death case, Sachin Waze's involvement was established and the trail was to reach Param Bir Singh. It is due to this possibility that these allegations have been leveled," Deshmukh said.

Anil Deshmukh asked Waze to collect Rs 100 crore for him per month: Parambir Singh tells CM Thackeray

On Thursday, a day after Param Bir Singh was shunted out, Deshmukh had said he was transferred after some of his colleagues committed "serious and unforgivable mistakes". Singh alleged in his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that Deshmukh had told Waze that he had set a target of collecting Rs 100 crore a month, half of it from nearly 1,750 bars, restaurants and similar establishments operating in the city.

"If Sachin Waze told him about this in February, why was Singh quiet till now? Singh took the decision to reinstate Sachin Waze after 16 years (after he was suspended in Khwaja Yunus custodial death case)," Deshmukh said.

Maharashtra government has no right to continue even for a minute: BJP

"Sensing trouble in the explosives case, Singh has leveled baseless allegations to blackmail the government. This is a conspiracy by Singh to mislead the probe into the explosives and Mansukh Hiran death cases," the minister said.

The chief minister should order an impartial probe in Singh's allegations, he added. Waze was arrested by the NIA last week in connection with the recovery of explosives-laden Scorpio near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence last month.

The NIA has also taken over the case related to the mysterious death of Mansukh Hiran, from whose possession the SUV had been allgedly stolen.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 22:26 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 21:14:54|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- India and France were working on their third joint satellite mission as the bilateral space collaboration is entering into multiple domains, including the human spaceflight program, officials said Saturday.

The information was shared by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan at the department of science and technology (DST) golden jubilee discourse on unlocking India's space potential -- geospatial data and mapping.

The event was held on Friday virtually by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication.

Sivan said many French companies are keen to tap into opportunities thrown up by recent reforms injected into the space sector by the government.

According to ISRO officials, ISRO and French space agency CNES ( the Centre National detudes spatiales) have undertaken two joint missions "Megha-Tropiques" which was launched in 2011, and "Saral-Altika" in 2013.

"France is the biggest partner of India in space", Sivan said. "Currently, we are working for the third one (mission)."

Officials said ISRO and CNES have completed the feasibility study to realise the earth observation satellite mission with thermal infrared imager, TRISHNA (Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High resolution Natural resource Assessment) and are working towards finalising an implementing arrangement for the joint development.

Sivan said India is also working with France on joint experiments and accommodation of scientific instruments in space missions.

"Indo-French space collaboration is expanding into multiple domains including space exploration and human space flight program," he said. Enditem
La Paz, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Mar, 2021 ) :Bolivia's former interim president Jeanine Anez will be allowed to transfer from prison to a hospital following poor health, a panel of judges said Friday, less than a week after her arrest on charges linked to the ousting of her predecessor Evo Morales.

Three judges from a court in La Paz have accepted her release "for medical examinations by cardiology specialists and tests in order to protect her life and health," they said.

Anez's transfer will be under police "escort" the judges added, and comes after the conservative politician's lawyers filed a request for release earlier in the day.

Authorities arrested and detained Anez, 53, last weekend on charges of leading a coup d'etat against her socialist predecessor, Morales, and charged her with terrorism, sedition and conspiracy alongside her former justice and energy ministers.

According to the documents requesting Anez's release, which were obtained by AFP, the lawmaker was suffering from a "hypertension crisis" and was able to provide copies of medical records.

Anez, who had been sentenced to four months pre-trial detention, was being held in the women's prison in La Paz.

The United States expressed "concern" about Anez's arrest, while the Organization of American States (OAS) called for the release of "all those detained in this context," while questioning the impartiality of Bolivia's courts.

"The Bolivian judicial system is not in a position to provide the minimum guarantees of a fair trial," the office of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro said in a statement.

Bolivia is currently led by Luis Arce, a member of Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS) party that romped to victory in November's general election, winning back the presidency and consolidating its control of Congress.

Morales and Arce both accused Anez of leading what they call a coup, with MAS losing the presidency for a year.

Anez came to power in November 2019 after Morales and several senior MAS allies resigned following weeks of protest at his controversial reelection to an unconstitutional fourth term.

As Morales fled into exile, Anez was the most senior parliamentarian left and was sworn in by Congress as the interim president despite the lack of a quorum, with many MAS legislators boycotting the session.

Arrest warrants have been issued for another three ex-ministers as well as former military and police chiefs and even some civilians accused of leading the protests against Morales's reelection.
The variant, called B.1.1.7, has been reported in at least 94 countries and detected in 50 jurisdictions in the US, Fauci said on Friday during a White House briefing on the pandemic.

Washington: The highly contagious coronavirus variant first identified in Britain likely accounts for up to 30 per cent of the confirmed cases in the US, Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, said.

He added that the numbers are likely growing, reports Xinhua news agency.

Fauci said the B.1.1.7 variant is 50 per cent more transmissible and likely to cause more severe disease.

"We're at a position right now where we have a plateauing at around 53,000 cases per day," he said.

"The concern is that throughout the country there are a number of states, cities, regions that are pulling back on some of the mitigation methods that we've been talking about: the withdrawal of mask mandates, the pulling back to essentially non-public health measures being implemented."

Public health officials and experts are especially concerned about new variants as they could become more resistant to antibody treatments and vaccines.

Fauci urged Americans to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to avoid variants spread.

A total of 5,795 infection cases of coronavirus variants have been reported across the country so far, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Build Back Better is one of the Government's central ambitions, as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.

Boris Johnson has already pledged to spend 100billion on infrastructure investment in the next financial year, with better schools, hospitals, roads and railways all on his radar.

The Prime Minister is not alone. Across the world, governments are pledging to spend more on infrastructure, to improve transport links and ensure that citizens have access to the services they need. But the costs are eye-watering.

Road to riches: BBGI's big infrastructure projects include a bridge in Vancouver

The world already spends around 1.8trillion every year on infrastructure and experts believe that figure will need to rise by almost 50 per cent over 15 years just to keep pace with economic growth.

Yet most governments, including our own, are grappling with huge deficits, following the pandemic.

They could do with some help from the private sector, companies such as BBGI, a global infrastructure business, specialising in essential assets such as roads, schools, hospitals, fire and police stations.

The stock is 1.66 and should enjoy steady gains over the coming years, alongside generous dividends. Joint chief executives Duncan Ball and Frank Schramm report annual results this week and are expected to announce strong figures, alongside a target dividend for 2021 of 7.33p, putting the shares on a yield of 4.36 per cent.

The company floated in 2011 with 19 assets. Today, there are 50, spread across the UK, Europe, America, Canada and Australia.

Here, the group's portfolio includes the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Mersey Gateway Bridge, Lisburn College in Northern Ireland and ten fire stations in Staffordshire.

Overseas, there are schools in Germany, roads in Norway, prisons in Australia and some eye-catching projects in Canada, such as the Golden Ears Bridge in Vancouver.

The assets are wide-ranging but they all provide essential services, they are all built and operated for central or local governments and the average contract is more than 20 years long.

Crucially too, BBGI's remuneration depends not on how much the roads and buildings are used but on whether they are available. This differentiates the group from many other infrastructure firms and tends to mean that annual earnings  and therefore dividends  are predictable, during good times and bad.

Partnerships between government bodies and private sector operators have had a bad rap in recent years but Ball and Schramm, both infrastructure veterans, pride themselves on looking after their assets and making sure customers are satisfied.

Last year, for example, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital became the local hub for Covid-19 patients.

Wards were repurposed, waiting areas were converted to create extra space and changing areas were set up for medical staff. BBGI oversaw the entire programme and continues to monitor works, as the hospital slowly returns to normal.

The group has earned some environmental credentials too. The Kicking Horse Pass in the Rocky Mountains is prone to heavy snowfalls in winter but salt granules, the traditional way of making roads safe, can contaminate local waterways. BBGI has started spraying the road with brine solution instead, which works as well but does not pollute surrounding areas.

Looking ahead, prospects are bright. Infrastructure is in demand, Ball and Schramm have a reputation for reliability and the group has a rich pipeline of potential investments.

In some cases, BBGI bids for projects that are yet to be built. In others, assets are acquired from cash-strapped contractors.

Either way, the group is highly selective, turning away far more projects than it bids for and only pursuing those which conform to strict financial, operational and environmental criteria.

Midas verdict: BBGI's motto is: boring is beautiful. But boring can also yield rewards. Ball and Schramm have delivered consistent dividend and share price growth since flotation and aim to continue doing so. For investors in search of low-risk shares in an uncertain world, BBGI, at 1.66, is a long-term buy.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: BBGI Contact: bb-gi.com or phone +352 2634791
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It was the early hours and a young woman student had forgotten to shut her front door after returning to her West London flat.

Her clumsiness was such a regular occurrence that her landlady had attached a string of cowbells to the door as a reminder to close it.

What was much more noteworthy about this young German was that, back then in 1978, she was studying in London under an alias because of a kidnap threat from the Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang.

As the daughter of a wealthy German politician, she was a target of the notorious far-Left guerrilla group. Today, four decades on, the world is familiar with her clumsiness in a very different guise.

For the girl who loved the British punk band the Buzzcocks is none other than Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and today the face of a bid to sabotage Britain's vaccine supply.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, studied in London under an alias because of a kidnap threat from the Red Army Faction

In her London student days, according to a friend, she wore scruffy jeans and sweaters.

Now, the 62-year-old mother-of-seven has been described as having hair 'regally coiffed into a style reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher with a hint of Princess Diana'.

Considering her youthful enjoyment of the London scene, her aggressive tactics in the face of Britain's vaccine rollout success seem strange.

London was Ursula's sanctuary as the Red Army Faction, which had killed more than 30 people, made her and her aristocratic family a target.

The young Ursula was sent to England to lie low, with the alias Rose Ladson (a combination of her nickname as a child, 'Roschen', or 'Little rose', and her American great-grandmother's surname, Ladson).

While studying at the London School of Economics, she mixed in the capital's punk scene and frequented Camden record shops and Soho bars.

'I lived more than I studied,' she once said. She was also 'a little bit lovesick', say friends, having left her boyfriend behind in Germany.

Considering her youthful enjoyment of the London scene, her aggressive tactics in the face of Britain's vaccine rollout success seem strange

On a visit to the LSE last year, she said her time there had 'opened her eyes', adding: 'I got to know a warm, vibrant, colourful, multi-cultural society  the likes of which I'd never experienced before.'

In comparison, she said, Germany was 'rather monotonous'.

Ursula's ancestors made their fortune in the cotton trade.

Born in Belgium  where she attended the same school as Boris Johnson (although the pair never met), whose father was working in Brussels  her family moved to Germany when she was 13.

She and her five siblings performed songs written by their mother, Heidi, and were likened to a German von Trapp family. They released a single, Welcome To God's Beautiful World, in the year she took refuge in London.

Her father, the governor of the German state of Lower Saxony, was among the politicians targeted by the terrorists.

Ursula enrolled at the LSE when she was 20 with life in London being in stark contrast to the strict, Lutheran atmosphere of her childhood.

Britain, too, was undergoing political turmoil. Right-wing extremists from the National Front clashed with the Anti-Nazi League and the Winter of Discontent resulted in industrial unrest.

For her part, Ursula was able to live freely, despite the threat of kidnap. She stayed on the second floor of a house in Earl's Court with her maternal uncle, Erich Stromeyer.

The property was owned by a Polish woman whose son, Jacek Rostowski, went on to become the deputy prime minister of Poland.

'She would come back around 1am and 2am quite often. But she had the exasperating habit of leaving the door open,' Mr Rostowski told The Mail on Sunday.

'It seemed slightly incautious behaviour for someone being chased by the Baader-Meinhof Gang. The Greek cowbells were to remind her to close the door.'

Another contemporary said she often went to punk concerts and was 'fond of the Buzzcocks'.

At the time, the LSE was a hotbed of revolutionary Marxism. Just a few months before she enrolled, the student newspaper carried an editorial praising the actions of Baader-Meinhof.

Born in Belgium  where she attended the same school as Boris Johnson (although the pair never met), whose father was working in Brussels  her family moved to Germany when she was 13

BBC broadcaster Robert Elms, who wrote of LSE life in the late 1970s in The Way We Wore, recalled running a gauntlet of Maoists,

Trots and 'various far-Left lunatics proffering tracts and prophesying the imminent collapse of capitalism'.

Elms said he has no recollection of meeting the young Ursula. Another contemporary, the actor Ralph Brown who played drug-dealer Danny in the film Withnail And I, said he could not be certain if they had met, but joked: 'I'm fairly sure we didn't have sex.'

He added: 'Back then, LSE was full of unreformed hippies, beatniks, groovers and fresh new student punks.'

It was in this heady atmosphere that Ursula spent a year discarding the shackles of her youth.

Last year, delivering a lecture entitled Old Friends, New Beginnings: Building Another Future For The EU-UK Partnership, she said her time in London had turned her into a lifelong Anglophile.

That seems hard to believe after she ramped up the rhetoric over blocking supplies of the AstraZeneca jab for Britain.

But amid irritation in Downing Street, she may soon have cause to think about London Calling by The Clash.
Brandon Lewis's decision to intervene in the long-standing dispute over abortion services should be a moment of shame for our politicians.

It is a disgrace that Westminster must step in because the Northern Ireland Executive won't do the right thing.

Many people and activists were elated when the Northern Ireland Executive Formations Act 2019 was passed by Parliament. The Act paved the way for equal marriage, decriminalised abortion and allowed terminations in all circumstances for up to 12 weeks. It was expected that abortion services would be commissioned in due course, but they weren't.

If I could describe the Department of Health's position on abortion services it would be this: yes, you have a right to an abortion. No, that doesn't mean you can actually have one.

The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 state that the Department of Health "may..approve a place for the carrying out of terminations."

That single word, 'May,' is the source of the dispute.

The department thinks it must put the matter before the Executive for approval. Westminster disagrees.

The Department's position is being challenged in court by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

The Department's position is curious. Did Westminster really grant women in Northern Ireland the right to have an abortion but give the Assembly the discretion to deny them access? Only a court can decide that question.

Lewis's actions may solve the matter once and for all.

For many women and people in Northern Ireland, having the right to terminate a pregnancy is a form of bodily autonomy. We should be able to decide for ourselves whether we want to be pregnant or not. Our bodies, our choice.

Robin Swann deserves plaudits for how he has handled the pandemic. When it comes to this issue, he has been a failure.

Last year his department was criticised by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In a letter published in October, the body said that it had seen an increase in women obtaining abortions by unregulated methods. It also stated that some women had turned to suicide because they did not want to be pregnant.

Many unionists talk about how they don't feel like they are equal citizens of the UK because of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Those feelings are deeply felt and understandable. Imagine how women in Northern Ireland feel knowing that their sisters in Britain can access abortion and they can't. Paying a tariff on goods crossing the Irish Sea is nothing compared with forced pregnancy.

This isn't about goods or services but basic rights.

Research and opinion polls show that most people in Northern Ireland support abortion reform. This isn't about orange and green.

There is no doubt that Lewis's actions will raise concerns about devolution.

It is important to remember that this issue is also about the United Kingdom's international obligations.

The NI Executive Formations Act 2019 says the Secretary of State must comply with CEDAW, the international treaty about Violence against Women.

Commissioning abortion services is key to fulfilling those obligations.

Section 26 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 states that the Secretary of State can order a Minister to do something if he does something which breaches the UK's international obligations.

The same Act also says that Westminster can still make laws for Northern Ireland.

Brandon Lewis is acting outside convention, but he isn't, in my opinion, doing anything legally wrong.

Women in Northern Ireland have suffered for many years because of our restrictive abortion laws. It is time we had compassion for those women.

Lewis's actions are welcome, but they shouldn't be necessary in the first place.

Sarah Creighton is a political commentator
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President Joe Biden delivers remarks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on March 15, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

White House Shuts Down Putins Invitation to Live Video Chat With Biden

The White House shut down Russian President Vladimir Putins invitation to President Joe Biden for a live chat, which came after the president agreed with the assertion that Putin was a killer in an earlier interview.

We are confident that we can continue to look for ways where theres a mutual interestmutual national interest, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at the White House on Thursday. But the president is not going to hold back, clearly, when he has concerns, whether it is with words or actions.

Biden held an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos, where Biden was asked if he believed Putin was a killer. I do, the president said in response, adding that Putin will pay a price after a U.S. intelligence report released earlier this week suggested that the Kremlin attempted to interfere in the 2020 election.

In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Putin said that he wanted to hold a live debate with Biden as soon as Friday. He was responding to the killer comment. Before that, the Russian leader told Biden that it takes one to know one but wished the president good health without any irony or joke.

Psaki added that Biden does not have anything to report to you in terms of a future meeting. The president will, of course, be in Georgia tomorrow and quite busy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the Presidium of the State Council, via a video conference call in Sochi, Russia, on Sept. 28, 2020. (Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via Reuters)

Russias ambassador to Washington D.C. was recalled in retaliation, while some Russian officials demanded that Biden apologize to Putin for the remark.

While announcing the decision to recall its ambassador, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement: The most important thing for us is to identify ways of rectifying Russia-U.S. relations, which have been going through hard times as Washington has, as a matter of fact, brought them to a blind alley.

Added Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to state media: Ill say only that these remarks by the U.S. president are very bad. He definitely doesnt want to normalize relations with our country. And well be acting based precisely on this premise.

The Biden administration has placed sanctions on several Russian officials and businesses earlier in March after it was determined by the U.S. intelligence community that the Kremlin was responsible for the poisoning of opposition activist Alexei Navalny, who is currently jailed in Russia.

Biden, in the ABC interview, did not elaborate on what punitive actions would be taken against Russia, only telling Stephanopoulos: Youll see shortly.
A former priest and LGBTQ activist who has blessed same-sex unions in Pope Francis home country, Argentina, is leaving the Roman Catholic Church after the Vatican issued a pronouncement this week that priests may not perform such blessings.

Andres Gioeni delivered a letter disavowing his faith to the bishopric in a Buenos Aires suburb on Wednesday, the anniversary of his ordination as a priest in 2000 and two days after the declaration from the Holy See.

I do not want to continue being an accomplice to this institution, because I realize the harm they are doing to people. I am not renouncing my faith in God but rather I am renouncing a role and a rite, said Gioeni, 49.

He spoke in an interview with The Associated Press at the home he shares with his husband, 50-year-old Luis Iarocci, and their three dogs, a few blocks from the cathedral in San Isidro north of the capital.

Like other LGBTQ Catholics, Gioeni was shocked by Mondays proclamation, which argued that clergy members cannot bless same-sex unions on the grounds that they are not part of the divine plan and God cannot bless sin.

The Vatican says LGBTQ people should be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is intrinsically disordered and same-sex unions are sinful.

The declaration from the Holy Sees orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was authorized by Francis, who prior to assuming the papacy supported legal protection for gay people in civil unions in the country as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires.

There is no mention in any book (of the Bible) of consensual love between two people of the same sex and God telling them no, said Gioeni, who has blessed at least four such unions.

Born in Mendoza province some 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) west of Buenos Aires, Gioeni pursued a religious vocation as a young man despite being tormented by doubts about his sexuality. He even outed to his superiors three fellow seminarians who had confessed attraction to him.

All throughout seminary I was terribly homophobic, Gioeni said. It was a defense.

After ordination he rose quickly in the provincial church, while secretly exploring chatrooms for the local gay community. He had his first sexual encounter with another man, broke it off to continue the priesthood, but then saw the man again. Gioeni told the bishop he needed to leave.

The church did not offer him psychological help, just a room next to the organ of the Buenos Aires cathedral where he was to confront his supposed crisis of faith.

That was my descent into hell. ... There I realized that I was considered like the Hunchback of Notre Dame  a defective being who could not go out into the world because he would be criticized and singled out, Gioeni recalled.

Gioenis superiors became aware of his sexual identity in 2003, when he appeared nude on the cover of a gay magazine, and barred him from exercising priestly ministry.

He studied acting and worked as a waiter in a disco, where he met Iarocci. Together for 17 years now, they wed after Argentina became the first Latin American nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010.

In recent years Gioeni has become an LGBTQ activist lobbying for a more open Catholic Church.

Severing formal ties with the institution doesnt change his faith in God, he said.

I continue believing in God and He will be my God. In that, my spirituality is unchanged, Gioeni said. I no longer have a label. What religion are you? I believe in God.

(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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Signalling an emphatic break from the Trump administrations neglect of alliances and allies, top officials from President Joe Bidens administration fanned out across the Asia-Pacific this week to engage countries that the US considers strategic partners against a rising and aggressive China.

A key part of this messaging was the visit of Americas Secretary of Defense, General III, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening to discuss deepening the US-India Major Defence Partnership and to advance cooperation for a free, prosperous and open Indo-Pacific and Western Indian Ocean Region.

After Austins meetings with Prime Minister and Security Advisor on Friday, he met Defence Minister for what he termed a comprehensive and fruitful discussion on Saturday.

At the top of my agenda I wanted to convey the Biden-Harris administrations message of our strong commitment to our allies and partners. India, in particular, is an increasingly important partner amid todays rapidly shifting international dynamics. And I reaffirmed our commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India as a central pillar of our approach to the (Indo-Pacific) region, said Austin after talks with Rajnath.

We are keen to work together to realise the full potential of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, stated Indias Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Reflecting the steady increase in military-to-military ties between the two countries and the fact that the US military does more joint exercises with Indias military than with any other, the MoD stated: We reviewed the wide gamut of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.

Until recently, India dealt only with the Hawaii-based US Indo-Pacific Command. However, the US and Indian navies began cooperating in West Asia and East Africa, Indias military has begun interacting with the other two geographical commands as well. An Indian liaison officer is now stationed full-time at the US military headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.

In the years since 2016, India has signed three foundational agreements with the US, which enable deeper cooperation and the exchange of classified information and equipment.

Acknowledging that we have in place the foundational agreements, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence (BECA), we discussed steps to be taken to realise their full potential for mutual benefit, said the Indian MoD.

Over the preceding decade, the US has overtaken Russia to become New Delhis biggest source of weaponry, selling $15-18 billion worth of aircraft, helicopters and artillery guns to India. During the Trump presidency, there would be overt pressure on New Delhi to announce fresh arms sales during visits. Instead of that, to New Delhis relief, there are calls for high-tech cooperation.

We (US and India) are continuing to advance new areas of collaboration, including: Information-sharing, logistics cooperation, artificial intelligence; and cooperation in new domains such as space and cyber, stated Austin.



Rajnath conveyed his appreciation to his US counterpart for encouraging the participation of American defence companies in the Aero India 2021 exposition in February. A fairly large US presence had boosted the show, which had, at one stage, appeared to be fizzling out because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Before arriving in New Delhi, Austin visited the US Indo-Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii. From there he want to Japan, where he was joined by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, for a 2+2 meeting with their Japanese counterparts, signalling commitment to the US-Japan defence treaty..

Following that, Austin and Blinken attended a 2+2 meeting in South Korea to reaffirm the US treaty commitment to the security of the Republic of Korea.

Biden himself kicked off this diplomatic flurry last Friday with the first-ever (virtual) meeting of the leaders of the Quadrilateral (Quad) countries  Australia, India, Japan and the US. Formed in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami and formalized in 2007, the Quad has met at the working and foreign minister level. Friday was the first meeting at the leader level.

In a joint statement after their meeting, the Quad leaders had sent out a blunt message to Beijing, vowing to promote a free, open, rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

We support the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity. We commit to work together and with a range of partners. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEANs unity and centrality as well as the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific, said the Quads joint statement.
Twitter is whats happening in the world and people turn to it to participate in conversations, keep informed about their interests, stay connected and entertained. The services leaned-in and receptive audiences talk about a range of interests, presenting brands with an opportunity to connect with specific interest topics and passion-related communities on Twitter. While brands continue to capture pivotal moments of the year, festivals and occasions, they are also increasingly prioritising interest-based content and moments.

Picking up one such interest, poetry, and cultural moment, #WorldPoetryDay, Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) has planned a treat for its audiences on Sunday, 21 March 2021. @NetflixIndia will be celebrating the art of poetry by Tweeting out personalised poems. The OTT brand will kick-off a Twitter thread asking audiences to respond with the name of their favourite Netflix show or movie and for each response Netflix will share a personalised poem.

Consumers on Twitter actively seek dialogue and engage with their favourite brands, and brands too make sure to deliver creative, interesting and relevant experiences to their audiences. In fact, as per a recent Twitter survey, 27% of women and 24% of the men on Twitter in India have connected directly with a brand on the service. The survey also revealed that 41% of the women and 35% men have discovered new interests on the service, with 17% of women and 18% of men coming to Twitter to follow conversations on Art.

Recently, building on the growing interest in #gaming conversations on Twitter, Skoda (@SkodaIndia) created a thrilling experience for its audiences on the service, engaging them in the #OCTAVIARSSpeedchallenge. The @NetflixIndia poetry thread is yet another instance of a brand connecting with the pulse of its consumers through a specific interest and moment.

Watch out for some exciting poetry action this Sunday, 21 March 2021 #OnlyOnTwitter with @NetflixIndia.
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Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbagh Singh Saturday claimed that American assault rifle M4, which was among the seized weapons in the union territory recently, was being illegally manufactured somewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan.

He was giving details of the weapons which were smuggled in from Pakistan using drones and other means but seized by security forces along the border during 2020.

"The weapons seized last year was huge, incomparable to what we have seized in previous years. In all, there were 475 weapons seized last year. The number was not even half of this in 2019," the top cop of the union territory said.

Read | No infiltration, no ceasefire violations after Indo-Pak agreement on Line of Control

He said among the recoveries were pistols, AK assault rifles, M4 rifles, narcotics and cash as well.

"M4 actually is an American rifle but there are duplicates manufactured somewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan," he claimed.

Singh said drugs are being smuggled in from Pakistan using drones and other means.

"If I say the gift of narcotics substance is coming from there (Pakistan), it will become clear to you -- be it the Kashmir border, Rajouri-Poonch or Jammu Kathua Samba border. For some time now, narcotics are being dropped using the drones.

The quantity of narcotics that has been seized is unprecedented. We are making our best efforts to counter this menace in an organised manner," he said.

Singh said a new wing -- anti narcotics task force -- has been set up in the Crime Branch to deal with the drug menace.

On the infiltration of militants from Pakistan, the DGP said he would like to believe that it will remain low during this year as well.

"I can't say whether it will rise with changing weather because the security grid is working effectively. But I believe that it will stay low as there is a complete stop on ceasefire violations since the dialogue was resumed. We don't have any information about infiltration. If there are such attempts, we are geared up to deal with it," he added.

On the missing army jawan Shakir Manzoor from Shopian district, Singh said "We don't know where he has been killed and buried. We are trying to trace his whereabouts. When we get to know something we will share it with his family."
Covid-19: U.S. Vaccinations Increase, but Virus Continues to Spread The C.D.C. says three feet of distance at elementary schools is enough. The F.B.I. is investigating whether Cuomo aides gave the Justice Department false information about Covid deaths in nursing homes.

The virus is still spreading in parts of the U.S., adding an urgency to vaccinations at a critical moment. A Covid-19 vaccination clinic in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. Credit... Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press, via Associated Press The nation has hit a precarious point in the pandemic, as coronavirus cases  significantly down since peaks in January  have plateaued this month to about 55,000 new cases a day, a level public health officials say is still too high. Even with the accelerated pace of vaccinations, worrisome variants are spreading. Some states, especially on the East Coast, have struggled for weeks to make any progress in reducing cases. At the same time, governors are starting to relax restrictions on businesses like bars, indoor gyms and casinos, and many Americans are dining in newly reopened restaurants, replanning summer weddings that were abruptly canceled in 2020 and booking spring break trips. Last week, air travel in the United States rose to its highest level since the pandemic hit, and airline executives said that bookings in the coming months indicate an eagerness from Americans to begin traveling in large numbers again. The path ahead  and public guidance about how people should behave in this moment  seems uncertain, even contradictory. Epidemiologists said they viewed the current moment in the pandemic as a sprint between vaccinations and newly confirmed cases, particularly those caused by variants that can be more contagious. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious-disease expert, warned Friday that its really quite risky to declare victory before you have the level of infection in the community to a much, much lower level than 53,000 cases per day. So it is unfortunate, but not surprising, to me that you are seeing increases in number of cases per day in areas  cities, states or regions  even though vaccines are being distributed at a pretty good clip of 2 to 3 million per day, Dr. Fauci said. No state is reporting case numbers anywhere near record levels, and the sort of explosive case growth seen in hard-hit areas through 2020 has almost completely abated. Kansas is averaging about 215 new coronavirus cases a day, down from more than 2,000 in early January. And North Dakota, which has the countrys most known cases per capita, is now regularly adding fewer than 100 cases a day, in a state with a population of 762,000. But there are warning signs in the data. Vermont, which escaped the worst of the pandemic in 2020, has struggled all of this year to curb an outbreak. Michigan, which had appeared to bring the virus under control in January, has seen case numbers increase by more than 80 percent over the last two weeks, though they remain well below their December peak. In South Florida, infection levels have remained persistently high, with about 1,000 cases reported each day in a single county, Miami-Dade. Yet even in states where the virus appeared far from under control, officials have proceeded to lift restrictions on businesses, and companies have pushed for reopenings. New York has more recent cases per capita than everywhere except New Jersey, and the New York City metro area has the countrys second-highest rate of new infections, behind only Idaho Falls, Idaho. On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that indoor fitness classes may resume on March 22. In California, around 2,900 cases are reported most days, down from about 40,000 in mid-January. In Southern California, where cases peaked early this winter, officials at Disneyland said that after more than a year of being closed, the theme park would open on April 30 with rules in place limiting capacity. I think it is a race against time, said Dr. Stephen J. Thomas, SUNY Upstate Medical Universitys chief of infectious disease. Every single person that we can get vaccinated or every single person that we can get a mask on is one less opportunity that a variant has. Julie Bosman and

Children in elementary schools dont need to be kept six feet apart, the C.D.C. said. A student at school in Burlington, N.J., earlier this month. Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times In a major policy revision intended to encourage more schools to welcome children back to in-person instruction, federal health officials on Friday relaxed the six-foot distancing rule for elementary school students, saying they need only remain three feet apart in classrooms as long as everyone is wearing a mask. The three-foot rule also now applies to students in middle schools and high schools, as long as community transmission is not high, officials said. When transmission is high, however, these students must be at least six feet apart, unless they are taught in cohorts, or small groups that are kept separate from others, and the cohorts are kept six feet apart. The six-foot rule still applies in the community at large, officials emphasized, and for teachers and other adults who work in schools, who must maintain that distance from other adults and from students. Most schools are already operating at least partially in person, and evidence suggests they are doing so relatively safely. Research shows in-school spread can be mitigated with simple safety measures such as masking, distancing, hand-washing and open windows. The big discussion is about three feet versus six feet, and theres no question that going from six feet to three feet is going to add a small amount of additional risk, said Linsey Marr, an expert in airborne viruses at Virginia Tech. But so far, from studies weve seen, the difference between three feet and six feet is not substantial. My one caveat is that they should really make it clear that you can go to three feet only if you have done everything else correctly, she added. Youre requiring masking, you have checked your ventilation and added filtration if the ventilations not good  those types of things. Dr. Westyn Branch-Elliman, an infectious diseases specialist at the VA Boston Healthcare System, led a recent study on schools in Massachusetts that concluded three feet was a safe distance. The reality is that the biggest barrier to getting kids back in school was this question of three versus six feet, she said. This breaks down a couple major barriers to getting kids back to school. In a statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that transmission dynamics are different in older students  that is, they are more likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and spread it than younger children. In announcing the change, the C.D.C. director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, cited findings from studies in several states. We are following the science, she said. Teachers unions across the country have argued forcefully for six-feet of distancing, and have lobbied the C.D.C. and the Biden administration to maintain the previous guidance. On Friday, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the nations second-largest educators union, released a statement saying she would reserve judgment on the new distancing guidelines pending further review of research on how the virus behaves in school settings. Becky Pringle, president of the largest teachers union, the National Education Association, raised similar concerns. At the White House virus briefing on Friday, Dr. Walensky said she had spoken to the teachers unions. They know that we need to follow the science and to make our guidance based on that science, and theyve been very respectful of that, she said. Still, the statement from the C.D.C. lags behind some local health agencies across the country. Illinois and Massachusetts have already indicated that three feet of distance can be appropriate in schools. County-level health officials have also played an important role in guiding the decisions of school boards and superintendents, who have often been overwhelmed by conflicting public health guidelines. The new guidance emphasizes that good air flow and ventilation in school buildings is a critical component of maintaining a safe environment, and continues to stress multiple layers of preventive behaviors including universal masking, hand washing, cleaning buildings and doing contact tracing, combined with isolation and quarantine. While the majority of school buildings are currently open at least partially, the six-foot rule has prevented many from shifting to full-time, in-person schedules. Roni Caryn Rabin, Dana Goldstein, Emily Anthes and

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Europe lifts suspensions of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a new wave of infections results in lockdowns. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:07 - 0:00 transcript Europe Begins Administering AstraZeneca Vaccines Again On Friday, governments across Europe raced to restart use of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine after the announcement from the European Unions top drug regulator on Thursday that the shots were safe and effective. I know there is a lot of scrutiny because of the mass vaccination that will be there, so and I know that, yes, obviously there are so many people that are going to get vaccinated that they would have, you know, events that would have occurred anyway. We had only 10 today. We finished them in five minutes, and everybody came and said, yes, we needed. And even we had some people asking for them, but we didnt have enough. So I hope well have more next week. On Friday, governments across Europe raced to restart use of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine after the announcement from the European Unions top drug regulator on Thursday that the shots were safe and effective. Credit Credit... Laetitia Vancon for The New York Times Governments across Europe raced on Friday to lift suspensions on AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine and reassure an exhausted and anxious public that it was safe amid a new wave of infections that led many countries to reimpose harsh restrictions on movement and businesses. German officials warned that plans to ease restrictions by Easter would have to be put on hold and said that more measures might be needed in the weeks ahead. Paris was one of many cities across France where people were essentially ordered to stay at home. Italy entered its third national lockdown on Monday, and Poland will put in place its own lockdown on Saturday. The rapid moves to tighten what were already relatively stringent restrictions came as nearly every country in Europe that had halted use of the AstraZeneca vaccine  including France, Germany Italy and Spain  said they would start using it again. But the brief halt in the use of the vaccine underscored the slow pace of mass inoculation campaigns, which led officials to warn that the only way to control the virus was to impose restrictions. Across all of Europe, the official death toll surged past 900,000 last week, according to the World Health Organization. But this spring, it was supposed to be different. The latest outbreaks are a stark reminder that not enough people have been inoculated to seriously blunt the impact of a new wave of infection spreading across the continent, so governments are once again being forced to tighten already difficult restrictions on businesses and social interactions. There are not yet enough vaccine doses in Europe to stop the third wave by vaccination alone, Germanys health minister, Jens Spahn, said on Friday. Even if the deliveries from E.U. orders come reliably, it will still take a few weeks until the risk groups are fully vaccinated. The mass vaccination efforts across the European Union were thrown into deeper turmoil this week as more than a dozen countries suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while reports of a possible link to a small number of cases of blood clots and abnormal bleeding were investigated. On Thursday, the blocs medical regulator, the European Medicines Agency, said that its review came to the firm conclusion that the vaccine was safe and effective. Although it will continue to watch for any connections to the disorders, the agency noted that any threat would be very small, and the shots will prevent vastly more deaths than they might cause. Political leaders rushed to try and undo any damage to the publics trust and faith in AstraZeneca and vaccines more broadly  with a number of them rolling up their sleeves and getting the shots themselves to drive the point home. But the challenge for leaders across much of Europe is much deeper than restoring faith in one vaccine. They must now find a way to deliver more vaccines to the people that need them most at a time when the virus is once again claiming some 2,000 lives a day. The number of people dying from Covid-19 in Europe is higher now than it was this time last year, said Hans Kluge, the World Health Organizations European director. It is in Central Europe, the Balkans, and the Baltic States where case incidence, hospitalizations and deaths are now among the highest in the world. Constant Meheut contributed reporting.

N.Y.C. public school students will be able to opt back in to in-person instruction, the mayor says. Students outside of a Brooklyn elementary school in December 2020. Credit... Victor J. Blue for The New York Times New York Citys public school system, the nations largest, will give families another chance to enroll their children in in-person classes following new guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday. The new C.D.C. guidance allows elementary school students wearing masks to be spaced three feet apart, rather than six feet, in reopened schools. The citys elementary schools, prekindergarten programs and programs for children with complex disabilities will adopt the new distancing guidelines in April, Mr. de Blasio said, allowing classrooms that have been operating at one-third capacity for many months to accommodate more students. With less distancing required between students, schools will be able to fit more children into each city classroom. The city will continue to assess the risks of adjusting distancing rules for middle and high school students, Mr. de Blasio said. The C.D.C. said that its relaxed three-foot guideline only applies to to students in middle schools and high schools where community transmission is not high. (New York State has more recent cases per capita than any state except New Jersey, and the New York City metro area has the countrys second-highest rate of new cases behind only Idaho Falls, Idaho.) The guidance still holds that adults in schools should keep six feet of distance from each other, and from students. New York City teachers have been eligible for the coronavirus vaccine since January. After the school year began, the city gave families just one opportunity, last fall, to choose in-person classes. The vast majority of parents, roughly 70 percent, chose to keep their children learning from home. Now, Mr. de Blasio said families will have another chance to enroll their children in classroom learning beginning next week. Though it is not yet clear whether more middle and high school students will be able to return, Mr. de Blasio said the city is hoping to get a sense of how many of those students who are currently learning remotely would like to switch to classroom instruction. Some parents who chose remote learning last November, when virus cases were rising quickly in New York City and there was no authorized coronavirus vaccine, have said they are eager to send their children into classrooms now that there is more clarity about the virus. Still, many nonwhite families in particular are still wary of in-person learning, and it is likely that a significant number of parents will keep their children at home through the end of the school year in June. New Yorks schools, some of the first in the nation to reopen, have had extremely low positive test rates. Mr. de Blasio has committed to fully reopening the citys school system this September for full-time instruction for any child who wants it. He has also said he expects the city to maintain a full-time remote option for some children this fall. Though the citys teachers union did not endorse the mayors plan on Friday, saying it would consult with its own medical experts, Mr. de Blasio said the city would forge ahead. The bottom line is, kids need to be in school, he said. Many parents who have chosen in-person instruction agree. Elga Castro, the mother of a third grader in Washington Heights, said her child has thrived being back in a classroom. But she wants more changes from the city to allow her child and many others to return more fully, including the elimination of a rule that requires school buildings to shut down if two unrelated positive cases are detected. The changes are needed, she said, so that kids can not only fully go back to school, but to make the process long-lasting and less interrupted. Eliza Shapiro and

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Trumps Mar-a-Lago club partially closed after positive coronavirus tests. The Mar-a-Lago estate last summer. Credit... Saul Martinez for The New York Times Former President Donald J. Trumps private club in Palm Beach, Fla., was partially closed on Friday following some staff members testing positive for the coronavirus, two people familiar with the events confirmed. The closure affected service in the dining room and at the beach club, according to The Associated Press. The two people familiar with the events confirmed that was the case; they were not authorized to speak publicly. The A.P. cited an email that went to members of the club, which also serves as Mr. Trumps permanent residence. The moves were taken out of an abundance of caution and some workers were quarantined, according to the email. A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. A woman who answered the phone at Mar-a-Lago said no comment and hung up when asked if the club was open. The Florida Department of Public Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The club is set to play host to events during the Republican National Committee spring retreat in Florida next month. It has been Mr. Trumps post-presidency base of operations, where he has hosted Republican officials. Coronavirus cases have been declining for weeks in Florida, which reopened businesses months before much of the nation. But the state is still averaging about 5,000 new cases a day, according to a New York Times database. Dr. Alina Alonso, the director of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, said this week that cases had been declining locally, and she was cautiously optimistic about the course of the virus. But she warned the public that it was too early to declare victory over the pandemic.

In Russia, a virus lockdown targets the opposition. Maria Alyokhina, center, a member of Pussy Riot, at a hearing at the Moscow City Court in February. Credit... Moscow City Court Press Service, via Shutterstock A Russian court has confined some of the countrys most prominent opposition figures to house arrest on accusations that they violated coronavirus safety rules, in what appears to be a government effort to use the restrictions to muzzle its opponents. The legal action, known as a sanitary case, targets 10 opposition politicians and dissidents, including the senior leadership of Aleksei A. Navalnys organization and members of the protest group Pussy Riot. All are accused of inciting others to violate rules introduced last spring to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Their lawyers have denied that they did. Prosecutors say their social media posts promoting a protest in Moscow in January resulted in attendance by 19 people who were legally required to isolate because of positive Covid-19 tests, thus putting at risk others who attended. Defense lawyers say the authorities are cynically twisting coronavirus rules to isolate people who pose no infection risk but are seen by the government as posing a political one. The ideological intent is to label opposition figures as infectious, as toxic, as poisoners of the public, said Danil Berman, a lawyer for Maria Alyokhina, a member of Pussy Riot who was one of those targeted. Isolating key leaders before parliamentary elections scheduled for this year also hobbles the opposition, he said. Many people around the world have complained that coronavirus restrictions have infringed on their freedoms as a byproduct of safety measures. But the Russian opposition members argue that the government is using the restrictions against them with the specific aim of curbing their liberty. Online posts from the opposition figures promoting the protest did not specifically encourage people who were sick to attend, as the government charged, defense lawyers say. Lockdowns in Moscow had in any case been mostly lifted months earlier. Also, the defense lawyers say, the rules are selectively enforced to restrict opposition activity while allowing pro-government events to go ahead with few restrictions, though the virus would spread as readily at either type of gathering.

Boris Johnson receives a shot of AstraZenecas vaccine, which many European countries have resumed using. Video Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain received his first dose of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine on Friday, one day after neighboring countries in Europe ruled the drug safe and effective, despite initial concerns. Credit Credit... Pool photo by Charles Mcquillan Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain received his first dose of AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine on Friday, as neighboring countries resumed its use after the European Unions drug regulator ruled it safe and effective. Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much, said Mr. Johnson after receiving his first injection at St Thomas Hospital in London, where he spent three nights in intensive care last year as he battled persistent symptoms of the Covid-19. Thank you to all the incredible scientists, NHS staff and volunteers who helped make this happen, Mr. Johnson, 56, added about the revered National Health Service. Mr. Johnsons vaccination capped a tumultuous week in which his government resisted calls from opposition politicians for a public inquiry into its management of the pandemic, and amid growing concerns that its vaccine rollout, successful so far, might be hampered by a drop in vaccine supply. Yet on Friday Britain also recorded its highest number of daily injections, with more than 660,000 doses injected. More than 26 million people in Britain have received at least one vaccine dose  nearly half of the countrys adult population. Mr. Johnsons vaccination came a year to the day after he said that Britain could send the coronavirus packing in this country in a matter of weeks. The authorities announced a nationwide lockdown several days later, and Britain has since become the European country with the highest number of recoded coronavirus deaths  nearly 126,000. But British authorities hope that the breakneck pace of their vaccination campaign will help the country return to some form of normalcy by the summer. Schools reopened this month, and more restrictions are expected to be lifted in the spring. Mr. Johnson insisted this week that the road to freedom remains unchecked despite the announced shortage in vaccine supply. As cases and deaths have dropped sharply for weeks, and pubs and restaurants are scheduled to reopen for outdoor service next month, Britain has found itself in an unusual position compared with other European countries. It had been the epicenter of the pandemic in Europe since January, and large numbers of deaths and hospitalizations overwhelmed a health care system that had already been overstretched by the first wave last year. But the country now appears to be walking out of the pandemic, while places like France, Germany and Italy face a third wave of infections. Still, there are growing concerns that new variants will soon spread in Britain, in addition to the first discovered in the country late last year  an emergence that led to strict lockdown measures and travel restrictions around the world. Neil Ferguson, a former adviser to Mr. Johnson on the pandemic, said on Friday that he was concerned about the spread in Europe of the variant first discovered in South Africa. Early research suggests that the variant, which accounts for a significant portion of new cases in countries like France, may weaken the efficacy of some vaccines. That includes the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is central to Britains inoculation drive. The head of Englands National Health Service, Simon Stevens, 54, also received his first injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week, as did Prime Minister Jean Castex of France, 55, who flashed a thumbs-up at television cameras after getting his shot at a military hospital southeast of Paris. The nearly simultaneous public inoculations of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Castex underscored how public officials in Europe have tried to restore public confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine, after several countries in the European Union, including France, paused its use this week. But Britain and France have found themselves in very different situations: Britain, which left the European Union last year, has vaccinated its population at a more rapid pace than France and other countries of the bloc. And British officials have been staunch defenders of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was developed in conjunction with the University of Oxford. Britain and the bloc have also been embroiled in a monthslong tug of war over vaccine supply, which reached a new high this week when Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission accused AstraZeneca of having under-produced and under-delivered to the bloc. We want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports, Ms. Von der Leyen said in a semi-veiled threat. And we are ready to use whatever tool we need to deliver on that.

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The F.B.I. is investigating whether Cuomo aides gave false data on Covid deaths at nursing homes. Credit... Pool photo by Seth Wenig A federal investigation into Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos handling of nursing homes during the pandemic has focused in recent weeks on whether the governor and his senior aides provided false data on resident deaths to the Justice Department, according to four people with knowledge of the investigation. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation have contacted lawyers for Mr. Cuomos aides, interviewed senior officials from the state Health Department and subpoenaed Mr. Cuomos office for documents related to the disclosure of data last year, the people said. The interviews have included questions about information New York State submitted last year to the Justice Department, which had asked the state for data on Covid-19 cases and deaths in nursing homes, according to the people. False statements in such a submission could constitute a crime. In some cases, agents traveled to the homes of state health officials to interview them about the data. In others, they spoke to officials by phone, according to the people, who requested anonymity to discuss the active investigation. The actions, which came in recent weeks, appeared to add to the legal pressure faced by Mr. Cuomo, as well as by his most senior aides, who may have played a role in withholding the true count of nursing home deaths from the public for months. A spokesman for the Eastern District of New York, which is overseeing the investigation, declined to comment. Elkan Abramowitz, an outside lawyer hired by the state to represent the governors office in the federal inquiry, said in a statement that the submission in response to D.O.J.s August request was truthful and accurate and any suggestion otherwise is demonstrably false. Mr. Cuomo has faced scrutiny for months over his policies related to nursing homes. The question of how many nursing home residents had died  both in the facilities and after being treated at hospitals  became a political issue for Mr. Cuomo, a third-term Democrat, as he came under criticism from both Democrats in Albany and from national Republicans, including former President Donald J. Trump. J. David Goodman, Nicole Hong, Luis Ferre-Sadurni and

White House Easter Egg Roll is canceled again because of the pandemic. Victoria Ewers, left, and her sister Elle racing to the finish line during the White House Easter Egg Roll in 2018. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times Add the White House Easter Egg Roll to the list of yearly traditions canceled  once again  by the pandemic. The event was canceled for the second year in a row over concerns about large gatherings. President Bidens cautious benchmark  small gatherings by July 4, if Americans keep to social distancing protocols and receive vaccines when they are offered  comes well after the Easter holiday and nowhere near the usual capacity for the egg roll, which draws up to 30,000 people to the White House grounds. The Bidens hope to continue this tradition in 2022, Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for the first lady, Jill Biden, said in a statement confirming the cancellation. The White House plans to send out thousands of the 2021 commemorative Easter Egg Roll eggs in the coming days to vaccination sites and local hospitals. We urge everyone this Easter to continue wearing masks, engage in social distancing and get the vaccine when it is your turn. In addition to the risk of coronavirus transmission, there are fewer people in place to organize and host the event. Dozens of White House officials are working remotely, adhering to strict coronavirus protocols as the pandemic continues. Anita McBride, a board member of the White House Historical Association, said the White House generally still doesnt have a full complement of staff coming into the building. She added that there would be no in-person activities for the egg roll this year. Instead, the association has released a virtual egg hunt. Commemorative wooden eggs  featuring the White House dogs, Champ and Major, and an Easter bunny wearing a protective mask  are also for sale. Last year, Melania Trump, the former first lady, called the decision to cancel the egg roll difficult but necessary. The health and safety of all Americans must be the first priority, especially right now, Mrs. Trump said in a statement issued by the White House last March. I deeply regret this cancellation, but we need to make difficult decisions in the short term to ensure a healthy country for the long term. The White House Easter Egg Roll dates back to 1878 and has only been canceled a handful of times. In 1918, it was canceled because of food shortages and concerns over the spread of a deadly flu.
Without warning, hackers drained every dollar of cash, stock, or bitcoin out of accounts linked to Cash App, Square's (SQ)s popular payments platform, six of its customers told Yahoo Finance.

Cash App functions as a substitute bank for many of its more than 36 million monthly users.

I had to sell my car seat that I just bought for my baby that I'm going to have in a couple of months, so that I could feed my kids, because I have no money now, Shania Jensen, 24, a Cash App user from Utah, said about her account shortly after it was drained of nearly $3,000.

Jensen, one of six Cash App customers who recently told Yahoo Finance they were targeted by unauthorized transactions, said when she went to bed on the evening of March 5 her money was in her account, and by 7 a.m. the next day, it was gone. She said she filed a police report, a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and reported the matter to Utah's attorney general.

March 7, 2020 Tweet posted by Cash App user Shania Jensen

Mobile payment platforms such as Cash App, as well as PayPal (PYPL), PayPal's Venmo, Google Pay, and bank owned Zelle, have seen a rise in downloads during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the increase, a jump in the number of app reviews mentioning the word "scam" or "fraud" for all except Zelle, according to mobile intelligence firm Apptopia.

Cash App  which accounted for nearly half of Square's profit in the most recent quarter  stands out for its wide range of available transactions. It accepts direct deposits for paychecks and government stimulus funds, processes peer-to-peer transfers, offers its own branded debit card, and permits users to buy and sell stock and bitcoin (BIT-USD) within the app (as of March 17, it lets users send bitcoin to other Cash App users for free).

The six Cash App customers said repeated efforts to talk directly with a human being at the company to help them get their money back were largely unsuccessful, exhausting, and stressful. Cash App acknowledges that it has no live phone support "generally available," but says it views fighting fraud as critically important and has invested in technology to flag potential scams.

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'85% of the apps we look at have some sort of security or privacy issue'

Over the past year, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has "closed" or looked into 2,485 complaints concerning Cash App, and 3,532 concerning Square, where customers have also logged Cash App complaints. Complaints handled concerning Venmo for the same timeframe totaled 928, for Zelle 83. PayPal, which has 377 million active accounts, had 7,215 complaints.

Though the BBB does not disclose its volume of pending complaints, Lori Wilson, president and CEO of the BBB's San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California chapters, said the number of closed complaints is "probably" the metric that best reflects total complaints.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), over the past three years, the agency received 1,559 complaints concerning Cash Apps parent company, Square, under which any Cash App complaints are filed. The majority of the complaints involved money transfer, virtual currency, or money services issues.

Data from mobile intelligence provider Apptopia shows total mentions of "fraud" or "scam" in app user reviews jumped 335% year over year for Cash App from February 2020 to February 2021. For PayPal total mentions jumped 191%. For Venmo total mentions jumped 84%.

Mobile intelligence firm Apptopia says certain payment apps have been flooded with scams since the pandemic. Total mentions of the words "fraud" or "scam" in app user reviews jumped 335% for Cash App in February 2021, compared with February 2020. PayPal saw a 191% increase and Venmo saw a jump of 84%. Zelle, however, declined 9%.

Of course, mere mentions of the words fraud or scams in reviews can't reveal precisely how vulnerable an app is, according to computer forensics expert Andrew Hoog of mobile app security firm NowSecure. Still, it makes sense that Zelle might have fewer instances of fraud given the cohort of big banks invested in improving the platform.

"What I've generally seen is that the security and privacy of the app increases significantly under the scrutiny of a large, mature institution," Hoog said.

Among 42 mobile apps tested in March by NowSecure, including apps commonly used by U.S. consumers for payments and money transfers, 34 revealed security issues that earned them a "C" grade and 6 revealed security issues that earned them an "F" grade.

Hoog said mobile apps and mobile websites, in general, are particularly vulnerable to hacks. "85% of the apps we look at have some sort of security or privacy issue," he said. "What I've seen for over 10 years, and rather depressing since I've been working on this problem for so long...that metric hasn't really changed."

In response to questions about the users concerns over Cash Apps security vulnerabilities, a Cash App spokesperson told Yahoo Finance that it continues to invest in fraud-fighting staff and technology resources.

"We are constantly improving systems and controls to help prevent, detect, and report bad activity on the platform," a company spokesperson said, adding that Cash App recently released an AI-driven feature to flag potential scams and began sending SMS text messages to alert customers of suspicious login attempts.

Hoog said while Cash App's parent company Square is not comparable in its security sophistication to a tier one bank, it is highly respected within the app development industry for its application programming interface (API), back end programming features that allow different apps to talk to each other.

"Sick to my stomach" over Cash App hack

While Square's API is regarded as respected, the allegations of scams on Cash App's platform are alarming. Britt Soderberg, a California business owner, said he was scammed out of approximately $21,000 on Cash App. Soderberg said starting in August, hackers repeatedly generated false refunds in the app, from his bank account to his authentic contacts. Once his authentic contacts returned the money to his Cash App account, hackers seized the cash to purchase bitcoin, then transferred it to an unknown bitcoin wallet, Soderberg said.

California business owner, Britt Soderberg, said his Cash App account was drained of approximately $21,000 worth of bitcoin in a series of unauthorized transfers between August 10 and September 9, 2020. Credit: Britt Soderberg

A ledger showing a portion of approximately $21,000 in unauthorized Cash App bitcoin transactions that Cash App account holder, Britt Soderberg, says were perpetuated by a hacker between August 10, 2020 and September 9, 2020.

In another scam involving bitcoin, all $1,850 was wiped out from the Cash App-linked bank account of a Bay Area freshman pharmacology student, according to the student, who contacted Yahoo Finance on Twitter about his concerns, and asked to remain anonymous over fears that disclosing more personal information could compound his financial misfortunes.

The student said hackers converted the funds to Tesla (TSLA) stock, then to bitcoin (BIT-USD), then out of his account entirely. The ambush, he said, happened over a 10-minute span on Feb. 22, starting with a 10:17 a.m. instant sign in text message that appeared to come from Cash App.

The text seemed to be a genuine notice of a fraudulent attempt to log into his account, he said. At the time, he said he had been using the app for two years, without incident, and had activated security features including two-step authentication, face-ID, and a required pin entry for every transaction.

Its their official domain. Its the Cash-dot-App domain, he said about the URL within the message. At 10:21 a.m., a similar text followed with a link connecting him to his account, he said. There, he double checked that his security settings and accounts appeared as they should. At 10:27 a.m., hackers began a series of cash withdrawals used to buy Tesla stock  a first transaction processed $1,000 worth of shares, then $500, then $250, then $100. Immediately, the stock was sold and the proceeds were sent to a bitcoin wallet.

When all this was going down I received no notifications whatsoever, the student said, bewildered that the hackers also blocked Cash App from sending its regular transaction confirmations.

He said Cash App responded to his first report of fraud, via email, saying initially that only his bank could initiate a dispute over the withdrawals. He said repeated requests to talk with a Cash App representative were unsuccessful.

I've literally been sick to my stomach every day because of this company...and it's still happening, that's the sad thing, he told Yahoo Finance.

'They're completely ghosting you'

Cash App has been criticized by some customers, including on its Cash Support Twitter account and Reddit, who say theyre frustrated with its security breaches, nail-biting delays in response to reports of stolen funds, account deactivations, and largely automated customer service. The company has also been accused in a putative class action lawsuit of violating consumers' rights to dispute fraudulent transactions under the Electronic Fund Transfers Act.

Cash App acknowledges that a phone number on its site prompts a recording instructing account holders to contact a Cash team member through the app. Customers say those options often spur a communication loop where bots rather than humans handle their reports of fraud.

It's almost like an abusive relationship where you're trying to get a hold of somebody and theyre completely ghosting you, said Jensen, the 24-year-old who says her account was drained overnight.

In Jensens case, Cash App successfully blocked two fraudulent attempts to withdraw approximately $2,600 from her account, she said. Minutes later, she said, the hackers withdrew smaller amounts of $1,600, $1,000, and $500.

I dont know how this didnt get flagged, Jensen said. To add to her frustration, she said, Cash Apps representatives were available only through call back requests, handled at Cash Apps convenience.

Cash Apps lack of readily available phone agents has also been exploited by fraudsters who set up imposter company contact numbers to steal customers account information, according to ABC's WLS Chicago, WRIC Richmond and WTVD Raleigh.

In this photo illustration a Cash App logo seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Lance Gibson fell victim to the scheme.

On Jan, 26, he noticed $301 missing from his Cash App account and Googled a way to call the company. Not realizing his search generated an imposter customer service line, a fake company agent asked him to prove his identity using a verification app from the App Store. Within minutes of downloading the app, he said, $1,665 in his linked bank account had disappeared.

Gibson said four days after his bank credited him for his loss, he received an auto-generated email from Cash App informing him his case had been closed. To make matters worse, he said, his bank required him to relinquish the credited funds because Cash App declined to designate the disputed transaction as fraud, he said.

I might have to take out a personal loan to pay my rent this month, Gibson said.

Soderberg and the student, who both permitted Yahoo Finance to share their $Cashtag account identities with Cash App, said Cash App contacted them by email after Yahoo Finance relayed the information. While both said Cash App offered to assist, they're unsatisfied with Cash App's response so far.

While he says he lost $21,000, Soderberg said Cash App has so far deposited only a $267 "provisional credit" to his account. Meanwhile, the student said Cash App agreed to re-deposit certain stocks removed from his account.

Cash App has refunded Jensen's money in full, she said.

Both Soderberg and Jensen said Cash App suggested, without explanation, that their accounts may have been accessed by way of their respective linked emails and that they allowed the unauthorized events to occur.

All of the users said they would like Cash App to explain exactly how their accounts were compromised.

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance and former litigation attorney.

Follow Alexis Keenan on Twitter @alexiskweed.

Read more:

Why 'vaccine passports' could be tough to pull off in the US

Twitter's Jack Dorsey sued over his dual role as Square CEO

Crypto price surge invites a torrent of crypto crime
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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It was a shock when Brittany Murphy died in 2009.

She was just 32, and while she had a long list of film and TV credits to her name, she seemed to have a substantial future ahead of her in Hollywood.

Murphy, who grew up in Edison before moving to California, is dearly missed by her friends and and many fans. More than 11 years later, her death remains a subject of interest.

Now HBO Max is set to take on the mystery clouding her death in a two-part documentary from Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, Variety reports.

Murphy died after suffering flu-like symptoms, passing out in the bathroom of her Los Angeles home in the arms of her mother, Sharon, who lived with her at the time. Her cause of her death has been the subject of much speculation.

Murphys husband, Simon Monjack, died at their home in 2010, just five months after she died.

The documentary, directed by Cynthia Hill, will also trace Murphys career path. The actress starred in movies like Clueless, 8 Mile, Girl, Interrupted, Just Married, Dont Say A Word, Uptown Girls and Sin City as well as in TVs King of the Hill as Hank Hills niece Luanne Platter.

I agreed to do this film because I think its a shame that Brittanys promising life and career has been eclipsed by the circumstances of her death, Hill told Variety. I think its important to celebrate Brittanys talent as we struggle to explain the tragic circumstances of her and Simons death.

Murphys death was ruled an accident: pneumonia combined with intoxication from over-the-counter drugs and anemia from severe iron deficiency. Monjacks cause of death was pneumonia and anemia.

After Murphy and Monjack died, there was speculation that mold in their home could have been a factor, but an inspection of the house before they died reportedly did not find mold.

It is unusual to have two people die of similar circumstances with pneumonia, Ed Winter, Los Angeles County assistant chief coroner, told ABC News in 2010. Weve been looking at it and saying, Something isnt right. Im not saying you cant get pneumonia from mold, but we did all the tests on it  mold did not come up in the toxicology reports.

In 2020, Investigation Discovery aired a special about Murphys death called Brittany Murphy: An ID Mystery, which interrogated the notion that she died of natural causes. Angelo Bertolotti, Murphys father, was interviewed for the special before he died in 2019.

Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with an elevated, nuanced depiction of a sensational story, said Jennifer OConnell, HBOs executive vice president of nonfiction and live-action family programming.

We thought her story warrants a deeper exploration and examination into the environment that allowed her to become a victim of success, said Mary Lisio, executive vice president of alternative and non-scripted programming at Blumhouse Television.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.
Mangaluru, March 20 : In a swift action, the Karnataka Coast guard on Saturday rescued six personnel working with a dhow, floating in water 40 nautical miles southeast of Mangaluru.

Typically sporting long thin hulls, dhows are trading vessels primarily used to carry heavy items, such as fruit, fresh water, or other heavy merchandise, along the coasts of Eastern Arabia, East Africa, Yemen and coastal South Asia (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh).

The ill-fated dhow had sailed from Old Mangalore Port on March 19 at 14:30 hrs carrying 120 tons of spices, food grains,vegetables, sand and granite, said a statement released by the Coast Guard of Karnataka.

"All six crew (five from Gujarat and one from Mangaluru) are in good health condition. They are being brought to New Mangalore port and would be handed over to Coastal Police and AD Fisheries for further action," the statement stated.

According to the statement released by the Coast Guard of Karnataka, Coast Guard Doriner 773 whilst on routine MR sortie picked up a distress signal from Marine Shipping Vessel (MSV) Safina - AL-Mirzan.

The initial assessment by the rescue team revealed seepage of sea water into the boat's engine room had caused the Dhow to sink 30 Nm West of Kasaragod.

The statement added that after thorough search in the area for almost half an hour, the debris and six personnel floating in water in mid-sea could be sighted.

"The C-448 swung into action and reached the site in less than 1 hour and rescued six crew of ill-fated dhow who were in distress due to flooding of their boat's engine room about 40 nautical miles southeast of Mangalore," the statement explained.

The statement explained that the CG Dornier due assessing the sea conditions had dropped the Life Raft from Mid Air which could be a saviour to rescue the precious lives of ill-fated crew who were floating in mid sea facing the challenges sea state of with wind speed touching 20 Knots and current at 1.5 knots.
Robin Bailey lost her second husband, Sean Pickwell, to liver cancer in September 2019.

And on Saturday, the breakfast radio host paid tribute to Sean as she marked what would have been his 58th birthday.

In a heartbreaking post on Instagram, the 52-year-old shared a series of pictures of the two together over the years, including some that appeared to be from their wedding day.

'I miss you now more than ever': On Saturday, breakfast radio host Robin Bailey marked the 58th birthday of her late husband, Sean Pickwell (left)

'Happy birthday sweetheart! I miss you now more than ever as my heart is not only broken but scattered. I love you,' she captioned the post.

Robin used several emotional hashtags on her post, which shed light on how she was coping with the grieving process.

The hashtags she used read: 'Miss my husband', 'cancer sucks', 'heartbroken' and 'till we meet again.'

Details: Robin shared a series of pictures of them together over the years

'Happy birthday sweetheart! I miss you now more than ever as my heart is not only broken but scattered. I love you,' Robin captioned her post

Moving: Robin used several emotional hashtags on her post, which shed light on how she was coping with the grieving process. The hashtags she used read: 'Miss my husband', 'cancer sucks', 'heartbroken' and 'till we meet again'

In the pictures, Sean can be seen embracing his wife with warm hugs and going on trips with her.

The series ended with the an image of Sean holding Robin's forearm as she got a tattoo of his heart beat - taken on an ECG - on the inside of her right arm.

The mother-of-three's post had her followers wishing Sean a 'heavenly birthday' and sending Robin virtual hugs.

'Big hugs to you and all the family,' one follower wrote, before another commented: 'Happy heavenly birthday Sean. Sending you a hug Robin.'

Beautiful moment: The series ended with the an image of Sean holding Robin's forearm as she got a tattoo of his heart beat - taken on an ECG - on the inside of her right arm

Sean's birthday follows Robin marking the first anniversary of her second husband's death in September, who died of liver cancer in 2019. His death came five years after her first husband, Tony Smart, took his own life in September 2014.

Robin only returned to the airwaves in January 2020, joining the Australian Radio Network's (ARN) 97.3 FM's breakfast show.

It is the first she has worked since resigning from Triple M Brisbane in September to spend more time with late spouse.

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please call Lifeline or Beyond Blue.
There were two Chinas on stage at the Hotel Captain Cook in Alaska.

There is confident China, which demands the US treats it as an equal by shifting its position from an ascendant superpower to one that has already arrived.

And then there is self-conscious China, which relies on false equivalences on human rights, democracy and the support of patron states to argue its time has come.

Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi, center, and Chinas State Councilor Wang Yi in Anchorage. Credit:AP

Eager to please Xi Jinping and the rising tide of nationalism at home, its two most highly experienced diplomats shed protocol and came as wolf warriors.
MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has blocked Members of Parliament affiliated to his party from chanting slogans that denigrate President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The move is likely to cement the commonly shared view that Mwonzora is a Zanu PF project, a charge he denies.

Mwonzora met his party MPs in Harare on Thursday where he read the riot act and ordered them to abandon the politics of hate in what will effectively stop the culture of walking out on Mnangagwa and singing anti-Zanu PF songs each time the President walks into the august House.

This has hitherto been synonymous with the opposition party since the contentious 2020 general elections when MPs under Nelson Chamisas MDC Alliance vowed not to recognise Mnangagwas legitimacy, accusing him of rigging the July 2018 harmonised elections.

Our policy is not to boycott Parliament, even if Mnangagwa is addressing. It makes no sense at all when people elected our parliamentarians to go to Parliament and then they boycott or they are ordered to boycott by the party leadership, Mwonzoras spokesperson Lloyd Damba said.

It is short-changing the electorate. Party parliamentarians must take their work seriously. The time to sing in Parliament and walking out is over.

He added: To disrespect Parliament is to disrespect the voters. We now have a mature leadership at the helm of the party and we need to take advantage of this to engage Zanu PF on meaningful national issues respectfully as adults.

The MDC-T leader said MPs should engage in constructive debate in Parliament and urged them to reject laws enacted to further shrink the democratic space, including the Patriot Bill introduced in Parliament recently by Zanu PF.

The Bill seeks to criminalise negative utterances made about Zimbabwe and has been denounced by democratic forces and the opposition MDC Alliance.

Mwonzora urged his MPs to fully represent the people and condemn human rights abuses and other ills. Newsday
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Loosen your belts, local Butchery Swine House has found a new home at the Pearl Farmers Market. Starting this weekend, they will now be vending their decadent and conscious meaty creations, including an elevated egg and cheese sandwich with your choice of protein and smoked kielbasa on a roll.

Since the shuttering of his brick and mortar Swine House Bodega last April, Joe Saenz, owner and founder of the meat purveyor, has had to reinvent the wheel several times over. In the summer, while quarantining with his girlfriend in Austin, he thought he was at the end of the road. Then one day he reached out to friends Edward Garcia and Daniel Trevino from Box Street Social, a local catering food truck, and asked, point blank, if they wanted to open a butcher shop  their answer pleased him.

I was like, okay, lets buy a pig and see if we can sell it. Thats basically how you start. One knife, one pig, said Saenz.

One swine no more.

READ MORE: Two weeks of vandalism at Burgerteca adds to the 'heartbreak' the San Antonio restaurant has endured

Showcasing a variety of pasture-fed creatures for smoking, grilling and charcuterie, the exclusively online butcher shop, now in operation, boasts the title of San Antonios first. Of the new relationship with the farmers market, Saenz emphasizes that the move is a match made in heaven.

We really see ourselves as serving the farmers who do the real work first.

On the Swine House website, this ethos becomes clear: to connect with and honor the sun, soil, and labor of the farm.

A native of San Antonio, Saenz returned to his hometown from New York with clearer ambitions. He pivoted from tense, toque-wearing kitchen work that often felt exploitative, to the world of craft butcheries. The New York Hudson Valley and Brooklyn were kind of epicenters of that, he tells me. It was there that he learned more about strategies to be less wasteful, more respectful of the animals used, the land that boons the produce and the people who tend to it. After a nine-year absence, the move back was additionally motivated by the affirming developments in our local food scene.

RELATED: I visited a San Antonio 'living land museum' you can only access 2 Saturdays a month

The first thing I did when I got back to San Antonio was go to the farmer's market and introduce myself to all the meat producers, said Saenz.

Swine House cuts include are often sourced from Peaceful Pork, another Pearl vending veteran, Windy Hill Foods, and Parker Creek Ranch.

Going forward, Saenz and company want to maintain the forward momentum and hopefully further develop the menu.

We want to be at the farmer's market and we want to build out our online butcher shop model.

For all your meaty desires, Swine House will be operating out of the Pearl Market beginning this Saturday and every Saturday for the foreseeable future.

It really takes a whole community, and with all the challenges that everyone's going through, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the help of so many supporters.

Camille Sauers is a freelance writer based in San Antonio. Find her on Twitter @camillesaccount. Send her emails to camillefrancissauers@gmail.com.
Some Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State were absent as Governor Nyesom Wike handed the partys flags to Local G...

Some Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State were absent as Governor Nyesom Wike handed the partys flags to Local Government Chairmen candidates contesting the Council elections in the state.

Most prominent among the absentee leaders are the National Chairman of the PDP Prince Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Maeba, Senator Barry Mpigi, amongst others.

Speaking at the flag-off of the LGA campaign for the Council elections, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike vowed not to allow the PDP take Rivers State for granted.

He said there will be grave consequences if the main opposition party attempt to short change Rivers State.

According to Wike, Rivers state is not a state you can toy with. Not even within the PDP. We have votes to give so I wont allow anybody take us for granted. I can threaten PDP.

Even Nigeria knows that Rivers State is not an ordinary State. Rivers State stands tall to say that if PDP is to win an election in Nigeria it has to be with the performance of Rivers State.

PDP cannot gang up against Rivers State because they will not recover from it. The federal government took us for granted but they are yet to recover from it.
The Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), under Govt. of Himachal Pradesh, has called for applications in a prescribed format from qualified and experienced Indian nationals for filling Two Twenty-Seven (227) vacancies to the post of Senior Resident/Tutor (Specialist) in IGMC to be posted in Govt. Medical Colleges in Shimla and across Himachal Pradesh, India on a fulltime basis. The offline application process towards the same started on March 18, 2021 and closes on or before April 05, 2021.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Senior Resident/Tutor (Specialist) posts in IGMC Organisation Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Educational Qualification Post Graduate (MD/MS/MDS) or DNB or PG Diploma in the concerned specialty Experience Refer to the advertisement Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Shimla and across Himachal Pradesh Salary Scale Rs. 55,000 up to Rs. 60,000 per month Industry Govt. of Himachal Pradesh Application Start Date March 18, 2021 Application End Date April 5, 2021

IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021: Age And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for IGMC Shimla Jobs 2021 through IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021 must not have exceeded 45 years of age, with a relaxation in the upper age limit to reserved categories as per IGMC Shimla guidelines as specified in the IGMC Shimla Notification 2021.

Candidates must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 1,500 (Gen/UR) and Rs. 1,000 (SC/ST/OBC) respectively as application fee for IGMC Shimla Senior Resident Jobs 2021 through IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021 as mentioned in the IGMC Shimla Notification 2021 given at the end of the article.

Also Read: NDMC Recruitment 2021 Notification For 14 Junior Managers Posts, Apply Online Before April 12 On NMDC.Co.In

IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021: Educational Criteria And Experience

Desirous candidates applying for IGMC Shimla Tutor Jobs 2021 through IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021 must possess a Post Graduate (MD/MS/MDS) or DNB or PG Diploma in the concerned specialty with relevant years of experience in the concerned area as detailed in the IGMC Shimla Notification 2021.

IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay

The selection of candidates to IGMC Shimla Tutor Jobs 2021 through IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting, Merit and Document Verification as notified in the IGMC Shimla Notification 2021.

Candidates selected to IGMC Shimla Specialist Jobs 2021 through IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 55,000 up to Rs. 60,000 per month.

Also Read: UPPCL Recruitment 2021 For 21 DGM And Chief Accounts Officer Posts, Apply Online Before April 9 On Uppcl.Org

IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for IGMC Shimla Specialist Jobs 2021 through IGMC Shimla Recruitment 2021 must fill the application form in a prescribed format post-download from the IGMC Shimla Notification 2021 and send the same to the "Principal, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla-cum-Member Secretary Counseling Committee" along with relevant supporting documents on or before April 05, 2021 by 5:00 pm through a proper channel.

Download IGMC Shimla Notification 2021 PDF for Senior Resident/Tutor (Specialist) posts here
New Delhi: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Friday (March 19) arrived in the national capital for the first time after assuming the charge.

On the first day of his visit, Tirath Singh Rawat met BJP president J P Nadda and party general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh.

The chief minister reached Delhi's Uttarakhand Sadan at about 2 pm in the afternoon and had a meeting with party workers here. He also met officials from the state stationed in the Capital. Sources close to the chief minister said he is likely to leave for Dehradun on Saturday.

Uttarakhand CM also held meetings to review the situation in the pilgrimage towns of Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Meanwhile, soon after assuming the top office in state, Rawat found himself at the centre of a row over his comments disapproving of women wearing ripped jeans, suggesting that this goes against India's cultural norms.

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The luxury car brand always targets classy collaborations, and because March 21st, 2021 has been dubbed World Poetry Day, it has enlisted the help of up-and-coming names such as LionHeart, Charly Cox, Shaquille-Aaron Keith, Irina Dubtsova, and Leticia Sala.Each of the poets was tasked to create a poem based on their personal experiences of Bentley and the companys lifestyle, which is said to be all about sustainability, craftsmanship, innovation and performance.For now, though, all we have are quotes, such as were on a grand tour of nowhere, that could be anywhere or The First Edition, Flying Spur, a rendition of the finest poetry is about to occur.On the other hand, the company promises that every poem will be revealed via social media on World Poetry Day (March 21st) in hopes of delivering a fresh cultural perspective, challenging preconceptions of poetry as traditional. By the way, the celebration is of global importance, as it was first introduced by UNESCO back in 1999.For now, theres one poem that can be clearly seen in the gallery, though Bentley mentions that each of the lyric artists actually worked in a variety of environments and using a wide range of mediums, from handwriting to smartphone voice recordings, digital typefaces, and even photos or videos.By the way, the five poets, each coming from a different European background (Britain, Trinidad, Russia, or Spain) were united in their quest for new rhymes with help from the automaker. After all, Bentley loaned them a model from the range to each one so they could each put together a work of poetry inspired by this experience.
By Abraham Gonzalez

AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico (Reuters) - In an arid valley in central Mexico, one of the world's largest automotive suppliers is preparing to open a new plant to produce components for North America, underpinning the export business that has kept the country's struggling economy ticking over.

The new Continental AG plant in Aguascalientes state should benefit from the new United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal and U.S. President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus plan to revive growth after the coronavirus pandemic.

The confidence expressed by local executives of the German parts maker echoes growing optimism among analysts that a global recovery will lift Mexico's economy more than previously expected, despite ongoing weakness in domestic demand.

"We've got high (auto) output coming, high volumes for everyone, and that's what we're getting ready for," said Ina Seterbakken, the manager of plant still under construction.

Continental expects business to revive after delays caused by pandemic-related disruptions, Seterbakken said, noting the facility was a strategic bet given Mexico's proximity to the United States, the world's biggest economy.

The new plant, which will employ about 1,000 people, joins a thick belt of automotive factories clustered in central Mexico, whirring with machinery focused chiefly on satisfying export demand that the market access of USMCA provides.

"If (USMCA) hadn't been agreed, it would have really changed this country's economy," said Gustavo Puente, economy minister in the central state of San Luis Potosi, which recently unveiled a separate 60 million euro Continental investment.

Mexico's economy last year suffered its worst slump since the 1930s, with gross domestic product (GDP) shrinking by 8.5%. Robust foreign demand ensured the outcome was not worse.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has resisted calls to splash out to prop up the economy, arguing that bailouts and deficit spending tend to line the pockets of the rich.

Story continues

But his country has benefited from stimulus spending in wealthier countries, especially the United States, which soaks up around 80% of all Mexico's goods exports.

The automotive industry forms the core of manufacturing output, which makes up almost a fifth of Mexico's economy.

Buoyed by the prospect of a revival north of the border, Mexico's government is revising up its 2021 growth forecast to 5.0-5.5%, and Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said the U.S. stimulus plan was "very important" to the country.

Private sector analysts are doing the same, with JPMorgan recently raising its 2021 estimate for the second time this year to 5.6%.

"If it weren't for such a strong program in the United States this year, Mexico might be growing 2.5% or 3%," said Gabriel Lozano, the U.S. bank's chief economist for Mexico.

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Mexico has committed funds worth about 1.3% of GDP to reviving its economy, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) calculations. In Brazil, by contrast, it is 6.2%.

Yet despite that, Mexico's economy is expected to grow by 4.3% this year versus 3.6% for Brazil, the IMF estimates.

Export exposure is one reason.

Worth some $360 billion before the pandemic, according to U.S. official data, Mexican annual exports to the United States are equivalent to about a third of GDP. Brazil's U.S. exports were worth under $31 billion in 2019.

The difference between Latin America's two biggest economies also shows up in financial markets: while the Mexican stock exchange has gained 4.9% so far in 2020, the Brazilian exchange has lost 8.2%, when measured in dollars.

Nevertheless, some analysts and bosses in Mexico have their doubts. They note that appetite for manufactured goods abroad contrasts with flagging domestic demand, with Mexican fixed capital investment plummeting more than 18% last year.

How well Mexico recovers will depend in part on the government's ability to overcome tensions with business and encourage investment in manufacturing, which could profit from a drive to regionalize supply chains away from Asia under USMCA.

Drawn to lower-cost Mexico to get a competitive edge, companies are watching nervously to see if the government's moves to strengthen state control of the electricity market will affect energy-intensive sectors like carmaking.

"(The electricity sector) is decisive for the Mexican economy to grow steadily, but for this, the state must guarantee the principles of free competition and legal certainty," the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Mexico said last month.

(Reporting by Abraham Gonzalez; Writing by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Dave Graham and Chizu Nomiyama)
Bengaluru, March 20 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is bracing up to commemorate 100 years of the outfit in 2025. Newly elected Sarkaryavaha Dattatreya Hosabale on Saturday revealed the RSS's three dimension (3-D) outreach plan which aims at ensuring that the BJP comes to power in 2024, a year ahead of the RSS completing 100 years in 2025.

Even as Hosabale did not take the name of RSS's political arm BJP or the incumbent Central government throughout his 45-minute press meet, he dropped enough hints about how the RSS plans to fan out across the country and reach out to various sections of society.

As per the RSS's 3-D plan, the first step is to expand its network in all mandals (cluster of 10-12 villages. The second is to launch a massive outreach campaign to tap farmers in the name of improving soil conditions, which will be launched on April 13 onwards. The final step is to work towards inculcating family values in the next three years (parivar prabodhan). As a part of this, an intellectual campaign will be taken up by the RSS in the next three years.

After his election by the RSS's highest decision-making body, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) on the concluding day of two-day meet here, Hosabale said the RSS will work with several organisations and trusts to improve the quality of the soil as it is degrading because of various reasons.

"We are in touch with several soil experts who have suggested various ways to improve degrading soil and improve crop yield. The RSS will take it up as a large campaign with pilot projects in this regard from April 13," he explained.

Apart from reaching out to rural areas, the RSS will also look to expand its network in all mandals in the country, he said.

Hosabale said the RSS will commemorate completion of 100 years in national service in 2025. "The RSS has planned to reach every mandal in the country. Due to Corona, RSS could not hold regular shakhas. Since November, regular shakhas have begun wherever the situation was conducive and no restrictions were in place and by following all the norms suggested by the government," he explained.

According to him, RSS operates its shakhas (branches) at 34,569 locations in the country. "18500 weekly assemblies (milans) are happening across the country. We plan to reach all the mandals in the next three years by covering all 58542 mandals and in 5505 in khands/developmental blocks in the country," he explained.

He said that this along with its civilisational experience and its achievements have to be conveyed to the world and the next generation. "An intellectual campaign towards this will be taken up by the RSS in the next three years. The experience of our karyakartas is the inspiration behind the sangh work in these three dimensions (3-D) in the next few years," he explained.
Towns along Australia's east coast have already seen record rainfall of more than 400 millimetres (16 inches) since Friday morning

Record rains and widespread flooding prompted evacuations along Australia's east coast Saturday and threatened the most serious overflow of Sydney's main reservoir in 30 years, officials said.

Authorities warned of potentially "life-threatening" flash floods as the torrential rains pummeled a vast coastal region already soaked by an unusually wet summer.

"It's a very significant, record-breaking event with the rainfall that we have seen," said Agata Imielska of the Bureau of Meteorology.

Police said hundreds of people had flocked to evacuation centres in areas north of Sydney in New South Wales state, and they expected many more to seek shelter as the rains moved south down the coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported flooding levels surpassing record 2013 floods along the Hastings River outside Port Macquarie, about 400 kilometres (240 miles) north of Sydney, though the river levels started descending later Saturday.

Towns in the area have already seen record rainfall of more than 400 millimetres (16 inches) since Friday morning, the bureau said.

It warned the heavy rains were forecast to move down the coast over the weekend, "potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding" in some areas.

The flood and extreme weather warnings stretched from Port Macquarie to areas 500 kilometres south of Sydney, where residents were urged to stay indoors due to the flash flooding risk.

Forecasters warned the heavy rains were set to continue through Saturday 'potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding'

The Warragamba Dam, which provides much of the drinking water for Sydney, began spilling over Saturday afternoon in what experts expected to be the first significant overflow of the reservoir since 1990 although there have been smaller breaches more recently.

"We are in unchartered territory," warned Ian Wright, a water expert at Western Sydney University, who said the rapid urbanisation of the western Sydney area around the Warragamba since 1990 meant its spillover could no longer be reabsorbed by surrounding bushland.

"The urban development adds hard, impervious surfaces, and drainage infrastructure. In heavy rain, this can rapidly generate high-velocity floodwaters," Wright tweeted.

Authorities issued an evacuation order for the town of Picton south of the dam after the spill and were closely monitoring flood-prone areas of western Sydney.

Most of the severe flooding Saturday was along the coast north of Sydney, where television images showed city and town streets underwater, and one house literally floating down a bloated river.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison lamented the "absolutely heart-breaking scenes" of homes, towns and businesses inundated and offered troops to help with the emergency effort.

National broadcaster ABC said the rain and floods would also delay the already halting roll-out of coronavirus vaccines in Sydney and surrounding areas.

The country is due to begin the first major public phase of vaccine distribution on Monday although the programme has slipped behind the government's announced timetable due to supply and delivery issues.

Emergency services reported receiving more than 3,000 calls for help and carried out about 300 flood rescues Friday night and Saturday across the affected area.

Explore further Dams overflow as Australia braces for more floods

 2021 AFP
The Federal Government says it will appeal, rather than force anyone to take the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccines for COVID -19, according to Olorunnibe Mamora, the Minister of State for health

Mr Mamora made the disclosure, on Friday, in Asaba, while fielding questions from reporters shortly after he inaugurated some projects at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba.

His comment followed a reporters question on why Kogi was yet to take delivery of the vaccine while most states in the federation had received the vaccine.

However, Mr Mamora was quick to point out that Kogi was not ready to take delivery of the vaccine, while the Federal Government would not compel any state to do so.

Kogi lacked storage facilities for cold chain, security, logistics and personnel to administer the vaccines.

Also, let me state clearly here that from the onset, the Federal Government made it clear that it will not force anyone to take the vaccine, but rather will continue to appeal to people in their own interests.

Aside that, in Kogi, that you mentioned specifically, one of the reasons the vaccine has not been sent there is because during the #EndSARS crisis, some of their facilities were violently destroyed.

So, as we speak, Kogi does not even have the facilities for storage to maintain the cold chain. So, that is the reason the state has not been supplied, he said.

The minister stated that the Federal Government had given conditions to the states, to ensure readiness in terms of cold chain facility, logistics, security and personnel to administer the vaccine, before they could be supplied.

Suspension

On the suspension of the vaccine in some European countries, Mr Mamora said it might be political, insisting that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and efficient.

He said: One thing I will say as a personal opinion which I am not afraid to express is I wont be surprised if politics is involved because of Brexit and what have you.

But that is not the most important thing, the most important thing is that even the European Medicine Agency has come out to say the vaccine is safe and efficient. That is the most important thing.

If you have given close to 20 million vaccinations and you have maybe less than 20,000, what percentage of the over 20 million is the 20,000? That is infinitesimal, the minister said.

Mr Mamora said every drug was a potential poison, saying that when you give a drug or a vaccine, it is because you have weighed the therapeutic advantages against the side effects.

If the balance tilts in favour of the advantage, you will go for it as a clinician or medical doctor, adding that its the situation with the AstraZeneca vaccine, Mamora said.

Private sector intervention

The minister reiterated the governments position not to allow the private sector, get involved in the distribution and administration of the vaccine, because it wanted to take absolute responsibility.

It is genuine. We can verify the source and dont forget, the Federal Government signed an indemnity clause, that says we will take responsibility, he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the projects inaugurated by Mr Mamora at the FMC, Asaba, included, a Molecular Biology Laboratory, 15-Room Intensive Care Unit, 40-Room House Officers Quarter/Seminar Room and 17-Room Guest House.

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New Delhi, March 20 : Samsung announced on Saturday that its Galaxy M12 smartphone has become the top ranking smartphone on Amazon's bestselling list on the opening day of its India debut.

According to the company, Galaxy M12 became the top selling smartphone within the first 48 hours of sales, including prime early access.

"Galaxy M12, the successor to Galaxy M11 (2020) and Galaxy M21 (2020), also created a new first day sales record for Samsung in its category. On the first day of sales, Galaxy M12 sold 3.65 times as compared to Galaxy M02s, which was launched in January 2021," the company said in a statement.

The Galaxy M12 comes in two variants -- the 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage variant is priced at Rs 10,999, and the 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage model will set you back by Rs 13,499. There is a limited period Rs 1,000 cashback offer for ICICI Bank credit and debit card customers across Samsung.com, Amazon.in and select retail stores.

It features a 6.5-inch HD+ (720x1,600 pixels) TFT Infinity-V Display with an aspect ratio of 20:9.

The smartphone is powered by the Exynos 850 SoC, paired with up to 6GB RAM. Internal storage is listed to be at up to 128GB.

The device runs on Android-based One UI Core OS and supports dual-SIM (Nano) slots.

It has a quad camera setup on the back that comprises a 48MP primary sensor with f/2.0 aperture, a 5MP secondary ultra-wide sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. The smartphone also houses an 8 MP selfie camera.

It packs a 6,000mAh battery and connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Mar. 19COOS BAY  Marshfield's boys soccer team cracked Marist Catholic's tight defense for a goal with just under 3 1/2 minutes to go in their match at Pete Susick Stadium on Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, the powerhouse Spartans had two earlier goals and handed the Pirates their first loss of the season, 2-1, in Sky-Em League play.

"The whole game, we struggled to create," Marshfield coach Drew Jones said. "We finally put it together at the end of the game."

Most of the match, the Pirates weren't able to break through against the speedy Spartans, but they were able to stop the Marist Catholic attack, which was itself a good feat. The Spartans push the ball up the pitch efficiently when tremendous speed.

"That is a very good team," Jones said. "They make a good run in the playoffs every year."

The Spartans got on the scoreboard in the first eight minutes, on their first corner kick of the match. Justin Guzman took the kick and Irwin Leon put it in the goal.

Often during the rest of the contest, Marist Catholic had the ball in Marshfield's half of the pitch, but wasn't able to convert.

The Spartans put two hard shots off the crossbar and Marshfield goalie Daniel Garcia saved a number of the others.

"It was a great bounce-back game for him after the two goals against Cottage Grove," Jones said.

Marist Catholic got its other goal in the 53rd minute, when Leon dribbled through a crowd of defenders and blasted a strong left-footed kick past Garcia into the right side of the net.

The Pirates kept battling and finally got their goal, when Alberto Castillo knocked a shot that Marist's goalie deflected. Ismael Rodriguez chipped the ball to Jonah Putman, who knocked it into the net.

But the Pirates never got a good look at a possible equalizer.

"It wasn't the outcome we wanted," Rodriguez said. "We all tried to play our best game. We had some bad mistakes.

Story continues

"Overall, we did good. We had good passes and good through balls."

Jones said the match was great experience for his roster, which has a couple of freshmen including Putman who play significant minutes.

Rodriguez agreed the team got a lot from the contest.

"This game is definitely going to help us," he said, adding that he remains excited about Marshfield's potential.

"We've got to keep training hard," he said. "Whenever we step on the pitch, we've got to give it 100 percent."

Marshfield is 3-1-1 at the midway point in the league season and opens the second half Thursday against Junction City, also at home.

GIRLS

MARIST CATHOLIC 5, MARSHFIELD 0: The Pirates played the Spartans tough into the second half in Eugene before Marist Catholic pulled away.

The score was 1-0 until the Spartans scored in the 44th minute, and they added three more.

"We may have lost 5-0, but these girls played their hearts out, and this score did not define our teamwork," Marshfield coach Pio Figueroa said.

He already was looking forward to the Spartans' return trip to Coos Bay.

"We will work harder than ever and receive Marist on (April 1) for a game they will never forget on our home turf," he said.
Sgt Evelyn Reddan and Superintendent Gerry McGrath pictured the cheque for 4,000 for the Jack and Jill Foundation

The Tara Vales Yvonne and Mary French with the cheque for 2,000 for St Aidans

The annual New Year's Day swim at Ballymoney saw a total of 8,500 shared between four very worthy charities by the Tara Vale Swimmers.

Due to the pandemic, the group was unable to hold the swim in its traditional format this year and, instead, people took to the water in their own time.

The result was a cheque for 4,000 being sent to Jack and Jill, cheques for 2,000 being delivered to St Aidan's and the North Wexford Hospice and a welcome boost of 500 for Courtown RNLI.

Fergus Rapple of Tara Vale Swimmers thanked all those who took part in the swim and who donated online.

'A strange year culminated with a strange New Year's Day for the Tara Vale Swimmers,' said Mr Rapple.

'In previous years there was more than 100 people in the water and up to 200 on the beach to support them but this year the swim took place on different days and was undertaken by small groups due to Covid-19.

'Almost all of the fundraising activities normally run during the year could not happen and it was a year when we thought about cancelling the swim. But it was also a year when charities were going to be in need more than ever, so with this in mind it is amazing that the amount being handed over to Jack and Jill, St Aidan's, the North Wexford Hospice and the RNLI is an amazing 8,500 in total. All thanks to those who gave their time and support and here's to looking forward to a brighter 2021,' he said.

In 2020, the annual swim celebrated its 15th year raising 19,300 for its four chosen charities.
MONTREAL - The Laurentian Bank of Canada's unionized employees have voted to decertify, reversing the position they took three years ago.

The Banque Laurentienne or Laurentian Bank logo is pictured Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL - The Laurentian Bank of Canada's unionized employees have voted to decertify, reversing the position they took three years ago.

The Montreal-based bank says it was informed by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) that 56.6 per cent of employees who voted March 8 supported the revocation of the union certification.

The union has filed an unfair labour practice complaint following the filing of the decertification application.

It alleged that the employer interfered in the process and encouraged employees to withdraw their certification.

The 600 or so union members  who represent about 20 per cent of the bank's total workforce  are mainly located in Quebec. There were around 2,000 in 2015, before the deployment of the transformation plan, which resulted in branch closures and mergers as well as the elimination of counter services.

The collective agreement, which was the subject of heated negotiations, expires at the end of the year.

According to SEPB-Quebec, bank CEO Rania Llewellyn, in office since Oct. 30 and who works from Toronto, has refused to meet with union representatives.

In February 2018, union members voted over 60 per cent to maintain certification.

Employees covered by the bargaining certificate remain unionized for the time being.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:LB)
Chabad of Baton Rouge plans to give out 400 boxes of handmade shmurah matzah to help Jewish families in the Capitol area observe Passover.
Sligo Rovers will soon be welcoming a host of new, young fans as they announced one of the most significant community projects in the club's history as every baby born in Sligo University Hospital this year will be offered a Rovers jersey on the day they enter the world.

The project, headed by the club and The Bit O' Red Supporters Trust in conjunction with Sligo University Hospital, will see over 1,000 Rovers jerseys donated to families of newborns in Sligo.

The jersey is a replica of the 2021 home jersey, featuring all details of the famous Bit O' Red shirt.

The project is a first for the League of Ireland.

Last season, during the pandemic year, the Sligo Rovers community fundraised 400,000 for the club.

Despite interactions among supporters and friends of the club coming to a standstill, the club remained at the heart of Sligo.

Sligo Rovers chief executive Colin Feehily said: "Sligo Rovers has existed through 93 years because each generation has passed their love of the club on to the next.

"We are very proud of what Rovers means to our region and how it can form a part of all our lives and connect us as well. We are taking this measure to bring that feeling to even more people."

Gerard O'Connor of the Bit O' Red Supporters Trust said: "We saw a demand for a product like this and thought 'how can we bring it to as many supporters as possible, as well as introducing Rovers to people who may previously not be fans.

"The club and the Trust work together on many projects and I'm delighted it has come to fruition.

"We also hope it is something for families not from Sligo and who may be seeking a connection to the area. Now, as they grow their family, they are also Rovers fans as well."

Lorraine McDonnell, General Manager of The Sligo Champion added; As proud sponsors of the club, The Sligo Champion is thrilled to collaborate with Sligo Rovers on this unique initiative, which further reinforces the bond of Sligo Rovers with the people of the North West.

"In addition to the famous Bit O'Red shirt being given to every newborn, we are delighted to facilitate a bespoke service through which family members can have the new arrival recorded in The Sligo Champion.

"Through submitting a message on the card received with the jersey, you can mark the birth in your local paper and have it as a momento forever more.

"We will also be able to provide you with a copy of the front page of the newspaper from the week of the new arrival, in keeping with a tradition that so many families over the years have engaged in. To avail of this service, contact the Champion office on 0719169222 or email marketing@sligochampion.ie

"Like Sligo Rovers, The Sligo Champion has a strong bond with the people of the region, and this can help introduce the next generation to their local newspaper."
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 59F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Council planners and Fianna Fail Minister Darragh O'Brien has been praised by local TD Marc MacSharry for the 48m funding boost for Sligo.

"In working with Minister O'Brien since last summer and in particular in the course of the last six months I am personally delighted that we have been successful in securing maximum support under the URDF scheme for these major projects.

"I want to thank Minister O'Brien for listening and embracing the vision and belief that I and all of us in Sligo share in our potential as the growth capital of the North West region," said Deputy MacSharry.

He also went on to pay tribute to Sligo County Council for planning the projects which are now the subject of funding.

"I would like to particularly pay tribute to Sligo County Council's Director of Services, Dorothy Clarke, Frank Moylan and the planning team.

"The vision and capability that they showed made our jobs as politicians much easier in making the case to secure what is likely to be among the largest allocations under the URDF scheme outside the nation's largest cities.

"It finally underpins a level of commitment to Sligo's potential by the Government of the day. Recognition, Sligo is entitled to, deserves and has waited for very many years to achieve,

"The Mayor Cllr Rosaleen O'Grady and all the members of Sligo Municipal Council area and the broader County Council can be rightly proud of their efforts through the years which have all too often be neglected by Central Government.

"We must press ahead now to draw down these resources, complete the projects and focus on the many other needs of our City and other county towns to maximise allocations available under a variety of national schemes to assist us as we strive to reach our potential.

This is great news, but we must build momentum and capitalise on all opportunities available to us. This will continue to be my focus in my work nationally in co-operation with Sligo County Council and all stakeholders throughout our city, county and region," concluded MacSharry.
Two Arrested on Drug Trafficking, Other Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - A drug trafficking investigation led to the arrest of two McCracken County residents on numerous charges.On Friday, detectives with the McCracken County Sheriff's Office approached a vehicle in the parking lot of a business at 8th and Park Avenue.Detectives say the driver, 30-year-old Luther Robinson, had arranged to sell methamphetamine to detectives.As detectives approached, 31-year-old Demario Daniels ran from the vehicle. Detectives caught the Daniels a short time later as he was running through a building, knocking down a woman in the process.Once captured, he reportedly began resisting and fighting until handcuffed.Authorities say Daniels had escaped from a Class D facility at the McCracken County Jail in April 2020.A search of Robinson allegedly uncovered 10 grams of an unknown substance in his pocket. Twelve ounces of marijuana were located inside the vehicle.Once Robinson was at the jail, authorities reportedly learned that he had placed loose methamphetamine in his pants and tried to destroy some of it in the backseat of the deputy's vehicle.Authorities say they were able to seize approximately $10,000 from Robinson, believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales.They were both lodged in the McCracken County Jail.At the jail, detectives say Daniels attempted to use another person's name to avoid detection, although jail personnel recognized him.Daniels is charged with fleeing or evading police second degree, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct second degree, wanton endangerment second degree, identity theft, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and multiple warrants, including escape second degree.Robinson is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine over 2 grams, trafficking in marijuana over 8 ounces, tampering with physical evidence, promoting contraband first degree, disorderly conduct second degree, menacing, and resisting arrest.
A Protestant house church in Guiyang, China was raided by authorities, who captured over a dozen Christians.

The Ren'ai Reformed Church in the Guiyang provincial capital of Guizhou, China, was raided by Chinese police on Tuesday morning. Authorities captured more than 12 Christian participants in the peaceful Bible study group, which was led by church elder Zhang Chunlei, who was also later detained when he appeared at the police station to ask after those who were taken away.

Radio Free Asia reported that the news came via a local Christian who spoke about the event. The witness said that the Bible study group's leader, Zhang, went to the police station at 5 p.m. after he was called in for questioning. As of the time of the report, the Christians were still being detained by Chinese police.

Another Guiyang resident by the name of Li admitted that it was uncommon for Protestant house churches to physically meet after the Chinese authorities put into place several gathering restrictions due to the pandemic. Li shared that Christians often gathered via online meetings as "Offline gatherings are restricted."

He said that if they are to gather in person, they do so in small groups of a dozen or less. He said, "Large-scale gatherings are definitely banned."

Zhang, who was captured during the Chinese police raid at the Bible study group's gathering, was one of the first Protestant pastors to sign a Declaration of the Christian Faith that was created by pastor Wang Yi.

Wang had also been captured by Chinese police and sent to jail. Before this week's raid, Zhang had already experienced repeated surveillance and harassment at the hands of state security police. He was also prevented from participating in religious activities or communicating with members of his church.

There has been no word as to why the Chinese police raided the peaceful Bible study group in Guiyang. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has restrictions in place as to what is considered a "house church." Li shared,

"As far as we can tell, the [CCP's] United Front Work Department and the secret agencies of the Chinese government have their own definition of what can be called a house church in China. They think it should refer to a family gathering with only relatives present."

Current COVID-19 restrictions in China prevent religious meetings that involve more than one household. Any type of gathering must be attended by members of the same household only.

This is not the first time Chinese police raided religious gatherings in the name of implementing COVID-19 restrictions in Guiyang. Back in November 2020, the Huaxi District Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs together with Chinese police raided a religious gathering of the Enze Fellowship led by pastor Dai Yankun and captured him and 10 other church members without presenting proper documents.

Dai was detained on unspecified grounds and was later moved to an undisclosed location. Captured church members were investigated and interrogated by Chinese police and forced to disclose their personal information and information on church funding.

(Edited to correct Zhang Chunlei's name. It was originally misspelled as Chulei.)
The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating eight additional COVID-19 cases, of which seven are locally transmitted and one is imported.

Among the local cases, one has an unknown source of infection.

The unlinked case involves a 42-year-old man who lives at Caroline Hill Court in Causeway Bay.

He had been asymptomatic before he went to a mobile specimen collection station for testing on March 18 and tested positive. He is a decoration worker in carpentry and last went to work on March 19.

The patient of the imported case arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines.

A total of 297 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days, including 230 local cases, of which 50 are untraceable.

Meanwhile, five buildings with one or more confirmed cases or where sewage samples tested positive are covered by compulsory testing notices.

The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at Open Roman Square of Wah Sum Estate in Fanling on March 21 and extend the service period of some mobile specimen collection stations.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.
A total of 710 health workers in the Greater Accra Region have so far contracted COVID-19, out of which four have died.



The surviving 706 health staff who tested positive for the virus from March, 2020 have fully recovered and are going about their duties in the various health facilities.



These were made known by the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Mrs Charity Sarpong, at the 2020 Annual Performance Review meeting of the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate in Accra yesterday.



The meeting was christened: "Advancing universal health coverage through enhanced people engagement, effective data management and appropriate technology in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic".



Challenging year



Dr Sarpong said 2020 was a challenging year for the directorate as the region recorded more than 50 per cent of the total reported COVID-19 cases.



She revealed that as of March 15, 2021, the Greater Accra Region had recorded 49,243 confirmed cases, with 47,699 recoveries and 212 deaths, while the active cases stood at 1,332.



She expressed delight about the commencement of the vaccination exercise, stating that the region had so far covered about 85 per cent of its targeted population for the first phase of the exercise.



With respect to the safety of health workers, there has been a lot of capacity building on better understanding of the disease and how to protect ourselves using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The government, through the Ghana Health Service, has also been supplying us with the necessary PPE, and so all staff are now being protected, she said.



Impact



Dr Sarpong said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regions Out Patient Department (OPD) per capita reduced from 0.86 in 2019 to 0.81 in 2020, with its total insured OPD attendants also reduced from 54 per cent in 2019 to 50.8 per cent in 2020.



A reduction was also seen in key indicators such as skilled deliveries, family planning acceptor rate, and some of our immunisation coverage. Total deliveries also reduced about 7.4 per cent from 112,957 in 2019 to 104,608 in 2020, she added.



She further indicated that a review of its regions OPD attendance showed that malaria, respiratory tract infections, and hypertension remained the leading causes of the top 10 OPD morbidity recorded in the region.



Dr Sarpong added that although malaria topped the list, there had been a steady reduction in the number of cases recorded over the past three years  from 14 per cent of the total OPD attendance in 2018 to 11 per cent and 9.7 per cent in 2019 and 2020 respectively.



This achievement is due to the remarkable improvement in malaria diagnosis, its case management and the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to particularly pregnant women, mothers and their infants at service delivery points, she said.



National statistics



A representative of the Ghana Health Service Council, Dr Badu Sarkodie, revealed that as of the end of 2020, a total of 3,656 health workers nationwide had tested positive for the virus, with 14 deaths.



He encouraged all health workers to get vaccinated and be advocates of the vaccination exercise, stressing that it was one of the surest ways to keep the virus at bay.



This year, we will finalise the plan and processes of setting up and strengthening our systems for addressing staff needs such as provision of compensation and benefits package and investing in improving and expanding capacities, he assured.



The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey, applauded the health workers for their continuous dedication to duty irrespective of the inconvenience and dangers occasioned by the pandemic.



He urged all metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives to institutionalise and support multi-disciplinary community health teams to help fix sanitation issues among other public health threats in their respective areas.

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
Rare penguin chicks successfully moved to new home

Fourteen rare penguins have been successfully moved from the Curraghs Wildlife Park in the Isle of Man to a new home in Northern Ireland.

The waddle of Humboldt penguins included 10 chicks hatched in 2020, and four that hatched the previous year, as part of an internationally recognised breeding program.

The move that has been months in the making comes after the Curraghs Wildlife Park enjoyed a record year for the South American species which is classed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

General Manager Kathleen Graham said: We are thrilled that they have arrived at their new home at the Exploris aquarium in Portaferry, and proud to do our bit to expand the captive population.

A move like this would be challenging at the best of times but the added obstacles of the ongoing pandemic and Brexit have made the planning particularly complex, but seeing pictures of them in their new pool made it all worthwhile.

'It has been a real team effort and I would like to thank everyone involved.

The penguins have now moved into a brand new salt water pool and will continue to be part of the European Endangered Species breeding program.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, who manage the Park, said: I must congratulate everyone that has helped to make this possible in such difficult times.

Not only does our Wildlife Park protect species and contribute to breeding programs but through fundraising efforts it delivers direct help in the wild  where it is most needed.

Last year the Curraghs team has raised more than 2,000 to help with projects in the wild where numbers are possibly as low as 12,000 and in decline.

Both the Curraghs Wildlife Park and Exploris aquarium are currently closed due to coronavirus restrictions.
New Delhi, March 20 : Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Saturday that the threads of the investigation being carried out against Sachin Vaze in the SUV case are leading to former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

While rejecting Singh's allegations that the Home Minister sought extortion money, Deshmukh alleged that Singh is levelling false allegations against him to save himself.

In an important twist, Deshmukh said that the threads of the investigation into the SUV case and the case related to the death of Mansukh Hiran are leading to Param Bir Singh.

The SUV case refers to the explosives-laden Scorpio that was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai last month. Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of the Scorpio, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on March 5.

Deshmukh added that Vaze's involvement in the two cases is becoming clearer and the threads are leading to Singh.

"The former Commissioner of Police, Param Bir Singh, has made false allegations in order to save himself as the involvement of Sachin Vaze in the Mukesh Ambani and Mansukh Hiran's case is becoming clearer from the investigation carried out so far and the threads are leading to Singh as well," Deshmukh said.

In a sensational twist to the SUV case, Param Bir Singh on Saturday hit out at Deshmukh by virtually alleging that the minister wanted his team member, arrested cop Sachin Vaze, to 'collect' Rs 100 crore per month from bars and hookah parlours.

Taking strong umbrage at Deshmukh's remarks that Singh's transfer as Commandant-General of Maharashtra Home Guards was not for administrative purposes but for "unpardonable lapses" by his team, the ex-Mumbai top cop shot off an eight-page missive to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying he was made a "scapegoat" for "extraneous and vindictive reasons".
League City Police Chief Gary Ratliff speaks Thursday, March 18, 2021, at a press conference regarding a stabbing at a Jack in the Box restaurant in League City on Wednesday night. An arrest warrant has been issued for suspect James Schulz, who is believed to be a transient. Schulz is alleged to have stabbed a manager at the restaurant after the manager requested he wear a face mask in accordance with store policy.
Gardai speak to a member of the public on OConnell Street in Dublin city centre (Brian Lawless/PA)

Eleven people have been arrested at an anti-lockdown protest in Dublin for failing to comply with public health guidelines, gardai said.

Up to 150 anti-lockdown demonstrators marched through Dublin on Saturday over the ongoing country-wide restrictions.

Gardai said they were aware of an event organised on social media by disparate groups planning to gather at the Wellington Monument in Phoenix.

At around 3.30pm, protesters walked from the Phoenix Park along the North Quays to the GPO on OConnell Street and then back along the South Quays.

Protect yourself and others from #COVID19. Prevent the spread of the virus:

a maintain good hand hygiene

a follow good coughing/sneezing etiquette

a wear a face covering

a social distancing

a limit your contacts by staying home#heretohelp #staysafe #stayhome pic.twitter.com/gO6ca3Fyo7  Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 20, 2021

Many carried placards with anti-vaccination messages while others carried the Irish flag.

Gardai said that following persistent and ongoing non-compliance with public health regulations, officers intervened at Victoria Quay.

Organised demonstrations are banned under the current regulations.

Gardai arrested 11 people in relation to the demonstration.

They said that a number of Fixed Payment Notices (FPNs) will be issued to people attending the banned event.

Gardai said they will also carry out an investigation into the organisers of the event.

Expand Close A woman waves an Irish flag during a protest outside the headquarters of RTE in Dublin (Damian Storan/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A woman waves an Irish flag during a protest outside the headquarters of RTE in Dublin (Damian Storan/PA)

Approximately 300 uniform and plain clothes officers monitored the protest, including public order units, peaceful crowd management unit and the dog unit.

It comes after 21 people were arrested at anti-lockdown protests for failing to comply with public health guidelines earlier this week.

A massive Garda security operation was in place across St Patricks Day on Wednesday to prevent planned anti-lockdown demonstrations.

Many of the arrested were in Dublin city centre where protesters arrived in small groups outside the GPO on OConnell Street.

Today and tomorrow, 3,700 over 75-year-olds, patients of GPs, will receive either first and second doses in the Helix vaccination centre. Paul Reid

About 100 anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protesters, the majority of whom were not wearing face masks, gathered in Herbert Park in Ballsbridge carrying banners and posters.

Campaigners also congregated outside national broadcaster RTE in Donnybrook in the south of the city chanting and carrying anti-vaccine posters.

Meanwhile, the resumption of the rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine restarted in Ireland today following a precautionary pause.

The decision to recommence the vaccine comes following the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Irelands National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac).

HSE chief executive Paul Reid tweeted: This morning, as we recommence the AstraZeneca vaccine, our plan to protect some of the most vulnerable also continues.

Today and tomorrow, 3,700 over 75-year-olds, patients of GPs, will receive either first and second doses in the Helix vaccination centre.

This morning, as we recommence the AstraZeneca vaccine, our plan to protect some of the most vulnerable also continues. Today & tomorrow, 3,700 over 75 year olds, patients of GPs, will receive either first & second doses in the Helix vaccination centre @DCU. @ICGPnews #COVID19  Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) March 20, 2021

Irelands deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn confirmed on Friday evening that it recommended the use of the jab.

The use of AstraZeneca in Ireland was paused last Sunday following reports of unusual blood clots in Norway.

Some 30,000 people that were due to get the vaccine during the week will have their vaccinations rescheduled over the coming weeks.

On Saturday, a further nine deaths of people with Covid-19 were recorded.

Seven of the deaths occurred in March, and two occurred in February.

Another 525 cases were also notified by the Department of Health on Saturday evening.

As of 8am, there were 328 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom 83 were in ICU.

Meanwhile, as of March 17, 639,586 doses of Covid vaccines had been administered in the country.
Lachlan Murdoch and his supermodel wife Sarah have quietly slipped into Australia on a private jet, a new report claims.

The CEO of Fox Corporation, 49, and the former Australia's Next Top Model host, 48, flew out of the US and into the country on a private jet last Sunday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday.

The glamorous couple and their three California-raised children - sons Kalan Alexander, 16, Aidan Patrick, 14, and daughter Aerin Elisabeth, 10 - are said to be undergoing 14 days of quarantine.

Back Down Under: Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch, 49, and his supermodel wife Sarah, 48, quietly arrive in Australia on a private jet and are undergoing 14 days of quarantine last Sunday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday. Both pictured

But, it is not known if they are isolating at the family's compound, Le Manoir, in leafy Bellevue Hill or the Murdoch estate Cavan in near the country town of Yass.

It appears as though the family will be Down Under for some time after a source told the publication that all three of their children were 'taken out of their schools'.

Sydney Morning Herald also reported that big plans for patriarch Rupert Murdoch's 90th birthday celebration have been put on hold until July.

Private: The couple and their three California-raised children are said to be undergoing 14 days of quarantine. But, it is not known if they are isolating at the family's compound in leafy Bellevue Hill or the Murdoch estate Cavan near Yass

Minor delay: The publication also reported that big plans for patriarch Rupert Murdoch's 90th birthday have been put on hold until July. Pictured is Sarah, Rupert and Lachlan

The media mogul, who turned 90 on March 11, instead celebrated his milestone occasion with his family - likely including his fourth wife Jerry Hall - at his Moraga vineyard in ritzy Bel Air.

His children - Prudence, 63, Elisabeth, 52, Lachlan, James, 48, Grace, 20, and Chloe, 18 - are reportedly taking part in a tribute film for their father, according to the publication.

Lachlan and Sarah's recent comes as a plethora of Hollywood celebrities move Down Under - escaping the Covid pandemic in the US.

Aside from her Murdoch fame, many will remember Sarah's infamous live TV gaffe on Australia's Next Top Model in 2010.

Family affair: His children - Prudence, 63, Elisabeth, 52, Lachlan (left), James, 48 (right), Grace, 20, and Chloe, 18 - are reportedly taking part in a tribute film for their father, according to the publication

Remember this: Aside from her Murdoch fame, many will remember Sarah's infamous live TV gaffe on Australia's Next Top Model in 2010. She mistakenly announced the wrong name as the winner of the modelling competition

She mistakenly announced the wrong name as the winner of the modelling competition.

At the time, the beauty told The Sydney Morning Herald that there was miscommunication through her earpiece during the live finale, and said she felt sick about it all.

She insisted it wasn't a publicity stunt, saying: 'You can see how close we are with the girls.'

'You wouldn't put your worst enemy through the situation let alone these girls.'
Police of Ho Chi Minh City have introduced two travelling booths, which will bring chip-based ID card registration offices to those in need, especially the senior and people in remote areas.

The two mobile booths, which were remodeled from two 30-seater cars, have been launched from 5:00 pm Thursday in a press conference on the national population database and citizen ID card issuance and management initiative organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security.

According to police officers, Ho Chi Minh City has set up 91 offices for the registration of chip-based ID cards, while 80 more are slated for the future.

A travelling service booth, which brings registration of the new chip-based ID card to those in need, is seen in Ho Chi Minh City, March 18, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Simultaneously, the municipal Department of Public Security also designed two travelling service booths to serve the old, people in social protection centers, and those in remote areas.

The first two have been introduced in Thu Duc City and Binh Chanh District, and will operate throughout the week between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm, or even more hours per day based on realistic circumstances.

Each travelling service booth is expected to process at least 300 documents per day, said Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Huynh Thi Thu Trang.

Earlier on September 2020, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved a proposal by the Ministry of Public Security to roll out chip-based national ID cards as early as 2021.

The ministry inaugurated the distribution of barcode-based ID cards in 2016. So far, this design is only available in 16 cities and provinces nationwide, with a total of 16 million cards issued, while the rest of the population are still sticking to the old 9- and 12-digit ID versions.

A resident takes profile photo for her chip-based ID card in a travelling service booth in Ho Chi Minh City, March 18, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

A resident submits fingerprints for her chip-based ID card in a mobile service booth in Ho Chi Minh City, March 18, 2021. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Chip-based ID cards only differ from previous versions in the addition of an electronic chip, while other information, including the ID number, will remain unchanged.

Addressing recent conspiracies on the new card design, officials of Ho Chi Minh City recently affirmed that the new ID card has no tracking function.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Increasing numbers of schools are being hit with Covid-related problems, forcing some to send classes home, or close temporarily

Staffing has emerged as an issue as school principals struggle to fill gaps where a teacher is off sick or told to stay at home because they are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus.

Schools generally have fewer teachers available to work on site this term, because pregnant teachers and those over 60 have been told they can continue to teach remotely.

It adds to the staffing pressure on schools, many of which have difficulty finding a replacement because of a shortage of subs.

Kildare Town Community School advised parents yesterday that fifth-year students, who only retuned to the classroom this week, are to resume online teaching and learning on Monday.

However, sixth-year students will attend for face-to-face classes. Principal John Hayes told parents that the decision was made to prioritise Leaving Cert candidates preparing for the State exams, and orals during the Easter break

The move, which was triggered by a lack of availability of teaching staff, was agreed with the Department of Education.

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Mary Mother of Hope junior national school in Castaheany, west Dublin closed on Thursday and yesterday, and it is not clear when it will reopen.

The school sent a message to parents on St Patricks Day stating that the Department of Education had recommended that it close on a temporary basis.

This was attributed to reasons including a very small number of Covid cases in the school and, as a consequence, not having adequate staff to ensure it was safe to open.

It is three weeks since the mass return of pupils got under way, starting with junior primary classes and Leaving Cert students, followed by senior primary classes and fifth-year students last Monday. While the incidence of Covid in schools has been low in that period, it has also been growing.
'The roll-out of the vaccine  a ray of sunshine in our dismal situation  has stalled and the hope that it would bring a swift end to the crisis grows dimmer with every passing day.' Photo: Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland / PA

This week marks a year since Covid-19 shut down our nation and changed the lives of every man woman and child in Ireland.

Normally a major anniversary  like the events held in Japan recently to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami  are an occasion for hope.

While remembering those lost, they serve to remind us that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity we can, and usually do, rebuild and recover.

In Ireland this week that sense of hope seems sadly absent as the pandemic crisis continues with seemingly no end to the countrys suffering in sight.

The tragic daily death tolls remain stubbornly high; new cases still number in the hundreds every day; the population continues to be locked indoors and hundreds of thousands of people are out of work.

Meanwhile, the roll-out of the vaccine  a ray of sunshine in our dismal situation  has stalled and the hope that it would bring a swift end to the crisis grows dimmer with every passing day.

The sense of hope the many felt as 2021 dawned and 2020 passed into unpleasant memory now seems a little naive. The blitz spirit and the sense of community and camaraderie that categorised the first lock-down has largely vanished, replaced by a weary apathy and a tired people.

Ireland in March 2021, 12 months into lock-down, is a shadow of its former self and a nation in desperate need of hope and leadership.

We are constantly told  with little evidence ever offered to back up the assertion  that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, most people can only see that tunnel getting longer and the light growing fainter and fainter.

Over the course of the year  and particularly since the new coalition took over last June  the Government has come in for much criticism over its handling of the pandemic.

Some of this is justified  the decision to reopen the country before Christmas proved a disastrous mistake  but much of it is unfair.

There is little if anything, for example, that the Government can do to speed up the roll-out of the vaccine. They, like every Government in the world, are in thrall to the medical companies and until global vaccine supplies increase there is very little they can do.

What the Government can do is try to reassure its people and offer them a little real hope. In recent months the Governments communications strategy, such as it is, has been questionable and has contributed enormously to the general sense of malaise that has gripped the country.

The Goverments beatings will continue until morale improves strategy is as ludicrous and pointless as the old saying suggests. It was also doomed to fail from the very start.

The people are crying out for a sliver of hope. A year into this crisis its time the Government offered us some.
A French-Japanese consortium comprising Keolis, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, and Mitsubishi Corporation, has clinched a major contract for the operation and maintenance of the Dubai Metro as well as the operation of the Dubai Tram.

The contract covers 15 years (9 base years and 6 renewable years) and amounts to approximately AED542 million ($143 million) per annum.

The contract award follows a public tender released by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in which four consortiums and international firms specialised in rail operation and maintenance took part.

Proposals made were analysed and the contract was awarded to the French-Japanese consortium for submitting the best technical and financial proposals.

Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, remotely signed the contract on behalf of RTA with Keolis Group CEO Marie-Ange Debon, Aki Heiko Nozaka, Director of Investment and Services at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, and Toru Kimura, General Manager of Mitsubishi Corporation.

As per the deal, the consortium will cater to the O&M of Dubai Metro as well as the operation of Dubai Tram as of September 8.

Before that, preparations will be made for the handover of assets and systems from the current operator to the new operator to ensure a safe and smooth operation of Dubai Metro and Tram, once the contract kicks in.

Earlier, UK-based Serco Group was operating and maintaining the Dubai Metro and Tram. Serco was initially given 10-year contract when the Dubai Metro launched operation in 2009 and the contract was extended for another two years in September 2019. -TradeArabia News Service
Imperial Valley News Center

Construction Company Owner Indicted for Defrauding Federal Program Intended for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

San Antonio, Texas - Wednesday, a federal grand jury in San Antonio, Texas, returned an indictment charging the former owner of several companies in the construction industry for his role in a long-running scheme to defraud the United States.

According to court documents, Michael Angelo Padron was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to defraud the United States and eight counts of wire fraud. Padron, along with co-conspirators Michael Wibracht and Ruben Villarreal, allegedly conspired to defraud the United States in order to obtain valuable government contracts under programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for which neither his nor his co-conspirators companies were eligible. Villarreal and Wibracht pleaded guilty to the scheme on Nov. 20, 2020, and March 4, 2021, respectively. Wibracht pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and defraud the United States. Villarreal pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Todays charges show the divisions commitment to holding individuals accountable when they cheat the government procurement process, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Department of Justices Antitrust Division. This conspiracy robbed contract opportunities from honest businesses run by those who were injured in the service to our country. With support from our law enforcement partners, the Antitrust Division will continue to prosecute those who cheat the system to gain taxpayer dollars.

The indictment alleges that Padron, Wibracht, and Villarreal conspired to defraud the United States by interfering with the function of the SBA and fraudulently obtaining money from as early as 2004 continuing through at least 2017. As part of the scheme, Padron is charged with conspiring to install Villarreal, a service-disabled veteran, as the ostensible owner of a general construction company held out as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). However, Padron, along with his co-conspirator and business partner Wibracht, allegedly exercised disqualifying financial and operational control over the construction company. According to court documents, the conspirators concealed that control in order to secure over $250 million in government contracts that were set aside for SDVOSBs in order to benefit their larger, non-qualifying businesses. The SBA administers the SDVOSB program, which is designed to increase the number of government contracts awarded to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. To qualify as an SDVOSB, a company, among other things, must be owned and controlled by a service-disabled veteran.

Scheming to fraudulently obtain federal funds that are meant to provide assistance to the nations small businesses is unacceptable, said Inspector General Hannibal Mike Ware of the SBA. OIG and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue fraudsters and bring them to justice. I want to thank the Antitrust Division and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.

Todays indictment represents the extraordinary efforts by the joint investigative agencies in upholding the integrity of our procurement process while protecting special business opportunities for our veterans who have so bravely served and sacrificed for our country, said Special Agent in Charge Ray A. Rayos of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) Major Procurement Fraud Unit, Southwest Fraud Field Office.

It is imperative that contractors are above-board in their dealings with the government, said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Willemin of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Southwest and Rocky Mountain Division. GSA OIG is committed to working with our investigative partners and the Department of Justice to hold accountable those who fraudulently obtain contracts meant for legitimate small and disadvantaged businesses.

The VA OIG commends our law enforcement partners for bringing these additional charges to achieve justice in this case, said Inspector General Michael J. Missal of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA OIG remains diligent in investigating all who commit fraud and seek to benefit improperly from programs that are meant for deserving veterans.

This outcome is a testament to the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners in safeguarding the integrity of the DoD contracting process, said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Gregory P. Shilling of the DCIS Southwest Field Office. DCIS will utilize all available resources to pursue allegations of fraud impacting DoD contracts, bringing to justice those who seek to enrich themselves through the exploitation of the Small Business Administration program designed to help SDVOSBs.

For conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to defraud the United States, Padron faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For each wire fraud count, Padron faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime, or twice the loss suffered by victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The SBA OIG, U.S. Army CID Major Procurement Fraud Unit, GSA OIG, VA OIG, and DCIS are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas and the Army Audit Agency.

The Antitrust Divisions Washington Criminal II Section is prosecuting the case. Special thanks are extended to Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Lewis Jr. of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas.

Anyone with information in connection with this investigation is urged to call the Antitrust Divisions Washington Criminal II Section at 202-598-4000, or visit https://www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.

In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement and grant and program funding at all levels of government  federal, state, and local.
Top American lawmakers have welcomed Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's first visit to the US' "strategic partner" India, as they highlighted the importance of the bilateral ties which are critical for the security and stability in the Indo-Pacific amidst Chinese aggression.

Austin is on a three-nation first overseas tour. He visited Japan and South Korea before visiting India.

"Congratulations to Secretary Defence Austin on a successful visit to India", tweeted Congressman Filemon Vela, who is Vice Chair of the Democratic Party appointed by President Joe Biden.

Look forward to working on strengthening Indo-Pacific ties, said Vela, a top Hispanic Member in the House of Representatives.

Congressman Frank Pallone, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee welcomed the India visit of Austin.

I'm glad to see that Secretary Defense is engaging with our strategic partner India. President Biden has shown that he is committed to strengthening the US India partnership in order to promote stability throughout the region, he said.

The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China's increasing military muscle flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers. The US has been favouring making Quad a security architecture to check China's growing assertiveness.

Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, in a tweet said that she is encouraged by steps to place alliance building at the center of America's approach to foreign policy. Working with fellow Quad membersIndia, Japan, Australiais essential to protecting our interests in the Indo-Pacific & preventing Chinese aggression, she said.

His visit to India came days after the top leadership of the four-member Quad --India, the US, Japan and Australia-- vowed to expand their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a tweet, Congressman Anthony Brown congratulated Defence Secretary Austin on a successful visit to India.

The US-India strategic partnership is critical to security and stability in the region. Strengthening this relationship only makes us stronger together Free and Open Indo Pacific, he said.

According to US Institute of Peace Asia Center Senior Advisory Vikram Singh there could be some announcements, but he mostly expects this to be about showing unity in the US and Indian views on Indo-Pacific stability.

The key is agreement on what it will take to keep this region peaceful. Behind the scenes, I expect very frank private discussions on everything from China and Pakistan to counter terrorism, cybersecurity, and challenges like 5G and supply chain security.

There will be discussions on military health security and climate as well to back up the announcements made by the leaders at the Quad summit, Singh told PTI.

Noting that India and the US have increasingly aligned strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific, Singh said that the visit comes as the Biden administration signals its commitment to the region and the alignment of America's views with those of its allies and partners, including India.

Coming on the heels of the Quad leaders' summit, the US "2+2s" in East Asia and the first senior US China meeting, the India visit is the full stop and the end of a carefully drafted paragraph, Singh said.

Responding to a question, Singh said that the message these leaders want to send is that they agree on certain tenets for Indo-Pacific security: peaceful dispute resolution, freedom of the commons including navigation, respect for sovereignty.

The subtext is not anti-China but against Chinese violations of these norms. Beijing acts as if it can do no wrong and this is somehow a plot against China, but that propaganda does not hold up when you look at the facts, he said.

China does violate its neighbours' sovereignty; it refuses to negotiate over disputes in good faith, instead ratcheting up pressure from Taiwan Strait to the South China Sea to the Line of Actual Control; and it levies cyber, information and political warfare to advance its goals, Singh said.

China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. Beijing has also made substantial progress in militarising its man-made islands in the past few years.

Beijing claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. But Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims. In the East China Sea, China has territorial disputes with Japan.

Both maritime areas in the South and East China seas are rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran loses right to vote in UN General Assembly

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Mr Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister for Defence, has called for a multifaceted approach to addressing maritime security challenges in the sub-region.



Mr Nitiwul said continuous training to build the capacities of enforcement agencies was critical in combating the threats of maritime security, which include drug smuggling, human trafficking, piracy and armed robbery at sea.



This was in a speech read on his behalf on Friday in Accra at the opening ceremony of a training exercise christened: Obangame Express 2021, aimed at building the capacities of Navies in the sub-region to maintain a safe and secured maritime environment.



The nine-day programme, brought together over 200 participants from 36 countries and regional groups, hosted by the Ghana Navy in collaboration with the United States Naval Forces, Africa.



The exercise is an annual combined Central and West African multinational maritime event in the Gulf of Guinea, which focus on increased regional stakeholder cooperation to ensure maritime safety and security.



Mr Nitiwul stated that the exercise had been designed to involve stakeholders in Ghanas maritime industry to ensure interoperability between the Navies and as well focus on information sharing among the participants.



He said since the beginning of 2021, the Gulf of Guinea had recorded 18 maritime cases, stressing that the menace must be considered holistically with effective strategies to address the challenges.



Mr Nitiwul, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla Constituency, said the exercise would emphasis on the practical implementation of some laid down inter-agency procedures towards managing maritime security threats.



Admiral Robert P. Burke, the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe and Africa, said the exercise was a testimony of a strong partnership to create a more secure world by learning from best practices in the maritime sector.



Maritime security requires coordinated action between agencies. The exercise provides opportunities to work together and strike the balance and develop efficient models in fighting maritime security in the sub-region, he said.



Mrs Stephanie Sullivan, the US Ambassador to Ghana, urged Africa leaders to take proactive steps to address the menace of maritime security in the region.



We will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to reinforce these relationships to learn from best and worse practices and ensure the safety of all in the sector, added.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
She boasts an enviable wardrobe full of designer handbags.

And Myleene Klass looked every inch the business woman in a glamorous red power suit as she headed to Smooth Radio studio in London on Saturday.

The presenter, 42, looked typically stunning as she sported a crimson blazer with sharp padded shoulders on Saturday.

Business chic: Myleene Klass looked every inch the business woman in a glamorous red power suit as she headed to Smooth Radio studio in London on Saturday

Myleene teamed the statement blazer with matching wide-legged trousers which covered her pair of black heels as she strutted down the street.

The talented pianist complemented her look with a quilted red Chanel handbag and accessorised with some layered gold necklaces.

The mother-of-three covered her visage with a pair of large sunglasses and added a slick of makeup to her pretty features.

Beauty: The presenter, 42, looked typically stunning as she sported a crimson blazer with sharp padded shoulders and matching trousers as she strutted to work

She styled her shoulder-length caramel tresses in subtle waves as she fixed the camera with a pout.

The outing comes after she said last week that she sees her body in a completely different light after being 'over-sexualised' as a young pop star before falling pregnant and becoming a mother for the first time.

Myleene became an overnight success after winning talent show Pop Stars as a member of short-lived manufactured group Hear'Say in 2001.

Racy photo shoots and a memorable bikini-clad appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! would follow, but she admits the early focus on her body is in stark contrast to how she views herself since becoming a mother.

Gorgeous: Myleene complemented her look with a quilted Chanel red handbag and accessorised with some layered gold necklaces and a pair of large sunglasses

Appearing on Instagram to launch Tommee Tippee's Spill The Milk digital series recently, she said: 'I was in a pop band, and everything was just so overly sexualised. I've done lingerie shoots, bikinis, the lot.

'Then you become a mum, and then suddenly you see your body in a completely different light. I want my daughters to feel body strong, body confident and be respectful to their bodies.'

A proud parent to children Ava, 13, and Hero, nine, with ex Graham Quinn and son Apollo, nineteen months, with fiance Simon Motson, the presenter admits she has been surprised by the mixed reaction from fans after choosing to breast-feed all three.

Legendary: Myleene recently spoke about her career and her iconic I'm A Celebrity shower scene in a podcast. Pictured in her famous white bikini on I'm A Celeb in 2006

She said: 'When I put up photos of me breast-feeding Apollo I could not believe that we had this [negative] reaction to it.

'If I was doing moves in a dance video, or like slut dropping on Tik Tok, no one would bat an eyelid. When you break it down, it just doesn't make any sense!'

While she admits to feeling self-conscious when it came to breastfeeding her daughters in public, she has had a completely different attitude with her son.

'It's just been a different experience,' she said. 'I feel like I've got my confidence and I don't feel intimidated from a public perspective.'
The message this evening has to be to ask everyone to focus on just doing that little bit more, said deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn on Thursday night.

It really is quite something that despite the country being in Level 5, the highest level of restrictions, for months on end, this is the best message that Nphet can send exhausted people.

If every individual can just do that little bit more over the next few weeks we will stop another wave, he added.

The message has been clear for months: stay at home. Currently, people are only allowed to meet with one other household when going outside for exercise. Stay within a 5km radius when going for a walk or run.

The population is either waiting it out at home, while receiving the PUP, or staying in their bedrooms or box rooms as another Working From Home day passes.

Our social lives have been reduced to nothing, if you dont count Zoom drinks.

Even when disaster strikes and a loved one gets sick or even dies from coronavirus, funeral attendance is extremely limited and there is no proper way to grieve.

It really beggars belief that for a population which has been in rolling lockdowns since last March  which has lost 4,576 of its people due to a lethal virus  the best message that Nphet can give is do that little bit more.

The tanks are empty. There is no more to give. Yet we keep ploughing on, hoping and waiting for a vaccine.

But the long-awaited vaccine roll-out is painfully slow. Weve been told there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but this weeks Nphet press conferences have seen health chiefs tell us that the R number is close to 1 and virus cases are stubbornly stagnant, again.

The Taoiseach missed a crucial chance in saving the day by asking Joe Biden for a few extra doses.

It seems unbelievable that the US had 30 million odd vaccines in a stockpile.

On Wednesday, the Taoiseach spoke with Joe Biden. Micheal Martin came out of the meeting saying that Biden doesnt necessarily have a stockpile.

Read More

The day after, it was announced that four million doses of the American stockpile will be going to Canada and Mexico. While it is not clear to what extent the Taoiseach pressed Biden for doses, the US President has sung Irelands praises for months. Surely he could have at least considered sharing some of his spare vaccines with a nation that he claims to love so much?

Meanwhile, our neighbours across the pond are vaccinating over 50s and the nation is looking forward to June 21 as bringing an end of all restrictions. That reality seems a lifetime away for us. Because the Government chose a data not date approach for its Path Ahead, people dont know what to expect past April 5. Weve heard lockdown restrictions may continue into the summer.

Yesterday, Government sources were extremely cautious. News that Nphet is worried and that cases have stopped falling is not welcome. This has cast a shadow on whether restrictions might actually be eased come April 5.

Nobody believed that so far into a severe lockdown we would still be at 500, 600 cases a day, said a source.

However, there is consensus that the 5km exercise limit is too restrictive and this is expected to be eased. There may be light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel seems to be extending every day.

In fairness to Dr Glynn, he does his best to praise the public and on Thursday he gave credit where it was due after St Patricks Day passed without major incident.

But his kind words were quickly forgotten when he urged us to do just that little bit more.

The people who probably need to listen to that message stopped listening to Nphet a good while ago. It is no secret the public was energised for the first lockdown  but that enthusiasm has wilted away.

Both the Government and Nphets messaging is key now. We know the solution. The only way out is getting jabs into peoples arms.

People have given up their lives and sacrificed enough. It is time for the Government and Nphet to play its part and wear the green jersey, not by asking the public to do a little bit more but by the Government and Nphet themselves doing their job  and pulling us out of this nightmare.
People cross the border bridge between Guatemala and Mexico as seen from Tecun Uman

By Dave Graham

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's government said on Thursday it would restrict movement on its southern border with Guatemala to help contain the spread of COVID-19 as the Biden administration set out plans to loan Mexico vaccines to fight the pandemic.

Mexico's announcement that it would curb travel on the Guatemala frontier dovetails with its preparations to step up enforcement efforts in the area against surging illegal immigration, according to a Reuters report.

The mutually beneficial steps follow weeks of diplomacy to address concerns over rising apprehensions of migrants trying to enter the United States, many of them unaccompanied minors, as well as setbacks to Mexico's initial vaccine rollout.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has drawn heavy fire from Republican opponents over the mounting challenge posed by the border. Meanwhile, his Mexican counterpart has pressed him for vaccines to offset shortages as midterm elections approach.

Andres Rozental, a former Mexican deputy foreign minister for North America, said it looked as though a trade-off was occurring, even if it was unlikely that any senior figures in either administration would admit that publicly.

"It's a give and take, a win-win for both," he said.

When asked if the two countries had done a quid pro quo, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said border security and Mexico's vaccine requests were part of "multiple layers" of dialogue between governments that were "unrelated" in origin.

Roberto Velasco, a senior Mexican foreign ministry official, told local radio the two announcements were not linked, and belonged to parallel discussions between the governments.

Confirming details reported by Reuters, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico and the United States were crafting a deal for 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, and that he would reveal more on Friday.

Story continues

"This would be the best start for a broad cooperation on vaccines," Ebrard wrote on Twitter.

A U.S. official told Reuters that under the loan deal, Mexico would receive doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that the United States is not using. Canada is also set to receive 1.5 million doses under the accord.

With promised deliveries slow to materialize, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has cast about worldwide for vaccines, eager to inoculate as many Mexicans as possible before legislative elections on June 6.

PULL FACTOR

Mexico's foreign ministry said that to contain COVID-19, restrictions for non-essential crossings on its borders with the United States and Guatemala would take effect starting on Friday, and remain in place until midnight of April 21.

In recent months, Mexico had announced extensions to travel restrictions on its U.S. border without mentioning the frontier with Guatemala, where new daily COVID-19 cases are now substantially lower than they were in January.

Mexico's own infections have fallen sharply in the last few weeks, and the two southern states covering most of the border with Guatemala are at the lowest alert level.

Guatemala is one of three Central American countries struggling with poverty and violence that have helped drive migration to the United States.

Notwithstanding U.S. concerns, Mexico's government has itself been worried about the sudden influx of migrants.

Former official Rozental said that even if Mexico stemmed the flow from Central America, it faced a tougher time stopping its own citizens heading for the United States, with the Mexican economy still weak and expectations for a U.S. recovery growing.

Biden's friendlier approach to immigration compared with that of his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, and his $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan would only serve as a "pull factor," Rozental argued.

"The word is out," he said, "that it's easier to get to the United States than it was."

(Reporting by Dave Graham, Diego Ore and Raul Cortes in Mexico City and Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Rosalba O'Brien)
He blazed through my childhood like a sombrero-clad comet, terrorizing gringo villains in the name of us downtrodden Mexicans.

His war cry went straight from our televisions and movie screens into our hearts and minds. My family and so many others cheered on his exploits, imagining ourselves as soldiers in his brigade. Polite society told us we shouldnt worship this hombre because he made Mexicans look bad. So they tried to dim his star  but we Mexicans always fought loudly against any attempts to cancel our compadre.

Pancho Villa? Emiliano Zapata? Vicente Fernandez?

Try Speedy Gonzales.

The Warner Bros. cartoon mouse debuted in 1953 and immediately became a hit on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. His plots were always simple  Speedy antagonized Sylvester the Cat and other assorted felines, usually in a dispute involving cheese  but effective. The raza rodent quickly picked up awards (four Oscar nominations and one win in just six years) but also critics who saw Speedy for what he is:

Problematic. A stereotype. No doubt about it.

His name comes from a popular 1950s-era anti-Mexican sex joke. The non-Latino voice actor Mel Blanc voiced the fastest mouse in all of Mexico with a stereotypical accent and nonsense Spanglish. The typical Speedy plot casts him as a thief and a cad, and his fellow Mexican mice as lazy, drunk and happily living amongst trash. Did I mention the sombrero? Its as big as his body. Sombreros are big  but not that big.

Speedy turned into a pariah in the decades after his heyday, placed by Hollywood executives and pundits in the same racist purgatory of Old Hollywood as Stepin Fetchit, We dont need no steenkin badges, and Charlie Chan. ABC banned him from its airwaves during the 1980s because the title character presents a stereotypical image that is not offset by any other Latino television characters, according to a 1981 Los Angeles Times story. The Cartoon Network did the same in the late 1990s. Recently, New York Times columnist Charles Blow said Speedy cartoons helped popularize the corrosive stereotype of the drunk and lethargic Mexicans.

Yet time and again, Mexicans  the very group youd think would hate Speedy  rose to defend his honor.

During the 1990s, college students cast Speedy as a proto-Zapatista who fought against American imperialism before it was cool to do so. In 2002, the League of United Latin American Citizens asked the Cartoon Network to free Speedy from his jail  a spokesperson told Fox News, How far do you push political correctness before you cant say anything about anything anymore?

In the wake of Blows columns, Mexicans spoke out against those who dared decry their man. U cant catch me cancel culture. Im the fastest mouse in all of Mexico, tweeted comedian Gabriel Iglesias, whos voicing Speedy in the upcoming Space Jam reboot.

We LOVE Speedy because hes smart and fast, wrote Eugenio Derbez, another comic who will voice him in his upcoming Speedy feature.

Meanwhile, just a handful of Latinos were nominated for this years Academy Awards  but Iglesias, Derbez, and other Speedy defenders dont seem to care. I actually get it: In the 100-plus years of Tinseltown, he remains the most popular and successful Mexican character ever created. When we dont have much, we gotta protect what we have, you know?

Speedys four Academy Award nominations tie him with Anthony Quinn for most ever by an actor of Mexican descent. His sole win, for an eponymous 1955 cartoon, places Speedy behind Quinns two Oscars for most earned by a Mexican actor ... because no other Mexican man has ever won an Oscar for acting ever.

Chris Rock put this outrage best in a 2014 Hollywood Reporter essay where he described Los Angeles as a place where theres this acceptance that Mexicans are going to take care of white people ... that doesnt exist anywhere else. Decrying the lack of representation in Hollywood, Rock cracked Youre in LA, youve got to try not to hire Mexicans.

Instead, Hollywood hires Speedy. What other Mexican thespian has two big-budget projects next year?

Im no spoilsport or wokoso (a portmanteau of woke and a mocoso  a snot-nosed brat) about the cute rascal. I never saw a stereotype when I first saw his cartoons  I saw my culture at a time when the English-language media didnt bother with us outside of crime and immigration. He danced our dances and dressed like a jarocho (a native of Veracruz) and sounded like my country cousins, to be honest. He was the only Mexican in Hollywood I knew who never lost  well, him and Cheech and Chong.

I love Speedy so much, I keep a large painting of him in my home office. His kind smile and brown skin takes me back to my childhood  and reminds me of where we as Mexicans exist today.

Of course were going to love Speedy  its not like we have a buffet of iconic animated heroes to choose from besides Dora the Explorer and Bender Bending Rodriguez from Futurama.

This unlikely love affair fascinates Louisiana State University history professor Stephen Andes, whos working on an academic book about Speedy.

It speaks about the robustness of Latino audiences who are taking the little bit that they were given and finding something they connected with, and then making Speedy into a hero, Andes said. Andes says thats why Speedy shouldnt be tossed into the same dustbin as his contemporaries the Frito Bandito, Jose Jimenez, or Blancs own Sy the Little Mexican character on The Jack Benny Show.

He points out that Mexican American animators worked on nearly half of the 47 Speedy Gonzales shorts, at a time where they were a rarity in Hollywood. In Latin America, audiences continue to love Speedy with little compunction because they accept him at face value  a Mexican mouse who makes a mockery out of Yankee pussygatos again and again.

Thats not an excuse or a justification for Oh, well if a Mexican American did something problematic, it, its all fine,  Andes says. But that actually nuances his story. It needs to be acknowledged it was a really problematic bit of representation that Mexicans molded into an icon.

Just dont get me started about Speedys rat-faced cousin, Slowpoke Rodriguez.

GUSTAVO ARELLANO writes for the Los Angeles Times.
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during his upcoming visit in April, is also expected to travel to Chennai. Johnson will be arriving in on April 26.

It is learnt from reliable sources that Johnson's visit to Chennai has been finalised and his schedule for Tamil Nadu is being worked on. It is also learnt that very soon advance teams from the will reach Chennai.

Recently, addressing the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI 2021), Johnson had lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in areas such as renewable energy in the global fight against climate change.

"We have a shared vision for a sustainable future for our nations and the global community - and I very much look forward to discussing this and many other issues with Prime Minister Modi on my upcoming visit to India," Johnson said on Wednesday.

There is no official announcement on the date of his visit to and the contours of the visit are still being worked out.

The British Prime Minister had cancelled his planned India visit earlier this year due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. He was invited to take part in the Republic Day celebrations as chief guest.

He recently announced that Britain would "tilt" its focus towards the Indo-Pacific region as part of its integrated review of government policy for the coming years.

India is a high priority for the This is borne by the fact that India will be the first country to be visited by Johnson after Britain's exit from the European Union, a source familiar with developments said.

is hosting the G7 summit in June where Prime Minister Modi is a special invitee. COP 26 will also take place later this year in the UK.

(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.)
What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday
There have been no deaths in Sri Lanka due to the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the government said on Saturday, rejecting reports that three people died from blood clots after being inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The minister for the prevention of COVID-19, Sudarshani Fernandopulle, said all the three, including a Buddhist monk, died of heart failure from other health complications last week and the deaths were not caused by the vaccine.

Some European countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia and Bulgaria, had briefly halted use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a precautionary measure after reports of blood clots in some recipients of the vaccine, even though health agencies urged governments to press ahead with the shot, saying the benefits outweighed the risks.

On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency said that the vaccine doesn't increase the overall incidence of blood clots, though it could not rule out a link to a small number of rare clots.

The move paved the way for more than a dozen European countries to resume using the vaccine.

Sri Lanka began its vaccination drive early February on receipt of a gift of 500,000 Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine from India. Later, the country placed an order with the Serum Institute of India for more doses.

After the initial vaccination was limited to the frontline health workers and the security forces, the inoculation programme was extended to cover everyone between 30 and 60 years of age.

The epidemiology unit of the ministry of health said so far more than a one third of the 21 million population had been vaccinated.

Sri Lanka recorded nearly 90,000 cases and 544 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic year ago. According to the health authorities, the number of positive cases had gone down drastically over the last few weeks.

With the second wave of the recorded in early October, nearly 1,000 cases had been detected on a daily basis. The figure has now dropped drastically and only less than 300 cases were reported on Friday.
This is the first high-profile contact between the Biden administration and the Indian political leadership

New Delhi: Americas defence secretary Lloyd James Austin III arrived in New Delhi Friday on a three-day official visit, at a time when India and the United States are concerned over an increasingly assertive China in the region.

This is the first high-profile contact between the Biden administration and the Indian political leadership. The visit is seen as significant as Mr Austin included India is his first foreign tour, with the US seeking allies to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region.

Mr Austin called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday and conveyed the greetings of US President Joe Biden. Mr Modi welcomed the warm and close relationship between the two countries, rooted in the shared values of democracy, pluralism and commitment to a rules-based international order.

The PM outlined his vision for the strategic partnership between the two countries and emphasised the important role of bilateral defence cooperation in India-US ties. Mr Austin reiterated the US governments continued commitment towards strengthening bilateral defence ties between the two countries. He expressed the strong US desire to further enhance the strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defence partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, said the US defence secretary in a tweet.

Mr Austin was also scheduled to meet national security adviser Ajit Doval on Friday and will hold wide-ranging bilateral talks with defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday.

The US defence secretary arrived in India at a time when US and Chinese officials have had sharp exchanges in the first high-level talks between the Biden administration and China in Alaska. The relationship between India and China is also frosty due to the Chinese aggression at the LAC in Ladakh.

The growing Chinese threat, increasing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Afghan peace process and enhancing military ties will be on the top of the agenda during Saturdays India-US dialogue. India is also likely to ask the Biden administration for a complete waiver of sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for buying the Russian S-400 air defence systems.

Earlier, Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged Mr Austin in a letter Wednesday to take up with Indian leaders the issue of New Delhi procuring the S-400 missile defence system from Russia and also human rights issues.

India is also looking to buy armed drones from the US for the Air Force, Army and Navy in a deal which is estimated at around $3 billion.

The US defence secretary will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial on Saturday morning and will receive a tri-services guard of honour. After that he will hold extensive talks with the Indian delegation led by defence minister Rajnath Singh, where the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Bipin Rawat, will also be present. The two ministers will later read out a joint statement in the afternoon. He will also meet external affairs minister S. Jaishankar.

Earlier this month, the Biden administration in its Interim National Security Strategic Guidance had said that the US would deepen its partnership with India to advance its objectives. Last week, the leaders from the Quad countries -- the US, India, Japan, and Australia -- met for the first time as concerns grow over Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. The US has been in favour of giving the Quad a security architecture to check Chinas growing aggression in the region.

The US defence secretary visited Japan and South Korea before arriving in India, which are crucial US allies in the region.

India has recently brought a slew of weapons from the US, including Apache attack helicopters, Chinook helicopters, P8I maritime patrol aircraft, precision Guided-Excalibur Munitions and M-777 howitzers.
Jami Webb was planning to celebrate her mother's 50th birthday last week. But Xiaojie Tan, the owner of Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, Georgia, was killed Tuesday along with seven others at three Atlanta-area spas in a shooting rampage that has rattled the nation.

"I just want to hold her tight," Webb told CNN about her mother. "Give her a hug ... hold her hand, hug her for a long time."

Four people were killed at Tan's Cherokee County spa. Four more were killed about an hour later at two spas some 30 miles away in Atlanta. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent.

Tan's ex-husband, Michael Webb, described her as a hardworking woman. Known as Emily by many of her friends and clients, Tan became a nail technician in Florida before buying and running two spas in the Atlanta area, he said. Recently, Tan had told him she'd be able to retire soon.

"This was a massacre," Michael Webb said. "We have a justice system and he'll have to be held accountable. And our family will be involved in that process as much as we can be."

"We just want justice to be done and we're hopeful that it will be," he said.

Residents and public health officials have called on investigators to consider hate crime charges against the suspect, whether on the basis of race or sex -- both of which are covered in Georgia's hate crime law.

"The acknowledgment that this was a crime built upon hatred for a particular community matters and I think that it's important that prosecutors and police consider that in making those charges," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN on Saturday.

Jack Liang, the organizer of an anti-hate rally Sunday in New York City, said justice would not be served in his eyes if the suspect didn't face hate crime charges.

"He went to three different, separate locations, and he targeted these people," Liang said. "And if it was another race, another type of hate crime, another person, would that be counted as a hate crime?"

Rallies across the country

Lily Huff, an Asian American woman living in Atlanta, told CNN this weekend that hateful comments directed towards her had increased recently, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. She described wearing a mask and someone asking her, "Hey, are you going to give me the virus?"

"This isn't new," she said. "It's been happening -- it's increasingly happened over the past year, just (since) the start of the pandemic."

This weekend, Americans have gathered in rallies across the country to honor the victims and condemn violence against Asian Americans.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Atlanta Saturday, including Timothy Phan, a Florida resident who drove eight hours to attend. He told CNN the violence "hits home."

"I see my mother, I see my acquaintances, my colleagues," he said. "This is an Asian issue but on top of that, this is more than that, this is a human issue."

"We're in this struggle together," Henry Wong told CNN affiliate KGO at another rally this weekend in San Francisco. "If we don't voice it now when will we?"

"One of the biggest problems in fighting hate crimes is that too many of the incidents are not recorded," California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, who introduced a bill to establish a statewide hate crime hotline, told CNN. "We want to make it as easy and safe as possible for people to report these incidents of hate crime."

"The women who died, they looked just like me, they look like my mom, they look like my aunties," New York State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou said during a rally in Manhattan Saturday. "They look like us."

These are the victims of violence

The first shooting occurred at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth shortly before 5 p.m. on March 16, authorities said. Four people were killed, including 49-year-old Tan of Kennesaw; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth; Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta; and Daoyou Feng, 44, who were fatally shot at Youngs Asian Massage. Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, of Acworth, was also shot but survived.

Within an hour after the first shooting, four Asian women were killed on Piedmont Road in Atlanta -- three at the Gold Massage Spa and one at the Aroma Therapy Spa across the street, authorities said. They were later identified as Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; and Yong Ae Yue, 63, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office.

One of the four victims in Atlanta was a South Korean citizen and permanent resident of the US, according to Kwangsuk Lee, South Korea's deputy consulate general in Atlanta. The other three are believed to be Americans of Korean ethnicity, Lee told CNN on Friday.

Yue's youngest son wrote on GoFundMe that his mom "loved to introduce our family and friends to her home-cooked Korean food and Korean karaoke."

"We are still in shock over the violent murder of our mother, but through our grieving we are making plans to memorialize her, bring our family together, and resolve her financial matters," he wrote.

In another GoFundMe page, one of Kim's grandchildren wrote in a post that she had come to the United States from South Korea and worked two to three jobs while speaking very little English.

"My grandmother was an angel, to have her taken away in such a horrific manner is unbearable to think about. As an immigrant, all my grandmother ever wanted in life was to grow old with my grandfather, and watch her children and grandchildren live the life she never got to live," the page says.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page dedicated to help the two sons of Grant, killed at the Gold Massage Spa in Atlanta, has raised more than $2.5 million.

"She was one of my best friends," her son, Randy Park, wrote on the page, "and the strongest influence on who we are today."

Suspect charged with murder

The suspect, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, was arrested Tuesday night in a traffic stop 150 miles south of Atlanta.

Long is being held without opportunity for bail in Cherokee County, where he faces four counts of murder with malice, one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault and five counts of using a firearm while committing a felony.

He has been charged with four counts of murder in connection with the two spa shootings in Atlanta, according to Atlanta police.

Long told police he believed he had a sex addiction and that he saw the spas as "a temptation ... that he wanted to eliminate," Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jay Baker said on Wednesday. He claimed the attacks weren't racially motivated, Baker added. But Atlanta police say it's still too early to know the suspect's motive.

Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace said the investigation is ongoing and appropriate charges will be brought.

Long's church, Crabapple First Baptist Church, announced Sunday morning it had removed him from its memberships ranks, saying in a statement it could "no longer affirm that he is truly a regenerate believer in Jesus Christ."

The church previously condemned the killings "in the strongest possible terms" in a statement Friday, adding that "no blame can be placed upon the victims."
Islamabad, March 20 : Pakistan will raise objections on the design of India's Pakal Dal and Lower Kalnai hydroelectric plants during the upcoming meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) in New Delhi next week.

This was announced by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Chaudhri during a weekly press briefing on Friday.

He said Pakistan will discuss a host of issues under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), including objections on the two hydroelectric plants, during the meeting on March 23-24.

Indus Water Commissioner Meher Ali Shah is leading the Pakistan delegation, while officials from relevant departments will be accompanying him.

The meeting is part of a provision of the IWT 1960, under which, the PIC is required to meet at least once a year.

This will be the 116th session of the Commission with scheduled discussions on the water-related issues falling under the 1960 Treaty.

Pakistan has been putting forward its argument and objections on the construction of two hydroelectric plants by India, claiming that it is trying to block the country's water.

The country maintains that the construction of the plants is a violation of the IWT, calling on India to stop the construction and give what it calls Islamabad's fair share of the water.

"Pakistan had always emphasised the need for a meaningful dialogue and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputed with India, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir," Chaudhri said.

Referring to the recent statement of the Indian Foreign Secretary on meaningful Islamabad-New Delhi dialogue, Chaudhri said that "such statements were not helpful in resolution of the disputers which were a hurdle in the way of peace and stability in the region".

"Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognised dispute and the core issue between India and Pakistan. Pakistan has always underscored the need for a meaningful dialogue and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes with India." The Foreign Office spokesperson went on to highlight that Pakistan's initiative of Kartarpur Corridor opening; along with the episode of capture and subsequent release of Indian pilot Wing Commandar Abhinandan as "indicative of Pakistan's desire for lasting peace in the region".

"The onus is on India to create the enabling environment necessary for a meaningful engagement," he said.
"To be honest we're counting our blessings that we were able to do our work, and there are a lot of people out there suffering enormous hardship. If this is a distraction from that then I think we'd be honoured."

So said Line of Duty creator and showrunner Jed Mercurio at the series six press conference just a week ago when asked if the new series has come at the right time to our screens. Weekend got an opportunity to watch proceedings and gorge on the first episode of season six, starting tomorrow.

To say that some Line of Duty fans have been on tenterhooks waiting for series six's arrival isn't an understatement. Since the final scene of series five, fans have been keen to know what's happening in AC-12 and which police officer and department the anti-corruption unit will have in its sights next.

Despite having to postpone filming thanks to lockdown - and devise new safety procedures such as building a new set and operating a traffic light lanyard system - the series finally wrapped and viewers are ready to see what AC-12 has up its well-ironed sleeves.

"There was talk of us doing our own makeup, which I was sad that that didn't happen for one day just to see how that would look like," joked Vicky McClure (Kate Fleming) at the press conference.

"Suddenly we were near enough in the position of understanding everything right through to the end," explained Adrian Dunbar (Ted Hastings) on actors knowing more about the episodes than they would normally.

"Jed had to remind me or the director sometimes would have to remind me exactly where we were because we were jumping between scenes. It's sometimes difficult to know how to pitch something when you're moving between directors and episodes. I did find that pretty difficult.

"Normally you'd be shooting two blocks, so we have one director for the first three and another director," he continues.

"You can keep the three block storyline and then we have a system whereby we usually get four and five. And then because of shooting and because Jed is watching and the editors are watching what's coming in, decisions can be made about [block] six that may suddenly change how six was looking initially.

"We're used to that system and Covid just threw that completely in so in a way because it's taken so long to do it, when I saw the trailer the other day it was quite a shock to me because suddenly I saw the whole storyline compressed. Because we'd taken so long to do it, there were lots of elements of the storyline because we're not all, as actors, in possession of all the elements, we're doing our storyline. Once you see it all put together, you go, 'God, this is really is going to be something else.'"

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And Line of Duty wouldn't be the same without Teddisms, his nuggets of Belfast phrasing that only further endear him to a local audience.

"They've taken on a life of their own, haven't they, they've become kind of bingo games, drinking games. You can do all kinds of things with the 'fellas' and the 'mother of gods' and all that sort of stuff, so," said Adrian.'

"You know the 'mother of gods,' they kind of come from my dad. He used to say this all the time. So it's kind of a little nod towards him to those things."

Adrian doesn't think anyone is pulling his leg when a new phrase is found for Ted.

"They're all well located, and they're all things that Ted actually could say. In fact the police always say that they always know somebody like Ted; whether he's originally from Edinburgh, Cardiff, there's always someone in the police force that is a bit of a Ted and [it] comes out."

Newcomer Kelly Macdonald, who plays DCI Joanne Davidson, was aware of the show prior to filming, though she hadn't watched it.

"I spent a number of years in New York filming, and I missed a huge amount of British pop culture," she told the press conference. "When I came back after I finished Boardwalk Empire, I had missed out on a lot of TV and there was people I didn't know, there were comedians I didn't recognise that were really popular. Line of Duty had sort of happened while I was away, as did Broadchurch I realised."

She describes her friends as 'really excited from the get-go' when learning of her Line of Duty role. "I had just started watching it and my friends were getting ridiculously excited and sort of screaming in my face, 'Am I H?' and I didn't know what it meant," she said.

"I wear a 'K' around my neck, I was thinking I should get one that's got a 'H' on it just to mess with them. Everybody asks; they're desperate to know but before you can even think how to respond, they immediately say, 'I don't want to know!'"

Vicky too is frequently asked about plotlines and says she's gotten used to keeping quiet. "The theories that people come up with even just from the trailer, I've had a lot of fun yesterday, looking through people's comments. The stuff they pick up and they find and they run with whether it's right or wrong, I love it, I think it's fascinating.

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"But in terms of friends and family, they've not going to get anything out of me and they don't want to. If my mum pressed me, to the point where I was going to be in trouble, I still don't think I'd tell her because she genuinely wouldn't want to know.

"I think it's exactly the same as Kelly was saying, people think because they're close to you that they can get something out but then the minute you go, I'll tell you, they don't want to know."

'Nobody's safe'

Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio spoke at the press conference on bonus episodes and doing the unthinkable

Jed, the deeper we go into this series, the more connections and references there are to earlier episodes. How do you keep track of everything? Are you ever concerned that you're going to forget which bit is connected to which?

We have a great team and we have the resources of the previous scripts and episodes so I think we all are very familiar with things that have happened in the past and the cast are, they remember things that characters have done in previous seasons.

When we want to create a connection with the past, often the thing we don't quite know straightaway is the exact detail, but then it's just a case of going back into the script and we can see exactly what date something was meant to happen and exactly what location it happened on and then, even better if we've got some visual reference, if there's some way that we can show an image that is in the AC-12 files of the past and that's something that we do in this season, we do delve into past cases a little bit.

The way that we do that is show that like any police unit, they keep records and when we dig into those files, hey presto, we see reminders of previous seasons.

Is this a return to the old school early days of Line of Duty when it was more focused on a single bent copper case and less on AC-12 internally?

I think it finds the balance. I think each season is different. We look to make each season have distinctive elements in comparison to the rest, and so there is a slightly different balance here in terms of the way in which AC-12 interacts with the team under investigation in Kelly's team and that particular case. It's hard to go into too much detail about it because ultimately that is built around plot points.

Why do you think this series in particular needed seven, rather than six episodes?

Because it would have ended early if we'd done six, because we had more stuff.

So actually it wasn't the case of planning seven, it was just the effect of the interruption of shooting and when we went back, we ended up for long periods working with two units for all kinds of reasons related to safety just getting through the shoot faster, being able to have crew who could step in if departments had to self-isolate.

That meant that we were able to shoot more additional material than we normally do.

We tend to overshoot, because we tend to shoot a lot of explanations of things, and then in the edit we decide whether we need them or not, whether things are clear enough without all the intervening stages being explained and laid out for the audience.

What we found was that when we got to the end, we'd initially conceived having a 90-minute episode six, but with all the additions, it was pretty clear that it was going to be two hours and then we got into a conversation with the BBC about the best way to handle that and everybody agreed that it was to split the last episode into two, and that created episode seven.

Have you ever considered killing the golden trio off?

Oh, it's never far from my thoughts, honestly. I think we all get on brilliantly but everybody knows that we're serving something bigger than ourselves which is Line of Duty.

One of the things about the show is that nobody's safe, it's what keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. I know that it would be a sad day, but I think all the main cast realise that it's possible.

We're mates; we talk about it, we joke about it and it's something that no one would relish but everybody would understand.

With Bloodlands, Line of Duty, a new BBC crime show Hope Street coming up and Marcella just ended, is there something about Northern Ireland that makes it the perfect place to film crime dramas?

It's a good place. You've got a choice of fantastic locations and you've got great crews and great facilities there.

So it's brilliant to see that Northern Ireland is being represented so well on screen. A lot of the time when things are shot in Northern Ireland they're standing in for somewhere else and that's something that we do in Line of Duty.

It's a challenge that the region lives up to: we kind of make Belfast look like an anonymous English Midlands town, and in Bloodlands, the challenge was completely different, it was to show off the landmarks of the region.

How involved are the cast about story ideas?

We have a discussion which usually happens when we hear the news that we've been lucky enough to be recommissioned. Generally we pass that good news on. And then we'll just have a chat - where do you think your character's going to be? What other loose ends do you have for your character at the moment? That's always interesting because I'm starting to focus on something that's very specific which is who the new guest lead is going to be.

That is the thing that shapes every season. But things that are kind of up for grabs are elements like how long is it since the last season ended in story terms. Those things are very helpful to shape what the arcs might be for the regulars coming back.

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Well forgive you if your Line of Duty memories are a little rusty  heres all you need to know from the last five series:

Series one

AC-12 investigated DCI Tony Gates, the perhaps poorly titled Officer of the Year but supposedly model detective, for laddering, when an officer puts additional offences on a criminals charge sheet. DC Kate Fleming was placed undercover in Gates team.

Gates had agreed to help his lover Jackie Laverty after shed hit an animal while drink driving. The problem was she told him shed hit a dog but it was actually her accountant (who had discovered Jackies money laundering for local gangster Tommy Hunter).

While Gates was prepared to reveal everything, he was framed for Jackies murder when his fingerprints were placed on the weapon while he was unconscious.

A group of balaclava-wearing figures began shadowing him. Then Hunter blackmailed him, dangling the fabricated evidence over Gates unless he behaved.

Gates tried to track down Hunter, with AC-12 in pursuit naturally, and agreed  reluctantly  to lead the department to Hunter, who confessed to Jackies murder and those of three drug dealers. Cue one arrest and Gates walking in front of a lorry to his death. At the end of the series, viewers learned that The Caddy, one of Hunters inside men, was none other than DS Matthew Dot Cottan. It was Dots instructions on what to say to the police that got Hunter into a witness protection programme. Sneaky.

Series two

The second series began with a bang with an armed attack on a police convoy transporting a protected witness. Only one police officer survived  DI Lindsay Denton  and she was, perhaps naturally,  suspected of being a criminal insider. But who is the protected witness who ended up in hospital after the attack? Well, someone called Tommy Hunter

While undercover in Dentons department, Fleming sees her making a call to the hospital where Hunter is being treated. Arnott and new recruit Georgia Trotman head to the hospital, to find an assailant dressed as a nurse killing the witness. Arnott is knocked unconscious and Georgia is thrown out of a window.

But Denton proves to be one tough cookie; she outwits and antagonises the AC-12 trio, highlighting their perceived weak spots. Shes remanded in custody and is subject to some pretty horrific attacks, including having boiling water poured over her hands.

The husband of DS Jane Akers  the officer who died in the attack  is later questioned when it transpires she received money before her death, which confirmed her as the person whod tipped off the gang members.

Richard, Janes husband, led AC-12 to secret recordings shed kept as leverage against Hunter wherein he threatened to reveal The Caddys identity.

Denton is released after raising concerns about DCC Drydens activities outside the job.

It was going reasonably well for Denton until Arnott, who got to know her, er, a bit better, found a holdall of cash, confirming her role in the attack. Motivated by the cash needed to pay her mothers nursing home bill, Denton agreed with Akers to help set up the convoy, thinking that Carly  Hunter is revealed to have been her pimp  would escape her abuser.

But  no surprises here  its discovered that Dot planned the attack, and Hunter and Akers deaths to protect both the gang paymasters and his identity.

Denton was left alive so she would take the rap for the attack, despite being an accomplice  though she was unaware that Dot was behind it. She was convicted of conspiracy to murder and the helpful Dot became a permanent employee of AC-12. His job? Identify The Caddy.

Series three

After a suspect was killed in suspicious circumstances, Sergeant Danny Waldron was placed in AC-12s line of vision. But by the end of the first episode, Waldron was dead, supposedly killed by one of his team.

It came to light that the police officer had a list of those who had sexually abused him and his schoolfriends and was taking revenge. Waldron had tried to leave the list for Steve but Dot  who was leading the investigation  destroyed it.

But it didnt end there. Dentons conviction (remember her?) was overturned on appeal  with the trial revealing failings on AC-12s part. However, despite their previous strained relationship, she agreed to help Steve with the abuse case by finding a back-up list.

Not only that, but she realised just who Dot really was (i.e., a corrupt bad guy). Sadly, a bit late for her, because Dot shot Denton, killing her  but not before she was able to send a digital copy of the list to AC-12.

We especially love the interview scenes in Line of Duty and the series finale did not disappoint, as Dot was revealed as The Caddy. He wasnt planning on sitting and accepting his fate, however, fleeing the interrogation room chased by Fleming. It was Dot who placed himself in front of Fleming as an assailant had started shooting, recording his final declaration before dying, alerting AC-12 to the existence of H.

Series four

At the heart of this series was DCI Roz Huntley who was fortunate not to meet a similar end to Danny Waldron. After a tussle with forensic investigator Tim Ifield, she was knocked unconscious and awoke to find him about to dismember her (yes, really). Ifield was the one to die and Roz spent most the series investigating his demise while doing everything she could to hide her involvement, all because he told the unit that she had deliberately ignored forensic evidence to press charges against a suspect.

When Roz learned a sample of blood had been taken in Ifields flat  where she hit her head  she (obviously) incorrectly labelled it. She then tried to build a case to link Ifield to her original suspect.

When Arnott went to visit Huntleys husband Nick, he was subject to a vicious attack (by a man in a balaclava) and left for dead.

As the net closed in, Huntley appealed to ACC Hilton for help. Happy to do so, he gave her information to discredit AC-12. Oh, and gave her his number, one she wasnt aware of.

While the case against her was dropped, she had to have her arm amputated, thanks to contracting MRSA in a wound.

When she was rearrested  after the unit found a new line of enquiry  Huntley also tried to pin the blame on her husband Nick.

Hilton played Hastings Dots final words  obtained from his insider Maneet  and accused Ted of being the mysterious H, and served him with a formal notice to answer the allegations.

Under questioning, Huntley admitted to killing Ifield but then arrested her lawyer, Lakewell, outing his connection to the balaclava gang (shes later given a 10-year manslaughter sentence). Lakewell later stated there were multiple balaclava men, operating as an organised crime gang (OCG).

Hilton is later found dead with everyone concluding that he must have been H, thus exonerating Hastings. But who is H?

Series five

When an OCG attacked a police convoy transporting drugs and killed three officers, AC-12 suspected undercover police may be involved. That undercover officer was DS John Corbett.

Maneet was interviewed by the unit in which she works and after she contacted the crime group, ended up being killed.

Hastings financial woes looked like they were worsening, as Mark Moffatt approached him regarding his failed property investment. Is that a big brown envelope we could see?

Corbett tipped Arnott off about a raid on the Eastfield police depot  after the unit identified that the crime group was involved in sex trafficking  but Corbett shot the senior police officer at the scene, DCS Hargreaves.

Using false AC-12 identification, Corbett entered Roisin Hastings flat, attacking her. Theres a link there thats closer that anyone thought when it was revealed that Corbett had history to Northern Ireland. Though Hastings urged Arnott to shoot Corbett when he had the chance, Arnott refused. Corbett reveals the location of a meeting between the OCG and H. When the group transported women to their base to be trafficked, Corbett wanted to free them. In a twist, the group killed Corbett, realising he was the rat.

Hastings  who had made contact with the group and continued to do so  was suspended and investigated, later charged with conspiracy to murder Corbett.

Another series, another unmasking of a high ranking member of police staff. This time it was Police and Crime Commissioners legal advisor Gill Biggeloe whose dodgy dealings were unveiled. Biggeloe was linked with the OCG and a player in the plot to frame Hastings. Plus, she was largely responsible for John Corbetts vendetta against the AC-12 boss  she recommended Corbett for the undercover job and convinced him that Hastings was the reason why his mother was murdered by paramilitary forces.

A further revelation came with the realisation that H was not one person, but a group of police staff in league with organised crime. If that included Cottan, Hilton and Biggeloe, who is the final H?

Maureen Coleman: I am living for the drama to return

Maureen Coleman is a Line of Duty superfan: fact. She reveals why its in a different league to other crime dramas

You know youve reached superfan status when a shows theme tune is enough to induce levels of excitement normally reserved for a hefty scratchcard win or a weekend away with the girls.

Its been two long years since we last heard that heart-racing, crescendo-building, Line of Duty score (trailers aside) and, Mother of God, I am living for the crime dramas return.

Well, I say two years, but in truth, I was given a sneak preview of the opening episode of series six last week, ahead of a virtual Q&A with show creator Jed Mercurio, executive producer Simon Heath and cast members Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and special guest, Kelly Macdonald. Did it live up to its hype? Put it this way, I watched it again the following evening; this time taking notes in my little, black AC-12-styled notebook. I dont intend to miss a trick. Tomorrow nights airing of episode one will be my third viewing but therell be no spoilers from me. Like the dutiful fan that I am, I shall conduct myself to the letter of the (BBC) law.

Crime is my favourite genre of television, dating back to a pre-teen obsession with Charlies Angels and a crush on one half of detective duo, Starsky and Hutch. As a birthday treat, many moons ago, a friend arranged for me to spend the day on the set of ITVs long-running cop show The Bill, where I was put in handcuffs and locked up in a prison cell for the craic.

If theres a crime show on, Ill watch it  Morse, Murder, She Wrote, even Midsomer Murders at a push.

But Line of Duty is in a different league, because it makes the viewer think. With its fast-paced action, intense interrogation scenes, complicated twists and turns, red herrings and so many acronyms, youll need a PhD to know your OCGs from UCOs, it really puts your brain to work.

Pop out to make a cup of tea mid-episode and you could miss a vital look, a word or a key character getting chucked over the stairs.

I first stumbled upon LoD back in 2012 when it was launched on BBC2 with little fanfare. In series one, the three central characters were DS Steve Arnott, played by Martin Compston, Vicky McClures DC Kate Fleming and flawed super-cop DCI Tony Gates, played by Lennie James. AC-12 boss, Superintendent Ted Hastings, played by Fermanagh man Adrian Dunbar, had a lesser role but as the show began to gain momentum, that changed. Ted Hastings, of course, is now a national treasure and his colloquialisms are as legendary as the man himself.

Now were suckin diesel had non-Norn Iron viewers scratching their heads and rushing to Twitter to decipher what the heck Hastings was on about. If Ted turns out to be the fourth member of H, the bendiest of bent coppers, Ill issue a REG-15 on Mercurio myself.

In its BBC Two home, Line of Duty became the channels best-performing drama in 10 years. Its move to BBC One in 2017 saw even more viewers tune in. The finale of series four, featuring Thandie Newton in the guest role as the cop under suspicion, drew in a whopping audience of 10 million. Each series Mercurio pulls off a master-stroke when it comes to casting his guest actors. Stars like James, Newton, Keeley Hawes, Daniel Mays, Stephen Graham and this seasons Kelly Macdonald, are all brilliant at their craft.

But its the core team of AC-12, on its relentless quest for those bent coppers, that is the glue that holds this show together.

Lets hope they dont become unstuck when H is finally revealed.

Line of Duty, BBC One, Sunday, 9pm
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Imperial Valley News Center

Man Sentenced to 55 Months in Prison for Violating Sanctions Against Senior Venezuelan Leaders

Washington, DC - A Florida man was sentenced Wednesday to 55 months in prison for his connection with a scheme to provide private charter flights to two prominent members of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros inner circle. He will also pay $250,000 in fines and undergo two years of supervised release as part of the sentence.

Victor Mones Coro, 52, of Florida was convicted by a federal jury for his involvement in a scheme to provide private charter flights to two prominent members of Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros inner circle: Former Venezuelan Vice President Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah and his frontman, Samark Jose Lopez Bello. These flight services violated sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

Mones Coro used subterfuge and lies to provide illegal flight services to top Venezuelan leaders, which provided political support for the unlawful Maduro regime, said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Justice Departments National Security Division. His actions undermined our national security and foreign policy, and their gravity is reflected in todays sentence. Let this case serve as a warning to anyone else who risks the wellbeing of our nation for personal gain and profit.

Victor Mones Coro led a concerted, sustained multi-year scheme to provide millions of dollars worth of illicit flight services to Venezuelan leaders in direct contravention of our countrys sanctions regime and foreign policy, said U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss for the Southern District of New York. Todays sentence serves as a reminder that, together with our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively prosecute sanctions violators to protect our national security.

We take a great deal of pride in working alongside the US Attorneys Office and the Department of the Treasury to ensure that the integrity and intent of U.S. sanctions is preserved both at home and abroad. HSI, through myriad authorities, conducts criminal investigations to maintain the viability of the American financial system and prevent its misuse by foreign corrupt officials and narcotics traffickers, said Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) New York Field Office. Today, we are reminded of our steadfast commitment to holding those willing to violate such sanctions accountable. And to those who intend to circumvent our laws to gain power and further their corrupt practices through international crime, know you will be brought to justice.

According to court documents, Mones Coro designed an elaborate criminal scheme to enrich himself and provide flight services to El Aissami and Lopez Bello, among other influential Venezuelans in Maduros inner circle, including the President of Venezuelas Supreme Court, Maikel Moreno, who had also been previously sanctioned by OFAC. In spearheading this criminal scheme, Mones Coro used his U.S.-based company American Charter Services (ACS), its planes and its employees to fly Lopez Bello, El Aissami, and others around the world, including to foreign countries of strategic importance to the Maduro regime such as Russia and Turkey.

Mones Coro also provided flights in furtherance of Maduros May 2018 campaign for reelection, a corrupt campaign through which Maduro illegitimately maintained control of Venezuela. Between approximately February and May 2018, Mones Coro and ACS arranged between 20 to 25 domestic Venezuelan flights for the Maduro campaign. These flights transported people, campaign materials, and food, among other things, and were coordinated with associates of El Aissami and Lopez Bello.

To avoid detection, Mones Coro and his co-conspirators, including Joselit Ramirez Camacho, Venezuelas current Superintendent of Cryptocurrencies, engaged in various forms of subterfuge. They used code names, falsified flight manifests and invoices, communicated over encrypted messaging applications, received cash flown into the U.S. from Venezuela, and accepted wire transfers from a front company tied to the sanctioned Venezuelan leaders. Mones Coro also tried to cover his tracks by directing one of his pilots to lie to law enforcement.

Mones Coro perpetrated these crimes at a time when the U.S. and its allies were engaged in the crucial undertaking of depriving Venezuela and its leadership of resources for its malign, undemocratic, and deadly activitiesincluding its systematic and oftentimes fatal repression of activists, its subversion of Venezuelan democratic institutions, and its corrupt plundering of Venezuelas natural resources. Maduro and others are charged with narco-terrorism and related crimes in a Superseding Indictment also pending before Judge Hellerstein. In a separate Superseding Indictment, El Aissami, Lopez Bello, and Ramirez Camacho are charged with sanctions violations based on their roles in the scheme with Mones Coro.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the DEAs Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, with assistance from the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the Department of Justices National Security Division and Office of Foreign Assets Control investigated the case.

Trial Attorney David Recker of the Justice Departments Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Same Adelsberg and Amanda Houle of the Southern District of New York prosecuted the case.
CHICO, Calif. - Diamond W. Western Wear owner David Halimi spoke to Action News Now about what this past year has done to his business and others in Chico.

Halimi said the pandemic has tested everyone's will and faith, he said it has been a tough ride.

"I am looking forward to celebrating the end of the pandemic, rather than the anniversary. I do see a lot of optimism though as more people get vaccinated I think they are more confident to get out and I have definitely seen an increase in traffic and people's confidence in shopping," said Halimi.

Halimi added he is confident business will return, and is hopeful about the future of downtown Chico as well.
Zac Efron has well and truly settled into his adopted home of Australia.

The American actor is rapidly becoming an honorary Aussie, even riding a forklift tractor in the outback on Saturday.

In posts shared to Instagram, the 33-year-old took the wheel of the massive vehicle while in a desert region.

Men at work: Zac Efron (pictured) has well and truly settled into his adopted home of Australia. The American actor is rapidly becoming an honorary Aussie, even riding a forklift tractor in the outback on Saturday

Seemingly at a farm, the High School Musical star explained that a young man called Jack was helping him get the hang of it.

Zac captioned his Instagram image: 'Jack showing me the ropes, we have some hungry cows to feed'.

The actor has been in Australia since last year, and is currently filming his Netflix docuseries, Down To Earth.

Knows his stuff: Seemingly at a farm, the High School Musical star explained that a young man called Jack was helping him get the hang of it

Zac captioned his images: 'Jack showing me the ropes, we have some hungry cows to feed'

On Friday, video emerged of star raving about one of his most recent filming locations - Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

In a clip shared on Adelaide Now, he spoke fondly of destination, saying it was a 'beautiful island'.

'All of it is just amazing, it's a beautiful island, there's nature absolutely abundant, everywhere, it's really come back in a big way since the fires which were pretty devastating,' Zac opined.

Loves it: On Friday, video emerged of star raving about one of his most recent filming locations - Kangaroo Island in South Australia

What an experience! The star shared a few social media posts of his time on Kangaroo Island, including him swimming with dolphins

'What a gem of a place, I just love it here,' the delighted High School musical actor added.

The star was recently on Kangaroo Island and shared a few social media posts of his time there.

He had swum with dolphins and said in the video of the experience: 'I've never been that close to dolphins, that was mind-blowing.'

In addition to swimming with dolphins, Zac got up close and personal with an adorable little joey in his arms.
The Prime Minister says that Corpus Christi, also known as the "Day of Wreaths", is set aside on the Christian calendar to honour the Holy Eucharist which was observed at the last supper before Christ was crucified.
New Delhi:

Growing into a dangerous Category 5 storm, Hurricane Irma has roared towards islands in the northeast Caribbean Tuesday amid fears that it can even head to the United States. It is a cause of worry for Elon Musk too as Hurricane Irma, which is bearing down on florida, may cast a shadow on the launch of a secretive mini-shuttle.



Weather conditions are likely to be unfavourable for the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center. Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron has said that a 50 per cent chance of violating weather rules are expected as SpaceX will attempt to launch the plane from pad 39A during a yet-to-be-announced window.



"Hurricane Irma is forecast to be approximately 950 miles southeast of the Spaceport during Thursdays launch attempt, so while Irma certainly bears watching, it will not be a factor in Thursdays weather," forecasters said, noting that thick and cumulus clouds were the primary concerns.



If delayed to Friday, the launch probabilities will be diminished even further to 40 per cent go as Hurricane Irma churns about 650 miles to the southeast of the Eastern Range, encompassing Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. What would be added to the list of concerns will be an increase in low-level winds.



"The pressure gradient between the high pressure area behind the frontal boundary and Hurricane Irma will begin to tighten," forecasters said. "This will create northeast low-level winds that will strengthen, becoming 20 mph by the end of the launch window."



A specific launch time has neither been disclosed by the Air Force nor SpaceX. However, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a notice to aviators, indicated that the airspace would be closed between 9:20 am and 2:55 pm.



A few minutes after liftoff, the first stage of the rocket could dive back down to Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Landing Zone 1, generating a powerful sonic boom on the way.



The Air Force's fifth Orbital Test Vehicle mission, or OTV-5 will mark SpaceXs first attempt to boost the 11,000-pound unmanned space plane to low Earth orbit. There are only two of the Boeing-built spacecraft and each measure about 29 feet long with a 15-foot wingspan.



"The fifth OTV mission continues to advance the X-37Bs performance and flexibility as a space technology demonstrator and host platform for experimental payloads," the Air Force said in a release last week.



"This mission carries small satellite ride shares and will demonstrate greater opportunities for rapid space access and on-orbit testing of emerging space technologies."

ALSO READ | Hurricane Irma: US President Trump declares emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands

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Russian authorities thank Vietnamese student for saving 2 children from frozen river

Velikaya River in Russia's Pskov Oblast was frozen when Hoang Phi Hung helped save two children falling into a hole there on March 15, 2021. Photo by Shutterstock.

A Vietnamese student in Russia has received a thank-you note from authorities in Pskov Oblast region for helping save two children who had fallen into a river.

On March 15, while walking along the Velikaya River, Hoang Phi Hung, a medical student at Pskov State University, saw two boys aged 10 and 11 fall into a hole in the ice, Vietnam News Agency reported on Saturday.

Hung joined hands with a Russian man to quickly rescue the two.

With his medical knowledge, Hung managed to keep their body temperature up, which helped save their lives.

The governor of Pskov Oblast, Mikhail Vedernikov, also handed over a note of thanks to Andrey Strugin, the other rescuer.

Around 80,000 Vietnamese live in Russia.

Last year Vu Duc Huynh, a Vietnamese technical intern in Japan, received a letter of appreciation from authorities of Fukuoka Prefecture for springing into action to save a woman who fell off a bridge into a river.
Police have launched a major search for a missing young woman and her two young children who have not been seen for two days.

Skye Dorman, 20, and her daughters Lola, two, and one-year-old Sapphire-Bleu, have not been seen since Thursday afternoon.

The young mum, described as petite and with auburn hair, is from the Bletchley area of Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Sky Dorman, 20, was reported missing on Thursday and there have been not sightings since

Despite substantial searches by police who also passed on information to neighbouring forces, concern has grown for the missing trio as officers received no reports of sightings.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: 'We are appealing for the public's help in tracing a missing mother and her children.

'Skye Dorman, aged 20 years, from Milton Keynes, and her two children Lola, aged two years and Sapphire-Bleu aged one year, were reported missing at around 3pm on Thursday from the Bletchley area of Milton Keynes.

'Skye is white, 5ft 8ins tall, of slight build with mid-brown hair.

Sky Dornan, 20, went missing with her daughters Lola, aged two years and Sapphire-Bleu aged one year

'Skye is known to frequent Milton Keynes.'

Detective Inspector Nick Garside added: 'We are appealing for the public's help in tracing Skye and her two children.

'We would ask anyone with information as to their whereabouts or if anyone thinks they have seen Skye and her two children Lola and Sapphire-Bleu then we would ask them to please come forward.

'Anyone with information should contact Thames Valley Police on 101'
Voters fill in their ballots at polling booths in Concord, N.H., on Nov. 3, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

New Hampshire Senate Rejects Bill That Would Make No Excuse Mail Voting Permanent

The New Hampshire Senate on March 18 rejected a bill that would have made permanent the temporary no-excuse absentee voting put in place last year due to the CCP virus pandemic.

New Hampshire relaxed the rules around absentee voting last year, first through guidance from the states attorney general and secretary of state and subsequently through legislation. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, signed off on the temporary measure after he had vetoed a similar bill that would have made no-excuse absentee voting permanent.

New Hampshire was one of many states which expanded no-excuse mail voting for the 2020 election. The changes contributed to a record turnout for the election but caused concerns about ballot integrity before and after Nov. 3, 2020.

The Republican-majority New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 among partisan lines to kill the bill on Thursday, according to WMUR. Efforts to relax the current restrictions have also been rejected by a New Hampshire House committee.

The current law restricts absentee voting to people who are out of town on Election Day or cannot make it to their polling place due to religious observance, disability, or illness. Those who have work commitments for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day can also request an absentee ballot.

Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy, the lead sponsor of the bill, argued that the expanded absentee voting in 2020 worked well and the people will expect to be able to vote absentee again in the next election.

We made some significant changes to election law to accommodate people during the pandemic because we know it may have forced some people into making an impossible choice, said Soucy, according to WMUR. No one should have to choose between their health and whether or not they should cast their ballot.

Now that we experienced the largest election in our states history, and have accommodated all of these voters, why would we now go back and tell them that this process doesnt make sense anymore? Soucy added. People know, now that theyve had the experience, they dont want to go back.

Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee Chair James Gray said the current law allows for all reasonable instances of absentee voting.

The only ones who could be told, No, you cant have an absentee ballot, is someone who just doesnt want to vote that day because its more convenient to vote absentee, Gray said, according to WMUR.

The law right now is adequate, he added. Give me an example that we dont cover that isnt a person who is just is too lazy to go the poll on Election Day.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson received his first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Friday and urged the public to do the same, saying "he did not feel a thing."

Johnson, 56, received his vaccine at the same hospital where almost a year ago he was put in an intensive care unit and given oxygen via a tube in his nose after he contracted the virus and fell seriously ill. He later said he was so sick that plans were drawn up on how to announce his death.

"I literally did not feel a thing. It was very good, very quick," Johnson said after receiving the injection at St Thomas' Hospital in London. "I cannot recommend it too highly, everybody when you do get your notification to go for a jab, please go and get it, it is the best thing for you, best thing for your family and for everyone else."

Pictures showed the prime minister wearing a black mask, and a shirt and tie with his sleeve rolled up, while a nurse gives him the vaccine.
In his first appearance at a parliamentary committee hearing since standing down, while an investigation is carried out on his relocation expenses, James Shipton appeared in control.

The last committee meeting was October and Shipton didnt look like he would survive the year. But on Friday he said he would stick around until a new leader was found, which could take months. Until then, ASIC is in a transition phase.

Outgoing ASIC chair James Shipton Credit:Eamon Gallagher

Not surprisingly, the commissioners wanted to make it clear it was focused on a number of investigations including Greensill Capital, which it began in November.

Deputy chair, Karen Chester, who reconfirmed she had tipped her hat in the ring for the top job, said ASIC was looking at a number of areas related to the collapsed supply chain financier, including working with the prudential regulator, which she said was looking at Greensills relationship with three insurers.
11% of all worldwide online shoppers currently use their mobile wallets on a weekly basis. Photo: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

By the end of this year, UK mobile commerce will reach 2.27tn ($3.16tn) and increase to 2.73tn in 2022, as businesses and consumers shift their payment methods thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a new report by Kaleido Intelligence for Payvision, 11% of all worldwide online shoppers currently use their mobile wallets on a weekly basis.

The data showed that Apple (AAPL) Pay, Samsung (005930.KS) Pay and Google (GOOG) Pay total in-store wallet payment transaction value is set to reach 27% in 2022, up from an estimated 16% in 2020.

Some 2.7 billion people will use mobile wallet apps by 2022, it said.

It comes as central banks and regulators are increasing contactless limits to decrease the need for touching point-of-sale (POS) keypads to prevent the spread of the virus.

Across major markets there have been increases between 50% and 200%, with 100% in the UK.

In April 2020, Visa (V) revealed that cardholders touched a checkout terminal 50% less than usual.

READ MORE: Cashless society: Cash could disappear from the UK by 2026

Ellerd Liem, director POS at Payvision says: Contactless payments reign supreme in a world where strict health regulations call for people to avoid physical interaction.

It is certain that people who have discovered the benefits of convenient, contactless online shopping will want to continue enjoying them. More businesses, if not all, will need to allow online payments to keep up with this demand.

He added: Now that people have discovered the benefits and convenience of online shopping, theyll continue relying on this method. To beat out the competition and keep up with the innovation, businesses must prioritize an omnichannel strategy, that brings faster processes, personalized service, and 24/7 support.

It comes as free to use ATM's are disappearing from UK high streets at an alarming rate, compared to those that are more financially viable and charge customers to take out money.

Research by UK merchant payment provider, Dojo, found that between January 2019 and September 2020 the number of cash machines in Britain fell from 62,967 to 55,674  a decrease of 7,293.

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This means that on average, more than 340 machines disappeared from UK high streets every month in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

WATCH: Coronavirus: Two thirds of Mastercard transactions now contactless

According to the report, the city of York has seen its number of ATMs drop from 63 in January 2019 to 45 in September 2020. This is a decline of 18 or almost 29%.

The Scottish capital, Edinburgh, came in second on the list of cities that have lost the most ATMs during the pandemic, with a 24% fall.

London  the largest city in the country  ranked third and lost 192 machines between January 2019 and September 2020, a 23% decline. Meanwhile, Sheffield, which has a population of over 730,000, lost the least amount of cash machines per capita with one ATM for every 3925 residents.

WATCH: What UK government COVID-19 support is available?
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA)- Some local restaurants might be eligible for a new grant from the U-S Small Business Administration.

"Right now any kind of assistance would be great," said owner of Aunt B's soul food Thomas Woods

Before the pandemic the restaurant was open seven days a week. Now, it's only open three days a week. The change of hours has caused the restaurant to lose money. Woods said there are a number of things he could use the grant money for.

"Food. Food purchases, paying employees, lights, gas," said Woods.

On Friday, the Community Development Foundation announced the U.S Small Business Administration is currently working on a grant program to help restaurants, food trucks, bars and other types of restaurant establishments who've struggled during the pandemic.

Not only was that music to Wood's ears but also for Robby Curbow, marketing manager for Amsterdam Deli. Amsterdam received grants earlier this year that helped the business stay on target during the pandemic.

"We did accept a PPP grant that kind of helped us take care of some business and payroll and things like that and it helped so much," said Curbow. "We are excited to hear about this new one because we have so many different ideas to put into place to continue building Amsterdam up."

One of the ways Amsterdam would utilize the grant is to implement a to-go window right outside of their building.

As for Woods, he said his hope is for the restaurant to open back up to the public. A grant could get him one step closer to that goal.

"After that we could get to where we can open up and get back to serving people, what we enjoy doing," said Woods.

The grant will appear on the small business administration website and will open for application in the next few weeks.
New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi is set to address a rally on Saturday (March 20) in West Bengals Kharagpur and Assams Chabua.

The rallies are scheduled to be held at 11:15 am and 2:30 pm respectively. The prime minister is going to hold the public rallies as a part of BJPs campaign in the two poll-bound states.

Taking it to his social media account Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, Will be in Assam and West Bengal tomorrow and the day after. Tomorrow, 20th March, I would be speaking at rallies in Kharagpur (WB) and Chabua (Assam). Will elaborate on BJPs development agenda during my speeches. It is clear both states want to elect NDA in the upcoming polls.

Will be in Assam and West Bengal tomorrow and the day after.

Tomorrow, 20th March, I would be speaking at rallies in Kharagpur (WB) and Chabua (Assam). Will elaborate on BJPs development agenda during my speeches. It is clear both states want to elect NDA in the upcoming polls.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2021

Earlier, after addressing his second rally in the poll-bound state on Thursday in Purulia, PM Modi on his Twitter handle said, BJP winning in West Bengal would mark the start of a new era of development in the state. At the same time, bullying by TMC cadres will stop.

Meanwhile, after Suvendhu Adhikari's father publicly backed BJP saying he will attend Modi's rallies. The leader, putting rumors at rest, said he will be offering support from outside.

Earlier, BJP released the list of 148 candidates, fielding several Trinamool Congress (TMC) turncoats and several celebrities for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

The political environment in West Bengal is getting tense as both the parties, BJP and TMC, have started their election campaigns in full swing in the state. The assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled to be held in eight phases. The voting for phase 1 for 30 constituencies will take place on March 27, voting for phase 2 for 30 constituencies will be held on April 1.

The polling for phase 3 for 31 seats will take place on April 6, for phase 4 for 44 constituencies on April 10, for phase 5 for 45 constituencies on April 17, for phase 6 for 43 constituencies on April 22, for phase 7 for 36 constituencies on April 26 and for phase 8 for 35 constituencies on April 29.

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I wish I could prescribe Lisa Genovas new book, Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, to everyone who comes into my clinic asking about why that hard-to-get name sits at the tip of their tongue or why they walk into a room and immediately forget the reason they entered it in the first place. Each one of these patients has one question on their mind: Is this dementia? If you want to understand how memories are formed, appreciate the difference between normal age-related memory lapses and Alzheimers, or learn how to improve your memory and reduce the risk of developing dementia, then this is the book for you.

Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist and author of such critically acclaimed books as Still Alice, brings her expertise in brain science and her powers as a storyteller to the cognitive domain of memory. Without feeling like a self-help book, the book offers evidence-based how-tos for boosting recall. One of its key aims is normalizing forgetfulness. Providing outlier examples such as the case of Yo-Yo Ma, the acclaimed cellist who can commit to muscle memory thousands of notes yet forgot his prized cello in the trunk of a New York cab, and that of a regular 65-year-old man who decided to memorize over 100,000 digits of pi but forgot his wifes birthday, Genova explains why lapses like these arent so very different from our own misplaced glasses or missed appointments. Why? She explains that we often forget not because its efficient for our brains to do so but because we havent supplied our brains with the kinds of input needed to support memory creation and retrieval. She explicates these faulty inputs, such as our failing to deploy enough attention in the first place or leaving a memory flimsy by not reflecting on its meaning or salience to us, and she gives techniques on how to improve them. One success of the book is that it grounds the discussion in physical terms. Every step of the process of memory formation and functioning  encoding, consolidation, storage, and retrieval  is articulated in jargonless prose. Genova explains how these steps are grounded in physical structures in the brain, identifying the neural circuits that we currently believe undergird memory and its important but often maligned foil, forgetting.

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The art and science of forgetting is another important theme. Simply put, it can be a blessing to forget. Through extreme examples, such as the intrusive memories that accompany post-traumatic stress disorder and the mental clutter of mnemonist savants, Genova makes the connection to commonly shared experiences like punching in your expired password automatically even though you changed it two weeks ago. She argues that forgetfulness plays an important role in keeping the rest of our mental processes unburdened by the weight of useless recollections, and even hints at ways to improve our forgetting of events wed rather not remember.

Remembering and forgetting are not simply cast as a binary in Genovas account; she also explores the quality and veracity of memory. There is a fascinating investigation into so-called flashbulb memories like the ones people have of JFKs assassination or 9/11. Such memories of stunningly unexpected, personally important, and emotionally charged experiences . . . that feel resistant to fading and can be readily recalled years later turn out not to be impervious to manipulation. When recalling an experience, we reactivate pathways in the brain that facilitated the making of the memory in the first place. In a physical sense (as far as some parts of our brains are concerned), we are re-experiencing parts of the event. But we dont remember all the details in exactly the same way. Sometimes we miss a few details in the retelling, overemphasize other details, or are introduced to new information, and so, when the memory reconsolidates, a new version replaces the old.

Genova cites the work of Ulric Neisser, who asked his college psychology students, on the day that the Challenger exploded, to answer experiential questions about what they were doing and whom they were with when it happened. He found that two and a half years later, when asked to perform the same exercise, no students gave the same answers as they had initially, and 25 percent of students were 100 percent inconsistent in their answers. A year later, when shown both sets of answers in their own handwriting, a subset of students dismissed outright their earliest recollection and stuck to their more recent stories.

Memories, even emotionally powerful ones, are malleable in the fullness of time. But recall can also be manipulated by the prompt. Genova relays one study in which people watched a video snippet of two cars about to collide. In questions asked about the cars approximate speed, substitution of verbs like smashed for ones like bumped influenced observers recollections (and therefore their estimations) of the cars speed. The experiment also illustrated the power of memory insertion. Those asked questions containing verbs like smashed were more likely to remember seeing broken glass than those who were asked with verbs like bumped. The video didnt show broken glass. Their memories of broken glass were false.

After working through how memories are formed and why forgetting happens, the book switches gears to compare how the deterioration of memory and a persons response to forgetting in clinical dementia differs from natural aging. Theres forgetting your keys and finding them on the sideboard, which makes you recall setting them down to answer an unexpected phone call, as opposed to losing your keys until you get your frozen dinner out of the fridge and find them in the ice box. Theres forgetting how to spell a rarely used word, and then theres forgetting how to draw a letter of the alphabet. Folded into Genovas explication of the mechanics of memory are useful tips readers can incorporate into their everyday lives  and for those who forgot them as they read, theres an appendix in the back of the book. Genova also debunks commonly repeated pharmacologic fables  such as the notion that eating chocolate or drinking wine will salvage your memory (it wont).

For those familiar with the greater Boston area, the book is an especial treat, as many of her examples include familiar landmarks. In writing about the nth time she traveled from Kendall Square to a vacation spot on Cape Cod, Genova relates that she realized she couldnt remember driving over a particular bridge, and yet she knew she must have. Does this mean shes losing her memory? No, in fact she never made a memory of it in the first place, because the entryway to memory is not just perception  she certainly saw the bridge on her drive  but attention. The familiar landmarks of overlearned drives just fade into the background, as they are without consequence or interest. We become habituated to them.

The goals of Remember are important, and its message is as wise as it is hopeful. In some ways, its a kind of public-service announcement that can capture a readers attention, and Genovas hope to humanize forgetting comes to fruition through her warm, conversational prose. Memory is seen by many as such an enormous building block to our identity that to forget is to self-destruct, but, to quote the author, If we can embrace the notion that forgetting is a normal part of being human, then Alzheimers wont be such a dramatic fall from grace.

More from National Review
New Delhi, March 20: The Moscow conference on Afghan peace has rejected the Talibans idea of forming an Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan but urged the government to engage openly with their Taliban counterparts to work for a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

A joint statement was issued after the conference in which the four primary representative countries, Russia, China, the US and Pakistan, stated that they would not support the return of an Islamic emirate system in Afghanistan.

The joint statement recognized the desire of the Afghan people for peace and called for a reduction in violence from all sides. It urged the Taliban not to launch a Spring offensive, and reiterated calls for a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

"As stated in the UNSC resolution 2513 (2020), we do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate and we call on the Government of the Islamic Republic and the High Council for National Reconciliation to engage openly with their Taliban counterparts regarding a negotiated settlement," the statement said.

An Afghan delegation led by the chair of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Abdullah Abdullah, and a Taliban delegation led by the group's political deputy Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, were also present.

But the Taliban was not happy with the statement. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the co-founder and deputy leader of the Taliban, told participants in the Moscow conference that "Afghans should be left to their own fate." "The world should take into account the Islamic values, independence and national interests of the Afghan people," Baradar said.

The one day gathering was part of an intense diplomatic push to jumpstart a stalled peace process amid a looming deadline for withdrawal of foreign forces from the country. There are fears that Afghanistan will descend into chaos if international forces depart without a negotiated political settlement in place.

The statement also called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to ensure that terrorist groups and individuals do not use Afghan soil to threaten the security of any other nation.

The meeting is the first in a series of three major international meetings aimed at building a consensus for an interim government in Kabul among the Taliban and the disparate factions united under the Afghan government, according to a written plan U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has shared with Afghan leaders.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has vehemently opposed an interim government. Earlier this month, he said the transfer of power through elections is a "non-negotiable" principle. "We stand ready to discuss holding free, fair, and inclusive elections under the auspices of the international community. We can also talk about the date of the elections and reach a conclusion," he said.

The peace talks resumed in early January in Qatar but quickly halted, marred by a spike in violence across Afghanistan, with the warring sides blaming one another.

The Taliban wanted that Islamic rule would be in place in post-war Afghanistan but the Afghan government instead demanded the Taliban first join the current political system and declare a ceasefire.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
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We are thrilled to return as exclusive production partners for the IAB 2021 NewFronts, and partner with such amazing brands on this global event to help shape the future of our industry

Executive Producers Eric Conte and Dan Weinreich of Content.23 Media, Inc. return to produce the global media industry event, the IAB 2021 NewFronts.

In producing this years NewFronts, Content.23 Media will leverage its best-in-class live production skills and industry-leading live video production technology to deliver an amazing four-day live stream event.

The IAB 2021 NewFronts will be held virtually May 3-6, 2021. Digital, streaming, and linear video creators/publishers are invited to participate. The event, which drew more than 14,000 brands and media buyers last year, will be live-streamed for buy-side attendees.

IABs 2021 NewFronts will take place in the context of IABs cross-industry Tele://Vision campaign, part of the IAB Media Center, which aligns the companies and leaders whose products, services, and relationships define the current advertising marketplace around a consistent set of principles, standards, practices, and  where applicable  products and technologies.

We are thrilled to return as exclusive production partners for the IAB 2021 NewFronts, and partner with such amazing brands on this global event to help shape the future of our industry, says President and Executive Producer Eric Conte. Though the pandemic has put many industries and businesses at a standstill, Content.23 has continued to grow as people look towards media and content creation to connect with others and their audiences.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Content.23 Media, Inc. has successfully pivoted to virtual events, pioneering multiple industry-leading techniques for innovative content. This includes creating new formats and helping to raise millions of dollars for those impacted by the pandemic.

Content.23 will continue to follow local and CDC guidance, all while delivering best-in-class production services. Content.23 Media, Inc was nominated in the Livestream Event category at the Vimeo Festival & Awards for the 2020 IAB NewFronts.

________

About Content.23 Media, Inc

Founded by Eric Conte in 2012, Content.23 Media, Inc is a full-service production company specializing in digital media, live streams, branded content, music specials, and award shows. Eric Conte and Dan Weinreich are proud to have delivered groundbreaking projects for many Fortune 500 companies.

https://www.content23.com

About IAB

The Interactive Advertising Bureau empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership comprises more than 650 leading media companies, brands, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. In affiliation with the IAB Tech Lab, IAB develops technical standards and solutions. IAB is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the trade association advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, IAB is headquartered in New York City.

Content.23 Media, Inc. Contact:

Eric Conte, President, and Executive Producer

Content.23 Media, Inc

Eric@content23.com
UNLAWFUL: An American private investigator admitted passing personal information about Meghan Markle (pictured with Harry and their son Archie) to a British tabloid. Photo: Toby Melville/ Reuters

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said that an investigation into how a British tabloid obtained personal details about the duchess shows there are still predatory practises within the British news media.

Their statement follows an investigation by a group of online journalists, Byline Investigates, into how The Sun tabloid hired an American private investigator, who says he unlawfully handed over personal details about the duchess when she first started dating Harry.

Byline Investigates teamed up with the BBC and The New York Times to publish the investigative report on Thursday night.

Daniel Hanks (74), a veteran private investigator also known as Danno, said he unlawfully accessed details about Meghan, including her social security number, as well as details on people in her life.

He says he sold this information to The Sun.

In a statement, The Suns publisher said it had made a legitimate request for information from Mr Hanks, and stressed that he was not asked to do anything illegal or breach any privacy laws.

A spokesman for the couple said that today is an important moment of reflection for the media industry and society at large, as this investigative report shows that the predatory practises of days past are still ongoing, reaping irreversible damage for families and relationships.

Harry and Meghan have long had a fraught relationship with the British tabloids.

Harry recently told talk show host James Corden that the British tabloids were destroying my mental health.

Meghan once told ITV that she was warned, before her marriage, that the British tabloids will destroy your life.

The couple have taken legal action against tabloids on a number of occasions. Meghan recently won a privacy case against The Mail on Sunday, which published lengthy extracts of a handwritten letter she wrote to her estranged father.

Read More

Mr Hanks told The Washington Post in a phone interview that he wasnt aware who Meghan Markle was when he said The Suns US editor James Beal commissioned the research.

On October 30, 2016, he was asked by The Sun to do searches on Meghan, her family members and associates, he said.

He accessed a database that hes able to use for legitimate private investigator work.

He handed over information including Meghans social security number, her mobile phone number, address, details about her mother Doria Ragland, her estranged father Thomas Markle and her half brother, also named Thomas Markle, her ex-husband Trevor Engelson, and others.

Social security numbers are key to the kingdom to get everything, he said.

On November 8, 2016, Harry released a remarkable statement, officially announcing that he was in a relationship with Meghan, and condemning the coverage of her in some parts of the media.

Mr Hanks is a well-known private investigator who says hes worked for the British tabloids for years. He says hes worked for law enforcement agencies, American tabloid television shows, and helped track down information on stories about Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Hanks has also served a number of jail terms; most recently, in 2017 when he was found guilty of extortion and spent 16 months in jail.

Afterwards, he said, the only British paper that would employ him was The Sun.

Mr Hanks said he was made to sign a letter saying he wouldnt do anything illegal.

He said that he now regrets his actions and that watching the two-hour interview that Meghan and Harry did with Oprah Winfrey really made me feel bad  I dont like to hurt anyone.

Theres more to me than doing tabloid journalism, he said. I am not just some guy that worked for the tabloids, I did other things, I did good things, I did bad things, but Im not a bad guy.

He said he was speaking out to help clear his conscience.

Graham Johnson, the editor of Byline Investigates, an online publication that focuses on British media organisations, reached out to Mr Hanks 18 months ago.

He flew to the US to meet him, and they went through his files and discovered he had done checks and background searches for UK newspapers on various high-profile people, including Meghan.

They didnt mean anything to me at the time, said Mr Hanks. ( Washington Post)

Read More

 Washington Post
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Ideally, every election that is a necessary part of electoral democracy is expected to enhance decency in the practice of politics. Essentially, decency incorporates in its ethical thrust a moral value such as mutual respect for political opponents in particular and tolerance for democratic critique in general. However, in the most recent times, elections in India seem to have brought with them a diminishing sense of decency to politics, which looks less and less democratic in nature. Arguably, a depletion of decency as a commonly desirable good necessary for enriching the normative content of democracy, among other things, can be attributed to the fanatic use of the emotive language used by committed devotees for electoral mobilisation as well as defending the government in power.

This downslide can be witnessed in the emergence of the followers or devotees who practically, if not essentially, are quite fanatic in their support to the political leaders who are ruling the country. Arguably, these supporters are fanatics because they hold rather tightly within them an ill-informed and unmediated belief according to which the decisions taken and laws passed by the government are, by definition, good, and that such a government is right in enforcing such laws by coercion, manipulation and deception, and inflicting verbal violence upon the legitimate critique of the governments policies and programmes. It does not matter if the government does not participate in serious persuasion in order to engage with its critics. Such followers, taking their cue from the governments spokespersons, are on a spree to denounce the dissenting voices. The question that one has to raise is this: Why is that the followers denigration of the critique is non-stop and unabated? Ironically, the destructive force of offensive language is undiminished because it does not hurt those who are the repository of such a vocabulary.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

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Cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

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Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
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All nursing homes and assisted living facilities in South Carolina are now required to offer outdoor and/or indoor visitation, with few exceptions, based on new guidelines released Friday by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

These newly updated visitation guidelines follow federal guidance released on March 10.

There are still some circumstances where indoor visitation can be limited for specific residents, including:

 the facility's COVID-19 county positivity rate is higher than 10% and less than 70% of the facility's residents are vaccinated;

 the resident is infected with COVID-19;

 the resident is in quarantine; or

 a new case of COVID-19 is discovered in the facility.

Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as their families and friends, benefit emotionally, mentally and physically from being able to see their loved ones, Nick Davidson, DHEC's senior deputy for public health, said in a statement. While visitation limitations were necessary for protecting the health of residents during the pandemic, current recommendations are now to allow for visitation with disease prevention protocols in place.

The Kisner Foundation will host its first COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tiffany Pediatrics, 215 Town Creek Road. The clinic will be a drive-thru style, and is being held in collaboration with Liberty Doctors and Tiffany Pediatrics.

All 300 appointments have been booked.

We are very excited to partner with the Kisner Foundation and local volunteers to vaccinate our residents," Dr. John Tiffany, of Tiffany Pediatrics, said in a statement. "Vaccination and local public health measures are the way that we can end this pandemic."

"The Kisner Foundation is honored to feed our volunteers and support this vaccination clinic," Brittany Kisner, the Kisner Foundation's chair, said in a statement. "We are grateful to play a small role in supporting Dr. Tiffany and other physician's efforts to vaccinate Aiken County's teachers. Our teachers are heroes, and we want to keep them safe and keep our children in school."

South Carolina health authorities confirmed eight COVID-19 cases and one coronavirus-related death in Aiken County on Friday.

The death occurred March 14. The victim was middle-aged.

DHEC confirmed a total of 603 cases and 25 deaths across the state Friday.

The data reported Friday is for the date of March 17.

As of March 19, South Carolina has received 2,127,000 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine and has administered 1,582,769. There are currently 664,820 vaccine appointments scheduled throughout the state.

A total of 40,799 COVID-19 vaccines, which includes first and second doses, have been administered in Aiken County.

Friday's report brings the total confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Aiken County to 12,384, with 174 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

Aiken County also has reported a total of 3,917 probable COVID-19 cases and 40 probable coronavirus-related deaths.

In neighboring Barnwell and Edgefield counties, two virus cases were confirmed in each on Friday.

The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC statewide Friday was 22,262, and the percent positive was 3.6%.

The total number of cases statewide is now 457,898, with 80,903 probable cases, 7,920 confirmed deaths and 1,046 probable deaths.
Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu is making an appeal to President Nana Akufo-Addo to come to the aid of prisoners across the country.



Charles Owusu, who has been dedicating his birthday to making donations to improve the living conditions of prisoners, speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' recounted how the prisoners are suffering in the various prisons.



He narrated incidents where some innocent people have been locked up in the prisons and also noted that the situation at the prisons is very unbearable.



"Prisoners are humans like ourselves. There are some who are confined in the prison walls not because they have done anything bad or criminal but rather because they were accidentally caught up in complicated situations and ended up in the prisons.," he said.



He cried for help stressing it's about time the government and corporate entities turned their compassionate heart towards prisoners in the country.



"I plead with entities to come to the aid of the prisoners. Their situation is very terrible. Could you imagine that the government allocates only Ghc 1.80 to feed them? Although the money looks huge per the entire group of prisoners, it is very meagre to feed them individually. The prisoners' living conditions are so bad that they have to run a shift system before they can go to sleep. I plead with the government and persons who can help to do something to improve the prisoners' situation," he appealed.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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New York, US (PANA) - The situation for children in Tigray is becoming increasingly serious as the conflict in the northern Ethiopian region continues to escalate, according to the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
India coronavirus cases surge to four-month high, some lockdowns return FILE PHOTO: Swab sample collection for COVID-19 test in New Delhi

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India reported 40,953 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the biggest daily jump in nearly four months, with its richest state and economic backbone Maharashtra accounting for more than half the infections.

Deaths rose by 188 to 159,404, the health ministry reported, underscoring a resurgence of the virus in the world's third worst affected country, after the United States and Brazil.

Some regions in India have already reimposed containment measures, including lockdowns and restaurant closures, and more are being considered.

Doctors have blamed the fresh infection wave on people's relaxed attitude to mask-wearing and other social distancing measures, warning that hospital wards were swiftly filling up in states like Maharashtra.

Maharashtra reported a record 25,681 cases, including 3,000 in the financial capital of Mumbai, over the past 24 hours.

The state of 112 million people has imposed a lockdown in some districts and put curbs on cinemas, hotels and restaurants until the end of the month. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray warned that a wider lockdown is an option, according to local media.

The rise in India's COVID-19 cases peaked at nearly 100,000 a day in September, and had been falling steadily until late last month.

In addition to Maharashtra, the Indian states of Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh all reported a surge in new cases.

The capital, New Delhi, has reported a steady rise in infections over the last two weeks, prompting city authorities to scale up an immunisation drive to 125,000 doses per day, from about 40,000.

Many Indians have started questioning the government's highly publicised vaccine exports campaign when only a fraction of the country's 1.35 billion people have been inoculated.

The government has announced plans to inoculate 300 million people, or a fifth of the population, by August. Yet only 42 million have been vaccinated so far, while the world's biggest vaccine maker has gifted or exported almost 60 million doses.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah; editing by Jane Wardell)
The 150 year old anvil which was owned by Philips father who was a blacksmith

Brian Mohan, right, secretary of Knockbridge Vintage Club with club member Philip Byrne and his 1960 32 HP Fordson Dexta. Pictures: Ken Finegan

The Fordson Dexta tractor holds a special place in the heart of Philip Byrne.

A member of Knockbridge Vintage Club, the 73-year-old enthusiast told how he used to drive this model of tractor as a youngster and how he ended up acquiring one of his own ten years ago.

Fordson production - after 1964 the Fordson name was dropped, and all Ford tractors were simply badged as Fords - took place in the U.S. (1917-1928); Cork (1919-1923 and 1928-1933); and at Dagenham in England from 1933 to 1964.

The Dexta was launched to compete with the success of the Massey Ferguson 35.

'Part-time and after school I ploughed fields for a farmer with a 1960 Dexta,' Philip said.

'A lot of farmers had the Ferguson 20, then the 30, 35 and 135. The tractors kept getting bigger and are now monsters.'

He went on to serve his time as a fitter/welder, a trade he has worked at all his life.

However, the love of that Dexta remained.

'I had a Ferguson 20 for twenty years. It was not as good. The tractor was lying there, going to waste, until a fella bought it off me last year.'

Philip had become aware of a Dexta for sale about ten years ago.

'I took the tractor for a spin and bought it. There was no need for work on it.'

And, lo and behold, it was also a 1960 model just like the one he had driven all those years ago.

'That tractor is on the go 61 years this year, and still capable of doing a day's work. Just put oil in, fill her with diesel and away you go!'

Unfortunately, Covid-19 has meant Philip and other club members haven't had too many places to go over the last 12 months.

'I use the tractor for runs and shows but there is nothing on at all now. I live in the country and can go for the odd run myself.'

Knockbridge Vintage Club has raised considerable sums for charity, Philip continued.

'I am looking forward to getting back. Everyone is losing out, and the charities are the biggest losers.'

He has been a member of the club since it started. One of the major annual events is the field day, normally held at the start of September.

It didn't go ahead in 2020 and probably won't this year, Philip said of the big day where he has been on duty as security officer in the past.

The club is a community-based organisation that co-ordinates and runs local events to raise money for charities.

It was set up in 2006 and stages two main events each year, a vintage road run and vintage field day.

In addition, the club usually has an annual old folks' party and a presentation night, where money raised throughout the year is distributed to local causes.

The first vintage show was, by comparison, quite small. It was in aid of the Louth CT scanner appeal.

However, fuelled by the enthusiasm that generated, subsequent events have grown and attracted larger attendances.

That first field day went ahead on Sunday, 9 September 2007 on a site adjacent to Stephenstown Pond.

In 2008 the club moved to a new location closer to the village from where the vintage day has flourished on the second Sunday in September.

Every winter a social away day is held for members and volunteers when they travel to see vintage collections and visit other places of interest.

Membership numbers approximately 40 and while the majority are local there are other enthusiasts from the surrounding villages and townlands.

Club Chairman Tom McGeeney doubts the field day will go ahead in September.

'We haven't made a decision yet, but it doesn't look very promising. Some shows in July and August are cancelled,' he said.

Apart from Tom, who estimated the club has raised more than 200,000 for charity, the other principal officers are Secretary, Brian Mohan; Treasurer, Martin Malone and PRO, Richard Malone.


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Even before the pandemic arrived, some Connecticut consumers were aggressively exploring ways to keep their electric bills down.

After consistent $600-$700 (a month) summer electric bills for a 2000 square foot house without a pool, we looked into everything, said Stef Stern-Carlson of Cheshire. We had an energy audit, we didnt qualify for solar (too many trees), and we even considered moving back to Washington State, where cost of living expenses are about 24 percent less.

Stern-Carlson and her family arent giving up just yet. They recently installed a new furnace and Stern-Carlson said she is hoping that because it is more efficient, it will reduce their electric bill somewhat.

No one can guarantee it will help, but were crossing our fingers, she said. Otherwise, we cant afford to stay in Connecticut.

Connecticut has never been a low-cost state when it comes to consumers electric bills, but a recent rate hike proposal before state utility regulators seems to have rekindled public ire about how much we pay to keep the lights on.

For decades, the state has been at or near the top of the list of states with the highest electric rates. A recent study from the real estate web site Ownerly reported that Connecticut has the nations second highest electric rates, trailing only Hawaii.

The average residential electric bill in Connecticut is $160.52, according to the study, an average increase of 9.9 percent when comparing April-December 2020 compared to the same months in 2019.

When broken out by the states two largest electric utilities, Eversource Energy customers saw their monthly bills jump by 11.45 percent, while their counterparts with The United Illuminating Co. saw a 12.92 percent increase, according to the study.

Part of the reason for the increase is attributable to people working from home during the pandemic. Eversource saw a power usage surge of 15 percent while United Illuminating Co. saw an increase of 17 percent.

Ways to reduce your electric bill

Joel Gordes, a West Hartford-based energy consultant, said that consumers can take charge of their monthly electric bills in a few small steps. Turning off lights when you arent in a room and using LED light bulbs is a good start, along with installing more insulation in your home.

There is energy efficiency money (at the state level) that can take care of a large share of the costs associated with changing out your lights, Gordes said.

Other methods, like installing a photo voltaic solar array on your roof, are larger undertakings with greater upfront costs, but could pay off over time. Gordes said he installed solar panels five years ago. Most months we dont have an electric bill, he said.

If your solar array produces more electricity than you use in a given period, the excess energy is delivered back onto the grid, giving you a credit on your bill from your local utility. In months when a solar array doesnt produce enough electricity for your needs, you can tap into those credits to reduce the costs associated with the electricity from your provider.

Some homeowners are now installing batteries to store some of the electricity their solar arrays produce, Gordes said.

Ken Allen of Cheshire and his wife Peggy are in the process of having a pair of 10 kilowatt batteries in stalled at their home. The two batteries, Ken Allen said, are the size of two very large trunks, with each unit costing $10,000.

Allen said he and his wife have had a solar array at their home for eight years. It has paid for itself, he said.

The couple installed batteries after mounting frustration with power losses; their solar panels can still produce energy, but there is no way to make use of it since the system is tied into the distribution grid.

Once the battery system is up and running, Ken Allen said they will be able to power their home in the aftermath of a power outage by using the electricity stored in the batteries. And on sunny days, when the rest of the neighborhood is without power, their solar panels will replenish the electricity being drawn from the batteries.

Even if there is no sun, the company that sold them (the batteries) to us said that depending on how much electricity you use, you will have enough power to last from one to four days, Ken Allen said.

Rate hikes by electric utilities drive customer traffic to solar array installers like Aegis Solar in Branford, according to company owner Chris Lenda.

People are getting kicked in their wallets right now, and that has really piqued an interest in the business, Lenda said. The goal when installing a photo voltaic array is to design it so that produces 100 percent of your annual energy usage. And in many cases we are able to do that.

As for his own home, Lenda said his monthly electric bill is typically under $10 per month. Essentially, what Im paying for is renting the electric meter, he said.

Lenda said that while local solar array installers saw their businesses take a hit during the early days of the pandemic, hes gotten busier in recent months. Demand is just as strong or stronger than before, he said.

Restarting the debate

At the beginning of March, Eversource Energy filed a request with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in an attempt to revisit a rate increase that regulators had approved last summer, then suspended efforts amid public outcry over the size of increases to customer electric bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest filing does not reflect costs the company incurred making repairs to its distribution network following Tropical Storm Isaias, which hit the state last summer.

Jim Judge, Eversources chief executive officer, told energy industry analysts last month that company officials would seek to recover an additional $230 million in costs incurred as a result of the storm.

Isaias was one of the largest power outage events in the state's modern history. Thousands of residents remained without power more than a week after the storm hit and countless roads were blocked by damaged trees and power lines. Nearly 80 percent of those costs are attributed to bringing in mutual aid crews, hiring independent contractors and vegetation management crews and conducting environmental cleanup.

The Eversource filing has resulted in renewed frustration among the utility's ratepayers and in public rebukes by elected officials. Last week, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, sent a letter to PURA urging regulators to freeze the electric rates Eversource charges its customers at current levels.

Such flagrantly failed service should not be rewarded by forcing ratepayers to pay more money to a company already reaping substantial profits and highly compensating its executives, Blumenthal said in his letter. For consumers who have suffered deeply from Eversources utility malpractice, raising rates piles on insult and injury.

A week after Eversource announced its latest filing, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong criticized the utility company; at the same time, he announced a $46.5 million plan negotiated by state officials with United Illuminating to decrease and stabilize electric rates into 2023.

It makes such a difference to have corporate leadership firmly committed to Connecticut, Tong said of UI officials. Eversource, the ball is in your court now.

Mitch Gross, an Eversource spokesman, said officials at the utility understand the impact the pandemic has had on customers, which is why weve proposed spreading the costs over time, relieving customers of the burden of paying the costs all at once  lessening the impacts to customer bills.

The expenses outlined in our filing represent actual costs that were incurred to safely run the electric system and provide reliable service to Connecticut customers, Gross said.

Tong isnt backing down. On Friday, he said Connecticut residents pay far too much for our energy.

Families are right to be mad, Tong said. Scrutinizing every rate request and holding utilities accountable for the service they provide and every penny they charge is a core function of my office.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
A man wearing a face mask following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak walks by Tesla Model 3 sedans and Tesla Model X (Photo : REUTERS/Yilei Sun)

The Chinese military has banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes, citing security concerns over cameras installed on the vehicles, two people who have seen notices of the directive told Reuters.



The move is the latest sign of China's growing scrutiny of the U.S. electric carmaker amid tensions with Washington. Analysts said it resembled Washington's measures against Chinese telecoms firm Huawei citing national security.



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Chinese military restrictions on Tesla surfaced as senior Chinese and U.S. officials held a contentious meeting in Alaska, the first such interaction since U.S. President Joe Biden took office.



"I presume the timing of the announcement surely linked to the fireworks planned for Anchorage," said Ian Bremmer, president at Eurasia Group consulting firm.



Tesla shares ended up 0.3% after falling as much as 4.4% during trade.



The U.S. electric car maker won strong backing from Shanghai when it built its first overseas factory there in 2019. Tesla's sleek Model 3 sedans were the best-selling electric vehicle in the country before being overtaken by a much cheaper micro EV.



The directive advises owners to park Teslas outside military property, and residents were notified this week, the two sources said, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.



Bloomberg News earlier reported the move.



Pavel Molchanov, an analyst at Raymond James & Associates, said the latest restrictions on Tesla were a close parallel to the U.S. government's hostility toward Huawei on concerns Beijing could have access to U.S. telecoms infrastructure.



"Even if such concern is exaggerated, it can create dislocation for the companies directly affected," he said.



Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported that China's government was restricting use of Tesla cars by personnel at military, state-owned enterprises in sensitive industries and key agencies. (https://on.wsj.com/3r2NnVe)



It was not immediately clear whether the measure applied to all such facilities. The move came after a government security review of Tesla's vehicles, the report said, citing people familiar with the effort.



Tesla sold 147,445 cars in China last year, or 30% of its total deliveries, though competition is growing from domestic rivals such as Nio Inc and Geely.



China's State Council Information Office and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China's defence ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.



CARS AND CAMERAS



Automakers have been equipping more vehicles with cameras and sensors that capture images of a car's surroundings. Control of how those images are used and where they are sent and stored is a fast-emerging challenge for the industry and regulators around the world.



Tesla cars have several external cameras to assist drivers with parking, changing lanes and other features. Chief Executive Elon Musk has often spoken about the value of the data Tesla vehicles capture that can be used to develop autonomous driving.



Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y also have cameras in the rear view mirror for driver safety that are disabled by default.



"China has an array of tools - some direct, some indirect - for putting the heavy on foreign companies like Tesla. The pressure can come from any direction, for any reason at any time," said Michael Dunne, chief executive of consultancy ZoZo Go.



A Chinese state regulator said in February that government officials had met representatives from Tesla over consumer reports of battery fires, unexpected acceleration and failures in over-the-air software updates.



Musk is scheduled to speak online on Saturday at a state-hosted annual global economic gathering in Beijing called the China Development Forum. The event includes Chinese officials.


A project to improve bus services in rural parts of Lisburn and Castlereagh will come as a lifeline for local residents.

Welcoming the news, Sinn Fein councillor Gary McCleave said it brought an end to a long 18 month campaign for the service.

It follows an announcement that Translink will launch a new service to enhance connections between Lisburn and Belfast and the Glider Service.

According to the plans, which were revealed on March 19, the route will launch on April 12.

The Ulsterbus service 103c will operate six daily return services Monday-Friday between Lisburn Bus Centre and the Colin Connect facility on Stewartstown Road via Ballymacash Shops, Thaxton Village Roundabout and Milltown.

Mr McCleave said the new route would also help drive progress towards a green recovery from the pandemic.

He added: Its brilliant news for residents in Lisburn North and the wider surrounding rural areas.

This new service will link a route between Lisburn and Belfast in connection with the Glider Service which has proved a huge benefit.

The response that we got from residents when we were campaigning for this was phenomenal. It was one of the biggest issues for them at the time and to see it come to fruition is brilliant.

And as we emerge from lockdown, this will reduce the carbon footprint by taking people out of their cars and on to public transport.

Translink said the service will help to provide increased capacity for a return to all sectors in the weeks and months ahead.

David Curry, Translink General Manager, Bus Services, said: I am also glad that we have been able to enhance our offering to growing suburban areas in Lisburn, helping to build the habit of sustainable transport and forge stronger links between the two cities.

In recent years, more people have been switching to public transport to get some physical activity as part of their day with the walk to and from the bus stop.

They also welcome the me time on board, to read, catch up with social media, listen to their favourite music or simply watch the world go by.

We are confident that as normality returns in the weeks and months ahead, people will return to public transport in the knowledge that they can travel safely.

Alliance councillor David Honeyford also highlighted the benefits to workers and students.

He added: With the increase in new housing along the Lisburn North feeder road up to Thaxton Village, the service will provide greater connectivity for residents who work in Belfast and want another option rather than the car to get to work.

"In these times, the world of work is likely going to change with more working from home so instead of sourcing city centre car parking and joining the commuter run the new service might save people that hassle.

Additionally, it will be of great benefit for schoolchildren travelling to schools outside the Lisburn area.
Alibaba is not China's top e-commerce company anymore. The giant shopping site's place was taken by Pinduoduo, which is also the competitor of JD.com, another e-commerce company.

Also Read: Tesla Jobs: German Gigafactory to Pay Almost $400K to Anyone With 15-Year Battery Cell Production Experience

According to The Wall Street Journal, Pinduoduo is a five-year-old application that turned discount shopping into an online game. Because of its unique service, it was able to beat Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. as China's most popular internet shopping site.

Its success started in 2020 after it reached more than 780 million users. On the other hand, The Star reported that Pinduoduo's success was also made possible by Colin Huang, the company's founder who stepped down as the chairman of the board of directors.

Thanks to his efforts, Pinduoduo was able to gather millions of followers, surpassing Alibaba's 779 million users, and JD.com's 471 million active buyers. Aside from this, the company's latest earnings and revenues also blew past analyst estimates.

"We are proud that we have become the world's largest e-commerce platform by user numbers," said Chen Lei, Pinduoduo's new CEO, via The Star. "We will work hard to deliver even better results in the years to come," he added.

How Pinduoduo became China's number one shopping site

Pinduoduo started out by popularizing social e-commerce in China. Because of the company's efforts, many users were able to get lower prices by inviting friends on social media to purchase the same products they are buying.

The e-commerce company is now one of many platforms using community group buying to attract users with lower prices, which became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, Pinduoduo also moved aggressively to the grocery area.

Pinduoduo's next plans

As it rises in the e-commerce market, Pinduoduo now plans to build a new logistics infrastructure plaform that will lower costs, speed up the delivery of agricultural producst, and reduce waste. Aside from this, the company will also focus its investments in related technologies for food safety, alternative proteins, and precision farming. If you want to know more about the new innovations of Pinduoduo, all you need to do is click here.

For more news updates about Alibaba, Pinduoduo, and other Chinese e-commerce companies, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: How Sven Platte Quit Being a Dentist and Established Himself as a Leading Entrepreneur

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A screen-grab of members of the Fermoy International Choir taken from their production of the ballad My Home In Fermoy, which has garnered thousands of hits on YouTube. Photos: George OKeeffe

When the Fermoy International choir recorded their unique re-imagining of a well-known popular local balled, little could they know it would also serve as a poignant tribute to not just one but two of the people featured on it.

Shortly after releasing their version of 'My Home In Fermoy' last Friday afternoon, news emerged that popular local man Tommy Baker, whose voice and images featured on the recording and accompanying video, had sadly passed away.

Mr Baker was among 32 people living in the town encompassing 13 different nationalities to contribute to the production, which also incorporates the singing voice of the late Dave Roche, who had recorded a version of the ballad prior to his passing away last November at the age of 98.

Graham Clifford, who founded the choir as part of the Together Ireland Community Integration Project, said a cloud of sadness had descended over Fermoy following Mr Baker's death.

"It hung in the air. Tommy was very much loved in Fermoy and was a regular fixture walking along the banks of the River Blackwater. His gentle smile illuminated the town. We were shocked to hear he had passed away and we send our love, sympathy and best wished to his family and huge pool of friends," said Mr Clifford.

"This song is dedicated to Dave Roche and Tommy Baker. It was the parting contribution of both Dave and Tommy, two giants in a town they loved... and which loved them right back," he added.

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Mr Clifford said the idea has been to record the balled, written in the late 1800s by Kate Dowling, for St Patrick's Day as a way of embracing tradition and at the same time celebrating the multi-cultural nature of modern day Fermoy.

He pointed out that people from almost 60 different countries now live in Fermoy and around a quarter of the town's current population were born outside of Ireland.

Each of the contributors recorded their segments on mobile phones and these were seamlessly set to a soundtrack provided by local musicians Deirdre Foley, Gerry Ferrick and Lisa Dunphy, the latter who is also choir conductor.

The offering is complemented by a visual backdrop featuring a selection of stunning images captured through the lens of photographer George O'Keeffe, a son-in-law of the late Tommy Baker.

It has already received thousands of hits on YouTube, with Mr Clifford saying the production was also a welcome reminder of home for Fermoy people living abroad.

He said the beautiful and uplifting words written by Kate Dowling were as relevant today as they were when she penned them more than a century ago.

"However, our version gives them a new freshness. Nothing says integration and respect more than embracing a local ballad and showering it with focus, love, and attention, as all our contributors did. It's beautiful from start-to-finish, a timeless classic. The magical combination of voices and accents work so well against the backdrop George O'Keeffe's wonderful pictures," he said.

"It stands as a joyous celebration of modern Fermoy, tinged with sadness with the loss of two of the town's great characters," he added.
ORLAND, Calif. - Students who attend Orland Unified School District will soon return to full-time in-person learning, school officials confirmed with Action News Now on Friday.

"I'm really grateful they are going to be able to return to school full-time," said Mill Street Elementary School parent, Jessica Medina-Sanchez.

Medina-Sanchez has three kids who attend the school, and she says she's eager for them to get back on track with their school work.

"As much as we do work with our kids at home and as hard as these teachers have been working, there is a significant difference I've noticed in my children's performance and what they are able to obtain which such minimal amount of in-person," said Medina-Sanchez.

Superintendent for Orland Unified school district, Dwayne Newman says their goal is to give their students a sense of normalcy while keeping them as safe as possible.

"We know kids learn better when they're in a classroom with their teachers, when they have caring adults around them and the impacts of distance learning have not just been academic but also wearing on them emotionally so its important to get them back to some sort of normal routine," said Newman.

He says classrooms will have to be rearranged and there will be some changes in schedules and school programs to allow for social distancing.

Newman says they expect about 85% of their students to return to campus full-time on April 12th, the week after Spring break.

All five schools in the district will reopen fully on that Monday.
In 1974, a soldier, Park Estep, 25, was convicted of a crime against two women at the Suezy Oriental Massage Parlor near Fort Carson in Colorado. According to court documents, he slashed the throat of Yon Cha Ye Lee, 32, an employee at the parlor, and stabbed her in the back. He then raped 36-year-old Sun Ok Cousin, the spas owner, before shooting her in the right temple, killing her and then setting her on fire. In 1993, Kenneth Markle III, 20, a medic at a U.S. military base in South Korea, was convicted of murdering Yun Kum-i, a 26-year-old sex worker. Her sexually-abused corpse was found near the base.

Since the terrible events this past Tuesday, much effort has been devoted to understanding Mr. Long  an earnest inquiry that betrays a particular kind of American naivete. He claimed to have been driven by sexual addiction; investigators have not yet ruled out race as a factor. For now, we do not know whether the massage parlor workers who were killed would have considered themselves sex workers, and we may never know. But the answer is less relevant to their deaths than their murderers answer: Does it matter how one identifies oneself if a mass killer conflates any Asian woman in a massage parlor with a sex worker?

The stereotype of the Asian woman as simultaneously hypersexualized and submissive is borne of centuries of Western imperialism. An early documented instance of Asian fetishization can be found in Madame Chrysantheme, a thinly fictionalized account of a French naval officers time visiting 19th-century Japan. Madame Chrysantheme was wildly popular when it was published, and went on to create a subgenre of Orientalizing prose. The women in such accounts were, as Edward Said wrote in Orientalism, creatures of a male power-fantasy. They express unlimited sensuality, they are more or less stupid, and above all they are willing.

Later, an untold number of American servicemen in Korea and Vietnam had their first sexual encounter with Asian women. The U.S. military tacitly endorsed prostitution, considering it good for morale, and at times even explicitly encouraged troops to explore the local sex industry. According to the book Sex Among Allies by Katharine Moon, a professor of political science at Wellesley College, an ad in Stars and Stripes, the main military newspaper, read: Picture having three or four of the loveliest creatures God ever created hovering around you, singing, dancing, feeding you, washing what they feed you down with rice wine or beer, all saying at once, You are the greatest. This is the Orient you heard about and came to find.

Yuri Doolan, an assistant professor of history and of womens, gender and sexuality studies at Brandeis University, has written that the first Korean massage parlor workers most likely came to the United States in the 1950s after the United States reduced its forces in South Korea after the war there. They were unlikely to have been massage parlor workers before they came: The son of one of the victims has said his mother told him she was a teacher before coming to the United States.
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In a sensational twist to the SUV case, former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh on Saturday hit out at Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh by virtually alleging that the minister wanted his team member, arrested cop Sachin Vaze, to 'collect' Rs 100 crore per month from bars and hookah parlours.

Taking strong umbrage at Deshmukh's remarks that Singh's transfer as Commandant-General of Maharashtra Home Guards was not for administrative purposes but for "unpardonable lapses" by his team, the ex-Mumbai top cop shot off an eight-page missive to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying he was made a "scapegoat" for "extraneous and vindictive reasons".

Hitting back at Singh, Deshmukh tweeted that the ex-Mumbai police chief was leveling false allegations against him to save himself from action in the SUV case and the case related to the death of Mansukh Hiran.

"The former Commissioner of Police, Parambir Singh has made false allegations in order to save himself as the involvement of Sachin Waze in Mukesh Ambani & Mansukh Hiren's case is becoming clearer from the investigation carried out so far & threads are leading to Mr. Singh as well," Deshmukh tweeted.

The SUV case refers to the explosives-laden Scorpio that was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai last month. Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of the Scorpio, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on March 5.

But even as the latest revelations by Singh threatens to shake the foundation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, top leaders remained incommunicado.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party have slammed the MVA government, terming Singh's contentions as "extremely serious".

In the letter, Singh has pointed out that his transfer was effected under Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, Section 22N(2) with the reason that it was necessitated by administration exigencies, to ensure a free and fair probe in the Antilia (SUV case) incident.

However, he rued the fact that in a recent interview, Deshmukh had stated that there were "serious lapses committed at my office, by the Mumbai Police and me, in the investigation of the Antilia incident" and "my serious lapses are not pardonable" and "my transfer is not on administrative grounds".

Singh recalled how he had briefed Thackeray, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP President Sharad Pawar and other senior ministers about the "misdeeds and malpractices" indulged in by Deshmukh.

In this context, Singh said that Deshmukh had summoned Vaze at his official residence 'Dyaneshwari' several times and had repeatedly asked him to assist in collecting funds for the minister.

According to Singh, at one such meeting in mid February, the minister told Vaze that he had a target to collect Rs 100 crore per month and even advised that since there are 1,750 bars, eateries and other establishments in Mumbai, if Rs 2-3 lakh was collected from each, it could amount to around Rs 40-50 crore, while the balance could be achieved from other sources.

Even as Vaze came and informed him about the matter, Singh said that ACP Sanjay Patil of Social Service Branch and DCP (Enforcement) Raju Bhujbal were also called by Deshmukh to discuss the hookah parlours in Mumbai with the similar demand to 'collect' money.

Singh said that he reconfirmed all this information four days ago with ACP Sanjay Patil and also reproduced the WhatsApp chat with him in the letter to the CM.

Both Vaze and ACP Patil had reported their 'predicament' to Singh, who was mulling over how to sort out the issue of "corrupt malpractices".

Singh asserted that Deshmukh had repeatedly bypassed him and called officers to his official residence, asking them to carry out "official assignments and money collection schemes and targets".

He pointed out that in the past one year, Deshmukh had even instructed his officers "to adopt a specific course of action in police investigations", which the IPS officer pointed out were "political interference, illegal and un-constitutional".

In order to bolster his contentions, Singh referred to the recent death of Dadra & Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar at a Mumbai hotel, in which Deshmukh had reportedly insisted that the Mumbai Police should register a case of "abetment of suicide" to derive political mileage.

At that time, after seeking legal opinion, Singh said he had informed Thackeray, Deshmukh and others that it could only be done by the police of the Union Territory.

The minister was unhappy with Singh's resistance and despite knowing the full background, he went ahead to announce a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter earlier this month.

Singh said he was aware of the "likely retaliation" against him and hence was placing the "true picture on record" for the CM's consideration and corrective action.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)

--IANS

qn/arm
New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi for the first time in person in Alaska and held a conversation on Thursday that saw the two sides clashing over policies and respective positions on critical issues, reflecting their deep differences and concerns, and strategic rivalry over trade and technology.

"We will discuss our deep concerns with actions by China, including in Xinjiang (against the Muslim Uyghur minority), Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber attacks on the United States, economic coercion of our allies," Blinken said at the start of the talks.


BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (AP)  A 20-foot-long U.S. Air Force drone that had been shot down in target practice was found washed ashore Friday on a Florida beach, authorities said.

Beachgoers at Ocean Hammock Park near Boynton Beach found the unmanned orange target-practice aircraft, the Palm Beach Post reported. Police removed the drone from the beach Friday afternoon and returned it to the Air Force, Ocean Ridge Police Chief Hal C. Hutchins said.

The BQM-167A drone was remotely launched from Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City and used as an aerial target for fighter pilots, U.S. Air Force Lt. Savannah Bray said. The $570,000 piece of military equipment was not dangerous to handle, Bray added.

This is not the first time this has happened, Bray said. We are able to retrieve the vast majority of them, but every so often weather or winds pick up, and we are unable to recover it, and they later wash up on shore.

The 690-pound drone, which can travel at speeds up to nearly 700 mph, was shot down in the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base, Bray said. Bray added that the downed drone eventually made its way to the Atlantic Coast.

Officials didnt immediately know when the drone had been launched.

This article was written by The Associated Press from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
Increased online trade with China beckons

THAILAND: China has bounced back economically from the pandemic, with an upsurge in trade with Thailand last year, opening the door for Thai producers struggling with low demand elsewhere to pivot towards the mainland, particularly via e-commerce, say officials and trade networks.

Saturday 20 March 2021, 11:59AM

A panel discussion takes place at the GTEC International Conference held by TCEB and local and Chinese partners yesterday (Mar 19). Photo: Bangkok Post.

Pongsak Laoswatchaikul, a planning and policy analyst at the Industry Ministrys Office of Industrial Economics, said Thai-Chinese trade has surged to almost US$70 billion a year and the government has a target of $120 billion on the radar.

China is the only one of the 10 largest economies to record economic growth during the pandemic, said Mr Pongsak.

China has managed to reduce poverty to some extent, which improves peoples purchasing power and many of them have turned to online platforms for purchases, he said.

Mr Pongsak said Thai producers must step up their efforts to become part of Chinese supply chains and increase sales, particularly in industries featuring advanced technology, such as smart electronic gadgets, futuristic vehicles, biotechnology and medical appliances.

He was speaking YESTERDAY (Mar 19) at a panel discussion, part of GMS Thailand E-Commerce Economic Corridor International Conference, jointly established by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) along with local and Chinese partners. The event, which promotes Thai products in Chinas markets and business matching, runs until Monday.

Sakarn Saensopa, head of the Chinese unit at the Department of International Trade Promotion, said Thai producers should consider supplying outstanding products to cater to niche markets. These would include natural products, he said.

They also need to create branding, making it easier for Chinese traders and consumers to recognise and trust their products.

It is common for Chinese partners who may want to visit our factories to carry out checks or befriend Thai suppliers before doing business together, said Mr Sakarn.

Salanroj Sutaschuto, director of TCEBs central and eastern office, said Chinas online trade is valued 12 trillion yuan (B56.8trn), with 30% of this amount food and consumer products.

COVID-19 has stimulated online purchases, he said.

Yongwut Saowapreuk, head of a steering committee for agricultural and food support under the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, said the pandemic has provided room for farm producers to think about improving product quality. Farmers must ensure their crops are safe for export as the country is ranked the 11th largest food exporter in the world, he said.

Shipments between Thailand and China could transit through Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, said Adul Chotinisakorn, a representative from the Digital E-commerce Thai-Asean Association.

Trade solely across land borders between Thailand and China registered 20% year-on-year growth to B238 billion in 2020.

This is the opposite of what happened in global trade, said Mr Adul.

Fruit ranked the top export category to China, he said.

Prinn Panitchpakdi, an adviser for the Thai Economic Corridor Cooperation Association, said the rise in digital usage has opened the door to trade via digital platforms.

Thai producers must observe what foreign markets want in terms of products to be able to supply items that suit demand.

Thai product quality needs to be scaled up, he said. Chinese people want products that meet international standards.
Over the past day, March 19, two ceasefire violations were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in Donbas.

Near Vodiane in the Sea of Azov area, the occupiers fired 122mm artillery systems, 120 mm mortars, heavy machine guns, different grenade launchers and small arms. As a result, one Ukrainian soldier was killed. Ukrainian positions outside Pyshchevyk (25km north-east of Mariupol) came under small arms fire, the press center of the JFO Headquarters informs.

As noted, Ukrainian defenders fired back in response to the attacks of the Russian-occupation troops.

The Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC) informs about gross ceasefire violations committed by the armed formations of the Russian Federation in the territory of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"Over the past day, the occupiers refrained from provocations in connection with the extraordinary meeting of the Security Working Group initiated by the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group caused by systematic gross ceasefire violations by the Russian occupation forces of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and death of a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Once again, disrupting the meeting, Russian mercenaries launched an information campaign to discredit the Ukrainian side, and then in the evening shelled positions of our defenders near Vodiane for a long stretch of time, using weapons banned under the Minsk Agreements, grenade launchers and small arms.

It is emphasized that such bold actions and ignoring of previously reached agreements once again testify to the unwillingness of the Russian armed forces to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The Russian occupiers openly ignore the agreements reached and discredit the coordination mechanism in every possible way. At the same time, the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine strictly adhere to the ceasefire agreements reached and are consistent in fulfilling their commitments.

Today, March 20, two ceasefire violations have been already recorded.

Ukrainian defenders fired back. No casualties among the members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been reported.

"Ukrainian troops continue to control the situation in the Joint Forces Operation area and adhere to the ceasefire," the JFO Headquarters reports.

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Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado.
How does one keep discipline and focus in your team, I asked, when there is little chance of being held to account on the floor of Parliament? His reply, I grant you, was not one to frame, but it does bespeak one who knows how cold and howling the wilderness is, and is determined not to go back there. Experiencing eight and a half years of opposition and two election losses, he insists, is a great motivator to stay disciplined , focused and grounded. Accountability mechanisms are there in Parliament and across the public sector with the next election also providing the opportunity for the people to have their say. And what of the significance of his win, for the Morrison government, come the next federal election? I asked, but he would not be drawn. Drawing a blank on Brennan

Vale, John Brennan, Australias most influential radio man behind the scenes who was the force behind building 2UE into the one-time iconic talkback force that it was  through his stewardship of stable of stars that included John Laws, Stan Zemanek, Alan Jones, Mike Carlton and Ray Hadley. He died last weekend. I met him several times over the years, the last occasion of which bears repeating. It was at the late Mike Gibsons 60th birthday BBQ in Kirribilli and knowing my interest in talkback radio, Brennan took me aside to give me the most brilliant definition I had ever heard of what talkback was all about, and how to succeed in it. I was stunned by its genius and clarity. I got it! So what did he say? I cant remember. Not working in talkback at that time, I didnt write it down, and all these years on, all that is left is my impression of its sheer genius, and not the words themselves. In sum, I may be like the nurse on duty the day that Albert Einstein emerged from a coma at Princeton Hospital in 1955 to say a few words, before dying. Sadly, he said them in German, a language she did not speak! John Brennan, one of talkbacks greats, died this week. Credit:SMH How to solve an image problem

Its all right Shane Stone, I have got this. Back in 2001 you all might recall, the then Liberal Party president sent a memo to Prime Minister John Howard saying they were perceived as mean and tricky, which was leaked to the press and there was hell to pay. But do we even need a leak this time? Who can doubt that the Morrison government is perceived in much the same way now, to which you could add misogynistic. Oh, do settle down. It is not whether you agree or disagree, in politics perception is all, and not even the governments greatest defenders could doubt this is an issue, particularly lately. And though there is no quick fix, might I suggest one particular, easy thing it could do that would show empathy, care, generosity and decency? And best of all, it would in part be seen through the prism of two young girls just like the Prime Ministers own two fine daughters that he famously often gets his bearings from. I speak of Priya and Nades Murugappan, two Tamil refugees who came here separately from war-torn Sri Lanka nigh on a decade ago, seeking asylum. Granted bridging visas they landed together in the tight-knit community of Biloela in central Queensland, worked hard, paid their taxes, and had two Australian-born daughters, Kopika and Tharunicaa. They embraced the community, who embraced them back, until . . .

Until the very morning after Priyas visa expired in 2018, Australian Border Force accompanied by police and security guards raided their home at 5am, and flew them into immigration detention in Melbourne. The little girls were nine months and two years old at the time, and have been in detention with their parents ever since. Biloela, wonderfully, has agitated to have them back ever since. And the family wants to go back to Biloela. How hard is this? How bout it Prime Minister? What would Jesus do? What would Jen say? What if they were your daughters? A single move to get them back to Biloela would warm the heart of the nation, just when we need it most. Tharunicaa, left, with her sister Kopika in 2019. Credit:AAP

Joke of the Week Book Blurbs translated. Enchanting = theres a dog in it. Heart-rending = dog dies. Thoughtful = mind-numblingly tedious. Haunting = set in the past. Exotic = set abroad. Provocative = infuriating. Epic = editor cowed by authors reputation. Audacious = set in the future. Disturbing = author bonkers. Classic = author hanging in there. Tweet of the Week How good is Australia! You can get raped in parliament but you are unlikely to get shot protesting about it #EnoughIsEnough #MarchForJustice. - Jane Caro @JaneCaro Quotes of the Week

That experience is rather like having your throat cut, quietly, courteously and swiftly. One moment you are cheerfully chatting away in the witness box. The next moment your head is rolling down the courtroom aisle. Your throat has been cut from ear to ear. - Barrister Peter Clyne, describing the doubtful pleasure of being cross-examined by Chester Porter QC, who died this week aged 95. Mr Speaker, not far from here, such marches, even now, are being met with bullets, but not here in this country, Mr Speaker. - Prime Minister Scott Morrison, commenting on the March4Justice rallies that took place around the country on Monday, including outside Parliament House, which he declined to attend. Not so much a tin ear as a wall of concrete. - Anthony Albanese in reply to the PMs comments on how lucky Australian women are not to be shot, as they protest. In light of whats happening, not only in Parliament but other major institutions, when our very own representatives dont want to hear our voice, what does that say about how they really think about women? Its saying we dont matter, and they dont want to hear our voices and thats not OK. - Women March 4 Justice organiser Janine Hendry about early reports that Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay would snub the march. McKay later attended the Sydney event. I am very familiar with navigating these online systems through years of trying to get Bruce Springsteen tickets through Ticketmaster. I thought I could put my Springsteen skills to work to help others get appointments. - Jason Haber, who sells real estate in New York by day, but in his spare time moonlights as a pro bono vaccine broker, helping less tech savvy New Yorkers secure a cherished online COVID-19 vaccination slot.
Berlin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2021 ) :Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that she was ready to be vaccinated with AstraZeneca's coronavirus jab if offered when it is her turn to be inoculated.

"Yes I would take the AstraZeneca vaccine," she told journalists at a news conference, adding however she "would like to wait until it's my turn but I would in any case".

Merkel's firm endorsement of the vaccine came after its use was suspended for several days this week by major European countries, including Germany, over fears that it may cause blood clots.

Europe's medicines regulator EMA on Thursday cleared it for use after a review of the clotting cases, saying the vaccine was "safe and effective".

But questions surrounding the jab jointly developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford were revived when France on Friday recommended it should be given only to people aged 55 and over because of the clotting risks.

Germany on Friday resumed use of the Anglo-Swedish company's jabs, and politicians have taken pains to assure the population of the vaccine's safety.

Winfried Kretschmann, state premier of Baden-Wuerttemberg, got an AstraZeneca jab live on television.

"Have trust, get vaccinated," he said in an appeal to the population.

AstraZeneca has faced a series of setbacks since it was approved for use in the European Union.

Besides delivery delays that angered the bloc, Germany had in the initial weeks of its use limited it to people under 65-years-old because of insufficient efficacy data for older people.

Critics had complained that the decision to halt use of AstraZeneca's vaccine over the recent days because of clotting risks only served to fuel more mistrust over the jabs and further delay Germany's already sluggish inoculation programme.
CLARE COUNTY, MI  Police have arrested a man on charges that he sexually assaulted a relative who was in hospice care.

About 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, Michigan State Police troopers from the Mount Pleasant Post responded to a sexual assault complaint at an address in Clare Countys Franklin Township.

Troopers investigation led them to contact a 46-year-old male family member of the woman, who police say is elderly and was in hospice care. The investigation resulted in troopers arresting the man on charges of first- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree abuse of a vulnerable adult.

First-degree criminal sexual conduct involves penetration and is a life offense. Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is limited to touching and is a two-year high court misdemeanor.

The suspect was lodged in the Clare County Jail. His name is being withheld pending arraignment in Clare County District Court.

Read more:

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This afternoon progressive politicos gathered in Kansas City's urban core to support the Prez Biden agenda and stand up for the Asian American community who confront increasing threats.



Sadly, there weren't many Asian Americans in the crowd or on stage but the sentiments still hoped for a happy ending in the face of hateration . . .



KSHB: Rep. Cleaver denounces racism after Atlanta-area killings

Deets:

"Cleaver has tweeted that he is "heartbroken" for the victims and their families of the attack that sent terror through the Asian American community, which has increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic."

A call for unity and chiding of American popular culture . . .



"Rep. Cleaver referenced the tragedy as a case of what may happen when hateful rhetoric goes unchecked. And he said the world should understand that the people of goodwill are in the majority.



God has been so good to this nation  far better than we deserve, Cleaver said. And yet, we still cant get over skin color.

Local political support for Prez Biden and a shot at GOP opposition . . .



Rep. Cleaver, who is co-sponsoring (The Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act ) legislation, said he is confident the bill will pass the House, though he is worried about its likelihood of surviving a Senate evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.



When legislation comes up like that, theres a very strong likelihood that 140 (or) 150 people will vote against it, Cleaver told

More importantly, here's a line that deserves to be highlighted amid reports regarding the deadly Atlanta mass shooting that sparked so much concern . . .



"THE SUSPECT told police that the attacks were not racially motivated . He claimed to have a sex addiction, and authorities said he apparently lashed out at what he saw as sources of temptation."

Developing . . .
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Robin Swann has been challenged to lay out his response to the Government's move to force Stormont's Department of Health to roll out abortion services in Northern Ireland.

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has submitted an urgent oral question to the Speaker asking the Health Minister to explain his position in the Assembly on Monday.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said that any "unilateral decision" by Mr Swann to commission abortion services would breach the Northern Ireland Act and the Ministerial Code.

But this explanation was rejected by Ms Bradshaw and by Green Party leader Clare Bailey and People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll, who accused the minister of failing women.

The DUP said that any intervention by London would set a "dangerous precedent" and be "a very serious breach of the devolution settlement".

The Government is set to take legislative action at Westminster next week to give Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis the powers to force the Department of Health to roll out abortion services here.

Northern Ireland's abortion laws were liberalised by Westminster in 2019 when devolution was suspended.

While individual health trusts are offering services on an ad hoc basis, the Department of Health has not centrally commissioned them on a region-wide basis, meaning that women are still travelling to England to access abortion.

Defending Mr Swann, his party leader said: "Abortion is a cross-cutting and controversial issue and should be dealt with by the whole Executive.

"Any unilateral decision by the Health Minister to commission and fund new abortion services without Executive approval would be a breach of the Northern Ireland Act and the Ministerial Code.

"It's deeply regrettable that some political parties are seeking to score points on such a sensitive issue. Instead of taking cheap pot-shots, why don't they get around the Executive table and sort this out?"

Ms Bradshaw said that Mr Swann had a "legal duty" to ensure that abortion services were delivered. "Health is his portfolio. It is not for any health minister to pick and choose what healthcare to provide," she said.

"There is still the opportunity for Stormont to forego ongoing intransigence and to provide a compassionate and supportive framework for women."

Mr Carroll, meanwhile, said: "Stormont is so far behind on abortion rights, it almost makes Westminster look progressive.

"Westminster's intervention is not ideal, but Stormont has failed to legislate for women's reproductive rights. Robin Swann has failed to implement these measures; he has failed women."

Ms Bailey added: "The legal duty is on the UK Government to ensure compliance with human rights obligations. The Westminster government has acted in line with their responsibilities.

"It's an affront to women that we are still being denied reproductive healthcare a year since the decriminalisation of abortion and over 50 years since abortion was legalised by the UK Government."

DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party made its opposition to London intervention clear to the Secretary of State.

"It creates a very dangerous precedent when the government at Westminster intervenes to go over the head of the Executive and Assembly in circumstances where that Executive and Assembly is fully functioning and has the right and the power to take those decisions," he told the BBC.

Mr Donaldson warned that "if he (Mr Lewis) can do it on this, then it could happen on many other areas".

The Presbyterian Church also said the move would "seriously undermine" devolution and called on Mr Lewis to withdraw the proposal. Sinn Fein Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said there must be no more delays in commissioning "modern healthcare services for women" and called on Mr Swann to "fulfil his legal obligations urgently".
A statewide network of walk-in clinics has agreed to pony up $36 million to resolve a contract dispute with the insurance agency covering state employee's after officials last year discovered the vendor wasn't providing the return on investment previously promised.

The agreement means that employees with insurance plans through the Office of Group Benefits can continue to use Access2day Health urgent care clinics for at least another year and a half without having to pay out-of-pocket expenses.

In addition to the $36 million rebate, the state is also off-the-hook for $23 million in payments they would've owed from December 2020 to June 2021, according to Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, who announced the resolution Friday during at a meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

Employees brought into healthcare tiff between state and clinics The head of a statewide group of walk-in clinics emailed about 228,000 state employees, retirees, and their dependents across Louisiana, as we

Allied Health and the state entered into a contract in July 2019 to allow members of Office of Group Benefits-backed insurance plans to receive primary care services at Access2day Health clinics.

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Access2day Health has almost 80 clinics statewide, including Acadiana Access Health in Lafayette; Patient Plus Urgent Care in Baton Rouge; and Doctors After Hours in Harvey, Metairie and New Orleans.

When David Couvillon took over as chief executive officer of the Office of Group Benefits on Oct. 21, he began reviewing contracts and found that Access2day Health wasn't delivering anywhere near $40 million worth of services as it was contractually obligated to do, Dardenne said.

The contract guaranteed a return on investment' and included a surety bond valued at $42 million backing Access2day Health's performance. Dardenne said the state would've sued for that repayment if the agreement hadn't been reached.

"Without litigating, we got basically almost everything we couldve possibly gotten had we litigated for years, so that makes it a double plus," Dardenne said.

The contract amendment will come before the legislature for formal approval in April.
At the height of the nationwide protest sparked by the brutal killing of George Floyd, an epidemic of hate crimes targeting Asians was spreading in the shadows. Racist slurs in social media, intentional injuries on the street, and even targeted homicides in spas: anti-Asian hate crime has mutated into various forms, taking a heavy toll on the Model Minority community.

From March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28, there have been at least 3,795 reported hate incidents targeting Asian Americans, according to a recent report by Stop AAPI Hate, an NGO tracking incident of discrimination, hate, and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Another report published by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino signals a worrying trend: Anti-Asian hate crime in 16 of Americas largest cities spiked 149% last year, even though overall hate crime dropped 7% in 2020.

Behind the chilling figures are lost loved ones, fractured bones, broken hearts, and shattered dreams. The Asian community is bleeding inside.

Chinese workers building a cut and a bank at Sailor's Spur in the Sierra foothills for the Central Pacific Railroad in California, 1866. (Photo/Underwood Archives)

An inherited disease

In modern medicine, a chronic illness is generally defined as a long-term health condition that often doesnt have a cure. Some can be attributed to unhealthy living habits, while others are put down to genetic defects. When it comes to Americas long-standing anti-Asian racism, both inherited and environmental factors leave a mark.

As early as the 1850s, Chinese immigrants trekked their way across the vast ocean and settled on the American continent. Hardworking, indefatigable, and low paid, they were the perfect labor force for capitalists to exploit and were deservedly well-accepted by local mining and railroad construction factories. But they were not welcomed by local white workers who chanted the mantra of Asians coming to steal White jobs almost immediately upon their arrival.

The subsequent anti-Asian violence was fed by a California Supreme Court ruling that Asians were not allowed to testify against a White in court. Ever since then, the United States has cast a ferocious spell of anti-Asian racism, including the Chinese massacre of 1871, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and the Rock Springs massacre in 1885, to name but a few.

Diluted over time, Americas racism has sometimes been hard to trace. On March 17, the New York Times published an investigative article titled The Victims of Agent Orange the U.S. Has Never Acknowledged, in which the Times examined the fallout of the U.S. armys spraying of herbicide over Laos during the Vietnam War. Heart-rending to see even in pictures, the victims with various disabilities and deformities in Labeng-Khok, Laos, are living testimony that the U.S. is still unable to apologize for its wrongdoing and admit that the afflicted lives do matter.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the United States, on Sept. 3, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The new variant

Most people can still remember Trumps signature pronunciation of China during his presidential campaign back in 2015. The scorn in his tone and smile became a meme on the Internet, and later did appeal to his supporters, telling them that racism against Chinese, or more broadly, Asians, is totally acceptable.

Keeping that in mind, it was no surprise that Trump crossed out Corona (Virus) on his notes and replaced it with China during a press briefing. Twitter then became flooded with #China Virus, #Kung Fu Virus, and #Panda Virus hashtags. Indeed, a recent study published on March 18 by the University of California, San Francisco has found that Former U.S. President Trump tweeting the phrase Chinese virus in reference to COVID-19 last March triggered a surge in the use of anti-Asian hashtags on Twitter.

Trumps blame China game during his last days in the White House was unprecedented, unpresidential, and a very dangerous move for a national leader. By blaming China, not only did he duck his responsibilities in handling a nationwide medical emergency, which he totally messed up, but also scapegoated China for the inaction and incompetence of HIS administration, from the downplaying of the severity of the virus to the dismissing of professional advice from experts like Dr. Fauci, and the reckless urging of states to reopen.

A screenshot of the website of an ABC local news channel shows the reporting of a hate crime in which an Asian mom was spit at while holding her baby and called Chinese virus in Queens, New York City on March 11.

The collective racism against Asians didnt stop with the chaotic and bloody end of Trumps presidency. On the contrary, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. The record number of people voting for Trump in 2020 is proof that a record number of people had convinced themselves that blatant racism doesnt matter when it comes from a U.S. president, or at least doesnt matter that much. And the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol Hill incited by Trump also demonstrates how a lame ducks words can still be translated into dangerous actions.

People take part in a rally against anti-Asian hate crimes in San Mateo, California, the United States, on Feb. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Slogans are no cure

If racism in America is a rotten tree that continues to sprout new leaves seasonally, some politicians and media outlets only serve as fertilizer to nourish it, intentionally or otherwise.

An optimistic view would be that now Trump has been muted by Twitter and Facebook, there is little chance he will be able to sell his China Virus game. But you can often still see headlines like Cruz rebukes San Antonio City Council for denouncing 'Chinese virus' as hate speech.

Another booster of anti-Asian racism is the media, where it is much more subtle and harder to recognize. If Trumps Twitter frenzy against China is a visible cannon, then some medias enduring false portraits of China are invisible bullets that cant be ignored or escaped.

The U.S. media are so good at creating myths about China. In their reporting on China, the people are always suffering, the environment polluted, the officials corrupt and animals abused. Through their deception and exaggeration, China is the one to blame for a global pandemic. Through filters and false accounts, human rights abuse in Xinjiang is deemed to be true and riots on Hong Kongs streets were justified (even after Nancy Pelosis own office was occupied) 

Every time a racist event occurs, the U.S. media chant for unity and solidarity in their own country, while at the same time sabotaging the exact same unity and solidarity of another country!

As long as U.S. politicians and media keep demonizing China, the status quo wont change. Just like the gun violence and Black Lives Matter movements, slogans and encouraging tweets are merely a placebo, never the cure.

Demonstrators take part in a protest sparked by the death of George Floyd on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the United States, June 13, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

This March, American President Joe Biden announced that there would be enough vaccine for every adult in America by the end of May. If he succeeds, that would be a huge step, given the fact that the human race is able to develop COVID-19 vaccines in such a short period, a medical marvel that will still impress many in hindsight. But when will the U.S. have a chance to vaccinate the whole of society against racism? Stop calling SARS-CoV-2 China Virus. That would be a good start.
New Delhi: Pakistans Hindu journalist Ajay Lalwani became an alleged victim to a few politicians and bureaucrats-backed militants who shot him in cold blood while he was sitting in a barber shop.

The incident took place late on March 17 when a few unidentified gunmen came to the barber shop in Salahpat, near Sukkur in Sindh province of Pakistan and sprayed him with bullets. Ajay Lalwani who received multiple shots on his legs, stomach, and arms was rushed to the Civil Hospital where he succumbed to his inuries the next day.

In protest of the killing of Ajay Lalwani, the journalist union of Sukkur took out a protest march in the city on Saturday and demanded security for the journalists. They also raised a question mark on the alleged inaction of Sukkur police for allegedly shielding a few politicians whom the late Ajay Lalwani had exposed in recent past.

A source in Sukkur informed that late Ajay was considered a bold journalist and had exposed several scams and cases involving politicians.

He was working on a story on the hand of a local politician and a few bureaucrats behind a few Islamic clerics who convert Hindu girls into Islam, he had also exposed the hand of a few politicians behind the abduction of the Hindu girls which probably became the reason of attack on him said the source.

Pakistans Hindu MNA Lal Chand Malhi told media that he had directed the police to expedite the investigation in the case and arrest the culprits no matter how influential they were.

According to the incident report prepared by Irfan Ali Samo, a copy of which is with Zee News, the unidentified armed assailants arrived at the barber shop at around 9.30 pm on a motorcycle and shot Ajay. As a the result, the journalist received bullet injuries and was immediately rushed to GMMMC Hospital, Sukkur for medical treatment but he didnt survive and succumbed due to injuries on March 18.

Sources informed that police had registered a FIR against six persons but no arrest had been made so far.
Mar. 19Multiple higher education proposals are being revived in the North Dakota Legislature after missing the cut before crossover day last month.

In two separate bills, legislators have introduced amendments that would give money to research and career and technical education programs in the state, as well as money for UND's space command initiative. The proposals were removed from their original legislation prior to crossover day on Feb. 26.

The research initiative, which has been evolving over the last two and a half years, would give Legacy Fund earnings to North Dakota's colleges and universities for research, with most of the money going to UND and North Dakota State University.

The amended version, introduced by Sen. Ron Sorvaag, R-Fargo, would allocate a percentage of Legacy Fund earnings to an economic research diversification fund, with the dollars being paid to the universities at the end of the 2021-23 biennium. As the Legacy Fund currently stands, that would equate to about $31.3 million to the universities. But that amount could grow, depending on the growth of the Legacy Fund over the next two years.

A majority of the dollars, or about 90%, would be split between UND and NDSU, with the other nine public schools splitting the remaining 10%. There would be a committee to oversee the fund, which would be run through the Bank of North Dakota.

Proponents of the research proposal testified in front of the Senate Finance and Taxation committee on Wednesday, March 17. The higher-ed leaders spoke of the importance of research and the benefits it can have for the entire state, including economic diversification.

UND President Andrew Armacost said it will take time to see how the legislative process plays out.

"I think the idea behind it is a strong one. I think it's an important idea," he said. "As far as the legislative process, this is my first time going through it, so I don't have a basis to judge what we heard (Wednesday). We'll just have to wait and see. ..."

Story continues

Armacost said he hasn't heard a reason why it was taken out of the original proposal. However, it isn't uncommon for complex bills to undergo numerous changes throughout the session.

The second set of projects being revived would come with North Dakota's bonding bill.

Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, introduced an amendment that would bring back a set of higher education and technical education programs, including UND's proposed space command initiative.

The proposed amendments would include $60 million related to building and equipping technical education centers, $4 million to Dickinson State for its proposed projects and $4 million for UND's space command initiative.

The space command initiative would include money to help bolster UND's physical presence with dollars for equipment, renovation and a sensitive compartmental information facility.

Armacost has said national security, whether related to research or educational programs, has always been of interest to the university. In recent months, that interest has included potential partnerships related to space security.

Wednesday, he said he was "thrilled" to learn about the amendment and said the partnership would be beneficial for UND, its students and the state.

"I think it's a great move and will really allow us to jumpstart some infrastructure changes to UND that will allow better support of space education and also space research," he said.

Last week, legislators discussed the original removal of the space command initiative from the bonding bill, questioning whether higher education leaders' adherence to a set list of capital projects had hurt UND's prospects of attracting a partnership with the U.S. Space Force.

In total, Wardner's amendment would add $180 million in funding for infrastructure, renovations and other areas to the bonding bill. The North Dakota House already approved a $680 million bonding bill last month; Wardner's amendment would bring the bonding bill's total to $860 million.
Turkey recently protested an agreement reached between Israel, Cyprus and Greece to speed up the technical work of the 2,000-megawatt undersea electricity cable. The Anadolu Agency on March 15 reported that Ankara formally protested against the deal, arguing that the route of the planned cable, expected to be funded by the EU, transgressed Turkish territorial waters. While presenting diplomatic protest notes to Greek, Israeli and EU diplomates, Turkish officials said that the three countries needed to seek Turkeys approval before conducting feasibility studies.

Israel, Cyprus and Greece on March 8 signed an agreement advancing plans to build the undersea electricity cable. With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, the three counties agreed on the need to expedite permits and approvals to conduct feasibility studies and to coordinate with their respective national electricity regulators on how best to proceed. Cypriot Energy Minister Natasa Pilides had said that the deal will boost cooperation in supporting the planning, potential development and implementation of the EuroAsia Interconnector, as an additional element of the emerging Eastern Mediterranean Energy Corridor.

Further, she called the project a cornerstone of the countries efforts to transition to a green economy that will protect the environment while promoting economic growth. Pilides said that the cable will help the three nations meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, while also helping to diversify the energy supply of fossil fuel-dependent Cyprus. She also informed that the projects first phase is expected to be operational by 2025.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus relations with Turkey

It is worth noting that Israel, Cyprus and Greece have also planned a $6 billion undersea pipeline to carry gas from new offshore deposits in the southeastern Mediterranean to continental Europe. Meanwhile, Greece and Cyprus are embroiled in a dispute with Turkey, which has sent gas prospecting vessels into waters claimed by Greece and drilling ships into an area where Cyprus claims exclusive rights. The tension brought Greece and Turkey close to open conflict last year, but tensions have eased since then. Israel and Turkey, on the other hand, were once close allies but had a major falling-out in 2010, when 10 Turkish citizens were killed by Israeli forces as a Turkish-led flotilla tried to break Israel''s blockade on the Gaza Strip.

(Image: AP)


Francis sent a message to the participants in a webinar on Our Daily Love to mark the fifth anniversary of the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, on the occasion of the opening of the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, which ends on 26 June 2022 with the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis sent a message to participants in a webinar dedicated to Our Daily Love, opening the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, which marks the fifth anniversary of the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. The dedicated year will end on 26 June 2022 with the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome.

For Francis, the Church does not only want to show the way, but wants to accompany, to listen, to bless the journey of families, making the journey with them; to enter the home with discretion and love, to say to the couple: the Church is with you, the Lord is close to you, we want to help you safeguard the gift you have received.

The main goal of Amoris Laetitia, writes Francis, is to communicate, in a time and in a profoundly changed culture, that today there is a need for a new outlook on the family on the part of the Church: it is not enough to reiterate the value and importance of doctrine, if we do not become protectors of the beauty of the family and if we do not take compassionate care of its frailties and its wounds.

These two aspects are at the heart of all family pastoral care: the directness of the proclamation of the Gospel and the tenderness of accompaniment. However, faced with the difficulties created by the exaltation of the temporary that discourages lifelong commitment, the predominance of individualism, fear of the future [. . . ] the Church reiterates to Christian spouses the value of marriage as Gods plan, as a fruit of his Grace, and as a call to live fidelity and gratuitousness to the fullest. This is the way for relationships, though they may cross a path marked by failures, falls and changes, to open up to the fullness of joy and human realisation, and become a leaven for fraternity and love in society.

What is more, this proclamation cannot and must never be give from above and from the outside. The Church is embodied in historical reality, as was her Master, and even when she announces the Gospel of the family, she does so immersing herself in real life, knowing at first hand the daily struggles of spouses and parents, their problems, their sufferings, all those situations, small and large, that weigh down and sometimes hinder their journey.

Proclaiming the Gospel by accompanying people and placing ourselves at the service of their happiness: in this way, we can help families to journey in a way that responds to their vocation and mission, aware of the beauty of the bonds and their foundation in the love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

When the family lives under the sign of this divine Communion, which I wished to make explicit in its existential aspects in Amoris laetitia, then it becomes a living word of God-Love, spoken to the world and for the world. Indeed, the grammar of family relationships - that is, of conjugality, motherhood, fatherhood, filiality and fraternity - is the way through which the language of love is transmitted, which gives meaning to life and human quality to every relationship.

It is a language made up not only of words, but also of ways of being, of the way we speak, of the looks, gestures, times and spaces of our relationship with others. Married couples know this well, parents and children learn it daily in this school of love that is the family.

It is also where the transmission of faith between generations takes place: it passes through the language of the good and healthy relationships that are lived out in the family every day, especially when facing conflicts and difficulties together.

In this time of pandemic, amidst so many psychological, economic and health-related difficulties, all this has become evident: family ties have been and are still being severely tested, but at the same time they remain the firmest point of reference, the strongest support, the irreplaceable guardian of the whole human and social community.

So let us support the family! Let us defend it from that which compromises its beauty. Let us approach this mystery of love with wonder, discretion and tenderness. And let us commit ourselves to safeguarding its precious and delicate bonds: children, parents, grandparents... We need these bonds to live and to live well, to make humanity more fraternal.
The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
California is poised to make coronavirus vaccines available to all residents 16 and older by the last week of April, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday, a move that would eliminate the tiered system that currently only grants vaccine eligibility to seniors, some essential workers and younger people with disabilities or underlying medical conditions.

Were anticipating within five-and-a-half weeks ... we can eliminate all the tiering, so to speak, and make available the vaccines to everybody across the spectrum because the supply will exponentially increase, Newsom said during a news conference in San Francisco.

The projected timeline is roughly in line with President Bidens pledge to make vaccines available to any U.S. adult who wants one by May 1.

Californias vaccine supply is expected to nearly double by April once more doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine become available, said Paul Markovich, chief executive of Blue Shield of California, which manages statewide vaccine distribution.

California is currently receiving about 1.6 million to 1.7 million doses per week. That is expected to stay flat for the remainder of March, but pick up significantly the first week of April, Markovich said in an interview Friday.

If these supply numbers from manufacturers hold true, well be entering into a phase in the not-too-distant future where there wont be eligibility tiers and everyone will be able to access a shot, he said. Were multiple weeks still away from that, but its within sight if these numbers hold up.

Two states, Alaska and Mississippi, have already expanded vaccine eligibility to all residents over 16 years old, which is the cutoff age for the vaccines that have received emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. Several other states, including Utah, Michigan and Colorado, have announced plans to do so by April.

California initially made vaccines available to health care workers and long-term care facility residents and workers, and subsequently to people 65 and older and workers in the food and agriculture, emergency response and education sectors.

Starting this week, people under 65 with disabilities and certain underlying medical conditions also became eligible, along with homeless people, incarcerated residents and public transit workers. Some Bay Area counties have adopted their own, slightly different eligibility standards  Solano County, for instance, is now allowing people 50 and older to get vaccinated, and San Francisco includes HIV as an underlying medical condition.

Health experts anticipate the FDA will likely authorize the vaccines for children under 16 by the end of the year, once clinical trials for that age group are completed and reviewed.

In California, 9.2 million people, or 28% of the 16-and-older population, are at least partially vaccinated, according to state data. Of that group, 4.8 million people, or 15% of the 16-and-older population, are fully vaccinated.

Catherine Ho and Michael Williams are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com michael.williams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho @michaeldamianw
Ankara, March 20 : Turkey has withdrawn from the Istanbul Convention on women's rights, which aims to protect women against violence.

The decision by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was published in the country's official gazette on Saturday morning, reports dpa news agency.

Established in 2011, the Istanbul Convention, a treaty developed by the non-EU organisation Council of Europe, aims to create a legal framework to prevent and fight against violence against women and domestic violence.

Erdogan had personally signed the convention in Istanbul when he was Prime Minister.

It was later ratified in Turkey, but according to the country's 'We Will Stop Femicide Platform', it was never applied.

The organisation seeks to stop femicide and ensure that women are protected from violence.

Following the decision to withdraw from the convention, 'We Will Stop Femicide's' leader took to Twitter to call for protests.

The organisation's general secretary, Fidan Ataselim, said the government is endangering the lives of millions of women by leaving.

She called on Turkish leaders to reverse the decision and apply the convention.

According to the organization, at least 300 women were murdered by men in Turkey last year alone.
She had dental work done on her smile last month after her old veneers started moving.

And Scarlett Moffatt shared more details about her veneers on Friday after being inundated with questions about the procedure from her followers.

Speaking on Instagram, the former Gogglebox star, 30, said: 'I keep getting asked loads of questions about my teeth... No, all my teeth aren't pointy underneath here.'

Pearly whites: Scarlett Moffatt shared more details about her veneers on Friday after being inundated with questions about the procedure from her followers

Scarlett told her fans: 'I think people see the stories of when people get them done at Turkey and they see those pictures where all of your teeth are like little vampire teeth but that isn't what I had done.'

'All of my teeth are normal underneath here, they sort of just slip over your teeth.

'I mean, I'm not a dentist I don't know the technicalities of it but my teeth are normal underneath here.'

Before and after: Scarlett had dentist work to remove the gap in her teeth (left) and now has a new set of pearly white veneers (right)

Katie Price fell victim to the 'vampire teeth' procedure when she travelled to Turkey for teeth enhancements in August last year.

She joked on her YouTube channel that she looked 'like a Bond Villain' before she was forced to rush back to Turkey multiple times for repair jobs months later.

Sources said the former glamour model was 'spitting out' several veneers while on holiday with boyfriend Carl Woods in The Maldives in October.

Unrecognisable: Katie Price fell victim to the 'vampire teeth' procedure when she travelled to Turkey for veneers in August last year

The insight into Scarlett's less invasive dental work comes after she gushed over her new pearly whites on Instagram last month.

She said: 'My old ones that I had in London started moving and I had a gap - people started to mistake me for Madonna. There's only one Madonna, so I'll stick to being Scarlett Moffatt.'

Scarlett revealed she feels like she can 'finally smile' after a bike accident left her with smashed front teeth, which became a target for bullies.

She said: 'School wasn't really easy. One of the things I used to get picked on was my teeth because I was in a bike accident when I was little and smashed my two front teeth.'

Scarlett continued: 'This unfortunately carried on into adulthood, being in the public eye sometimes isn't fun. I feel like I can finally smile. I'm so excited.'

The Gogglebox star wrote in the caption: 'Bullies are like sandpaper the more they wear you down the more polished you become.

'I have done this for me, not them and now... I don't think I'll ever stop smiling.'
RTHK: Asian countries condemn Myanmar lethal force

Opponents of Myanmar's coup planned more protests on Saturday as international pressure on the military junta to halt its repression of pro-democracy supporters increased, with Asian neighbours joining Western countries in condemning lethal force.

Two people were killed when soldiers opened fire overnight in the northern ruby mining town of Mogok, the Myanmar Now news portal reported. That took the death toll since the February 1 coup to 237, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group.

The bloodshed has not quelled the anger over the ouster of the elected government and the detention of its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, though some protest organisers say they have to adapt their tactics.

"We protest where there are no police or military, then when we hear they're coming, we disperse quickly," campaigner Kyaw Min Htike told Reuters from the southern town of Dawei.

"I don't want to lose a single one of my comrades but we'll protest any way we can until our revolution prevails."

In other towns, people have been gathering at night to hold up candles and protest banners and pose for photographs before melting away.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned what he denounced as the military's continuing brutal violence. A "firm, unified international response" was urgently needed, his spokesman quoted him as saying.

UN rapporteur Tom Andrews called for sanctions to what he called the generals' ruthless attacks on the people.

"The world must respond by cutting their access to money and weapons. Now," he wrote on Twitter.

The US House of Representatives approved legislation condemning the coup and lawmakers decried the increasingly harsh tactics against the demonstrators.

Authorities have tightened restrictions on internet services, making information increasingly difficult to verify, and clamped down on private media.

Ambassadors of Western countries condemned the violence as "immoral and indefensible", in the Hlaing Tharyar industrial district of the commercial capital Yangon, where dozens were killed over several days after Chinese-owned garment factories were torched last weekend.

"Internet blackouts and suppression of the media will not hide the military's abhorrent actions," they said in a statement on Friday.

Asian neighbours, who have for years stuck to a code of not criticising each other's internal problems, have also been speaking out to urge an end to the violence.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, in some of the strongest comments yet by a regional leader, said he would ask Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), to call an urgent meeting.

"Indonesia urges that the use of violence in Myanmar be stopped immediately so that there are no more victims," Jokowi said in a virtual address.

"The safety and welfare of the people must be the top priority."

Backing Indonesia's call for a meeting, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said he was appalled by the persistent use of lethal violence against unarmed civilians.

Philippine foreign minister Teodoro Locsin said that Asean had to act.

Singapore has also spoken out against the violence and the coup that triggered it, calling for the release of Suu Kyi.

But the military has shown no sign of being swayed and has defended its takeover, which derailed a slow transition to democracy in a country that has been ruled by the army for most of its post-independence history.

It says a November 8 election won by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy was fraudulent and its claims were ignored by the electoral commission. It has promised a new election but not set a date.

Suu Kyi, 75, faces accusations of bribery and other crimes that could see her banned from politics and jailed if convicted.

Her lawyer says the charges are trumped up. The Nobel peace laureate, who has campaigned for democracy in Myanmar for three decades, is being held at an undisclosed location. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A photo showing a group of mates sinking a few beers in waist deep water has gone viral - but there's a heartbreaking story behind it.

Les Mitchell was seen standing in the now flooded Telegraph Point Club with his brother and his wife, along with his dog Marlee, in the town of the same name on the mid-north coast on Friday night.

With a beer in hand the locals looked unfazed as they stood in the brown, murky water.

But in a devastating twist, it's since been revealed the group had lost their homes to floods that night and have been staying at the pub since with nothing but the clothes on their back.

A group of locals are seen standing in the waist deep water at the Telegraph Point Club after losing their home to floods on NSW's mid north coast

Kathy Rawson, Mr Mitchell's sister-in-law, told Daily Mail Australia the group live opposite the club a few doors down from each other, but were forced to flee when floodwaters spilled into their homes.

'They've lost everything. I'm just gutted, I can't imagine what they're feeling,' she said.

'I grew up out there and I've been through many floods and I just can't get my head around what I've seen - the volume of water and how fast it came across.'

Ms Rawson, who lives just 15 minutes away in Port Macquarie, said she hadn't been able to get a hold of her brother-in-law but expects the club is providing food and clothes for them.

She said there were dozens of people who had lost their houses in Telegraph Point and who will now have to anxiously wait and see if they can ever return home.

The local school managed to evacuate students just in time but in the nearby town of Kendall, children were forced to spend the night before being rescued on Saturday.

Ms Rawson said she plans to drive out to see Mr Mitchell on Sunday depending on the safety of the roads.

'It's lucky nobody died out there yesterday,' she said.

'It appears that nobody had any time to get anything and get out. The water just came up so fast.

'To them it was just another flood coming but now they're thinking ''where do we go now?''.'

BoM issued a severe weather warning on Saturday morning covering an area from the mid-north coast to the far south coast of NSW as well as Canberra (pictured Port Macquarie)

It comes as Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the severe weather would likely stick around until at least Thursday.

Nine evacuation centres have been set up around the state with residents in areas along the mid-north coast being told to move to higher ground.

The SES have responded to at least 500 flood rescues and 4,000 calls for help as the rain continues to batter the east coast.

A 'mini-tornado' left a huge path of destruction through Chester Hill in Sydney's west, damaging several homes and bringing down a tree

Homes have been damaged in Chester Hill after a 'mini tornado' tore through the area

BoM had issued a severe weather warning on Saturday morning covering an area from the mid-north coast to the far south coast of NSW as well as Canberra.

The bureau warned of intense rainfall 'potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding' and damaging winds averaging 60-70km/h with gusts exceeding 90km/h.

Record breaking rainfall was seen in areas on the mid-north coast such as in Kendall with the town recording more than 400mm of rain, meanwhile up to 300mm is expected in the lower Blue Mountains region.

In Sydney a 'mini-tornado' ripped through Chester Hill in the west leaving dozens of homes damaged while the Warragamba Dam started spilling over on Saturday afternoon.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), recently appeared on the Today show to demonstrate the best way to wear two masks. Less familiar to the public are Fauci's writings on the pandemic.

"Emerging Pandemic Diseases: How We Got to COVID-19," authored with NIAID adviser Dr. David Morens, emerged on August 15, 2020. That was several months after President Trump ordered the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to cut off all U.S. funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a wholly owned subsidiary of China's Communist regime and the likely source of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The U.S. funding for Wuhan was channeled through Fauci's NIAID, but Fauci does not deal with that in his paper, which mentions China only twice. The NIAID boss also avoids another issue crucial to the outbreak.

Gain of function research, as Nidhi Subbaraman explains in Nature, "involves making pathogens more deadly or more transmissible." In 2012 Fauci cited the risks of such research, wondering "what if that scientist becomes infected with the virus, which leads to an outbreak and ultimately triggers a pandemic?"

The NIH banned gain of function research in 2014 but revived it in 2017 with no objection from Fauci. Three years later after a global pandemic, Fauci's paper is silent on any role this dangerous research might have played in the outbreak.

Disease emergencies, the NIAID boss explains, "reflect our increasing inability to live in harmony with nature." That, in turn, requires "changes in human behavior as well as other radical changes," such as the elimination of "intensive animal farming" and "ending global poverty."

Fauci calls for "strengthening the United Nations and its agencies, particularly the World Health Organization," which was not able to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak. Even so, Fauci leans on bureaucratic solutions, which suits his career.

Fauci earned a medical degree in 1966 and two years later hired on with the National Institutes of Health. Fauci has headed NIAID since 1984, and with a current salary of $417,608, more than the president of the United States. Fauci is the highest-paid employee in the federal government.

Fauci's bio shows no advanced degrees in molecular biology or biochemistry so strictly speaking he is not a virologist. Though routinely billed as the nation's top infectious diseases expert, Fauci has changed his views on the danger of the pandemic, the need to lock down the economy, and the utility of masks.

Fauci appeared in press conferences with New York governor Andrew Cuomo and contended that New York had responded "properly" and "correctly" to the pandemic. In February, CNN host Jim Scietto asked Fauci if Gov. Cuomo was following federal guidelines when he ordered long-term care facilities to accept elderly patients returning from hospitals,

"I'm honestly not trying to erase your question," Fauci responded. "I prefer not to comment on that." Those who lost loved ones in the nursing homes might expect some response from the man most responsible for shutting down the American economy, with all the ensuing destruction, misery, and death.

For more than a year, embattled Americans have been living under a regime of white-coat supremacy that overrides the rights of the people. Behind his multiple masks, stellar salary, and glowing reviews, Fauci is the face of that regime. The unelected bureaucrat, in government for 53 years, makes catastrophic decisions with zero accountability for his actions. Some relief may be on the way.

House Republicans are calling for an investigation of NIH funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology. As they note, the WIV is eligible for additional NIH funding through 2024. That is a concern, but Wuhan should not be the only area of inquiry.

Fauci's adviser David Morens is also an MD, with a BA in psychology. Morens served with the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), billed as the nation's "medical CIA" with a mandate to prevent dangerous viruses from arriving on American soil.

The "officers" of the EIS failed to prevent the COVID-19 virus from arriving in the USA, and by all indications failed to prevent its spread. If any EIS bosses were held accountable, nothing has emerged in the media. Congress should look into it. The people have a right to know.

Lloyd Billingsley is a policy fellow at the Oakland, California-based Independent Institute.

Image: P.G.Offringa.
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YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. During a meeting with the residents of Nerkin Bazmaberd community in the Aragatsotn province today Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan talked about the opening of regional communications and roads.

Pashinyan stated that the opening of communications is beneficial for Armenia and Azerbaijan.

We need to move forward and the way of moving forward is what is under discussions today: the talk is about the opening of regional communications and roads. If someone says that the opening of the roads is beneficial to Azerbaijan only, dont believe it. If someone says that the opening of communications is beneficial to Armenia only, again dont believe it. The opening of communications, especially in this situation, is beneficial for both Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is beneficial for Azerbaijan as it should get a communication with Nakhijevan. It is beneficial for Armenia because we must get a reliable railway and land communication with the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This means that our countrys economy can change considerably, Pashinyan said.

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"As a leading company in the fight against COVID-19, we want to make a difference in the vaccination effort and play a role in getting the economy back on track. That's why, on behalf of CAE's 4,000 employees in Quebec, I am offering CAE's help to accelerate vaccination in order to support and reduce the pressure on the healthcare system. I would like to thank my fellow business leaders who are stepping up and providing resources to open up workplace vaccination hubs, and I invite all companies who can contribute to do so," said Marc Parent, President and CEO of CAE. "I would also like to highlight the receptiveness shown by the Quebec government, which will contribute to a faster economic recovery for all Quebeckers."

In the last few months, CAE has initiated a mobilization effort with many large Quebec and Canadian companies so that they can participate in the vaccination operation, a collective responsibility to help save lives, allow for economic recovery and a return to normal life. Several companies have offered this support at their own cost, and together, have committed to the ambitious goal of vaccinating up to 500,000 Quebeckers, working in collaboration with the health system and following the order of priority established by public health.

CAE is also seconding to the government a full-time Director with extensive expertise in large-scale project management, performance management and process optimization. Marie-Christine Cloutier, Director of Business Performance and Strategic Growth at CAE, will act as the liaison between the ministry's team and participating businesses. She will directly support the director of the vaccination campaign in Quebec by consolidating service offerings and coordinating the vaccination effort with all companies setting up vaccination centres.

CAE's role since the beginning of the pandemic

Since the beginning of the pandemic, CAE has been quick to respond to COVID-19, initially by developing a respirator to meet the global shortage and contribute to Canada's self-sufficiency, and then by developing an application to train COVID-19 vaccine providers.

With a pan-Canadian presence, CAE will continue initiating discussions with other provincial governments to make a difference in the immunization effort across the country.

About CAE

CAE is a high-tech company at the forefront of digital immersion, providing solutions to make the world safer. Backed by more than 70 years of innovation, we continue to reinvent the customer experience and revolutionize training and operational support solutions in the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare industries. We are the partner of choice for customers around the world who operate in complex, often dangerous and highly regulated environments where success is critical. As a result of our customers' ongoing need for our solutions, more than 60% of CAE's revenue is generated from recurring business. We have the largest global presence in the industry, with approximately 10,000 employees in 160 locations and training centres in more than 35 countries. www.cae.com

Follow our Twitter accounts @CAE_Inc and @CAE_Defence

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc

LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/company/cae

SOURCE CAE INC.

For further information: Contacts - CAE: Helene V. Gagnon, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Global Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, +1-514-340-5536, [email protected]

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Fire officials said 7 people were forced from their home at 109 Woodlawn Street Friday afternoon when fire ripped through the second floor of a two-and-a-half story wood-framed home.

Springfield Fire Department spokesman Drew Piemonte said the 5:45 p.m. alarm brought firefighters to the house at the intersection of Woodlawn and Alsace streets.

Flames and heavy smoke poured from the building, and firefighters had the blaze under control within an hour.

Piemonte said the fire apparently started on the second floor. The Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad is continuing to investigate the exact cause.

All of the residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross with material needs.

There were no reported injuries of either the occupants or firefighters.
[March 19, 2021] FASTLY INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of Fastly, Inc. - FSLY

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Fastly, Inc. (NYSE: FSLY). On August 5, 2020, the Company CEO Joshua Bixby revealed for the first time during its Q2 2020 earnings call that ByteDance, the operator of TikTok, which was under intense scrutiny by U.S. government officials for potential security risks, was its largest customer in the quarter and also suggested that it was a significant customer in Q1 as well, stating that "over the last six months, [TikTok] represents just about 12% of revenue, trailing 6 months ending June 30." Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period in violation of federal securities laws, which remains ongoing. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Fastly's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Fastly's shareholder or otherwise violated state or federal laws.



If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Fastly shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fsly/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210319005493/en/

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Key, a member of SHINee, appeared in "I Live Alone" with SNSD Taeyeon, wherein he first opened up about Jonghyun and revealed Minho's sweet surprise for him.

In the evening of March 19, SHINee Key, who appeared in the reality talk show "I Live Alone," unveiled his house for the first time and shared untold stories along with Girls' Generation's Taeyeon.

SHINee Key Opened Up About Missing Jonghyun

In the broadcast, Girls' Generation Taeyeon, who is a close friend of the male idol, showed up as a guest for Key's housewarming party.Key, who is known for his incredible cooking skills, also prepared dishes for the female idol and enjoyed the lighthearted conversation as they share a warm meal.

As the broadcast went on, Key mentioned items inside her house, including a speaker that was bought by his co-members Onew, Taemin, and Jonghyun.Just then, Key slowly opened up about his sincere feelings about the late Jonghyun to SNSD Taeyeon, that he can only talk with his other co-members.

The idol said, "The hardest thing during this promotion was the absence of our most important vocalist. When the four of us had a concert in Japan, I felt that I didn't consider this part...."

He added, "These days, activities are fun, but I think what was really fun was when we were all together [....] It felt like a taboo that I shouldn't bring up. However, I hope you know that it's okay to miss him now."

Recently, Key honored Jonghyun in a music show as they got their second win for their latest track, " Don't Call Me." He explained that it's not his plan, but he only talked about what's on his mind at that time.

Key continued, "To be honest, I don't think it's hard to say anymore. I'm not sad more than necessary. Of course, I'm careful. Is there a need to avoid it?I don't need to avoid it or run away. I don't want people to feel sorry or pity me when they see me." he said calmly and touched the hearts of viewers.

After Taeyeon went home, Key enjoyed his time alone and reflected, "I think I've asked a lot about myself. But now I know how to spend time in my own space. I think I can live more freely taking care of my family and what I want to do."

SHINee Key Received Housewarming Gift from Co-Member Minho

On the other hand, the group's 91-liner also showcased their close relationship after 14 years since its debut.

In the same broadcast, Key was surprised by Minho as he received a new vacuum cleaner as a housewarming gift. Prior to Taeyeon's arrival, Key FaceTimed the main rapper to expressed his grateful heart.

Their conversation started with usual bickering between the two, wherein when Key acted like he's so touched to receive the gift, SHINee Minho said, "Don't act like you're touched, when you are not!"

Key, who was caught, then explained that he was indeed thankful, but Minho wasn't answering his initial calls. The male idol specifically thanked the latter for remembering that he wanted it even if he asked for it lightly.

However, Minho savagely answered, "But you asked for it about 10 times. Whenever the commercial is showing up, you'll go, 'I like it, I really want it, a housewarming gift.'"

In response, Key only laughed and affirmed Minho to dedicate his life to cleaning to show that he's truly thankful.

Also Read: SHINee Minho Explains to a Kid Why Jonghyun is Not Part of Their Recent Releases

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson
Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov gave a thumbs up as he left the Russian Embassy in Washington on Saturday amid the war of words between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin.

Antonov's recall comes days after Biden referred to Russian president Vladimir Putin as a 'killer' and Russia recalled the ambassador in response.

The Kremlin labeled that comment as being 'very bad' before recalling Antonov for vague 'consultations.'

'The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of analyzing what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States,' read a statement by Russia's foreign ministry.

Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov waves his hand as he leaves Russian Embassy on Saturday after being recalled to Moscow after Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a 'killer'

A masked Antonov gives a thumbs up as he leaves the embassy in Washington

Antonov has been recalled for 'consultations' and it's unclear when he'll be returning

'He will pay a price,' Biden said of Putin during an interview on Wednesday with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos, without offering specifics.

'The price he's going to pay, well, you'll see shortly.'

'So you know Vladimir Putin. You think he is a killer?' Stephanopoulos asked Biden during the interview.

He responded: 'Uh-huh, I do.'

A bit earlier, the ABC anchor pointed out: 'You said you know he doesn't have a soul.'

'I did say that to him, yes,' the president affirmed.

'And his response was, 'We understand one another.' I wasn't being a wise guy. I was alone with him in his office. That's how it came about,' he described.

Biden made his comment after the U.S. Director of National Intelligence released a report that claimed Russian intelligence officials fed disinformation to Donald Trump allies about the Bidens during the 2020 campaign to influence the election.

Meanwhile, US officials said Biden's relationship with Russia and Putin was due for a reset.

Antonov, whose car is pictured leaving the embassy Saturday, will fly to Moscow to discuss relations between Russia and the United States

The recall of the ambassador is likely retaliation for Biden's comments earlier this week

'The president's relationship and this administration's relationship with the Russians will be very different from what we've seen over the last four years  and we've already seen evidence of that from his first phone call with President Putin,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told DailyMail.com during a press briefing on Wednesday.

Former president Donald Trump was often believed by some to have a cozy relationship with Putin, and Russian election interference became a prominent story during both of Trump's presidential campaigns.

Trump repeatedly praised Putin and denied allegations of election interference during their summit in Helsinki.

A new assessment by U.S. intelligence recently laid out Russia's campaign to influence the 2020 elections.

More recently, on March 2, the Treasury Department slapped sanctions on officials as retaliation for the poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny with a chemical agent.

On August 20, 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a Novichock nerve agent.

Navalny was flying into Moscow when he became extremely ill and was hospitalized in Omsk, Russia after his flight needed an emergency landing.

The opposition leader was transferred to a hospital in Berlin, Germany two days later and wound up being hospitalized for more than a month.

Russian prosecutors failed to open a criminal probe into Navalny's poisoning.

Biden referred to Putin as a 'killer' during an ABC News interview on Wednesday

Navalny eventually returned to Russia, where he was convicted and sentenced, sparking nationwide protests.

The director of Russia's foreign intelligence service, the FSB, was affected by the sanctions.

On Wednesday the Commerce Department also said it was ratcheting up sanctions on some Russian exports in response to Navalany's poisoning, relating specifically to aviation and space equipment.

It tightened sanctions that were put in place following the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer in Great Britain.

'He's not going to hold back on his direct communications,' Psaki said, 'nor is he going to hold back publicly. And we have still found ways to work together on areas where we have mutual interests.'

Russia has stressed that it wants to avoid an 'irreversible deterioration' in relations between the two countries.

On Friday, Biden did attempt to add some goodwill in regard the relationship with Russia, saying to reporters that he will talk to Putin 'at some point.'

The Russian president responded by offering to hold public talks via an online method like Zoom, with Biden and directing his foreign ministry to reach out to the Americans.

Psaki responded to that by saying Biden is 'quite busy.'

'I would say that the president already had a conversation already with President Putin even as there are more world leaders that he has not yet engaged with,' Psaki said, referencing a January call with Putin.

Meanwhile, Putin appeared on stage Thursday during a concert marking the seventh anniversary of Crimea annexation, which has been strongly condemned.

'I would say to him: I wish you good health,' Putin said of Biden on Russian TV. 'I say that without irony and not as a joke.'

'We always see in another person our own qualities and think that he is the same as us,' Putin said.

In the interview, he criticized Biden for America's past atrocities, including the slaughter of Native Americans and slavery, and argued that has led to current racial tensions in the United States.

Putin and the Kremlin did not take kindly to Biden's comments, leading to a diplomatic rift

Psaki declined to comment on Putin's comments to Russian state TV and what they might mean.

'I've been doing this long enough not to try to get in the mind of President Putin,' Psaki, who served as a spokesperson in the State Department during the Obama administration, said.

Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy chairman of parliament's upper house, said Biden's comments were unacceptable, would inevitably worsen already bad ties, and ended any hope in Moscow of a change of U.S. policy under a new U.S. administration.

He said Moscow's recall of its ambassador was the only reasonable step to take in the circumstances.

'I suspect it will not be the last one if no explanation or apology follows from the American side,' Kosachyov said in a Facebook post.

Even with the drama between nuclear powers, recalling an ambassador doesn't always mean a lot.

In 1988, Russia recalled its ambassadors to the U.S. and Great Britain to protest raids against Iraq. But it had little effect.

'Recalling an ambassador for consultations means absolutely nothing,' said former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jack Matlock. 'It's just a gesture.' he said as quoted in a lengthy thesis by Olivia McCaffrey: 'Silent Statecraft: The Revocation of Ambassadors as a Diplomatic Tool.'

Russia and Iran both sought to influence the 2020 election, but China 'did not deploy' efforts to interfere, according to a new report published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The Russians were responsible for 'denigrating President Biden's candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the U.S.,' the report said, according to CNN.

Iran, on the other hand, was working against Trump, the report said.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) blames the massive shut down at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 24th February on the closure of the NSE Clearing Ltd (NCL).

In an article, titled, 'State of the Economy published in its monthly bulletin, the central bank says, "The major issue in this incident was the ineffectiveness of interoperability because of shutting down of the NCL...Another important failure was the inability to switch operations to the disaster recovery site...Brokers believe that timely communication and clarification could have averted the panic sell-off by online traders on the BSE and prevented huge losses to investors."

Trading was halted at the NSE for nearly four hours on 24th February 2021 reportedly due to telecom links failure leading to unavailability of the online risk management system of the NCL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the NSE, which is responsible for clearing and settlement of all trades executed on the NSE.

NSE stopped updating at 10.08am which led to closure of the futures & options (F&O) segment by 11.40am and cash market by 11.43am. It affected online risk management system, due to which market functioning had to be halted.

NSE had informed that trading was halted at 11.40am due to 'issues with the links with telecom service providers'. There was an issue with live ticks for NSE indices like Nifty 50, Nifty Bank, and others across brokers.

The outage occurred on the penultimate day of expiry of the February futures contracts when the transaction volume load was higher than usual.

The NSE is one of the largest derivatives exchanges in the world and accounts for the leading market share (by total turnover) in India - 93.2% in equity cash trading and 99.9% in equity derivatives trading during 2019-20, the report says.

On 24 February 2021, the turnover in the equity cash segment across the BSE and the NSE increased by 7.6% over the preceding trading day, which was mostly supported by a block deal. However, RBI says, aggregate notional turnover in stock options and futures and index options and futures declined by 45.1% and 20.1%, respectively, over the preceding trading day.

Besides the trading halt which led to disruption in market activity, the decline in turnover reflected absence of arbitrage opportunities following closure of one exchange and/or trading arrangements of some market participants only with NSE.

NSE announced extension of its trading session from 15:30pm to 17:00pm to enable squaring off of intra-day positions. The BSE, which functioned normally throughout, also stayed open late to facilitate this process.

Post the incident, the market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has advised the NSE to carry out a detailed root cause analysis of the trading halt and the reasons for trading not migrating to the disaster recovery site.

Furthermore, the SEBIs technical advisory committee has reportedly been mandated to probe the trading halt at the NSE and fix accountability.

"Allowing the benchmarks Nifty and Sensex to trade on all the stock exchanges, extension of interoperability to include usage of trading infrastructure of another exchange and allowing entry of more exchanges to increase competition may need to be considered, besides focusing on strengthening of risk management frameworks at the exchanges," the RBI says in the report.

Meanwhile, the ministry of finance (MoF) has asked the market regulator to share its finding based on the root cause analysis that NSE has been asked to submit within 21 days.

Earlier this month, finance minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman held a meeting to discuss the issue with key secretaries and SEBI chairman Ajay Tyagi, who is understood to have participated through video-conferencing. We learn that secretaries from the department of economic affairs (DEA), dept of financial services (DFS), department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) and the revenue secretary were present in the meeting.
Silver lining in the dark cloud': Closure of public schools creates challenges, opportunities

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A year into the coronavirus pandemic, many public schools in the United States remain closed for in-person instruction. While some experts assail the prolonged widespread closure of public schools for causing students to experience declines in mental health and academic performance, others see a blessing in disguise that will empower alternative forms of education.

When the coronavirus pandemic was declared in March 2020, schools around the world ceased holding in-person instruction. Many school districts transitioned to virtual learning, where students would meet with their teachers via digital platforms such as Zoom. The widespread closure of public schools continued in most cases for the remainder of the 2019-'20 school year.

When the 2020-'21 school year began, many school districts in the U.S. continued to conduct classes entirely virtually or embraced a "hybrid" model where students attend classes in-person for part of the week while distance learning the rest of the week. While only a small number of school districts offered full, in-person learning for all students at the beginning of the school year, that number has expanded as the year progresses.

The extended closure of public schools in the U.S. has had negative effects on American students. Still, it might have opened up other opportunities for education in the long term, according to experts who spoke with The Christian Post.

Education Week has kept track of the reopening statuses of member districts in the Council of the Great City Schools. This collection of school districts, featuring some of the largest school systems in the country and one in Canada, contains more than 8.2 million students. It accounts for 15% of the total public school enrollment nationwide.

While 56 of the 75 districts included in the Council of the Great City Schools currently offer some type of in-person instruction, a significant number of them have not offered widescale in-person learning for any part of the school year, which is well into its second semester.

Portland Public Schools, the largest school district in Oregon, has not opened for in-person learning this year. The district will implement a hybrid option for students in kindergarten through fifth grade in early April and a hybrid option will begin for older students later that month.

Other districts that have yet to hold in-person learning this school year but will offer it in some form before the conclusion of the academic year include Sacramento City Unified School District in California, Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri, and Long Beach Unified School District in California.

Richmond Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in Virginia, will remain completely virtual for the duration of the second semester. School districts in Fresno, Oakland and Santa Ana, California, have yet to open for widescale in-person learning this school year. But they have opened classrooms for select groups of students, such as those enrolled in classes for students in which English is a second language and special education programs.

Four people who shared their perspectives on the consequences of the widespread closure of public schools include a senior official with a conservative-leaning think-tank, the author of a book detailing her experience educating her children during the coronavirus pandemic, the president of a coalition of Christian schools and universities, and the author of a book urging parents to pull their children out of public education.

Consequences of widespread public school closures

According to Hadley Manning, the policy director for the Independent Women's Forum, who has extensively studied the consequences of school closings, the widespread closure of public schools "has exacerbated some existing inequalities in our educational system."

In an interview, Manning said that while many families have the "means and resources to put together a homeschooling pod, hire a private tutor, put the children in private school or to make other arrangements," students who come from families who lack the aforementioned means and resources "have been working essentially on their own at home through virtual learning, which the data would suggest is no replacement for in-person schooling."

David Dockery, the president of the recently formed International Alliance for Christian Education, echoed Manning's concerns.

"I think students from strong families, particularly  where both parents are educated  there will be strong efforts to ensure that those students are taken care of and almost a homeschooling approach provided, he said.

"But for so many families ... both parents working, both are busy, not able to provide the care and instruction needed for the students who are missing that from their teachers, I think we don't know the impact of that at this time, but it's certainly a concern for all of us.

Dockery, the chancellor of Trinity International University in Illinois, said he's concerned for students in primary school, saying that in-person instruction for elementary grade students is vitally important.

Emily Greene, the author of School, Disrupted: Rediscovering the Joy of Learning in a Pandemic-Stricken World, who researches and writes about education, creativity, the neuroscience of learning, agreed with Dockery.

"It doesn't take an advanced degree to realize that [the] format of [online] learning is not how young children learn, she said.

Manning expressed concern for "children who have essentially lost a year of education because their school system has been closed and they haven't had access to good alternatives. She warned that "those children may face a real education deficit."

"I think that would be ... a totally reasonable expectation to see the education gap widening between children who are advanced and who continued to advance during the pandemic and children who probably have seen some backsliding."

"It's pretty common knowledge that over the summer months, when schools are typically closed, you see some sort of regression educationally among students who are out of school for the summer, but this is like a summer that has lasted for 12 months, she continued.

"One of the biggest failures with virtual learning is that you can't make kids show up," Manning remarked. "For example, in Boston, only half of the students showed up for online instruction on any given day."

"The question of school closure is much bigger than an academic question," she said. "It's a question about what's best for children broadly speaking, not just in terms of their progress on reading, writing and arithmetic, but their social and emotional development, their mental health, and their ability to have a safe place to be during the day."

Manning also spoke about the mental health impacts of the widespread school closures and the accompanying social isolation.

After citing reports about "higher numbers of youth reporting depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms" and suicide attempts, Manning maintained that it was hard to get concrete mental health statistics because the U.S. has a "delayed reporting system" when it comes to suicide rates.

In Japan, which Manning said "has one of the fastest data capturing systems in the world when it comes to suicide rates," previous data from the fall showed an 80% increase in the suicide rates among women.

"There's an impact certainly on the mental health of our young people, our children and also I would say on parents because there is that additional layer of stress that comes with trying to educate children at home while also continuing to provide financially for the family, she contends.

Many families depend on two incomes, and so that math doesn't work out. Two full-time jobs plus the job of overseeing virtual education at home is too much for many working parents," Manning said.

Another unintended consequence of keeping schools closed for in-person learning, Manning asserted, relates to the reporting of child abuse because "the school system is a very important part of our child abuse reporting mechanism in this country."

"Aside from parents, family members, pediatricians, teachers and school counselors are some of the most important people in preventing child abuse or stopping child abuse, Manning stressed. And so we've lost that with the widespread closure of public schools."

Opportunities presented by widespread public school closures

Lt. Col. Ray Moore is the chairman of the board for publicschoolexit.com, a website designed to provide resources for parents seeking to withdraw their children from public schools.

Moore, an Army Reserve chaplain and an outspoken critic of contemporary public education, sees a silver lining in public schools' widespread closure and the accompanying adaptation of virtual learning.

With many parents at home with their children, they have the opportunity to listen to what they are learning at school.

"The public school curriculum is coming into their living rooms, and some of it is just terrible, borderline pornography, he asserted. They teach sex education in ways that are not compatible with Christian teaching. And the parents are seeing on the computer in their living rooms, and they're just horrified."

Moore said that in some districts, public schools are trying to get parents to sign a document saying that they will not look at the curriculum that their children are getting in their living room.

[Its] pretty amazing that they would go that far," Moore told CP.

For example, a Tennessee school district asked parents to sign a waiver promising not to listen to or monitor their children's virtual learning sessions due to concerns about "confidential information about a student being revealed."

The district later issued guidance that would allow parents to "assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor."

"They are fearful, the public school people are fearful that the parents will discover what they've been doing to harm the children, and they are in fact discovering it, Moore concluded. The system's out of control. It can't correct itself.

Moore elaborated on the content that some public school children have been exposed to in school, including lessons related to the Black Lives Matter movement, transgender ideology and critical race theory, which he described as "viruses that have attached themselves to the education system."

In addition to slamming the "anti-Christian" philosophy that has infiltrated some public schools, he reiterated that the U.S. and other nations find themselves in "a 100-year moment for private Christian schools and homeschooling."

While acknowledging the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moore said that the widespread closure of public schools has provided "an unprecedented opportunity for K-12 Christian schools and homeschools to really accelerate and grow exponentially."

Moore pointed to studies finding that a significant share of students who attended public schools before the pandemic might never return to the state-run schools when the pandemic comes to an end and in-person learning resumes on a mass scale.

Although Dockery was "expecting an enrollment decline of perhaps deep significance because of the coronavirus," he told CP that "overall our enrollment has maintained health.

The level has been better than what we expected, and there are a handful of schools that even have shown increases for which we are both surprised and grateful, Dockery said.

Greene agreed with Moore that the widespread closure of public schools was "a long-overdue disruption of a very outdated education system" that triggered "the most robust period of innovation in the entire history of education in America."

She told CP that "American society and American parents have relied on outsourcing their education to schools for 100 years and in a blink, we experienced how fragile that framework is."

"Parents started opening their mind for new ways for children to learn, which is so exciting," she recalled.

Greene cheered one new method of learning: the increased establishment of "learning pods," a form of homeschooling where a group of parents and their children band together, and each parent would teach the children a specific subject.

She also disagreed with the notion that children learned less during the widespread closure of public schools than they would have if they were attending school for in-person learning.

"Many families experienced this completely new vast expanses of free time during the pandemic and the things that parents and children did to discover new talents and passions, new interests and curiosities in this free time might very well lay the foundation for their future careers, Greene added.

"The way that families got outside in new ways during the pandemic, there's a completely new path of learning for many kids who go to public schools and get 20 minutes of outside time per day. There was a verifiable explosion in making things, in hands-on making things, meaning people who never picked up a needle and a thread started making things with their kids. People who never baked cookies all of a sudden were making sourdough starters, and it goes on and on and on.

Greene concluded that if the insight was available to measure how our kids actually grew during the pandemic, we might discover that they learned more than they would have in traditional schools."

Moving forward

The experts who spoke with CP shared their thoughts on what they think the state of American education will look like following the pandemic and what changes they would like to see regarding education in the U.S. going forward.

Manning predicted that following the pandemic, Americans will "have a greater appreciation for the importance of education. Not simply as a means for educating children but as a means for learning social skills and allowing peer-to-peer interaction." She also expressed hope that "many of these bills that have been proposed in state legislatures to allow for greater school choice" will become law.

Specifically, Manning would like to see policies enabling "all families to have an education savings account that is funded by the state and allows them to direct their education dollars to public schools, private schools, homeschool pods or other education models.

Manning favors the implementation of a "robust school choice policy" that extends beyond "people who have the resources" and "the financial security that supports alternative methods."

Dockery hypothesized that following the pandemic, "parents will take more responsibility for the education of their children" and "Christian education in various forms" will "expand and be strengthened."

He told CP that he believes society has learned a new level of flexibility that will lead to new levels of innovation for the days ahead."

"I think we have learned that online education is here to stay," he added. "I think we have all learned how to use online learning, and we will continue to do so, making it not an auxiliary option but a significant part of our educational offerings, Dockery said.

So yes, I agree that the changes that have been implemented during the COVID season will likely remain with us, but I think our schools have adjusted well to the hybrid model, and we'll be healthy and maybe even stronger as a result of it."

With the expansion of homeschooling following the pandemic, Moore suggested that "it's possible the public school system will begin to implode and unravel and ideally collapse."

He surmised that such a scenario would allow the U.S. to "revert back to a private, free-market, Christian and home education, which was the original American model for the first 200 years of American history."

"Public education is a socialistic model in education. And socialism never works, Moore asserted. It always is very self-destructive, and it's not working now in education. So public education is pretty well dysfunctional, and a lot of people know it."

Moore envisioned an America where parents and churches were working together by "rescuing the children" from public schools, believing that such an arrangement would lead to the home transforming into a "biblical learning center" that "strengthens marriages" and ends up "revitalizing the family."

Greene praised the rise in parental engagement that has accompanied the coronavirus pandemic. She expressed hope that when the pandemic is over, people will not forget that "ultimately, the people who are most responsible for our children's education are the parents." She warned that "without the parents' voice in the revitalizing of our education system in this final moment, things will simply regress into status quo.

So this is the time for people to stay engaged and speak up and not just slide back into outsourcing our children to schools, the author said.
Houston Police Department

A suspect has been charged with manslaughter in a car crash that killed a 70-year-old man this week in northeast Houston, according to police.

Eric Ross, 36, is accused of driving a Honda Accord at a high rate of speed around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday eastbound on West Little York Road near Greater Inwood and crashing into a Toyota Camry.
County library to unveil story walk project in Vanderbilt

The Otsego County Library is hosting a ceremony Saturday to formally open the latest story walk project.
A healthcare worker checks on people under observation after receiving a dose of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a makeshift vaccination site in the Jose Toribio Medina public school, in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Chile has reported its highest daily count of new coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic despite widespread restrictions and widely praised progress on vaccinations.

The government on Saturday reported 7.084 new cases in the South American nation of some 18 million people, topping a previous record in June. It said COVID-19 has become the country's leading cause of mortality, causing 26% of deaths so far this year.

Chile so far has given at least one vaccine shot to more than 29% of the population and both doses to 15%far more than in other nations in the region. But Health Minister Enrique Paris said people should remain cautious since population-level immunity isn't likely until about 80% are vaccinated, probably by about the end of June.

Officials said hospital bed usage has reached 94%, with rising numbers among those 60 and below as older Chileans have been inoculated. The medical association said the system has been strained by depression or exhaustion affecting as many as 30% of medical personnel.

The government has imposed supposedly tight restrictions on three-quarters of the country's municipalities and said Saturday it is tightening limits on people entering from abroad, especially from Brazil.

A man receive a a second dose of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in the Bicentenario Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, March 18, 2021. Chile has become one of the top countries in the world at vaccinating its population against the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

City workers load food kits into a van to be delivered to residents affected economically by the disruptions of the new coronavirus pandemic, in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, March 18, 2021. Fresh outbreaks of COVID-19 have led to renewed lockdowns throughout the country. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

A healthcare worker injects a woman with a dose of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-thru vaccination site at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Explore further Brazil reaches deal for 10 million shots of Russian vaccine

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Amid rapidly rising infection rates in the occupied West Bank that have overwhelmed its limited health care system, hospitals have been forced to turn away COVID-19 patients, prompting the Palestinian Authority to impose a five-day partial lockdown that began on Monday.

UNRWA health staff member assists a Palestine refugee patient at the Am'ari Health Centre, West Bank. (Credit: UNRWA)

The West Bank, with a population of 3.1 million Palestinians, has recorded more than 146,000 cases and 1,667 deaths since March 2020, likely an underestimate given the lack of testing facilities. Daily new infections have surpassed 2,000 for some weeks, largely due to newer and more deadly variants of the disease.

The World Bank said that with more than 21 percent of tests proving positive in the West Bank and 29 percent in Gaza, the pandemic is out of control. Last weekend, there were 20,733 active cases in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while the number of seriously ill patients in the West Bank had risen to 170, of whom 48 were on ventilators.

Comparing the situation with the first and second waves of the pandemic, a Palestinian Authority (PA) health official said that today the picture is much more serious and dangerous, and the atmosphere is that theres no control over anything.

The PAs Health Minister Mai al-Kaileh told the PAs official Wafa news agency that hospital occupancy rates had reached a staggering 110 percent last week, while Ramallah, al-Bireh, Jericho and the Jerusalem suburbs had reached 115 percent. She said that occupancy rates in intensive care units were high, with nearly half of critical COVID-19 patients reliant on respirators.

Local media is replete with stories of people being turned away from hospitals or having to sleep on mattresses in hospital hallways or storage rooms, while others are sleeping on chairs. A Palestinian nurse in Bethlehem described the situation in hospitals as hellish, saying the situation is so much worse than anyone can imagine. She told the Mondoweiss website, We are turning people away, very sick people, because we have nowhere to put them. At this point its like we were waiting for people to die just so that someone else can take their bed or their ventilator.

Middle East Eye cited the case of Issa Saafi who had taken his mother, suffering from COVID symptoms and a heart attack, to Ramallahs public hospital. A video of the visibly distressed Issa speaking to a local Palestinian news station about what happened to his mother went viral on Palestinian social media last week. He explained that with nowhere else to put her, staff wheeled her to a storage room. He said, When we were there, we saw about four nurses treating 80 patients. They couldnt keep up with anyone. On just that first day when I was sitting in the hospital, I saw three people die from COVID-19 in front of me. It was devastating to watch. The hospitals cant keep up. The doctors cant keep up. The doctors kept telling us they are doing their best, but they cant do anything more for us.

But while the virus is killing Palestinians at alarming rates, there is little prospect they will get vaccinated anytime soon.

Responsibility for the horrendous situation in the West Bank lies with Israel, the occupying power. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition government has refused to supply the Palestinians with vaccine. This is a flagrant violation of Israels responsibilities under the 1949 Geneva Convention for the health of the Palestinians living in the areas it controls, including the obligation to ensure medical supplies and preventative measures to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics.

Furthermore, while Israel agreed under the Oslo Accords to co-operate on issues involving health care and epidemics, it in practice reneged on its obligations to the extent that the Palestinians have long endured problems importing medical equipment. Israels opaque security permit system makes it difficult for those in need of life-saving medical care to seek treatment in Israel or abroad.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein arrogantly declared, It is our interest, not our legal obligation, but it is our interest to make sure that Palestinians get the vaccine, that we dont have COVID-19 spreading. He said, First of all we can also look into the so-called Oslo agreements, where it says loud and clear that Palestinians have to take care of their own health.

This has left the PA dependent upon the World Health Organisations COVAX program that has been subject to repeated delays, although it has now begun to receive 12,000 doses of Russias Sputnik V vaccine for medical workers, including 2,000 for health care professionals in Gaza. But several hundred doses of the vaccine were given to PA ministers, their staff, PA officials and their families, Palestinian media figures close to the PA and 200 to the Jordanian royal household, provoking enormous popular anger against the Palestinian elite.

It was only after Israel came under intense international pressure, including from the UN, that it agreed to send a paltry 5,000 doses for Palestinian health care workers as a humanitarian gesture and began vaccinating Palestinians who work in the settlements and in Israel, with some 105,000 Palestinian workers vaccinated to date, to stop the virus spreading within Israel itself.

Israels criminal policy towards the Palestinians is all the more obscene given that Netanyahu has made the vaccination drive the centre piece of his campaign for re-election on March 23, the fourth election in two years. Netanyahu aims to vaccinate the entire population over the age of 16 by the end of April. According to Health Ministry figures released earlier this week, Israel has given the first vaccine shot to 5,200,395 people, of whom 4,291,116 (46 percent of the population) have also had the second.

To achieve this, Netanyahu paid premium prices for the vaccine andin breach of privacy lawshanded over the anonymized but detailed data collected by Israels health care network over to Pfizer. According to the Health Ministry, Israel has paid $788 million so far for the vaccines and expects to pay a similar amount for more doses in the future. This suggests that Israel has paid more than the $23.5 per Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose ($47 per person) reported by the Kan public broadcaster in January, which was higher than the amount that Pfizer had initially said the shots would cost and higher than either the US or the European Union (EU) is paying for the vaccine.

According to the Israeli Democracy Institute (IDI), Israel has bought 24 million doses, enough to vaccinate 12 million people, i.e., the entire population of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories above the age of 16 and still leaving a surplus!

In February, Haaretz reported that hundreds of doses were being thrown away every day due to Israelis cancelling or failing to turn up for their appointments, fuelling Palestinian anger against Israel. At the same time, Netanyahu sought to use this surplus to give to 19 countries, including Guatemala, Honduras and the Czech Republic that had increased their diplomatic presence in Jerusalem, saying I think it buys goodwill, until forced to halt the transfer pending the outcome of a legal challenge in the courts.

This inequitable, irrational and utterly criminal distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is an indictment not just of Israel, but the imperialist powers and the Arab bourgeoisie that have backed Israels suppression of the Palestinians and paved the way for this catastrophe.

It confirms yet again that the global allocation of human resources under capitalism is an abject failure. Despite the wonderful achievement of producing safe and effective vaccines against the disease in less than twelve months, their distribution is subject to the diktat of the markets and the narrow and selfish interests of competing national elites that serve only to prolong the pandemic and social and economic suffering.

The only way forward lies in the independent mobilization and unification of Arab, Jewish and Iranian workers in a common struggle for a Socialist Federation of the Middle East as part of the fight to put an end to capitalism all over the world.
A slide from Bayit's Pesach offerings this year.

Many of you have heard me say that on Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Pesach, it's customary for the rabbi to give a sermon about how to prepare for Pesach. Traditionally speaking, I'm supposed to give you instructions on how to prepare yourselves and your homes for Passover. You know -- here are the five "leavenable" grains, here's how to remove them from your homes for a week, here's the halakha on how to properly clean to remove every last scrap of hametz.

As we approach our second pandemic Pesach, the idea of preparing for Pesach feels different than it ever has before. I mean, if you remove hametz, you can do that the same as you always have. And even if you've never followed that tradition, you can mark the week by making a conscious choice not to eat bread. A week of mindful eating is a valuable experience and a deep way to connect with our traditions. But that's not the kind of preparation with which I'm grappling this year.

It's the inner preparation that's challenging me. Because the pandemic continues. Last year who could've imagined that we'd be here now: preparing for another Zoom community second night seder? Still staying apart to protect each other and ourselves. Many of us still in lockdown mode, or sheltering in place, to prevent the spread of a virus that's still killing 1200 people each day in this country -- about three times as many as last July 4; the equivalent of a 9/11 every three days.

There are three excellent vaccines out in the world now. There is reason to hope that once the population reaches a certain vaccination threshold, we will be able to be together safely again. Elementary schools are even about to re-open! But we are not "there yet." What does it mean to prepare ourselves for liberation when many of us may still feel constrained: by pandemic, by economic challenges, by racism and all the harm it creates, by the reality of anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers?

The haggadah teaches: in every generation one must see oneself as if one had been liberated from Mitzrayim / the Narrow Place -- from tzuris / suffering, from meitzarim / constrictions. How can we see ourselves as if we were going forth from those tight spaces when we are still manifestly living in them? We aren't liberated from COVID. We aren't liberated from racism and hatred. We will celebrate Pesach as a community again via digital means, not "in person." What kind of liberation can this be?

Earlier this winter I worked with a group of poets, artists, rabbis, and liturgists to co-create new materials for the start of seder, recognizing the meitzarim that still bind us so that we can prepare our spirits for the liberation that is not yet quite here. (We'll use those materials at our community seder on Zoom with Rabbi David and the TBE community -- please sign up now, we need your RSVP by Wednesday!) And, there are things we can do practically to prepare our hearts to go free.

Set your seder table with a white tablecloth, if you have one. If not, use a bedsheet... or whatever festive cloth you can find. Make it feel different than on a regular night. It's too early to have spring flowers where we live, but if you can pick up a bouquet at the grocery store, treat yourself: a symbol of spring, something beautiful and festive. Put candles on your festival table: we'll light them to bring the light of the festival into the room and into our hearts.

Create a second seder plate memorializing this COVID year: hand sanitizer, a face mask, a vaccination card if you're fortunate enough to have had a shot. We'll light a memorial candle for the half a million who have died as we move through the door into this year's community seder. And you'll also want a "regular" seder plate symbolizing our ancestral story of freedom: an egg, a roasted shankbone or beet, a sprig of green, haroset, maror. Maybe an orange and an olive.

We'll harness our sensory experiences to bring us into the festival of freedom. The crunch of matzah, the taste of parsley (or whatever you use for karpas, the green vegetable dipped in salt water tears), the sharpness of horseradish and sweetness of haroset... all of these will spiritually hyperlink us with seders past and seders to come. Our people have celebrated Pesach in narrow straits before. Our rituals give us strength, and they connect us with each other and with our Source.

The journey to Passover begins where we are. Not in some imagined reality where the pandemic never happened, but right here and now. And I know with all my heart that when we gather on Zoom for second night seder, the words and the tastes and the rituals will lift us out of where we are and prepare us for the unfolding of something new. The journey to Sinai. The journey to togetherness. The journey to the better world we'll build together on the far side of the sea.

This is the d'varling I offered at Kabbalat Shabbat services (cross-posted to the From the Rabbi blog.)
The streets of Weehawken are humming with that shyly prideful feeling you get when catapulted into sudden fame.

The town has always gotten mentions in history books, but usually theyre just mentions, not a whole chapter  or a whole anthem.

Last week, the anthem arrived. Its in cartoon form and rapped by actor Daveed Diggs, voicing a grey-haired TV character boasting about her hometown. Its called Weehawken Rap, and Apple TV+ debuted it online as a preview for the upcoming season of Central Park.

My kids told me  then my wife told me and then everybody kept playing it to me, said Mayor Richard Turner. Everybodys putting it on their Facebook.

The animated musical Central Park premiered last May and follows the Tillerman family that lives in Manhattans biggest park. Diggs stars as Helen, the assistant to wealthy heiress Bitsy, the Tillermans rival who is eager to erase the park in favor of condos. And Helen just happens to be from Weehawken.

In Weehawken Rap, the actor of Hamilton fame jets from lyrics about the origin of the towns name to notable people from Weehawken (Fred Astaire and that lady who sang Love Shack) and adds some swagger, too  You know Im from Weehawken, Manhattan keep gawkin.

In the chorus, he sings Im from Weehawken. All day we jay walkin. Livin high up on the Palisades, everybody be flockin to Weehawken.

So why is there a whole song about Weehawken in the show?

Between the Hamilton-Burr duel taking place there and also it being where Kate Pierson from the B-52s is from ... it felt like it deserved a song, Executive Producer Steven Davis said. Its also where wed always said Helen was from. And we needed a place across the river that was challenging for Bitsy and Helen to get home from in a blackout.

Lucy Phillips played the song for her second grade Daniel Webster School students last week and said that although some lyrics were a bit above their heads, they were jamming along.

It was funny, as soon as I started playing it some of them were bobbing their heads, Phillips said. It was funny seeing them getting into the beat of it.

The musical group Supercommuter wrote the song and said much of the research process involved Wikipedia since the group had never visited the town.

I even used Google Maps to virtually explore a few areas, like the (Alexander Hamilton-Aaron Burr) dueling grounds, Supercommuter said. It was fun finding ways for Helen to shout out her Jersey pride, and we knew we had to get it right.

Though fans of Central Park wont get to see the new season until June 25, the Weehawken Rap preview came at the perfect time for the town, Turner said.

Weve been through a brutal year, he said. Weve lost 29 residents, weve had so many people come down sick, and its just the perfect upbeat song following a tough year.

The song was blasting at the beginning of Webster Schools most recent PTA meeting, courtesy of president Christine Poulos.

Everyone was talking about how much they loved it, and they were playing it for their kids and their kids were learning the lyrics, Poulos said. Its a pretty exciting thing when your town is famous for five minutes.

Supercommuter said the accolades from Weehawken residents on social media were the most gratifying ones to see.

The love weve seen from Weehawken locals on social media has been crazy, the group said. Thanks, yall, and we hope to visit Weehawken for real some day!
 Flash

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday urged Congress to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in the wake of the deadly shootings in Atlanta that killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent.

"I urge Congress to swiftly pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would expedite the federal government's response to the rise of hate crimes exacerbated during the pandemic, support state and local governments to improve hate crimes reporting, and ensure that hate crimes information is more accessible to Asian American communities," the president said in a statement released by the White House as he departed for Atlanta to meet with Asian community leaders there.

Biden also mentioned that during his first week in office, he signed a presidential memorandum "to condemn and combat racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States."

Eight people, six of whom were Asian and two were white, were killed in three shooting incidents in the Atlanta area by a suspect identified as 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, who is now detained and charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.

The attacks came amid a troubling spike in violence against the Asian American community during the coronavirus pandemic. Although the motive in the carnage has not been determined by police, some public officials and anti-discrimination organizations have raised concerns over the role of racism in the crime.

"While we do not yet know motive, as I said last week, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the ongoing crisis of gender-based and anti-Asian violence that has long plagued our nation," Biden said in the statement.
Future Group may have suffered another temporary setback in court but the group is not in mood to back down, and may soon file an appeal before a division bench of the high court against the single judge bench's March-18 order. The single judge of the Delhi HC had issued a show-cause notice to Future group founder Kishore Biyani while halting the Rs 24,713 crore deal. It also imposed Rs 20 lakh fine and asked why Biyani and other top officials should not be arrested.

They have been asked to remain present in the court for the next hearing in April. The judge said the company will have to deposit Rs 20 lakh as fine for violating the Emergency Award of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), which should be deposited with the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The court has also ordered attachment of properties of Biyani and others related to the Future Group.

The Delhi High Court single judge bench on March 18 upheld the order by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre prohibiting Future Retail from going ahead with its deal with Reliance Retail. The SIAC had restrained the Rs 24,713-crore acquisition deal against a plea by global retail major Amazon.

The Justice JR Midha bench held that Kishore Biyani-led Future Group wilfully violated Singapore Arbitrator's order and directed it not to take further action on the deal.

On August 29, 2020, Future Group announced the Rs 24,713-crore sale of its retail and wholesale assets to Reliance Retail Ltd, the retail subsidiary of Reliance Industries (RIL).

A year before, in August 2019, Amazon had bought 49 per cent stake in Future Coupons for Rs 1,500 crore. The world's largest e-commerce giant says the 2019 deal blocks Future Group from selling shares of Future Retail to rival RIL as it indirectly owned about 3.5 per cent stake in Future Retail.

On October 25, 2020, the SIAC ruled in favour of Amazon and passed an interim order that put the Rs 24,713-crore Reliance Industries-Future deal on hold. The Court had written to BSE and SEBI to uphold the decision. Besides, Amazon had sent a legal notice to Future Coupons over its deal with Reliance.

ALSO READ: Future-RIL deal: Delhi HC halts Rs 24,713 crore acquisition; orders attachment of Biyani's assets

ALSO READ: Future Retail receives operational support from Reliance as deal lingers in courts

ALSO READ: Future Group urges Singapore court to review ruling in Amazon case
Six lions have been found dead and dismembered following suspected poisoning in Ugandas Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The big cats were found with most of their body parts missing and surrounded by dead vultures on Friday evening, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said.

The dead birds suggest the lions may have been poisoned, according to officials, who said illegal wildlife trafficking could not be ruled out.

The UWA condemned the incident as it sought to reassure the public that the park and its wildlife were both still safe.

The agency said in a statement on Saturday: Uganda Wildlife Authority is saddened to announce the death of six lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Read more:

The carcasses of the lions were found last evening at Ishasha sector with most of their body parts missing.

Eight dead vultures were also found at the scene which points to possible poisoning of the lions by unknown people.

A team of investigators is working on the ground alongside police to establish what happened to the animals.

Given that some of the body parts of the lions are missing, we cannot rule out illegal wildlife trafficking, UWA continued.

UWA strongly condemns the illegal killing of wildlife because it does not only impact negatively on our tourism as a country, but also revenue generation which supports conservation and community work in our protected areas.

Uganda Wildlife Authority assures the public that it shall continue to strengthen the protection of lions and other wildlife in Uganda and will pursue this matter to its logical conclusion.

Our national parks remain safe and attractive to visitors and we still have lions in Queen Elizabeth and other parks.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures 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 via 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 via Getty Images World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 6 May 2021 Buddhist monks and believers attend a lantern parade in celebration of the upcoming birthday of Buddha at a temple in Seoul, South Korea Reuters World news in pictures 5 May 2021 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin in Moscow during a flypast rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 May 2021 An elevated metro line collapsed in the Mexican capital on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens injured as a train came plunging down, authorities said AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 May 2021 Lightning bolts strike buildings during a thunderstorm in Bangkok AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 May 2021 Samaritan worshippers arrive to take part in a Passover ceremony on top of Mount Gerizim, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 May 2021 A Gilet Jaune, or yellow vest, protestor stands in front of a burning barricade holding his hand up with an inscription calling for President Macron to resign as May Day Protest turn violent near Place de la Republique in Paris, France Getty World news in pictures 30 April 2021 A demonstrator from the Rio de Paz human rights activist group digs a symbolic grave in front of rows of bags symbolising bodybags on Copacabana beach, during a protest against the Brazilian governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 April 2021 An aerial picture shows dead carp fish flushed to the shores of al-Qaraoun reservoir in Lebanons Western Beqaa District in the countrys east. Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 April 2021 Palestinians take part in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 April 2021 A firefighter inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 14 April 2021 This picture shows the 100 days countdown till the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displayed on the illuminated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo on April 14, 2021 AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 April 2021 This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source shows Buddhist monks gesturing while taking part in a demonstration with protesters against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 April 2021 An Indian holi man during the Kumbh Mela royal bath (Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Thousands of pilgrims are gathering and taking holy dip in Kumbh Mela that is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs after every twelve years and rotates among four locations EPA World news in pictures 11 April 2021 Nasa released images of of sand dunes on Mars captured using infrared reflections NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU World news in pictures 10 April 2021 People watch devotees pulling a chariot in Biska Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal AP World news in pictures 9 April 2021 Maintenance workers clean the monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow on April 9, 2021. - Sixty years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, marking it a new chapter in the history of space exploration. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 8 April 2021 Protesters hold a banner and burning red flares during a demonstration of called by unions of healthcare and social workers in support of their sector and to demand a bonus in their pay in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 7 April 2021 Protesters laying on the street near the Election Commission office in Kolkata during a demonstration demanding the halt of the ongoing state legislative election and campaign rallies amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases AFP/Getty World news in pictures 6 April 2021 Voters stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during third phase of West Bengal state elections in Baruipur, South 24 Pargana district, India AP World news in pictures 5 April 2021 The Statue of Christ appears behind clouds from the Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon as the Portuguese government eased coronavirus restrictions AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 April 2021 Christian worshippers light candles during an Easter service in Yerevan, the Armenian capital AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 April 2021 Anti-coup protesters hold improvised weapons during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmars military Junta continued a brutal crackdown on a nationwide civil disobedience movement in which thousands of people have turned out in continued defiance of live ammunition Getty World news in pictures 2 April 2021 A rescue works at the site after a train derailed in a tunnel north of Hualien, Taiwan Reuters World news in pictures 1 April 2021 Man flashes three-finger salute next to burning tires during a protest against the military c Reuters World news in pictures 31 March 2021 Mannequins wrapped in barrier tape stand in front of Berlins landmark Brandenburg Gate as part of German artist Dennis Josef Mesegs Corona Memorial called It is Like it is AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 March 2021 A ship heads down the Suez Canal, in Ismalia, Egypt EPA World news in pictures 29 March 2021 Flocks of flamingos are pictured in a pond in Navi Mumbai AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 March 2021 Anti-coup protesters use slingshots and pelt stones towards approaching security forces on March 28, 2021 in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmar's military Junta continued a brutal crackdown on a nationwide civil disobedience movement in which thousands of people have turned out in continued defiance of live ammunition. Getty

Poaching is thought to have been on the rise in Uganda since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020.

A lion was reportedly found with body parts missing in Queen Elizabeth National Park in a similar incident back in May.

According to National Geographic, Charles Tumwesigye, UWAs deputy director of field operations, said the agency recorded 367 poaching incidents in its parks between February and May 2020  double the number during the same period in 2019.

Some experts believe this could be down to anti-poaching activities having diminished in the country during the pandemic due to a loss of tourism revenue, while others say locals struggling to feed their families could be setting traps out of desperation.

UWA said tourism contributed almost 10 per cent of Ugandas gross domestic product and 23 per cent of total foreign exports.

Nature tourism has been contributing $1.6bn to the economy and also contributes to the wellbeing of communities surrounding the wildlife protected areas, the agency said.

Tourism revenue plays a critical role in improving the livelihoods of communities around the national parks.
Laguna Beach High School Resumes In-Person Classes

After a year of distance learning over Zoom, Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) and Thurston Middle School have reopened for modified in-person classes.

The change came after Orange County moved into red tier in the states Blueprint for a Safer Economy March 14, and while the schools are not fully back to normal yet, the announcement was celebrated by staff and students.

Laguna Beach High and Thurston Middle each resumed in-person instruction March 17, but only half the students at a time will be allowed in the classroom, with the other half watching through Zoom remotely. The first group attends school Mondays and Wednesdays, with the second attending Tuesdays and Thursdays. All students are scheduled to have class over Zoom on Fridays.

Were so excited to welcome our students back to LBHS, Carrie Denton, a marine biology teacher said in a video posted to Twitter. Were just looking forward to the sounds and all of the fun that class brings.

The high school welcomed back about 300 students on its reopening day, while Thurston middle had about 250.

Part of the schools safety protocols include students wearing masks through the day, lining up in the morning at assigned campus entry points for temperature screenings, and socially -distanced desks. There are no more than 12 students in any given class.

The reopening of in-person classes came as a relief for some students, who have been away from fellow students and friends since last March.

The thing I really like about going back to school is seeing all these people I know, because Ive been stuck at home for such a long time that, when you see people you usually see every day, its like seeing a celebrity, a Thurston Middle School student named Zoe said in a video posted to Laguna Beach Unified School Districts Twitter page.

Its so amazing and its so exciting to reunite with everyone you know.

Thurston Middle School principal Joe Vidal also expressed his appreciation for the return of physical classes.

[Im] so excited to see our kids back, lots of big and happy eyes as our students are coming back here onto campus, he said on Twitter. Were all having positive vibes and the light at the end of the tunnel keeps getting brighter and brighter.
Murray Hospital Welcomes PA to Orthopaedics Staff

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - Murray-Calloway County Hospital recently welcomed Katelyn Fletcher, PA-C, to Murray Orthopaedics.Fletcher completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pensacola Christian College and her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Bethel University. She has completed over 700 hours during her practicum experience in family medicine, womens health, internal medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, dermatology and interventional radiology. She is also a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.Fletcher will join Murray-Calloway County Hospital and the practice of Murray Orthopaedics alongside Dr. Richard Blalock II.For more information, call 270-762-1381 or visit www.murrayhospital.org.
Amid plunging death rates signaling that early immunization efforts already are saving lives across California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that the state will likely make vaccines available to all comers by the end of April.

Californias vaccine supply is expected to increase dramatically by the end of this month, and the state could abandon its eligibility tier structure in five or six weeks, Newsom said at a news conference in San Francisco. So far, vaccines have been strictly limited in California based on age, occupation and other risk factors.

The early emphasis on vaccinating older people and residents of nursing homes, though, appears to be paying off.

Deaths from COVID-19 have plummeted in the Bay Area from the peak of the winter surge, due in large part to people no longer gathering for large holidays. But vaccinations are probably also playing a role, experts said.

In January, the deadliest month of the pandemic so far, the Bay Area reported an average of 54 deaths per day from COVID-19. That rate has been cut more than half, to 22 reported deaths per day so far this month.

Experts say the decrease in deaths can be linked to the end of the surge, and in particular distance from a glut of holidays that encouraged travel and family get-togethers, and that led to subsequent coronavirus infections. They also suspect that vaccinations that are especially good at preventing serious illness and death are having an effect.

This is fabulous news! said Dr. Robert Siegel, a Stanford infectious disease expert. This was expected. For example, many communal living facilities with older individuals have systematically vaccinated all the residents and the care providers.

The general time period between date of infection and date of death is about four to six weeks with the coronavirus. So people dying now were likely infected in February, right when vaccination efforts in nursing homes and for those 75 and older were hitting their stride.

Throughout the pandemic, older people and residents of nursing homes have had much higher rates of death than any other group. In some counties, nursing home deaths have made up half of the total death toll.

Deaths linked to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years gatherings have also likely waned, Siegel said.

So far San Francisco has recorded 25 deaths, a little over one a day, in March. In February and January, San Francisco recorded 98 and 138 deaths, respectively, averaging about four a day. Death statistics for San Francisco use data compiled by The Chronicle based on the date deaths are reported, not necessarily the date someone died. Some death reports lag by several weeks.

Santa Clara County has recorded 115 deaths so far in March, or six per day. Thats a drop of more than 50% from February where the county recorded 13 deaths a day. In January, the county recorded 705 deaths, or about 23 a day.

The Bay Area as a whole has seen a steep drop in COVID deaths, from a high of 1,677 in January to 1,127 in February and 371 so far this month. In California, deaths have fallen from a high of 482 a day in January to 240 a day this month.

Dr. Matt Willis, the Marin County health officer, said he feels confident that at least some of the decreases are due to vaccinations. His county reported 33 deaths to COVID in January and six so far this month.

We started with some of these smaller, more clearly defined settings, like long-term care settings, and saw a very obvious and reassuring drop in cases and hospitalizations and deaths in that setting, he said. Thats a microcosm of what I think were also seeing now over a longer period of time over the population as a whole.

He said the county has given at least one vaccine dose to 45% of the eligible population, or about 25% of the total county population; the vaccines are currently only approved for people 16 and older. Were starting to see the impact. I think the progress were seeing is more and more at least in part attributable to vaccinations, he said.

In Contra Costa County, Dr. Chris Farnitano, the health officer, said that 93% of residents 75 and older had received at least one dose of vaccine, and he could see the payoff in fewer outbreaks in nursing homes and other shared living spaces.

At our peak we had over 60 active outbreaks in nursing homes in January, and now were down to, I think we have seven, he said. Weve seen just a tremendous improvement already. If we do get a fourth wave, Im very hopeful it wont be as deadly because of the vaccines.

Cases also are decreasing week over week in the Bay Area and the state as a whole. But nationally, cases have plateaued recently after a long period of declining, and public health experts have warned that parts of the country could see a resurgence in cases if they dont remain vigilant.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, has repeatedly cautioned that its too soon for states to relax public health guidelines despite increased vaccinations. Hes cited hot spots in the northeast where coronavirus case counts are back on the rise.

Its really quite risky to declare victory before you have the level of infection in the community to a much much lower level than 53,000 cases per day, Fauci said during a White House briefing Friday. It is unfortunate but not surprising to me that you are seeing increases in the number of cases.

Dr. Catherine Blish, an infectious disease expert at Stanford, said she was encouraged that California and the Bay Area continue to see declining cases, especially as variants that are more infectious take hold.

I absolutely find it encouraging that the state has held off another climb in cases so far, Blish said. We were all worried that the (variant from the United Kingdom) had the potential to cause a new outbreak as it had in other places. The fact that it hasnt is a great reflection on the really excellent adherence to public health measures, combined with increased delivery of vaccines.

Dr. George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease expert, said the Bay Area is not out of the woods yet. But with highly effective vaccines reaching some of the most vulnerable populations, the region may never again reach the the fatal peaks reported in winter.

I think we may have put the worst behind us, he said.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Aidin Vaziri and Michael Williams contributed to this report.

Matthias Gafni and Erin Allday San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni @erinallday
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Mar. 19An estimated 1.5 million additional Ohioans are now able to get the coronavirus vaccine as the state expands eligibility to those 40 and older.

People with cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease or obesity regardless of age are also now able to get vaccinated starting today.

Montgomery County already began allowing the 40-plus group to receive the shots this week because of increased supply and available appointments.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the expansion in the state's vaccine rollout Tuesday morning at Ohio's first long-term mass vaccination site in Cleveland.

He also announced that starting March 29 all residents ages 16 and older will be eligible for the vaccine.

"It's a moral imperative that we move as quickly as we can to vaccinate all Ohioans who wish to be vaccinated," DeWine said.

With the state expected to see an increase in vaccine shipments, the governor said he felt comfortable expanding vaccine eligibity.

The state received 400,000 vaccines this week and is expected to receive another 400,000 next week. The week of March 29 Ohio is expected to see an increase of vaccine shipments to 500,000 doses.

The mass vaccination site in Cleveland will receive about 210,000 vaccines over eight weeks, which is in addition to the state's weekly allocation. The site, which launched Wednesday, will be able to vaccinate as many as 6,000 people a day.

Multiple health departments told the governor they were ready to expand vaccine eligibility earlier this week.

"The consensus from talking to the health departments was that we need to open up vaccinations either further," he said.

Currently, no COVID vaccine has been authorized for children in the United States. The Pfizer vaccine was approved for those 16 and older and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine was authorized for ages 18 and older.

As of Thursday, more than 2.5 million have received at least one dose and 1,484,761 people have finished the vaccine, according to the state health department.
The court questioned the jurisdiction and powers vested in the GST authorities in arresting traders on the allegations of tax evasion. (DC file photo)

Hyderabad: Under the guise of GST, it seems an inspector raj is on, the Telangana High Court observed on Friday while hearing a case filed by a steel trader who alleged officials asked him to pay Rs 5 crore as bribe to get out of a tax-evasion case.

The court questioned the jurisdiction and powers vested in the GST authorities in arresting traders on the allegations of tax evasion.

A division bench comprising Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar observed that it seemed the GST officials were wrongly following the lines of the local police handling matters of law and order.

The bench heard a petition from J.S. Sridhar Reddy of Bharani Commodities, which runs steel business in the wholesale market. He submitted that he was in Singapore on February 27, 2019, when a search of his house and office premises at Punjagutta was done by the GST anti-evasion cell. After the search, they took his wife to their office at Basheerbagh and she was made to remain there up to 4 am the next day, after officials accused that his firms indulged in a tax evasion of the order of Rs 8.74 crore.

He told the court that the officials Anand Kumar, C. Sudha Rani and B. Srinivasa Gandhi had demanded that he pay Rs 5 crore as bribe to them to escape from the case.

These officials told me that the amount would be handed over to the principal commissioner M Srinivas and the money will be shared between officials as per a secret understanding between them, the petitioner said.

The petitioner said the tax evasion charges were being registered against him based on statements given by third parties and he was not allowed to cross-examine them.

Citing Supreme Court orders in similar cases, in which the apex court allowed cross-examination, the petitioner complained that the GST officials took a different stand. Thereon, the bench criticised the GST authorities and allowed the petitioner to cross examine the third parties who had given statements against him and his companies.
Santa Ana Signs Contract With Nonprofit to Remove Homeless From Parking Lot

The city of Santa Ana has come to an agreement with a local nonprofit that was allowing more than 40 homeless people to camp out on its parking lot.

The agreement, approved on March 17, gives the encampment 45 days to move out of El Centro Cultural de Mexicos parking lot.

The situation at El Centro, a 837 N. Ross St. cultural center, initially began with a few people sleeping in cars on its parking lot. It soon grew into a larger crowd, which sparked conflict between the nonprofit, neighbors, and the city itself.

Complainants said they grew tired of issues with trash, noise, and homeless people using nearby alleys as bathrooms.

El Centro was apprehensive about removing the group or reporting them to the police, as it didnt want to risk people getting fined.

Prior to signing the agreement, the city threatened an abatement warrant against the nonprofit that would have allowed police officers to remove the encampment.

While the agreement signed requires El Centro to clear the encampment within 45 days, the city agreed in exchange to provide the homeless with four portable toilets and a wash station. It will host two intensive outreach events at the property during the 45-day period.

The city will also forgive the $1,800 in fines it has given the nonprofit since last May.

Santa Ana city manager Kristine Ridge expressed her satisfaction with the agreement in a statement sent to The Epoch Times.

I am pleased to have reached an agreement with El Centro Cultural de Mexico that will allow us to help the unhoused individuals living on the property get access to shelter and services, while also ensuring that the site is cleaned up and ending its negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. I would like to thank El Centro for collaborating with the city to find a humane solution that will help us maintain a safe and clean community, Ridge said.

The agreement also adds other rules that El Centro must follow to continue receiving the citys services.

El Centro shall ensure that the number of homeless individuals on the property is never greater than  twenty-five individuals and once the nuisance conditions are cured, El Centro shall not thereafter permit its property to be used as shelter or a sleeping space for the homeless, the contract reads.

The city will stop all enforcement actions against the nonprofit unless there is a breach of contract.

Additionally, the city will be allowed to step in where necessary to commence enforcement actions in the event there are imminent threats to public health, safety, or welfare that could endanger the general public or any of the occupants of the property, or if nuisance conditions worsen.
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Published:

5 March 2021





Authors: Evangelia (Lilian) Tsourdi, Assistant Professor and Dutch Research Council (NWO) VENI grantee at Maastricht University and Niovi Vavoula, Lecturer in Migration and Security at Queen Mary University of London

The Curious Case of Permits of Movement Obtained Through SMS

A primary way to contain the spread of Covid-19 has been the imposition of physical distancing through temporary lockdown and stay-at-home requirements. The Greek government issued a ban on all unnecessary traffic from March 23, which lasted until 4 May. Similar restrictions of movement of various degree and intensity were further imposed on November 1 and are currently ongoing. Anyone on the move falling within one of the expressly listed exceptions, such as grocery shopping, appointment with a doctor or a public authority etc. is required to carry an identification document as well as a permit of movement. This form can be obtained by filling out an online form, or the most popular option- sending a mobile message to a dedicated number the General Secretariat of Civil Protection (   ) operates. In obtaining permission via SMS, the individual is required to provide their name and surname, code number corresponding to the purpose of movement and residence address. In the event of a random police check individuals are required to demonstrate their permit, otherwise a fine may be imposed.

Interestingly, the rules on the processing of personal data obtained through SMS have been released online merely through a soft law document on the data protection policy, without prior scrutiny, consultation or transparency. In turn, despite the increasing volume of Covid-19-related legal instruments, the requirement for permits of movement is not laid down in law. The policy is written in Greek only, which does not enable foreigners living in the country to obtain information as to how their personal data are being processed. The policy explicitly proscribes centralised storage and thus data must be deleted immediately, but there is possibility that data are anonymised and used for statistical purposes.

The policy has raised significant concerns due to its use of legal language that may not be understandable and accessible to the public; the lack of reference to the fact that sensitive data is collected -as one of the exceptions justifying movement is a doctor appointment-; the confusion as to whether the information submitted by individuals could be transferred to third parties, and in general as to who the recipients of the information contained in an SMS are. Furthermore, Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) requires that persons whose personal data are processed must be informed about the purposes of the data processing and the details of the data protection officer, both of which elements are missing from the policy. Despite these concerns, the Greek Data Protection Authority has not issued any relevant guidelines. Besides, with the reintroduction of the requirement for permits of movement in November 2020, the data protection policy re-emerged online without any revisions to address the voiced concerns.

More worryingly, in November 2020 it was made known that an automatic decision refusing a permit of movement is possible in cases of an increased number of messages coming from specific geographical areas. This automated individual decision-making significantly affects the position of individuals - according to Article 22(2)(b) of the GDPR, automated decision-making may take place for specific reasons, one of which is if authorised by a Member State, which applies in the present case. However, that Article further requires safeguards to be laid down, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and to contest the decision. This is not the case here.

Finally, doubts as to whether SMS data are anonymised or remain personalised have also been voiced. Whereas it may be useful for the administration to know how many people send an SMS invoking a particular exception as a reason for movement, it is worrying that in the case of protests that took place in front of the American Embassy on 17 November 2020, authorities were aware of the reason of movement its participants had used to obtain their permit of movement.

Overall, this lack of transparency and clarity in the elaboration of the data protection policy raises significant issues of circumvention of the legislative process and unlawfulness. By elaborating the data protection policy through soft law the importance of the rights to respect for private life and protection of personal data has been downgraded, and data protection law seems to have been relativised for reasons of public interest and public health. A negative precedent of normalised, unlawful processing personal data en masse has thus been created.

Restrictions to the Freedom of Movement of Asylum Seekers: A Case Study in Othering?

During the first wave of the pandemic, with the exception of implications for privacy and data protection, a series of generally applicable measures have been largely necessary and proportionate, as we analyse in greater detail here. This is due to their time-bound nature, their active review, and their prompt lifting based on objective indicators, such as the epidemiological situation in the country.

A different position altogether was adopted regarding restrictions on the freedom of movement of asylum seekers. On 17 March 2020, the General Secretariat for Reception of Asylum Seekers of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum issued several guidelines (), the so-called Agnodiki plan, that were addressed to all asylum reception centers, as well as reception and identification centers, in Greece. The guidelines, a soft law instrument, set out different levels of Covid-19 response. They established far-reaching restrictions, including the suspension of any recreational activities and schooling. They also limited the movements of asylum seekers both outside and within these centres to those strictly necessary.

Upholding these far-reaching limitations, which deviated from the restrictions applicable to the general population both in terms of the nature of the measures and of their duration, through guidelines alone would have been constitutionally dubious. These initial soft law guidelines were, however, swiftly followed up by legally binding measures. Ever since restrictions are specified and concretely based on legally binding measures. However, the soft-law Agnodiki Plan, is the document which sets out the overall operational philosophy and, hence, underpins these legally binding documents. On 21 March 2020, a Joint Ministerial decision was issued (D1a/GP.oik20030/21/3/2020, OJ 985/2020) crystallising far-reaching restrictions to the freedom of movement of asylum seekers in Reception and Identification Centers, initially for a one-month duration. These limitations included the possibility to circulate outside the centers, but only between 07:00-19:00, and only for the purpose of covering basic needs. In addition, the decision abolished any activities in the centers and camps other than those related to housing, subsistence, and healthcare provision. These restrictions were repeatedly renewed through subsequent legal instruments, most recently until 1st March 2021. Moreover, apart from these generally applicable restrictions, even stricter restrictions applied in specific centers based on joint ministerial decisions (OJ 1584/2020 extended several times).

There are several legal concerns with the approach Greece took regarding asylum seekers. First, the conditions in several of these centres arguably violate the principles of human dignity and the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment. To illustrate, asylum seekers on the islands hotspots, where many are accommodated, face unsanitary conditions. There was only one shower for every 500 people, and one toilet for every 160, and meal services were congested. This led the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament, numerous civil society organisations, and the EUs Fundamental Rights Agency, the European Court of Human Rights, which ordered interim measures in the case of E.I. and others v. Greece, to call for the evacuation of refugee camps in Greece and for the activation of intra-EU solidarity measures. Despite these calls, neither Greece nor the EU facilitated a mass evacuation of these camps. Instead, the EU facilitated small scale, ad hoc relocation, meaning intra-EU transfer of asylum seekers from Greece to other Member States, mainly targeting unaccompanied minors as one of us has analysed here.

The second observation relates to restrictions on freedom of movement of asylum seekers. These restrictions were not only incompatible with fundamental rights due to the living conditions in camps, but were more intense and lasted longer compared to those applicable to the general population. According to international human rights law,[1] while freedom of movement can be restricted for reasons of public health these restrictions should also comply with the principle of necessity (see ICCPR, art 12, para 3). With the easing of restrictions for the general population based on the improved epidemiological situation in the country, it is not clear whether this condition was fulfilled, and on which basis the risk posed by this specific group was assessed. If anything, immobilising asylum seekers in squalid conditions, where social distancing and other hygiene measures were rendered almost impossible, arguably jeopardised both public health and their right to health.

Conclusion

Greeces handling of the first wave of the pandemic, while effective, was not beyond reproach. The greatest victims were asylum seekers who saw their right to freedom of movement arguably unjustifiably restricted when limitations were lifted for the rest of the population. The permits of freedom of movement through SMS also raise issues of compliance with privacy and data protection safeguards, which persist to date. With Covid-19 restrictions currently in full swing, it is to be hoped that Greeces and the EUs responses will place the health, dignity, and fundamental rights of every individual at their core.

[1] Greece has neither signed, nor ratified Additional Protocol 4 to the ECHR which establishes in its Article 2 the right to freedom of movement.
Mar. 19Though some programs are still in development, attendees at a Friday, March 19, North Dakota Department of Commerce business briefing outlined how the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will impact businesses and people receiving unemployment benefits.

ARPA, the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus program signed into law by President Biden on March 11, will continue the Paycheck Protection Program, a popular forgivable loan program for small businesses, and has added additional funds to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance program. A Restaurant Revitalization Fund also has been established by the aid package. Some of the programs take a slight turn from previous iterations, by pivoting to focus more on businesses that have few employees and are in economically hard hit, or low income areas.

"2020 was a year of trying to find balance, and our businesses were resilient as they dealt with many of the challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic," North Dakota Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford said at Friday's Department of Commerce briefing. "We are now one of the leading states on vaccinating our citizens, and we're focused on getting our business economy back on track."

The following is an overview of financial assistance programs, including unemployment insurance, either extended or created by ARPA. More information is available at sba.gov/coronavirusrelief, or by contacting Job Service of North Dakota:



PPP loans have been expanded to include all nonprofit 501c(3) organizations that have fewer than 300 employees. Internet publishers are also now eligible to apply. Businesses that have already had a PPP loan can apply for a "Second Draw" loan, provided they already have used funds from the first loan on eligible expenses, including payroll. Second Draw loans also will be available for borrowers, if they can show they will have used all the original funds before the second loan is disbursed. PPP loans originate with a business' local lender, and top out at $2 million.

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The SBA's EIDL Advance program has been allocated additional funds to provide small businesses with grants of up to $10,000. An additional $5,000 is available for businesses with 10 or fewer employees, who are located in a qualified low-income area. The businesses must show a 50% drop in revenue due to the pandemic.



According to Al Haut, district director for the SBA in North Dakota, the EIDL Advance should not be confused with a traditional EIDL loan, a staple disaster loan program for small businesses. EIDL loans are just that, loans, and need to be paid back, though payments have been waived through 2021.



The $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund is somewhat of an enigmatic program at the moment. Language in ARPA does not clearly identify the program as a grant, though Haut said funds would likely come in that form. The program gives restaurants, food trucks, carts, stands, and the like funds that equal 2019 revenue, minus 2020 revenue, less a PPP loan. If a business earned $1 million in 2019, and $400,000 in 2020, and had a $100,000 PPP loan, they could receive $500,000. The fund will prioritize restaurants owned by women, veterans and socially disadvantaged people. Grants, if that is what they are, top out at $5 million per location, to a maximum of $10 million. Calculations will be available for new restaurants that don't have full 2019 receipts, or started up in 2020. Funds may not be used for expansion or new equipment purchases, but otherwise appear to give owners a wide latitude on how they may be spent. SBA will likely distribute these funds to applicants directly, and the agency is awaiting further guidance for the program.



The application window for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, established under previous legislation, but bolstered by ARPA, will open at www.sba.gov/svogrant on April 8. The grant will provide entertainment venues with up to 45% of their gross earned revenue, to a max of $10 million. Applicants for this grant can still apply for a PPP loan, but the award will be decreased by the amount of the loan. Venue operators can not have both an SVOG and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant.



Pandemic Unemployment Assistance has been extended to Sept. 6, as have other federal benefits to unemployment insurance created due to the pandemic. PUA extends benefits to those not eligible, including self-employed and gig workers, for up to 79 weeks.



Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which gives benefits to those who have exhausted state unemployment has also been extended until Sept. 6, or up to 54 weeks of eligibility, as has the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which provides an additional $300 per week in benefits.



Since March 16, the state of North Dakota has paid out $1.09 billion in unemployment, with $404 million of that coming in state benefits. According to Phil Davis, workforce services director for Job Service of North Dakota, there were over 15,000 jobs available in the state, as of February 2021. In Grand Forks County, there were 1,492 openings listed with Job Service, down from the same time last year, when 1,544 jobs were available. Davis said he is not concerned about the decrease in job openings, which have happened in some metro areas in the state, as the decrease is not significant. Cass and Ward counties have added jobs, while Burleigh, Grand Forks, Williams and Stark counties have fewer job openings than the previous year.
It has all the flourishes of an overblown melodrama: a stricken leader croaking out a desperate final instruction to his gathered aides as he fights for his life.

And as Boris Johnson prepared to be admitted to hospital with a near-fatal case of Covid last April, he made his sickbed wishes abundantly clear.

'Raab! Not Gove!' the Prime Minister rasped, leaving no doubt about which of his lieutenants should take the reins of power while he was incapacitated.

The directive was not, perhaps, unexpected: at the time, trust between Mr Johnson and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, was, to put it mildly, not high.

Dominic Raab's steady, unshowy performance at press briefings, right, earned the gratitude of Mr Johnson, left, when he returned to Downing Street

Just four years earlier, Mr Gove had been Mr Johnson's political assassin in the post-referendum Tory leadership campaign, and was still working to persuade Mr Johnson of his loyalty.

So Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was entrusted to be the stand-in as the Prime Minister embarked on his fight for life at St Thomas's Hospital.

Mr Raab's steady, unshowy performance earned the gratitude of Mr Johnson when he returned to Downing Street. As for Mr Gove, relations appear to have been patched up.

An ally of Mr Johnson says: 'Boris and Michael work very closely on a number of policy areas, and relations are now good.'

The story has emerged as Mr Johnson's former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, prepares to give public evidence about the decisions taken in Downing Street at the height of the crisis.

His decision to speak out has led to intense nervousness among officials about what the maverick aide will reveal about the timings of lockdowns and the balance between protecting the NHS and the economy.

The directive was not, perhaps, unexpected: at the time, trust between Mr Johnson and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, was, to put it mildly, not high

Early missteps over masks, testing, protective equipment and quarantine for travellers, as well as rows about whether a policy of herd immunity was being pursued, will all be aired when Mr Cummings appears before the Commons Health Committee in May.

He is expected to argue that Mr Johnson imposed the second lockdown too late last autumn, under pressure from a more cavalier wing of Tory backbenchers.

Mr Cummings was present at a meeting on September 18 when Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, and others including Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, and Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, tried in vain to persuade Mr Johnson to introduce a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown to stop the 'crash' of a second wave.

At the start of that month, the number of new Covid-19 cases had been averaging about 2,200 a day; by the time of the meeting it was nearly 5,000. Because of his fears for the economy, Mr Johnson did not announce the second lockdown until cases were heading towards 30,000 a day at the end of October.

Mr Cummings gave a taster of his likely evidence on Wednesday, when he told the Commons Science Committee that the Department of Health had a 'total disaster' with its procurement of personal protective equipment.
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US Defense secretary Lloyd Austin called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held talks with NSA Ajit Doval on Friday. Later today, a meeting with Indian defense Minister Rajnath Singh took place where the two reviewed bilateral and multilateral exercises, and pledge to uphold rule-based order in the Indo-pacific region.

India and the USA focussed on their military engagement and its expansion during a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Indias Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. a joint statement got released today by both the leaders after the meeting which included discussions on wide-ranging defense cooperation, information sharing, and mutual logistics support.

Mr. Singh read out the statement which declared that both the countries focussed on expanding military-to-military engagement. he further stated that the talks have been comprehensive and fruitful with the US Secy and his delegation. the two sides reviewed the bilateral defense pacts, namely, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and Security agreement and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)

The Joe Biden administration will provide India access to better technologies and capabilities in order to enforce the rule of International law in the Indo-Pacific region, a statement by some officials said after the meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. the US top official landed in New Delhi on Friday evening as part of Joe Bidens administrative efforts to forge an alliance of countries to deal with Chinas assertiveness in the Indo-pacific region.

The Pentagon chief met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in a two-hour-long meeting that was said to be positive with both the leaders exchanging notes on the security environment in Asia and beyond. the US Defense Secy is scheduled to meet his Indian Counterpart, Rajnath Singh, on Saturday and is expected to hold talks on boosting bilateral ties and strengthening the presence in the Indo-Pacific region, and countering the growing influence of aggressive China.

Austin meetings with PM Modi and NSA Chief Ajit Doval has laid out a firm foundation for India and the US to enforce international law in the Ind-pacific region bilaterally and through the QUAD platform. the meeting with NSA Doval revolved around key topics from areas of mutual interests to cooperation on various aspects of security and defense.

Recent updates via Twitter:

#LloydInIndia We agreed for increased cooperation b/w Indian military, US Indo-Pacific command, Centre Command & Africa Command: Defence Min Rajnath Singh & US Defence Secy Lloyd Austin issue joint statement pic.twitter.com/HJDKYlnlDE  NewsX (@NewsX) March 20, 2021

Also Read:

The top US Defense official attended the wreath-layering ceremony at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Saturday. following this event, he was accorded Guard of honor at Vigyan Bhawan in the nations capital and was received by Indias defense minister Rajnath Singh and the two are about to hold a discussion on the bilateral ties of India and the U.S.

Also Read:
Wenxiu Zhao, a 54-year-old woman from Vernon Hills, said in an interview she attended because she is a lifelong protester for what she believes is right. She was there during the 1989 Tiananmen Square student uprisings in Beijing, and she was in Chicago on Saturday because shes afraid for herself and her daughter, a college student. This past Sunday, she said her daughter was walking down a sidewalk when a car sped past her and someone yelled, You Communist Party member!
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Voting was underway on Saturday in the to Goa's six municipal councils and the prestigious Corporation of the City of Panaji.

The state will also witness three bypolls, namely in one ward of the Sanquelim Municipal Council, one zila panchayat seat and in one village panchayat ward.

According to Secretary of the State Election Commission Melvyn Vaz, 96,567 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the

"A total of 423 candidates are contesting the to the six municipalities and one municipal corporation," Vaz said.

The vote count will take place on March 22.

The process for the municipal polls, which are not being held on party lines, has been struck by a series of controversies.

Originally, 11 municipalities and one municipal corporation (along with by the three bypolls) were set to go to polls on March 20, until the Bombay High Court earlier this month faulted ward reservation proceedings for women, SC, ST and OBC candidates, in five municipal councils namely Margao, Mormugao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem postponing the polls in the named municipalities.

The Supreme Court later upheld the High Court order and postponed the elections to the same five municipalities, directing the State Election Commission to complete the poll process by April 30.

In yet another controversy, opposition MLAs have complained to the poll authority as well as state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to direct Chief Minister Pramod Sawant not to present a full fledged budget on March 24, fearing that budgetary announcements and policy announcements would influence voters registered in the five municipalities, where elections have been postponed.

--IANS

maya/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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The problems at the migrant camp inside Midland County continue to mount.

On Friday, state officials said the former man camp turned into a federal facility for juvenile migrants does not have safe water.

The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality sent notice to Gov. Greg Abbott and state Rep. Tom Craddick that the facility leased by the Biden Administration for unaccompanied minors has failed to secure safe water. That was how Craddick described his communication with the TCEQ.

The Biden Administration has taken in these children and failed to provide them with a minimum of safe water to drink and bathe in, Craddick offered in a statement.

I consider this to be a human tragedy. With the lack of clean water we are jeopardizing the health and safety of these children. The facility will now have to transport water for these unaccompanied minors for an extended period. Unsafe water creates a living situation to which these children should not be exposed. I appreciate TCEQ for acting quickly in the best interest of these children. I implore the Biden Administration to secure our borders."

The Reporter-Telegram sent emails to the TCEQ about the Cotton Logistics facility Wednesday night/Thursday morning, asking if there is adequate, approved and permitted water and wastewater facilities for 677 individuals and whether the federal government selected a facility that did not meet public water supply standards to house minors? As of press time, the TCEQ was still preparing a response to all the questions related to its water supply and sewer system.

TCEQ officials did offer this statement to the Reporter-Telegram on Friday evening.

The TCEQ earlier today required Cotton Logistics, Inc. (CN605616715) to issue a Do Not Use advisory due to the unknown quality of drinking water produced at the existing facility, Cotton Logistics Midland Man Camp (RN110007242). The Do Not Use advisory is being issued in an abundance of caution to protect against possible risks from water ingestion. The water may be used for flushing of toilets and clothes washing but should not be used for human consumption purposes such as drinking, cooking, bathing or washing hands.  Cotton Logistics is preparing a plan, which must be approved by TCEQ, to haul potable water to the site using a TCEQ-approved water hauler.

About permits that the owner of the property has at the facility southwest of the city of Midland, the TCEQ responded with the following:

 Drinking water - TCEQ Water Supply Division records indicate the system registered at the address provided is not an active public water system. In October 2017, TCEQ received a request to register Pines RV Park as a proposed public water system, which included plans and specifications to drill a well to service the park. In January 2018, the applicant notified TCEQ that they would not be drilling the well to serve the park and were no longer pursuing the public water system.

- TCEQ Water Supply Division records indicate the system registered at the address provided is not an active public water system. In October 2017, TCEQ received a request to register Pines RV Park as a proposed public water system, which included plans and specifications to drill a well to service the park. In January 2018, the applicant notified TCEQ that they would not be drilling the well to serve the park and were no longer pursuing the public water system. Wastewater - Cotton Logistics Inc. and The Pines RV Park have a domestic wastewater discharge permit (WQ0015764001). 

Cotton Logistics has not responded to multiple calls from the Reporter-Telegram about the decision to lease the facility to the federal government or about possible water and sewer issues at the Midland County location  OneLodge Midland. On its website, Cotton Logistics is listed as being based in Katy. It also lists having locations in other Texas cities, including Pecos.

The news of the water issues adds to the problems the Biden administration is having with the facility in Midland. Those problems, according to Reporter-Telegram and Associated Press reports, include more than 50 COVID positive tests, the lack of Spanish speaking staff on site, the lack of new clothes for the migrants and no case managers on site to begin processing the minors release to family elsewhere in the U.S.

The Biden Administration has been an abject failure when it comes to ensuring the safety of unaccompanied minors who cross our border, Abbott offered in a statement. The conditions unaccompanied minors face in these federally run facilities is unacceptable and inhumane. From a lack of safe drinking water in one location to a COVID-19 outbreak in another, the Biden Administration has no excuse for subjecting these children to these kinds of conditions. President Biden's refusal to address the border crisis is not only enabling criminal actors like human traffickers and smugglers, but it is exposing innocent unaccompanied children to illness and potentially unsafe living conditions. The administration must act now to keep these children safe, secure our border and end this humanitarian crisis.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 14:37:23|Editor: huaxia

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This undated file photo shows ivory carving relics unearthed from a sacrificial pit of the Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Chinese archaeologists announced Saturday that some new major discoveries have been made at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China, helping shed light on the cultural origins of the Chinese nation. Archaeologists have found six new sacrificial pits and unearthed more than 500 items dating back about 3,000 years at the Sanxingdui Ruins in Sichuan Province, the National Cultural Heritage Administration announced in the provincial capital Chengdu. (Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archeology Research Institute/Handout via Xinhua)

CHENGDU, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese archaeologists announced Saturday that some new major discoveries have been made at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China, helping shed light on the unified, diverse origin of the Chinese civilization.

Archaeologists have found six new sacrificial pits and unearthed more than 500 items dating back about 3,000 years at the Sanxingdui Ruins in Sichuan Province, the National Cultural Heritage Administration announced in the provincial capital Chengdu.

So far, archaeologists have unearthed various important cultural items from four of the pits, including pieces of gold masks, gold foil, bronze masks, bronze trees and large numbers of ivories. Pieces of miniature ivory sculptures, carbonized rice and seeds of trees were also excavated. The rest of the newly discovered pits are still under excavation.

"Surprisingly, we have unearthed some never-heard-of-before bronze ware items," said Lei Yu, with the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute. "For instance, some large and delicate bronze ware items have bizarre-looking dragon or cow designs on them."

In another major discovery, residues of silk and textile products were unearthed for the first time at Sanxingdui, indicating "the ancient Shu Kingdom was one of the important origins of silk in ancient China," according to Tang Fei, head of the excavation team and chief of the institute.

The new pits sit next to two sacrificial pits discovered in 1986. They are rectangular, with areas ranging between 3.5 square meters and 19 square meters. Together they form an area in which people of the ancient Shu civilization offered sacrifices to heaven, earth and their ancestors, and prayed for prosperity and peace.

The Sanxingdui Ruins is dubbed as one of the greatest archeological finds of mankind in the 20th century. The site was accidentally discovered by a farmer when he was digging a ditch in the 1920s. Covering 12 square km, the ruins are located in the city of Guanghan, about 60 km from Chengdu and are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back at least 4,800 years and lasting over 2,000 years.

"The new discoveries will enrich and deepen our understanding of the Sanxingdui culture," said Song Xinchao, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

The ancestral types of some bronze items unearthed at Sanxingdui can be found in the Central Plains or other areas along the Yangtze River, which is powerful evidence of frequent exchanges and the unified, diverse origin of the Chinese civilization, according to Chinese researchers.

Jay Xu, head of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, told Xinhua that the highly developed bronze ware art at Sanxingdui "made it outstanding among many regional civilizations in China and unique among ancient civilizations."

In 1986, a large number of unique relics were unearthed in the No. 1 and No. 2 pits, arousing global interest. So far, more than 50,000 pieces of relics have been unearthed at Sanxingdui.

More than 30 institutions have participated in the latest round of excavation work, featuring the use of modern technologies and integration of excavation and preservation. Enditem
MADISON  Jody Catalano served a vital role for those in her family and beyond.

As a mother, her family said she pushed her children to succeed and strongly advocated for her daughter, who is on the autistic spectrum.

To her husband, she was a partner who helped him think about situations in a different perspective.

To her father, she was a people person who was just beginning to hit her stride in her professional life.

Catalano, a 52-year-old Madison woman who died in a snowmobiling accident in Vermont last week, left behind family and friends who are trying to cope without her.

Her husband, Mike Catalano, said she was in Vermont with a friend from one of her coffee groups  looking to have a little time away. He said she really enjoyed snowmobiling, and had not done so in a long time.

It was something she was looking forward to, he said. She liked Vermont. We used to go to Vermont all the time. This was an opportunity for her to get away, decompress for a couple days and have some fun.

Catalano said his wife was a devoted mother who loved her children and was always there to support them, whether that meant in the audience at a choir concert or working the concession stand at a sporting event.

She was very proud of all of them, he said.

Catalano said she worked tirelessly to get the best services for their daughter, Gianna.

She taught me how to be strong and stick up for yourself, Gianna said.

Gianna, 21, said she and her mom liked to spend quality time together, and took mommy-daughter trips.

We would go like once a year to Florida  just me and her, she said. We would also get our nails done, get coffee sometimes and take walks.

Mikey Catalano, a 19-year-old and the oldest of Jodys two sons, said his mom meant everything to him and his brother, but she was Giannas world.

I will be as big of an advocate for my sister for my entire life, he said. Without that push that my mom had, Gianna wouldnt have access to half the stuff she has access to.

Like the rest of his family, Mikey said his mother made sure everything in the Catalano house ran smoothly.

I dont know how we would have functioned in this house without her, he said. How stuff would have ever gotten done or how people would have gotten places. She was on top of it.

When he has a family, Mikey says he plans to take all the pages out of his moms book. He said he was extremely grateful for everything she did.

Mikey said his mom always found time to text him when he was on break from work and ask if he wanted to go out for lunch.

It was really because I think we wanted to see each other succeed in the best ways possible, he said. We were both independent kids when we were growing up. She said she was just like me when she grew up. We never wanted to see each other fail and would do anything to prevent that.

Mikey said he was just getting home when the police notified the family of his mothers death.

Mikey said his mom taught him to be an advocate, and help others in many ways.

I put a lot of other people before me, and sometimes thats not a good thing, but I value that, he said. I think I really got it from watching her. She was a teacher. She worked with people with disabilities  and my sister. She would always put those kids first.

When thinking about special memories of his mother, Mikey said it is the little things that come to mind. With opposite work schedules, things like going to lunch and watching television together meant a lot.

Jody was also a group home manager for the nonprofit Sarah-Tuxis, which provides services to those with disabilities.

Mike Catalano, who married Jody in 1997, said she loved working with the individuals in her home.

Catalano said he proposed to her on a trip to France, at the Eiffel Tower. He said they were opposites, adding that he was the free-wheeler and she was more grounded.

It wound up fitting really well, he said. We worked well together. She was beautiful. She had a wonderful smile. I was really smitten with her.

He said Jody did everything for their kids, and made sure they had everything they needed. He said she loved traditions, especially making cinnamon rolls on holidays and birthdays.

Jodys happy place, Mike said, was at the beach with a good book. He said she also liked to take walks on the beach in Madison.

Another way Jody liked to spend her time, Mike said, was getting together with friends for coffee at Starbucks. He said she was always great at staying in touch with people, and that her coffee groups would frequently go down to East Wharf Beach Park to chat.

She was kind of a fixture, he said. She was really attuned to making sure she connected to people who she knew needed attention. The funny thing is that she really was an introvert ... but she was a really good friend to people and she always was the one to make sure she had time for people.

Jodys father, George Hall, said she was at a point in life when she was just bursting and hitting her stride professionally.

She was a people person  both professionally and personally, he said. She was great at just walking in a room and seeking out the person who might not have a big smile on his or her face. Jody could take care of that.

Mike said Jody was an empathetic, friendly and a fierce advocate for her daughter and others with special needs who needed support and encouragement.

She was a really good friend to a lot of people, he said.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Jody Catalano to Autism Services & Resource Connecticut. Donations can be made on its website.
In the summer of 1787, close by the steamy Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, fifty-five perspiring men, unpaid volunteers representing themselves, their families, and communities, worked in a room with the windows closed so they could speak freely. They were laboring to write a constitution for the now united, no longer rebellious colonies, that were independent states with their own stamps and virtually worthless paper money. They wanted a more perfect union than that which the defective Articles of Confederation had produced. They were gentlemen farmers, merchants, lawyers, some highly educated. These men could pick up a text in classical Greek and sight-translate it into Latin.

In the same weeks, Thomas Jefferson, the principal author eleven years earlier of their Declaration of Independence was in Paris as the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of King Louis XVI. He spent his workdays corresponding with other diplomats and men of business, and his evenings dining with some of Europes most respected thinkers.

This was the Paris of Voltaire, who had died just seventeen years earlier, on the cusp of the American Revolution. When Jeffersons European dinner companions learned what was going happening in Philadelphia -- the attempt to create a democratic republic, meaning a republic in which the demos, the common man, would have a say in the affairs of the state -- they guffawed at the foolishness of the effort. They told Jefferson it was settled wisdom that monarchy was the best system for the simple-minded and uneducated common man. For the European scene, they had a point. So many were indeed unlettered peasants and serfs.

But Jefferson countered that they did not know Americans. They were not like that at all. One historian reckoned that 93% of Americans in this period were yeoman farmers. Land was breathtakingly vast and available in America. All a young couple needed when starting out was an ax for the man to chop down trees and build their home; and a rifle for self-defense from the aboriginals, as they sometimes called the Indians, and for meat, which was plentiful and cheap. Americas forests teemed with deer.

They also needed some seed to start growing their own food; a mule and a plow that dragged him along, as she put up preserves and sewed their clothes. And if they had only one book in their cabin, it was the Bible that they could and did read. When other families came into the area to build their homes, they raised one anothers barns and eventually a church with no help from any government.

These growing communities built schools for their children and hired teachers. Jefferson told Europes deep thinkers that in America, his people were not illiterate peasants and serfs. While he agreed that a democratic republic cannot succeed with a population of uneducated people, he argued that Americans were not like that at all.

But that was then, and its possible that America has grown closer to that European model for the elites have nothing but disdain for the demos. Take, for example, the judicial ruling last week that Michigans Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, representing the party founded by Jefferson, had broken several state laws, including an order, made all by her lonesome, to send out absentee ballots to all registered voters in the state.

I judge that at the moment when she violated the law, this woman was either a conscious, conscienceless criminal or an idiot for not caring about the potential for voter fraud. And, I fear, this is more evidence that the United States has become what the great Jefferson, father of American Liberalism, knew to be a mortal threat to the republic  an uneducated mass ruled by an uneducated, conscienceless elite class.

The same societal cancer is seen in those who demand police defunding. The institution of police is basic to a civilized community and is as old as the Bible. In Deuteronomy 16:18, God commanded the Israelites to create judges and constables, to enforce law and order. So those today who demand police defunding are idiots. They are not just uneducated, but mal-educated.

This should not be a surprise since todays universities, where they went to school, are staffed by leftist jerks who were students in the 1960s. These academics seem to miss the excitement of that decade when they protested authority by protesting the war in Viet Nam. So, they encourage their charges in this century to more or less do the same -- in this case, protest against systemic racism, never mind that there is none.

There used to be. For the first seventy-two years of the Republic, slavery was regulated by laws. What changed was that the ordinary Americans Jefferson knew to be good people went to war in 1861 to end that systemic injustice. Some 300,000 White American males in the North gave up their lives to end Black slavery in the South, a fact that is apparently unknown to todays woke decrying systemic racism and believing in Americas true birth in 1619.

True, the Civil War was followed by a century of more systemic racism, a.k.a. segregation, but that injustice too would be put out of business by the Civil Rights movement led by the wise Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose heroic front line fighters were the courageous Blacks themselves who risked beatings and dog attacks for their rights. Because they were only 15% of the population, they would never have succeeded without the millions of White Americans who were on their side.

Since the Civil Rights laws of 1964 and 1965, there is no more systemic racism in America  except in the fever swamps of the woke generation, who are not only delusional and malevolent but horribly ignorant of history.

And yours truly eagerly awaits more news of the fate of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, for I am curious to know the mix in her motivation of a) Hillary Clinton-like contempt for rules and/or b) the role of innocent, negligent, stupid incompetence. In any case, the Democratic Party seems to be riddled with such types who, if the democratic republic is to survive, must be brought to justice and put out of office.

Shai ben-Tekoas PHANTOM NATION: Inventing the Palestinians as the Obstacle to Peace is available at Amazon.com in hardcover or a Kindle ebook. His podcasts of the same name as the book can be heard on www.israelnewstalkradio.com.

IMAGE: Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States, by Howard Chandler Christy (1940). Public domain.
A Covid-19 situation at the National Insurance Board (NIB) led to late pension cheques this month, says Social Development Minister Donna Cox. And the ministry yesterday apologised for any inconvenience caused to pensioners and other recipients of social welfare as a result of the late payment of benefits.
Iran loses right to vote in UN General Assembly

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Are we getting under the burden? Then lets get under to the end

Armenia acting health minister on keeping fallen soldiers bodies in bags: What else should they be kept in?

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Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

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Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

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Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

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Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

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Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

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Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

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Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

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Doelger Home Styles

The assembly-line methods of home construction in the Sunset District from the 1920s to 1940s have been criticized for producing "cookie-cutter" architecture: rows of almost identical houses with minor facade embellishments differentiating each residence.

Henry Doelger, the predominant builder in the area, fought against this characterization by advertising model homes with distinctive names such as the "Rainbow House," or the "Styleocrat." Each house was still a product, with Doelger constructing a hundred "Styleocrats" across the avenues, but there are variations to be found in the land of stucco. This page is dedicated to those with a discerning eye, and will be updated as new Doelger styles are discovered.

Mediterranean Revivals - 1920s and 1930s

When Henry Doelger built and sold his first house in 1925 thousands of San Francisco homes were constructed with elements of Spanish, French, and Italian Revival style. Doelger's homes stayed in line with his competitors: stucco exteriors, barrel-fronts over recessed garage entries, stairways open to the sky, red tile roofline accents, and various generic bas-relief decorations.

The Styleocrat - 1941

Architectural trends moved to Streamline Moderne in the early 1940s, which meant even less work for builders like Doelger. "Modern" meant sleek and sparse, and less material to deal with on facades and roof lines. Instead of the open stairways, the "tunnel" entrance became popular.

San Francisco Examiner, January 1941: "...this smart model home, built by Henry Doelger and furnished by Lachman Brothers, is being opened for public inspection today at 3430 Moraga Street. This is the second exhibit home to be opened by Doelger since January 1. It follows modern lines of architecture."

Rainbow House - 1941

With the minimalist modern style, what individual features could a builder like Doelger promote? No interior embellishments could translate to efficiency ("easy housekeeping"), and plain walls could be "color-styled."

San Francisco Chronicle ad, September 1941:



This home has all the answers to your demands for easy housekeeping and real living. Spacious and sunny rooms... tiled bath with stall shower... and dandy breakfast nook in the trim modern kitchen. Housekeeping is on a new high in this color-styled Doelger home.



$5560 ---- $560 down - FHA Terms - $37.50 month



Completely furnished by The John Breuner Co. of San Francisco.

The Freedom House - 1942

The United States' entry into World War II brought a patriotic name to the Doelger line. Built smaller and cheaper for an uncertain housing market during wartime, the Freedom House was advertised as:



"...priced unbelievably low: yet it sparkles with a score of 'extras' which make every DOELGER HOME a far better value.

$4780 --- $480 down --- $32.50 a month"

The Nantucket - 1942

Although it's difficult to identify what this model home has in common with the seaside cottages of Massachusetts, the "Nantucket" was advertised as a last-chance opportunity during the war:



"The Nantucket and about five sister homes of the same type, all in Doelger City, are the last homes throughout the entire Sunset district in this particular price range and size that will be available to the home-buying public for the duration of the war.



"Our future building program will be almost entirely in lower priced smaller homes designed to meet defense housing needs. Hence, those families that desire the extra space and comfort convenience offered by the Nantucket and her five sister homes will have to act at once."

The Westridge - 1949

When patriotic GIs returned from World War II, Doelger had American Colonial-inspired homes waiting for them.

San Francisco Chronicle ad, April 2, 1949:



Real Living... you can afford! The Westridge. Stunning Colonial Home!



Here's 'real living' Doelger style! Smart design... thorough planning... moderate cost...PLUS many of the conveniences found only in homes of far greater price.



Lachman Bros. completes this story of good living with colonial furnishings appropriately priced.

Remember... in a Doelger Home you can afford to live well.

Veterans Preference.

Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places.
As the United States faces the biggest migrant surge in 20 years, the Biden administration is eyeing flying Latin American migrants to states near the Canadian border to ease overcrowding in Texas facilities.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials told The Washington Post that the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has already requested the air support from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to huge numbers of migrants crossing in the south.

According to a Fox News report, officials said some 1,000 migrant families and unaccompanied minors crossed the Rio Grande into South Texas on Friday morning, and another 1,000 were still awaiting processing from Thursday night.

The administration continued to deny that the situation at the southern border is a "crisis." However, Joe Biden earlier urged future migrants not to come to the U.S, saying there "we're sending back people."

Most single adults' arrivals are now being expelled under a Trump-era provision called Title 42, which cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the basis for the quick expulsion of asylum seekers. On the other hand, all unaccompanied children will be admitted, and that families will only be expelled if Mexico has space to house them.

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas admitted that they are "on pace to encounter" more migrants than they have in the last 20 years.

The DHS encountered more than 100,441 migrants who tried to cross the southern border last month. It was the highest since 2019. On Friday, Mayorkas went to visit the southern border to inspect facilities.

The CBP has yet to decide which facilities near the Canadian border will take in the migrants. During the peak of the 2019 border surge, ICE air flights had been utilized to transport migrants to different border sectors that had the capacity to hold them.

In recent days, CBP has also used an ICE plane to send migrants from the Rio Grande sector facilities to El Paso.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be allocating $110 million for nonprofit organizations and government agencies providing food and shelter to migrants at the southern border.

FEMA noted that the money would come from $510 million in supplemental funding through the COVID-19 stimulus package.

RELATED ARTICLE: Biden Ends Trump Policy That Allows DHS to Deport Caregivers for Migrant Children

Migrant Influx

A rift between the Biden administration and the state of Texas over COVID-19 safety for migrants persisted. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has delayed funding from FEMA to test and possibly quarantine migrant families, a DHS spokesperson said, as reported by ABC News Go.

There are agreements between DHS and mayors and local health officials, stipulating that the federal government would cover 100 percent of COVID-19 testing for migrants crossing the border.

Renae Eze, the governor's press secretary, said the federal government alone has the responsibility to screen, test, and quarantine illegal migrants crossing the border who may have COVID-19.

The press secretary added that the administration continued to pressure the state of Texas to help them in the illegal migration program.

Aside from rejecting the funding, Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar also raised concerns regarding Abbott's announcement that immigrants are bringing diseases like COVID-19 into the U.S. Escobar said that this only fuels racism and xenophobia, which can be very dangerous and consequential.

Meanwhile, Abbott continued to blame the Biden administration for the current situation at the border, saying that the administration has given the green light to dangerous cartels and other criminal activities.

Abbott noted that border security is the federal government's responsibility. But he stressed that he would not allow the administration's failures to endanger the lives of Texans.

READ MORE: U.S. Near Max Capacity to Hold Migrant Children; Biden Administration Scrutinized Over Reopening Holding Facility

WATCH: Biden Facing Criticism Over Migrant Children -From CBC News
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A Roman Catholic priest who groped a teenage girl and sent her nude photos and a video of himself wasnt punished too harshly with a 1- to 2-year prison sentence, a state Superior Court panel has decided.

That ruling, outlined in an opinion by Judge Megan King, comes little more than a year after Lehigh County Judge Maria Dantos told Father Kevin Lonergan, You have made families feel that church is no longer a safe place.

King rejected Lonergans contention that his punishment, the maximum jail term allowable on his guilty plea to an indecent assault charge, was manifestly excessive and unreasonable.

Lonergan, now 32, fondled the 17-year-old girls buttocks in February 2018 while serving at the Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Allentown. Before that, he sent the girl multiple inappropriate messages and nude photos of himself and a video that showed him masturbating in a shower, investigators said.

The girl told another priest about the incidents several months later and the diocese immediately suspended Lonergan from public ministry.

Kevin Lonergan as a state prison inmate.

When he pleaded guilty in the case, Lonergan had no deal with prosecutors concerning his punishment, King noted.

Lonergan argued on appeal that the sentence Dantos imposed was far greater than probation officials recommended. He claimed as well that the county judge considered improper factors, including that he had been transferred to Saint Francis after a report that he had molested another teen girl in another county.

The Allentown diocese said Lonergan was transferred in 2016 only after a children and youth services investigation of that other allegation determined the report was unfounded. Diocese officials said they had promptly reported the earlier allegation to authorities.

In backing the prison sentence Dantos imposed, King found the county judge appropriately focused on the fact that the victim was particularly vulnerable because she was a parishioner at the Allentown church and he was a priest, a figure who was supposed to represent religious authority.
" " O-day ou-yay eak-spay ig-pay Atin-lay? id-work/Getty Images/HowStuffWorks

Most American kids have encountered pig Latin at some point. It's been around for more than a century, which means the great-great-great-grandparents of today's elementary schoolers almost certainly used pig Latin. And their great-great-grandparents probably danced the Charleston to a song sung in pig Latin.

And yet you can't use pig Latin to fulfill your foreign language credits requirement in school. Maybe because, as we'll see, it's not really foreign or a language. Let's ook-lay at-way ig-pay atin-Lay.

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How to Speak Pig Latin

Let's start with a language lesson, probably one of the easiest you'll ever encounter. No app necessary! No translation needed!

Take a word, like "cat." Put the end of the word at the beginning, move the first letter to the end, and add the syllable "ay," which rhymes with "way." So now you have "at-cay." The at-cay says eow-may.

If you have a word with more than one syllable, like "curtain," you have a couple of options, depending on how you learn it. Most people go with the easiest solution, which is to treat it just like a word with one syllable: "urtain-cay." But others prefer to make it more complex, and more of a coded language, by pig-Latin-izing each syllable: ur-cay ain-tay.

Here's where it does get tricky (as tricky as pig Latin gets anyway). If you have a single letter word, like "I" or "a," some people choose to add yay, while others add way to the end of the word. So you get "I-yay" or "I-way" and "a-yay" or "a-way." Either is technically pig Latin, it just depends on which way you say it.

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How Old Is Pig Latin?

Before there was pig Latin, there was dog Latin and even hog Latin, which is probably how we got to pig Latin. But dog Latin and hog Latin, aren't anything like pig Latin, other than their names being similar. Those first two refer to a kind of fake, made-up Latin.

In "Love's Labor Lost," none other than Shakespeare indulges in a bit of dog Latin:

Costard: Go to; thou hast it ad dunghill, at the fingers' ends, as they say.

Holofernes: O, I smell false Latine; dunghill for unguem.

After Costard says "ad dunghill," Holofernes explains that Costard is using false Latin. Costard has used "ad dunghill" because it sounds enough like "ad unguem," a Latin phrase for something being done to an exact measure or standard. "Unguem" means "fingernail," and the phrase comes from checking the smoothness of marble. The joke is much funnier when you explain it at length.

Then in an 1844 issue of United States Magazine and Democratic Review, a monthly political journal published in the 19th century, Edgar Allan Poe mentioned both dog Latin and pig Greek, and not in a kind way. But also not referring to the pig Latin we know.

Pig Latin was likely invented in the late 1800s by kids who wanted to talk without adults understanding them. But as we've seen, it's not exactly the Enigma code. The Oxford English Dictionary has the earliest written use of the phrase pig Latin in 1896, when a J. Willard wrote in "The Atlantic":

They all spoke a queer jargon which they themselves had invented. It was something like the well-known 'pig Latin' that all sorts of children like to play with.

By the early 20th century, everybody who was anybody knew about pig Latin. Enough people that Arthur Fields could release the record "Pig Latin Love" in 1919. The recording is hardly hi-fi, but it does have a clear example of pig Latin. Then, in case you're still hopelessly uncool, he provides a translation in the second chorus.

In the 1930s, the Three Stooges used pig Latin in their short films. Moe and Larry even provided a primer for Curly in 1938's "Tassles in the Air." Curly doesn't learn very quickly, but "ixnay" and "amscray" became part of people's vocabulary thanks to the trio's work in expanding the language.

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But Is It a Language?

People use pig Latin to communicate, so sure. By the broadest definition, it is indeed a language. It's not anyone's native language, though, and it doesn't have its own grammar or syntax. It depends entirely on English for, well, everything.

It's an example of "back slang." A 2015 paper published in the journal Signs and Society notes that these are "simple rules...that can be applied to every word in the language." That's why you don't need to take a pig Latin class to learn new vocabulary or how to decline its verbs; it's just English with a twist.

It's also a code language, since it moves letters and sounds around to disguise the words. It's similar in that way to systems like Morse code, where letters are replaced with dots and dashes to encode the alphabet and send across wires. Pig Latin is not an invented language, like Klingon or Esperanto. These languages have a separate vocabulary, grammar and syntax that does not directly rely on English or any other language.

Admittedly, pig Latin is not a great code. But it's enough to keep, say, a dog from knowing what you're saying. If your dog gets wound up every time you mention taking a walk, try saying "Id-day ou-yay alk-way e-thay og-day?" rather than "Did you walk the dog?"

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Pig Latin Around the World

Other languages do this same kind of encoded wordplay, though it doesn't usually work exactly the same way English and pig Latin do.

French, for instance, has "verlan," which switches the first and last syllables of a word. The name itself is an example of the way it works: "l'envers" means "backward." In the Spanish word game "jirgonza," you double the vowels and put a "p" between them. So the word for "cat," "gato," becomes "gapatopo," which sounds like a great name for a cat, actually. Japan has "babigo," which inserts b-syllables after the usual syllables in a word. So something as simple as "sushi" becomes "subushibi."

Now That's Ool-Cay! Pigs don't speak pig Latin, but they do communicate with humans. A study published in 2019 in Animal Cognition compared the way pet dogs and pet pigs communicate with their humans. The piglets and puppies were put through their paces at the Department of Ethology at the University of Budapest, and while both were absolutely adorable and the pigs paid attention, the dogs were the better overall communicators.
House GOPers Say Iowa Election Challengers Counsel Has Conflict of Interest

House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and two other Democratic members of the panel have a conflict of interest because each is represented by Marc Elias, the lawyer for two Democratic candidates in 2020 election results being challenged before the Lofgren panel, according to Republican critics.

We write to bring to your attention to a serious conflict of interest regarding Marc Elias, an attorney with the law firm Perkins Coie, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), the ranking minority member of the administration committee, wrote in a March 19 letter to Lofgren.

In the election contests currently before us, Mr. Elias simultaneously represents Members of the Committee, the triers of fact and law, and parties to these contests, an arrangement clearly prohibited by attorney ethics rules and obligations.

Also signing the letter were the other two Republicans on the committee, Reps. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia and Bryan Steil of Wisconsin.

Elias and the Seattle-based Perkins Coie law firm frequently represent Democratic campaigns and candidates in election law and ethics cases. He and colleagues from the firm were recently sanctioned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for filing redundant and misleading information and ordered to pay legal and punitive costs of their opponents in the case.

The Elias firm was representing the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in a lawsuit against Texas officials in the case that prompted the sanctioning.

Elias also represented 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose campaign paid for the opposition research firm he hired, Fusion GPS.

It was Fusion GPS that produced the discredited Steele dossier containing multiple false allegations against former President Donald Trump that was at the center of the Russiagate scandal.

The conflict of interest highlighted by the Republicans consists of the fact Elias simultaneously represents Lofgren and two other Democratic committee membersReps. Pete Aguilar of California and Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvaniaas well as Hart.

Democrat Rita Hart is challenging the November 2020 election of Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowas 2nd Congressional District by six votes. Miller-Meekss victory was certified by state election officials following a recount. Harts challenge is now before the administration panel, which has oversight jurisdiction for federal elections.

Elias also represents Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) whose election last November by more than 5,600 votes is being challenged before the Lofgren committee by Republican Jim Oberweis. Underwood represents a suburban Chicago district that was once represented by GOP Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.

Rule 1.7 of the American Bar Associations (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct clearly prohibit an attorney from engaging in representation that involves a concurrent conflict of interest, the Republicans told Lofgren.

Such a conflict exists here: You, Mr. Aguilar, and Ms. Scanlon serve as triers of fact and law on the tribunal charged with deciding election contests, and Mr. Elias represents you; Ms. Hart and Ms. Underwood are parties to election contests before the Committee, and Mr. Elias represents them.

Your interests are quite clearly directly adverse to one another, and Mr. Elias ability to offer advice to both sides certainly will be materially limited by [his] responsibilities to another client, namely you, Mr. Aguilar, Ms. Scanlon, and the parties to the election contests before the Committee. Rule 1.7(a).

We are gravely concerned that these serious conflicts of interest and ethical lapses on the part of counsel compromise the work of this committee, and, more specifically, demonstrate further that the Democratic Members of this committee operate not in search of the truth but solely in search of partisan, political gain.

Davis, Loudermilk, and Steil urged Lofgren to take immediate, affirmative steps to ensure that this committee follows a fair process for all parties involved in this election contest and guarantees to all parties involved that counsel will provide only true, accurate, and candid information to the tribunal considering this contest, this committee.

A spokesman for Lofgren didnt respond to a request for comment by press time, nor did spokesmen for any of the other five Democrats on the administration panel. A spokesman for Elias couldnt be reached.

Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott can be reached at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday encouraged India to rethink its planned purchase of Russias S-400 air defense system to avoid U.S. sanctions, according to Reuters.

Why it matters: No Russian air defense systems have been delivered to India and sanctions are not currently being discussed, Austin told reporters, though the U.S. sanctioned its NATO ally Turkey late last year in response to its 2017 purchase of the defense system.

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Washington fears Russia's S-400 system could be used to gather intelligence on its F-35 stealth fighter jet program.

The U.S. has long been concerned about the proliferation of the anti-aircraft system, which may be capable of shooting down advanced aircraft like the U.S.' F-35.

The S-400 is also a direct competitor to U.S.-made air defense systems like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense.

Context: India made a $800 million initial payment in 2019 for the S-400, and the first set of systems are anticipated later this year, according to Reuters.

What they're saying: We certainly urge all our allies, our partners to move away from Russian equipment ... and really avoid any kind of acquisitions that would trigger sanctions on our behalf, Austin told reporters in New Delhi, per Reuters.

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ATLANTA - The first spa targeted in the Atlanta-area killings this week was in an area very familiar to accused gunman Robert Aaron Long: It's within a mile of an evangelical treatment facility where he spent time as a patient for what he described as "sex addiction," according to a former roommate.

The evangelical facility, HopeQuest in Acworth, Ga., sits in a secluded forest at the end of a residential street about 30 miles outside Atlanta and down the road from Young's Asian Massage. Police say that after killing four people and wounding a fifth there, Long drove 27 miles to two more spas in Atlanta where he fatally shot four more people.

HopeQuest has ties to major evangelical institutions and has promoted "ex-gay therapy," the idea that people can become heterosexual through counseling. Long, 21, who grew up in a conservative Southern Baptist church, was a patient at the treatment facility in 2019 and again in 2020, according to his former roommate Tyler Bayless.

Police said Long was a customer at the two Atlanta-based spas that he also targeted. He has been charged with eight counts of murder and homicide and one count of aggravated assault in attacks that left eight people dead, most of them Asian women.

The evangelical facility HopeQuest advertises its services for treating "sex addiction" and "pornography addiction," alongside several descriptions for what it believes these addictions could include. Bayless said Long blamed his descent into addiction on pornography, and used a flip phone instead of a smartphone to avoid temptation.

Most evangelical churches, including Southern Baptist churches, teach that sex is permitted only within heterosexual marriages, similar to teaching to the Catholic Church and other Christian traditions.

But several experts have said this week that Long's ties to evangelicalism shine a light into a subculture called "purity culture," a belief among some evangelicals that promotes the idea that any sexual desire outside of marriage is lustful, and therefore sinful. Some evangelicals are taught from a young age to control their sexual urges and if they cannot, they are sometimes labeled sex addicts or porn addicts.

HopeQuest is affiliated with several large evangelical churches in and around Atlanta, including the North Point megachurch and the historic First Baptist Church of Woodstock. With several counselors licensed by the state of Georgia, it is also a "professional" affiliate of evangelical organization Focus on the Family.

In addition to its work with patients on "sex addiction," HopeQuest was once a hot spot for what some call "gay conversion therapy" and "ex-gay" rehabilitation. Its founder and creator, Roy Blankenship, was once considered one of the nation's foremost conversion therapists.

Blankenship considered himself "ex-gay" and served on the board of the "ex-gay" Exodus International group, which was disbanded in 2013. In December 2018, Blankenship retired as board chairman at HopeQuest after 22 years. He renounced conversion therapy and publicly came out as gay the following year. Blankenship still offers therapy services on his website, including for "sex addiction."

Blankenship told The Washington Post he is no longer involved with HopeQuest. He declined further comment.

HopeQuest's director of clinical programs is Wayne Carriker, who considers himself ex-gay and has promoted conversion therapy. A since-removed biography on the HopeQuest website said Carriker had "embraced homosexuality and a lifestyle of addiction that led him to prison." Carriker joined HopeQuest in 2011 after his release from prison and receiving a master's degree from Wheaton College outside Chicago.

A HopeQuest staffer who declined to provide his name declined to comment further on behalf of the facility.

On its website, the HopeQuest facility posts a question, "How can I know if my husband is struggling with sexual addiction?" One of the answers includes, "You find receipts for sexually-related activities or purchases (i.e. drinks at a strip club, adult video rental, adult videos charged to hotel bills, etc.)."

"Although most men struggle with lustful thoughts, acting on those thoughts - whether through fantasy and masturbation, using pornography or actual contact with another person - is always hurtful to God and damaging to the marriage," the website states. "The struggle with sexual thoughts and behaviors becomes problematic when a man chooses to use his sexuality to attempt to meet needs for nurture, comfort, solace, significance and security outside of the marriage."

In some evangelical churches, sexual behavior outside heterosexual marriage is sometimes treated as a disease that can be fixed with the proper scriptural counseling.

Sexual sin plays an outsized role in many evangelical churches, said Sheila Wray Gregoire, Canadian author of "The Great Sex Rescue," a book about lies Christian women have been taught about sex. In popular evangelical literature, she found, wives are taught to have sex when their husbands want it so the men won't watch porn. They're also taught that all men struggle with lust.

"Women are not seen as people but as enemy who need to be defeated," she said.

Earlier this week, a sheriff's department official said that Long viewed the spas he targeted as "a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate." In evangelical literature, women are often treated as a sexual threat or seen as sexual fulfillment, said Rachel Joy Welcher, Iowa-based author of the book "Talking Back to Purity Culture."

"They're telling them not to lust, but the solution is to avoid women until they get married and channel all your sexual energy into your wife," she said. "Wives are depicted as sexual outlets."

Bayless, who was Long's roommate at Maverick Recovery, a sober-living facility in Roswell, Ga., in 2019 and 2020 in the months between his stays at HopeQuest, said Long felt his very salvation was at stake, as he told his roommate that he was "living in sin" and "not walking in the light; he was walking in darkness."

Bayless was trying to recover from an alcohol and drug addiction, and Long was there for what he called "sex addiction."

"He was militant about it," Bayless said. "This was the kind of guy who would hate himself for masturbating; would consider that a relapse."

Residents at Maverick were encouraged to hold one another accountable, Bayless says, and at least three times Long called Bayless into his room so he could confess his sins. Bayless said Long came back from a spa and called him into his room saying he was having suicidal thoughts.

"He would say, 'I'm falling out of the grace of God and my pastor,' " Bayless said, and Long suggested church leaders agreed with him.

Crabapple Baptist Church said in a statement on its website that it was devastated and grieving over the deaths, acknowledging that Long's family members have been church members for many years. Long was accepted into membership, but the church said his actions directly contradict his confession of faith.

"He alone is responsible for his evil actions and desires," the church's statement said of Long. "The women that he solicited for sexual acts are not responsible for his perverse sexual desires nor do they bear any blame in these murders."

A spokesman for the church in Milton, about 40 miles north of Atlanta, said it would not comment further.

Bayless says that he urged Long to seek psychiatric or psychological counseling, but he refused.
President Joe Biden will have a discussion with Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the right time, according to the White House. Biden and Putin have provided contravening statements in the past few days.

President Joe Biden: 'When the Time is Right'

The White House stated on Friday that the United States president, who remarked previously this week that he agrees that Putin is a killer, will meet with the Russian leader at the "right time." White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said he would not draw back.

U.S.-Russia's diplomatic ties plunged on Thursday following the Russian leader's swipe back at Biden's agreement of him as a killer. The quips back and forth highlighted the U.S. president's wanting to distance himself from former President Donald Trump's projected softness on Putin. This was notwithstanding the actions his administration took against Russia.

Putin, in response, wishes Biden well and proffered him a live dialogue. The same as the last U.S. president, Biden is known for his personal attacks on foreign leaders.

Biden's statement was not regarded as controversial, considering the many people the former KGB agent is suspected of having killed. But Putin reportedly did not find this answer favorable. He responded by challenging Biden to a televised debate and adding that the free world leader should immediately fly to Russia to attend this event.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, Biden's remarks about Putin in which he touted him as a "killer," were "not fitting of a president." In a TV interview broadcast on Wednesday, the U.S. president responded, "I do," when asked if he thought Putin was a killer, reported Aljareeza.

Biden Calls Harris "President Harris" as He Offers Updates on the Vaccination Progress

On Friday, the Kremlin stated that Putin's offer to speak through a phone call with Biden was intended to alleviate bilateral ties from completely plunging to a new low over the American's remark.

According to spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the Russian leader made it clear it is sensible to discuss maintaining Russia-U.S. relations rather than trading barbs, and he wanted to make it public to help mitigate tensions over Biden's "very bad remarks." Asked by the press on Friday if he will take Putin up on his offer to have a call, Biden said that he is sure that they will talk at some point, reported AP.

Putin, 68, on Thursday, mocked the U.S. leader with a Russian phrase that translates roughly as "it takes one to know one." He then wished the 78-year-old president good health and said it was without irony or not as a joke.

Biden pledged that Putin would "pay a price" for reportedly interfering in last year's election. According to Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, the debate would not ensue on Thursday.

According to Jeanne-Pierre, Biden will discuss with Putin at the right timing. Biden and Putin have differing perspectives of their respective nations. However, where they agree is that avenues should be sought to coordinate where it is in their mutual interest, reported The Economic Times.

Biden Wants to See Child Tax Credit Expansion Permanent, Says White House

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Gunmen on Friday attacked a vehicle of the Nigerian Correctional Service conveying some inmates to court in Anambra, leaving two officials of the service dead.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the incident occurred at about 11:00 a.m. around Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area.

Fridays incident occurred barely 24 hours after some unidentified gunmen attacked and killed some naval and police officers at three different checkpoints in the state and made away with their weapons.

It was not clear whether the gunmen released the inmates in the bus or took away the weapons of the NCS officials at the time of report.

A witness told NAN that some of the officials and inmates in the vehicle ran for their lives during the attack.

The spokesperson for the correctional service in the state, Francis Ekechukwu, confirmed the attack. He said the service has launched an investigation into the incident.

The police spokesperson in the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, said an investigation had begun with a view to arresting the hoodlums.

It is very unfortunate, but police operatives swiftly responded and chased the hoodlums away. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the perpetrators of this act, Mr Tochukwu, a deputy superintendent of police, said.

(NAN)
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Yapei/Kasawgu, Mr John Jinapor says the Minority Members of Parliament should not be blamed for failing to get Parliament to reject the government's Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2021 fiscal year as they had earlier touted.



He said the public should not forget that they just didn't have the numbers and people should not also forget that they [NDC MPs] are not in the "majority" side of Parliament.



According to him, three MPs from the Minority side were absent in the House for various reasons and that, one was down with COVID-19 and battling to survive.



Another, Mr Kpodo has lost the mother and was burying her today [Friday] and the other one was unable to make it to the House on time for the vote.



Explaining why it was 134 MPs instead of the 137 from the Minority NDC side in Parliament on Friday [March 19, 2021] in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM monitored by Graphic Online, Mr Jinapor said the minority side should not be accused of failing in their decision to reject the budget.



He said majority of them [from the Minority side] contracted COVID-19 because of how they interacted on the night [January 6, 2021] they elected the Speaker of Parliament.



He said many of them contracted the deadly disease because of the "push and pull" on that night in their attempt to ensure that they got their favourite candidate elected as Speaker.



He cited himself as an example of one of them who contracted COVID-19 and has recovered.



Read also: Parliament approves 2021 Budget



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

Parliament on Friday approved the Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2021 fiscal year, after heated arguments from both sides of the House.



The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and leader of Government Business in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on Friday, March 12, 2021, presented the 2021 budget detailing the governments programmes and policies for the year.



He did that in his capacity as an Interim Minister of Finance after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last week assigned him that additional responsibility.



Heated debate



There was a heated debate between the two sides before the budget was approved Friday afternoon.



The minority side had declared vehemently that the budget ought to be rejected.



But after the debate and the Speaker put the motion to a voice vote, the Majority side won with 137 votes against 134 votes from the Minority side.



Jinapor's explanation



Explaining in the Citi FM interview, Mr Jinapor said: "I don't think we can be held so much liable and create the impression that every vote in the chamber, the NDC minority must necessarily win. We wish we had everybody, but at least everybody present voted in line with the party's position because this time unlike the secret ballot, the Chief Whip and the Minority Leader whipped everybody in line, and ensured that you vote for everybody to see the direction you voted."



Clarifying the absentees he said he know that at least for Mr Kpodo, "he has lost his mother, and he was burying the mother today. I know that a colleague of mine, who is on the minority side is currently in hospital battling to survive."



"I do know that both sides, I contracted COVID, let me say that I contracted COVID and I have recovered, it doesn't mean that everybody has recovered, but I'm saying that out of the three that we couldn't account for or couldn't vote, one is not well, one is lost the mum and burying the mother, the other was supposed to be joining us just like the Fomena MP but both of them lost out in terms of the timing, so the Fomena MP for the NPP side couldn't join us and then one of our colleagues was also struggling to come and join us but he had an issue on the way and couldn't also join us, so that is what happened.



But assuming everybody was present, and we were all available both NPP and NDC, we still might not have carried the day because this is not the secret ballot and normally everybody ensures that they whip their members in line."



The substance of Minority's rejection



Mr Jinapor insisted that the treatment of the figures in the budget, especially above the line and below the line figures, "we disagree with the way they were treated. I do recall that the Majority Leader, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu agreed with our position and stated that, that will be corrected in the 2020 budget going forward, the Ranking Member and the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu insisted that, that should be corrected this year. The Majority Leader gave his word but at committee level."



"I think one other thing has to do with some taxes that he also mentioned, so those were the issues but it was a collective decision by the Minority but normally when we take a position, all of us try to vote for our position, canvass for the various positions and you saw the results at the end of the day."

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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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan a speedy recovery from COVID-19 on Saturday (March 20).

Earlier in the day, the nation's health minister announced that just two days after the premier got his dose of the Chinese vaccine Sinovac.

Best wishes to Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI for a speedy recovery from COVID-19.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 20, 2021

The Pakistan Prime Minister's office had also confirmed the announcement that he had tested positive with a post from their official Twitter page.

Imran Khan had taken China's Sinovac vaccine two days ago on March 18. He recived the first shot of vaccination against COVID-19 and urged the citizens of his country to ensure the full implementation of norms to prevent the surge in cases of coronavirus.

The South Asian nation of 220 million is seeing a sharp rise in the coronavirus infections.
FLINT, MI -- A former Flint insurance agent has been sentenced to 24 months of probation for selling fraudulent automobile insurance certificates to his clients,

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services announced the development Friday, Nov. 19, after Dillen Leonard, 25, appeared before Genesee Circuit Court Judge David J. Newblatt.

In early February, Leonard pleaded guilty to four counts of insurance fraud, a four-year felony, and one count of using a computer to commit a crime; a seven-year felony.

He was ordered Friday to perform 200 hours of community service and was placed on Holmes Youthful Trainee Act status, a provision of state law that allows those whose crimes were committed between the ages of 17 and 23 to be assigned the status of youthful trainee without entering a judgment of conviction.

Dillen is also responsible for paying restitution of $25,000 to the MDIFS, the Department of Attorney General said in a news release.

Leonard allegedly sold or offered customers fraudulent certificates of insurance that appeared to be legitimate and knew that his clients were presenting the documents to the Michigan Office of Secretary of State as proof of insurance in order to apply for or renew their vehicle registrations. During July 2016, Leonard sold at least 30 fraudulent certificates, the attorney generals office says.

There is no shortage of bad actors seeking to take advantage of Michigan taxpayers, and my office stands ready to hold those who break our laws accountable, Nessel said in a statement released by her office. I am grateful for the continued collaboration with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services and their shared commitment to protect Michiganders.

The case was referred to the Attorney Generals office by DIFS after the department received a complaint about Leonards alleged misconduct.

Related:

Former Flint insurance agent pleads guilty to felony insurance fraud

Flint man accused of selling fake automobile insurance certificates

See how new police dogs Sledge and Groot are trained by a Michigan public safety department
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





The entrepreneur Kenol Felix kidnapped

On Friday morning in downtown Port-au-Prince, unidentified armed individuals kidnapped businessman Kenol Felix, owner of the funeral home, Sainte Rose de Lima. A kidnapping which provoked a protest movement from residents (blocking of traffic, barricades and inflamed tires) of the street Saint Honore, where the funeral home is located, who demand the release of the businessman and concrete measures to fight against the insecurity of the authorities concerned. The kidnappers demand a heavy ransom for his release.



Voluntary return to the cell of the police officers released by "Phantom 509"

The Haitian National Police (PNH) salutes the behavior of the police officers who have chosen to return to custody at the Canape Vert police station, after a group of "Phantom 509" individuals forcibly freed them https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33268-haiti-insecurity-fantome-509-releases-by-force-4-police-officers-imprisoned-at-the-delmas-33-police-station.html It takes note of this decision which honors their authors, as law-abiding citizens who prefer to be released by court order than by breaking and entering.



The Mayor of Santiago wants the expulsion of Haitians

Abel Martinez the Mayor of Santiago, asked the Dominican Government to expel all illegal Haitian nationals from the Dominican Republic "It would be important that our authorities, who announced the construction of a double fence at the border https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33130-haiti-flash-president-abinader-announces-the-construction-of-a-double-fence-at-the-border.html , be more than clear, the first task is to expel the thousands of illegal Haitians on our territory and thus to comply with the law on migration."



Covid-19 : Vaccination in Haiti

Vaccination against the coronavirus will not be mandatory in Haiti, according to a presidential decree released this week that notes the approval of the Council of Ministers to authorize the Ministry of Public Health to request and receive anti-Covid vaccines. According to this decree, those interested in being vaccinated will have to sign a waiver form against any prosecution against the manufacturers and the Haitian state in the event of manifestations of serious adverse reactions following the administration of the vaccine.



Embassy in DR : Passing away of Mrs. Anne Marie Sadin Francois

The Consulate of Haiti in Barahona in the Dominican Republic, learned with dismay, the sad news of the death of Mrs. Anne Marie Sadin Francois, Counselor at the Embassy of Haiti in Santo Domingo on March 14 after a courageously endured illness. In this painful circumstance, the members of the mission send their sincere condolences to the relatives and friends affected by this bereavement.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















(CNN)  Are you waking up more often these days from an unpleasant dream, even a scary nightmare?

Blame a combination of pandemic-fueled sleep changes, laced with a year's worth of stress, sleep experts say.

"My patients have been coming in and telling me, 'I have vivid dreams, I remember my dreams, I have nightmares,'" said sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

"This is something that we've seen in other traumatic events that occur around the world and in our country," Dasgupta said. "So the fact that we're having more nightmares during this pandemic doesn't surprise me."

The phenomenon started about a year ago, not long after lockdowns began around the world. Frontline workers were hard hit -- a June 2020 study of 100 Chinese nurses found 45% experienced nightmares, along with varying degrees of anxiety and depression.

But nightmares have continued as quarantines and lockdowns stretched on, experts say. One reason: an increase in "night owls."

Saved from a commute or more organized schedule, people began going to bed later and later as the pandemic wore on, Dasgupta said. Of course, they then sleep in later than normal, setting the stage for vibrant, colorful -- even scary -- dreams.

Here's why: Sleeping in allows more time for a deeper stage of sleep called rapid eye movement, or REM, when the body consolidates and stores memories and restores the body.

A long stretch of REM occurs in the latter part of the night, typically just before you wake up, said clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Michael Breus, author of "Good Night: The Sleep Doctor's 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health."

Add in the worry, anxiety and stress of the pandemic, Breus said, and you have the perfect recipe for nightmares.

"When you're getting more REM during stressful times, you get more REM nightmares. We're calling this phenomenon 'quaradreaming,'" Breus said.

Trauma dreams

Disturbing dreams during times of national stress are not new. Nightmares have always been a key issue for military veterans suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome, or PTSD.

Studies found an uptick in trauma-related dreams after 9/11, and nurses and other frontline workers reported intense nightmares after caring for people dying from Ebola during the 2014 to 2016 outbreak in Guinea, West Africa.

When the novel coronavirus hit, studies began documenting a similar reaction in the US, said Rebecca Robbins, an associate scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston who studies sleep.

"There's some really compelling examples of individuals ... reporting dreams about locusts swarming, and things like that," said Robbins, who is also an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Last spring, an online quiz by Deirdre Barrett, an assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School who has written several books on dreams, documented numerous nightmares about insects, Barrett told the Harvard Gazette in May.

"I've just seen dozens and dozens and dozens of every kind of bug imaginable attacking the dreamer," Barrett said.

"There are armies of cockroaches racing at the dreamer; there are masses of wriggling worms; there were some grasshoppers with vampire fangs; there are bed bugs, stink bugs," she said, adding that upsetting dreams also contained other metaphors for the coronavirus such as "tsunamis and tornadoes and hurricanes and earthquakes and fires breaking out and mass shooters in the streets."

A variety of dreams focused on fears of getting the virus: For example, dreamers might have seen themselves unmasked out in public, where others coughed on them. As quarantines continued, dreams focused on being trapped.

"People who are sheltering at home alone will dream that they've been locked up in prison, or one woman was sent to Mars by herself to establish the first one-person Mars colony," Barrett said. "There was a woman who in reality was homeschooling her child, but she dreamed that someone had decided that her child's entire class had to come and live with her."

Doctors and nurses in intensive care units reported trauma nightmares, the type that can occur in other stages of sleep besides REM, she added.

"They're having full-on nightmares," she said. "They tend to involve taking care of someone who's dying of COVID-19, and they're trying to do something like put a patient on a respirator, or get the tube reattached that's come off a respirator, or the respirator machines are not working.

"So they feel like it's their responsibility to save this person's life, and yet they don't actually have much control over it, and the person is dying anyway," Barrett said. "That's their nightmare. It's the worst moment from their daytime experiences."

Tragically, those dreams persist today as the virus continues to kill millions around the world, Dasgupta said. In addition to frontline workers, many people who have been hospitalized and survived the virus are also experiencing nightmares.

"I'm an ICU doctor," he said. "Patients are not on the ventilator for days -- we're often talking weeks to months. They're on medications, they're lonely, it's scary, so of course, they have post-traumatic stress nightmares."

What to do

People with vivid, frightening nightmares that haunt them or lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression should seek the help of a mental health professional, Robbins said.

"Especially if they're particularly disturbing, and persist, it could be something to speak to your health care provider about," she said.

Those experiencing less stressful "quaradreams" may try some of these tips -- but again, don't hesitate to reach out to a professional for help.

Check the warmth of your bedroom. If your body is too warm, it can set you up for disturbing dreams, Robbins said.

"We've done this experimentally with heat blankets," she said. "If we administer heat blankets on people during sleep, we find the dreams are scarier, a little bit more in the nightmare category, and sleep is more fragmented."

However, If you are sleeping in a cold space and you're experiencing these nightmares, "it could be something to talk to your health care provider about because it can be associated with feelings of depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns," she said.

Check your meds. "There are some medications that do cause hallucinations and nightmares," Robbins said.

Blood pressure drugs called beta-blockers can affect how the brain handles norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter responsible for our "fight or flight" response to stress. Some antihistamines, antidepressants, sleeping aids, statins and other drugs are also associated with disturbing dreams.

Drinking alcohol and using barbiturates can do the same.

Adapt a more normal sleep schedule.

"Some people, especially teens, are staying up to 1 or 2 a.m.," Dasgupta said. That's a problem, he added, because the circadian rhythm, or the body's biological clock, controls all the body's hormones, temperature, eating, digestion and sleep-wake cycles. Messing with it can be unhealthy.

Studies of shift workers, who work unusual hours and live out of sync with their normal biological rhythm, show that they are at increased risk for heart disease, ulcers, depression, obesity and certain cancers.

Another study found changing your regular sleep-wake time by 90 minutes in either direction, which many of us do on the weekends, doubled the risk of cardiovascular disease over a five-year period. The more days you sleep irregularly, the higher the risk, the study found.

The best sleep comes when you have a habitual time to go to bed and rise, Dasgupta said, "even on weekends and holidays."

Prep your brain for pleasant dreams. Using good sleep hygiene tactics, including putting away blue-light-emitting smartphones and laptops two hours before sleep, taking warm baths, and doing relaxing stretches, yoga or meditation prior to bed are great ways to calm anxiety and purge your brain of stress.

You can also tell your brain what to dream about, Harvard's Barrett told the Gazette.

"Think of what you would like to dream about. You could pick out a person you'd like to see in your dream tonight, or a favorite place. If it's a general one, like a person or place, just visualize that person or place," Barrett said.

"If you have a particular favorite dream you're focusing on, you might try to replay that in detail before falling asleep, and that would make you likelier to have a similar dream," she said. "That both makes it likelier that you'll dream about that content, and it also makes it less likely you'll have anxiety dreams."

This story was first published on CNN.com Are you having more nightmares? You might be 'quaradreaming'
Top U.S. and Chinese officials concluded two days of what Washington called "tough and direct" talks on Friday in Alaska.

It was the first high-level in-person meeting between the two sides under the new Biden administration, and put heightened tensions between the world's two largest economies on full display.

But the talks appeared to yield no diplomatic breakthrough, and the two have yet to reset relations that have slumped to the lowest level in decades.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Friday it was clear the two countries remained "fundamentally at odds" on several issues, including Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan.

"And it's no surprise that when we raised those issues clearly and directly, we got a defensive response. But we were also able to have a very candid conversation... on Iran, on North Korea, on Afghanistan, on climate our interests intersect."

The run-up to the talks in Anchorage followed high-profile visits by U.S. officials to allies Japan and South Korea, in Washington's attempt to show off a firm stance against China.

Following fiery opening remarks in which Chinese officials lashed out against U.S. democracy and treatment of minorities, the United States accused China of quote "grandstanding" for its domestic audience, and both sides suggested the other had broken diplomatic protocol.

Speaking to reporters Friday, China's State Councilor Wang Yi reiterated the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity for the Chinese side, but said that the talks were quote "candid, constructive, and beneficial."

U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday morning that he was quote "very proud" of the secretary of state when asked about the talks.

Video Transcript

Top US and Chinese officials concluded two days of what Washington called tough and direct talks on Friday in Alaska. It was the first high level in-person meeting between the two sides under the new Biden administration, and put heightened tensions between the world's two largest economies on full display.

Story continues

But the talks appeared to yield no diplomatic breakthrough, and the two have yet to reset relations which have slumped to their lowest level in decades. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Friday it was clear the two countries remained fundamentally at odds on several issues, including Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

It's no surprise that when we raised those issues clearly and directly, we got a defensive response. But we were also able to have a very candid conversation on Iran, on North Korea, on Afghanistan, on climate. Our interests intersect.

The run-up to the talks in Anchorage followed high profile visits by US officials to allies Japan and South Korea in Washington's attempt to show off a firm stance against China. Following fiery opening remarks in which Chinese officials lashed out against US democracy and treatment of minorities, the United States accused China of, quote, grandstanding for its domestic audience, and both sides suggested the other had broken diplomatic protocol.

[SPEAKING CHINESE]

Speaking to reporters Friday, China's state councilor, Wong Yi, reiterated the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity for the Chinese side, but said that the talks were, quote, "candid, constructive, and beneficial." US President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday morning, that he was, quote, "very proud of the Secretary of State" when asked about the talks.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]
Some gunmen numbering about seven have invaded another farm in Oyo State. It was gathered on Friday that a farm customer, an indigene of Ben...





Some gunmen numbering about seven have invaded another farm in Oyo State.

It was gathered on Friday that a farm customer, an indigene of Benue State from Igede tribe was killed during the invasion of the farm located at Fiditi, one of the towns in Afijio Local Government Area of the State.

Our correspondent gathered from sources that the farm customer was shot dead when the gunmen stormed the farm on Wednesday.

During the invasion, a security guard in the farm identified as Felix, an indigene of Plateau State was abducted. The security guard later escaped in the early hours of Thursday.

It was gathered that the gunmen arrived at the farm at the time the workers were closing for the day with five of them armed with AK-47 rifles and other guns.

It was learnt that they searched for victims to kidnap, with one of them targeting the farm manager, Mr Adelakun Sunday, at the time he was about leaving his office.

This made the manager to quickly retreat to his office, locked the door, ran to his toilet and climbed up the ceiling to hide.

It was further gathered that the manager and others discovered the dead body of the farm customer during a search around the farm.

The deceased, who was said to have come to the farm on his Bajaj motorcycle, had bought two dead chickens, which he had put in a sack, before he met his death.

Three expended shells of AK-47 rifle bullets and one empty cartridge shell were found at the scene.

Recall that the attack on the farm is coming a few weeks after some gunmen abducted son of a farm owner in Apete area of Ibadan.

The son of the farm owner, Mr Odetunde was released after spending a few days in the kidnappers den.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the latest attack on the farm to journalists on Friday.

Fadeyi attributed the escape of the victim to pressure put on the abductors by the police through continuous search for the criminals who tried to hide to evade arrest.

He confirmed that the body of the deceased had been deposited in a mortuary at the State Hospital, Oyo, for autopsy.

Fadeyi added that investigation had commenced into the incident.
Dakota Johnsons parents might be famous, but they didnt always financially support her. In fact, Don Johnson said she was cut off after high school. But not to worry! She landed a role in an Oscar-nominated film just a few weeks later.

Melanie Griffith, Dakota Johnson, and Don Johnson at the New York premiere of How To Be Single at the NYU Skirball Center on February 3, 2016 | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Who are Dakota Johnsons parents?

Johnson has made a name for herself, but she was born with a famous one. Shes part of a long line of Hollywood stars, starting with her grandmother, Tippi Hedren. Johnsons mother is Melanie Griffith of Working Girl fame, and her father is the Miami Vice alum. She also has a famous former step-father in Antonio Banderas, who was married to Griffith for 20 years.

The Suspiria star presented Banderas with the Best Actor award at the Hollywood Film Awards in 2019. In her speech, she said she felt very lucky to have him in her life.

I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life, she said. When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light, a whole new world of creativity and culture, and one remarkably magical little sister into our family.

Dakota Johnson and Antonio Banderas at the 11th APJ Festival Gala on Sept. 07, 2019 | Ryan Emberley/Getty Images for Artists For Peace And Justice

RELATED: Carrie Fisher Quit School at a Very Young Age

How old is Dakota Johnson?

Johnsons first movie was a small role in Crazy Alabama, which Banderas directed and Griffith starred in. Her parents made her finish high school before launching her acting career, which explains why she didnt appear in another movie until 2010 when she was 20/21 years old. Now, shes 31 and doesnt have trouble booking roles.

As Don revealed on Late Night with Seth Meyers on March 9, Johnson was financially independent when she booked the David Fincher film and didnt want to attend college. He said:

The funny thing about her iswe have a rule in the family that, you know, if you stay in school, you get to stay on the payroll. So, you go to college, you get to stay on the payroll. Towards the end of high school, I went to her and I said, So, do you want to go visit some colleges? Or something like that. And she was like, Oh, no. Im not going to college.'

He then asked her how she was going to manage without financial support from her family. The Knives Out actor said her response was short and sweet.

Dont you worry about it, she said.

Three weeks later she had nailed down that part in David Finchers The Social Network, he added. And the rest is, shall we say, cinema history.

RELATED: Whats up Next for Dakota Johnson? Shes Set to Star Alongside Florence Pugh in an Upcoming Movie

Dakota Johnsons net worth

Johnson played Amelia Ritter in the movie and shared a scene with Justin Timberlake. And while it wasnt a leading role, The Social Network led to more opportunities. Johnson acted in 21 Jump Street, The Five-Year Engagement, TV series Ben and Kate, and other projects before landing the role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades franchise.

The trilogy made her a star who definitely doesnt need money from her parents anymore. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Johnson is worth $14 million.

Before landing The Social Network and after high school, Johnson modeled. And college wasnt always a no-go for her. She wanted to attend Juilliard after high school, but she didnt get in. But she didnt end up needing a degree anyway.
Hurricane Katrina attacked New Orleans in August 2005. Among the many ways in which the city was unprepared for the disaster was the absence of a chain of command among local police. There were no rules in place other than Wait it out and, when the winds wind down, begin your patrols,  a former narcotics officer tells Ronnie Greene in Shots on the Bridge.

Greene compiled disturbing information like this by mining tens of thousands of pages of documents and interviewing some 200 key players in an effort to reconstruct one of the most heinous incidents of police brutality in the past 15 years. The result is a comprehensive if disjointed and awkwardly structured recounting of the fatal shootings on the Danziger Bridge following Katrina.

It is telling that the author of Shots on the Bridge is an investigative journalist for the Associated Press based in Virginia. In earlier times, a book like this would more likely have been written by a reporter at a local paper. But the New Orleans Times-Picayune has shared the fate of many small metro American newspapers in recent years. Since it won a Pulitzer for its coverage of Katrina, it has suffered numerous cutbacks. In May 2012, the paper announced it was moving to a thrice-weekly schedule, and about 200 jobs were cut, most from the newsroom. In June of this year, a local news-site reported that the papers staff would be cut further.

As a result, the only pivotal role the newspaper had in the Danziger Bridge case came not from any investigative journalism it conducted but from the ramifications of some anonymous comments left on the papers website. That fact says much about the problems and possibilities of criminal-justice journalism in the digital era. Even as crime reporting flourishes in national publications, local papers that once provided the backbone of cops and courts coverage have suffered. Cities like New Orleans are far poorer for it. If not for a national AP reporters interest, the whole story of the terrible events that occurred on the Danziger Bridge following Katrina might never have been told.

The fate of journalism was not prominent in the minds of New Orleans residents in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Greene makes clear that what was true of the city as a whole was true of the police department: No planning was made for food, water, weapons, medical care, or even basic hygiene. The radio system crashed, depriving the New Orleans Police Department of a central command system. Cops were facing the same conditions as other stranded citizens, with a few key differences: They were armed, authorized to use force, and tasked with stopping crime.

Officers had two missions. First, to save the 100,000 residents who remained in the city during the storm. And second, to stop looters who were raiding shops for everything from food to furniture.

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Greene disrupts tension in the narrative by shifting from past to present and introducing characters who disappear for dozens of pages only to reappear later, indistinct from other individuals. But the Danziger Bridge story is gripping enough on its own. And much of that story as told in Shots on the Bridge was previously available only in trial transcripts, court filings, police reports, and Justice Department documents. It has never been told in full before.

It began when calls came over the police radio six days after the Hurricane hit: Officers life in danger! Shots being fired! Eleven cops jammed into a Budget rental truck to respond to the shooting, carrying their assigned handguns as well as privately purchased pump-action shotguns and assault rifles they were permitted to carry.

Arriving at Danziger Bridge, where a cop was thought to have been shot, the officer driving leaned out the truck window and fired toward a pack of people. Another officer fired nine shots from his AK-47 at the group, and still another unloaded his shotgun at them. Police aimed at fleeing figures, people who were diving over concrete railings, running up the bridge, or lying unarmed. The shots kept coming, even as their targets were defenseless, harmless, and in some cases, wounded, according to both the shooters and the victims.

Even as crime reporting flourishes in national publications, local papers that once provided the backbone of cops and courts coverage have suffered.

At the other end of the bridge, police spotted two men fleeing, tracked them down, and shot them. Perhaps most sickeningly, one officer stood over a man who had been wounded with a shotgun blast and stomped on his back repeatedly, another officer later testified.

All told, two of the eight people were killed, and four others were wounded. As it happens, they were not shooting at police, or even looting. They were members of two unrelated families looking for supplies and ways to escape the sinking city.

The cover-up began immediately. The investigating officer was told by the police that officers arrived at the bridge and were fired at, and that bodies on the other side of the bridge were from the same group that had earlier attacked police. The main problem with the story was that no guns were found among or near the supposed would-be cop killers.

One officer offered to the investigator that he had kicked the missing guns over the side of the bridge so the attackers couldnt get to them. And then, somehow, someone came by and stole the guns. I knew this was a bullshit story, but I went along with it, the police supervisor later testified. The guys who were involved in this were co-workers, and some of them were friends of mine. I didnt want anyone to get in trouble; I didnt want anyone to have to have any problems, including them and myself, and thats why I participated and went along with the cover-up.

It was an honest admission, but it came years after the NOPD had already officially absolved itself for the killings. Even worse, one of the civilians wounded by police gunfire, and whose family member was killed, was charged with attempted murder.

All of this came out only when the Department of Justice was forced to involve itself in the investigation. A local judge dismissed the district attorneys charges of murder and attempted murder against the seven cops because of minor procedural errors; the prosecutor had apparently sullied the grand jury process by showing a bit of testimony to one of the defendants supervisors.

Shots on the Bridge: Police Violence and Cover-Up in the Wake of Katrina, by Ronnie Greene; Beacon Press, 264 pages, $24.95

Two months later, the Justice Department took over. They managed to flip several of the officers, who gradually revealed the murders and subsequent cover-ups. Officers had written multiple contradictory reports about the shootings, and they had fabricated witnesses. A grand jury indicted all the officers who fired their weapons, and every supervisor who lied on their behalf.

And then justice was served. Those officers who cooperated with US attorneys and testified to the cover-up they participated inbut who hadnt been among the shootersstill received prison sentences. Those who cooperated but had fired their guns were given stricter sentences. Those who denied any wrongdoing were found guilty of most of the charges against them and sentenced to stiff terms.

But in a remarkable 21st-century twist on an old story of New Orleans police violence against black civilians, it was revealed that a DOJ prosecutor in the city had for years been commenting under multiple pseudonyms on NOLA.com, the website of The Times-Picayune. The attorney, Sal Perricone, wrote scathingly about the NOPD on several occasions. Though he was not involved in prosecuting any of the officers in the Danziger case, the defense team argued that there was a secret public relations campaign designed to make the NOPD the household name for corruption, thereby prejudicing juries and forcing officers to plead guilty under pressure. It was discovered that other Justice Department lawyers, including one who had worked on the Danziger Bridge case, had also posted comments on NOLA.com critical of the NOPD.

In September 2013, A judge said that the online comments had created a carnival type atmosphere, even though there was no evidence any of the jurors saw the comments on NOLA.com, which in any case were posted anonymously. The judge further argued that the DOJ had been coercive in getting a plea bargain. He ordered a new trial for every single officer who pled guilty. New trial dates have not been set.

But since those who flipped are already serving sentences, they will have little incentive to testify again against their co-officers, if indeed there are retrials. Its a setback, but I dont know if you can say they expect a whole lot of justice to be served, Greene quotes the lawyer of some of the people who were targeted on the bridge as saying. I mean, how much justice do you expect when youve been shot at by a police officer?

For all Ronnie Greenes immense research, he didnt rely much on The Times-Picayunes in-depth investigative coverage. Thats because there wasnt much. In fairness, The Times-Picayune did truly heroic work in the wake of Katrina, and they couldnt devote resources to every story. But the Danziger Bridge case was the most significant police shooting of New Orleans civilians in the city in a decade. Metro papers are, or were, frequently best-positioned to report on crime simply because the reporters and editors lived in the areas they were covering and were consistently on the same beats for years. In good times, it might not take AP reporters from across the country to compile the definitive story of police brutality.

Alas, these are not good times for the local newspaper business. The decline of print is so familiar it no longer astonishes. But there are 25 percent fewer newspapers than existed in 1940, according to the Newspaper Association of America, and many of the papers that have disappeared have been local ones.

The fate of The Times-Picayune is instructive. At least three major books about post-Katrina New Orleans had their genesis in The Times-Picayune newsroom: Hope Against Hope: Three Schools, One City, and the Struggle to Educate Americas Children (2014), by education reporter Sarah Carr; Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City (2008), by city editor Jed Horne; and 1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina (2007), by columnist Chris Rose.

These books have three things in common: All are serious investigative works, all are written by long-time local reporters, and all are authored by individuals who are no longer employed at The Times-Picayune.

There was an era, one that peaked around 2008, when it looked like serious journalism itself was at risk. Politico was perfecting horse-race journalism, vacuuming up the readership, talent and resources of The Washington Post and National Journal in the process. The Huffington Post was exploiting unpaid citizen bloggers for its Off the Bus project, thereby destroying the idea of professionally trained, reasonably paid journalists. And BuzzFeed was proving that lists attract a far higher viewership than any publication devoted to serious topics could ever match.

And yet, all three of those publications have morphed into enterprises that produce first-rate journalismeven on criminal-justice issues. Indeed, even as local crime reporting is at a nadir, we are experiencing a renewed era of criminal-justice journalism at the national level. Politico Magazine, founded by former Post editor Susan Glasser to balance the publications emphasis on quick hits, publishes top-notch longform journalism, and not just on issues related to events in Washington. Its special March/April Justice issue contained stories on the Oakland Police Department, a profile of NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton, a photo gallery of Ferguson months after the riots in that city, and an essay co-published with ProPublica on why African Americans fear the police.

The Huffington Post has initiated a long-form project that had as its first story a 20,000-word piece on the failures of drug-addiction treatment centers. It included videos and scanned journal entries from addicts who had died soon after leaving the ineffectual centers. HuffPo has since published long pieces on prison life for children and a decades-old rape case in a rock band. (It should be noted, however, that The New York Times Magazine ran a story on HuffPos labor practices that called it a surpassingly difficult place to work, because its so focused on incessant content production.)

BuzzFeed, for its part, has progressed beyond the feline beat to become among the best websites for journalism devoted to crime on the internet. From a piece on an alleged rape of a transgender woman in a Georgia prison to a story on a mentally ill woman who was shot eight times by San Francisco police, BuzzFeed both produces and curates high-quality journalism devoted to systemic and individual criminal justice issues. And these are not shallow stories with click-bait headlines but thoughtful, investigative reporting in pieces thousands of words long.

All of this, of course, is in addition to regular important stories in traditional outlets like The New Yorker and The Atlantic, as well as on new sites like The Marshall Project and ProPublica.

But even as high quality criminal-justice journalism is more plentiful and widely available than ever, the migration to the Web era has come at a steep cost that includes the gradual decline of local newspapers like The Times-Picayune. Shots on the Bridge illustrates that, even as it shows what in-depth reporting can still achieve.

Research assistance for this piece was provided by Tracy Walsh.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jordan Michael Smith is a contributing writer at Salon and the Christian Science Monitor.
Just over a year after the pandemic wiped out most of her 2020 event calendar, NoRA Cupcake Companys Carrie Carella and her business partner Heather Kelly are about to open a brand-new restaurant in Middletown bearing both their names.

Harries Jailhouse, a comfort-food eatery with sandwiches, snacks and craft cocktails situated in a former jail building, will open by the end of March. Carella and Kelly have been talking about the project for five years, they said, but  almost improbably  the upheaval of COVID-19 pushed them to get it off the ground.

To casual observers, the effort might seem infeasible. What would make an entrepreneur want to open a brand-new restaurant at a time when the industry has been devastated?

But across the state, several Connecticut restaurateurs have moved ahead to launch new businesses, taking advantage of flexible rents, streamlined operations or even drastic changes in life circumstances to pursue their endeavors.

Almost overnight in March 2020, Carellas Middletown-based cupcake business was upended, as COVID forced months of event cancellations and rebookings. She laid off the majority of her staff, and handled day-to-day business on her own. But she needed to keep Kelly, her operations manager, working. The two began to discuss their restaurant concept again, and found the right fit in the former Pameacha Jail on Warwick Street.

COVID kind of kicked us into a situation where we had to act on it, because I couldn't keep Heather employed at NoRA, and justify it, Carella said. Heather [needed] a job, a future path, because I wasn't sure how long this was going to be and how NoRA was going to bounce back. So I wanted to at least start building out what we had originally talked about.

Wed already been talking about it for five years, Kelly said. [We said] if we dont start working on this now, then we wont.

Since the partners had been planning for the future, they had accumulated equipment over the years, saving them from having to lay out a lot of capital during the down period, Carella said.

When time came to move into this new location, we had so much stuff already, she said. And on top of that, the place that we that we moved into came with a lot of stuff. It was a really kind of a perfect storm of a situation.

Carella and Kelly have planned out their business projections with worst case scenario numbers, but expect that improving conditions will work in their favor. They plan to offer outdoor seating, and anticipate a busy summer.

Hopefully, we're on a trajectory now...things are only going to get better, right? Carella said. If things are going to get better, well, then our numbers hopefully are better than what we're originally projecting.

Mark Turocys Black Rock Social House opened March 15, taking over the former Walrus & Carpenter space in Bridgeports Black Rock neighborhood. When Turocy began planning his restaurant in September 2020, he had the benefit of six months knowledge of COVID protocols, and an expectation of what business might look like with continued restrictions.

He wrote his business plan based on sales projections with limited seating capacity and a higher percentage of takeout. He paid close attention to the news, and as he learned vaccines were expected to roll out in Connecticut through spring, he grew more confident in his decision to aim for a March opening.

Yes, it was a gamble, but I thought it was a gamble that might pay off, he said. The state's looking fantastic right now when it comes to vaccines...I really feel that we'll get a real sense of normalcy [in] probably July.

Before finding his restaurant space in Black Rock, Turocy looked at a vacancy in New Haven. He was very interested in the Elm City spot, he said, but the timing wasnt right. It was early on in the pandemic, and the landlord was not yet grasping the severity of the situation.

The landlord just didn't want to budge with any negotiations because they thought it was just the flu, it was going away, and no, you're going to pay full price, he said. But as the time went on, people started to realize that it's more than what some people are saying it is.

But several months later, he had better luck negotiating with his Black Rock landlord and his chosen vendors, who offered more flexibility with rent and fees. He also kept the furniture left behind by the previous tenant, which saved him an estimated $10,000.

I opened this restaurant at a much lower opening cost than I would have normally done, if it was just an everyday business model and the pandemic never existed, he said.

Turocy is looking forward to a robust summer, as the weather warms and more age groups get vaccinated. He was also thrilled to hear news about The Acoustic music venues planned reopening, as its directly across the street from his restaurant.

I think there's going to be such a bounce back in this industry  this summer, this fall, and the holiday season, like we have never seen before, he said. I really think thats whats going to happen.

For other entrepreneurs, pandemic-related life circumstances sparked a decision to open an eatery. In January 2020, Andrea and Armando Brito were living in the Bay Area with their two young daughters, mulling over a potential move back East to be closer to Andreas parents in Fairfield County.

When the pandemic hit two months later, their discussions intensified, as they worried about the virus and its impact on their jobs  Andrea worked in social and recreational services, and Armando as a chef for a University of California - Berkeley sorority house. They decided to see if their home would sell, and when it did, they made the cross-country trek to Connecticut.

As they settled in with Andreas parents, Armando determined he didnt want to work for another restaurateur, and it was time for him to open his own. They found a former pizzeria in Westport for what would become Capuli, their California-Mediterranean restaurant that debuted in January.

We were able to do this because we werent paying rent, living with my parents, and we werent paying a mortgage, Andrea said. They had also specifically sought spaces that were already used as restaurants, as a buildout could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The experience hasnt been easy, she said, with continued pandemic restrictions, customers nervous to eat indoors and bad winter weather that disrupts normal business hours. The couple is running the restaurant by themselves, unable at this point financially to hire staff. But theyre hoping to see more foot traffic in the area as the weather warms and more people come out to dine.

2020 was also a year of transformative change for Charlie Gilhuly and Molly Healey, a husband and wife who opened two separate businesses during the pandemic. Healey is a partner in Westports Manna Toast, which opened as a takeout and delivery-only spot in May and then launched a sit-down cafe in July. Gilhuly launched Grammies Donuts & Biscuits, a Westport ghost kitchen, in January 2021.

The first Manna location was in the works before COVID hit, Healey said, so we were just already well on our way to building out everything. And we just decided to keep going, because we didn't just do it for nothing, we wanted to make it happen. We all believe in the brand a lot. We just wanted to see it come to fruition.

In May, Gilhuly left his job as a general manager for The Cottage and OKO in Westport, in part because of the needs of his family. He and Healey had a three-year-old and another child on the way, and they were concerned about the threat of the virus to their childrens local grandparents, who were their primary childcare.

I needed to be available, he said. A few months later, with a business plan in his back pocket, he found an ideal space for what would become Grammies, right next door to Mannas hub kitchen. The building had been occupied by a catering business, which had relocated during the pandemic, and they had left behind key equipment.

To do my project with a blank space, rather than a vacated functioning commercial kitchen, would have cost me three times as much, he said.

Grammies took off immediately, as local residents clamored for its fresh egg sandwiches, doughnuts, cronuts, biscuits and croissants. Gilhuly is now hoping to launch other concepts out of his Post Road space, and hes working on a Mexican menu at the moment.

Carella said the pandemic forced her to think critically about her businesses, and make difficult decisions about staffing and operations, which helps her as she heads into an increasingly busy 2021 season with NoRA. Her email is on fire with event requests, she said.

The uncertainty of COVID also pushed her to take more chances, she said, as she and Kelly worked toward making Harries a reality.

Because at that point, what do you have to lose? she said. You feel like you've lost everything anyways, so its a lot easier to go out on a limb.
Josie Gibson has claimed the police did nothing to help after her sister and dog were attacked by a 'young male.'

The former Big Brother star, 36, claimed that despite reporting the 'frightening' attack to the authorities, nothing has been done after a man tried to tackle her 18-year-old sister to the ground.

Josie revealed the terrifying ordeal after many women spoke about their own experiences with harassment, following the death of Sarah Everard earlier this month.

Shocking: Josie Gibson has claimed the police did nothing to help after her sister and dog were attacked by a 'young male'

Speaking to The Sun, Josie said her sister was tackled to the ground by a young male who also grabbed her pet dog and threw it on the pavement.

She said: 'A young male picked up my little dog and threw him to the ground and then he rugby tackled my 18-year-old baby sister in broad daylight down to the ground.

'It was only that both my sisters are a bit like me and they'll put up a bit of a fight. They were screaming at him.

'I think in the end he thought, 'I'm not going to get anywhere with these girls because there's two of them' and he ran off in the end.'

Scary: The Big Brother star claimed that despite reporting the 'frightening' attack to the authorities, nothing was done after a man tried to tackle her 18-year-old sister to the ground

Josie added that her sisters were both 'so frightened' by the ordeal, and despite reporting the incident the police have done nothing.

It comes after 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah 'vanished into thin air' after leaving a friend's house in Clapham, south London at around 9pm on Wednesday, March 3.

Wayne Couzens, a diplomatic protection officer based at the Palace of Westminster, was arrested on Tuesday night over the disappearance.

It was later confirmed that a body found in Kent woodland this week was in fact Sarah Everard, and inquest into her death has been adjourned until after Couzen's trial, scheduled for September.

Claims: She said: 'A young male picked up my little dog and threw him to the ground and then he rugby tackled my 18-year-old baby sister in broad daylight down to the ground'

In the wake of Sarah's disappearance, women took to social media by the thousands to stress that the vulnerability felt when walking alone in the dark resonates with almost all women.

In January Josie was forced to quit social media for six days after spending too much time 'reading into all the negativity.'

She tweeted: 'Right I am off my phone and social until the 13th Jan so if I don't reply I'm not being rude.

'I just keep finding myself on my phone and reading into all the negativity and it's not healthy for anyone.

'I actually feel like Al I'm on my phone so much it's disturbing. (sic)'

Tragic: Josie revealed the terrifying ordeal after many women spoke about their own experiences with harassment, following the death of Sarah Everard earlier this month

Josie previously revealed her weight loss plans, aiming to transform her size 18 figure to a size 12 after falling back into 'unhealthy habits' of overeating bread and chocolate.

The TV star told MailOnline that she no longer feels 'sexy' and only sees herself as a 'working mum' now her body is at an 'uncomfortable size'.

She explained: 'I have obviously been big my whole life - I have always been one of those people that's struggled with my weight.

'In 2013 I lost weight and then I started putting it on again when I had my son in 2019 and it's getting to a point now where I feel really, really uncomfortable. I feel uncomfortable with the size I am. I am a size 18.

'I would like to be a comfortable 12 or a 12-14. I would be so happy with that. I have been a size 8. I don't think it suits me and it's a lot of work to get there so I just need to find that happy medium. A size 12 would be ideal.'
NEW DELHI: Veteran actress and Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan is the latest member from the film fraternity to voice her opinion against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat over his recent controversial remarks on ripped jeans.

"Such statements dont befit a CM. Those on higher posts must think and make public statements. You say such things in today's times, youll decide whos cultured and whos not based on clothes! Its a bad mindset and encourages crimes against women," Jaya Bachchan said while speaking to ANI. Recently, Jaya Bachchan's granddaughter Navya Naveli also took a dig at Rawat over his controversial statement on ripped jeans. "Change your mentality before changing our clothes because the only shocking here is the message comments like this send to society," Navya Naveli stated.

Navya had also shared a throwback picture of herself wearing ripped jeans and said, "I'll wear my ripped jeans. Thank you. And I'll wear them proudly."

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat faced massive flak on his remark over ripped jeans and said he apologises for his opinion if it has hurt anybody. But at the same time, he repeated his objection to ripped jeans, saying he has no problem with jeans with but wearing 'torn' ones is 'not right'. Referring to his remark made earlier this week, Rawat told the media that he had commented that nowadays children bring a costly jean home and then cut it with a scissor. He had only talked about the environment at home and this applies to him as well, Rawat said.

CM Rawat had drawn flak after at an event earlier this week he said youngsters follow strange fashion trends due to a lack of values and consider themselves to be big shots after wearing jeans ripped at the knees. Women also follow such trends. Rawat then went on to describe the attire of a woman who sat next to him on a flight. He described her as wearing boots, jeans ripped at the knees, bangles in her hands and with two children travelling with her. He also said she runs an NGO, goes out in society and has two children and wondered what values she would give them.

(With inputs from ANI/PTI)
Kabul, March 20 : The Afghan Defence Ministry on Saturday said their findings show that an air force helicopter that crashed three days ago was shot down by a local militia leader, vowing "revenge" for the four crew members and five soldiers who died.

Ministry spokesperson Fawad Aman said that investigators determined the Mi-17 helicopter that went down in central Wardak province was targeted by the militias tied to Abdul Ghani Alipoor, reports dpa news agency.

Alipoor is an ethnic Hazara militia commander who is believed to lead hundreds of armed men in Wardak, his home province.

He has taken up arms to defend his community after repeated attacks by the Taliban and Kuchis, a nomadic people in the province.

Recently, the local strongman clashed with government forces in the province over the appointment of a new police commander in the area.

President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said that the culprits involved in taking down the helicopter will be punished.

Alipoor has reportedly admitted that it was his men.

He was arrested in an operation in Kabul in late 2018 but was later released in return for concessions to the government following a wave of protests by his followers.
A boy who beat up a man with an iron bar and made racial slurs against his victim's wife when he was aged just 13 has been given a deferred detention sentence.

The teenager, who is now 15 years old, attacked the couple as they were travelling on a Luas in Dublin in December 2019  spitting a sweet at the woman and making racist comments before stealing the man's rucksack and hitting him repeatedly with an 18cm iron bar.

Passengers on the Red Luas line remonstrated with the boy, who was one of a group of teenagers, as he carried out the attack, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Friday.

The Dublin boy, who can't be named as he is a juvenile, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the man and one count of producing an article at St James's Luas stop, Dublin on December 23, 2019.

Another count of stealing a rucksack was taken into consideration. He has seven previous convictions.

Sentencing the boy on Friday, Judge Karen O'Connor said the couple had fled Iraq for the safety and comfort of Ireland, and had suffered as a result of the attack.

She said the boy had showed utter disrespect by spitting at the women and there was a racial element to the attack.

The court heard the man suffered severe bruising to his back and had to be taken to hospital after the attack.

Judge O'Connor noted that the boy was extremely young at the time of the offence and that he is still a child. She referred to the Children Act which states that the detention of a child should be a last resort.

She said she would defer a sentence of 18 months detention for six months, when the matter will return to court to see how the boy has progressed. She put in place a number of strict conditions he must abide by, including a nightly curfew from 9pm to 7am.

I'm giving you a chance to see how you can behave for six months, the judge told the boy. She noted he has supportive and loving family members who have pledged to support him over the coming months.

The court heard that the victims were travelling on the Luas at around 6pm on the evening in question when a group of boys, including the perpetrator, got on. The boy was carrying an iron bar which he banged on the floor repeatedly in a threatening manner, the judge said.

He spat a sweet at the woman and made derogatory and racist comments about her being Muslim.

The man told the boys to leave them alone, and other passengers also told the boys to stop or they would be kicked off the tram, the court heard.

As they came to St James's stop, the boy grabbed the man's rucksack and got off the tram. The man pursued the boy, who started hitting him with the bar until he was lying on the ground.

In a victim impact statement before the court, the man reported blacking out from pain during the attack. Gardai and an ambulance were called to the scene as the boys fled.

The boy was recognised from CCTV footage and arrested the following month. The court heard he had a difficult family background and lost his mother at a young age.

His aunt was in court to support him and told the court he would be living with her upon his release from detention. The boy has been in custody since December.

The matter will return to court on October 8.
EnWave sells 10 kW REV? Machine to Dairy Concepts IRL for Shelf-Stable Dairy Snack Production

Posted by Publisher Internet

EnWave Corporation (TSX-V:ENW | FSE:E4U) (?EnWave?, or the \Company\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/enwave-corp/), announces that Dairy Concepts IRL (?DCI?), a leader in innovative dairy snacks has signed an Equipment Purchase Agreement (the ?Agreement?) to acquire a 10kW Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) machine to be placed at Moorepark Technology Limited?s (?MTL?) facility in Cork, Ireland.

DCI signed a royalty-bearing commercial license agreement (the ?License?) with EnWave in September 2020, granting it processing rights for a portfolio of natural, sweet and savoury, shelf-stable, hand-held dairy snacks. To facilitate initial REV? processing, DCI forged a commercial relationship with MTL. MTL provides commercial pilot plant and research services for food industry customers. DCI and MTL have collaborated to combine leading technology with food innovation strategy to launch new and exciting dairy-based products to the market.?

MTL previously purchased a 10kW REV? machine from EnWave in September 2019 and this machine has been used commercially by DCI since September 2020. The addition of the DCI REV? machine will double capacity at the MTL facility.

On a go-forward basis, DCI will use both the existing REV? machine at MTL and their newly purchased unit for commercial production.

DCI has also agreed to purchase two additional 10kW REV? machines before the end of 2021 to maintain exclusivity for the production of dried cheese and cheese-like snacks. DCI maintains the exclusive right to use REV? technology in Ireland and the United Kingdom and pursuant to the License, DCI will pay an undisclosed minimum annual royalty to EnWave during the License term.

The additional REV? machines will be used for the production of DCI?s own consumer branded products, as well as co-manufacturing capacity for other emerging and established dairy companies based in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

REV? technology has been proven at scale in the food and cannabis industries. EnWave has 43 licensed partners and more than 50 royalty-bearing REV? machines in operation globally.

About Dairy Concepts IRL

Dairy Concepts IRL has become a leading innovator in the global dairy snacks market, by combining its entrepreneurial vision with Ireland?s scientific talent, quality dairy ingredients, global reputation and sustainable competitive advantage in dairy.

DCI is focused on the development of innovative, cheese and cheese-like, hand-held dairy snacks for the global market and is based at the Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre, Cork, Ireland ? the world-renowned dairy research and development centre.

For more information on DCI visit www.dairyconcepts.ie.

About EnWave?

EnWave Corporation, a Vancouver-based advanced technology company, has developed a Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) ? an innovative, proprietary method for the precise dehydration of organic materials. EnWave has further developed patent-pending methods for uniformly drying and decontaminating cannabis through the use of REV? technology, shortening the time from harvest to high-quality, marketable cannabis products.?

REV? technology?s commercial viability has been demonstrated and is growing rapidly across several market verticals in the food, and pharmaceutical sectors, including legal cannabis. EnWave?s strategy is to sign royalty-bearing commercial licenses with innovative, disruptive companies in multiple verticals for the use of REV? technology. The company has signed over forty royalty-bearing licenses to date in twenty countries world-wide. In addition to these licenses, EnWave established a Limited Liability Corporation, NutraDried Food Company, LLC, to manufacture, market and sell all-natural dairy snack products in the United States, including the Moon Cheese? brand.?

EnWave has introduced REV? as a disruptive dehydration platform in the food and cannabis sectors: faster and cheaper than freeze drying, with better end product quality than air drying or spray drying. EnWave currently offers two distinct commercial REV? platforms:

nutraREV? which is a drum-based system that dehydrates organic materials quickly and at low-cost, while maintaining high levels of nutrition, taste, texture and colour; and,

quantaREV? which is a tray-based system used for continuous, high-volume low-temperature drying.

More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net.

EnWave Corporation

Mr. Brent Charleton, CFA

President and CEO

For further information:

Brent Charleton, CFA, President and CEO at +1 (778) 378-9616

E-mail: bcharleton@enwave.net

Dan Henriques, CPA, CA, CFO at +1 (604) 835-5212

E-mail: dhenriques@enwave.net ?

For Media Inquiries:

Email: media@enwave.net

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

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Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Paix en Casamance : Habib Sy propose de nommer Ousmane Sonko Haute autorite independante chargee de

Depuis lavenement de laffaire du  Sweet Beaute , le docteur Hameth Khalifa Niass na cesse dinsister sur lidee de confier le reglement du conflit de la Casamance, au depute Ousmane Sonko. Je voudrais appuyer et prolonger son idee, en suggerant, quOusmane Sonko, soit nomme, HAUTE AUTORITE INDEPENDANTE CHARGEE DE LA PAIX EN CASAMANCE , ecrit Habis Sy dans une note recue.Selon lancien ministre dEtat et President du parti de lEspoir et de la Modernite/ PEM/Yaakaar u Reew Mi,  Lidee du docteur Hameth Khaliffa Niass est dautant plus pertinente, quOusmane Sonko lui-meme, a declare, que la paix en Casamance est le seul et lunique domaine dans lequel il peut travailler avec le President MackySall .
State data on COVID-19 outbreaks shows that the most common settings for the spread of the disease in early 2021 are residential care facilities and restaurants.

The California Department of Public Health found that from Jan. 1 to March 1, the state had a total of 4,311 confirmed coronavirus outbreaks. In that period, 39,526 outbreak-related cases were reported to the department.

Employers in industries other than health care are required to report to a local health department when they identify a minimum of three cases of the virus at a worksite within two weeks. Local health departments then make a determination on whether those cases are an outbreak as defined by the agency and report confirmed outbreaks to the department.

The agency included caveats to the data, including that some of the outbreaks may have happened last year and that the reporting was not exhaustive. While many of the settings identified were workplaces, the health department said the cases may have affected workers, other people in a community or visitors.

The agency found that residential care facilities saw 21.7% of the outbreaks, while restaurants accounted for 7%. Skilled nursing facilities had 4.2%, hospitals had 3.9%, and grocery stores and the construction industry had 3.5%, respectively.

The data is the first produced by the state under a California law, AB685, passed last year requiring employers to notify workers in writing about outbreaks and take steps to protect them against the virus. It also requires that businesses notify local health authorities if infections become widespread, information that is then reported to the health department.

Emergency rules passed by Californias workplace safety regulator to prevent the spread of the virus at workplaces also require similar reporting and safeguards.

Business groups raised the alarm that the law could be used to name and shame businesses with outbreaks of the highly infectious virus, but data released by the department lists only industries and not workplace names.

The state health department noted in its release of the data that outbreaks in a particular setting do not equate to increased risk in that industry, Because these data include only outbreaks reported to CDPH after Jan. 1, 2021, and many settings have been either closed or open with capacity restrictions.

The Chronicle previously reported that most Bay Area counties do not identify businesses where outbreaks have taken place, despite other locations such as Los Angeles County and Oregon making that data publicly available.

Of the regions 10 local health departments, only one made public the names of businesses that had seen outbreaks of the virus.

Some cited policies protecting medical privacy for withholding it, a defense that was recently overruled by a court that ordered Alameda County to release outbreak data for the Tesla manufacturing plant in Fremont.

Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice
In his opening address, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Tan Cuong, who is also head of the steering committee for the event, said the Road 9 - Southern Laos victory in March 1971 marked the growth of the Vietnamese army in large-scale joint combat, becoming a vivid manifestation of the special combat solidarity between the Vietnamese and Lao armies and people.

Over 80 reports from experts and scholars highlighted the victory as an eminent success of the leadership and direction of the Party Central Committee and the Politburo in the war, and a vivid manifestation of the special combat alliance between the Vietnamese and Lao armies and people.

Commenting on the role of the victory in the resistance war and economic development at present, member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Quang Tung stressed that, over the past five decades, the value of the victory has always been in the hearts of residents in Quang Tri and those at home and abroad. At present, the military advantage of Road 9 has been tapped by the Governments of Vietnam, Laos and the Greater Mekong Sub-region for the sake of socio-economic development.

The event afforded a chance for the entire Party, people and army to review the heroic fighting tradition of the nation, contributing to nurturing patriotism and the spirit of self-reliance among young Vietnamese today and subsequent generations.

Deputy Minister of National Defence, Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Tan Cuong speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamplus
(Photo : Flickr/ Ben Ho) Warragamba Dam Syndey Australia

The Warragamba Dam in Sydney, Australia, is predicted to spill on the afternoon of Mar. 20 and residents in western suburbs could be flooded as dangerous levels of rain continue to falls.

Warragamba Dam spill

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the residents that parts of western Syndey are at risk of flooding as the dam is expected to spill, as reported by ABC News.

BOM flood operations specialist Justin Robinson told the reporters of Today Australia that they are expecting Warragamba Dam to spill. He said that waters from the spill would combine with river flows from the Upper Nepean and the Grose River, as well as the local tributaries including South Creek.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told the reporters that emergency services were preparing for a one-in-five, a one-in-10 or a one-in-20 year event. She asked the residents in the area to be on high alert and to monitor the government websites in case a call to evacuate is issued.

Also Read: Peloton Death: Child Reportedly Dies Over Exercise 'Tragic Accident,' CEO Confirms

Berejiklian stated that the window of evacuation is often not a big one depending on where you live. She said that the SES was doing its best to predict what may happen in the next few hours and was trying to avoid residents being evacuated at night.

Robinson said the timing of the dam spill would depend on which areas of the catchment received the heaviest rainfall and what time they receive the rainfall.

There could be some minor flooding at Penrith and North Richmond and moderate flooding may develop overnight.

Robinson also said that their current expectations were around the moderate level but they are definitely highlighting to the community that major flooding is possible, according to 7News Australia.

Robinson added that for those in the Greater Sydney area, the biggest concern for both the Bureau and nearby communities, is the potential for very significant flooding across the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.

There were concerns for all suburbs along the Nepean River but in particular Penrith and Windsor that may get can get very deep levels of flooding.

The Bureau issued a flood warning and that was updated a few minutes after. The current warning is basically suggesting that they possibly might see moderate to major flooding.

Residents warned of flooding

The Warragamba Dam is close to full after Sydney's recent rain. The water level of the dam will also depend on how the rainfall unfolds over the next 24 hours, according to Yahoo News.

However, looking at the current forecast, they are thinking that it might be similar to the February 2020 event, which had very significant impacts on the community, especially to two bridges, the North Richmond and Windsor.

Robinson also stated that Warragamba Dam had spilled back in 2013 and in 2016, but the last significant spill was in August 1990. He added that the public need to stay updated with the warnings and also the messages from the emergency services.

A BOM spokeswoman said that Mar. 20 would be the wettest day in Sydney and such conditions are expected to continue on Mar. 21.

The rain should then shift to the lower Blue Mountains and highlands of the Illawarra, with rainfall expected over the Riverina and inland areas on Mar. 22 and Mar. 23.

Residents of Sydney have been advised to stay home and the Parramatta River is already overflowing, with people taking to social media to share photos of flooding.

Related Article: MIT Researchers Develop Wireless Sensors to Assist Patients Properly Using Insulin Pens and Inhalers

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MONACO, March 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) (Scorpio Tankers, or the Company) announced that Scorpio Services Holding Limited (SSH), a related party, has purchased 110,000 common shares of the Company today in the open market at an average price of $19.70 per share.

About Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Scorpio Tankers is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. The Companys fleet consists of 135 owned, finance leased or bareboat chartered-in product tankers (42 LR2 tankers, 12 LR1 tankers, 63 MR tankers and 18 Handymax tankers) with an average age of 5.3 years. Additional information about the Company is available at the Companys website www.scorpiotankers.com, which is not a part of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forwardlooking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forwardlooking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forwardlooking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, target, project, likely, may, will, would, could and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

The forwardlooking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although management believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forwardlooking statements include unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, length and severity of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including its effect on demand for petroleum products and the transportation thereof, expansion and growth of the Companys operations, risks relating to the integration of assets or operations of entities that it has or may in the future acquire and the possibility that the anticipated synergies and other benefits of such acquisitions may not be realized within expected timeframes or at all, the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with the Company, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of offhires, and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of certain of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Contact Information

Scorpio Tankers Inc.

(212) 542-1616
Calls for Fingal County Council to challenge a decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for an apartment complex at Fosterstown, Swords, were rejected at a meeting of the council last week, when councillors were told there is no legal basis for such a move.

Tabling a motion at a meeting of the full council, Independent councillor, Joe Newman called on the local authority to seek a judicial review over the board's decision to grant planning permission for the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) at Fosterstown.

The SHD at Fosterstown is to be constructed by MKN Property Group as part of Phase 1 plans at the townlands of Fosterstown North and Cremona, Swords and will see the construction of hundreds of new apartments as well as a creche and retail units.

SHD applications go directly to An Bord Pleanala for approval, effectively bypassing the local authority's planning process.

Speaking at the council meeting, Cllr Newman said he was calling on the council to do 'all in its power' to challenge the decision by An Bord Pleanala, by way of judicial review, if necessary.

Cllr Newman said it was his contention that councillors had the right to call on the Chief Executive to take this course of action, and it was his opinion that 'we let a judge decide on this.'

The Independent councillor said it was important that the powers of the local authority were not diminished by the SHD process to the point that the council had no effective participation in the planning process.

He was concerned, he said, that the current SHD process would be detrimental 'to the proper function of our society', and this was why he was calling for a judicial review.

Responding to Cllr Newman, Fingal County Council Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly said it was held on legal advice that a judicial review would not be possible in this instance, as under SHD legislation, the local authority was effectively 'a consultee' in the planning process.

The planning authority in this case, Ms Farrelly said, was An Bord Pleanala, and the council simply did not have the authority to challenge the board's decision.

Ms Farrelly said Fingal County Council had performed its role in the planning process, but An Bord Pleanala had considered its appeal with regard to the proposed development at Fosterstown, and had ultimately decided against overturning its decision. Councillors, Ms Farrelly added, must 'respect' the legislation, and respect the role of the council.

Cllr Newman's motion was put to a vote and, despite gaining the support of a number of councillors, was ultimately defeated.
Spring has officially sprung. As the weather gets warmer and the long school year approaches its end, many University of Georgia students are beginning to participate in an annual tradition marking this season of transformation: spring cleaning.
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Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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A few clouds from time to time. Low 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
The United Arab Emirates is dismantling its military base on the Horn of Africa. The move follows the UAEs lessening involvement in the Yemeni civil war.

Satellite images obtained by The Associated Press show vehicles and other materials being loaded onto a ship and the dismantling of structures at the base in Assab, Eritrea. The UAE built the base in 2015 and used it to send Sudanese troops and heavy weapons to Yemen, according to the outlet.

The base in the Assab port is the UAEs first outside its borders. The UAE and Eritrea are close allies.

The news of the dismantling follows the UAE pulling back from Yemen. The UAE joined the Saudi-led coalition in intervening on behalf of the Yemeni government in 2015 in the civil war with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. However, the UAE began withdrawing its forces in 2019 and finished last year. The UAE still provides support to the Southern Transitional Council, which separated from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The two sides have since reconciled.

The UAE received considerable criticism internationally for its participation in Yemen due to allegations of human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia and its allies. In January, US President Joe Biden paused an arms sale to the Emirates that had been announced by the Trump administration.
Douglas Andrews, writing at Military.com writes:

Earlier this week, Ben Shapiro rightly noted that the Biden administration had declared its first war  a war on Fox Newss Tucker Carlson.

For his part, Carlson might respond by invoking Marine Corps legend Lewis B. Chesty Puller, who, having learned during the Korean War that his 1st Marine Division had been surrounded by 11 ChiCom divisions, said, Those poor bastards. Theyve got us just where we want them. We can shoot in every direction now.

Indeed, its a target-rich environment for Carlson. He drew fire recently from our militarys woke supremacists when he pondered whether maternity flight suits actually increase our readiness and war-fighting lethality, but he could just as easily have questioned the commander-in-chiefs obsession with making the military a safe haven for transgender individuals. Or of his embrace of anti-American ideas such as antiracism and Critical Race Theory.

Joe Biden had hardly finished hanging the drapes when he rescinded Donald Trumps ban on transgender warriors. As if that message werent loud and clear enough, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin took a few moments away from rooting out the 19 white supremacists within the ranks to announce, Prospective recruits may serve in their self-identified gender when they have met the appropriate standards for accession into the military services. This revised policy will also ensure all medically necessary transition related care authorized by law is available to all Service members and will re-examine all cases of transgender Service members that may be in some form of adverse administrative proceedings.

Translation: If youre a biological man who wants be a woman, Uncle Sam not only wants you, hell even pay for your sex-change surgery.

As for the militarys newfound fixation on race, The United States Navys most recent suggested reading list includes books that explicitly endorse critical race theory and intersectionality, reports The Daily Wire. Among these books is How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi [whose] conclusions about racial equity often raise eyebrows. For instance, he implied last year that Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is a white colonizer for adopting two black children from Haiti.

Indiana Republican Representative Jim Banks, a Naval Reserve officer since 2012, wrote to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday to take issue. He asked Gilday for a written response as to how the Kendi book cultivates a culture of warfighting excellence or else to remove it from his recommended reading list.

There was a time not too long ago when the American military feared no foe. Among our enlisted ranks and our junior officers, thats still the case. Ask a Marine 0311, for example, whether he fears jihadists or Taliban fighters. But what is it about the Rainbow Mafia, the feminists, the Critical Race theorists, and the radical atheists that has our tone-setters, our senior leadership, practically crouching in the corner and sucking their thumbs?

Has the wokeness virus now infected our military just is it has our universities and our corporations?

As historian Victor Davis Hanson rightly notes, There grows a new class rift between the rank-and-file military and the Pentagons top current and retired brass. Increasingly, some brass  master the contours of the military-industrial complex and profit from them upon retirement. Many acquiesce to now-orthodox progressive ideology, which is omnipresent among federal bureaucracies and much of Congress. Whereas all administrations used to prioritize traditional military preparedness, leftist administrations now see the military as a tool for accelerating their progressive domestic changes.

Hanson continues, Many of our top brass are far more politicized than in the past, and can grow more ideologically distant from lower-ranking officers and enlisted personnel. The extraordinary, thin-skinned Pentagon effort to [attack Tucker Carlson] is an illustration of this larger  and increasingly dangerous  pathology.

Dennis Prager is fond of saying that leftism destroys everything it touches  art, literature, religion, free speech, education, sports, journalism, the Boy Scouts, even late-night TV. And if we dont course-correct and remember the historical role of the worlds most vaunted fighting force, well soon be able to add the U.S. military to that sorry list.

And our nation will be far worse off for it
Jawid Paymani, a protestor who made the trek from Los Angeles on a 40 hour drive, stated taking the health risk for the long protest is a small sacrifice compared to defending the important achievements of the past 2 decades such as women's rights, democracy, and the continued preservation of freedom of speech.



The protestors filled the Washington sky with banners, one of which read "A decentralized political system will allow social justice, democracy, and national unity to prevail in Afghanistan!"



The Afghan activists are worried mistakes of the 2001 Bonn Conference would repeat, excluding any of the key ethnic groups will be a roadblock to achieving peace, in a nation that already requires healing. The landscape has eerily resembled that of the early 90's. The Afghan peace talks should include all ethnic groups and guarantee a just and lasting peace that is acceptable to all parties within the country. Both the unitary presidential system which is more centralized than any modern Monarchy and the Taliban's proposed emirate system are unjust and unacceptable for Afghans. A just system is one in which all ethnic groups have: equal representation, autonomy for cultural and religious freedoms, and most important of all, the guarantee of all ethnic group's human rights. Only with the Decentralization of power from the existing tyrannical centralized system and an equitable distribution of wealth and resources can Afghanistan enter a new age of peace

The Afghans had among the banners with the calls for decentralization, images of Ahmad Shah Massoud who defeated the red army in the 1980s and for years single handedly defended the world against The Taliban & International Terrorism.



The protestor's chants roared through the Capital grounds, in favor of Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad's Shah Massoud. He entered politics earlier this year, and has since become a new source of hope to Afghans across the world from the United States, to France, India, and Russia. Ahmad Massoud is currently reviving his father's movement and is demanding that only through decentralization of power and the equal distribution of wealth can peace and social justice be established in Afghanistan.



Wahab, an activist leader among the crowd, shared the vision that had inspired them to protest. A vision that Ahmad Massoud had published last year in the New York Times about Decentralization in Afghanistan, entitled "What is Missing From Afghan Peace Talks".



The link for H.E. Ahmad Massoud's vision for peace published in the New York Times, can be read on the link below: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/afghanistan-peace-talks.html

SOURCE Yusife Nazir, Monarch Strategy LLC
The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
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The award-winning actress Aoibheann McCann from north Louth is joining the ConTempo Quartet for a performance of Haydn's Quartet Op. 51 'Seven Last Words', with texts by the acclaimed Canadian born poet and Pulitzer prize winner Mark Strand, on Good Friday, April 2 at 3pm.

The concert is being hosted by Drogheda Classical Music from the beautiful St Peter's Church of Ireland, and will be available to view online.

Director Pauline Ashwood told The Argus that they are delighted to be able to present the work from the church which is available as a venue this year as the usual Good Friday ceremonies cannot take place due to the pandemic restrictions.

Haydn's Quartet Op. 51 'Seven Last Words' are meditations on Christ's last words on the cross, and are among the great pieces of Easter music. They are seven short phrases from the Latin Bible worked conceptually and rhythmically into the texture of Haydn's exquisite music.

The work was commissioned in 1786 for the Good Friday service at Oratorio de la Santa Cueva (Holy Cave Oratory) in Cadiz, Spain. Originally scored for orchestra, the quartet version was arranged in 1787 and is the form in which the work is most often performed today. Poet Mark Strand was commissioned by the Brentano String Quartet to write a new text inspired by the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas.

Michael D. Higgins, Uachtaran na hEireann President of Ireland, has written to Drogheda Classical Music praising them for their work in programming events during the pandemic. 'Events such as yours remind us of the importance of appreciating the many ways in which cultural outlets have been maintained and extended throughout Covid restrictions, demonstrates how the Arts have the power to transcend distance.'

Tickets for the concert are 10 and are on sale from www.droghedaclassicalmusic.com and www.droichead.com

The Series is funded by the Arts Council and Louth County Council and run in partnership with Droichead Arts Centre with sponsorship from the d Hotel and RTE Supporting the Arts.
Police Officer Shot in Head in Line of Duty Promoted Honorary Detective 5 Years Later

An Illinois police officer who sustained three gunshot wounds to the neck and jaw has since managed to fulfil a dream. Five years after the tragic incident, having suffered a traumatic brain injury, he has been honorarily promoted to the rank of detective.

Park Forest police officer Timothy Jones, 29, was new on the force when he was critically wounded during a shootout in March 2016. He was escorting an armed suspect into custody when shots were fired.

Doctors feared he wouldnt survive his injuries, but miraculously, he pulled through.

According to Joness father William, former police chief of Country Club Hills, the promotion was his sons goal from day one.

Its been an extremely long and tumultuous journey for us over the last five years, the former chief explained to Fox 32 Chicago. Its going to mean a great deal to him. Its going to mean a good deal to all of us.

Jones heading home from the Marionjoy Rehabilation Hospital after more than 12 months of intensive rehabilitation (Courtesy of Park Forest Police Department)

In a ceremony on March 15, the honorary title of detective was bestowed on the heroic law enforcement officer. Family and colleagues described him as a model of hope and inspiration.

Jones underwent multiple surgeries and rehabilitation since the shooting, with the hopes of rejoining the force one day. His colleagues have even saved his locker at the station and erected a street sign in his name, reports WGN9.

If you were going to make a movie about a hero cop, itd be Tim, Park Forest police chief Christopher Mannino told Fox 32. And you know, this isnt Hollywood, this is real life and it has real consequences.

But what an incredible man, what an incredible officer. He was that on the street in uniform, and he continues to be that in person today.

Jones pictured on Christmas Eve 2020 (Courtesy of Park Forest Police Department)

The determined rookie defied the odds and continues to improve every day.

Speaking to WBBM News Radio, Mannino claimed that Jones is thriving and enjoying life. Hes working out, lifting weights, has a presence on social media, he explained. He far surpassed all expectations.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
Demonstrators outside the ASEAN Building in Jakarta toss flower petals on portraits of people killed in Myanmar during a protest against the military coup there, March 12, 2021.

Concerned over the Myanmar military juntas relentless deadly crackdown on protesters, Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called for an emergency ASEAN summit Friday to discuss the turmoil in their fellow member state.

Muhyiddin especially used strong language in an apparent attack on the junta, which has shot and killed more than 200 mostly peaceful protesters since it seized power on Feb. 1 after a resounding election victory in November for ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD).

We in Malaysia and the larger ASEAN community cannot afford to see our brotherly nation of Myanmar become so destabilized at the hands of a selected few, who seek to promote their own vested interests, Muhyiddin said in a statement, supporting Jokowis call for an urgent meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders.

It is clear that the current political struggle only victimizes the common people of Myanmar. This has no place in the values of our beliefs, conscience, and culture.

It contradicts the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, which we in ASEAN commit ourselves to promote and protect so that peace, security, and prosperity for our region is guaranteed.

Muhyiddin said that Malaysia was gravely concerned over the tragic situation in Myanmar and that he was appalled by the persistent use of lethal violence against unarmed civilians which has resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries, as well as suffering across the nation.

There is no question about it  the use of live ammunition against peaceful protests is unacceptable. This deplorable situation must stop immediately.

The 10-member ASEAN has come under fire from critics for its lukewarm response to ending the escalating crisis in its backyard. Indonesian launched a diplomatic effort immediately after the coup but its efforts appeared to be futile, with the junta continuing to gun down peaceful protesters.

About 40 journalists have been arrested since the Feb. 1 coup, with roughly half still in detention, including Thein Zaw of The Associated Press. Two more journalists were arrested on Friday.

Jokowi called for an immediate end to the use of violence in Myanmar to prevent further loss of lives, saying the safety of the Myanmar people should be given priority.

I will hold talks with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam as the chairman of ASEAN for the possibility of an ASEAN summit to discuss the crisis in Myanmar, he said.

Brunei, a tiny sultanate on Borneo island, holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, which aside from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, includes Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Jokowi urged parties in Myanmar to start dialogue and reconciliation to restore democracy, peace, and stability.

The United States and the European Union have been ratchetting pressure on the junta to end the violence and restore democracy in Myanmar.

EU foreign ministers are on Monday set to approve sanctions on 11 junta officials over the military coup there, while in Washington on Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives in a resolution urged the junta to allow the elected Parliament unseated by the coup to resume its work.

House lawmakers also condemned the military takeover in Myanmar, demanding the release of all people detained and restoration of media freedom.

Calls unheeded

On Thursday, Indonesias military chief Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto expressed profound concern about the violence in Myanmar.

The TNI [Indonesian Armed Forces] is always ready to provide assistance and share its experience in building professional armed forces in a democracy, Hadi told a virtual meeting of ASEAN defense chiefs.

Indonesia, under the leadership of former Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the countrys first directly elected president, played a significant role in Myanmars democratic transition about a decade ago.

Yudhoyono said on Twitter Friday that he backed Jokowis call for an immediate high level meeting of ASEAN to contain the crisis in Myanmar.

This initiative is appropriate with Indonesias traditional role as a global peacemaker and peacekeeper, he said.

Yudhoyono helped mediate conflicts between the Myanmar government and ethnic minorities, provided input on drafting democratic laws, and invited officials to learn about democratic institutions. But those interactions waned under Jokowi, analysts have said.

Shortly after the coup, Malaysia and Indonesia led calls for a special ASEAN meeting on Myanmar, but it failed to reach a consensus on demanding the immediate release of Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained by the military.

Instead, ASEAN merely called for a halt to violence in Myanmar and urged dialogue to end the crisis.

In the first known face-to-face meeting between Myanmars military government and foreign diplomats, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told the juntas envoy in late February that it must listen to Myanmars people, refrain from violence, and allow a democratic transition process.

But the calls were unheeded.

An analyst at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Dewi Fortuna Anwar, said ASEAN needed to issue a strong statement supporting democracy in Myanmar.

ASEAN does not have the instruments to impose sanctions, but it can put pressure on the junta to stop violence and open the door to dialogue with the NLD leadership, Dewi told BenarNews, referring to the party that won the November election.

Dewi said that it would be challenging for ASEAN to come up with a common stance because of different views among member states on the coup.

At ASEAN, decisions on politics and security must also be made by consensus. So its difficult for ASEAN to take a firm stance, she said.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
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Xi leads China's grand reform of new era

Xinhua) 09:14, March 20, 2021

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Holding a report in his hand summarizing China's reform progress in the past seven years, President Xi Jinping said that the document was rather "heavy."

"Great historic achievements have been made in deepening overall reform," Xi announced at the 17th meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform at the end of last year.

Since the third plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, a key meeting in November 2013 that gave the clarion call for overall reform, China has rolled out 2,485 reform plans covering areas including politics, economy, culture, society, and rule of law.

"The targets and missions set at the session have been basically accomplished as scheduled," Xi said.

FRESH BEGINNING

Since Xi took the helm as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012, he has personally led the country's relentless efforts on deepening reforms, breaking institutional barriers and cracking the "hard nuts" along the way.

He chose south China's Guangdong Province, the pioneer of China's reform and opening up, as the first stop for an inspection trip after taking office.

During the trip in December 2012, Xi made important statements that would later guide the country through the arduous journey of reforms.

"Reform and opening-up is a crucial move that will determine the destiny of contemporary China. It is also a crucial move that will determine the delivery of the two centenary goals and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," he said.

He also talked about the direction and principles of reform.

"Of course, we need to hold high the banner of reform, but our reform must be a reform that is moving along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will neither take the old and rigid closed-door path nor take the erroneous path of abandoning our principles," Xi said.

INNOVATIVE THINKING

In 2013, the epoch-making third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee adopted a decision on some major issues concerning deepening overall reform.

The decision, a programmatic document Xi drafted, is of historic significance.

It set forth for the first time the overarching goal of deepening overall reform -- to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's governance system and capacity.

Since then, Xi visited every single landmark of contemporary China's reform drive, including Xiaogang Village in Anhui Province, the birthplace of China's rural reform, Hainan Province, the new highland of opening up, and Shanghai's Pudong New Area, a vivid demonstration of socialist modernization.

He put forward the value orientation, main direction, roadmap, scientific methods and effective paths for deepening overall reform, forming the most systematic reform methodology in more than four decades.

"Reform should focus on what the people care about and what they want, so that the people will have a greater sense of gain," Xi once said.

He stressed that the starting point and goal of reform should be promoting social fairness and justice and improving the well-being of people.

Such value orientation won the heartfelt support of the people.

"MAGIC CODE"

Xi revealed the "magic code" for the country to deepen overall reform scientifically and effectively at a meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform, which is strengthening the Party's leadership and taking a holistic and systematic approach.

He urged efforts to focus on major reforms that provide structural support, prioritize fundamental reforms, and coordinate reform tasks.

He also underscored the importance of rule of law while advancing reform, stressing that "every major reform must have a legal basis."

The fourth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2014 adopted a decision to advance the rule of law.

He attached great importance to the implementation of reform measures.

"We should resolve problems with force and tenacity as a hammer drives a nail," he said in February this year.

SOLID PRACTICE

Compared to the past, the reform and opening-up in the new era has many new connotations and features, Xi said, noting that the reform faces more deep-seated institutional problems.

Advancing ecological construction, reforming national defense and armed forces, advancing higher-level opening-up and fighting poverty are key areas of the country's reform drive.

Xi led CPC Central Committee to adopt documents on accelerating ecological construction and reforming the ecological civilization system. Under such a programmatic framework, China introduced the "river chief" scheme and the national park system, among other innovative measures.

To push forward the reform of national defense and the armed forces, Xi visited more than 690 military and civilian units, held more than 800 symposiums and discussions, and revised the plan for reforming and strengthening the armed forces more than 150 times.

Under Xi's leadership, China, through eight years of sustained work, has lifted the entire rural poor population under the current standard out of poverty and nearly 100 million poor people have shaken off poverty.

In the meantime, China's new system for a higher-level open economy is taking shape at a faster pace. The country coordinated the development of 21 pilot free trade zones, implemented the foreign investment law and signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, among others.

Last year, China's governance system and capacity withstood the "stress test" and the country became the only major economy in the world to achieve positive economic growth despite the COVID-19 epidemic.

"We have advanced reforms with the fundamental purpose of making our nation stronger and more prosperous. We also aim to achieve a higher degree of impartiality and justice in society so that people can live a better life," Xi has said.

Everyone has been a participant in the reform as well as a beneficiary. From food, clothing to education, medical care and elderly care, the reform plans have involved almost all aspects of daily life.

By merging the basic health insurance systems for rural and non-working urban residents, China has established the world's largest basic health insurance system that covers a total of 1.35 billion people.

LOOKING FORWARD

"I will fully commit to the people and never fail them," Xi has pledged. With the people's expectations on his shoulders, Xi steers China into deeper waters in its reform agenda to touch upon issues that are far more complicated, sensitive and challenging.

In March, Chinese lawmakers adopted the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 at the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress, opening a new chapter in the country's march toward modernization.

Standing at a critical juncture where the time frames of its two centenary goals converge, the central committee for deepening overall reform also held three tone-setting meetings in less than four months on furthering reforms in the new stage.

Stressing full, accurate and comprehensive implementation of the new development philosophy, the latest meeting called for focusing on the task of establishing a new development paradigm, introducing more targeted reform plans and pushing forward reform to a deeper level.

"Where does the right path come from? From the masses. We should keep our sights down to earth and combine top-level design with public advice," Xi has said.
Ukraine informed the International Civil Aviation Organization about its position on Irans technical report on the causes of the crash of Flight PS752.

"In his speech at the ICAO Council meeting, Representative of Ukraine to ICAO Andriy Shevchenko stressed that the document did not meet the requirements of the Chicago Convention," Ukraines Foreign Ministry posted on Facebook.

It is noted that the report does not answer two key questions: what caused the tragedy and how to avoid it in the future.

This is not the spirit of cooperation that the aviation community needs. How can we send flights to the Iranian sky again? How does all this comply with ICAO principles? Does all this make civil aviation safer? the Ukrainian representative said.

The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that Ukraine will seek truth and responsibility to honor the memory of the victims and ensure the safety of future flights.

As reported, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba called Iran's report an attempt to hide the real causes of the UIA plane crash in January 2020.

On March 17, Irans Civil Aviation Organization released the final report on the crash of the Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020. The report blamed an error by an air defence operator for the accidental downing of the Ukrainian plane.

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK).

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

On February 20, 2021, Iran announced the completion of the investigation into this case.

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Discussing the recent attacks against Asian Americans in the Bay Area and across the country, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday drew parallels between the United States past xenophobic attitudes toward Chinese immigrants and the racist rhetoric people of Asian descent continue to endure today.

The idea that we are today, in 2021, still having conversations we were having in 1881, the year before the Chinese Exclusion Act ... is painful and infuriating at the same time, Newsom said at the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, referring to an 1882 law that barred Chinese laborers from emigrating to the United States.

The hell is wrong with us? he said.

Newsoms comments came on the heels of several attacks that have injured Asian Americans in the Bay Area, and days after eight people, including six Asian women, were killed by a gunman at Atlanta-area spas.

It breaks your heart ... it infuriates, I think, all of us, the idea that people have to live in fear because their race, their ethnicity, because of the language that they speak, because of their age or gender, Newsom said.

Racism against Asian people, Newsom said, has been exacerbated since the beginning of the pandemic, saying the coronavirus has become politicized and used as a way to divide the country.

Cynthia Choi, the co-executive director of San Francisco-based civil rights group Chinese for Affirmative Action and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, said parents are afraid to send their children to school and Asian-owned private businesses are afraid of being targeted.

We have been experiencing for so long violence, and crime, and racial bias, she said. This is not a new experience.

Stop AAPI Hate has reported close to 3,800 incidents of verbal and physical attacks against Asian Americans in the past year, Choi said. Women were more than twice as likely to be harassed and verbally abused.

We are seeing the intersections of racism and sexism being played out, Choi said.

Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com
Reminder about vaccination clinic for adults with a learning disability

Parents and carers of adults with learning disabilities are encouraged to book them in to receive their first Covid-19 vaccination at a bespoke pop-up clinic taking place next week.

The clinic - which will be located at the Department of Health and Social Cares Greenfield Park/Tall Trees Day Services complex on the Nobles Hospital site - has been organised specifically for adults over the age of 18 who use the DHSCs Learning Disability Day or Respite services, or those of its partner organisations.

However, the department is aware that there are a small number of adults living in the community who dont use its services, but who are still eligible to have a vaccination next week too.

The Greenfield Park/Tall Trees complex has been chosen as the location for the clinic because of its familiarity with adults across the Island who have a learning disability and who regularly enjoy the activities and support provided there. In addition, most service users are familiar with the Learning Disability specialist nurse and the other registered professionals who support this community.

The clinic will take place on Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 and Friday 26 March, with a small number of appointments still available. The vaccination sessions will be longer than normal, allowing time for the process to be explained to each individual in a calm, safe and familiar environment, and to ensure that they have a positive experience.

This group will receive their second dose four weeks after their first, instead of the 10 week interval used for other groups. This is so that people will be able to recall their first experience, and reduce any anxiety they may be feeling about it. For many adults with learning disabilities, receiving an injection or vaccination can be very worrying.

Appointments for this clinic cannot be booked through 111  instead, they should be made directly with the Learning Disability Service which can give the best advice in this situation. The team can be contacted on 698326 or 685102 between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford MHK said: The Learning Disability Services team has worked really hard to establish this bespoke clinic and prioritise the complex needs of adults with learning disabilities who live in our community, and ensure that their vaccination experience is safe, familiar and positive for all involved. There are a small number of appointments left next week, and I would encourage any parent or carer of someone with a learning disability - or indeed any adult who meets the criteria themselves - to come forward and register for their vaccination appointment.

He added: Its our priority to do the right thing for this important community group and Im delighted that weve been able to prioritise their vaccinations ahead of the schedule being worked towards in the UK.
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Riot police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Burma, on March 19, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters)

Burma Security Forces Kill at Least 9 as International Community Calls for End to Violence

International pressure on Burmas military junta to halt its repression of pro-democracy protests following last months coup increased on Friday as security forces shot dead at least nine demonstrators on the streets.

Calls for dialogue and the end to the bloodshed came from several of Burmas Southeast Asian neighbors led by Indonesiaan unusual stance in regional diplomacy.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned what he denounced as the militarys continuing brutal violence. A firm, unified international response was urgently needed, he said, quoted by his spokesman.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation condemning the coup and lawmakers decried the increasingly harsh tactics used to suppress the demonstrations that have swept over Myanmar (also known as Myanmar) since the overthrow of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1.

The total number of people killed in weeks of unrest has risen to at least 234, based on a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group.

But crowds of protesters turned out again on Friday.

Security forces opened fire in the central town of Aungban as they tried to clear a protesters barricade, media and a witness reported.

Security forces came to remove barriers but the people resisted and they fired, the witness, who declined to be identified, said by telephone.

An official with Aungbans funeral service told Reuters eight people were killed, seven on the spot and one wounded person who died after being taken to hospital.

The spokesman for the junta was not available for comment but has previously said security forces have used force only when necessary.

One protester was killed in the northeastern town of Loikaw, the Myanmar Now news portal said. One person was shot and killed in Burmas main city Yangon, social media posts showed. Reuters could not confirm that death.

Police ordered people in some Yangon neighborhoods to dismantle barricades and have been hunting for protest leaders, residents said. Parts of Yangon are under martial law.

Demonstrators were also out in the second city of Mandalay, the central towns of Myingyan and Katha, and Myawaddy in the east, witnesses and media reported.

The military has shown no sign of being swayed and has defended its takeover, which derailed a slow transition to democracy in a country that has been ruled by the army for most of its post-independence history.

People take part in an anti-coup night protest at Hledan junction in Yangon, Burma, on March 14, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters)

It says a Nov. 8 election won by Suu Kyis National League for Democracy was fraudulent and its claims were ignored by the electoral commission. It has promised a new election but not set a date and has placed Burma under a state of democracy.

Suu Kyi, 75, faces accusations of bribery and other crimes that could see her banned from politics and jailed if convicted.

Her lawyer says the charges are trumped up. The Nobel peace laureate, who has campaigned for democracy in Burma for three decades, is being held at an undisclosed location.

Authorities have tightened restriction on internet services, making information increasingly difficult to verify, and also clamped down on private media.

Abhorrent Actions

Ambassadors of Western countries condemned the violence as immoral and indefensible, in particular in Yangons Hlaing Tharyar industrial district, where dozens were killed over several days after Chinese-owned garment factories were torched last weekend.

People look at smoke believed to be from a factory fire during the security force crack down on anti-coup protesters at Hlaingthaya, Yangon, Burma, on March 14, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters)

Internet blackouts and suppression of the media will not hide the militarys abhorrent actions, they said in a statement on Friday.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for an end to the bloodshed.

In some of the strongest comments yet by a regional leader on the crackdown, he said he would ask Bruneis Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to call an urgent meeting.

Indonesia urges that the use of violence in Myanmar be stopped immediately so that there are no more victims, Jokowi said in a virtual address.

The safety and welfare of the people must be the top priority. Indonesia also urges dialogue, that reconciliation is carried out immediately to restore democracy, to restore peace and to restore stability in Myanmar.

Backing Indonesias call for a meeting, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said he was appalled by the persistent use of lethal violence against unarmed civilians.

Philippine foreign minister Teodoro Locsin said that ASEAN had to act.

The 10 ASEAN countries have long held to the principle of not commenting on each others internal affairs so the words were notable.

The coup leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, took part in a video conference with regional defense chiefs on Thursday, his first international engagement since seizing power.

Burmas Army Commander-in-Chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing speak in Naypyitaw, Burma, on July 11, 2018. (Aung Shine Oo/AP Photo)

At the meeting, the head of Indonesias armed forces, Hadi Tjahjanto, expressed concern over the Burma situation, the Indonesian military said.

Singapores military chief, Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong, also expressed grave concern and urged Burma to avoid lethal force, the Singapore defense ministry said.

The U.S. resolution condemned the coup and the detention of Burmas civilian leaders, called for the release of all those detained, and for those elected to serve in parliament to resume their duties.

And in a sign of uneasiness in the business world about the situation, French power group EDF confirmed it had suspended the development of a hydropower project in Burma over human rights concerns.

It is official, a spokesman for EDF told Reuters.

The European Union is expected to impose sanctions on military leaders and army-run businesses next week, following similar action by Washington.

Three international aid agencies criticized the military for occupying educational facilities and hospitals. More than 60 schools and universities had been taken over, a serious violation of childrens rights, Save the Children, UNESCO and UNICEF said in a joint statement.

Teachers were beaten in at least one incident, they said.
The Queen has 'named her new puppies Fergus and Muick after her war hero uncle and her favourite beauty spot in Balmoral'.

Last month, the monarch, 94, reportedly bought two new puppies on popular pet-buying website Pets4Home, paying 2,650 for one to keep her company at Windsor Castle while Prince Philip recovers from heart surgery.

One of the furry companions, Fergus, is a dorgi, a cross between a corgi and daschund. He has been named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen's maternal uncle who died in France during World War I.

The second, a corgi, is called Muick - pronounced Mick - after Loch Muick, a lake on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, according to The Sun.

The Queen has 'named her new puppies Fergus and Muick after her war hero uncle and her favourite beauty spot in Balmoral'. These two pooches were posted on the Pets4Home site and match the description and how much the Queen reportedly paid for one. Pictured are corgis advertised on Pets4Homes

Last month, the monarch, 94, reportedly bought two new puppies on popular pet-buying website Pets4Home, paying 2,650 for one to keep her company at Windsor Castle while Prince Philip recovers from heart surgery. The Queen with some of her corgis at the Windsor Horse Trials in 1980 (left) and walking with two of the dogs in the the grounds of Windsor Castle (right)

A source told the Sun: 'Both name choices are extremely poignant and dear to the Queen.

'Loch Muick is one of her favourite places on the Balmoral estate and the loss of Uncle Fergus in the First World War is still honoured by the family.'

Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen mother's brother, died during the Battle of Loos in 1915, aged 26.

In 1932, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, laid her bouquet on the grave of The Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey in memory of her brother Fergus, starting a tradition for royal brides

One of the furry companions, Fergus, is a dorgi, a cross between a corgi and daschund. He has been named after Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen's maternal uncle who died in France during World War I.

The second, a corgi, is called Muick - pronounced Mick - after Loch Muick, a lake on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland, pictured

Many Royal brides since have sent their bouquets to the grave at Westminster Abbey, including most recently Princess Beatrice in 2020, Princess Eugenie in 2018 and The Duchess of Sussex in 2017.

Before her death in 2002, The Queen Mother also requested her funeral wreath be placed on the grave of the Unknown Warrior - a wish honoured at the Abbey the day after her funeral.

Meanwhile, Loch Muick is a place where the Queen her family are often pictured walking and having picnics during summer months. It is famed for it's fresh salmon and trout.

The royal has always been synonymous with pets and has owned more than 30 during her reign. Pictured: The Queen as a girl with one of the family's corgis. The breed has been synonymous with the royal family since the 1930s

In 2012 Her Majesty's dog Monty appeared alongside James Bond's Daniel Craig in a clip for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics

Her Majesty was pictured at the around the loch last summer with Sophie, Countess Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

Earlier this month, breeder Denise Thomas, 60, claimed she was not aware who the puppy, who was at first called Charlie, was for, but was promised the cute pet would have 'the best life.'

Denise had advertised her litter of two puppies online: Charlie, who was swept away to Windsor Palace, and his brother George. The Queen only took Charlie - now Muick- and it is not known where the other new puppy comes from.

Which Royal bridal bouquets were laid on the grave of the Unknown Warrior? The Queen Mother, 1923

The Queen, 1947

Princess Margaret, 1960

Princess Alexandra, 1963

The Princess Royal, 1973

Diana, Princess of Wales, 1981

Sarah, Duchess of York, 1986

The Countess of Wessex, 1999

The Duchess of Cornwall, 2005

The Duchess of Cambridge, 2011

The Duchess of Sussex, 2018

Princess Eugenie, 2018

Princess Beatrice, 2020 Advertisement

Denises son, Craig Skyrme, 40, told The Sun that a woman pulled up in a blackout Range Rover on February 26 to take the pup away, and wouldn't reveal the identity of its new owner.

'She would only say he is going to a home in Windsor  but wouldnt tell my mum who the owners were,' Craig said.

'My mum asked if it was anyone famous and the woman said, "I cant say, but hes going to have the best life possible",' he added.

The family had a strong hunch the corgi pup might be on its way to meet the Queen, who is historically very fond of the breed.

Craig revealed the curious family googled the name of the woman who came to pick up the pup and saw she worked for the royal household, which allowed them to connect the dots.

Craig said it was an honour to see their puppy selected to go live with the Queen and rejoiced it might appear in royal pictures in the future.

According to the publication, Palace sources confirmed the new pup was indeed Charlie, but added he might have been given a new name. Skyrme admitted the dog was initially called 'Charles' due to the corgis' royal associations.

The pup, which was born on December 5, is described as a playful fellow who loves to play fetch, but would do well with some house training.

Craig admitted to walking in wet patches and that the teething pup had nibbled his way around a few items around the house.

A source close to the royal household who was not named by the Sun revealed it was 'highly unusual' for the Queen to buy one of her dogs off a website and that Charlie must have been a very special pup.

They added Her Majesty was very involved with the breeding of her dogs in the past and was a very responsible dog owner who always made sure the dogs were healthy.

It is believed the canines were a gift who are said to bring a lot of noise and joy to the Palace.

It comes after Her Majesty's loyal companion Vulcan, a dachshund-corgi cross, died a few weeks before Christmas last year

They are also the first corgis Her Majesty has owned that are not direct descendants of her very first corgi Susan - which she was given in 1944 by her parents for her 18th birthday.

In December, the Queen's loyal companion Vulcan, a dachshund-corgi cross, died at Windsor Castle, leaving her with just Candy as the last remaining descendant of Susan.

He had had been the Queen's loyal pet since at least 2007, making him more than 13 years old - a good age for the breed.

Fergus Bowes-Lyon, the Queen mother's brother, died during the Battle of Loos in 1915, aged 26. In 1932, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, laid her bouquet on the grave of The Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey in memory of her brother Fergus, starting a tradition for royal brides Pictured is Princess Beatrice's wedding bouquet on the grave last year

The Queen's love of dogs is well documented. One of her favourites, Monty, appeared alongside her and James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a skit for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Sadly, Monty died that same year.

In 2018, her corgi Willow, who was the 14th generation descended from Susan, was put down after suffering from cancer.

The new puppies are joining the royal household among troubled times, with the Duke of Edinburgh still in hospital.

The latest arrivals come as the Duke of Edinburgh has been discharge from a month-long stint in hospital for 'treatment, rest and recuperation' after undergoing a 'successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition'.

Meanwhile, the Queen is also dealing with the fallout from her grandson Prince Harry, 35 and his wife Meghan Markle's 39, explosive interview with Oprah which was critical of The Firm.
New Delhi, March 20 : The Bombay High Court has ruled that investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, can be continued "even if the base offences are closed, compounded or quashed", Taxscan reported.

The accused, promoters of Omkar Realtors and Developers, had sought their release on bail on the ground of closure of the scheduled offence. They moved the high court after the special PMLA court in Mumbai rejected their plea on February 15, 2021.

Vijay Aggarwal submitted that the moment the scheduled offence comes to an end, the PMLA proceedings also come to an end, as per the report.

The lawyer added that it was a settled legal proposition that if initial action does not align with law, all subsequent and consequential proceedings would fall through for the reason that the illegality strikes at its root and the applicants could not have been remanded to further custody and were entitled to be released on bail.

The report said that the Single Judge bench of Justice A.S. Gadkari rejected the argument, observing that the investigation under the PMLA is totally independent of the scheduled offence.

"Once an offence under the PMLA is registered on the basis of a Scheduled Offence, then it stands on its own and it thereafter does not require support of Predicate/Scheduled Offence. It further does not depend upon the ultimate result of the Predicate/Scheduled Offence. Even if the Predicate/Scheduled Offence is compromised, compounded, quashed or the accused therein is/are acquitted, the investigation of ED under PMLA does not get affected, wiped away or ceased to continue. It may continue till the ED concludes the investigation and either files a complaint or closure report before the Court of competent jurisdiction," the court said.
The husband of missing Femoy woman Tina Satchwell has said he believes his wife is still alive, and that she may have moved on with her life and "found some form of happiness".

Ms Satchwell (45) vanished from her home in Youghal on March 20, 2017 and no trace of her has been seen since, despite repeated appeals for information and extensive Garda searches.

As the fourth anniversary of Ms Satchwell's mysterious disappearance approaches, her husband Richard said he still has not given up on the hope that she is still alive.

Speaking to The Irish Daily Mirror Mr Satchwell said he could recall his wife being upset in the days leading up to her disappearance, but would not say what she was upset about.

"That not something for the public. It's private. If she wants people to know she can be the one to tell. Sorry, but I think it's best," he said.

"This time of the year I remember the upset in her leading up to her leaving and the shock and horror as time went by.

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"I think she needed time, and maybe she found some form of happiness, but I don't know. All I can do is hope. I'll have hope and I hope she is safe, even if she has moved on with her own life," he added.

Mr Satchwell said that while he manages to put on a brave face, the past four years have been very difficult for him and that his is miserable without his wife.

"I put a face on things at work and when I go shopping, but I go home to misery," he added.

In a message to his wife Mr Satchwell appealed to her to make contact with him.

"To Tina, the hurt and the pain of you leaving the way you did can't be put into words.

"But, even though, I'm still willing to try to put things behind us and work through any problems," he said.

Ms Satchwell's case recently came under the spotlight once again following the discovery in January of a skull and female skeletal remains by workmen undertaking clearing work for a greenway along the old Midleton-Youghal railway line.

At the time the discovery prompted speculation that the remains may be those of Ms Satchwell. However, following extensive tests over a two-month period it was finally determined the remains were those of a female aged in her 70s at the time of her death.

The remains are believed to have been in situ for at least five years and perhaps for possibly up to a decade.

Gardai have now pursued almost 400 different lines of inquiry and studied over 100 hours of CCTV security camera footage in their hunt for Ms Satchwell.

They undertook extensive searches off the Youghal coast and in an east Cork woodland in both 2017 and 2018.

Ms Satchwell was last seen by her husband at 10am on March 20, 2017 when she asked him to go on an errand to Dungarvan from their Youghal home.

She was last seen by a member of the public on March 19 when she and her husband attended a car boot sale in Carrigtwohill in east Cork.

In January of this year Gardai said they believed Ms Satchwell never left Ireland and that the key to solving the mystery over her disappearance lies in the east Cork community where she lived.

She did not have a passport and there was no indication she had purchased tickets to travel overseas by either plane or ferry around the time she went missing.

"At this point, all the indications are that Tina never left Ireland," a source said at the time.

A Garda spokesman this week told The Corkman they were still treating Ms Satchwell's disappearance as a missing persons investigation.
A former British military translator trapped in the 'worst refugee camp on Earth' for more than 18 months is on his way to the UK with his wife in a major victory for the Daily Mail.

Nesar, who served alongside UK troops for almost two years in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, is the first translator to be allowed sanctuary in Britain from outside his homeland.

The unprecedented move sanctioned by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel gives fresh hope to more than two dozen former interpreters who risked their lives beside UK soldiers and are stranded in third countries after fleeing Taliban death threats.

Nesar, 30, is the first British translator to be allowed sanctuary in Britain from outside his homeland

Until the case of Nesar, 30, and his wife Nazanin, 28, was taken up by this newspaper's award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign, highlighting how they were trapped in a 'hellhole' refugee camp in Greece, the UK Government was adamant that no translators could relocate officially from outside Afghanistan.

But this week the couple were moved by British Embassy officials in Greece to an Athens hotel where after final checks, they have been issued with visas.

They will fly to the UK next week to begin their new life in the North of England.

Nesar said: 'It is unbelievable, so exciting a dream that is about to come true after more than two years of living a nightmare. We can hardly believe that in a few days we will be in the UK, safe for the first time in many years.'

Nesar, who speaks five languages, said: 'We would like to thank the UK Government and especially Mr Wallace for showing compassion.

'From our hearts we thank you (the Daily Mail) for making our voice heard, supporting us, encouraging us when all seemed lost and helping to make this wonderful thing happen.

'Translators will never forget how you have helped us in the darkest of times to find light.'

The Mail first told of the plight of the couple and how they were trapped with 19,000 others in the squalid Moria camp on Lesbos  branded the 'worst refugee camp on Earth'  in July.

It highlighted calls from former Army officers and Afghan veterans to allow the couple to apply for relocation to the UK.

It later told of their heartbreak after appearing not to qualify for a change in Government policy that allowed interpreters who had served 18 months on the front lines and then resigned, to relocate to the UK.

The former British military translator (pictured second from right) served alongside UK troops for almost two years in Afghanistan's Helmand Province

Crucially, it exempted those who had already fled Afghanistan to third countries because of Taliban threats.

But in a significant step forward, Mr Wallace instructed that 'discretion' be used on a 'case by case' basis, allowing more interpreters sanctuary.

By then, the couple were sharing a tent with three families after fire destroyed the main camp. It was often hit by floods and robberies and stabbings were common. They arrived there in 2019 after a gruelling trek through Iran and Turkey.

Even after being informed in January he would qualify for relocation Nesar still doubted it would happen because he was in a third country.

Last week, he was finally told he and Nazanin would be welcome in the UK.

Former captain Peter Gordon-Finlayson, an Afghan veteran and founding member of the Sulha Alliance, which campaigns for interpreters, said last night: 'We are delighted to welcome Nesar to the UK and thank the Home Office and MoD for intervening in his case  he will be a credit to society.'

Nesar worked with the British in Helmand from 2009 to 2011, followed by three years with US Special Forces and then two years as an Afghan Army officer.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Allegations of the existence of a crisis of confidence between the leadership of the United States and Ukraine do not correspond to reality, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko said.

"Allegations of the existence of a crisis of confidence between the leadership of the United States and Ukraine do not correspond to reality," Nikolenko said in response to an inquiry from Yevropeiska Pravda (European Truth).

The speaker supported the recent statements from the US Embassy in Ukraine, where they promised that Joe Biden would call Volodymyr Zelensky soon, noting that the United States did not put forward any prerequisites for such negotiations.

"Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and now the US Embassy in Kyiv, has clearly announced the preparation of a telephone conversation between the leaders of the two countries without any preconditions. There are no grounds to question the strategic nature of the partnership between Ukraine and the United States," Nikolenko said.

He also accused certain public figures, without calling names, of "inventing contrived stories" about relationship problems. "There is a crisis of public assessments of some Ukrainian figures," the diplomat said.




Though the United States launched a trade war against China under former US president Donald Trump, the country still relied on Chinese products to fight COVID-19. Amid the pandemic, Chinese manufacturers have become stable sources of high-quality medical products.

In a factory located in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, people are working around the clock to produce syringes and most of the products are scheduled to export to the US, as the country steps up vaccination campaigns to combat COVID-19.

An executive says the demand has soared in recent months.

"In 2018, when we just started our business in the US, the sale of syringe products for the whole year was about 10 million yuan. But this year, sales in only the first quarter are expected to exceed 30 million yuan. It's almost tenfold growth," said Shi Mingyang, deputy general manager of Shifeng Medical Apparatus and Instrument Company.

Established in 1998, the company specializes in manufacturing various disposable medical devices. When tensions between the world's two largest economies were at their height, the company also came under pressure.

"Though our products were not included in the list of tariffs, many US companies showed concern in cooperating with Chinese distributors, as there were too many uncertainties ahead. So we faced obstacles in developing new clients," Shi said.

Despite trade frictions, markets still show more positive signals than politicians.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, the country has exported more than 43 billion masks to the US since last March, among other products. China has been a major provider of medical supplies to the US.

Yet, behind the booming trade, US's attitude towards China is ambivalent. The Biden administration has announced it will extend tariff exclusions on a series of medical products from China until September 30. Earlier, the Trump administration decided to extend the exclusion until this month.

"Currently, the US needs Chinese supplies to save lives and improve the health of its people. If your people really need supplies from some country, you definitely should wish those countries to be stable, so you can always buy reliable necessities. It makes no sense to disrupt your suppliers when you're really needing them," observed Chen Changning, director of American Studies Center, Sichuan University.

For Chinese companies, they are optimistic about the prospect of the US market.

"It's hard for our US clients to find suitable substitutes in the short term. I think China and the US are both rivals and partners. Their business ties are impossible to be completely cut off," Shi said, adding business people from both countries are expecting a turnaround in bilateral relations, so they can carry out closer collaborations.
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In a conversation with a leading daily, actor John Abraham reacted to the news of Aamir Khan quitting social media and shared his take on social media trolls. "I was planning to do that (quit social media) years ago," said Abraham.

Speaking about actors' involvement in social media, John said, "Managers and producers tell actors what to do, and even actors, sometimes, get drawn into the trending business. But when managers say that you're trending on Number 2, an actor needs to say that this is not the poison I need to get into this, these things are very dangerous place."

"If you see trolls, you're in that space, if you don't see trolls, then you're not in that space. It is like watching a channel, which is all about sensationalism. You're watching the channel, because you dwell on it. I don't watch any channels. I think it is nice that actors stay away from that. It is nice that actors just do their jobs and go back home," added John.

Apart from John, his Mumbai Saga co-star Emraan Hashmi, who was also present at the same interview, shared his take on social media trolls. He said that he feels social media can be a great tool to do lots of things, and one should only see the positives of it.

ALSO READ: John Abraham Says He Will Never Go To Big Directors & Fold His Hands In Front Of Them For Films

Emraan also said that actors should not get into the habit of going through comments.

"See everyone has an opinion now after the explosion of social media for 10 years. And I am okay with opinions, but there are people who kind of spew hate. Why? Not because they have anything personal with us; I truly believe it's because there is something messed up. Life might have been unkind to them, that's why they're venting it on us," added the Murder actor.

He concluded by saying that any constructive person, who is constructive about his/her life, won't sit on a YouTube channel and start putting out 'shit' about a video.

ALSO READ: Mumbai Saga Movie Review: John Abraham-Emraan Hashmi's Gangster Film Is Just An Empty Bullet!
WASHINGTON--Some patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease seem to experience inflammation of the thyroid gland that is different from thyroid inflammation caused by other viruses, according to a study presented virtually at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting.

One-third of the study participants still had signs of thyroid inflammation after three months, even though their thyroid function had normalized. The study is following patients to determine whether this inflammation will trigger permanent thyroid dysfunction.

In spring 2020, 15 percent of the COVID-19 patients hospitalized in acute medicine units at Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital of Milan in Italy had thyroid hormone alterations due to multi-factorial causes, including thyroid inflammation. In comparison, only 1 percent of hospitalized patients during the same period in 2019 prior to the pandemic had thyroid hormone alterations.

People with thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid gland, triggered by other viruses usually recover thyroid function in the short term. However, there is a long-term increased risk of permanently reduced thyroid function, caused by late-onset effects of viral infection, or by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland, said lead researcher Ilaria Muller, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Milan in Italy.

She wanted to find out whether the thyroiditis associated with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, follows the same pattern as thyroid inflammation caused by other viruses. She started a surveillance program to monitor the thyroid function of patients every three months after being hospitalized for moderate to severe COVID-19 disease. The patients undergo routine blood and ultrasound testing to monitor their thyroid function and signs of inflammation.

Muller found the thyroiditis in people with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease differs from typical thyroiditis in several ways. These include the absence of neck pain, the presence of mild thyroid dysfunction, higher frequency among men and the association with severe COVID-19 disease.

So far, 53 patients have completed the evaluation at three months. All had normal thyroid function.

"After three months, patients' thyroid function has normalized, but signs of inflammation were still present in about one-third of patients," Muller said. "We are continuing to monitor these patients to see what happens during the following months. It is important to know whether SARS-CoV-2 virus has late-onset negative effects on the thyroid gland, in order to promptly diagnose, and eventually treat, the condition."

###

Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.
At least 114 people with albinism have disappeared in Mozambique over the past seven years, the southern African countrys human rights commission says.



There are 55 ongoing criminal proceedings related to the disappearances.



People with the condition are often killed in East and southern Africa, their body parts used in charms which are believed to bring luck in love and fortune.



The National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) made the report at a meeting convened in the capital, Maputo, to discuss the stigma the countrys estimated 20,000 albino people still face.



CNDH's Sheila Massuque said sometimes they were abandoned by their families, submitted to ill-treatment and, in the worst cases, murdered.



The Ministry of Justice said the government was doing what it could to protect albinos and fight discrimination.



Mozambicans with albinism say they have been suffering during the coronavirus pandemic because hospitals sometimes turn them away.

Source: BBC









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Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD has opened applications for the 60m Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC).

In February, the Government agreed a 60m allocation for the scheme. SBASC is open to companies, self-employed, sole traders or partnerships with a minimum turnover of 50,000 not eligible for the Revenue scheme CRSS, Failte Ireland Business Continuity Scheme or the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media's Live Performance Support. In order to be eligible, the business must pay rates to a public authority.

Eligible businesses will receive a payment of 4,000 for Quarter 1 of 2021. Then, there will be a second payment of 4,000 for businesses that continue to meet the criteria.

The Tanaiste said the scheme should help around 7,500 mainly small businesses.

'My objective is to ensure that as many businesses as possible get through this period and are able to re-open successfully. This new payment will help businesses with fixed costs like rent, insurance, utilities and security,' he said.

Senator Malcolm Byrne said a number of County Wexford businesses had been in touch with him in recent months where they didn't qualify for other supports.

'This scheme is designed to assist many of them and is very welcome,' he said.

Wexford businesses can apply for the grant through Wexford County Council. Businesses have until April 21 to submit their applications for the first round of the scheme.
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Help India!



The organizations that are coming out in full support of Dr Truschke have stated in the joint letter that the real reason behind the campaign of intimidation against Dr Truschke is her courageous and unwavering opposition to Hindutva, the supremacist ideology espoused by the RSS and its aliates.

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Over two dozen US and international civil and human rights organizations have expressed solidarity with Dr Audrey Truschke, Associate Professor of South Asian History at Rutgers University against the ongoing systematic campaign of vilification against her including vile threats of extreme violence. In a remarkable build-up of broad support for Dr Truschke, the joint letter thanks Rutgers for unequivocally supporting Dr Truschke while debunking the claims made against her. Furthermore, the letter declares the campaign attacking Dr Truschkes scholarly integrity is an attempt to silence her, curtail her academic freedom as well as her advocacy for peace and pluralism.

Organizations and individuals that sent a joint letter to Rutgers University thanking them for unequivocally supporting Dr Truschke include Hindus for Human Rights, Students Against Hindutva Ideology, Ambedkar International Center, Ambedkar King Study Circle, Dalit Solidarity Forum, Boston South Asian Coalition, Council on American Islamic Relations  CAIR (New Jersey), Islamic Society of Central Jersey, Indian American Muslim Council, India Civil Watch International, Coalition to Stop Genocide, ICNA Council for Social Justice, Justice for All, Center for Pluralism, South Asian Left Activist Movement, API Chaya, Stand With Kashmir, The Humanism Project, Australia, Dr Chloe Breyer, The Interfaith Center of New York, Dr Aslam Abdullah, Interim President, World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations (WCMIR), and Dr Rehan Khan, President, International Society for Peace and Justice.

Dr Truschke is no stranger to controversy, having attracted the ire of the Hindu nationalist organizations in India and the US, for her commitment to scholarly integrity and her ability to make her research accessible to the masses. Not surprisingly, Dr Truschkes work is at odds with the Hindu rights grand project to revise Indias history to align with the Hindutva narrative. On March 9, Rutgers University tweeted that it has received, expressions of concern from members of the Hindu community about views expressed by Professor Truschke on Twitter.

The University, however, in the same tweet said, it emphatically supports Dr Truschkes academic freedom in pursuing her scholarship and, and abhors the vile messages and threats that are being directed at her and calls for her an immediate end to them.

The letter is remarkable in that it is a collaborative effort among many organizations to defend Dr Truschke, and refute the claims made against her in the complaint from the Hindu students. The letter terms some of these claims as outright lies. For instance, the letter states that the complaint against Dr Truschke claims that the perpetrators at the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. did not include any Hindus. That is a lie, states the letter, and adds, One perpetrator, Krishna Gudipati, is associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), an aliate of the VHP in India, which the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has classified as a religious militant organization for its violence against Muslims and Christians.

Gudipati is an associate of the infamous Member of Indias Parliament, Subramanian Swamy, who heads the Virat Hindustan Sangam of which Gudipati is a member. Dr Swamy wants Muslims denied voting rights, a view that prompted Harvard University to drop his course, the letter says.

The complaint of the Hindu students against Dr Trushchke, author of two books on Aurangzeb, includes the claim that, reputable sources have demonstrated that [17th-century Mughal emperor] Aurangazeb enslaved and murdered 4.6 million Hindus. The organizations have refuted this in their joint letter with the fact that the link for reputable sources is not a scholarly paper but a New York Times infographic, which is based on The Great Big Book of Horrible Things by Matthew White, a librarian who does not have any degree or formal training in history or statistics.

Author-historian Manimugdha Sharma of The Times of India has tweeted that Manucchi did not claim Aurangzeb killed 4.6 million Hindus but only that Aurangzeb lost 100,000 soldiers a year in a war, which, too, has never been validated, the letter points out.

The organizations that are coming out in full support of Dr Truschke have stated in the joint letter that the real reason behind the campaign of intimidation against Dr Truschke is her courageous and unwavering opposition to Hindutva, the supremacist ideology espoused by the RSS and its aliates.

It is this hateful ideology that is the driving force behind the rapidly escalating bigotry and horrific violence in India. The campaign attacking her scholarly integrity is intended to silence her, curtail her academic freedom as well as her advocacy for peace and pluralism, it says.

Hindutvas propagandists loathe Dr Truschke deploying her scholarship to devastating eect in debunking its supremacist myths they are desperate to perpetuate, declared the joint letter. Commenting on their spurious claim that India is foremost a country of Hindus and that Muslims and Christians are outsiders, the letter states that these claims are made by Indias Hindu nationalists to justify violence against these minorities. A key aspect of the enormous vitriol being poured against Dr Truschke is the fact that she has exposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the anti-Muslim citizenship law designed to strip many Indian Muslims of citizenship.

The signatory organizations noted that over time, Dr Truschkes powerful voice has helped to bring increased global attention to  and scrutiny of  Indias persecution of its religious minorities.

The letter goes on to give a picture of the state of Indias minorities under Modis rule, stating that in June 2020, the US Department of States annual report on global religious freedom recorded mob attacks by violent Hindu groups against minority communities, including Muslims, as well as, religiously motivated killings, assaults, riots, discrimination, vandalism and actions restricting the right of individuals to practice and speak about their religious beliefs.

The recent Freedom House report, a reputed American research institute founded by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, which downgraded Indias status from Free to Partly Free because Mr Modi had continued to crack down on critics, the joint letter has noted.

The joint letter is a response to Hindu nationalists in the US who have relentlessly trolled anyone that has vocally criticized religious persecution in India. Drawing comparisons between RSS, the fountainhead of Hindu nationalism, and Adolf Hitler, the letter plainly says, RSS has long been an admirer of Adolf Hitler, noting that RSS has adherents both in India and the US.

They are the people who attack Dr Truschke for her erudition and courage. They are the people behind the petition against her, the letter states.
Mar. 20The Honolulu Police Department has opened a second-degree murder investigation after finding human remains inside a vehicle in the Kahaluu area earlier this week.

Police found the remains of a 29-year-old man in the car on Monday around 8 p.m., and reported today that "the victim in this case died due to non-accidental traumatic injuries caused by another person."

An investigation is ongoing. The Honolulu Medical Examiner has not yet released the name of the victim.
Authorities are searching for a person who they believe set fire to two units in a Southeast Portland apartment complex Thursday.

Portland Fire & Rescue said firefighters responded about 1:45 p.m. to a blaze inside an apartment at 122nd Avenue and Grant Street. About three hours later, firefighters responded to another fire in the same complex.

Investigators determined both fires were set intentionally. They think Dymond Ragland, a 19-year-old resident of the apartment complex, is responsible, according to the fire and rescue agency.

Authorities urged anyone with information about the fires or Raglands whereabouts to call 503-823-3333.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
They came to me and said they had a space where I could stretch out a bit, and thats been an absolute godsend, because I like working large-scale, so now I just staple the canvas to this massive wall and work on it. Hookey was part of an initial group of about 10 artists who were invited to take up residence in the space, which also included figures such as Richard Bell and Judy Watson. Almost all that initial group was still at the paint factory, and more had arrived, with about 20 artists now based in the space, which Hookey said gave it a fantastic sense of community. Theres actually quite a bit of activity here now, its not just the resident artists, but photographers come here, and filmmakers, theres lots of music videos shot here, so its a really thriving space. Some work produced at the site has made waves around the world, with Hookeys work set to be displayed in New York, and other artists work going to galleries in London, Chicago and Toronto as well as around Australia, while Londons Tate Modern gallery commissioned videos to be shot at the site.

One of the more recent artists to take up residence at the Paint Factory is Sancintya Mohini Simpson, a multidisciplinary artist whose work explored notions of personal identity and migratory experiences. Sancintya Mohini Simpson only recently started working out of the Paint Factory, but says it has been a very positive change. Credit:Savannah van der Niet Her pieces have been displayed in galleries across Australia, and some would be included in an exhibition in Sydney this month. Simpson said coming to the Paint Factory about six months ago was a huge change from her previous working environments. Im very fortunate to have the other artists there in that community who are of a very high calibre, to be around them, to learn from them, she said.

Its been lovely to be in that artistic community space, and not just be alone at home in my studio, to have that community aspect where you can have a cuppa and a chat with other artists. Paint Factory project manager Paul Hey says the proposed development will be unique. The site has started to become a focal point for the community, with impromptu markets springing up as well as school tours and other community events. Paul Hey, the project manager for Montague Developments, said it was a far cry from the initial proposal for the site, which was to turn the area into new houses. The artists were invited initially because the owner has a history of offering artists space in their developments in between planning applications, Mr Hey said.

Loading Weve since realised that as the artists have come in and the space has been utilised more fully, that what we could do here is something really exciting - a genuine mixed-use art space, something Brisbane hasnt really seen before. Instead of rows of houses, the vision for the site is to keep the warehouses and offices intact, and construct buildings around them, resulting in a place where people can live but that will continue to foster new artistic work. Brisbane City Council did not offer a specific comment on the site, because it was yet to receive the new development application. Mr Hey said they would make the new application in the next few months, and hoped they could convince the council of the value of the proposal.
Governor Seyi Makinde has said that he would make history in Oyo State to be the first governor to hand over to a successor. Makinde...

Governor Seyi Makinde has said that he would make history in Oyo State to be the first governor to hand over to a successor.

Makinde said this on Saturday at the Inauguration of the 8th President of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide.

He noted that no governor in the state has ever handed over to his successor after the expiration of his tenure.

No governor has ever handed over to his successor in this state,

Baba Lam Adeshina didnt hand over to his successor.

Former Governor Ladoja didnt hand over to former Governor Adebayo Alao Akala.

Akala didnt hand over to Abiola Ajimobi and Ajimobi didnt hand over to me.





But Im standing in front of the altar of God, I will be the first governor to hand over to my successor.

He commended the smooth process that led to the inauguration of the new CAC President.

Makinde pointed out that Nigeria is at a crossroads.

He said priority should be given to ending the crisis of division in the nation.
ROTTERDAM, March 19.  More than 3,500 Rotterdam dock workers demonstrated against Franco Spain today, but their banners merely proclaimed enigmatically: Down with 

Leaders explained that Rotterdams Mayor, Pieter Jacobus, had forbidden mention of the name Franco because Spains Caudillo still was head of a state with which The Netherlands had friendly relations.

Simultaneously on Rotterdams waterfront 120 students of a technical school sweated at the job of unloading 16,000 cases of Spanish oranges from the steamship Orpheus, which has been boycotted by the Communist-affiliated Dockers Union. Police guarded the pier.

The dispute over Spanish cargoes meanwhile, became a full-scale quarrel between dockers and shippers. Jan Bestman, union secretary, said 3,000 dockers had been locked out by the shipping companies which claim that Spanish cargoes are reaching Rotterdam under previous agreements in which Holland already has given goods or cash. Work continued only on those vessels which were being unloaded when the dispute began three days ago.
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People participate in a protest against Turkey's withdrawal from Istanbul Convention, an international accord designed to protect women, in Ankara, Turkey March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan

Turkey has withdrawn from a European treaty protecting women from violence that it was the first to sign 10 years ago and that bears the name of its largest city.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogans decree annulling Turkeys ratification of the Istanbul Convention is a blow to womens rights advocates, who say the agreement is crucial to combating domestic violence.

The Council of Europes secretary general, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, called the decision devastating.

This move is a huge setback to these efforts and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across Europe and beyond, she said.

The Istanbul Convention states that men and women have equal rights and obliges state authorities to take steps to prevent gender-based violence against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators.

Some officials from Mr Erdogans Islam-oriented party have advocated a review of the agreement, arguing it encourages divorce and undermines the traditional family, which they say are contrary to the countrys conservative values.

Critics also claim the treaty promotes homosexuality through the use of categories like gender, sexual orientation and gender identity. They see that as a threat to Turkish families.

Hate speech has been on the rise in Turkey, including the interior minister who described LGBT people as perverts in a tweet. Mr Erdogan has rejected their existence altogether.

Womens groups and their allies who have been protesting to keep the convention intact immediately called for demonstrations across the country under the slogan Withdraw the decision, implement the treaty. They said their years-long struggle would not be erased in one night.

Rights groups say violence against and killing of women is on the rise in Turkey but the interior minister called that a complete lie.

A total of 77 women have been killed since the start of the year, according to the We Will Stop Femicide Platform. Some 409 women were killed in 2020, with dozens found dead under suspicious circumstances, according to the group.

Advocacy group Womens Coalition Turkey said the withdrawal from a human rights agreement was a first in Turkey. It is clear that this decision will further encourage the murderers of women, harassers, rapists, their statement said.

Turkeys minister for family, labour and social policies tweeted that womens rights are still protected by Turkish laws and the judicial system is dynamic and strong enough to enact new regulations. Zehra Zumrut Selcuk also tweeted the government would continue to have zero tolerance for violence against women.

Mr Erdogan has repeatedly stressed the holiness of the family and called on women to have three children. His communications director, Fahrettin Altun, said the governments motto was Powerful Families, Powerful Society.

Many women suffer physical or sexual violence at the hands of their husbands or partners, but up-to-date official statistics are unavailable. The Istanbul Convention requires states to collect data.
Photo: The Canadian Press A police vehicle arrives at a court building in Dandong, a city in northeastern China's Liaoning Province, Friday, March 19, 2021. China was expected to open the first trial Friday for Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians who have been held for more than two years in apparent retaliation for Canada's arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ken Moritsugu

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced China's "lack of transparency" Friday following the brief trial of Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians detained by Beijing for more than two years.

Analysts keeping a close eye on the events also sharply criticized the closed-door proceeding for Spavor, as Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, faces his own court hearing Monday.

Canada said its consular officials were refused permission to attend the trial of Spavor, an entrepreneur with North Korea-related business, who is accused by China of stealing state secrets.

Jim Nickel, the Canadian Embassys deputy chief of mission, said he was told by Spavors lawyer that the hearing in Dandong ended at noon Friday after two hours. No verdict was announced.

Nickel declined to give other details, citing rules on protecting Spavors privacy.

Kovrig, also accused of espionage, served as a diplomat in China until 2016 and had been working for the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental agency.

China's actions against Spavor and Kovrig are widely seen in the West as retaliation for the late 2018 arrest by Canadian authorities of Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive with Chinese firm Huawei Technologies, so she can be extradited to the U.S. to face fraud charges.

At a news briefing in Ottawa, Trudeau said Friday the arbitrary imprisonment of Spavor and Kovrig was completely unacceptable, "as is the lack of transparency around these court proceedings."

The secretive nature of the Spavor hearing means "it becomes extremely difficult to make judgments around whether or not the trial was fair," Trudeau added.

"I can certainly say that in Canada we are a country of an independent justice system that values transparency as part of the process in terms of ensuring that justice is fair and done properly.

"China needs to understand that it is not just about two Canadians, it is about the respect for the rule of law and relationships with a broad range of Western countries that is at play with the arbitrary detention and the coercive diplomacy they have engaged in."

The lack of a verdict in the Spavor case is essentially a signal that Chinese officials are waiting for instructions from the political level to decide what to do, said Ben Rowswell, a former diplomat and current president of the Canadian International Council, a non-partisan think tank.

"So it's terrible news for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig," he said. "But it's a terrible day for China as well."

Ultimately, the cases will be about how China is perceived by the rest of the world, Rowswell said. "And they do seem to be digging themselves an ever-deeper hole."

China's actions toward the Canadians are intended to send a message that Beijing is no longer the little kid at the global table and "it's not going to be treated that way," said Bessma Momani, a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo.

"I think there's a lot of showmanship in what we're seeing coming out of China today," she said. "And unfortunately the two Michaels got very much caught in the middle of a larger global puzzle for show of power."

Canada's top priority remains securing release of the two men, Trudeau said. "We will continue to work tirelessly to bring them home as soon as possible."

In a statement posted on its website, the Intermediate Peoples Court of Dandong in the northeastern province of Liaoning Province said it had held a closed-door hearing against Spavor on charges of spying and illegally sending state secrets abroad.

It said Spavor and his defence lawyers were present for the proceedings and the court would pronounce a sentence at a date "determined in accordance with law."

Outside the courthouse, Nickel said Canada still held hope that Spavor and Kovrig could be released through joint efforts with the U.S., whose Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan were holding their first face-to-face talks with China's top diplomats in Alaska.

So we're hopeful that, in some measure, this trial may too lead to their immediate release," Nickel said.

China's Foreign Ministry denied any wrongdoing in the handling of Kovrig and Spavor's cases, attributing the timing of their trials to little more than coincidence.

Global Affairs Canada learned only Wednesday that Spavor's court hearing would proceed Friday, one day after the meetings began in Alaska.

"It is not linked to China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing Thursday.

He insisted Friday the men's cases have been handled appropriately, adding that since Spavor's case purportedly involves state secrets, "it is not heard in open court and no one is allowed to sit in on the trial."

For more than two years, Canada has been caught in a trilateral tug of war with the U.S. and China.

Meng is facing fraud and conspiracy charges linked to what prosecutors say was an elaborate effort to evade American sanctions against Iran.

Justice Department officials have refused to say much about the case beyond the fact that they continue to seek her extradition to the U.S.

Critics and allies alike have described the detention of Kovrig and Spavor as retribution for Canada's role in detaining Meng, and experts see little hope for their release so long as she continues to face charges.

In a statement Thursday, charge daffaires Katherine Brucker of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa said Washington was "deeply alarmed" by the prospect of trials for Spavor and Kovrig.

"We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Canada in calling for their immediate release and continue to condemn the lack of minimum procedural protections during their two-year arbitrary detention."

State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said Friday the U.S. was concerned by China's decision to hold a closed court hearing.

Trudeau expressed thanks to "our many, many international partners, friends and allies for their solidarity and support."

Canadian officials will continue to be in close contact with the men's families "during this difficult time," he added.

"To their loved ones, know that today and every day Canadians are with you and thinking of both Michaels."
TIJUANAEach night as Janiana tries to sleep, she wonders about whats going to happen to her baby grandnephew. The woman, a 26-year-old from Honduras, lives in a tent together with her 20-year-old niece, the babys mother, in a tent village of hundreds of asylum seekers like them that formed right next to the pedestrian bridge that leads from Mexico into California. Theyre among the tens of thousands of people crowded in dire conditions across the length of the border who have fled violence, extreme poverty, natural disaster and other circumstances in their various home countries in the hope of being given asylum in the U.S. And as more keep coming, the number of tents keeps growing.

During the day, young children play in the center of the encampment, kicking miniature soccer balls, as their parents watch. At night, when the temperature drops, Janiana can hear the coos and cries of babies throughout the camp, including the one in her own tent. In recent weeks it has rained heavily, and the camp has flooded. There are no bathrooms or showers, and many migrants get by on very little, often forced to skip meals. Tijuana also has one of the highest crime rates of any city in the hemisphere, and the migrants are often the targets.

We are waiting patiently; we want to cross the right way and obey all orders, says Janiana, who spoke on the condition that we only publish her first name. But Tijuana has become a jail city for us. Do you know how degrading it is to sleep outside?

Tents used by migrants seeking asylum in the United States line an entrance to the border crossing, Monday, March 1, 2021, in Tijuana, Mexico.

Across the border, the situation looks different. Thousands of unaccompanied minors have shown up in the United States in the last few months, creating something of a political firestorm. As the Biden administration scrambles to process the children, temporarily housing them in some of the same overflow facilities made infamous during the previous administration, the kids in cages critiques have roared back to life. There was a similarly large arrival of unaccompanied minors in 2014 and 2015, but unlike then, when almost all of the migrant children made the entire journey on their own from Central America, today many are splitting from their families right here, in the squalid shelters and camps of Northern Mexico.

Story continues

The door to the U.S. has been shut tight to asylum seekers since last March, about the time when Janiana first arrived in Tijuana, when the Trump administration issued an order at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that every migrant  child or adult  would be immediately expelled back to Mexico or their home country if they attempted to cross the border, without even a chance to make a case that the persecution they face qualifies them to stay. After he took office this year, Joe Biden kept the policy largely in place, but began to admit unaccompanied minors even while continuing to expel both adults and children who enter with families. Since the shift in policy, some parents and guardians have made the devastating decision, calculated only out of desperation, to send their children off ahead of them, alone, to cross the border.

The result is a new form of family separation  but instead of happening at the hands of federal agents in American government facilities, its taking place, family by family, in camps like the one Janiana lives in. The fact that minors wont be expelled like everyone else has rapidly spread by word of mouth across the length of the border. And while many families choose to stick together, the pressure to separate weighs heaviest on the most vulnerable  families who fear death, whether from persecutors who have followed them to the border, or from extreme hunger.

For Janiana, the possibility of being sent back to Honduras reads as a death sentence. She shows me the scars from her torture at the hands of a powerful gang back home that her family got on the wrong side of. Fearing further reprisals, Janiana fled with her sisters children, a teenage nephew and teenage niece as well as the nieces several-month-old son. The children havent been reconnected with their mother yet, who successfully entered the U.S. to begin the process of claiming asylum in 2019, before the pandemic. Staying in Mexico, Janiana says, was never an adequate long-term solution and increasingly feels intolerable. She says the family already tried to make a new life in the southern state of Oaxaca, but danger pursued them there, where her nephew was murdered.

Today, Janiana says her only hope is that the U.S. will begin to accept asylum seekers again, especially as the country gets a better hold over the pandemic. At the moment, she says with resignation, all we can do is wait. Though there is one painful exception on her mind: If she were somehow able send the baby across alone, he might be allowed to stay.

It breaks my heart to even think about it, she says.

Every family with children that I managed to speak to in Tijuana  families that have come from Honduras, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, southern Mexican states and other countries around the world  admitted theyve thought about sending their children ahead of them; some have referenced people they know who already made that choice. One Honduran woman described a defeated father so determined to save his daughter that he literally heaved the child over a low portion of the wall into the U.S.; others described coyotes coming into the camp at night, offering to take families children alone, so that they can present themselves as unaccompanied minors to the border agents who come to arrest them when they cross.

Its happening at the border, where parents discover they have no viable way to enter with a child, and they recognize the danger theyre in, says Lindsay Toczylowski, the executive director of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, a legal aid organization that is currently assisting dozens of children whose families chose to send them across the border on their own in the last two months alone. This kind of information spreads like wildfire: If you hear about a child successfully making it, and your kids are desperate or sick or in danger, there are a lot of reasons why you would make that incredibly difficult decision.

When asked about the results of the new policy, an administration spokesperson didnt directly address the separation of families, but told POLITICO that the White House still considers the border closed, and discourages sending anyone over: We have been clear, from president on down, that the border is closed, and that the vast majority of adults and families are being turned away. We are still enforcing [the pandemic closure] for adults and families, and that message has been very clear. Were in the middle of a global pandemic, and its going to take time to rebuild robust asylum processing infrastructure at our borders.

At the heart of the current situation, as well as the previous family separation crisis, is a longstanding tension between U.S. laws that give special protections to migrant children and immigration laws that allow the government to aggressively punish adults for crossing the border  a prerogative thats become increasingly popular on the right.

In many ways, Donald Trump simply exploited this fundamental contradiction to forcibly inflict family separation at the border, but its that same contradiction that undergirds Bidens border policy today, which is pushing some families in Mexico to opt for separation. And its unlikely to go away anytime soon.

The roots of this tension between how the government must treat migrant children and how it would often prefer to treat migrant adults go back more than two decades, to the George W. Bush administration. Practically, a person cannot cross the border at a port of entry without the proper paperwork, but while theres been a law against crossing the border outside ports of entry since 1929, it wasnt actively enforced for many years. Instead, many undocumented migrants from Mexico and elsewhere who were apprehended in the United States were immediately returned by border enforcement agents through a process called expedited removal, or were detained and processed through the civil immigration system, at the end of which they would either have successfully made their case to stay or would be formally deported.

In the early 2000s, however, as immigrant detention centers filled with people awaiting their days in court, more and more apprehended migrants would simply be given a notice to appear before an immigration judge on a certain date and then be released into the U.S. on a bond or an order of recognizance. But in an effort to combat and deter unauthorized immigration, President Bushs newly created Department of Homeland Security decided in 2005 that instead of routinely releasing border crossers to go through the civil immigration process, they would start to route many to criminal prosecution and imprisonment. The new policy was called Operation Streamline. Importantly, exceptions were generally made for migrants traveling with children and migrant children, who would continue to be processed through the civil system but wouldnt be charged or detained as criminals.

While President Barack Obama later sought to reform the immigration enforcement system to more narrowly focus criminal prosecutions on those who had committed non-immigration related crimes, he largely maintained the system put in place by his predecessor. But by the summer of 2014, Obama faced a unique situation: a massive influx of Central American migrants, many of whom were families or unaccompanied children and almost all of whom were seeking asylum and thus had a right to a civil immigration hearing of their claims, which could take years, before they could be removed or criminally prosecuted.

This June 25, 2014, photo shows a group of young migrants from Honduras and El Salvador who were apprehended after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Granjeno, Texas.

The thousands of children arriving on their own often found themselves in harsh conditions in Customs and Border Protection holding cells, originally built to jail single men. From there, they entered into a complex child welfare system: In 2008, Congress had passed an anti-trafficking law that required DHS to refer unaccompanied minors from countries other than Canada and Mexico to the Department of Health and Human Services, which would in turn place children in the care of a family member in the U.S., a foster home or an Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter while they waited for their cases to be adjudicated. This remains the process for handling unaccompanied minors.

Completely unprepared to process large numbers of families, the Obama administration attempted to detain them together indefinitely, but a court order in 2015 quickly blocked that policy. A 1997 consent decree, known as the Flores Settlement Agreement, outlines the conditions under which migrant minors can be detained. Designed to safeguard the basic human rights of children, Flores holds that minors can only remain detained for a maximum of 20 days. To comply, the Obama administration faced a choice: They could either parole parents and children together or release only the children. Rather than separate families, the administration opted to parole parents and children together, and have them return for their court dates.

This practice of paroling undocumented immigrants into the U.S. instead of detaining them while they awaited their civil immigration hearings, which was the norm for decades before 2005, became one of Trumps most-repeated attacks against liberals in 2016: In campaign speeches, he frequently derided it as catch and release. Ending the practice was No. 2 on his ten-point immigration plan, right behind build the wall.

From the beginning of 2017, in addition to restricting asylum in a number of ways, the Trump administration sought to use its executive authority to push the countrys immigration law to its enforcement extreme  calling it zero tolerance  and attempted to detain essentially everyone crossing the border for as long as their court cases lasted. Throughout his tenure, Trump repeatedly tried to undermine protections for immigrant children. And when it came to families who were apprehended after crossing the border, Trump decided to do what Obama had not: His administration routinely separated children from their parents, so that the parents could be detained indefinitely. The 20-day detention limit created to protect children became the Trump administrations justification for separation. As migrant families were apprehended, parents would be sent to jail and children would be handed off to HHS as unaccompanied minors.

Family separation, as the policy split more and more families, became one of the most troubling byproducts of Trumps push to deter immigration, a rallying cry for Democrats and a political liability even for the most hardline anti-immigrant Republicans. By the summer of 2018, the stories of children  many of them infants  ripped from their parents arms had spread across the news. Child psychologists visiting with children in shelters reported that the kids, forcibly separated from their parents, were experiencing a dangerous level of trauma that would affect the rest of their lives. (We know that separating parents and children  causes toxic stress and is particularly damaging for a childs brain, Colleen Kraft, then-president of the American Academy of Pediatrics told me at the time.) Outrage continued to grow, and eventually, under public pressure, Trump signed an executive order reversing his own policy and demanding that DHS keep families together.

Activists march past the White House to protest the Trump administration's approach to illegal border crossings and separation of children from immigrant parents, June 20, 2018.

However, the underlying policy approach that pushed children away from their guardians was never overhauled. As a result, the executive order prevented children from being separated from their direct parents, but children traveling with other family members  aunts, uncles, godparents, even older siblings  were and still are often separated. DHS justifies these separations by arguing that adults who could not prove they were the childrens legal guardians might be human traffickers. Trump also tried to overrule the Flores agreement to detain families together indefinitely, but the courts blocked him from doing so. The Trump administration then experimented with another form of family separation, offering families in detention a binary choice: Parents could opt to be deported with their children or they could opt to be deported without them, acknowledging that in the latter case HHS would place the now-unaccompanied child with a sponsor or in a shelter as they continue to go through the immigration process on their own.

When the Trump administration implemented the Migrant Protection Protocols  better known as the Remain in Mexico program  in December 2018 to force asylum seekers to wait for their hearings outside of the U.S., the policy exempted unaccompanied minors, and many parents released to Mexico with their children made the same decision migrant families are making today: to send their children to cross the border alone so they at least could wait in the U.S.

Then the pandemic hit. In March 2020, the White House strong-armed the Centers for Disease Control to invoke an obscure public health order, Title 42, which gives the executive the power to close the border in a time of health emergency. Citing Covid-19, the U.S. began to immediately turn away thousands of people who would normally be able to make their asylum cases in court  including unaccompanied children. For families in detention, in the midst of the pandemic, the Trump administration also brought a new form of the binary choice back: It made parents choose between staying on their own in detention indefinitely, while their child would be separately processed through HHS, or keeping their child with them in the dismal and potentially deadly conditions of detention during a pandemic, essentially waiving that childs right to parole.

Children arriving at the border alone or with family continued to be expelled until November of last year, when the American Civil Liberties Union convinced a federal judge to issue a stay on the expulsion of unaccompanied minors, arguing that it was illegal under U.S. laws that protect both children and human trafficking victims. That stay was lifted in late January 2021, but, by then, Biden had taken office, and the new administration announced that, while it would keep Title 42 largely in place, it would not expel unaccompanied minors.

We well understand that out of desperation, some children might not wait. Some loving parents might send their child to traverse Mexico alone to reach the southern border, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said earlier this week. I hope they dont undertake that perilous journey. But if they do, we will not expel that young child. We will care for that young child and unite that child with a responsible parent.

But while Mayorkas can see how parents desperation can lead them to send their child all the way through Mexico, it seems that the administration did not account for that same sense of desperation to lead families already at the border to send their children across without the adults. Even as more and more children arrive with as many as 13,000 reportedly expected to come in May, the Biden administration continues to insist that it will not turn unaccompanied minors away.

Soraya Vazquez, subdirector of Al Otro Lado, the largest legal aid organization in Tijuana, says that from what shes seen in the shelters and across the city, the number of children recently arriving to Northern Mexico by themselves has not spiked significantly. As for the increase in minors crossing the border into the U.S., I dont think its kids arriving by themselves she says. Kids are arriving with their families, and then theyre crossing by themselves.

Mayorkas has resisted the crisis label for the present border situation, distinguishing whats currently happening from the recent past under Trump: A crisis is when a nation is willing to rip a 9-year-old child out of the hands of his or her parent and separate that family to deter future migration, he said this week during a House hearing. But while immigration is a complex issue, particularly when it comes to children, and while the Biden administration says humanitarianism rather than deterrence guides its policies, families today are in fact being separated, albeit not by force.

The White House has, as its spokesperson indicated, repeatedly told migrants that now is not the time to come. But for would-be asylees like Janiana, the act of leaving home to travel thousands of miles northward in a perilous journey in search of safety isnt something they can just delay for a more convenient time in the calendar. And, like her, many didnt leave recently. Theyve been waiting at the border for months.

National Security Council coordinator for the U.S. southern border Roberta Jacobson, accompanied by White House press secretary Jen Psaki, left, speaks at a press briefing at the White House, March 10.

Yliana Johansen-Mendez, the legal services director of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, says the organization has seen a significant uptick in unaccompanied minors in shelters in the U.S. who say that Title 42 forced them apart from their families. Many, she says, have parents or family members still waiting in Mexico. Starting in December, the month after the ACLU case originally stopped unaccompanied minor expulsions, through February, Immigrant Defenders saw the number of migrant children whose guardians sent them ahead to cross the border while staying behind make up 33 percent of the total children lawyers met with in shelters. Johansen-Mendez says this number of Title 42-impacted children theyve encountered, which also includes children separated from non-parent guardians who were expelled after crossing the border, continues to rise, increasing in March by 26 percent from February.

It really speaks to the inhumanity of the system that exists that families have to make these kinds of heart-wrenching decisions, Johansen-Mendez says of the voluntary separations happening at the border. People are desperate and fleeing for their lives. They feel like this is their last option to keep their children safe. She says the Biden administration should take its obligations to improve the asylum system seriously, and fully rescind Title 42, so that families can enter together. It also, she believes, should revert to the past norm of paroling almost all asylum seekers rather than routinely detaining adults.

In Tijuana, Janiana says shes grappled seriously with the idea of separating from her nieces son. (Her niece, who is too old to be considered a minor, wasnt available to comment for this story.)

It is a truly heartbreaking choice to make, she says, as tears start to well in her eyes. After everything they have gone through with me. We have gone days without food, together. On a bus ride to Tijuana, she says the baby went three days without anything to eat or drink besides flour tortillas and bottled water that a kind Cuban migrant shared with them. Sometimes, when shes feeling at her lowest, Janiana says she has been most tempted to send the baby to cross the border alone, but she remains resolute for now that they must remain together. However, she can understand how others have made the decision already.

It is everyones own choice to make, she says. The families that choose to make this decision are the families that feel imminent danger, that feel cornered and imprisoned. They [the adult migrants] come to prefer that whatever happens, happens to them but not their children.

As we spoke in the shadow of the wall between Mexico and the U.S., Janiana said she knows that Biden doesnt have the power to fix larger forces at play overnight. The contradictions of U.S. immigration laws that create a wedge between children and their guardians will continue even after the border opens, and Janiana may well be separated from her grandnephew when they can enter together. But the longer she and her young family members are forced to wait in destitution in Mexico with no sense of change on the horizon, the harder it becomes to hold on to the conviction to not let the baby go forward alone.

There is something Biden can do, Janiana suggests. We are here waiting for our turn to enter, she says. We are here because we respect the process. But she says her ability to make decisions about the future  and to simply maintain faith  is crippled by the silence on when, if ever, the border will open for asylum seekers again. The only thing we ask at this time, she says, at the very least, give us some information.

Yolanda Morales and Tony Alvarez contributed to this report.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III was on Saturday accorded the Guard of Honour at Vigyan Bhawan after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received him at the venue.

Earlier today, Austin attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial in the nation's capital. After the ceremony, Austin will be meeting with his Indian counterpart Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Austin on Friday discussed areas of mutual interest, strategic partnership and cooperation on various aspects of security and defence.

"Great meeting with NSA Doval last night. The breadth of collaboration b/w our 2 nations reflects the significance of our major defence partnership as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region," Austin wrote in a tweet on Saturday adding that he was "looking forward to great meetings today."

Austin, who arrived in Delhi earlier on Friday, is on a three-day official visit to the country. It is the first visit to India by a top official of the Biden administration.

Earlier, Austin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed America's strong desire to further enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

PM Modi outlined his vision for the strategic partnership between the two countries and emphasized the important role of bilateral defence cooperation in India-US ties.

(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.)
Vaccine Diaries is a series of dispatches exploring the rollout of COVID-19 immunizations.

Thats it? Thats it. The woman injecting my second dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine quickly bandaged my arm as the shot started wiring and inspiring my immune system. I was directed to the 30-minute observation areathe one for people with allergiesand I waited.

At first, I sat there full of some vague sense of accomplishment. I was finally vaccinatedit felt good. Then I started to feel bad, because of all the people who might need the vaccine but cant get it yet. (Im a private school teacher by day, and Ive been teaching in-person, without the option not to, since August, so I qualified early.) Soon, some admittedly irrational anxiety started to percolate in me: I wondered if somehow my throat could seize, if anaphylaxis would suddenly choke-slam me to the floor. I hadnt had a serious allergic reaction to my main assailant, tree nuts, before, but thats where your mind goes.

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Yet the wait period came and went, and I was still breathing. I drove home, ate dinner, and felt normal. Just like after my first dose. I felt a little cocky about it, actually, buff in my immune response.

Then I woke up in the middle of the night feverish, with aches and chills. When morning came, I was still feeling sick, now with fever north of 100. I sat down on the bathroom floor just in case I had to retch. The side effects were raging.

Around midday, with some ibuprofen, they just went away. Poof! I felt good again. Maybe too good. And also really weird. I had a burst of energy, and I decided Id go for a walk and get a coffee. I tried to internalize that I was vaccinated now, and soon, Id be at maximum coronavirus protection. I was feeling confident again.

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Then, three days later, I was gesturing about something in the book my class and I were reading when I noticed my arms were covered in a raised, expanding rash. My right forearm looked like a pinkish-red archipelago, and more islands were popping up fast. They even looked like they were pulsating. There was also a red ring forming around the base of my neck. And my face under my mask was starting to swell up, too. When I took the mask off in the bathroom, I was horrified to find my face swollen and tilted sideways, as if someone had just gotten the best of me in a fistfight.

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I told my principal I had to make a break for it. I left for an immediate care clinic during my students recess. Not knowing what was going on, the students waved to me as I drove away, in what felt like a gesture of solidarity with their swelling teacher.

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Once at the clinic, they injected me with Benadryl, gave me a COVID test in case I had actually contracted the virus, and held me for observation. I got groggy, but I couldnt take my eyes off my arms, since the rash clusters all over me had raised themselves up, like little volcanoes.

Finally, the clinic let me go, and I went home to sleep. For a couple more days, Id have more flare-ups, with rash mounds all over my body popping up and going down.

By Day Two of this, I started thinking (and fought against) more irrational thoughts about what had happened to me. Maybe it wasnt so crazy to fear the shot. But this is part of the bargain, I told myself. But  but , my flagging body protested, always living in the moment. I couldnt even say for sure my rashiness was a result of the vaccine. But even if it was, finebecause it was still definitely worth it. Id do it again, if I had to. And then once more.

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I was still worried, though, so I decided to go to an allergist to ask about what might have happened. The doctor said she couldnt be certain at this point what exactly caused my rash. Some have reported rashes, or so-called COVID arm, after receiving the vaccine, but I cant be certain thats what happened to me, since most of those rashes occur at or around the injection site, and mine did not. I do have a condition called dermatographia, or skin writing, where even fairly light scratches on my skin will rise up as wheals, like someone wrote on me with red marker. Maybe it was related to that? (Per my doctor, I do have my volcano rashes to thank for one thing: Upon retesting, it turns out Im not allergic to all tree nuts, and I am enjoying a pistachio as we speak.)

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In any case, so much of my emotional roller coaster that week was because I know that vaccines are safe, and that for the vast majority of people, the side effects are mild. I may never know what really caused my reaction. But now Im vaccinated, and Im allowing myself to acknowledge both how scary and great that felt. At school, I continue my role as a polite but diligent enforcer of social distancing, often reduced to one imploring phrase: six feet! Ive also mastered the art of not getting too out of breath while reading out loud in a KN95 mask. If the vaccine rollout continues apace, maybe before too long, I wont need it anymore.
(Reuters) - A federal jury in Texas said Inc must pay about $308.5 million to Personalized Media Communications LLC (PMC) for infringing a patent associated with digital rights management.

The jurors late no Friday directed to pay a running royalty to PMC, which is generally based on the amount of sales of a product or service.

PMC, a licensing firm, had originally sued in 2015 alleging the tech giant's iTunes service infringed seven of its

Apple successfully challenged PMC's case at the U.S. patent office, but an appeals court in March last year reversed that decision, paving the way for the trial.

The iPhone maker did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment but told Bloomberg that it was disappointed with the ruling and would appeal.

"Cases like this, brought by that don't make or sell any products, stifle innovation and ultimately harm consumers," Apple was quoted as saying by Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-19/apple-told-to-pay-308-5-million-for-infringing-drm-patent?sref=ZoyErlU1.

Sugarland, Texas-based PMC has infringement cases pending against including Netflix Inc, Alphabet Inc's Google and Amazon.com Inc.

The case is Personalized Media v. Apple Inc.

(Reporting by Derek Francis and Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)

(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.)
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office Dmitry Kozak has suggested a new procedure of talks of political advisors to the Normandy Four leaders based on the principle of equality of all participants in the process.

Kozak sent letters to his Ukrainian, French and German counterpart and stated in it that "one of the reasons, albeit not a definitive one, of the absence of any progress in achieving practical results in the exhausting Normandy format talks is that they are improperly organized," a source in the Russian delegation told Interfax.

"Given that all participants in the Normandy format are equal, it would be appropriate to use the principle of rotation of chairpersons, extensively used in the international diplomatic practice, to ensure that each of four participants performs these duties by turn. I am convinced that this approach will allow empirically determining the most efficient mechanisms of organizing talks while reducing time to hold them," according to the text of the letter seen by Interfax.

At present, Germany and France preside on a turn basis at online meetings of the political advisors to the Normandy Four leaders.


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Enough is enough

Regarding U.S. needs to reckon with its anti-Asian roots, (A14, March 19): The recent attacks against our brothers and sisters in the Asian American communities are heartbreaking. The physical assaults and recent killings are rooted in racism. It needs to stop. We cannot be silent. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones due to this senseless hatred. To our Asian community  we love you and are standing united with you. Enough is enough.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Local hero

Regarding Board clears doc accused of vaccine theft, (A3, March 16): Is it just me or do most folks think that Dr. Hasan Gokal should be hailed as a hero and not a criminal as Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg would have you believe? The Texas Medical Association and the Harris County Medical Society have issued statements of support for physicians like Dr. Gokal who find themselves scrambling to avoid wasting the vaccine in a punctured vial. Judge Franklin Bynum dismissed his case for lack of probable cause. And now, the Texas Medical Board has cleared Dr. Gokal of stealing a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine. The board said there was insufficient evidence to prove that he had violated the Medical Practice Act. There have been numerous cases across the country of health care workers being hailed as heroes for going outside the box to avoid wasting the vaccine. Its about time that the Harris County DA drops all charges against Dr. Gokal, stop wasting our tax dollars and refocus her resources on real crimes.

Mohammed Nasrullah, Houston

HB 1505

Regarding Texas big plan for closing the digital divide: At-home broadband internet for every student, (March 10): Broadband access is an essential component of our daily lives. However, more than 1.23 million Texans lack access to reliable, high-speed broadband. At the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce, we serve as a catalyst for a better quality of life in African American communities throughout Texas, which is why we support the expedited expansion of broadband access. Utility poles help form the backbone of our states broadband infrastructure, especially in rural areas. But today, obstacles delay access to certain utility poles in rural areas and drive up costs, inhibiting broadband expansion. Fortunately, the Texas Legislature has the opportunity to pass HB 1505, which would reform the pole attachment process by ensuring predictable and fair pole replacement costs and faster permitting and dispute resolution time frames. We strongly urge the Texas Legislature to pass HB 1505 and ensure all Texans are afforded the economic opportunities provided by broadband access.

Charles ONeal, president, Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce
Greenberg Traurigs Michelle Ferreira and Gretchen Ramos will participate as speakers in the virtual summit, Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership: San Francisco, to be held on March 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT. The summit will focus on career-related obstacles, challenges, and rewards for women and minority leaders.

Ferreira, who is co-managing shareholder of global law firm Greenberg Traurigs San Francisco office and co-managing shareholder of the firms Silicon Valley office, will present the session, The Time for Change is NOW: Attracting, Promoting & Retaining Leaders of Color. The session will explore challenges encountered by minority leaders in the legal profession, the importance of retaining and advancing people of color, performative versus substantive change, building affinity groups, and advice for young attorneys of color.

Ramos, global co-chair of Greenberg Traurigs Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice, will present the session, "Rewriting the Rules in the Age of COVID-19: Becoming a Futurist." Her presentation will cover the myriad challenges created by the global pandemic, as well as tactics for business leaders seeking to adapt. Ramos will also explore how companies can embrace the new normal to create and promote new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Ferreira counsels individuals, partnerships, estates, and corporations in tax disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and state and local tax agencies, including the California Franchise Tax Board, the State Board of Equalization, the Employment Development Department and county assessment appeals boards. She writes and speaks frequently on the topic of expanding opportunities for women and attorneys of color in law and business. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her achievements and leadership, including Euromoneys Leading Women in Business Law, Profiles in Diversity Journals "Woman Worth Watching Award," and San Francisco Business Times Most Influential Women in the Bay Area.

Ramos, who is based in the firms San Francisco office, focuses her practice on privacy, cybersecurity, and information management. Dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in her field, she is an active member of the San Francisco branch of the Women in Security and Privacy. She is also an influential thought leader within the data privacy community, regularly speaking at International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) events and other data protection-related forums. Routinely recognized for her professional achievements, Ramos has been listed on Daily Journals lists of Top Women Lawyers and Top Cyber/Artificial Intelligence Lawyers.

Greenberg Traurig is a sponsor of the event.

About Greenberg Traurigs Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firms efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 3.0 certification, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com
The reasons for this erasure were myriad  and infuriating.

The mid-1960s were a perilous time for women venturing into a mans territory, and none were more toxic than the battlefields of Vietnam. Peter Arnett, a Vietnam War correspondent, was open about the disdain all men felt for the women. The prevailing view was that the war was being fought by men against men and women had no place there, he wrote in his 1995 memoir, Live From the Battlefield.

And yet Ms. Webb herself insisted on denying gender bias. When Womens Wear Daily described her in 1968 as a rare news hen among the male news hawks, in an interview with the publication she deflected attention and focused on the South Vietnamese Armys need for M16 rifles. When she was named U.P.I. bureau chief in Cambodia, there was no news release celebrating this singular accomplishment for a woman in a war zone. Ms. Webb preferred it that way. And she denounced feminism because she didnt want to be seen, she later wrote, as a six-foot, fat, pistol-whipping womens libber who needed special help to do what men did. Only later, when Ms. Webb was undermined by a predatory boss who demanded she have an affair with him, did she fully understand the seriousness of institutional barriers that she thought she had conquered.

There is little sense of the injustice of gender bias in their work.

Thats not surprising; calling attention to their own work was dangerous. Catherine Leroy was one of the few women combat photographers in the early years of the American war. Barely five feet tall, she pioneered an intimate style of combat photography and was soon a serious competitor to her male counterparts.

Her colleagues werent pleased. Led by the bureau chief of Agence France-Presse, they collaborated with military press officers to strip her of her press credentials. They filed shameless complaints against Ms. Leroy for being pushy and unwashed, someone who used coarse and profane language. This was character bashing  not legitimate reason for taking away her credentials  yet the men prevailed. (I retrieved the confidential military file through a Freedom of Information Act request.)

Ms. Leroy fought back, recovered her press card and continued to excel. She parachuted with the 173rd Airborne Brigade to photograph the only air assault of the war; she captured the indelible image of a medic crying in anguish during the Battle of Hill 881 and crossed enemy lines to photograph the North Vietnamese barricade in Hue. She became the first non-American woman to win the George Polk Award in photography and, later, the first woman to win the Robert Capa Gold Medal.
In idler times, I used to keep a running list of new Portland restaurants I hoped might open one day. An Indonesian option or two. More and more interesting dim sum. A casual alternative from the excellent, expensive, exclusive Japanese chefs counter Nodoguro. I longed to see what Top Chef finalist Gregory Gourdet might come up with on his own, free from the corporate vibe at downtowns Departure.

And I wondered whether Han Oak might one day take over the Clyde Common space, seeing as chef Peter Chos biggest claim to fame before moving to Portland was running the kitchen at another Ace Hotel restaurant, New York Citys The Breslin.

Over the past few years, many of those day dreams came true. Portland has two very good Indonesian restaurants now, one more traditional (Wajan, 4611 E. Burnside St.), the other more modern (Gado Gado, 1801 N.E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.). At the start of the pandemic, Nodoguro owners Ryan and Elena Roadhouse opened Tonari (2838 S.E. Belmont St.), an Okinawan cafe with tonguekatsu sliders and an outrageously good purple potato salad. Gourdet, as you might have read, is diving deep into his Haitian roots at Kann Winter Village, a highly anticipated new restaurant that currently lives as a pop-up inside a dozen yurts at 831 S.E. Salmon St.

As for Han Oak, well, things didnt quite work out the way I imagined. Just before the pandemic, Cho and his family, including wife and Han Oak partner Sun Young Park, moved out of the cramped apartment behind their restaurant and into a home of their own, quietly ending what had been a defining quirk of the restaurant (Im referring here, of course, to their two young sons habit of marauding through the restaurant just before bedtime). Meanwhile, reports of Clyde Commons early-pandemic death were greatly exaggerated. Instead of closing permanently, the long-running restaurant cleaved itself in two, preserving the popular bar while converting the restaurant into a grab-and-go market, currently concentrating on takeout cocktails and cast-iron pizzas.

As it so happens, Cho and Park did find an opportunity in the West End, just not at Clyde Common. Their new restaurant, Toki, which opened open for takeout in the former Tasty N Alder space in January, serves an updated version of Han Oaks dinner menu, tweaked for the current era with more chicken wings, a fun new bao burger, Chos first stab at bibimbap and a handful of dishes inspired by viral food trends spotted on TikTok. But, like the restaurant it replaced, Tokis destiny, at least in the early going, seems to lie with brunch.

It wasnt that long ago that Tasty N Alder was Portlands brunch flagship, not necessarily the best option, but one with a location prominent enough to draw consistent crowds. Over the years, Cho and Park had discussed the possibility of opening a new restaurant in one of developer Greg Goodmans buildings, but before last year, the Tasty N Alder space was never in play. Then came the pandemic, and some landscape-altering news for the local restaurant scene: Toro Bravo Inc., a restaurant group that once employed hundreds, dissolved on July 1 after John Gorham directed social media threats at a trans woman of color. The Tasty brand was sold to the ChefStable group, which plans to open a Lake Oswego location this spring. Goodman soon reached out to Cho and Park about taking over the space, and Toki was born.

(Tokis low-risk lease spelled the end for Pocha, a drinking-food-focused micro restaurant Cho and Park had been building on the other side of one of Han Oaks courtyard walls; that space will soon be home to new Vietnamese restaurant Friendship Kitchen, 2333 N.E. Glisan St.)

Tokis dinner menu is filled with Han Oak favorites: The shatter-crisp Korean fried chicken wings, now available in three flavors, essence of instant ramen, a dipped and dusted Korean hot version and a sweet garlic soy glaze ($10 for three, $11 for one of each). Han Oaks great dumplings, stuffed with juicy pork, folded into a plump beanie shape and served with black vinegar in a nod to the famous dumpling chain Din Tai Fung ($12 for six), make a welcome appearance. Tasty ramyun and knife-cut noodles ($16) are here, too, as are familiar grilled meats including cured pork belly ($16) and sweet short rib galbi ($17). Does the food make it home in the same shape it would if served at the restaurant? Of course not. But if these are dishes you crave, as I often do, its nice that theyre here, especially with Han Oak on a temporary hiatus.

The Steamed Bao Burger, a smash burger wrapped in bao dough and seared on both sides.The Oregonian

Cho once said he would never serve bibimbap, the mixed rice bowl more famous globally than any other Korean dish. Yet before opening Toki, he found himself working on an upside-down version inspired by dolsot bibimbap and Persian tahdig, two dishes known for their layers of crispy rice. That recipe is ready to go, Cho told me last month, but doesnt work for the current takeout model, where food can sometimes sit around as the restaurant waits for a delivery driver to accept a pickup. Instead, Toki serves a more straightforward version with seasonal local veggies ($13; $17 with bulgogi).

According to Cho, some of his best new ideas have come while scrolling TikTok. That starts with the Gim-bap supreme ($8), a rice sandwich filled with a rainbows worth of pickled and sauteed veggies and crispy nori wrapped up in the style of last years most imitated fast food hack, Taco Bells Crunchwrap Supreme.

Ive just run out of ideas, Cho says, and its hard to tell how much hes joking. Right before we opened, I was working on making gimbap (Korean-style seaweed-wrapped rice rolls), cutting it, tasting it, and then I thought, Dude, its just gimbap. And then that stupid tortilla trend happened, and then I saw they were doing it with the nori, and so now were doing it with rice on one end, veggies, another piece of tempura-fried nori in the middle. Its kind of a troll, but I think its funny.

Tokis steamed bao burger ($8) hasnt gone viral yet, but it probably should. For this Toki original, Cho smashes two dry-aged beef patties on the grill, adds American cheese, onions and a mustard-y special sauce, then wraps everything in sesame seed bao dough. Seared to order, the result is a marvel of gooey crunch, and a sly wink at a 50-year-old Big Mac jingle. You can pair it with a Dalgona coffee ($4), South Koreas viral whipped instant coffee drink, or choose from a handful of smoothies including matcha mint chip or mango golden milk ($7; add boba for a buck).

Just like its sister restaurant, Toki has evolved rapidly in its early days, with new dishes coming and going every time you pull up the menu. Tasty N Alders kitchen was designed to operate as a steakhouse at night, and grilled meats will continue to play a role. Cho is also experimenting with pizza -- could Toki end up being Portlands answer to Minneapolis hit Korean pizzeria Young Joni? For now, its hard to tell what things will look like in a week, let alone a year.

Still, the brunch menu might offer a glimpse into the future. From Friday to Sunday, You can grab a morning bao burger, or a handful of breakfast sandwiches ($7) with meat and American cheese on a split bao bun dusted with everything bagel-style seasoning. Pastry chef Lauren Breneman is making twisted doughnuts with hibiscus blood orange sugar and rainbow sprinkles or passionfruit ganache and toasted sesame ($9 for three). And Toki is doing the popular Korean street food hodduk ($7), a filled pancake stuffed with ingredients both sweet (sesame, brown sugar and walnut) and savory (japchae; cheese-encrusted kimchi and pork belly). Its all designed with takeout in mind, and it shows.

The early star at brunch is the Korean fried-chicken sandwich ($13), a jaw-cranking monster packed with a double-fried chicken thigh glazed in sweet garlic soy, plus pickled daikon, shredded cabbage and a spicy mayo that escaped its toasted Martins potato bun and dripped down my dashboard during a recent photo shoot. At first bite, you expect the chicken to collapse like some wonder of modern fast-food engineering. But this is real food, so the chicken doesnt give way so easily (the meat reminds me more of the Dongbei-style sweet-and-sour pork at Chins Kitchen than something McDonalds might make). In the end, its the flavors that keep you coming back for one bite, then another, until the sandwich is gone.

The only thing that could make it better is a spicy option. Knowing Toki, that could be coming any day.

Paradise by the dashboard lights -- behold the new Korean fried-chicken sandwich from the brunch menu at Han Oak sister restaurant Toki: pic.twitter.com/kT6MJtQIcs  Michael Russell (@tdmrussell) February 20, 2021

Drinks: At night, theres Coke and Topo Chico ($3), canned beer ($4), soju and makgeolli ($12) and a half dozen reasonably priced bottles of wine ($19-$25) chosen by winemaker Ross Maloof. The brunch menu adds those smoothies and coffee, as well as the so-called LeBronald Palmer ($5), Deadstock Coffees blend of coffee, sweet tea and lemonade.

Seating: Toki is geared for takeout, but there are three small uncovered tables outside.

Ordering: The restaurants Square site offers pickup and delivery (via DoorDash). Walk-up orders are welcome during open hours (but youll still have to order on your phone).

Details: Toki serves brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday and dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; 580 S.W. 12th Ave.; 503-312-3037; tokipdx.com. The restaurant has a TikTok account  @TikTokiPDX, naturally  but has yet to post a video.

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell
Three people have died after a suspected murder-suicide in Newtownabbey, Antrim.

A man is believed to have stabbed his mother and girlfriend at separate properties before killing himself.

Police confirmed the incidents were linked, and a double murder probe had been launched.

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and woman were found at a second property around two miles away.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The deputy Mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, said her thoughts and prayers were with the friends and family of the two women who she said had been "brutally killed.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left absolutely shocked and stunned by the news.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

Just after 10.55pm on Friday evening, police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area. Officers attended, along with colleagues from NIAS. Sadly, a woman has been pronounced dead.

As officers carried out further enquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area. An unconscious male was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the male was pronounced dead. On searching the property, another deceased female was located.

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

"We would urge anyone with any information which may assist our investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"

Police were at the scene of both properties this morning.

Local people spoke of their shock, while political representatives said more needed to be done to address violent attacks against women.

Ms McClelland, the deputy mayor, said: People in Newtownabbey are in shock today following three deaths in what police believe was a double murder.

My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

This is a close-knit community and I know that they will offer every support to those dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Once again it appears that two women have lost their lives in a violent attack. How many more women have to die before our Executive takes action to address gender based violence?

Mr Finucane, the North Belfast MP, has said the community was in shock.

He said: My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

Its important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken spoke of his shock. He said: This is terrible news - the loss of three lives is an awful tragedy for the community.

Policing Board member John Blair said it was the most sad and shocking set of circumstances adding: My thoughts are with family and friends of victims in what they are going through right now.

He said there was a great sense of shock throughout the Newtownabbey community.
Budget carrier GoAirhas become the first airline in the country to operate night services from Srinagar with the launch of a daily flight to Delhi on Friday, the airline said.

Going forward, will operate a scheduled flight from Srinagar that will depart at 8:30 pm every day, a release said on Saturday.

was also the first airline to operate morning flights to-and-from Srinagar. The first night flight from Srinagar marks the dawn of a new era and is proud to provide maximum connectivity from several airports in India to Srinagar, Jammu and Leh, it said.

GoAir is keen to provide freedom to customers to plan their travel and provide day-return connectivity to major airports like Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities, said the release.

"It gives me immense pleasure to dedicate the first-ever night flight from Srinagar to Delhi as a salute to the spirit of Srinagar. GoAir is also strengthening the network across the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh region by enhancing their daily flights to-and-from Srinagar, said Kaushik Khona, Chief Executive Officer, GoAir.

The Mumbai-based airline operates flights across 39 destinations 29 domestic and 10 international.

(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.)
US Secretary of Defence on Saturday extended condolences to the Indian Air Force pilot who lost his life in an accident that took place earlier this week.

"I would like to express my deepest condolences for the tragic accident that killed an Indian Air Force pilot earlier this week," Austin, who is on a three-day visit to India, said while making the joint statement along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

"Our hearts go out to his family and friends...and his death reminds us of the risks our brave servicemen and women take each day to defend our democracies, our people, and our way of life," he added.

Group Captain Ashish Gupta lost his life after his Bison aircraft met with an accident on Wednesday morning.

"A Bison aircraft of IAF was involved in a fatal accident this morning while taking off for a combat training mission at an airbase in central India. The IAF lost Group Captain A Gupta in the tragic accident. IAF expresses deep condolences and stands firmly with the family members," the Indian Air Force had informed in a statement.

(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.)
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - One case of the South African variant (B.1.351) of the coronavirus has been found in Mississippi, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) confirmed on Friday.

The case was discovered in Harrison County, which is along the Gulf of Mexico.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said the news is concerning, saying this variant may be more contagious and appears to have some resistance to vaccines, specifically the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

He reiterated that Mississippi must continue to be cautious.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said Mississippi must continue to reduce transmission of the virus. This means using masks when in public spaces, avoid large gatherings and getting the vaccine.

Open this link to schedule an appointment online in Mississippi.

Open this link to find a vaccine provider near you.

In February, Mississippi reported its first case of a COVID-19 variant: the UK variant (B.1.1.7).

Read More: Emerging variants in the United States

As of Friday, March 19, more than 950,000 vaccine doses have been administered in Mississippi.

Three different vaccines are available in the United States: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
A man is in jail after Tuscumbia police say he went to the home of the judge on his case with a gun.

Police said the incident happened on Tuesday.

A man named Brad Adderhold went to Tuscumbia's municipal judges personal law office with a gun looking for Judge Chad Smith, according to police.

Smith was not at his personal law office, and police say Adderhold led them on a chase that ended in Muscle Shoals.

Tuscumbia police are working on charges to add to Adderhold. He's currently in the Tuscumbia City Jail for a suspended sentence.

Police believe Smith was targeted by Adderhold because he was the judge in his case.

Mayor Kerry Underwood said of the incident I was relieved to see a more peaceful end to this situation than how it started. The amount of coordination between sister cities and law enforcement agencies was astounding.
When Katey Sagal appeared in Netflixs Dead to Me Season 2, Married With Children fans went wild. In the 1980s sitcom, Sagal portrayed Peggy Bundy  Christina Applegates on-screen mom. This time she was Judy Hales (Linda Cardellini) incarcerated mother, fitting right in with the shows dark humor. The 67-year-old actor is returning to the small screen this spring with Rebel on ABC. So, will Katey Sagal have time to guest appear in Dead to Me Season 3? Fans are hopeful.

Dead to Me Katey Sagal as Judys mom, Eleanor Hale, and Linda Cardellini as Judy Hale | Netflix

Dead to Me: Katey Sagal as Judys mom

When fans binged Dead to Me Season 2 on Netflix, they had no idea they would come upon the beautiful Married With Children Easter Egg. Judy Hale mentioned her mother several times throughout the first two seasons of Dead to Me. However, we didnt meet Eleanor Hale (Sagal) until season 2, episode 9, when Judy visited her mom in jail.

The backstory that Judy offered viewers so far was that she took care of her mother as a child because of Eleanors drug addiction. Judy did not find out why her mother was back in jail, but it became clear immediately that Eleanor wanted her daughters help to get out of prison.

When Judy was younger, she had testified against Eleanor in court. So, Judy considered helping her mother to make it up to her. However, ultimately, Judy decided it was not the right thing to do.

Will Katey Sagal be in Dead to Me Season 3?

Christina Applegate was the one who encouraged Katey Sagal to guest star in Dead to Me. Married With Children fans hope that Kelly and Peggy Bundy reunite on the set of Dead to Me Season 3. Show creator and executive producer Liz Feldman spoke to TVLine about the possibility of Sagal returning to the series.

The creator did not rule out the possibility of the former Kelly and Peggy reuniting on-screen in Dead to Me Season 3.

So excited for a season 3! Congrats to @thelizfeldman and to our entire hardworking @deadtome family. Big thanks to everyone who watched. Love to you all.  https://t.co/eKrA43Mc14  Linda Cardellini (@lindacardellini) July 7, 2020

RELATED: Dead to Me Season 2 Left Multiple Cliffhangers and More Questions for Season 3

At the very least, I want to give you hope, Feldman told TVLine.

The executive producer thought Sagals presence as Eleanor was just wonderfully ironic. It worked perfectly with their dark humor. If Sagal does reprise her role as Eleanor, it might add even more drama for Judy. Netflix did not immediately respond to comment about the return date for Dead to Me Season 3.

Katey Sagal stars in Rebel on ABC April 2021

While viewers await the return of Dead to Me Season 3, they can find Katey Sagal starring in Rebel beginning April 8, 2021, at 10 p.m. EST on ABC. The series, inspired by Erin Brockovichs life, was created by Krista Vernoff  showrunner of Greys Anatomy and Station 19.

I bring the CEOs of multinational corporations to their knees, and not in a sexy-good-time way, Sagal says in the preview for Rebel.

She portrays Annie Rebel Bello, who advocates for causes she believes in. Annie isnt a lawyer or a cop but calls herself Rebel.
Building railroads and roads will be mutually beneficial for Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on March 20 during a visit to the countrys western Aragatsotn Province, as he attempted to ease concerns about the development of such infrastructure projects.

Addressing scores of supporters in the village of Nerkin Bazmaberd, Pashinian noted that one of the provisions of the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia ending last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh calls for the unblocking of all economic and transport links in the region.

This includes the construction of new roads and railroads linking the Azerbaijani exclave of Naxcivan with mainland Azerbaijan via Armenian territory.

A trilateral working group led by the deputy prime ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia was formed in February to work on details of the projects.

The provision in the cease-fire agreement on establishing economic and transport links in the region raised concerns in Armenia about possible geopolitical and economic implications of such infrastructure projects passing through the countrys southern parts.

For now, the matter mainly concerns the construction of railroads and the road that would connect Naxcivan to mainland Azerbaijan, but energy facilities like pipelines could come into the picture at some point in the future.

Pashinian said the development of transportation infrastructure could be a step toward overcoming animosity in the region.

If someone says that the opening of these roads is beneficial only for Azerbaijan, do not believe it. If someone says that the opening of transportation is beneficial only for Armenia, do not believe it either. The opening of transportation, especially in this situation, is beneficial for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, he stressed.

It is in Azerbaijans interest because it should get transportation with Naxcivan; it is in Armenias interest because we need a reliable railway link with the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, he added.

Pashinians statement came two days after he announced early parliamentary elections in June.

During the rally, Pashinian did not conceal that his political team will seek a fresh mandate from the people to be able to form a government again. He said, however, that he and his team were ready to accept any outcome of the elections.

Pashinian and his government have come under fire from various opposition parties and groups over the Armenian defeat in last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh. They have demanded Pashinians resignation since the Russian-brokered cease-fire was signed on November 10, ending six weeks of hostilities in which thousands of soldiers were killed.

Under the deal, a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces.

The coalition of opposition parties has been holding anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and other parts of the country in a bid to force Pashinian to step down and allow an interim government to be formed before snap elections.

But the prime minister, whose My Step alliance dominates parliament, has refused to hand over power to such an interim government.

Following discussions with the leaders of two opposition parliamentary factions, Pashinian said on March 18 that it was agreed that early elections in Armenia will be held on June 20.
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Pope Francis thanks members of Fidesco, a Catholic NGO, for 40 years of service in promoting the integral development of people in poor countries.

By Robin Gomes

The cry of the poor that echoes within us urges us to go out of our way to touch the wounds of Christ in them, and helps create a better world and establish Gods Kingdom.

The Pope made that remark on Saturday when he met a delegation from Fidesco, an international Catholic non-governmental organization that engages its volunteers and their professional skills in development projects in the poor countries of the world.

The organization was founded in 1981 by the Emmanuel Community following a request from African bishops, and serves in fields such as medical and paramedical sectors, education, social work, management, agriculture, and technical and manual trades, providing its services to all regardless of religion, ethnic or culture differences.

The Lords Passion in the poor

Meeting a group of Fidesco volunteers and officials on the occasion of their 40th anniversary, the Pope wished that their visit to Rome during the penitential season of Lent would help them return with greater enthusiasm and joy to serve their brothers and sisters. He said that, though they may be far away, less fortunate, more disadvantaged and have fewer opportunities, they are equally loved by God and endowed with dignity.

Noting that the Lenten season culminates with the contemplation of the Lords Passion, he said the suffering Christ is present in the poor, the excluded, the sick and the hungry person who bears with him or her the mystery of the Cross. This realization, he added, will help them tap into the source of their mission.

The Holy Father invited Fidesco members to perserve the wonder, fascination and enthusiasm of living the Gospel of fraternity when they are in the midst of their mission. This will help them in the most difficult moments of loneliness, discouragement and disappointment.

Integral development

The Pope also thanked them for their missionary service and witness to Christ, who came to save the whole person and all people. The Pope noted that they aim at the integral development of the people, caring not only for their material needs but also for their social integration, their intellectual, cultural and spiritual growth, giving each person his or her dignity.

He underscored the importance of the Church's social doctrine, saying it is more important than ever today for Christ's faithful to be witnesses of tenderness and compassion.

Listening to the cry of the poor that resonates within us, allowing ourselves to be provoked by the suffering of others and deciding to go out of our way to touch their wounds, which are the wounds of Christ, the Pope said, not only makes us participate in building a more beautiful, more fraternal and more evangelical world but also strengthens the Church in her mission to hasten the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

Personal growth

The commitment of volunteers, even if temporary, the Pope explained, leads to personal growth on the human level, as well as on the level of faith.

Fidesco's missions, he said, provide not only the opportunity for openness to the world and to cultures but also the means to respond to Gods mercy.
Yes, along most or all of the coast

Yes, but only places where an entry fee can cover their cost

No, people can continue swimming at their own risk

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Berlin, March 20 : German police were bracing for far-right protests and counter-demonstrations in Berlin on Saturday, with officers being called in from other parts of the country to support local law enforcement.

Protests are planned by right-wing groups, including Reich Citizens, or Reichsbuerger, who do not recognise the authority of the modern German state, reports Xinhua news agency.

The head of Berlin state's intelligence service, Michael Fischer, described these protesters as having clear extremist tendencies and willing to use violence.

They are set to march from the Brandenburg Gate to the nearby Reichstag, the building that houses the German parliament.

Left-wing counter-protesters have said they will gather to oppose the march.

Meanwhile, a demonstration by critics of the government's coronavirus restrictions are planning their own rally at Alexanderplatz, a major transport hub and shopping area in central Berlin.

Demonstrations last year in Berlin saw tens of thousands of Germans taking to the streets to protest lockdown measures, leading to violent confrontations with police and hundreds of people taken into custody.
U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 84 individuals during an alleged human smuggling attempt at the Interstate 35 checkpoint.

Early Friday, a commercial tractor hauling a flatbed trailer arrived at the checkpoint. The vehicle was referred to secondary inspection after a K-9 unit allegedly gave a positive alert.

A search of the tractor-trailer revealed the individuals inside the trailer. All were determined to be from the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. They were not wearing personal protective equipment, or PPE. The driver, a U.S. citizen, was arrested for further investigation. Border Patrol seized the tractor-trailer.

To report suspicious activity such as human or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector app or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.
Prime Minister Jean Castex, 55-years-old, reacts as he is vaccinated with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the Hopital dInstruction des Armees Begin, in Saint-Mande, on the outskirts of Paris, on March 19, 2021. Prime Minister Jean Castex, 55-years-old, is due to be given the vaccine on March 19, 2021, to boost confidence in the jab after the European medicine watchdog ruled it was safe to use. France's health authority recommended that only people aged 55 and over should be given the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine due to reports of blood clots, while giving the green light to resume its use after a brief suspension.(THOMAS COEX / POOL / AFP)

The pandemic is still speeding up worldwide, with the number of new global coronavirus infections rising by 14 percent over the last week compared to the previous week, according to AFP data.

Fighting to prevent yet another wave of the virus, several countries in Europe went back into partial lockdown on Saturday -- with Poland, parts of Ukraine and some French regions all waking up to tight new restrictions.

Parisians packed trains leaving the capital and crammed into shops ahead of the new restrictions coming into force, which will apply to Paris and several other regions for a month.

The mayor of Yerres, just outside Paris, told AFP he had told businesses there to remain open, defying the "totally incomprehensible" restrictions.

"Why would we catch Covid more in a shoe store than a bookshop?" he asked.

Bookshops are considered essential under the new measures, and later Friday the government added florists, chocolate shops and cobblers to the list.

Signs of lockdown weariness abounded in cities across the world, with protests against restrictions popping up in Vienna, Sofia and Montreal.

Some 20,000 people were expected at a demonstration in the German city of Kassel on Saturday, raising fears it would turn into a superspreader event.

Infection rates are once again rising exponentially in Germany, with the vice president of the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases warning of signs of a return to "many severe cases and deaths, and hospitals that are overwhelmed".

Belgium and Switzerland, where cases are also soaring, put off lifting restrictions on Friday too.

- AstraZeneca jabs resume -

Worries that AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine may cause blood clots had seen countries pause its use recently.

But after the European Medicines Agency said it was "safe and effective", Germany and Italy announced they were using the jab again as of Friday.

France also brought it back into use -- but just hours later, the national health regulator recommended its use only for over-55s, given the reported blood clots were only seen in younger people.

World Health Organization vaccine safety experts said "available data do not suggest any overall increase in clotting conditions" among vaccinated people.

The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Indonesia are also ending their suspensions, while Ireland's advisory committee is recommending following suit.

Seeking to reassure their populations, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his French counterpart Jean Castex received their first AstraZeneca dose on Friday.

"I literally did not feel a thing. It was very good, very quick," Johnson said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also committed to get the AstraZeneca vaccine soon.

- 'We're not scared' -

While political leaders were enthusiastic, some members of the public remain reluctant.

"I'm a bit anxious of course, but what can you do? We have to do this," said 42-year-old teacher Valentina at a vaccine centre at Rome's Termini station.

In Spain, 22-year-old medical student Florentino Quinteiro said he wasn't worried after receiving an AstraZeneca dose last month.

"The population isn't always familiar with the situation, but we're not scared," he said of his colleagues.

"In pharmacology there's always a trade-off between benefit and risk," he added.

Denmark, Norway and Sweden are yet to bring the jab back into use, pending further review, while Finland said Friday it would pause for at least a week "until there is more information".

However, use and production of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has been ramping up, with the Philippines becoming the latest country to give it the green light Friday, and Indian drugmaker Stelis Biopharma signing on to produce 200 million doses.

Germany said it would order the Sputnik vaccine if the EU authorises its use.

- 'Not stopping now' -

The United States marked a major milestone in its inoculation drive on Friday, administering its 100 millionth vaccine dose to meet President Joe Biden's goal weeks ahead of schedule.

"We did it in about 60 days," he said. "We're not stopping now."

With infection rates falling, there are hopes that the world's worst-hit country, which has seen more than 540,000 deaths, is headed for a powerful rebound.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the former president has been living since leaving the White House, was partially closed after some staff members tested positive for Covid.

In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro's famed beaches will be closed as the city's mayor said the situation was "very critical," with a 95-percent occupancy rate in intensive care units at public hospitals.

President Jair Bolsonaro, who has railed against stay-at-home measures and face masks, criticised the measure.

"Vitamin D is a way to prevent the virus from seriously affecting you. And where do you get vitamin D? From the sun. Such hypocrisy," said the far-right leader.
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03/19/2021

Contacts for media: Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4994, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu





LOWELL, Mass.  UMass Lowell plans to return to full on-campus operations for the fall 2021 semester, the university announced today.





I cant say enough about how grateful I am for everything you have done for our university, our students and each other during the past year, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney said in a message to campus employees, adding that UMass Lowell is emerging from this pandemic in a far stronger place than many of our peers across the country.





With vaccinations accelerating nationwide and multiple semesters of COVID-19 lessons learned and effectively implemented behind us, we believe we will be able to create a safe, social and interpersonal living and learning experience for all our students on campus, Provost Joseph Hartman said. This spring weve already increased our on-campus populations in classrooms and our residence halls. Weve all learned through their absence just how important person-to-person interactions are.





Current UMass Lowell students can begin registering for fall classes on March 26 and new students can do so through the admissions process.





For the second consecutive year, UMass President Marty Meehan is recommending a tuition freeze, a move Chancellor Jacquie Moloney and her administration strongly supports.





UMass Lowell will continue to adhere to national and state public health guidance in place, if any, come September. And while campus operations may not look identical to 2019 when the semester begins, university services ranging from student activities to the Campus Recreation Center to research and dining will all be finalizing and posting plans on the UMass Lowell website in the coming months to move as close to normal as possible. Details on the fall 2021 semester are available at www.uml.edu/fall2021





The university will continue to be diligent this semester in testing and other steps to ensure the safety of the campus community.





We certainly recognize that COVID-19 wont disappear. In addition to continued enhanced cleaning and other public health measures, our weekly surveillance testing will continue. With a 0.4 positivity rate during the 2020-21 academic year out of more than 40,000 tests performed, UMass Lowells testing program has been essential to our ability to move forward. Thank you to our students for your responsible behavior in keeping our campus and our communities safe, said Hartman. While were proud of what weve been able to accomplish during the most challenging year in memory, a university is its people and the discoveries and creations that come from their interactions.




President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris offered solace to Asian Americans and a reeling nation on Friday as they visited Atlanta just days after a white gunman killed eight people, most of them Asian American women.

The visit, during a nationwide spike of anti-Asian violence, has added resonance with the presence of Harris, the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office. And it comes as Biden on Friday expressed support for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill that would strengthen the government's reporting and response to hate crimes and provide resources to Asian American communities.

"Hate can have no safe harbour in America," Biden said, calling on Americans to stand up to bigotry when they see it. "Our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit." Biden said "it was heart wrenching to listen to" Asian American state legislators and other community leaders discuss living in fear of violence during their meeting before he and Harris delivered remarks at Emory University.

"Racism is real in America. And it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America, and always has been. Sexism, too," said Harris. "The president and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs."

Their trip was planned before the shooting, as part of a victory lap aimed at selling the benefits of pandemic relief legislation. But Biden and Harris instead are spending much of their visit consoling a community whose growing voting power helped secure their victory in Georgia and beyond.

Activists have seen a rise in racist attacks. Nearly 3,800 incidents have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based reporting centre for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and its partner advocacy groups, since March 2020. Biden and Harris both implicitly criticised former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the "China virus."

"For the last year we've had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans," said Harris, "people with the biggest pulpits, spreading this kind of hate." "We've always known words have consequences," Biden said. "It is the coronavirus.' Full stop."

In his first prime-time address to the nation as president last Thursday - five days before the Atlanta killings at three metro-area massage businesses - Biden called attacks on Asian Americans "un-American." Biden also used the visit to tour the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he received a briefing on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered a pep talk to the agency's scientists.

"We owe you a gigantic debt of gratitude and we will for a long, long, long time," Biden said, adding that under his administration "science is back" driving policy to combat the virus.

Though the originally planned political event to tout the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill has been delayed, the White House confirmed that the president would still meet with Georgia voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, Democrats' likely 2022 candidate for governor, as Republicans in the state legislature push several proposals to make it harder to vote in the state. He will also meet with newly minted Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

As the fastest-growing racial demographic in the US electorate, Asian Americans are gaining political influence across the country. In California, two Korean American Republican women made history with their congressional victories. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, typically dominated by Democrats, has its largest roster ever, including Asian American and Pacific Islander members and others who represent significant numbers of Asian Americans.

"We're becoming increasingly more visible and active in the political ecosystem," said Georgia state Sen. Michelle Au, a Democrat who represents part of the growing, diversifying suburbs north of Atlanta. Yet, Au said, "What I've heard personally, and what I have felt, is that people sometimes don't tend to listen to us."

Au said a White House spotlight, especially amid tragedy, is welcomed by a community often overshadowed in national conversations about diversity. She notes President Donald Trump and other Republicans merely brushed off charges of racism when they dubbed the coronavirus the "China virus" because of its origins.

"To have them talk about it in this way, so publicly, and to say AAPI, or to note that our communities are going through difficult times, is huge," Au said. As he boarded Air Force One on Friday morning, Biden, who was wearing a mask, stumbled several times up the stairs to the aircraft, before saluting the military officer who greeted him on the tarmac. Jean-Pierre said Biden was "doing 100 per cent fine."

Also read: Watch: US President Joe Biden falls thrice while boarding Air Force one
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The known differences between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals appear to grow ever slighter. As scientists prove that we have more in common with those once considered distant cousins of humankind, new writing on the topic has exploded. The deluge of scientific papers, revelatory books and exhibitions focuses on dismantling preconceptions of Neanderthals, who lived in Asia and Europe for at least 300,000 years.

As Israeli historian and essayist Yuval Noah Harari writes: just by being, Neanderthals challenge some of our most cherished ideals and delusions. Neanderthals force us to question the belief that Homo sapiens is the apex of creation and, more generally, what it means to be human. These questions are now more urgent than ever.

Neanderthals represent another way of being human and that is something that is very difficult for us to imagine Paleoanthropologist Juan Luis Arsuaga

Harari was reviewing the bestselling book Kindred. Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art by Rebecca Wragg Sykes, a British archaeologist and writer. In the book, Wragg Sykes tries to summarize all the research of the last few decades about Neanderthals, a field that has grown considerably since 2010. That year, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, sequenced the genome of Neanderthals for the first time. They found that up to 2% of the DNA in the genome of present-day humans outside Africa originated in Neanderthals or in Neanderthals ancestors, suggesting that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred.

Spanish writer Juan Jose Millas and paleoanthropologist Juan Luis Arsuaga have written a philosophical book on this topic, titled La vida contada por un sapiens a un neandertal (or, Life as Told by a Sapiens to a Neanderthal), while paleontologist Bienvenido Martinez-Navarro, in El sapiens asesino y el ocaso de los neandertales (or, Killer Sapiens and the Decline of the Neanderthals), tries to answer the great mystery surrounding the Neanderthals: why did they disappear?

They fascinate us for the same reason that science fiction fascinates us  because they are another version of ourselves, says Arsuaga in a phone interview. Everything indicates that they have the same intelligence as we do, and yet they are not the same. We could say they have the same mind, but not the same mentality. They represent another way of being human and that is something that is very difficult for us to imagine.

A special exhibition on the Neanderthals in Mosegaard Museum in Denmark. Michael Johansen

In a video call, Wragg Sykes expresses a similar view. Neanderthals have changed our perception of ourselves. In Western culture we have always tried to separate ourselves from the rest of nature, to prove that we are better than animals. Neanderthals force us to rethink that. Wragg Sykes book runs through three decades of discoveries about Neanderthals, which also coincide with a revolution in archeology and genetics. The use of chemistry and radiocarbon dating has revealed that the Neanderthals were capable of abstract thought  though not necessarily of producing art. They made use of the plants found in the landscape they roamed, understood the properties of stone to make tools, picked out colors including red and ochre, and they buried their dead and cared for their elders.

The presence of the FOXP2 gene in Neanderthals DNA, which is associated with language, means that scientists believe they used some form of communication, an idea reinforced by the animals they hunted, which would have required the cooperation of a group.

Over the last decade, numerous discoveries have shifted the paradigm about the capabilities of Neanderthals, says Danish researcher Trine Kellberg Nielsen from the University of Aarhus. A specialist in anthropology and prehistory, Kellberg Nielsen has curated a special exhibition about Neanderthals at the Moesgaard Museum, which will be open until the end of the year (the center is currently closed due to coronavirus restrictions). Many of the things we once attributed only to our own species, such as a visual culture and social behavior, now extend to Neanderthals, she explains.

New discoveries seem to accumulate every month, if not every week. Spain offers one of the most fertile grounds for Neanderthal research, and a new study emerged in February regarding beneficial microorganisms in the intestinal bacteria of the Neanderthals from a dig in Salt, Girona. Another from the same month helps us to understand how their brains evolved and influenced their behavior.

They prove that Earth has been home to more than one type of human being British archaeologist Rebecca Wragg Sykes

That said, much remains unknown. They are not a failed version of us, and the trajectory from them to us is not teleological: the fact that we are here and they are not is not the point and purpose of her story, or indeed of history, notes John Lanchester in a review of Kindred. Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art in the London Review of Books. And yet, and yet ... the fact is that we are here and they arent, and although that is not the punchline of evolution, the question of why and how this happened is still interesting.

Most agree that Neanderthals, as Lanchester puts it, vanish[ed] from the archaeological record with shocking abruptness 40,000 years ago. Some researchers believe that they survived for thousands of years more in the south of the Iberian peninsula, specifically in Gibraltar, but this theory remains polemical. In his book, Martinez-Navarro provides an explanation based on the struggle for resources. We were competing for the same resources in the same territory, he writes, without ruling out violence. However, this is not the most widespread hypothesis among experts. Arsuaga believes that the arrival of Homo sapiens in extreme circumstances  the beginning of a glacial period  was decisive. In a critical moment, the species that suffers the least prevails, he explains.

Wragg Sykes puts forward a new theory, based on genetic and chemical studies, that Homo sapiens superior weapons and social networks may have helped them survive. We know from genetics that there was not much difference in their numbers, but also that Homo sapiens were much more interconnected. At a time when the climate was deteriorating rapidly, when you have a network of contacts its easier to move to other places, and maybe Neanderthals didnt have that, she says. We know from archaeology that there was no great difference in what they ate, and we have evidence that the Homo sapiens of that period already had weapons that helped them hunt from a distance: darts, arrows, spear-launching systems. The Neanderthals did not.

The Neanderthals demise was probably due to disadvantages in technology, sociability and how they dealt with climate change. But as many of us are still carrying around genetic material from them today, Wragg Sykes notes, They prove that Earth has been home to more than one type of human being.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 05:34:10|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Five southern European Union (EU) member states on the frontline of irregular migration flows in recent years urged their EU partners to show more solidarity in addressing the challenge, during a ministerial meeting here on Saturday.

Migration and interior ministers of Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Spain and Malta discussed the common problems they are facing and issued a joint statement on their proposals for the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The draft proposed by the European Commission in September does not answer their main concerns, they said.

"We still see significant imbalances in proposed legislative texts which are far away from the principle of solidarity and fair burden-sharing," they said, according to an e-mailed press release from the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

The five Mediterranean countries called for closer cooperation with transit and origin countries, the establishment of a common European mechanism for the return of those who are not eligible for asylum as well as more to be done among all member states regarding the relocation of asylum seekers.

"In the negotiations on the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, there are still elements of an imbalance between measures of responsibility and measures of solidarity," said Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese at a press conference at the end of the meeting.

"Solidarity must become reality. Solidarity on the migration issue requires the strong protection of EU's external borders and also new dynamic agreements with third countries," European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, who joined the meeting along with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told Greek national broadcaster ERT.

"I think the time has come for Europe to provide a sustainable, effective and realistic solution to the migration crisis. It is not possible for five countries, and in the case of Greece, five Aegean Sea islands, to shoulder the burden for the entire European continent," Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarachi said. Enditem
A divorcing barrister couple spent 100,000 fighting over their 1million home before it was declared to be worthless because it has Grenfell-style cladding.

The debt-laden couple spent the huge sum on legal fees to claim their respective stakes in the London flat.

But their courtroom battle ended in disaster when the family home was found to be fitted with cladding outlawed because of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. This gave it a grand worth of exactly zero pounds.

A judge ended the costly fight with a ruling that has given the couple  both themselves high-earning lawyers  three years to deal with the cladding problem before they settle up with each other.

A divorcing barrister couple spent 100,000 fighting over their 1million home before it was declared to be worthless because it has Grenfell-style cladding. Picture: Stock

Judge Edward Hess said: It is very sad for the objective observer to witness two educated, intelligent and resourceful individuals being so unable to compromise their differences that their collective activities risk mutual self-destruction.

He added: As the story unfolds it can be seen that the parties fell victim to the long shadows of the awful Grenfell Tower disaster.

The couple, who married in 2007 and have two children, broke up in 2019 and began their struggle over their stretched resources.

The wife, 44, who earns 155,000 a year working for a City bank, aimed to keep the flat in a striking multi-storey block near the financial district for herself and her children.

She agreed to pay her 51-year-old husband, who earns 69,000 a year as a Government lawyer, 300,000 for his share of the 1.1million flat.

The wife was preparing to raise a fresh mortgage of 300,000 to pay the husband for his share of their flat.

Their courtroom battle ended in disaster when the family home was found to be fitted with cladding outlawed because of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 (pictured). This gave it a grand worth of exactly zero pounds.

But in June last year a fire engineer inspected the property and found an adequate standard of safety is not achieved.

Its value following the inspection was, the court heard, 0. Judge Hess said there was no clarity over how the cladding crisis would be resolved.

He said: Who is to blame for this? Who will pay for this? Are the freeholders to blame?... It is early days to reach a conclusion that the Government will come to everybodys rescue or when this might be.

The judge said if the wife was forced to pay the 300,000 to the husband now, she would be left with a large pile of debts.

He ruled that she could delay the payment for three years in order to deal with the cladding, but said it was unknown how that might happen or what the flat would be worth.

He declined to order the former couple to pay each others legal bills.

The Mails End the Cladding Scandal campaign is calling on ministers to spare leaseholders the cost of fixing fire-risk flats.
Tesla Inc. cars have been banned from Chinese military complexes and housing compounds because of concerns about sensitive data being collected by cameras built into the vehicles.

The order, issued by the military, advises Tesla owners to park their cars outside of military property, according to people familiar with the directive who asked not to be identified because the information is private. The ban, relayed to residents of military housing and others this week, was triggered by concerns that the worlds biggest maker of electric vehicles is collecting sensitive data via the cars in-built cameras in a way the Chinese government cant see or control, one of the people said.

Images of what was purported to be a notice about the ban were also circulating on Chinese social media. Multi-direction cameras and ultrasonic sensors in Tesla cars may expose locations" and the vehicles are being barred from military residences to ensure the safety of confidential military information, the notice said.

A representative for Tesla in China declined to comment on the militarys move. Chinas Defense Ministry didnt immediately respond to a fax sent after business hours.

Tesla stock pared gains on the news Friday, before closing up 0.3% in New York.

Tesla, like many other automakers including General Motors Co., uses several small cameras, mainly located on the outside of the vehicle, to help guide parking, autopilot and self-driving functions. Most Tesla models also have an interior camera mounted above the rear view mirror that can be used to detect whether a driver is looking at the road, looking down at their lap, wearing sunglasses, or looking at something else entirely.

Internal Camera

The California-based company -- which produces Model 3s and Model Y SUV crossovers at a Gigafactory near Shanghai -- hasnt shied away from that fact, with Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk tweeting in April 2019 that the internal camera is there for when we start competing with Uber/Lyft and people allow their car to earn money for them as part of the Tesla shared autonomy fleet."

In case someone messes up your car, you can check the video," Musk explained.

Since then, Tesla has started using cars internal cameras to monitor what it calls FSD (full self driving) beta testers, or Tesla owners who have volunteered to test out the companys driver-assist capabilities.

Earlier this month, Musk tweeted that the companys FSD beta trial had been expanded to around 2,000 owners but Tesla had also revoked beta where drivers did not pay sufficient attention to the road." Musk said the next significant release of FSD beta would be in April.

Concern over this program contributed to the ban by the military, one of the people said.

None of the in-car cameras in Teslas sold in China are turned on or part of the FSD beta trial, the Tesla representative said. Teslas privacy policies comply with national laws and local regulations in China, the person said.

China Apology

China, the worlds biggest market for EVs, is key to Musks global growth ambitions. The carmaker received significant support from the state to build the factory near Shanghai, its first outside of the U.S., and Musks strategy has been one of deference to the government, in contrast to his more combative approach in the U.S.

Recently, though, the tone seems to have shifted. Tesla was called in by Chinese regulators over quality and safety issues with its cars, including battery fires and abnormal acceleration. The automaker was also forced into issuing a public apology to Chinas state grid in early February after a video purportedly showed staff blaming an overload in the national electricity network for damage to a customers vehicle.

Musk is scheduled to appear Saturday at the China Development Forum, a conference organized by a unit of the countrys State Council, in a session titled: The Next Disruptive Innovation?

This isnt the first time Tesla has found itself at the center of controversy over the use of cameras. Last week, a group of hackers said they breached a trove of security-camera data collected by Silicon Valley startup Verkada Inc., gaining access to many different types of footage, including some from inside a Tesla warehouse in Shanghai.

The hackers said they obtained access to 222 cameras in Tesla factories and warehouses and that the data breach was carried out to show the pervasiveness of video surveillance and the ease with which systems could be broken into. Tesla China told Bloomberg it was one of its suppliers that had been hacked, and that data from the Chinese Gigafactory is stored in secure local servers.

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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Mercedes Cordero/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Tom Craddicks comment Addressing the Midland County Migrant Facility Lack of Safe Water

"Today I was notified by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) the facility leased by the Biden Administration for unaccompanied minors has failed to secure safe water. The Biden Administration has taken in these children, and failed to provide them with a minimum of safe water to drink and bathe in. I consider this to be a human tragedy. With the lack of clean water we are jeopardizing the health and safety of these children. The facility will now have to transport water for these unaccompanied minors for an extended period. Unsafe water creates a living situation to which these children should not be exposed. I appreciate TCEQ for acting quickly in the best interest of these children. I implore the Biden Administration to secure our borders."
A 'mini tornado' has ripped through western Sydney during a day of wild weather, damaging more than 30 homes and affecting power and traffic.

Firefighters have attended to multiple damaged roofs and play equipment around the suburbs of Smithfield and Chester, including a trampoline that bounced onto the side of a house.

Photos show residents trying to save battered roofs and broken fences as the wild wind upturns trees, snaps trucks in half and floods roads.

A storm has ripped through Sydney damaging over 30 homes and affecting power and traffic and destroying play equipment, including a trampoline that bounced onto the side of a house (pictured)

20 firefighters have attended to multiple damaged roofs and play equipment around the suburbs of Smithfield and Chester in Sydney's west, including a trampoline (pictured)

Photos show residents trying to save battered roofs, broken fences, upturned trees and trunks snapped through the middle (pictured)

Millions of Sydney residents have been told to stay indoors as the wild storm battering New South Wales rages on. Pictured: NSW Fire and Rescue attending to damage after the storm

'A storm has ripped through Sydneys West,' said Fire and Rescue New South Wales.

'Over 30 homes are damaged and are currently being assessed by 20 firefighters from nearby stations. Power and traffic around the area is affected.'

'Firefighters have identified multiple damaged roofs and play equipment upturned.'

A spokesman later called the wild weather event a 'mini tornado', saying it had 'left a trail of destruction damaging multiple properties'.

Millions of Sydney residents have been told to stay indoors as the wild storm battering New South Wales rages on.

Rain has plagued Sydney for most of the week, but the deluge arriving on Saturday will be on another level, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

The city is predicted to receive up to 200 millimetres of rain on Saturday.

BoM issued a severe weather warning on Saturday morning covering an area from the mid-north coast to the far south coast of NSW as well as Canberra.

The bureau warned of intense rainfall 'potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding' and damaging winds averaging 60-70km/h with gusts exceeding 90km/h.

BoM issued a severe weather warning on Saturday morning covering an area from the mid-north coast to the far south coast of NSW as well as Canberra. Pictured: A damaged fence in Sydney's west

The mini tornado has left a trail of destruction in Sydney's west. Pictured: An upturned tree

Rain has plagued Sydney for most of the week, but the deluge arriving on Saturday will be on another level, the Bureau of Meteorology warned. Pictured: A damaged roof

'Brace yourself NSW, more heavy rain, dangerous flooding and thunderstorms are on their way,' NSW SES tweeted on Saturday morning.

Sydneysiders are being told the best activity for the weekend is to stay indoors.

'This will be the difference between what could seem like inconvenient rain, to actually something that might be quite dangerous and threatening,' Agata Imielska from the BoM told the ABC.

'It is really important for Sydneysiders to be mindful about reconsidering their plans.'

The Parramatta River is also increasingly rising, with water flooding the nearby bike track.


It has long been held by biologists that a fetus requires a living uterus to grow. That might not be the case anymore.

The Synthetic Uterus

The embryos of the mouse looked perfectly okay. All their organs were growing as anticipated, coupled with their limbs and nervous and circulatory systems. The mouse's little hearts were beating at 170 beats per minute, which is normal.

But these mouse embryos were not developing in a mother mouse. The embryos were grown inside a synthetic uterus, researchers reported on Wednesday that this is the first time such a feat has been achieved.

The tests conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel were done to assist researchers know how mammals grow and how mutations of the gene, nutrients, and environmental states may have an effect on the fetus.

But the work may one day bring great questions about whether humans or other animals should or could be developed beyond a living womb.

ALSO READ: Smart Animals: Sick Mouse Shy Away From Their Group to Prevent Transmission

Taking Away Embryos From the Mouse Uteruses

In a research released in the journal Nature, Dr. Jacob Hanna talked about taking away embryos from the mouse uteruses at five days of incubation and developing them for six more days in synthetic wombs

The mouse embryos were about midway through their maturity at that point, and their full maturation is about 20 days. At this stage of development, a human would be called a fetus. Till now, Dr. Hanna and his co-workers have developed over 1,000 embryos using this method.

"It really is an outstanding accomplishment," according to the developmental biologist, Paul Tesar from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Director of Genome Regulation, Alexander Meissner from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Germany, Berlin, made known that "getting to this point is impressive" and that the research was an important milestone.

But the study has already advanced past what the investigators talked about in the paper. Dr. Hanna said in an interview that he and his co-workers had collected fertilized eggs from the female mice's oviducts just after reproduction at 0 days of development and had developed them in the synthetic uterus for 11 days.

Embryos Need a Living Womb

Ever since scientists were able to fertilize eggs from animals in the lab and develop them for only a short period of time. They (embryos) need a living womb. "animals with placenta grow kept away in the uterus," according to Dr. Tesar. That stopped researchers from giving answers to major questions about the earliest development stages.

The only way to know how tissues and organs develop was to take a look at species like frogs, flies, and worms that do not require a uterus, or to take away embryos from the uteruses of animals experimented at different times, showing sight of development.

What was required was a way to have a view of what's going on in the uterus, viewing and imitating development in animals as it is happening. The embryos of mice are kept inside incubators, where they drift in exceptional nutrient fluid.

RELATED ARTICLE: Oops! Tiny Mouse Causes Big Trouble in British Airways Plane

For more news, updates about mouse and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Market surveillance officials in Vietnam have mobilized ten trucks to fetch a huge volume of fake designer bags with logos from famous brands like Hermes, LV and Chanel from a warehouse in the northern Nam Dinh Province.

The clandestine depot, which was located in Vinh Hao Commune of Nam Dinhs Vu Ban District, was busted on Wednesday after a raid by the Market Surveillance Department of Nam Dinh Province in cooperation with the local economic police officers.

Spanning over 500 square meters, the warehouse keeps around 20,000-30,000 pieces of counterfeits, the majority of which are imitations of products from Hermes, a luxury fashion brand based in Paris, France.

At the time of the search, warehouse owners failed to present any legitimate proof of purchase for the cargoes, which are estimated to worth VND6 billion (US$260,000).

Market surveillance officials write an administrative record on the violations at a warehouse that stores fake designer bags in Nam Dinh Province, in this supplied photo taken March 17, 2021.

Nguyen Ky Minh, deputy head of the General Department of Market Surveillance, said relevant authorities have been keeping an eye on the counterfeit racket over the last six months.

The fake bags are sold on social media using a score of different accounts that are regularly rotated to evade authority scrutiny, Minh revealed.

According to Minh, the bags are said to be showcased in a showroom on Ho Tung Mau Street in Hanoi, but all of its inventory was kept in the Nam Dinh warehouse, which obstructed the investigation of authorities.

Market surveillance officials are working to seal off the warehouse and investigate the seized products.

According to Tam Son Fashion, the official distributor of Hermes in Vietnam, products of the high-end brand name can only be found in two showrooms in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Lotte department stores in Hanoi and Da Nang, plus a handful of duty-free shops.

The price of each Hermes bag ranges between $5,400-$35,650.

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Farmers pick megranates in Pishan county of Hotan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Oct 8, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China's embassy in Malaysia and the Xinjiang regional government on Friday jointly held an online event via video link to help the local people in Malaysia understand Xinjiang more comprehensively, deeply and truly.

During the webinar, Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the Xinjiang regional government, made a keynote speech, welcoming more people to visit the region to see a true Xinjiang.

He said residents in the region are enjoying stable and better lives in recent years, with an increasingly strong sense of fulfillment, security and happiness.

Thanks to joint efforts and effective measures taken, there have been no terrorist attacks in Xinjiang in the past four years, he said.

Shohrat Zakir also shared measures and stories on how the region shook off extreme poverty under the guidance of the central leadership.

Some representatives from Xinjiang also spoke online and introduced local developments in economy, poverty alleviation and people's living standards.

The chairman, with some other representatives from Xinjiang, such as those with the cotton industry, educational institutes and religious associations, also defended China's policy and debunked ungrounded foreign accusations such as "forced labor" and "genocide" in Xinjiang.

During the online event, China's ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing also extended invitation to Malaysian people to visit Xinjiang.

He said he hoped the online exchange would offer local people more accurate and comprehensive understanding of Xinjiang, and could promote the friendship between peoples from the two countries.
UPDATED, 9:50 a.m.: Burt Tsuchiya has been found and safely returned home, according to Vancouver police.

***

Police are asking for help finding a missing, endangered man who left his west Vancouver home early Saturday.

Burt Tsuchiya, 84, left home about 5 a.m. and was last seen driving a blue 2011 Kia Optima with Washington plate No. AEF3803, according to Vancouver police. He may be heading to Roseburg, police said.

Tsuchiya has dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and additional medical needs that require medication, according to police. He left without taking his medication.

Police said he stands 5-foot-10, weighs 200 pounds and has brown eyes and black, balding hair. He also wears glasses.

Police urge anyone who sees Tsuchiya to contact local law enforcement officials.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
Doodnath Maharaj was the general secretary of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union for nearly two decades. This is out of a total of 40 years service.

He was a dedicated and loyal comrade who did his best work away from the limelight. Indeed, he shunned it, embodying a self-effacing personality that was deeply mystifying to many who came to know him.
IN the space of one month, the families of 326 people were left in shock and heartbreak after losing their loved ones to the Covid-19 virus.

May 2021 was the deadliest month of the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago and the month with the highest number of Covid-19 cases.
SC asks CBSE, CISCE to place on record objective parameters for assessment of class 12 students in two weeks.
NEW YORK, March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HC2 Holdings, Inc. (HC2 or the Company) (NYSE: HCHC) announced today that its core infrastructure business DBM Global (DBM) has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in Banker Steel Holdco LLC (Banker Steel). The Banker Steel family of companies, in the portfolio of Atlas Holdings LLC (Atlas), is based in Lynchburg, Virginia and provides fabricated structural steel and erection services primarily for the East Coast and Southeast commercial and industrial construction market. Banker Steel consists of six operating companies: Banker Steel Co., LLC, NYC Constructors, LLC; Memco LLC; Derr & Isbell Construction LLC; Innovative Detailing and Engineering Solutions; and Lynchburg Freight and Specialty LLC. The transaction is subject to a financing condition and other customary closing conditions and adjustments, and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2021.

"DBM is one of the leading steel fabrication and erection companies in the US. This transaction, which is expected to substantially increase DBMs revenue and EBITDA, expands DBMs footprint nationwide and further strengthens its position as a preeminent company in its field, said Avie Glazer, Chairman of HC2.

Infrastructure spending in America is poised for substantial growth. The acquisition of Banker Steel greatly enhances the ability of DBM to take increased advantage of substantial infrastructure and commercial opportunities at a critical time, added Wayne Barr, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of HC2.

The addition of the Banker Steel family of companies will add significant scale and breadth to our operations, enabling us to provide fabricated structural steel for the entire East Coast construction market, and position us to deliver strong, accelerated growth, said Rustin Roach, President and CEO of DBM Global. Banker Steel also brings a highly talented, dedicated group of employees, who have overseen state-of-the-art design-build projects such as the Washington Nationals Park and the Barclays Center, and we look forward to welcoming them to the DBM team.

This is a terrific opportunity for Banker Steel to expand our business alongside DBM Globals industry leading suite of steel construction companies, said Don Banker, CEO of Banker Steel. DBMs values and objectives closely align with our own, and we look forward to joining forces to provide modern, innovative solutions to customers nationwide.

About HC2

HC2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HCHC) has a class-leading portfolio of assets primarily in Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Spectrum and Insurance. HC2 is headquartered in New York, New York and through its subsidiaries employs more than 2,800 people.

About DBM Global

DBM Global is focused on delivering world class, sustainable value to its clients through a highly collaborative portfolio of companies which provide better designs, more efficient construction and superior asset management solutions. DBM Global offers integrated steel construction services from a single source and professional services which include design-assist, design-build, engineering, detailing, BIM co-ordination, steel modeling/detailing, fabrication, rebar detailing, advanced field erection, project management, and state-of-the-art steel management systems. Major market segments include commercial, healthcare, convention centers, stadiums, gaming and hospitality, mixed use and retail, industrial, public works, bridges, transportation, and international projects. The Company, which is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, has operations in United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

About Banker Steel Company

Based in Lynchburg, Virginia, Banker Steel provides fabricated structural steel and erection services for the east coast commercial construction market. The company also provides design-assist services and has had the privilege of fabricating steel for design-build projects such as One Vanderbilt and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Expansion, both in New York City, the award-winning Washington Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Banker Steel Family of Companies (www.bankersteel.com) consists of 6 operating companies and approximately 1,500 employees with offices or plants in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Ontario, Canada.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains, and certain oral statements made by our representatives from time to time may contain, forward-looking statements regarding the purchase of Banker Steel by DBM Global and our expectations regarding building shareholder value, as well as those that may be identified by words such as will, intend, expect, anticipate, should, could and similar expressions, all of which involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Companys control, and are subject to change. There can be no assurance that the Banker Steel acquisition will be completed as proposed or at all. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and unless legally required, HC2 undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. HC2s actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, both positive and negative, that may be revised or supplemented in subsequent statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. These risks and other important factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release.

Media Contact:ReevemarkPaul Caminiti/Pam Greene/Luc HerbowyHC2@reevemark.com(212) 433-4600

Investor Contact: FNK IRMatt Chesler, CFAir@hc2.com(212) 235-2691

Source: HC2 Holdings, Inc.
Legislators, politicians and others across Connecticut Saturday mourned the death of former Department of Motor Vehicles deputy commissioner and state Sen. Biagio Billy Ciotto.

Heaven will never be the same now that Billy will be holding court there (with an unlit cigar in his hand, of course), U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1, said in an emailed statement Saturday.

News of Ciottos death came Saturday; he died in his Wethersfield home from an extended illness, according to the Hartford Courant. Ciotto was 91.

A former deputy commissioner for the department of motor vehicles, Ciotto served six terms as state senator for Connecticuts Middletown area ninth district.

Larson said Ciotto epitomized public service and was the kind of person who communicated with people in a way that was genuine, sincere, straightforward, and honest.

You never had to worry where Billy was coming from, he gave it to you straight. He was compassionate, understanding, [and] has probably helped more individuals in his life than any public servant that I can recall, said Larson, for whom Ciotto had worked.

When Ciotto was honored by the Middletown Common Council in 2017, he told those gathered that his job was to help those who cant help themselves.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement Saturday that Ciotto was a giant  as a public servant, a courageous leader, family man and friend and mentor to so many.

He was passionately dedicated to his community and state. Whether in the legislature, DMV or his town, he was all in, Blumenthal said. He shared generously and boundlessly  his wisdom and insights, his laughter and sometimes tears. He was a mensch. I was proud to have him as a friend. My heart goes out to his family.

Gov. Ned Lamont said Ciotto was a consummate public servant.

Ciotto was a legend who had an impact on countless lives, Connecticut is better for having had him serving on behalf of our state, Lamont said in a statement.

He was a champion for the people of Connecticut, dedicating over half a century to public service in numerous leadership roles, Lamont said. To know Billy was to love him, and as a state we couldnt be more saddened by his passing. His life, upbringing, and dedication to making the lives of people in Connecticut better is something we should all strive toward.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said, also in a statement, that Billy Ciotto was one of a kind.

He loved the rough and tumble of Democratic politics in Connecticut, his Italian heritage and his cigars  even though he never lit them, Bysiewicz said. The son of immigrants, he never forgot the challenges faced by those who were new to our country and always fought to lift up those working to achieve the American Dream. We will miss his humor, good nature and public service.

State Sen. Matt Lesser, one of Ciottos successors in the 9th District seat, expressed his sadness over Twitter Saturday morning.

Billy was one of a kind  a man of extraordinary charisma who cared passionately about our district long after he retired. My heart is with Billys family at this sad time, Lesser said.

Ciotto is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Jeanne, as well as five children, and grandchildren. His family plans to hold a burial at a later date at the St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church in downtown Hartford, according to the Hartford Courant, with arrangements made by the DEsopo Funeral Chapel in Wethersfield.

Leslie and I, and the entire Larson Congressional staff and families mourn his loss and extend our sympathy to Jeanie and his children, Maria, Julie, Anthony, Joe, and John, Larson said.
Mar. 20The state of Michigan has pushed back the deadline for the filing of individual income tax returns to May 17 in an effort to come in line with a delay by the Internal Revenue Service for federal income tax returns.

The IRS announced earlier this week that it would also push back its tax deadline from April 15 to May 17 because of the "unusual circumstances related to the pandemic."

"This has been a difficult year for everyone, and by moving the income tax payment date, I hope families have the buffer they need to get their finances in order," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a Friday statement.

Many residents are working to better understand "how the federal stimulus and the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting their taxes," said State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks.

The Treasury Department's notice essentially waives fines and penalties for taxes filed after Apriil 15 and before May 17.

The Legislature plans to drop bills Tuesday that would officially extend the state deadline to align with the May 17 waiver of fees. It also plans to extend city income tax deadlines.

It's likely the bills will have a House hearing Wednesday and move through the lawmaking process "as quickly as possible," said Rep. Matt Hall, R-Marshall.

"We have been prepared with legislation to extend the April 15 filing deadline this year and we're grateful that Treasury and the administration are working to waive penalties and interest in the meantime," said Hall, chairman for the House Tax Policy committee.

The legislation is especially important in places such as Detroit, where the city levies a 2.4% income tax on residents, said Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.

"Hard-working Detroiters and their families have disproportionately struggled in countless ways during the pandemic, and this small but significant gesture would go a long way toward ensuring all parties are accounted for this tax season," Chang said.

eleblanc@detroitnews.com
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TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main opposition Conservative Party members on Saturday voted down a proposal to recognize climate change as real, in a blow to the new party leader's efforts to embrace environment-friendly policies ahead of a likely federal election this year.

The rejected motion included the willingness to act against climate risks and to make highly polluting Canadian businesses take more responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole had urged party members on Friday to rally around an ambitious climate agenda to avoid a defeat at the hands of Liberals. He asked members to be open to new ideas if they were serious about toppling Liberals in the next election, even if that goes against party's conventional thinking and said he doesn't want Conservative candidates to be branded as "climate change deniers."

Yet, the Conservative delegates rejected the policy shift by 54% to 46%.

Climate change has been a polarizing issue in the last election campaign. While Trudeau stresses that the environment is a priority, Canada has failed to meet any of its climate pledges amid resistance from politicians who say the targets threaten the oil industry's future.

Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer and one of the highest emitters of green house gases on a per capita basis and Prime Minister Trudeau's Liberal Party supporters rank it among their top concerns. U.S. President Joe Biden's aggressive climate policies are expected to galvanize Canada to march in step with Washington's tough measures to avoid being disadvantaged.

(Reporting by Denny Thomas; editing by Diane Craft)
Easter dinner offerings, both to go and dine in, are at the top of the menu this week as restaurants across the Pioneer Valley promote their holiday options for both on-site and at-home enjoyment.

The Munich Haus German Restaurant in Chicopee has put together an Easter Feast that serves up to 10 people. Its baseline main dish component is baked ham, but those ordering can opt for an additional-charge leg of lamb upgrade. Sides such as soup, salad, potato, and more are part of the package, as is a dessert selection.

Family-style takeout packs designed for smaller gatherings are also available.

For in-house dining, the Munich Haus is featuring a table dhote menu with multiple entree possibilities. More details are available at the restaurants web site, munichhaus.com.

The Federal in Agawam is promoting Easter takeout with a takeaway dinner that serves six. Headlining the package are glazed ham and turkey breast with side dishes, salad, and rolls. A carrot cake for dessert is built into the base price as well.

Add-ons such as truffled mac & cheese, chicken Bolognese, and braised beef short ribs are available to further enhance the Federal feast.

Easter dinner packages must be ordered by calling (413) 789-1267 by March 30. More menu detail is available at the Federals website, thefederalrestaurant.com.

Nationally, the Cracker Barrell chain is promoting Easter dinners to go  available in two sizes at crackerbarrel.com/Explore/easter

Champneys Restaurant and Tavern at the Deerfield Inn says theyre ready to help out with the holiday dinner. Theyre offering Easter Dinner at Your House; the pick-up package serves four and includes baked ham and a whole roast chicken along with sides and a choice of desserts.

Champneys dine-in Easter experience is available in seatings scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dinner is a four-course menu with entree options such as roast leg of lamb, baked ham, or an artisanal mushroom risotto. For more information about Champneys Easter offerings, call (413) 774-5587.

The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke is inviting area residents to enjoy their Easter with a Mount Tom view. On Sunday, April 4, the Log Cabin will be offering Easter dinner from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a four-course, single-priced menu. Entree options will range from roast turkey and prime rib to a plant-based chicken Marsala.

Reservations, which are essential, can be made online at thelogcabin.com.

The Log Cabins sister operation, the Delaney House in Holyoke, is focusing some of its efforts on Easter brunch to go. Their brunch package, which is sized to serve from four to six guests, has fresh fruit salad, a broccoli cheddar strata, French toast, and waffle wedges among its components. Assorted add-ons are also available. More information, including an online ordering link, is available at delaneyhouse.com.

The Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield will be offering both an Easter dinner and brunch experience this year.

Dine-in service with the Tavern itself will feature an all-inclusive menu of the dishes upon which Storrowton has built its reputation - fresh roasted turkey, broiled sea scallops, Yankee pot roast, and prime rib.

An appetizer selection will be included with dinner as will a table platter of assorted Easter treats for dessert - mini eclairs, cookies, brownies, assorted sweet bars, and more.

In the adjoining Carriage House an Easter Sunday brunch menu will be available.

That brunch will begin with breads, sweet rolls, salad, and fresh fruit presented at the table family style, while entree choices like baked ham, roast prime rib, eggs, corned beef hash and more will be part of the staff-served buffet. A platter of three-bite desserts will be delivered to every table to bring the brunch to a close.

All inclusive, family style dinner take-out will be available from Storrowton, with roast turkey, baked ham, or prime rib as featured entrees.

Reservations for both the Tavern and the Carriage House can be made by calling (413) 732-4188.

The Table 3 Restaurant Groups three Sturbridge locations - Avellino, The Duck, and the Cedar Street Grille - are each offering both dine-in and Easter takeout options on April 4.

Avellino and The Duck will be focusing on a sit-down Easter dinner, while the Cedar Street Grille will be taking an Easter brunch approach to the holiday. For more details go to table3restaurantgroup.com.

At least one area restaurant has recognized the takeout business opportunity presented by another spring-season religious observance, the Passover Seder.

Mezze Bistro + Bar in Williamstown is providing help with Seders in Northern Berkshire County by making available a selection of sides and entrees both traditional and contemporary. Mezzes Passover To-go menu can be viewed at mezzebistro.com.

Side dishes

Despite spells of historically harsh weather in Texas and the Southwest, restaurant sales during February 2021 showed encouraging growth as states and localities lifted indoor dining bans and relaxed capacity restrictions.

However, according to a survey by the National Restaurant Associations Survey Group, restaurant operators on the whole remain somewhat pessimistic about the future.

As part of the asociations on-going efforts to quantify the impact the pandemic is having on the restaurant industry (and to support the Associations lobbying efforts), the survey reached out to 3,000 restaurant companies.

According to the Survey Groups analysis, almost 30% of respondents said that they didnt expect their business to return to normal levels for at least a year, while another 32% expect that normal customer traffic would take at least seven to 12 months to materialize. Ten percent of those operators queried were doubtful that business would ever return to pre-pandemic levels.

Some of the other data the survey produced was predictable - lost revenue during the winter months as outdoor dining had to shut down, shorter operating hours, and staffing reductions were all reported.

Consistent with data gathered earlier in the COVID-19 crisis, independent restaurants tended to report more severe revenue losses than did franchised operators.

More data and analysis from the National Restaurant Associations research can be found at restaurant.org/articles/news/restaurant-operators-do-not-expect-a-rapid-return.

Earlier this month Chipotle Mexican Grill locations rolled out a menu option thats noteworthy for two reasons.

Chipotles new Quesadilla offers guests their choice from among the chains standard assortment of protein options - chicken, steak, fajita veggies, and more -- enhanced by various add-ins.

One characteristic that makes this new menu selection unique is its origin. A quesadilla option has been the most common of requests at Chipotle, and its introduction represents managements recognition of that groundswell of customer sentiment.

Equally significant is the Quesadillas status as a digital-only menu item. During test marketing the filled tortilla fold-over could only be ordered through the Chipotle app.

Friendlys Restaurants are currently promoting a seasonal selection of menu items.

A duo of burger and sandwich offerings incorporate maple pepper bacon as an accent - a Vermonter burger thats also topped with white cheddar and a bacon-garnished roasted turkey SuperMelt.

Also making a limited-time-only appearance among the chains sandwich selections is a Heinz 57 burger and a Hot Honey SuperMelt built with fried chicken tenders.

Two main-dish salads are part of this springtime lineup. These are a Buffalo chicken entree salad and an Asian chicken creation that incorporates ginger-glazed grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, almond slices, and fried wonton strips served atop mixed greens.

This Friendlys seasonal menu is slated to be available at participating locations through early June.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community Colleges hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 45 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached on-line at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
An employee of a residential facility for immigrant families and the father of a girl shot dead by federal agents in San Antonio 18 years ago are among 14 alleged members of a drug ring charged in a new federal indictment.

The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Midwestern and Southern U.S.

During a year-long investigation culminating in coordinated raids this week, law enforcement officers led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized 23 kilos of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, 100 kilos of methamphetamine, along with firearms and $359,000 in cash.

Of the 14 people indicted Wednesday, at least 10 have been taken into custody, including Jacqueline Alvarez, 57, of San Antonio, who works for the GEO Group at the Karnes County Family Residential Center.

The GEO Group built the facility and manages it under contract with Karnes County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Alvarez does not work for GEOs separate Karnes County Detention Center, where some federal inmates are held before trial, said her lawyer, Joey Contreras.

Shes a recreation specialist for GEO, supervising children at play, he said. She works in the immigration portion of GEO. ...We look forward to taking a good hard look at the governments evidence.

Also charged are Francisco Garza, 52; Frank Zepeda, 51; Jose Tabares, 53; Matthew Villa, 51; Michelle Zamarripa, 59; Rodger Rocky Hernandez, 43; Jay Haggard, 34; Oscar Heredia, 37; Jason Big Mac Gutierrez, 37; and Jacob Sanchez, 21. All are from San Antonio.

Also among the defendants is Joe Angel Villarreal, 55. He is the father of Ashley Villarreal, who at 14 was fatally shot by DEA agents conducting a stakeout in San Antonio in February 2003.

The nighttime stakeout targeted her father. The girl was shot when she drove her fathers car out of their house at San Joaquin and Motes streets.

The DEA contended that the car accelerated toward the agents, who opened fire not knowing that the teenager was behind the wheel. The DEA said her father may have used her as a decoy.

Joe Angel Villarreal later was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for leading a large cocaine-trafficking group.

Records show he was released in July 2019.

If convicted of the latest conspiracy charges, Villarreal and the others each face 10 years to life in federal prison.

The arrests...in San Antonio conclude a comprehensive investigation by DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, into the criminal activities of a drug trafficking organization, who were responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine into our communities, said Daniel C. Comeaux, special agent in charge of the DEA office in Houston.

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
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Asserting that footprints of the Nath sect are present across the globe, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that there is a need to compile the literature available on it.



"The Nath sect is very rich in terms of literature and followers. One could find signs of the Nath sect in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka," Adityanath said inaugurating the three-day-long seminar, Global Contribution of Nath Panth , at DDU Gorakhpur University on Saturday.



"There is a need to assimilate and compile the literature on the Nath sect present in different parts of the world and the country," he added.



The CM also emphasised on the role of educational institutions and universities in projecting cultural and spiritual heritage on the global platform.







"The Hatha Yoga of the Nath sect emphasised on kaya shuddhi' (physical well-being) and mann suddhi' (mental and spiritual well-being)," Adityanath said, praising PM Narendra Modi for promoting Yoga across the globe.



Adityanath said there are temples of the sect in Bangladesh's Dhaka and Pakistan's Peshawar.



"A Sikh family from Gorakhpur now living in Singapore went to Pakistan and saw a Nath sect temple in Peshawar, visited by Hindus and Muslims," he said.



The UP chief minister said a seventh-century prince of Nepal, Ratan Nath, was a yogi of the sect and used to visit the Devipatan temple in Balrampur.







"The Nath sect is not based on assumptions but on real experiences and there is no place of hypocrisy in the sect. Theories based on hearsay lead to ill practices and conservatism, the CM said.



He also inaugurated the first volume of the Nath sect encyclopedia which will be published in six volumes and in seven languages.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Frankfurt, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Mar, 2021 ) :EU chief Ursula von der Leyen threatened Saturday to halt exports of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccines if the bloc did not receive its promised deliveries first, escalating a row that has fanned international tensions.

"We have the option of banning a planned export. That's the message to AstraZeneca: you fulfil your contract with Europe first before you start delivering to other countries," von der Leyen told Germany's Funke media group.

The warning comes as the European Union struggles to speed up its inoculation campaign, just as many member states face a third coronavirus wave and renewed curbs on public life.

Von der Leyen said Anglo-Swedish pharma giant AstraZeneca had delivered only 30 percent of the 90 million vaccine doses it had promised for the first quarter of the year.

The company has blamed production delays at its EU plants, but European officials are furious that AstraZeneca has been able to deliver its UK contract while falling short on the continent.

European Commission president von der Leyen had on Wednesday already threatened to invoke emergency powers to block European exports of Covid-19 vaccines to ensure "reciprocity" with other suppliers.

- Call for reciprocity -- In the interview with German newspapers, von der Leyen reiterated that the EU's contract with AstraZeneca states that vaccines destined for the bloc would be produced in both EU and UK plants.

"But we haven't received anything from the Brits, although we are delivering to them," she said, adding that the European Commission had sent a "formal letter" to the company to complain.

EU-based manufacturers have shipped 41 million vaccine doses to 33 countries since early February, von der Leyen said, making the bloc one of the world's biggest export regions for Covid-19 vaccines.

"I can't explain to European citizens why we are exporting millions of vaccine doses to countries that are producing vaccines themselves and aren't sending us anything back," von der Leyen said.

France's European Affairs minister Clement Beaune welcomed the tougher tone coming from Brussels.

"We need a principle of reciprocity: supply others if they supply us in accordance with signed contracts," he told AFP. Europe must "defend its interests", he added.

- Italian example - The EU has already set up special oversight of vaccine exports in which manufacturers contracted to supply Europe must declare if they intend to export doses outside the bloc.

Most of the EU's worry is over Britain, where the inoculation campaign has progressed at a much faster pace.

Brussels has accused London of operating a de facto export ban to achieve its vaccine success, a claim furiously denied by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government.

The EU's export ban mechanism must first be triggered in an individual member state and then be approved by the European Commission before it can be enforced.

The mechanism has so far only been applied once, with Italy blocking the export of a 250,000 dose shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia, citing "persistent shortage" and "delays in supply".

Not all EU members support export bans, which could upset global supply chains. Belgium and the Netherlands have urged caution.

The EU's troubled relationship with AstraZeneca was dealt another blow earlier this month when several countries suspended use of its vaccine over fears it may cause blood clots.

The European Medicines' Agency (EMA) on Thursday however declared the jab "safe and effective" and vaccinations have since resumed in some countries.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex received his first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, as did British premier Johnson.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have said they would take the AstraZeneca vaccine if offered, in a bid to shore up confidence in the jab.
The good lesson that has come out of the pandemic and lockdown is that people have become conscious of eating clean, fresh and local food. While many people have taken to growing their own food, others without access to space have started choosing sustainable produce.

Choose Right

For a country that has grown up on Ayurveda and its principles, there has been a surge in eating right. Covid-19 has also created a lot more awareness for healthy and immunity boosting food not only for the body but for the mind as well. Nutrition and Immunity of body and mind is the focus. Probiotic foods have a great demand as are foods that are pesticide-free.

People are more cautious in consuming foods, that is they are more certain in knowing the source of the produce from which their food dishes are prepared. People are getting back to the roots for example turmeric milk, kadha, besan ka sheera and halwas. Clarified butter and dried fruits are incorporated in the dishes and zero-waste recipes are being introduced thus using the peels, seeds and flesh /pulp of the vegetables and fruits to reduce the wastage, says Chef Reetu Uday Kugaji, Culinary Expert and Chef Consultant.

Clean Plate

Indian Cuisine has traditionally emphasised on freshly prepared meals with spices that are known to keep cold and cough at bay. Traditional and regional recipes and cooking methods are also seeing a huge revival. Using ingredients like Ice-Apple (Tadgola). Shakarkandi (Sweet Potatoes), Laal Math (Red Amaranth Leaves) and other local and seasonal vegetables and fruits is now becoming a norm. Even traditional drinks like Neera, Tender Coconut Water, Sol Kadhi, Chaas, Lassi and Thandai are replacing aerated beverages. The concept of eating what is seasonal probably is more important now than ever before and restaurants have been quick to jump on the bandwagon. It also helps that India with its amazing food diversity has specific foods that make their appearance every season, making it easy to choose them.

The concept of eating what is seasonal probably is more important now than ever before and restaurants have been quick to jump on the bandwagon.

Food Lessons

Eating healthy and organic food has made people become more open to experimenting with their palette. Chefs in hotels and restaurants are now replacing imported ingredients with a similar or contrasting local ingredient, without hindering the quality or nature of the product.

Chef Sombir Choudhary, Chef Partner, Jamming Goat, Goa, Culinary Partner and Chef consultant in many restaurants says, We look at seasonality, locality and foraging and with local ingredients, vegetables sourced locally have more energy as opposed to the vegetables that are shipped in. They also have better flavours, colours, textures and gives an option to eschew products that need to be flown in from various parts of the globe, which in turn reduces the food miles.

Local Love

The love for local enhances food sustainability in multiple dimensions. Many restaurants, including ours, now prefer organic locally grown produce as opposed to imported alternatives. Suvaranjan Banerjee, Executive Chef, Grand Mercure Bengaluru explains, I would think that the most significant is a growing consciousness towards local communities. For most people, it is not just about experiencing the local flavours, it is more about creating awareness and supporting the small businesses closer to us. In fact, taking a step forward, Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall has the concept of lost recipes, focusing on bringing guests a collection of recipes from across the state that have been lost in the so-called commercial transition. Local is the new organic and it is here to stay for long. While the dynamics of food are veering towards all things good, it is a win win for all as you are after all what you eat.

Sustain & Grow

Sustainability is the key driver of this change. As people look for ways to bounce back greener and cleaner post pandemic, there is more emphasis on a zero emissions future. Sustainability is the key, the more we realise the better its going to serve us; it has taken over the food industry. People have become more aware and conscious of the environment, which reflects in their food choices. Now, more environment friendly products are entertained; brands that offer environmentally sustainable offers & services have become the choice of the guest, says Chef Nitish, Executive Sous Chef, Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel. The focus on indigenous ingredients has also increased considerably and restaurants are also graduating towards Farm to Table, by growing their own microgreens and hydroponic vegetables. The farm-to-fork concept has brought energy efficiency by using the shortest path where food sourcing from local farmers and the most cost-efficient routes in the supply chain ensure you leave a small carbon footprint.

Probiotic foods have a great demand as are foods that are pesticide-free. People are more cautious in consuming foods, that is they are more certain in knowing the source of the produce from which their food dishes are prepared

 Reetu Uday Kugaji, Chef
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released video footage of 10 rioters who can be seen assaulting law enforcement officials during the January 6 Capitol Hill insurrection. The FBI has asked the public to help identify ten individuals, who are suspected of carrying out violent attacks on police officers. The FBI said, so far it has arrested more than 300 people in connection with the January 6 riot, of which more than 65 are suspected of attacking officers who were protecting the Congress building.

The FBI is asking for the publics help in identifying 10 individuals suspected of being involved in some of the most violent attacks on officers who were protecting the U.S. Capitol and our democratic process on January 6. These individuals are seen on video committing egregious crimes against those who have devoted their lives to protecting the American people, Steven M. DAntuono, assistant director in charge of the FBIs Washington Field Office, said in a statement.

January 6th riot

On January 6, hundreds of Donald Trump supporters broke into the Capitol Hill building while a joint Congressional session was underway to certify President Joe Biden's win. At least five people died during the insurrection, including a police officer. The crowd was unhappy with the election results and the certification of Joe Biden as the next US President because they felt the election was rigged in favour of Democrats after being fed misinformation by Trump and his aides.

Earlier this month, the FBI had released a video of a man who placed pipe bombs outside the Republican National Convention (RNC) and Democratic National Convention (DNC) headquarters a day before the Capitol Hill insurrection. The FBI requested the members of the public to help identify the man seen in the video footage. The incident had occurred on January 5 as the man was captured on CCTV placing the bomb in an alley behind the RNC office and at a park outside DNC hq.
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TRINIDAD and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) executive director, Nigel Edwards, says the changes the 39-year-old financial institution is undergoing at this time are transformational.

The UTC is now in the middle of a three-year cycle of strategic changes that will culminate in 2023 and beyond, he said.
Lawyer: Canada border questions violated Huawei CFOs rights View Photo

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  Lawyers for a senior executive for Chinese communications giant Huawei Technologies argued at an extradition hearing Friday that her detention and questioning at the Vancouver airport violated her rights, saying agents had no reason to question her about the companys activity in Iran except to assist U.S. investigators.

Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer who is also the daughter of the companys founder, was arrested at the airport in late 2018 at the request of U.S., which wants her extradited to face fraud charges. The arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent Chinas rise.

The U.S. accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. It says Meng committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the companys business dealings in Iran. Much of the case centers around an August 2013 PowerPoint presentation made to an HSBC executive during a lunch in Hong Kong.

Mengs lawyers claim her extraction should be halted because of an abuse of process, saying Canada Border Services Agency officers detained and questioned her without a lawyer, seized her electronic devices and put them in special bags to prevent wiping, and compelled her to give up the passcodes before her official arrest.

Defense lawyer Mona Duckett said Mengs treatment at the airport was not a routine border screening process.

The questions Canada Border Services officer Sanjit Dhillon asked Meng dealt with Huaweis business dealings, something that would have zero interest to determining her admissibility to Canada, Duckett said.

The value would only be to a U.S. audience, she said.

Duckett also questioned the distress expressed by another border official who claimed he had mistakenly given the passcodes to Mengs devices to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

What was the cause of . . . the distress? she asked. Was it the realization that he made a mistake or was it the realization that his mistake was going to be found out?

Duckett said Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes should be skeptical of the testimony of the Canada Border Services officers.

Meng attended the hearing wearing a large bandage covering the middle finger on her right hand, a pink mask and slacks that revealed a monitoring bracelet on her ankle. She listened to the proceedings with an interpreter.

Mengs lawyers will be back in court next month arguing that the U.S. is exceeding the limits of its jurisdiction by prosecuting a foreign citizen for actions that took place in Hong Kong and that Canada was misled by the U.S. about the strength of its case.

Earlier this month, her lawyers said comments made by then U.S. President Donald Trump turned Meng into a bargaining chip and co-opted the extradition process.

Soon after Mengs arrest, China arrested Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in apparent retaliation and charged them with spying. Both have remained in custody with limited access to visits by Canadian consular officials.

Spavor appeared at a closed-door hearing in Dandong, China, on Friday. Canada said its consular officials were refused permission to attend the proceedings, which ended after about two hours with no verdict announced.

Kovrig is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Besides the arrest of Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Spavor, an entrepreneur, China has also placed restrictions on various Canadian exports to China, including canola oilseed. China also handed death sentences to four Canadians convicted of drug smuggling.

Meng remains free on bail in Vancouver and is living in a mansion.

By JIM MORRIS

Associated Press
Amid a series of allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo, his current aide on Friday accused him of misconduct.

Alyssa McGrath, an employee of the governor's office, is the first current aide in Mr Cuomo's office to speak publicly about allegations of harassment inside the Capitol.

She told the Times that Cuomo would ogle her body, remark on her looks, and make suggestive comments to her and another executive aide, while also inquiring about her lack of a wedding ring and the status of her divorce.

McGrath also discussed the most serious accusation against the Governor by another current aide, who has accused him of groping her breast in the Executive Mansion.

"She froze when he started doing that stuff to her... But who are you going to tell?" McGrath said.

McGrath did not accuse the governor of making sexual contact, though she said that she believed that his actions amounted to

Over the last years, Cuomo had seemingly fostered an unusual work triangle with her and her friend, the co-worker he allegedly groped, blending a professional relationship with unwanted attention, she told the New York Times.

"He has a way of making you feel very comfortable around him, almost like you're his friend. But then you walk away from the encounter or conversation, in your head going, 'I can't believe I just had that interaction with the governor of New York," she said.

Mariann Wang, a lawyer for McGrath, said that "this would be unacceptable behaviour from any boss, much less the governor," and that Ms. McGrath's experience reflected larger issues for women in the workplace in Albany's corridors of power.

Multiple women, including former and current aides, have accused the governor of inappropriate remarks and behaviour, including unwanted touching and unwelcome sexual advances.

However, Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing, while suggesting that his relationships with employees he viewed as friends may have been misinterpreted.

"None of this is remarkable, although it may be old-fashioned. He has made clear that he has never made inappropriate advances or inappropriately touched anyone," said Rita Glavin, a lawyer for Cuomo.

The scandal began on February 24, when former aide Lindsey Boylan alleged that Cuomo kissed her against her will in 2018 after a brief one-on-one meeting in his New York City office.

Last week, more than 50 Democrats of the New York State Senate and Assembly said in a letter that "it's time for Governor Cuomo to resign," arguing that he is "ineffective in this time of most urgent need."

He is also the subject of an impeachment investigation after the speaker of the New York State Assembly authorized the chamber's judiciary committee to begin the probe this month.

(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.)
DONALDSONVILLE, La.  The first competitive special congressional election of the Biden era is most likely heading to a runoff next month, but the battle lines are already drawn ahead of the initial balloting on Saturday in the race to succeed former Representative Cedric L. Richmond of Louisiana.

At the center of the debate: which of two New Orleans Democrats positioned to face off in April can better leverage their connections to lift a South Louisiana district hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

I would be a freshman with the relationships of a senior member, State Senator Troy Carter, one of the two lawmakers, said after a sign-waving session on Thursday morning at a busy New Orleans intersection. He was alluding to his endorsements from Mr. Richmond, who left Congress to become a senior White House aide, and from prominent members of the Congressional Black Caucus like Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking House Democrat.

But after a meet-and-greet 60 miles up the Mississippi River, his chief rival, State Senator Karen Carter Peterson, said the extensive contacts she had made serving in the State Legislature and on the Democratic National Committee would better benefit voters  and she poked fun at her opponent and his patron, Mr. Richmond.
London, March 20 : UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was hospitalised last year with a severe bout of Covid-19, has received his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the virus.

Taking to Twitter on Friday evening, Johnson said: "I've just received my first Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine dose.

"Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS (National Health Service) staff and volunteers who helped make this happen.

"Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much. Let's get the jab done." He also attached a photo of him getting the shot.

Johnson, 56, is trying to reassure the public that the AstraZeneca jab is safe after a number of countries in Europe and around the world suspended the use of it earlier this week due to blood clot fears, dpa news agency reported.

The European Union's medicines regulator issued a fresh assessment on Thursday, finding the vaccine is "safe and effective" and not associated with an increase in the overall risk of clots.

That prompted countries such as France and Germany to resume administering the jab.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex also received the AstraZeneca shot on Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 15:55:28|Editor: huaxia

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ANCHORAGE, the United States, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese and U.S. officials concluded here Friday a high-level strategic dialogue that both sides believe was timely and helpful and deepened mutual understanding.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attended the two-day dialogue in the Alaskan city of Anchorage.

It was the first high-level contact between the two countries after Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, had a phone call on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and the first face-to-face talks between high-level officials of the two sides since Biden took office in January.

During the Anchorage talks, the two sides conducted candid, in-depth, long-time and constructive communication on their respective domestic and foreign policies, China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues of common concern.

Noting that they came at the invitation of the U.S. side, the Chinese delegation recalled that on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Xi and Biden successfully held a telephone conversation and agreed that the two sides need to strengthen communication, manage differences and expand cooperation, which is of great significance in guiding the growth of China-U.S. relations in the time to come.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that it was an important step to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in their phone talks that the Chinese side came to Anchorage at the invitation of the U.S. side for the high-level strategic dialogue, which was decided by the two presidents personally.

In the past few years, due to the irrational suppression of China's legitimate rights and interests, China-U.S. relations have encountered unprecedented difficulties, the delegation said, stressing that this situation has damaged the interests of both nations and taken its toll on world stability and development, and should not be allowed to continue.

China, added the delegation, is ready to work with the United States to enhance strategic communication, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences and push forward bilateral relations on the track of sound and stable development, so as to create benefits for the people in both countries and promote long-lasting peace and prosperity of the world.

The Chinese delegation emphasized that it is the choice of history and the Chinese people for the CPC to govern, and that China's development cannot be achieved without the leadership of the CPC, which is a high consensus among the Chinese people and a general view of the international community.

Noting that the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the system that best fits China's conditions and the secret to China's development, the delegation pointed out that practice has proved that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the right path, and China will continue to march forward on that broad road.

The governing status of the CPC and the security of China's socialist system should not be damaged, and that is a red line that should never be crossed, stressed the Chinese delegation.

China's development goal is consistent and clear, which is to realize the two centenary goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation through hard work, the delegation said, adding that the fundamental purpose is to ensure a better life for all Chinese people, which is the starting point of all China's policies.

Emphasizing that China will ground its efforts in the new development stage, apply the new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm, and achieve high-quality development, the Chinese delegation said no one can deprive the Chinese people of their right to pursue a better life.

China, added the delegation, always attaches great importance to the protection and promotion of human rights, and gives priority to improving people's well-being and promoting well-rounded human development.

The delegation also stressed that socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics is all people's democracy and consultative democracy, whose core is the people being masters of the country.

China, it added, will not impose its democratic system and values on other countries, and meanwhile will resolutely defend its own political system and values and oppose any attempt to use the human rights issue as a cover to attack and smear China or interfere in China's internal affairs.

The fundamental goal of China's development is to fulfill people's aspirations for a better life at home and contribute through its own development to the development and progress of all humankind, said the delegation.

China has no intention to interfere in the political system of the United States, or to challenge or replace its status and influence, it said, adding that at the same time, the U.S. side should have a correct view of China's political system and development path, of China's major policies and principles, and of China's influence on the world.

The leadership role of the CPC and the core status of the CPC's leader result from China's arduous practice and enjoy the wholehearted support of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, said the delegation, noting that this collective will is rock-solid and unshakable.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that China firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, adheres to independence, peaceful development, win-win cooperation, multilateralism, equity and justice, and continuously promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

China, it added, will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and national dignity, firmly oppose other countries' meddling in China's internal affairs, and independently decide its policies and positions in line with the fundamental interests of the Chinese people as well as people around the world, and on the basis of the merits of various issues.

China itself is committed to the path of peaceful development, and hopes that other countries will also pursue a path of peaceful development, and that all countries will transcend their differences in social system, civilization and religion, and achieve peaceful coexistence and common prosperity, said the delegation.

Win-win cooperation is an important principle of China's development and a golden rule in China's external relations, it pointed out, adding that China has made its development achievements in an open environment, and will promote high-quality development in the next phase with greater openness.

Describing multilateralism as an important cornerstone of the current international system, the Chinese delegation stressed that true multilateralism should uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the basic norms governing international relations, the sovereignty of countries around the world, and the diversity of civilizations, and commit to the democratization of international relations.

It should not be used as a cover to form cliques, turn back the wheel of history, incite division along ideological lines, or instigate confrontation between different groups, added the delegation.

China, it said, is ready to work with the United States to uphold true multilateralism in multilateral mechanisms, represented by the United Nations, and provide more public goods with better quality for the international community.

It added that China consistently maintains that all countries -- big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak -- are equal members of the international community, and that decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving big fists, nor should the big and the strong be allowed to bully the small and the weak.

Stressing that the voices of developing countries should be heard and their rights and interests protected, the Chinese delegation said that respectively as the world's largest developing and developed country, China and the United States should join hands to deepen South-North cooperation, including cooperation in third-party markets for developing countries, and promote the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

The essence of China-U.S. relations is mutual benefit rather than a zero-sum game, said the Chinese delegation, adding that China and the United States are not doomed to pose a threat to each other, differences are no reason for confrontation between them, and neither side can afford the consequences of conflict and confrontation.

China and the United States, it said, should trust rather than suspect each other, understand rather than blame each other, work with rather than obstruct each other, and ensure that they focus on dealing with their domestic priorities and achieving their respective development goals.

It suggested the two countries cooperate on three most pressing tasks facing the international community, namely fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling climate change and promoting world economic recovery.

The two sides, it added, should also strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, eliminate interruptions to bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and make the cake of cooperation bigger, so as to deliver more benefits to the people in both countries and beyond.

Meanwhile, cooperation should be two-way and mutually beneficial, and should address the concerns of both sides in a balanced way, stressed the Chinese delegation.

Noting that the Chinese side has maintained a high degree of stability and continuity in its policy towards the United States, the delegation said China is committed to non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation with the United States, while firmly safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests.

The two sides, it added, should follow the spirit of the Xi-Biden telephone conversation to keep communication channels open, restore normal dialogue and exchange mechanisms, carry out win-win cooperation, properly manage differences, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

The two countries have the responsibility, ability and wisdom to find a way for major countries with different political systems to get along with each other, which will be a historic contribution by China and the United States to human civilization, said the Chinese delegation.

The delegation pointed out that in the past few years, the previous U.S. administration went against the trend of the times, and carried out highly erroneous anti-China policies, which seriously damaged both China's interests and China-U.S. relations.

Because of that, China had to take legitimate and necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, added the Chinese delegation, while urging the U.S. side to eliminate the impact of the previous administration's wrong policy towards China and meanwhile avoid creating new problems.

The Chinese delegation also pointed out that the Taiwan question relates to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and concerns China's core interests, and there is no room for compromise and concession.

China, it added, urges the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, stop official exchanges and military contacts with and arms sales to Taiwan, and cease helping Taiwan expand its so-called "international space."

The U.S. side should handle the Taiwan question in a careful and proper manner, and do not send wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces or try to cross China's bottom line, so as to prevent China-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait from suffering serious damage, added the Chinese delegation.

The electoral system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is a local electoral system in China, and how to design, develop and improve it is China's domestic affair, the delegation said, adding that no foreign government, organization or individual has the right to interfere.

Improving HKSAR's electoral system must follow the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," it said, urging the United States to abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, respect the decision of China's National People's Congress on improving Hong Kong's electoral system, and stop supporting "Hong Kong independence" forces.

It also called on the U.S. side to revoke illegal sanctions against Chinese officials and institutions, stop trying to mess up Hong Kong again, and cease obstructing China's implementation of "one country, two systems."

If the United States continues to go its own way, China will make firm responses, the delegation said.

The claim that there is genocide in China's Xinjiang is the biggest lie of the century, said the Chinese delegation.

The Chinese side is ready to engage in exchanges with the U.S. side on the basis of mutual respect, and the door of Xinjiang is wide open to the world, said the delegation.

However, China will not accept any investigation in Xinjiang based on the presumption of guilt by those who are biased, condescending or behaving like a preacher, it said.

It is hoped that the U.S. side can respect facts, call off attacks against and smearing of China's Xinjiang policy, and abandon double standards on anti-terrorism, it added.

The Chinese delegation pointed out that the 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion.

It is hoped that the U.S. side will abide by its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and refraining from supporting "Tibet independence," carefully and properly handle Tibet-related issues, revoke sanctions against relevant Chinese officials, and cease exploiting Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, added the delegation.

The two sides agreed to follow the spirit of the Xi-Biden telephone conversation on Feb. 11 to maintain dialogue and communication, conduct mutually beneficial cooperation, avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment, forestall conflict and confrontation, and promote sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations.

Both sides expressed the hope to continue such type of high-level strategic communication.

Both sides committed to enhancing dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate change, and they agreed to establish a joint working group on climate change.

The United States reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan question.

The two sides discussed making reciprocal arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination of each side's diplomats and consular officials.

They agreed to hold talks on facilitating activities of each other's diplomatic and consular missions and personnel, as well as on issues related to media reporters, in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

The two sides also discussed adjusting relevant travel and visa policies according to the epidemic situation, and gradually normalizing personnel exchanges between China and the United States.

They also exchanged views on a series of other topics, including economy and trade, military, law enforcement, culture, health, cyber security, climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar, and agreed to maintain and enhance communication and coordination.

The two sides said they will step up coordination and consultation on activities within such multilateral frameworks as the Group of 20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Enditem
The state Department of Agriculture is seeking permanent ownership of 65 goats it seized from a Redding womam last week after claiming concerns about the goats well-being and the conditions of the property, including the presence of dozens of dead goats, according to a court filing this week. The owner has stated she believes the state lacked legal cause and interfered with plans to transfer all but nine goats to a sanctuary.

The court filing by the department, submitted Thursday, asks the state superior court to issue an order against the owner, Nancy Burton, to show cause as to why the state shouldnt be allowed to take take temporary care and eventually full custody of the goats. Alternatively, the department requested a hearing involving Burton over the care and custody.

This is a sad and cruel case of animal neglect. No animal should ever suffer in this way, Attorney General William Tong said in statement. State intervention is never our first choice. Resources and assistance are available to animal owners in need. That support was repeatedly offered and refused in this case. We are now left with no option but to seek permanent state custody to protect the health and safety of these goats and to get them the care they deserve.

The seizure of the goats follows complaints - at least 120 according to a search and seizure warrant - filed to the police department since 2007, in addition to complaints filed to the state Department of Agriculture. Complaints through the years were often connected to the goats roaming, according to citations and written warnings filed by police against Burton.

The search and seizure warrant, released last week, stated that between 10 and 12 goats had extremely long hooves affecting their mobility, manure control was a major concern, and water was not being constantly provided or available.

Burton, who was not available for comment Friday, said last week that the states charges are without basis, adding that she trims the hooves regularly and that they have enjoyed ample water supply. Burton has previously tried to gain approval to be allowed by the town for more than nine goats on her property. She added that there were plans to send all but nine goats to animal sanctuaries within the next two weeks or sooner.

The new filing over custody and care, however, stated that between forty and fifty goats were discovered in multiple locations of the property in various stages of decomposition. Some were found in plastic bags, inside trash containers and in totes, the filing stated. Others were found in a shallow pit that was covered by plywood.

It was also stated that some of the living goats were visibly underweight and others were found with missing fur or fur that was matted and/or caked in mud and manure.

The court was also asked by the state to make a ruling regarding whether the animals were cruelly treated, neglected or in harm according to Connecticut statutes. If a judge rules in favor of the state, Burton could also have to pay up to $15 per day, per goat for expenses incurred, for food, shelter and care.

Ensuring the health and welfare of domestic animals and livestock is a cooperative effort among multiple parties, including the town, our agency and the Attorney General to intervene and respond to these situations, state Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt said in a statement. We encourage individuals experiencing hardship in caring for their animals to reach out for assistance and resources available to them.
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According to Rosselkhoznadzor, Uzbekistan informed the Russian side of its intention to tighten control over the quality of tomatoes exported to the country.

Recall that in December last year, Russia banned the import of tomatoes from the Navoi and Kashkadarya regions of Uzbekistan due to the discovery of the brown rugose fruit virus in them. The restrictions were later partially lifted.

During a videoconference with the Rosselkhoznadzor, representatives of the State Plant Quarantine Inspectorate under the Uzbek government said that greenhouses were already being checked for the virus. Each batch of tomatoes sent to Russia will undergo PCR tests.
But Mr. Cotton is wrong that Mr. Biden promised free health care for undocumented immigrants. A spokesman for Mr. Cotton said the senator was referring to the 2020 campaign, when Mr. Biden raised his hand after Democratic presidential candidates were asked during a 2019 debate whether their health care plans would allow unauthorized immigrants to have access to such care. But there was no mention of free health care. Under Mr. Bidens plan, those immigrants could buy health care plans including a proposed public option on exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. Cornyns reference to Title 42 was also inaccurate. Though the Biden administration has decided not to expel unaccompanied children, despite a court ruling allowing the practice, it has continued Title 42 expulsions of most border crossers. In fact, out of the more than 100,000 encounters at the southwestern border in February, 72,000 led to expulsions.

What Was Said

When I talked to the doctor to see when theyre being tested for Covid, when they get out, more than 10 percent are testing positive, while youre being stored together. In a time when the president will keep our country closed, when maybe we have hope for a Fourth of July to get together just with our family, how much spread of Covid is he creating every single day by his policies along this border?

 Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, on Monday in a news conference.

This is exaggerated. Bob Fenton, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said during a congressional hearing a day later that migrants were testing positive at a rate of less than 6 percent across the entire border. That is a lower positivity rate than currently in Texas (9 percent), Arizona (11 percent) and New Mexico (8 percent), but higher than in California (3 percent).

There are different coronavirus protocols in place for different migrant populations, but the notion that migrants are spreading the virus unchecked is hyperbolic.

Asylum seekers with pending cases who returned to Mexico under the Trump-era program must test negative before entering the United States. Those who test positive with mild or no symptoms are required to quarantine for 10 days, while those who show severe symptoms must seek treatment in Mexico, according to the State Department.

For migrants who are not immediately sent away and processed by border officials, the Department of Homeland Security relies on community organizations for testing and reimburses the costs, according to the department. Those who test positive while in Border Control custody are immediately isolated. Unaccompanied children specifically are tested at facilities operated by the Department of Health and Human Services.
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Donald Trump's personal Boeing 757 is corroding and missing parts of an engine as it sits idle on a fenced-off tarmac at a small upstate New York airport.

The gold-plated plane - which was once nicknamed 'Trump Force One' - has not been flown for months and is languishing at the regional Stewart Airport, new photos reveal.

One of the aging plane's engines is missing parts, while the other is 'shrink-wrapped in plastic', according to CNN.

The decision to leave the ageing 757 in New York, where it has been exposed to the harsh winter elements, has stunned experts who spoke with the news network.

Trump now resides thousands of miles away in Florida, and it appears he has little interest in spending the hundreds of thousands of dollars it would cost to bring the plane back up to flying condition.

Instead, the former President recently used his much smaller Cessna 750 Citation X to jet from Palm Beach to New York City earlier this month.

But insiders say they're mystified as to why Trump has seemingly abandoned the 757 - which was once one of his most prized possessions.

Donald Trump's personal Boeing 757 is corroding and missing parts of an engine as it sits idle on a fenced-off tarmac at a small upstate New York airport

The gold-plated plane - which was once nicknamed 'Trump Force One' - has not been flown for months and is languishing at the regional Stewart Airport, new photos reveal

This photo shows one of the plane's engines shrink-wrapped in plastic. It would likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring the plane back up to flying level

The decision to leave the ageing 757 in New York, where it has been exposed to the harsh winter elements, has stunned experts who spoke with CNN

Back in the day: Trump used the 757 as his campaign plane, flying across the country to greet adoring crowds who waited at various airports for the aircraft to land. He is pictured arriving in Iowa in 2016

Back in 2016: Photographs taken on board the aircraft during the campaign were beamed around the world

2016: One image of Trump tucking into a KFC meal with a knife and fork at 42,000 feet went viral as it embodied his high-low appeal

Trump purchased the 757 back in 2010 from Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, and quickly gave it a makeover so it matched his gaudy aesthetic.

The plane was made back in 1991, but it looked good-as-new after Trump spent six months working with an interior designer to re-kit the interior of the aircraft.

He decked out the inside with suede paneling, mahogany leather seats and 24-karat gold-plated seat buckles, latches and doorknobs.

While a regular 757 can accommodate more than 200 passengers, Trump's 757 was crafted to accommodate just 43 passengers.

He was said to be extremely fussy as to who he invited on board the plush plane.

In 2015, Trump used the 757 as his campaign plane, flying across the country to greet adoring crowds who waited at various airports for the aircraft to land.

With the word 'TRUMP' emblazoned on the side, the plane became a crucial piece of advertising for the Republican candidate.

It helped enhance his image as a successful billionaire who had both the business acumen and the slick sense of style needed to lead the most powerful country in the world.

Photographs taken on board the aircraft during the 2015-16 campaign were beamed around the world.

They included one iconic image of Trump tucking into a McDonald's meal at 42,000 feet - a photo that embodied his high-low appeal.

Trump purchased the 757 back in 2010 from Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen, and quickly gave it a makeover so it matched his gaudy aesthetic

Trump is pictured watching his wife Melania speak at a campaign event in 2016. He frequently tuned in to cable news coverage as he flew across the country while campaigning to be President

Trump decked out the inside with suede paneling, mahogany leather seats and 24-karat gold-plated seat buckles, latches and doorknobs

The plane was made back in 1991, but it looked good-as-new after Trump spent six months working with an interior designer to re-kit the interior of the aircraft

While a regular 757 can accommodate more than 200 passengers, Trump's 757 was crafted to accommodate just 43 passengers. A bedroom on board the jet is pictured

After Trump won the White House, he traded 'Trump Force One' for the real Air Force One.

And, at present, it appears he has little interest in bring back his 757 into circulation.

Instead, Trump has opted to use his much-smaller 1997 Cessna 750 Citation X, which seats just seven people and is far cheaper to run.

An aircraft charter broker told CNN the Citation X would cost about $5,000 per hour to fly.

In contrast, the 757 would cost up to $18,000 per hour to fly.

But amid reports Trump is eyeing a run for President again in 2024, his beloved campaign plane may soon be getting repair work done in a bid to take to the skies once more.

The former President recently used his much smaller Cessna 750 Citation X to jet from Palm Beach to New York City earlier this month

Trump was seen boarding his small private jet at New York's LaGuardia airport for his return flight to Florida on March 10

An aircraft charter broker told CNN the Citation X would cost about $5,000 per hour to fly - much cheaper than the cost of a 757

Trump's 757 would cost up to $18,000 per hour to fly, according to one expert. The plane is pictured in California in 2016
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Former Bolivian interim president Jeanine Anez's pre-trial detention was extended by two months Saturday, as a prison official announced the ex-leader will receive medical care at the La Paz penitentiary where she is being held.

Authorities arrested and detained Anez, 53, last weekend on charges -- deemed trumped-up by opposition politicians -- of leading a coup d'etat against her socialist predecessor, Evo Morales.

Anez was transferred Saturday to the Miraflores Women's Penitentiary from another detention center in the Bolivian capital, following what the ex-president said was a "hypertension crisis."

Prisons chief Juan Carlos Limpias told reporters that "we have everything we need to preserve her health" at Miraflores.

Anez has been charged with terrorism, sedition and conspiracy alongside her former justice and energy ministers, all of whom are being held in pre-trial detention which was extended from four to six months Saturday following a hearing.

Anez, a conservative, served as interim president from November 2019 to November 2020.

Since Thursday, Anez had been asking for a transfer to a hospital, saying she was suffering a "hypertension crisis," according to documents requesting her release, which were obtained by AFP.

On Friday, in a confusing sequence of events, a three-judge tribunal authorized the move to a hospital and then, hours later, reversed itself.

Limpias said Anez was stable and "it was not necessary for her to leave (prison)," and that prison officials would turn medical documents over to UN monitors for verification.

The UN monitors will ensure "there are no rights violations," Limpias said.

Anez's daughter, Carolina Ribera, called the treatment of her mother "an abuse, an injustice," saying in a video posted to social media that her mother needed to be seen by specialists and that her life was at risk.

Anez was arrested March 14 along with her two ex-ministers on charges related to Morales's ouster from power in 2019.

Story continues

In November of that year Morales stepped down during violent protests over his controversial re-election, and two days later Anez was sworn in as interim president.

Morales fled the country, going first to Mexico and then Argentina, after both the army and the police dropped their support.

But Luis Arce, a member of Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, romped to victory last November and consolidated control of Congress.

Anez has denounced her arrest as "political persecution."

The United States has expressed "concern" about Anez's arrest, while the Organization of American States has questioned the independence of Bolivia's courts and called for the release of "all those detained in this context."

gbh/bbk-acb/bfm/mtp
Protesters took to the streets across Myanmar again on Saturday, defying the junta which has increasingly sought to crush the uprising with a campaign of violence and fear.

The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in a February 1 coup, triggering a nationwide uprising as protesters call for a return to democracy.

So far, more than 230 people have been killed in anti-coup unrest, according to a local monitoring group, as security forces have deployed tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds against anti-coup protesters.

But the movement has pushed ahead -- albeit in smaller numbers.

Local media showed protesters in gas masks gathering in northern Shan state, while in the southern coastal city of Dawei, motorists hoisted posters of Suu Kyi and signs that said "end the dictatorship".

The protesters in Shan state hoisted home-made shields that said "protect unarmed civilians".

Outside of protests, crackdowns by security forces continue on the streets and residential areas across Myanmar, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group.

"Casualties and unprovoked shootings are increasing day by day," it said.

In the central ruby-producing city of Mogok, local media Myanmar Now reported that a small quarter's night guards were shot overnight.

"One died on the spot last night while two others are in critical condition in the hospital," a rescue team member confirmed to AFP, declining to give more details.

Commercial hub Yangon has emerged as a hotspot for unrest, as security forces armed with guns continue to root out protesters wielding homemade protection gear.

But the resistance movement remains defiant.

"Who says we have to give up because of unequal weapons? We are born for victory," tweeted prominent activist Ei Thinzar Maung, with the hashtag #SpringRevolution.

Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, said the junta could not defeat a population "united in peaceful opposition" against its rule.

Story continues

"Desperate, it launches ruthless attacks to provoke a violent response to try and justify even more violence," he tweeted Saturday.

"It's not working. The world must respond by cutting their access to money & weapons. Now."

bur-dhc/jfx
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Haiti - Environment : The Haitian mountains, a heritage in danger





Abner Septembre, the Minister of the Environment is heading for our mountains, which constitute a rich and diverse heritage, from a natural, cultural, historical and architectural point of view.



The Minister recalls that our mountains represent approximately three quarters of the national territory and that they are the main water towers of our sources and rivers. They house most of Haiti's fortification system and are the natural habitat of several animal and plant species, some of which are endemic. Our mountains support different microclimates and a biodiversity that could be despite everything the richest in the Caribbean, which makes Haiti one of the 34 hot spots of global biodiversity which constitute an important link in the national bread basket. Finally, they are mainly the living space of the peasants.



Unfortunately, this heritage is today in danger mainly because of deforestation which has many consequences, among others: loss of land and biodiversity, food insecurity, water stress, massive rural exodus, the weakening of socioeconomic infrastructures, the slums and spatial disarticulation of cities, even hyper-sedimentation and pollution of aquatic and marine environments.



The Ministry is giving itself 10 years to largely restore the green mantle and ecosystems of our mountains and watersheds. However, underlines Minister September, it is illusory to want to do so without also improving the purchasing power and the living environment of their inhabitants. Hence a paradigm shift, of which the Ten-Year Strategic Program, 2021-2030, called "Plante ak Rekolte Dlo", is expressed through two sub-programs supported by three pillars divided into twelve actions.



Let's go to the mountains to cultivate water is at the same time a call for participation and citizen engagement, launched by the Ministry of the Environment to all Haitians and foreigners living in Haiti, to build green fortresses, with a view to to protect our people, who have become very vulnerable to natural disasters, and to regain our food sovereignty.



The official launch of the "Plante ak Rekolte Dlo" Program will take place on March 22, 2021, in Vallieres, in the mountains of the Nord-Est department, on the occasion of International Water Day.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The past couple of months brought a change of scenery for Maryann Burgess, as she has wrapped up a 30-year career with the Aiken Department of Public Safety and shifted into the role of running the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County.

Her new base of operations dates back to 2003 and was established "to address the lack of a coordinated response to investigations into child abuse in Aiken County," and the territory has familiar features for Burgess.

A native of Elgin, Illinois, she spent her formative years in suburban Chicago, and has wound up focusing most of her professional life on kids in tough situations around Aiken. The majority of her career in public safety was as a captain, leading the agency's youth services division, and that, in turn, meant investigating crimes against children and crimes committed by children.

She shared some thoughts on peaks and valleys in her new role, as executive director of the advocacy center.

"I guess the best part is being able to offer services to children that really need us. I mean, we exist to help children and families through traumas that were suffered through abuse, because it's not always the parent that's the abuser. It could be a neighbor. It could be whoever, but I think that the best part is to be able to be in that role of offering very valuable services to families  children especially," she said.

The toughest part of the job runs through similar territory, as in such situations as when "we can get a child and a family through, and things will go very smoothly, but sometimes all the parts don't operate as we hope that they should."

The friction might come from a hang-up in terms of the judicial system, a lawyer, the Department of Juvenile Justice or the Department of Social Services. "There's so many facets to the things that we do here," she noted.

She and her husband, Craig Burgess, can appreciate each other's work, as he retired in September 2020, wrapping up a 27-year run with the Aiken Department of Public Safety. He started in a new position at the Savannah River Site in March.

The two former cops  empty-nesters for the most part  can also appreciate the challenges of bringing up a family, as their family tree includes five daughters and one granddaughter. The support system along the way has included St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, where the Burgesses are parishioners.

There is plenty to learn, Maryann confirmed, referring to her new career post and how the agency's "moving parts" are to be kept running efficiently. "It's like drinking from a fire hydrant, but it's good work. It's good work for me."

Among Burgess' other co-workers in a variety of projects has been Peggy Ford, executive director of Children's Place, which has as its mission "to protect, heal, and strengthen children and families from the impact of trauma in their lives through education, treatment, and prevention services," as described on its website.

Ford immediately chose the word "passion" when asked about the resources that Burgess brings to her responsibilities. "She really is passionate about children and families, and she also likes to help," Ford said.

Liz Stewart, treasurer of the board for the advocacy center, made similar comments. "She's a quick learner. Probably, if I had to list the No. 1 thing, though, it would be that she has a great passion for whatever she does. She was very passionate about helping youth. I think she found her niche, at public safety, with that, and of course, that is continuing on with us."

Stewart, who is also one of the Burgesses' neighbors from church, added, "She is very passionate about putting things in place that will benefit the children we serve. She just approaches everything with a lot of integrity, a lot of clarity of thought. She has a vision already for where she wants to take us, and she's pretty passionate about getting there."

Lt. Tim Thornton, with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety, has known Burgess for decades, since both were at USC Aiken, studying criminal justice together.

"She always had a heart for those in need, especially those navigating through the criminal justice system whether as a victim or first-time juvenile offender," he wrote.

"The Child Advocacy Center has always been a valuable resource for local law enforcement. Their expertise in communicating with children of abuse is incredible. They have a unique ability to connect with kids on their level that is vital to successful prosecution of the offender while beginning the long-term process of emotional and psychological healing."

Thornton also addressed Burgess' recent transition from law enforcement to child advocacy. "It's an awesome fit between the CAC and the surrounding communities they serve," he wrote.

Another admirer is Serena McDaniel, a senior assistant solicitor with the Second Judicial Circuit, which covers Aiken, Barnwell and Bamberg counties. She commented that Burgess' new role "puts everything she knows into practice, and she can make sure things are run correctly over there."

She said Burgess is hugely dedicated to her line of work and "wouldn't let the burnout get to her or ruin her mental health, because it was so important to do what she was doing."

"It's not common to find people that care at the level that we do and that she does. People will say they do, but they don't ... She put her money where her mouth was."

Work can be a high-energy engagement for Burgess, McDaniel said, recalling some of Burgess' more adrenaline-loaded moments. "She wasn't aggressive or mean. She just felt that she was trying to do the right thing to help people, to help children, and she had a relationship with the schools in the City of Aiken  principals, assistant principals and guidance counselors  and she did her job very well."

One of those principals was Gayle Gulick, who knew Burgess via his years at Silver Bluff and South Aiken high schools, in that order. When asked about Burgess' service, he paraphrased a quote, writing, "No person ever stands so tall as to bend down to help a child."

Another educator familiar with Burgess is Melencia Johnson, an associate professor of sociology at USC Aiken. Johnson wrote, "She has guest lectured at least a dozen times and had the opportunity to influence dozens of students. Several of my students recall our career panel day as one that informed their law enforcement career choice."

"I don't think I have met a harder worker," Stewart said. "She is really putting in the time ... I am absolutely thrilled that she has joined our agency; and frankly, I'm really pretty proud to be working with her. She's a wonderful person."

Burgess also expressed appreciation for the community where she has spent most of her adult years so far.

"I do know that we have great wealth here in Aiken. We have great community partnerships. I think that's one of the things that I really enjoy about Aiken, because I am not from South Carolina. I've enjoyed the community that exists here  the partnerships between agencies and members of the community that step up to do the right thing, who sit on boards and volunteer their time."

Her service on a variety of boards, she said, helped in terms of helping Burgess understand how the community works and which assets are at hand.

She and her husband, she said, enjoy logging mileage around their neighborhood, in Gem Lakes, to deal with some of the stress they face from day to day.

"My husband and I like to bike in the summer, largely, because then we can jump in the swimming pool, when we're done."

She added, "We walk at least two miles, usually, and it just helps me release a lot that's been on my shoulders all day, and it helps me just to get that fresh air ... Just being outside and walking through my neighborhood brings me joy."

Burgess also gets a kick out of visiting her childhood turf, where her mom and sister still live. The family-owned restaurant Beef Villa, she said, is a favorite destination  either the one in Elgin (where Burgess worked as a teenager) or its counterpart at O'Hare International Airport.

"The minute I go home to visit Mom and my sister, the first thing I want to do is go to Beef Villa and have my 'extra juicy' with 'extra sweet.' That's what you order. 'Extra juicy, extra sweet.' It's awesome," she said, with a laugh.

Burgess also finds a measure of sweetness in her professional background.

"I feel I was called to be a police officer. I think some people know what they want to do in life. Some people, it comes to them later in life, but I think I always knew. I knew since I was 8 years old that I wanted to be a police officer, and I'm one of the lucky ones that got to do what I'm supposed to do. At least, that's the way I feel."

Her new job represented "the door I was supposed to go through," she said. "I'm very honored to be in the position I'm in, to continue what I feel was my first mission, and I felt that this is just a continuation of why I'm here, and I'm very happy to serve in that capacity."

The idea now, she said, is "to make our center the best around and the best place that we can serve children in a capacity that promotes their healing and their wellness."
Asia Indonesia, Malaysia seek ASEAN summit to discuss Myanmar

Security forces after confronting with protesters in Yangon on Mar.17. (The Irrawaddy)
Law enforcement personnel are seen outside a massage parlor where a person was shot and killed on March 16, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images

Shootings at three Atlanta-area spas Tuesday left eight people dead, including six Asian women.

Experts told Insider the incident was emblematic of violence massage parlor workers face every day.

Many workers are in vulnerable, exploitative situations that are extremely difficult to get out of.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

On Tuesday night, a 21-year-old man visited three Atlanta-area massage parlors and killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women.

Though the suspect told police he was not motivated by race, experts have said there is "no doubt" race played a role. Hate crimes against people of Asian descent have also skyrocketed over the past year, partly motivated by the coronavirus pandemic.

But people working in massage parlors have been experiencing danger in their profession long before the recent uptick in hate incidents. Experts told Insider the spa shootings were the realization of many massage parlor workers' worst fears, on top of the many other dangers they face.

"What happened on March 16 is just emblematic of what my clients fear every single day that they go to work," Sabrina Talukder, an immigration attorney at the Exploitation Intervention Project in New York City, told Insider. "They go into work every day with the idea and the potential that violence can absolutely happen."

Talukder noted not all massage parlor workers are exploited or are victims of sex or labor-trafficking, but said there are many who are. She said half of her caseload includes massage parlor workers from China and Korea who have experienced exploitation of some kind.

At minimum, she said, several of her clients are exploited financially, adding that workers are generally overworked, underpaid, and subjected to intense surveillance. She said many would qualify for wage and hour claims under state and federal labor laws.

Sometimes pay schemes include dubious tactics designed to financially tie workers to the parlor, according to Amy Hsieh, an attorney and the deputy director of the Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Sanctuary for Families in New York City. For instance, she said some parlors will charge women "training fees" when they first start, requiring them to work without wages and indebting them to the owners.

Story continues

Sexual and physical violence are other dangers massage parlor workers deal with, including physical force or sexual assault and rape by clients. And it occurs at businesses that offer illicit sex services and businesses that don't.

Hsieh emphasized that not all massage businesses that primarily employ Asian women offer sex services, and the fact that some people assume they do is another issue that delegitimizes Asian-owned massage businesses.

"That's also very dangerous for people who are working at legitimate businesses, because oftentimes our clients have encountered customers who feel entitled to forced sexual services because they think they paid for that," she said.

Workers at massage parlors experience violence at the hands of customers and bosses, as well as police and undercover officers. Talukder said her clients are extremely fearful of police, and that some have shared experiences of sexual misconduct by law enforcement.

Distrust of law enforcement, which is also driven by police raids at parlors, is just one reason people in these situations do not seek out help or report assaults. For those in sex or labor-trafficking situations, Hsieh said fraud, force, and coercion are the three main factors.

Fraud, she said, occurs when a person applies to a job thinking it's a legitimate business, only to later be forced into providing sexual services. She said many of her clients experienced this and were scandalized during their first experience. Still, they don't feel like they can get out.

"Traffickers are using all the right levers to exploit the vulnerabilities," Hsieh said.

Those vulnerabilities vary. Some workers are undocumented and fear deportation. Some are indebted or economically dependent on the business. Some are sex workers or trafficking victims who fear prosecution for prostitution. Some are being threatened with harm to them or their family. The list goes on.

Whatever the reason, it's extremely rare for an exploited worker in a massage parlor to self-identify as someone who has been exploited and seek help. Talukder said it "almost never happens."

"So much language and cultural barriers, so much shame and stigma associated with this work," she said. "There's so many barriers."

Talukder and Hsieh said they get connected with most of their clients in these situations only when the person has already been arrested, an experience that can be traumatizing even if it doesn't result in a conviction.

"No one should have to be arrested in order to seek these services," Talukder said.

There are many things that can change to help people in vulnerable situations seek help. For instance, both the Exploitation Intervention Project and the Anti-Trafficking Initiative support decriminalizing people in prostitution. Though Hsieh said there should still be consequences for traffickers or similar perpetrators.

"If sex work is decriminalized, it provides so many extensive labor protections" to vulnerable people in the massage parlor industry, Talukder said, adding it also would encourage people to report exploitation, assault, hate crimes, and police misconduct, "making the entire community safer."

Have you worked in a massage parlor and experienced some of the things outlined in this story? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com if you would like to share.

Read the original article on Insider
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama lawmakers have approved a bill to stiffen penalties for participating in riots and traffic-blocking demonstrations.

But Black lawmakers and advocacy groups sharply criticized the legislation Thursday, saying they fear it will be used to silence and jail demonstrators.

The GOP-dominated House of Representatives voted 74-25 for the bill that now moves to the Alabama Senate.

The bills sponsor said the measures are needed to crack down on violent behavior. Advocacy groups and Black lawmakers have raised concerns about the vagueness of what could be considered a riot.
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Chronic Kidney Disease Market-Overview

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The launch of effective and promising drugs to treat chronic kidney diseases is estimated to create a promising market in the impending period. The refinement in the detection and diagnostic methods is estimated to spur the chronic kidney disease market companies in the near future.

Chronic Kidney Disease Market Segmental Analysis

The segmental review of the chronic kidney disease market is conducted on the basis of treatment, diagnosis, indication, region, and end-user. The treatment segment of the chronic kidney disease market consists of dialysis, drugs, and kidney transplant. The drugs sub- segment includes beta-blockers, angiotensin-ii receptor blockers, ace inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. The indication segment of the chronic kidney disease market consists of polycystic kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, high blood pressure, and others. The end-user segment of the chronic kidney disease market consists of diagnostic centers, hospitals, and clinics. The diagnosis segment of the chronic kidney disease market consists of imaging tests, urine tests, blood tests, and kidney biopsy. The region segment of the chronic kidney disease market consists of the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other lucrative regional markets.

Chronic Kidney Disease Market Detailed Regional Analysis

The regional assessment of the chronic kidney disease market consists of the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other lucrative regional markets. The Americas regions chronic kidney disease market is motivated by the extensive use of diagnostic tests for detecting kidney failure, the mounting population with kidney illnesses, and the collective demand for novel treatment options for kidney diseases. In the region of Europe, the chronic kidney disease market is propelled by the evolution of the medical device industry and the developing awareness about risk aspects for kidney diseases. Moreover, the growing number of diabetic residents and enormous investments in the medical device area by strategic market companies also powers the growth of the chronic kidney disease market. The Asia Pacific regional market is the fastest developing chronic kidney disease market due to the increasing prevalent diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The developing hospital substructure and the incidence of skilled healthcare professionals are estimated to further enhance the APAC regional market.

Chronic Kidney Disease Market Competitive Analysis

The market is predicted to be driven by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, by ensuring that businesses can counteract situations like these in the future. The government support to the rebuilding of economic growth momentum is estimated to be increased than the past few years. The market landscape is estimated to be redefined by the absorption of smaller companies or startups as well as mergers between market titans to enhance their overall pull on the global market progress. The toll on the health and mental wellbeing of the workers in the market is estimated to have a notable impact on the resurgence of the markets expansion in the upcoming years. The upcoming products in the market are estimated to have a notable influence on the pandemic in terms of germicidal properties that can be observed in the coming period. The investment in sustainable technologies and product options is predicted to reign over the next phase of market development strategies in the forecast period.

The prominent companies in the Chronic Kidney Disease Market Size are Abbott, Beckman Coulter, ACON Laboratories, Inc., Randox Laboratories, URIT Medical, Nova Biomedical, AstraZeneca Plc, Sanofi S.A., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Amgen Inc., AbbVie Inc., ARKRAY, OPTI Medical, 77 Elektronika, and Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Industry Updates:

Feb 2021 AstraZeneca Pharma India recently affirmed it has accepted approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for Dapagliflozin tablets for the remedy of patients with chronic kidney illness. The business has received Import and Market Consent in Form CT-20 (Subsequent New Drug Approval) from the DCGI for Dapagliflozin tablets 10 mg. The tablet is now permitted for additional indication, for the therapy of patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD) up to Stage III.

Jan 2021 AstraZeneca and BenevolentAI believe they've discovered a probable solution after beginning a collaboration approximately two years ago to produce artificial intelligence for kidney drug design. By means of its biomedical datasets, BenevolentAI's machine learning platform projected the presence of a new target in the inherent cellular mechanisms that initiate chronic kidney disease  which was subsequently established through trials by AstraZeneca researchers. The AI-generated target has been chosen by the drugmaker as a new objective for its collection, making it the primary product to come out of the businesses' collaboration, which also concentrates on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Intended Audience

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Companies

Research and Development (R&D) Companies

Ambulatory Care Centers

Academic Institutes and Universities

Market Research and Consulting Service Providers

Potential Investors

Browse Detailed TOC with COVID-19 Impact Analysis at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/chronic-kidney-disease-market-5744

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) ), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
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NEW ORLEANS, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH).

On October 7, 2020, news sources reported that the Company's Chief Executive Officer, David Bruton Smith, had been arrested and charged with felony assault by strangulation and misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment, assault on a female, and interfering with emergency communication. Shortly thereafter, the Company's Board of Directors issued a statement affirming that the Company "remains steadfast in its support of [its] CEO."

Then, on March 1, 2021, news sources reported that Smith had been indicted by a Mecklenburg County, N.C. grand jury on all four charges related to the October 2020 arrest, according to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Sonic's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Sonic's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Sonic shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-sah/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Related Links

http://www.ksfcounsel.com


Syringes and disinfectant wipes are seen on a table in a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Napanee, Ont., Monday, March 15, 2021. An Ottawa professor says the available data on past immunization campaigns in Indigenous communities show that Indigenous people are not more hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 than the general population, despite Canada's colonial history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Without Public Debate, Democracy Crumbles

Commentary

It sometimes feels as though our democracy is broken, and I wonder if it is our own fault. We have the right to know what our government does on our behalf, but we have become an apathetic citizenry, apparently not caring enough to speak up when we dont like how politicians run the government or spend our tax dollars.

When was the last time you went to a city council meeting, read a proposed piece of legislation, or contacted an elected official to express your opinion about a bill you thought was a lousy idea? Im betting it was either a long time agoor never.

The mainstream public has been effectively canceled by its own silence, and much smaller groups of outspoken activists have stepped into the void. As a result, politicians (and woke corporations) bend to interest groups desires, even though it is clear their demands are not supported by the majority. Defund the police; keep the schools closed; refuse to prosecute for looting, arson, or destruction of property; cancel nonconforming people and products.

Activists hammer on issues, and politicians react. What the majority wants ceases to matter. This is not the way a democracy is supposed to function.

Did you register opinions on allowing sanctuary cities, prisoners right to vote, national health care, or recent unconstitutional voting law changes? Were you allowed input into President Joe Bidens executive order that suddenly halted drilling on federal lands and shut down construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, erasing thousands of American jobs?

For years now, we, the public, have been left out of the right to know what our elected officials are doing before they do it. Presidential orders and mysterious Congressional actions abound, initiated by both Republicans and Democrats.

I hadnt really pondered how often Americans have given up their right to know until I was contacted recently by an Italian named Matteo Angioli, secretary general of the Global Committee for the Rule of Law. Angioli wanted to discuss one of my past columns, in which I wrote: We have entered a phase of politics where leading by partisan edict is becoming more frequent. No debate of issues, just politicians who feel emboldened to ram through their ideas.

Speaking via Zoom from his home near Florence, Italy, Angioli told me he thought those two lines summed up perfectly one of the biggest issues of our time.

We had a fascinating conversation about his efforts to change things working with the Council of Europe, an international organization founded right after World War II and dedicated to upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Matteos goal is tied to the Tromso Convention, which calls for all European countries to increase government transparency, improve public access to official documents and politicians decision-making processes, and restore citizens trust in government.

Wouldnt it be great if our state and national governments followed the Tromso Convention? While Americans can file Freedom of Information requests for government documents, it is a cumbersome and arbitrary system. Yes, a few U.S. politicians still hold occasional town hall meetings, but open public debate forums should become the norm.

Matteo and I agreed civilians need to care about their right to know again. We have to find time in our hectic lives to get informed about where our country and our taxes are headed and, if we dont like it, voice our opposition. We need to fight our apathy so a sense of equality and justice can prevail.

The lynchpin in all this, of course, is a fair and impartial media. It is their job to report whats really important. Instead of concentrating on who said what on Twitter years ago, media outlets need to return to truly informing the public about government activities.

Another trillion-dollar spending bill is already in the congressional pipeline. Id like to see a full accounting of where that money will go before the bill passes.

Yes, American citizens have a right to know what our elected leaders are doingevery step of the way. But if we dont make our desires known to the politicians, those small groups of eager activists will continue to drive the national narrative. They will continue to erode our society.

Time to let politicians know what you want.

Diane Dimond is an author and investigative journalist. Her latest book is Thinking Outside the Crime and Justice Box.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Washington, March 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Private organizations, colleges and universities, private sector firms, nonprofit organizations and state, local or tribal governmental agencies across Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Northern California, and Nevada are eligible to apply for funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide training and counseling to aspiring and existing veteran small business owners as a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC).

The grant awardees will provide training to service members and military spouses through the Boots to Business entrepreneurship training program, which is part of the Department of Defenses Transition Assistance Program. Additionally, applicants will provide counseling, technical and financial skill development, comprehensive business assessments, and mentoring services to veterans, transitioning and active-duty service members, Reserve, National Guard, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business.

Our Veterans Business Outreach Centers play an integral role in supporting the military and veteran small business community throughout their entrepreneurial journey, said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator for SBAs Office of Veterans Business Development. With this new applicant pool, we hope to bring diverse ideas to the VBOC program and increase our ability to reach aspiring and current veteran entrepreneurs nationwide.

Each award is made for a base project period of 12 months, with four 12-month option periods, starting May 1, 2021. Additional information about the funding opportunity, including specific coverage areas and instructions on how to apply, can be found by heading to www.grants.gov and searching SB-OVVB-21-001 or GrantSolutions .

Applications submitted via other media, including SBAs website, will be rejected and will not be evaluated. Applications must be submitted via grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

SBAs Office of Veterans Business Development will host information sessions about the funding opportunity via this Microsoft Teams link or this call-in number (202-765-1264; access code: 318 430 466#) at the following times:

Monday, March 22: 4-5 p.m. EDT

Friday, March 26: 12-1 p.m. EDT

Monday, March 29: 4-5 p.m. EDT

Friday, April 2: 12-1 p.m. EDT

Direct any questions about the VBOC funding opportunity to Sandra Wells at sandra.wells@sba.gov .

For issues with grants.gov , please call the Grants.gov Support Line at 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov .



###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 61F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
All 77 BJP MLAs in Bengal to have central security cover

Give BJP a chance in this election, will lay down our lives for you: PM Modi in Bengal

India

oi-Deepika S

Kolkata, Mar 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the ruling TMC and asked Bengali people for a chance to BJP in the upcoming polls, saying "we will lay down our lives for you".

"You have seen destruction by Congress and the Left. TMC ruined your dreams. In the last 70 years, you gave opportunities to everyone but give us 5 years, we will free Bengal from the 70 years of destruction, we will sacrifice our lives for you," PM Modi said.



"WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook were down for 50-55 min, everybody got worried. But in Bengal, development, and dreams have been down for 50-55 years. First, it was Congress, then Left, and now TMC, who have blocked state's development," he added.

Attending his second rally in the election-bound state in three days, the prime minister alleged Banerjee was engaged in "khela" (game) of appeasement for vote bank politics.

25 per cent candidates contesting in West Bengal polls phase-1 declared criminal cases against themselves

"Industrial units are getting shuttered. You know, a single-window system is created for speedy clearances for industries. In Bengal, too, exists a single window....the single window of ''Bhaipo'' (nephew) without crossing which no work gets done," he said without naming Banerjee''s nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee.

The BJP has often accused Abhishek of running syndicates that extort money from common people. In local parlance, syndicates refer to gangs run by TMC toughs who sell substandard construction material to people at exorbitant rates.

Rejecting the outsider tag Mamata Banerjee has given to his party, the prime minister said,"The BJP is the only real party of Bengal. Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded Jana Sangh, the BJP''s forerunner. He was the son of Bengal."

Ridiculing Banerjee over the "khela hobe" (game will happen) slogan, Modi said "Didir khela shesh hobe, vikas aarambh" (Didi''s game will be over and development will start).

Referring to the ''Ayushman Bharat'' health insurance scheme, the prime minister said the TMC government has not implemented it as it thought the Centre will get credit for the measure.

"Mamata Didi stands like a wall to block central schemes," he alleged.

He claimed the previous Congress, Left and the current TMC governments had all stalled West Bengal''s development.

Modi also spoke about the alleged killing of around 130 BJP workers by TMC activists since the 2018 panchayat elections.

"Mamata Didi runs a school of brutality where ''tolabaji'' (extortion), cut money, syndicate and anarchy are part of the syllabus," he alleged.
In this modern, cosmopolitan Ireland when boy meets girl, boy meets boy, or girl meets girl, there is little consideration given to the race, colour or creed of one's object of desire.

If someone catches your eye, offers a winsome smile, then the game is afoot. The religious denomination of your paramour will, in most cases, be an irrelevance.

If the relationship endures, if that initial attraction solidifies into something more meaningful, the couple will introduce one another to their respective parents, family members, and close circle of friends. Thus, the initiation period will come to an end.

Should our young lovers decide to create an everlasting bond, a union to stand the test of time, only then will their faith, or perhaps lack of, become a matter of debate. Will it be a church wedding? A civil ceremony? Humanist?

The options are many and varied. Yet each will serve the same purpose, to join two people together, celebrate their love and give cause to a great, big party.

However, those who came before, those who grew up in the Ireland of the post-war years did not have such luxuries.

Expand Close Sheila Cloney who refused to be forced by a priest to send her children to the local Catholic school and left her husband Sean and the State, taking her children with her / Facebook

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Whatsapp Sheila Cloney who refused to be forced by a priest to send her children to the local Catholic school and left her husband Sean and the State, taking her children with her

Sheila Cloney (nee Kelly) was born on May 6, 1926 in Fethard-on-Sea. She moved to London in the late 1940s and began working for a family in Golders Green, Barnet.

One afternoon, she received a visit from Sean Cloney, a farmer from Dungulph Castle, Saltmills, who was in England on family business. Shortly thereafter the couple began seeing one another on a regular basis and, as couples do, decided to marry and start a life together.

There was just one complication: Sean was a Catholic and Sheila a Protestant.

Although provisions were in place to facilitate inter-faith marriages at that time theirs was an inconvenient love, one firmly out of step with best practises.

In order to appease both churches the couple married first in a registry office (in 1948) before cementing their nuptials with a Catholic church wedding shortly thereafter. Their first child, Eileen, was born in 1951 and thus began the problems.

Under the terms of the Ne Temere decree issued by Pope Pius X in 1908, all children born into a marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic were to be baptised and raised in the Catholic faith.

In a decision she would later regret, Sheila had agreed to bring up any children they might have as Catholics and signed a document to that effect.

Following Eileen's birth, the Cloney's planned to baptise her in both faiths, however, at the time the Catholic Church did not recognise Church of Ireland baptisms as valid, meaning their daughter would first have to first be baptised as a Protestant and then as a Catholic.

Yet, as Liam Ryan explains in The Fethard Boycott, the decision was ultimately taken out of the Cloneys' hands.

'The nuns at the nursing home where Eileen was born had her baptised straight away,' Liam writes. 'This was an infringement of the couple's policy of mutual regard...and something which Sheila, a forthright character, would not forget.'

A second child, Mary, followed in 1953 and, once more, she was baptised as a Catholic. Neither child attended mass in their early years but, as they neared school-going age, the expectation was they would enrol in Fethard's Catholic national school. Sheila had other ideas and began to express 'doubts regarding where Eileen would be educated' becoming 'increasingly determined' that her daughters would attend Fethard's Protestant school.

Unsurprisingly, those 'doubts' were not well-received by the local clergy. In April of 1957 Sheila received a visit from three Catholic priests, among them the Reverend William Stafford. The purpose of the meeting was clear: to persuade Sheila to send her children to the Catholic school.

According to Fr Stafford the visit had been a 'friendly one', but Sheila made a statement to the contrary.

She informed the priests she wished to 'raise her children in an environment where they were fully aware and respectful of both religious traditions', but was told 'no, she could not do so.'

Tim Fanning is the author of The Fethard-on-Sea Boycott and has written extensively on the lives of Sheila and Sean Cloney. In a piece entitled The Woman Who Took on the Power of the Priest he explains just what the young mother was up against.

'In the 1950s southern Protestants kept their heads down. They weren't supposed to make waves,' Tim says. 'Most others would have backed down in the face of such clerical bullying. Sheila, showing great moral courage, responded with an act of defiance.'

That act of defiance saw Sheila leave the family home on Saturday, April 27, Eileen and Mary in tow, the intention being to head to Northern Ireland and seek counsel from her fellow churchmen.

'Her departure enraged Fr Stafford, and he dispatched a number of people to drive at speed to Rosslare Port thinking that was the route Sheila had taken,' Liam says. 'Their instructions were to return with the children and let Sheila go alone to England.'

But Sheila was gone to Belfast, where she would remain, away from husband and home.

Fr Stafford's next move would almost tear this small, tight-knit community apart and cause ructions which last to this day.

'In an ill-conceived attempt to have the children returned to Dungulph, Fr Stafford called for a boycott of Protestant shops and businesses on May 12....chiefly Gardiner's Shop and Betty Cooper's newsagency,' says Liam.

'On his instructions Catholic workers also walked away from their Protestant employers, the Catholic teacher at the Protestant school in Fethard was forced to leave her job. An elderly piano teacher Ms Knipe lost all her Catholic pupils and Alec Auld could no longer sell the milk he produced.'

In scenes reminiscent of communist Soviet Union, a 'vigilance committee' was formed, its purpose to 'watch the customers of the shops of Leslie Gardiner and Betty Cooper. If a Catholic was seen to be supporting Protestant businesses then that person received a visit and was told to shop elsewhere.'

According to Fr Stafford the boycott had been initiated to 'compel the guilty to bring back Eileen and Mary as "Mother church was weeping for her children whose souls were in jeopardy."'

Attempts to widen the boycott to include New Ross and other parts of south Wexford proved unsuccessful, however, news of the divide did reach the capital and An Taoiseach Eamon de Valera.

'The boycott campaign attracted increased national and international attention as the summer wore on,' writes Seamus Helferty. 'Despite the unequivocal condemnation of the actions of the Fethard Catholics by the Taoiseach Eamon de Valera as "ill-conceived, ill-considered and futile, unjust and cruel", many, particularly in Northern Ireland, were inclined to view events as indicative of a general lack of tolerance in the Republic for the Protestant population.'

While the words of Dev had little impact on those behind the boycott, this warning from the visiting Right Rev Dr Phair Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin carried more weight.

'People who know nothing at all about the disappearance of this woman - innocent people - are being punished,' began the Bishop, adding that 'those responsible for this business should bring it to an end.'

Yet, in an example of the challenges Sheila and Sean faced, the Bishop then went on to say the following.

'I deplore the whole business of mixed marriages. They nearly always end unhappily. I think that Mrs Cloney acted wrongly in breaking up her home and leaving her husband.

'That I deplore, I am distressed beyond words that that happy relationship has broken up and this whole stupid thing has taken place.'

Stuck in the middle of the whole sorry affair were Sheila's parents, Tommy and Mary. The former had this to say about his daughter's actions.

'I take the view that if any of my daughters give a solemn undertaking before marriage to a Catholic that the children will be brought up in the Catholic religion I would expect them to honour that undertaking.'

It should be noted that not every Catholic in Fethard-on-Sea adhered to the messages passed down from above, indeed some continued to shop at Gardiner's - albeit surreptitiously when no-one was watching - while others walked to the local public houses with their Protestant neighbours, passing the 'vigilance committee' on the way.

Furthermore, a relief fund was organised to aid those affected by the boycott, and although the majority of the donations came from Northern Ireland, many Catholics offered their assistance too.

With pressure mounting and prominent figures calling for an end to the boycott, Fr Stafford remained resolute, conveying the following message to his flock in early July.

'The priests of this parish, with a full sense of their responsibility and realising the Catholic issue at stake, assure the faithful, loyal Catholics of this parish that, in the stand they are taking in defence of Catholic principles, not now, nor in the near future, nor in the distant future, will their priests let them down by asking them to withdraw one inch or apologise for their actions.'

Meanwhile, Sheila had acquired the services of a barrister by the name of Desmond Boal, a man who himself clearly enjoyed a game of hardball from time to time.

Mr Boal drew up the following terms of settlement and presented them to Sean.

1. Cloney was to sell his property in Co Wexford.

2. He was to emigrate to Canada or Australia with his wife and daughters.

3. He was to agree to his children being brought up as Protestants.

4. He was to give consideration to changing his own religion.

These terms were dismissed out of hand and Sean applied to the High Court in Belfast for a habeas corpus order seeking the return of his children.

Fearing her children would be taken from her, Sheila first went to Edinburgh and then to Westray, one of the Orkney Islands where, on November 1, she was briefly reunited with her husband.

She returned to Fethard in early 1958 but left almost immediately in the face of intrusive press attention.

And the boycott?

'It petered out thanks to an intervention from the Taoiseach Eamon De Valera, and a carefully negotiated deal involving Sheila's father, Tommy Kelly, and the Chairman of Wexford County Council, Jimmy Kennedy,' writes Tim Fanning.

Although there was no declaration of peace, the signal to end hostilities came when a local Catholic priest purchased a packet of cigarettes in Gardiner's shop.

Sheila returned to Fethard for good in Easter of 1958 and the Cloneys attempted to get on with their lives as best they could.

'Neither of the children went to school and worked hard on the farm with very little social contact with the outside world,' says Liam.

However, their younger sister Hazel later attended Catholic Poulfur National School without 'any fuss'.

Betty Cooper continued to operate her newsagents until her retirement in 1993, while the Gardiners eventually sold their shop. It would be 40 years before the people of Fethard-on-Sea received a formal apology from the Catholic Church when the Bishop of the Diocese of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey, made a public apology and asked for the forgiveness of the local Church of Ireland population.

Sean Cloney died the following year, predeceased by his daughter Mary, while Sheila passed in 2009. For many years she refused to be drawn on the boycott and events leading up to it, but, according to Liam, she did eventually have her say.

'She had no regrets apart from breaking her promise under the Ne Temere decree,' he writes. 'Otherwise she did not feel she had done anything wrong.

'One cannot but admire Sheila Cloney for standing by the courage of her own convictions, every ounce as determined and steadfast as the clergy who believed they knew better.'

Tim Fanning is equally effusive in his praise for Sheila.

'She struck a small, but significant blow against the tyranny of the clerical bullies and small minds who held sway over this country for so long.'

In 1999 a film based on the Fethard boycott was released. It was called A Love Divided.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20)  Prices of fish products in the National Capital Region, galunggong in particular, have started to "stabilize" as supply in wet markets increases, the Department of Agriculture said Saturday.

Galunggong currently sells for 180 per kilogramdown from 260 to 280according to the daily market price monitoring conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) in Metro Manila markets.

Prices of tilapia and bangus were also stable at 120 and 180 per kilogram, respectively.

The DA said there was an increase in fish unloaded at the Navotas Fish Port Complex, considered to be Southeast Asia's largest fish port.

Citing data from the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, 9,506.81 metric tons (MT) were unloaded from March 1 to 155,743.44 MT were marine commodities, 1,480.88 MT were from aquaculture, and 2,282.49 MT were frozen fish products. Galunggong comprised the largest percentage in the supply.

READ: Agriculture department: Galunggong imports to boost supply, lower prices

The boost in supply could also be attributed to the lifting of the three-month fishing ban in major local fishing grounds, the DA added.

"With the resumption of large supplies of fresh marine commodities in the market, our consumers now have more affordable fish to choose from and put on their tables. We had continuous aquaculture production in the past months and this helped us augment supply during our lean months," DA Undersecretary for Fisheries Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said in a statement.

"Our abundance of supply now is perfectly in time with our urgent need to ramp up efforts to ensure the nation's food security as we battle an even stronger challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic," she added.
Iran loses right to vote in UN General Assembly

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Are we getting under the burden? Then lets get under to the end

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Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

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Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

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Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ponderosa Elementary School principal Shanna Swearingen and Twin Creeks Middle School principal Kenisha Williams were named 2021 Elementary and Secondary Principals of the Year, Spring ISD announced in a news release March 11.

Swearingen and Williams were chosen based on campus data and observations, student assessment, and feedback from other district leaders and members of the community.

Chief of innovation and equity Lupita Hinojosa said the pair has set the standard for strong, compassionate leadership during the pandemic.

With so many wonderful principals working in our district, selecting elementary and secondary principals of the year is always difficult, Hinojosa said via the news release. Its an extensive process that incorporates quantitative as well as qualitative criteria.

Swearingen said she looks at Ponderosa as a family.

A lot of it has to do with putting together a really strong team, working together on building the culture, and then leveraging everything we can to address students needs, Swearingen said.

Not only do we provide a place for students to learn, but we provide emotional and social support. We provide a human connection

Williams said school isnt only for students to learn but a place where they can get emotional and social support.

During this pandemic there is so much uncertainty and staying connected and showing that we care is whats important to our students and families, Williams said. If our students and families know that we care, the student outcomes will improve, even during a pandemic.

Klein Forest nominated for national honor

The Automotive Technology program at Klein Forest led by instructor Jonathan Couch is one of 21 nationwide that was nominated for Best Technical Training School by WIX Filters and OReilly Auto Parts, Klein ISD announced in a press release, March 11.

Klein Forest principal Lance Alexander said Couch makes sure his students have opportunities to succeed after high school.

CTE programs like our Automotive Technology courses allow students who want to go a different route after high school or need to work immediately after graduation a chance to obtain certifications and enter the workforce as experienced and certified employees, Alexander said.

Couch said the competition isnt just about public schools.

There are strong brands on this list that include colleges and specialized tech schools, Couch said. We are competing outside of our class and are still considered a strong contender.

Spring ISD students named All-State Musicians

Three Spring Independent School District students from campus music programs at Dekaney and Spring High were chosen via virtual audition as 2020-21 All-State Musicians by the Texas Music Educators Association, the district announced in a news release March 11.

The students who received the highest honor a music student can get included Dekaney junior Teon Golden who is the first-ever choir student from the school selected for All-State. Golden was chosen for the Bass 2 section of the All-State Mixed Choir.

Spring senior Christopher Aviles is a longtime choir and Lion Players Theatre Company member and was selected for the Tenor 2 section of the All-State Mixed Choir.

Spring senior Leonidas Velasquez was the only one chosen from the four TMEA regions covering Houston to represent this years 6A All-State Band as a baritone saxophone player.

All three were honored during this months Speing ISD Board of Trustees meeting and acknowledged with Points of Pride awards.

This years All-State group will not get to perform in San Antonio but instead be honored in a different way at a later date, according to TMEA.

We are so proud of these students and the extra effort they had to put in to accomplish this task in the middle of a public health crisis, Spring ISD Assistant Director of Performing and Visual Arts David Landgrebe said via the news release.

Klein ISD receive professional learning award

Klein Independent School Districts Professional Learning team was honored with the 2021 Outstanding Professional Learning Award from Learning Forward Texas, Klein ISD announced in a news release, March 15.

The award is given to districts, teams, or campuses that use high-quality, results-driven professional learning designed to impact student achievement.

The professional learning team at Klein ISD was distinguished for establishing a culture of student achievement within a standards-based personalized professional learning plan.

We pride ourselves on the high-quality teaching and learning that takes place every day in our district, and our phenomenal professional learning team is instrumental in this success, Superintendent Jenny McGown said via the news release. Im so proud of this dedicated team for their hard work and innovative strategies in meeting our educators professional growth priorities.

Klein ISD Instructional Office of Professional Learning Monica Shallenberger said the team is honored and humbled to receive the award.

We are blessed to work with and share this award with so many Klein family educators who help make all of our professional learning initiatives happen, Shallenberger said. We are grateful to Learning Forward Texas for the recognition because it highlights the important work educators in our school district do each day to support teachers who then support students on our campuses.

Klein ISD wins awards at Academic Decathlon

Klein ISD was awarded numerous awards in regional and state competitions during the 2020-21 United States Academic Decathlon, the district announced March 11.

The district had two state winners who will compete at Nationals against 40 states.

This years events revolved around the theme of The Cold War and had students competing in speeches, taking exams, solving questions and problems and were interviewed by judges and tasked with writing an essay.

Klein High senior Josh Smith was the all-around high point earner and placed first in the Large School Varsity category and received a $2,000 scholarship.

Klein Collins senior Brighton Shabankareh placed third in overall student points in the Large School Varsity category and won a $1,000 scholarship.

Klein ISD teams also placed in the top four and top eight in overall highest individual scores regionally.

In the Regional overall team scores, Klein High placed first, Klein Collins second, Klein Cain fifth, Klein Oak seventh and Klein Forest 14th.

Artwork from Klein ISD displayed at State Capitol

Three student represented Klein ISD with artwork during the 2021 Youth Art Month Capital Exhibit at the Texas Capitol organized in March to support art education and programs, Klein ISD announced March 19.

The students were joined by 97 others from 66 districts who were selected by jurors to display their artwork during this years exhibit .

Daniel Alvarez Fedyaev represented Klein Oak with Beautiful Pain, Natalie Cantu represented Klein High with Invention of Flight and Olivia Clark represented Hildebrandt Intermediate with The Swing.

Klein Cain student awarded Scholarship

Houston television station KPRC 2 surprised Klein Cain senior Jordan McAlister with a $2,500 Texas Mattress Makers Senior Scholarship, Klein ISD announced in a news release March 11.

Jordan was one of 10 students nominated by Klein ISD and joins 19 others high school seniors that was chosen for this years scholarship.

alvaro.montano@chron.com
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19, two days after he got the first shot of the vaccination.

At this point, the prime ministers office can only confirm that the honourable prime minister has tested positive for Covid-19 and has self-isolated, we will release more details in due course, his office said.

   

And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me.

(Quran 26:80)



Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at home.  Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) March 20, 2021

Khan, has been holding regular and frequent meetings lately, including attending a security conference held in capital Islamabad that was attended by a large number of people.

He addressed the conference without wearing a mask, and attended another gathering to inaugurate a housing project for poor people in a similar fashion on Friday, news agency Reuters reported.

Also read: How 45 Million Made-In-India COVID-19 Vaccines Are Making Way Towards Pakistan

AFP

On Thursday, Imran Khan took the first dose of Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm.

This vaccine is currently made available only to Pakistan and becomes effective after two successful doses.

Also read; Pak Musician Turns PM Imran Khan's Signature Phrase 'Aap Ne Ghabrana Nahi' Into Hilarious Parody Song

Twitter

Soon after the news broke, people took to Twitter to make their feelings known about the Chinese vaccine.

As chinese syringes are small so not enough Chinese Vaccine dose would have gone into his body #ImranKhan  Venkateshx (@Lucid69Dreamer) March 20, 2021

#ImranKhan has tested postive COVID

Le China vaccine pic.twitter.com/x0CbemEII1  Rohan66 Kumar (@RohanKumar672) March 20, 2021

I hope for a speedy recovery of Pakistani prime minister.

My advice would be to stay away from Chinese vaccine.#imrankhan #chinavaccine #useless #worthless  vinayak (@vinayak95678068) March 20, 2021

If PM Imran Khan got COVID positive after 2 days of vaccination, then what is the authenticity of such vaccine or just a melodrama?#ImranKhan pic.twitter.com/VdyEZ7EMrs  Basit Ali khattak (@BasitAli0337) March 20, 2021

Along with many countries in the world, Pakistan is also witnessing a spike in the daily Covid-19 cases.



According to numbers released by government, 3,876 people tested positive in the last 24 hours  the highest number of daily infections since early July  taking the total number of infections in the country past 620,000.



Also read: Internet Has A Field Day After Pakistan PM Imran Khan's Doppelganger Was Spotted Riding Rickshaw
The man who died in a workplace accident in Caim yesterday has been hailed as a fantastic family man who was part of the fabric of the Courtnacuddy community.

Philip Reck (41) died in a freak accident at the Cooney Furlong plant grain stores in Dranagh, Caim, where he worked for 18 years, at around 9.50 a.m. on Monday.

Paramedics attended the scene and Mr Reck's remains were taken by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford, where a post mortem was due to take place.

Gardai and Health & Safety Authority personnel attended the scene late on Monday morning and two investigations are under way into the accident.

Philip is survived by his partner Martina and two daughters who attend school locally.

A local resident said: 'We are all in pure shock. It's a double tragedy in a way because you also have the man who was involved in it.'

Describing Philip as a family oriented man who lived for his partner and children, the man said he will be dearly missed.

'He was a good community man and the kids would be involved in the community. Reck's Cross as you turn into the village is named after his family. It's just a complete shock to everyone. You feel for both families.

'It's a tight knit workplace - most of the staff have worked together for a long time and pretty much grew up with one another. They're more family than colleagues. Not a stone is out of place there and health and safety is key.'

He said Mr Reck's eldest daughter was only after returning to school. 'It just doesn't bear thinking about it - what is going through their minds. We will do our best to do what we can. It's such a difficult time to try and do anything. We can't do what's bred into us to do for them.'

A Health and Safety Authority spokesperson said: 'The authority is aware of, and is investigating this incident.'

Gardai also confirmed they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic case. A spokesperson for Cooney Furlong said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of our esteemed colleague. He was a committed and valued member of the team who worked with us for 18 years. We would like to offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at this time.

'The gardai and the Health and Safety Authority will continue to investigate the circumstances over the coming days, with our full co-operation. As this is now an ongoing investigation, we will not be in a position to make any further comment for the moment.'
One of the most brazen examples is a bill passed by the Georgia House to limit early voting on Sundays, undercutting the souls to the polls efforts used by predominantly Black churches to mobilize voters. Then there are the four bills in the Pennsylvania General Assembly that would end no-excuse mail voting  a bipartisan policy adopted in the state only two years ago. In Virginia, one of the few states electing legislators this year, one piece of legislation would prohibit the use of ballot drop boxes even if the pandemic continues to make going to the polls a danger for vulnerable populations.
Iran loses right to vote in UN General Assembly

Newspaper: Armenia authorities come up with new way of punishing unwanted characters

Newspaper: Russia army Southern Military District deputy commander to arrive in Yerevan Thursday

Lebanese Armenian man taken prisoner by Azerbaijan is hospitalized

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Are we getting under the burden? Then lets get under to the end

Armenia acting health minister on keeping fallen soldiers bodies in bags: What else should they be kept in?

Armenia acting health minister on citizens' demand for her resignation

Karabakh's new State Minister Artak Beglaryan on his appointment and future activities

Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani representatives hold consultations in Moscow

2 Armenian soldiers receive slight injuries after incident with Azerbaijani servicemen in Armenia's Gegharkunik

Armenian boy weighing 5 kg born at Goris Medical Center

"Armenia" bloc representative presents purpose of participation in elections and plans

Isaac Herzog elected President of Israel

Rouhani: Main issues between Tehran, Washington resolved in Vienna

Charles Michel calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume constructive negotiations

US Department of State responds to Pashinyan's proposal to deploy international observers on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Head of Armenia 2nd President's Office: Robert Kocharyan's public meetings are held in warm atmosphere

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representative on photos and videos showing bags of deceased servicemen's bodies

Armenia Ombudsman, AGBU President discuss war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during Karabakh war

Opposition "Armenia" bloc's representatives to hold briefings three times a week

Opposition "Armenia" bloc member: Blood-freezing photos and videos from morgue in Abovyan are authorities' reflection

Yerevan mayor receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Health Ministry, Investigative Committee keep info about sending remains of dead soldiers abroad confidential

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory
Sen. Dianne Feinstein has long been seen as one of the big supporters of the filibuster. Now shes making clear her mind could change, providing a big boost to Democrats who want to do away with the procedure that effectively requires most legislation to receive 60 votes in order to pass the Senate. Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for nearly three decades, said late Friday that the shootings in Atlanta this week are pushing her to change her mind and she could be open to changing the way the filibuster works if senators cant come together in a bipartisan manner on gun-control legislation and voting rights.

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If that proves impossible and Republicans continue to abuse the filibuster by requiring cloture votes, Im open to changing the way the Senate filibuster rules are used, the California Democrat said in a statement. I dont want to turn away from Senate traditions, but I also dont believe one party should be able to prevent votes on important bills by abusing the filibuster.

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Friday night news from DiFi: Ideally the Senate can reach bipartisan agreement....But if that proves impossible and Republicans continue to abuse the filibuster by requiring cloture votes, Im open to changing the way the Senate filibuster rules are used. pic.twitter.com/MOrjzVwVC7  Emily Cochrane (@ESCochrane) March 20, 2021

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In the statement, Feinstein pointed out that President Joe Biden also expressed support for the change this week. Biden, who served in the Senate for 36 years, suggested he could endorse what is knowns as a talking filibuster, which essentially requires a senator to keep talking in order to maintain the filibuster. I dont think that you have to eliminate the filibuster. You have to do it what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days, Biden said in an interview with ABC News. You had to stand up and command the floor. And you had to keep talking.

EXCLUSIVE: @GStephanopoulos: "You're for bringing back the talking filibuster?"



Pres. Biden: "I am. That's what it was supposed to be...Democracy's having a hard time functioning." https://t.co/yAWX6oXaSP pic.twitter.com/CUr6JXRIDD  ABC News (@ABC) March 17, 2021

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Feinstein had previously said she wasnt too eager to change the filibuster rules because shes worried about what could happen if Republicans regain control of the Senate. She was hardly the only holdout among Democrats to changing the rules, but even some who have talked about the importance of the Filibuster seem willing to at least talk about reform. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, for example, recently said he was willing to discuss requiring a talking filibuster.

With Feinstein and Manchin both expressing potential support for at least some kind of reform, the main holdout among Democrats is now Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Synema hasnt just opposed filibuster reform, shes also said she would consider strengthening the filibuster. Considering the Senates 50-50 split, Democrats would likely need the support of all members of their party to push through any reforms.
BOSTON  Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein was unwavering in his testimony Friday before a legislative oversight committee on the deadly coronavirus outbreak at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke last spring.

Part of the problem here was that Superintendent Walsh genuinely did not know what he did not know, Pearlstein told the panel after more than two hours of discussion, referring to former Superintendent Bennett Walsh, who has shouldered much of the blame for the crisis.

Walsh and former medical director Dr. David Clinton have pleaded not guilty to 10 criminal charges related to the deaths of at least 76 residents from COVID-19. They potentially face decades in prison if convicted, according to state Attorney General Maura Healey.

Walsh and his attorneys have long argued Walsh was made the fall guy by Gov. Charlie Bakers administration.

Pearlstein testified Baker placed no restrictions or parameters on him and his team when he asked them to launch an investigation.

The governor placed no limitation whatsoever on the scope of the manner in which we conducted the investigation, he said. I would not have agreed to conduct an independent investigation if those strings were attached.

He also testified he and his team looked pointedly to Boston for evidence of wrongdoing or neglect, but found none.

Pearlstein is a former federal prosecutor appointed on April 1 by Baker to conduct an independent review of the outbreak. He took the project on for free, recruiting the help of eight other lawyers, interviewed 100 witnesses, reviewed 17,000 documents and produced a report on June 24.

The 174-page document offered a snapshot of a hellish descent for the state-run facility and its elderly residents as the virus took hold. Walsh and his staff decided to combine two dementia units, melding the sick with the well, as the crisis ramped up and a large percentage of staff began calling in sick.

Pearlstein wrote that staff reported veterans were jammed into a small space and many began dying around them. Men were half-dressed. Documents were in complete disarray and a refrigeration truck was parked outside as a makeshift morgue, according to the report.

On Friday, Pearlstein said he consulted with a long-term care facility director throughout his research, who weighed in on the wisdom of combining the units.

He told us the only occasion where he could envision where an overcrowding situation of this magnitude would be permitted to occur would be in the wake of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane and they were concerned about flooding, Pearlstein testified.

The attorney fielded questions from legislators ranging from the governance of the home, who hired Walsh in the first place and whether more members of Bakers administration bore responsibility for the death toll.

Walsh previously released emails showing he asked for help from the National Guard before being suspended.

We are exploring all options at this time. Where are you with our recent retirees who can come in? former Department of Veterans Services Secretary Francisco Urena answered on March 27, 2020.

The guard was not deployed until three days later, after Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse contacted Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito to tell her of the rising number of deaths at the home.

What happened during those 72 hours? state Rep. Michael Finn, a West Springfield Democrat and member of the oversight committee, asked Pearlstein, noting that at least eight other state employees received the email.

Pearlstein responded that Walshs request only went as high as Urena, who was forced to resign after Pearlsteins report was published on June 24.

Walsh did not provide an accurate picture of the deteriorating situation at the home, and he had been historically reluctant to invite state officials into the facility, Pearlstein testified. Plus, Walsh had instilled a culture of fear at the home and his own management skills had already been called into question.

Some of this should not have been news to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Services, state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell remarked during the hearing.

Campbell chairs the oversight committee along with state Sen. Michael Rush, a Boston Democrat who is new to the committee after state Sen. Walter Timility stepped down after six public hearings had already been held.

The committee was initially formed by retired Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo, who imposed a March 31 deadline to issue a report. This week, however, a Campbell staffer told The Republican that deadline has been relaxed.

Due to the seriousness of the events that unfolded at the Holyoke Soldiers Home and in an effort to accommodate the recent appointment of the new Senate Chair, the committee will likely seek an extension of a few weeks, Campbell said.

Our committee will be making recommendations and filing legislation to improve the operation of the Holyoke Soldiers Home to ensure that care provided to our Veterans is of the highest quality. The committee continues to gather information on many topics that affect care at the Home, including facilities, leadership structures, communications, staffing, and more. Our recommendations will touch upon all of these areas, she added.

Related content:
President Joe Biden speaks after meeting with leaders from Georgia's Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, Friday, March 19, 2021, at Emory University in Atlanta. AP-Yonhap



President Joe Biden strongly denounced violence against Asian Americans on Friday, saying too many of them have been forced to worry about their very safety amid a rise in hate crimes targeting Asian American communities in the U.S.



He and Vice President Kamala Harris blamed the former administration for scapegoating Asian Americans for the COVID-19 pandemic.



"They've been attacked, blamed, scapegoated and harassed. They've been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed. Documented incidents of hate against Asian Americans have seen a skyrocketing spike over the last year, let alone the ones that happened, never get reported," the president said in a press conference held in Atlanta following his meeting with Asian American community leaders there.



The remarks come after deadly shootings at three day spas in Atlanta and Cherokee County, Georgia, left eight people killed, six of them women of Asian descent. Four of the victims have also been identified as women of Korean descent.



A 21-year-old suspect, identified as Robert Aaron Long, has been arrested and charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.



Harris noted the number of hate incidents involving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders came to 3,800 in 2020 alone.



"For the last year we've had people in positions of Incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans," she told the press conference. "Harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us. The president and I will not be silent."



Former President Donald Trump has often been criticized for what White house spokeswoman Jen Psaki earlier called his "inaccurate" and "unfair" description of the new coronavirus.



Trump had often referred to the new coronavirus as "China virus" or "kung flu."



Biden said while the ongoing investigation has yet to determine the exact motive in the Atalanta shootings, too many Asian Americans have been forced to live in fear.



"Whatever the motivation, we know this  too many Asian Americans have been walking up and down the streets and worrying, waking up each morning the past year, feeling their safety and the safety of their loved ones are at stake," said Biden.



"Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop."



Earlier in the day, the president issued a statement, urging Congress to swiftly pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.



"While we do not yet know motive, as I said last week, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the ongoing crisis of gender-based and anti-Asian violence that has long plagued our nation," Biden said in a released statement.



"I urge Congress to swiftly pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would expedite the federal government's response to the rise of hate crimes exacerbated during the pandemic, support state and local governments to improve hate crimes reporting, and ensure that hate crimes information is more accessible to Asian American communities," he added.



Biden signed a presidential memorandum in his first week in office, condemning racism, xenophobia and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.



He was originally scheduled to visit Atlanta on Friday as part of his ongoing tour to promote the recently enacted American Rescue Plan.



The president and Vice President Kamala Harris cancelled the political event to instead hold the meeting with the Asian American leaders in Atlanta. (Yonhap)


Reality Winner, the former NSA contractor and Air Force Veteran who leaked documents about Russia's 2016 election interference, probably shouldn't be in prison. The US government was swift to arrest her in 2017 and sentenced her to five years in jail after she pled guilty a year later, but the moral case for her imprisonment is threadbare. Winner admitted to distributing classified documents to the press, but her act shed light on just how far Russian intelligence infiltrated a US voting software company. That information, which was being downplayed by the Trump administration, proved that the core of American democracy was easily threatened by foreign agents.

The documentary United States vs. Reality Winner, which premiered at SXSW this week, wrestles with the injustice of Winner's treatment and the need for stronger whistleblower protections. Directed by Sonia Kennebeck, the film covers Winner's childhood, her potential motivations for leaking the document, and how her family continues to fight for her release. The centerpiece is previously unreleased audio of Winner's interrogation by the FBI, where several armed agents came to her home and questioned her without reading any Miranda rights. It's a chilling sequence where overly friendly federal agents attempt to cajole more information, and possibly a confession from Winner before she could contact a lawyer.

Sean Rayford via Getty Images

Unfortunately, that's the only truly revelatory sequence from the film, which functions mostly as a bread-and-butter information dump for people who haven't followed Winner's case. There's the expected commentary from fellow whistleblower Edward Snowden, who revealed far more damning details about the government's global surveillance program. The film would have been better served with an actual interview with Winner, who's currently expected to be released from prison in November. And, not surprisingly, there's no further commentary from the US government. After all, why would they contribute to a project meant to defend a notorious whistleblower?

The documentary puts much of the blame for Winner's arrest on The Intercept, as did many journalists at the time. The news organization, which broke the news about Russia's attempt to hack into US voting software, claims it received a classified NSA document anonymously in the mail. But Intercept reporters also apparently sent the original document to the government for validation, which included metadata that would have pointed straight to Winner. She was arrested the same day that report was published.

If anything, United States vs. Reality Winner serves as an encapsulation of how doggedly the government tried to punish the former intelligence specialist. During her trial, federal prosecutors used sarcastic texts between Winner and her incredibly supportive sister Brittany to paint her as an American-hating terrorist. That's what led to a spate of stories saying she wanted to "burn the White House down," and was likely part of what led to her receiving the longest sentence of anyone charged under the Espionage Act of 1917. The extent of her term is particularly galling after seeing how gently authorities have treated people involved in the January 6th Capitol Riot.

Honest reaction. Sound on  and watch till the end. pic.twitter.com/yctpYmlA7G  Brittany Winner, PhD (@WinnerBrittany) February 13, 2021

"When she comes out, 63 months [of jail time] is going to seem a very short time in the context of history that will honor her, for her service," Snowden says towards the end of the film.

Even without talking to the government or Winner herself, the documentary would be stronger if it interrogated America's harsh treatment of whistleblowers in general. After all, there's a difference between someone leaking classified information to rival countries, and Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo's release of the Pentagon Papers, which revealed the government's lies about the Vietnam War. Snowden's commentary adds some weight to the film, but a deeper investigation would have made for a truly essential documentary, rather than one that's just educational.
Delegates pose for a group photo after the 36th meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 18, 2021. The SCO's member states will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise this year, the organization said Thursday. The decision to hold the joint exercise "Pabbi-Antiterror-2021" was announced during the 36th meeting of the Council of the RATS held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Delegations of the competent authorities of India, Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the RATS Executive Committee attended the meeting. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

TASHKENT, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)'s member states will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise this year, the organization said Thursday.

The decision to hold the joint exercise "Pabbi-Antiterror-2021" was announced during the 36th meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Delegations of the competent authorities of India, Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the RATS Executive Committee attended the meeting.

Representatives of the SCO member states have also approved the draft program of cooperation for 2022-2024 to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism, according to a RATS statement.

"Decisions have been made to improve cooperation between the competent authorities of the SCO member states in identifying and suppressing channels that finance terrorist activities," it said.

RATS, headquartered in Tashkent, is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote cooperation of member states against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The next meeting of the Council of the RATS SCO is scheduled to be held in September in Uzbekistan.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 13:02:07|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Friday, the National Health Commission said on Saturday.

Four new imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday, said the commission in its daily report.

One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths related to the disease were reported, it added.

On Friday, six COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals following their recovery.

By the end of Friday, a total of 5,183 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 5,023 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 160 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 90,087 by Friday, including 162 patients still receiving treatment.

A total of 85,289 patients had been discharged following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died of the disease.

There were four suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Friday, and 3,423 close contacts remained under medical observation.

A total of 250 asymptomatic cases including eight newly reported on Friday, all arriving from outside the mainland, were under medical observation. On the same day, one asymptomatic case was re-categorized as a confirmed case.

By the end of Friday, 11,363 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 203 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 48 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 1,004 cases, including 10 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 10,837 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, 47 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 959 had been discharged in Taiwan. Enditem
A motion to combine two defendant groups in the coming MS-13 trial was filed by Santa Barbara County prosecutors last month in an effort to consolidate the case, which has dragged on for nearly five years.
Seo Hyun-suk's VR performance "X (Indifferent Spectacle)" at MMCA Seoul / Courtesy of Seo Hyun-suk





By Kwon Mee-yoo







Virtual reality (VR) bridges the physical and digital world in many different fields, and it has entered art museums to push the boundaries of contemporary art.







Wearing a VR headset and lying down on a bed leads the user to explore the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA) in a completely different way, in Seo Hyun-suk's new artwork "X (Indifferent Spectacle)."







Seo scanned the venue, Gallery 5 of MMCA Seoul, in 3D, using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, and made the VR version in the gallery's actual size. In the participatory performance, users can take a stroll around the gallery space reproduced in the virtual world, stepping into some unlikely sensations as they explore a familiar museum in an unfamiliar way.







The "X" in the title comes from philosopher Immanuel Kant's concept of the transcendental object, as users will feel the gap between the actual museum and its virtual, illusory representations.







This artwork is part of the "MMCA Performing Arts 2021: Multiverse" program, which runs throughout the year, featuring six projects by five artists and teams.







MMCA has been embracing multidisciplinary art since 2017 through the MMCA Performing Arts program. This year, the program expands to state-of-the-art technologies, to have a fresh look into contemporary art under the theme of "Multiverse," or the physical hypothesis that there are multiple universes.







Kwon Ha-youn's participatory VR performance, "XXth Attempt towards the Potential of Magic," at MMCA Seoul / Courtesy of Kwon Ha-youn





MMCA director Youn Bum-mo said that Multiverse is "a program that further expands the scope of art while reflecting the spirit of the present era  convergence."







The hands-on approach to art created with state-of-the-art science technology will stir up people's imaginations and sense of possibility concerning art.







"I tried to find artists with critical perspectives about the effects of media and technology, instead of showcasing spectacles of technology," said Sung Yong-hee, the curator of the exhibition.







"Art and technology function as the joints that connect different worlds. As joints, technology and art will not only connect, but also reveal the gaps between the two worlds  each filled with its own deficiencies and anomalies."







The project will continue throughout the year.







Kwon Ha-youn's "XXth Attempt towards the Potential of Magic" kicked off the program in February. The participatory VR performance invites three people at a time to explore an artificially created world in the VR headset, while actual performers interpret the movements within the VR experience in reality.







An Jung-ju/Jun So-jung's "The Ghost in the Machine" will be presented in May. Utilizing self-driving technology, a racing drone will fly around the space at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour, taking videos of various structures of the exhibition. The images will be displayed in real time.







Kimchi and Chips' "Halo" was installed at the Somerset House Edmond J. Safra Fountain Courtyard in London in 2018. The robotic mirror installation will come to MMCA Seoul in June. Courtesy of Kimchi and Chips





Korean-British artist duo Kimchi and Chips will bring two of their works, "Halo" and "Untitled," to the museum in June. "Halo" visualizes the sun, using both artificial elements  99 mirrors developed based on mathematical principles  and the natural factors of sunlight, wind and water. "Untitled" is a metaphorical presentation of an infinite world using telescopes and mirrors.







Artist Jeong Geum-hyung will reveal "Toy Prototype," her DIY robot-making project, in August, with the aim of exploring the relationships between robots, objects and humans.







In October, Hoonida Kim will present "Landscape being Decoded," which employs LiDAR technology and the vision sensors of self-driving technology. It will provide a new perspective on humans' ways of thinking in comparison to machines' recognitions of space.






As the country starts taking steps to economic recovery, Sante, a provider of premier natural and organic health and wellness products and services, recently announced its Partnership Program dedicated to all looking for new business opportunities amid the new normal.

Sante Partnership Program Offers Endless Opportunities

Founded by leaders with more than 70 years of combined Direct Selling and Marketing experience, the Sante Partnership Program provides Filipinos new ways to earn income while reaping the benefits of time and financial freedom offered in owning a business.

With its 13 years of experience and having worked with thousands of Filipinos worldwide, the program promises its business partners a stable-built business model. Sante also came up with strategies to help aspiring business owners adapt to the ever-changing world, like the Sante Mobile App for easy business management and a user-friendly website for hassle-free and convenient shopping.

Sante cherishes its business partners' role for the organization. So, through its partnership program, the company repays them with various incentives like bonuses in repeat purchases, infinity bonus, free gadgets, and a car and house incentive with free down payments and monthly amortization.

The program is open to all with or without business experience. Sante provides its partners with daily business trainings through Sante Engage. The platform provides business owners with educational programs to help them grow their businesses, improve leadership skills, and even develop personal growth.

Since Sante is the top producer of barley grass products in the Philippines and soon worldwide, its business partners will have a business model revolving around the certified organic Sante Barley grass, grown in Canterbury, New Zealand.

The Biogro and Halal certified organic barley grass can be found through various products catering to different lifestyle needs like nutraceutical vitamins, health beverages, health, and wellness, among others.

Sante products contain natural ingredients filled with a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and carotenoids, which are essential to strengthening the immune system up to the smallest cellular level.

"Since we are now amid the new normal, many are looking for more flexible work arrangements while providing them stable and sufficient income for their everyday lives. The Sante Partnership Program is our way of providing them opportunities perfectly suited to call of the times, while having a chance at a healthier lifestyle," Sante CEO Joey Marcelo said.

Sante is one of the fastest-growing distribution and direct selling companies globally. Aside from New Zealand and the Philippines, Sante is present in key cities such as Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Abuja, Lagos, and Cyprus. It offers premier organic health and wellness products and services designed to improve the quality of life of people so they can live more and do more.
In this screen grab from video provided by the Travis County Commissioners Court, Judge Nicholas Chu confers with defense attorneys during a Texas jury trial being conducted over Zoom on Aug. 11, 2020, in Austin. Travis County Commissioners Court via AP

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the US legal system.

Many courts have shifted to virtual operations, including virtual jury trials in some US states.

But lawyers say they open the door to many issues, from biased juries to technical glitches.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

"It feels like you're more on TV," said Chad Moore, a New Brunswick, New Jersey, partner at the law firm Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas.

In January, the New Jersey Supreme Court authorized virtual jury trials for civil cases in the state. For now, participation is optional and dependent on agreement from all involved parties. But beginning in April, participation in them is mandatory.

Courts across the US have struggled to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, often leading to suspended and delayed court proceedings. While some jurisdictions have or are preparing to bring jurors back to courtrooms, others have looked toward virtual options as a way to keep the legal system moving during the pandemic.

But lawyers who spoke to Insider said "Zoom court," and in particular virtual jury trials, present a slew of issues for them, their clients, and jurors.

"You're preparing for what is presented through the Zoom lens," Moore said. "Whereas, when you were in person, there's a lot more to read there. You're in an open court; there's a lot of body language going on. You can get a sense and a feel for how the jury is viewing a portion of the case. You don't have that on Zoom."

Online juries raise questions about bias and diversity

Moore said New Jersey courts had taken steps to attempt to alleviate these fears by providing technology to those asked to serve on juries who didn't have access to needed equipment to connect virtually, including computers or high-speed internet.

Some selected jurors also had the option of participating in the virtual jury from an area in the court itself if they weren't able to participate from home, he said.

Story continues

But not all virtual juries have adopted the same approach. When Anthony Elman, a Chicago attorney, tried a personal injury car accident case virtually in Illinois in February, he said jurors were excluded during the jury selection process if they didn't have access to a tablet, computer, or high-speed internet to log in to the virtual courtroom.

"What my fear was before the trial was that the jury would mostly be rich white people," Elman told Insider.

"Because when the jurors are asked questions from the court about their qualifications to serve, they're given a lot of pre-qualification questions such as: Do you own a tablet? Do you own a computer? Do you have Wi-Fi? And a lot of low-income people are going to answer: No, no, no, no."

If the trial were conducted in six months, when courts were able to more safely meet in person following the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Elman said he thinks the trial may have had an outcome more favorable to his client.

"It really weeds out the lower-income and sometimes even middle-income people," he said. "A lot of lawyers who want to diversify the group of jurors are going to be compromised. And that's what happened in our trial.

"Only rich - for the most part - or upper-middle-class people showed up," Elman added. "We had an all-white jury of all wealthy people from the wealthy parts of Lake County. And we got a bad result."

Zoom court can lead to gaffes, distraction, and even danger

Accomplished Texas attorney Rod Pontin was transformed into an adorable kitten Tuesday. 394th District Court of Texas/YouTube

In early February, Texas attorney Rod Ponton went viral when a virtual court appearance went awry as he struggled to disable a filter that made him present to the judge as a cat.

"I'm here live, I'm not a cat," Ponton told the judge.

The gaffe was just a small example of how technology and virtual courtrooms can upend the legal process.

In some places, virtual court has led to more dicey situations. In a virtual domestic violence hearing in Centreville, Michigan, earlier this month, a man accused of domestic violence was in the same home as his victim, sitting in a different room during the virtual hearing.

"Your honor, I have reason to believe the defendant is in the apartment of the complaining witness right now, and I am extremely scared for her safety," Prosecutor Deborah Davis told the judge.

The accused denied he was in the same home, but police, who had already been sent to the property, arrested him on-site.

"This is an issue we didn't have when we were having live court," Judge Jeffrey Middleton said during the hearing.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Davis reacts as she finds out that the defendant broke bond and was sitting beside his victim during a Zoom court proceeding. Livestreamed Zoom courtroom of Judge Jeffrey Middleton

"That is definitely everyone's worst nightmare and, and fear," Moore told Insider. "It's hard to get security and protection now that we're entering jurors' homes and are in people's homes. You just don't know what else is out there, and it's tough not to have interruptions or those other things going on."

In addition to distractions at home, lawyers told Insider they also had concerns that unreliable internet connections could impact the outcome of a trial.

"Imagine how many Zooms have you been on where you didn't hear what someone said," Moore said. "In a trial, that could be the most important thing. Who is going to make sure that everybody heard what they were supposed to hear?"

Even more than distractions, Elman said he was concerned about the stress caused by staring at a screen for an extended period of time, even with built-in breaks into the trial to address "Zoom fatigue".

After his two-day virtual trial in February, Elman said one of the jurors told the court they'd become "dizzy" from spending so much time watching the trial online.

"Two days is a small jury trial," Elman said. "So imagine if the trial is longer."

Virtual juries raise more concerns if used for criminal trials

Kyle Rittenhouse (C-top), a US teenager accused of fatally shooting two protesters and wounding a third during protests in Wisconsin over the summer, appears with his lawyer during a virtual hearing hosted by the Kenosha County Court on December 3, 2020. Kenosha County Court/Handout via REUTERS

While court systems have mostly used virtual trials for civil cases, some courts, like one in Texas, have used Zoom to conduct criminal jury trials, and other places, like Florida, have given courts the go-ahead to handle a backlog of criminal cases the pandemic created.

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in a report issued last year said it opposed conducting virtual trials because they "offend the constitution in several respects," particularly related to a defendant's right to confront their accuser in court and "their right to due process and confrontation includes the right to be present at trial."

Amelia Lyte, a legal associate at Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas, agreed there were "significant constitutional issues" with virtual criminal trials.

"You have a right to face here to face your accusers in court," she said. "You have a right to be in the same room as the judge and the jury because your freedom is at stake. I'm sure this will be challenged in the future, but there's a big concern about that because if you don't have a right to be there, how is the judge supposed to evaluate if you're dangerous or how to evaluate your credibility?"

Virtual trials in both civil and criminal cases could open the door to future appeals, she added.

"I used to be a public defender," Elman said. "If I'm telling you that there's bias on an injury claim - getting money because of a lack of diversity - you don't want your criminally accused not to get a fair trial with mostly upper-income jurors."

"That would be hell for a defense attorney to agree to do a Zoom jury trial. So for criminal trials, they've got even a bigger problem because they've got less tolerance for diverse diversification," he added.

Virtual trials may be commonplace in the future, but the technology is just not there yet, Elman added.

"I do think it's the future, but it's just not the future today or the future tomorrow," Elman said "I think it's five years, 10 years from now."

Read the original article on Insider
AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister will address a Kisan Mahapanchayat in on Sunday in support of farmers protesting against the Centre's three farm laws.

The AAP, in a statement, said the Kisan Mahapanchayat will be held at Anaj Mandi, Bagha Purana and Moga.

Kejriwal will also address a Kisan Mahapanchayat at Huda Maidan in Jind, Haryana on April 4.

The chief minister earlier held a mahapanchayat in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut.

"The Aam Aadmi Party has been with the farmers since the beginning. AAP convenor will lend his voice to this pertinent issue at tomorrow's Kisan Mahapanchayat," the AAP said.

The party has strongly come out in favour of the farmers protesting against the new farm laws and Kejriwal has visited the Singhu border twice and extended his support to the farmers.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus cases: Schools in Tamil Nadu to be shut from March 22

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Chennai, Mar 20: With Tamil Nadu witnessing a sudden surge in coronavirus cases over the last few days, the state government on Saturday ordered closure of schools for classes 9, 10 and 11 from March 22 until further orders.

However, they would continue to function for the 12th standard students for they have to take the board examination. Notifying the closure, the government said the director of public health and preventive medicine has recommended that it would not be advisable to continue classes for 9, 10 and 11 from the health point of view as there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases.

3 States in India account for 76% active Covid-19 cases

With regard to 12th standard, the director said the students may be permitted to attend school as their numbers would be lesser and they have to sit for the board examination with strictly adherence to preventive measures such as wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing.

"The government of Tamil Nadu hereby order that schools shall be closed for classes 9th, 10th and 11th with effect from March 22 until further orders," state Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan said in the order.

However, online/digital mode of education shall continue for classes 9, 10 and 11, he said. Further, hostels too would be closed. Announcing relaxations in lockdown rules, the government had permitted the re-opening of schools for 10 and 12 classes from January 19 this year and for 9 and 11 from February 8 after a year, permitting also the re-opening of hostels for those students.

COVID-19 vaccine should be able to give protection for 8-10 months: AIIMS chief

The government allowed conducting board exam for class 10 other than Tamil Nadu State Board as scheduled by those boards besides conduct of special classes to students appearing for the board exam for class 10 and also the functioning of hostels for those students.

While teachers and students were found infected at a school in Chennai, about 55 students besides a teacher at a girls' school in Thanjavur were admitted to the government hospital recently after testing positive for COVID-19.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 17:12 [IST]
ALLEGAN, MI  The COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7, has been identified in Allegan County, according to health officials.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) notified the Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) that the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories identified the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 in an Allegan County resident.

The confirmed case is a middle aged person with no known travel history, the health department said in a news release.

When a variant is identified or suspected, additional measures take place, such as a strict 14-day quarantine, Allegan County Medical Director Richard Tooker said in the news release. A new variant in our community is concerning since it can be related to higher transmission rates.

Continue to practice strong mitigation strategies including mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing and getting a vaccine as soon as it is available to you. These actions help slow the spread, Tooker said in the news release.

The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant is thought to have emerged in the United Kingdom and has since been detected in many countries and states, the health department said.

The variant is concerning because it is associated with increased transmissibility. The B.1.1.7 variant is approximately 50 percent more transmissible than the original COVID-19, leading to faster spread of the virus and potentially increasing numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, health officials said.

Therefore, additional levels of public health intervention are required once the variant has been identified.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention variant data, 5,567 B.1.1.7 cases are reported nationwide, with 616 of those from Michigan as of March 18, the department said.

With the high transmission rate of the B.1.1.7 variant, vaccination is more important than ever, according to the department, and people should get vaccinated as soon as it is offered to them. At this time, the COVID-19 vaccines appear to be effective against the variant.

The health department recommends:

Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as it is available to you.

Wearing a mask around others.

Staying six feet apart from others.

Washing hands often.

Ventilating indoor spaces.

COVID-19 testing (not antibody test) is available to individuals of any age, regardless of symptoms. There is a testing event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, March 20, at the Allegan County Transportation Building at 750 Airway Drive in Allegan.

People under the age of 18 will need parent/guardian consent. You do not have to bring a lab order to be tested. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, shortness of breath, or had recent travel history should seek testing as well as those working with the public, living in congregate living facilities or have potentially been exposed.

For more information, visit www.allegancounty.org/covid or www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.

Read more:

Kalamazoo County has vaccinated over 70% of people 65 and older

Michigan, feds extend deadline for filing income taxes

Michigan restaurant owner to remain in jail on charge of violating COVID-19 orders
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New Delhi, March 20 : The reforms in the mining sector will play a fundamental role in enhancing the sector's contribution to the employment and GDP of the country, and contribute immensely to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, industry body Ficci said on Saturday.

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed a bill to amend the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, that aimed to create employment opportunities by allowing the entry of private enterprise and enhanced technology in mining activities.

The bill is yet to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha.

The industry body said that it has always been advocating for increasing the contribution of Indian Mining industry to national GDP; focusing upon increasing mineral exploration, production and domestic supplies, reducing financial stress for the miners, attracting investments into the sector and enhancing Ease of Doing Business Quotient.

Tuhin Mukherjee, Chair, Ficci Mining Committee and Managing Director, Essel Mining and Industries Ltd., termed the amendments as a step forward for enabling mining sector's contribution to the nation's economic growth.

"With these reforms in the Indian mining and mineral sector, the Government has embarked on increasing the sectoral contribution to the Indian GDP and also to increase the competitiveness, ease of doing business and creating a favourable investment environment for the sector," he added.

Rahul Sharma, Co-Chair, Ficci Mining Committee and CEO, Aluminium and Power, Vedanta Ltd, said: "Amendments in the MMDR are reflective of the fact that the government considers mining sector as a key contributor to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. These amendments shall result in enhancement of mineral production across the spectrum, creating more jobs and will be a major boost to critical industries like cement, aluminium and steel, which are primarily dependent upon key raw materials provided by the mining sector. A renewed focus on exploration will attract huge investments." He also applauded the Government's move for promoting ease of transfer for non-auctioned captive mines to increase mineral production from such mines in the country.

Pankaj Satija, Co-Chair, Ficci Mining Committee and Chief Regulatory Affairs, Tata Steel Ltd. said: "Ficci acknowledges the government's approval on the much-awaited mining reforms to address various issues of the sector. The amendment for transfer of all statutory clearances till the exhaustion of mineable reserves would lead to faster operationalisation of mines by the successful bidders and would ensure raw material sufficiency for end use sectors." Sumit Deb, Co-Chair, Ficci Mining Committee and CMD, NMDC said: "The introduction of composite license regime would enhance mineral exploration and production in the country, alongside attracting investments both from domestic as well as foreign investors." He acknowledged the reform of exploring the possibility of making NMET an autonomous body, for better utilisation of NMET funds and increasing the mineral exploration in the country, aligned to the changing requirements.

India has abundant mineral resources, out of which a significant portion is yet to be harnessed.

Availability of mineral resources would play a crucial role in determining India's growth trajectory towards becoming Atmanirbhar Bharat and achieving a $5 trillion economy.

Through this legislative action, the government has shown its commitment to usher in much needed reforms in the mining sector and bolster its growth rate.
The newly-imposed California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC), which in part covers 20th century African American Studies, deliberately excludes Martin Luther King Jr. from the curriculum and diminishes the civil rights movement that he led. After four years of debate, redrafting, and more than 100,000 public comments, the California State Board of Education (SBE) voted unanimously to approve the final draft of the ESMC on Thursday.

King delivering his "I have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 1963

The ESMC is a set of guidelines and sample lessons covering four major areas: Black/African American studies, Chicano/a studies, Native American studies, and Asian American studies. The curriculum will be used to encourage more districts in the state to implement ethnic studies courses. It is projected to serve as the basis of curriculum for a future California law that mandates ethnic studies as a prerequisite for high school graduation.

Steeped in the ideology of critical race theory, which holds that white racism against people of color is the root cause of all social inequality, the entire program is meant to obscure the fundamental factor that binds youth of all races and national background together in Americas most ethnically diverse statesocial class. California school children will instead be taught, according to Encyclopedia Britannicas definition of critical race theory, that white peopleincluding white working class childrenare to blame for all social ills:

Critical race theory (CRT), the view that the law and legal institutions are  used by white people to further their economic and political interests at the expense of people of colour. According to critical race theory (CRT), racial inequality emerges from the social, economic, and legal differences that white people create between races to maintain elite white interests in labour markets and politics, giving rise to poverty and criminality in many minority communities.

Commentators on the right wing have denounced critical race theory and Californias new curriculum as leftist. However, the idea that race is determinative of social structure is now, and has always been, a right-wing position.

It is precisely this right-wing racialism that leads the new California ethnic studies curriculum to exclude Martin Luther King Jr. and downplay the civil rights movement. King led the last mass progressive movement for racial and social equality in the United States. His calls for common action among all the oppressed and exploited, and his well-known opposition to imperialist war, runs counter to the present-day ideology of the Democratic Party. This is why he is cut from Californias ethnic studies curriculum.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with Dr. Clarence B. Jones, age 90, a veteran of the civil rights movement who served as legal counsel, adviser and speechwriter for King. Presently, Jones is the founding director of the Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice at the University of San Francisco.

When looking at the history of the United States and African Americans in the 20th century, the monumental leadership principally but not only of Martin Luther King Jr. is a historical fact, Jones told the WSWS. I dont know how you can look at the history of the United States and exclude Martin Luther King Jr. Thats like saying Frederick Douglass or Sojourner Truth doesnt matter.

He continued, What needs to be involved is a factual account of the history of the African American experience including Martin Luther King Jr. and others. To exclude Martin Luther King Jr. is to diminish history and his legacy which had as its foundation racial unity, it was not racial separatism.

Dr. Clarence B. Jones in 2013

Last October Jones wrote an open letter expressing deep opposition to the ESMC for its exclusion of King and its demeaning of the civil rights movement, calling the draft a perversion of history which will, if approved, inflict harm on millions of students in our state.

The letter was addressed directly to California Governor Gavin Newsom, California State Board of Education president Linda Darling-Hammond, and California Superintendent Tony Thurmond. Jones demanded the curriculum be rejected unless and until changes are made to correct these falsehoods and distortions. As of this writing, Jones has not received a response from either Newsom, Thurmond, or Darling-Hammond to his letter. He told the WSWS that he does not accept the cosmetic changes that have been made to palliate opposition.

Jones open letter stated:

It is a fact that the Black Freedom Movement of the 1950s and 1960s under Dr. Kings leadership transformed our country, overthrowing a century of Jim Crow segregation and white supremacist terror throughout the former Confederate States. This fact, which I had thought was well known to all educated persons, has been removed from the ESMC. This is morally unacceptable and renders the entire curriculum suspect.

The imposition of ESMC has been a sham. Opposition to the curriculum has been ignored, including that from Jones, one of the most prominent remaining veterans of the civil rights movement. This continued during a live public call-in on Thursday. Comment on the curriculum lasted over three hours and was mostly in opposition. Many teachers and parents spoke against the use of critical race theory.

One parent stated:

The model curriculum is still infected with critical race theory, the belief that every person, interaction and institution must be viewed through the prism of race. Teaching this neoracism is harmful for many reasons.  Californias children increasingly know other multiracial children or are multiracial but just when this is liberating themselves from the racial boxes of the past, critical race theory would track our children back into those mental cages. Please dont inflict critical race theory on our children.

Another parent said:

As a parent of an African American child, I do not want my child being taught he is a victim. Labeling will frame that childs future. White children should not be taught that they are evil because of the color of their skin. That is racism. This is creating further division and will create a generation of individuals who hate themselves. Reject it outright. Thank you.

The utterly reactionary purposes of racialist politics are on full display in California, a state politically dominated by the Democratic Party. Far from being in any way left or oppositional, racial ideology has only facilitated increasing levels of social inequality in California, where, as of 2020, 124 billionaires controlled nearly $1 trillion in wealth.

While the Democrats impose critical race theory on school children, they are herding them and tens of thousands of teachers and staff into unsafe classrooms in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, the California Department of Education (CDE), the same Democratic Party officials leading the vote and the ethnic studies bill, are spearheading the homicidal reopening of schools.

During a CDE meeting held March 5 for the signing of SB86 to reopen schools, Speaker of the California State Assembly Anthony Rendon stated, This is a key moment, and we cannot rest until every child is back in school and every educational assistance they need to put this pandemic in the past.
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At an early age, Tasha remembered looking up to her mama dressed in a crisp white uniform and a nursing cap placed perfectly upon her head  one bobby pin at a time. Tasha learned what sacrifice, responsibility, and dedication were all about.

She also knew her mamas love for the nursing profession.

When Tasha was four years old, she used to say: One day, I will be a nurse just like you, mama!

Tasha excelled in academics. She loved chemistry, biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology and psychology. By the time Tasha finished all of her academic requirements in college, she proudly held up the letter that came in the mail. The letter of acceptance into nursing school.

Her dream came true.

Tasha proudly displayed her BSN diploma. Her true love was behavioral health. She wanted to help people in a time of distress and dysfunction  a time when patients felt their life and desire to live started to unravel.

Tasha knew how to deescalate the one in a rage. She knew how to calm the sobbing tears of a lost soul. She could comfort and listen with a calming spirit. If she wasnt holding their hand, her eyes told them that she cared. And sometimes, thats all these patients needed  someone to listen, someone to care.

Tasha and her mama were a team. Joined at the hip, and as Tashas mom grew older, Tasha was there to take care of her.

Tasha also took care of her behavioral health unit. She considered the staff her other family  her second family. The staff grew to love her. Her endless generosity often meant providing the entire staff with a full course meal. Sometimes it was on a random day, sometimes an Easter dinner, Christmas or New Years Day. Tasha was full of love. And her staff loved her dearly.

Tasha put her scrubs on. Day three of 12-hour shifts.

She felt a little off on this day. Lots of indigestion. She felt weak with some shortness of breath. But she knew her ongoing indigestion well. Her weakness and shortness of breath had to be attributed to her third day at work.

Tasha clocked in. Ready to go, looking forward to a nice long weekend off.

She told a fellow RN, though, that she wasnt quite up to par on this day. But she knew she could make it through these next 12 hours.

At 17:30 (5:30 p.m.) Tasha was outside of the behavioral health unit talking to a patients family member and giving them an update. As Tasha was talking, she stopped, slumped over and fell to the floor.

The family member frantically screamed for help. The staff arrived, a code blue was called, and CPR was initiated immediately.

The code blue team hooked her up to the EKG monitor. Ventricular fibrillation.

A nurse yelled out: Shocking  all clear  shocking again!

And after almost two hours of coding Tasha, they couldnt bring her back.

The physician on the code team pronounced her death.

Our Tasha: Our vibrant, spectacular Tasha was not coming back.

The staff felt lost and broken.

EAP and chaplains set up counseling sessions by Zoom. A poster was placed in the unit by a fellow nurse with pictures of Tasha at restaurants with her staff family. Pictures of Tasha at the full-course meals shed bring into work and of her laughing till her belly hurt. Of Tasha and her mama.

But our behavioral health unit felt as if Tashas death had sucked all of the energy out of everyone.

Many people attended her funeral. Nurses, psychiatrists, technicians  her second family. Sullen. Sad. Lost. Broken.

And on this crisp, clear blue sky day, tears flowed from all.

The mahogany casket stood still, shining in the sun with brilliant purple flowers on top. Her favorite color.

And her mama in her wheelchair watched as they lowered her only child, her only daughter, into the ground.

One friend strummed slowly on his guitar.

How great thou art

42 years old.

It wont happen to me.

Its just indigestion.

Denial.

Cardiac arrest. 100 percent LAD.

We bowed our heads as the preacher stretched his arms out, looking up to the heavens:

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy Will be done.

Debbie Moore-Black is a nurse who blogs at Do Not Resuscitate.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Ivan Geshev, when nominee for Bulgaria's chief prosecutor role, arrives to attend a sitting of the Supreme Judicial Council in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Oct. 24, 2019. (Stoyan Nenov/File Photo/Reuters)

Bulgaria Charges Six People Over Alleged Russian Spy Ring

SOFIABulgarian prosecutors said on Friday they had charged six Bulgarians, including senior officials from the defense ministry and military intelligence, with spying for Russia.

The Russian embassy in Sofia said in a comment on its website it expected that until a court ruled on the case that all speculation about Russias alleged involvement in intelligence activities against Bulgarias interests should stop.

Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev told a news briefing it was the first time such a spy ring had been uncovered in Bulgaria since the end of the World War Two.

Five of the suspects were arrested in a large-scale operation by national security officers in Sofia on Thursday, when one of the men tried to escape, the prosecutors said.

They said a former senior official from Bulgarian military intelligence had recruited people with access to classified information from Bulgaria, NATO, and the European Union.

The leader of the group used his wife to pass the information to an official at the Russian embassy in Sofia, said Siyka Mileva, a spokeswoman at the state prosecutions office.

We can conclude that the criminal group has posed a serious threat for the national security by collecting and handing to a foreign country information which constitutes state secrets of Bulgaria, NATO, and the European Union, she said.

The prosecutors said the group had been operating for a long time and that the investigation was ongoing.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement it was watching the case closely. The U.S. strongly supports Bulgarias sovereignty and stands with Bulgarians against these malign activities on their territory, it said.

The UK  stands with Bulgaria  against Russias malign activity which seeks to undermine the sovereignty of our @NATO ally. We fully support Bulgarias efforts in disrupting an alleged spy ring & taking steps to tackle Russias hostile actions in its territory  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) March 20, 2021

Britain said it stands with Bulgaria against malign activity by Russia in the country, adding that Moscow had been seeking to undermine the sovereignty of a NATO ally.

We fully support Bulgarias efforts in disrupting an alleged spy ring and taking steps to tackle Russias hostile actions in its territory, Britains Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter on Saturday.

Bulgaria, an EU and NATO member, has expelled six Russian diplomats for suspected spying in the past two years.

In the context of the complexity of the international situation, the tireless attempts to drive a wedge into the Russian-Bulgarian dialogue and once again demonize our country are obvious, the Russian embassy said in a statement.

In communist times, the Balkan country was Moscows most reliable ally in eastern Europe. Despite periodic strains, Russia remains Bulgarias biggest energy supplier and the two countries retain close cultural and other links.

By Tsvetelia Tsolova
It was a good week for two relative tiddlers in the pharmaceutical sector

Futura Medical PLC (LON:FUM) shares received a boost as the EU gave the green light for its topical gel formulation MED3000 to go on sale.

The EU has completed the review of MED3000, a treatment for erectile dysfunction, and has recommended that the gel be certified as a Class 2B approved medical device.

Once the certificate is received, Futura's MED3000 will become the first pan-European topical treatment for erectile dysfunction available without the need for a doctor's prescription.

Furthermore, EU certification and the resultant CE mark will make it easier for Futura to gain approval for MED3000 in other parts of the world, as many jurisdictions "fast-track" their reviews if a product has an EU CE mark.

"The recommendation to approve MED3000 in Europe is a huge milestone for Futura in the development of MED3000, said James Barder, the chief executive officer of Futura Medical.

The market seemed to agree with the shares up 88% on the week.

Sector peer Destiny Pharma PLC (LON:DEST) rose by more than a third this week after it revealed it is to receive US government support to develop its XF-73 technology to combat infection associated with open wounds and broken skin.

The company will supply the dermal formulation of treatment to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. Its contractors will then conduct clinically enabling safety studies, with the project slated for completion next year.

In the technology space, Mobile Streams PLC (LON:MOS), the mobile content and data intelligence company, raced higher after Quanta Media Group signed up to use the AIM-listed firms Streams data platform.

Even after rising 45% this week, Mobile Streams is only valued at 3.7mln, in the context of which the 480,000 contract (over four years) is a pretty big deal.

Quanta has committed to pay at least 10,000 a month for a year, which will increase Mobile Streams Stream platforms monthly revenue to an estimated 25,000 a month.

Elsewhere in the technology sector, the bottom dropped out of the IDOX PLC (LON:IDOX) share price after Dye & Durham opted not to proceed with a possible offer for the document management specialist.

News of the possible offer broke on February 19, sending the shares up from 57.4p to 73p; the shares are now trading at 59.4p, down by a fifth on the week.

Also giving up recent gains was Premier African Minerals Ltd, the Southern Africa-focused mining and development company.

Shares in Premier have been a hot ticket ever since the company was formally granted an exclusive prospecting order (EPO) covering the companys Zulu Lithium and Tantalum claims on March 12.

Such has been the meteoric nature of the share price rise  during March the shares have risen from 0.08p to 0.40p at one point  that the company informed the market that it might not have to go down the joint venture route after all to develop the Zulu asset, and thus it could retain total ownership of the project.

Furthermore, it may not now need to get shot of its Zimbabwean assets.

Accordingly, Premier will focus on the development of Zulu and realisation of the potential true value of this asset and proper exploration of the upside potential in the EPO, chief executive George Roach told investors.

The irony was that the announcement about the increased flexibility the company had as a result of its strengthening share price saw the shares slide to 0.25p but that level still leaves shareholders sitting on a very tidy profit in March.

Another minerals company, Kodal Minerals PLC (LON:KOD) cheered its shareholders this week with news of the final loan conversion under a US$1.5mln unsecured convertible loan agreement with Riverfort Global Opportunities PCC Ltd and YA II PN Ltd.

The investors will convert US$200,000 (144,160) into 168.5mln shares at 0.08556 pence per share.

The shares were up by 48% this week to 0.1475p.
Allison Abernethy from Abernethy Butter discusses her souffle hopes and favourite cake.

Do you think you're a good cook?

I love to cook and bake. I was taught by my mum and granny and I have taught my children to cook as well. When they both went to university their friends were amazed that they cooked properly instead of pinging something in the microwave.

If I see a recipe I like, I will always have a try at it. My husband will then say do it again or do not bother. It's good to try something different. I find baking very relaxing and of course use plenty of good butter.

Your most memorable dish was

I made beef Wellington for my mother's 80th birthday last year - I had a fabulous fillet of salt aged beef from Hannan Meats to make it. It took two days to prep/make but it was worth every minute. I use the recipe from Calum Franklin's Pie Room cookery book.

Are you more sweet or savoury?

Depends on my mood - sometimes I want cake and sometimes it's crisps. Sometimes it hard to beat crackers, cheese and chutney.

I'd love to be able to make

Souffle - I have never tried but will soon. It looks scary on the TV waiting for it to rise and not collapse.

Which food(s) do you dislike?

I hate lamb, liver and salmon - they will never cross my lips. I do cook them for my husband though as they are some of his favourites.

What's your favourite restaurant in NI?

I do not have a favourite as l love them all. It would not be fair of me to state just one. So many use our butter we try and visit to support them as well. I do love to eat fish so it would the first thing it would pick from a menu. I would quite often have a fish starter and main. We have such good fish in Northern Ireland.

What's your favourite comfort food?

On a cold winter's night nothing beats a homemade shepherd's pie with the sauce bubbling over the edge of the dish and crispy potato on top. I love proper homemade Battenberg cake which is really hard to make. My daughter made me one for my birthday last year. It took her four hours but it was worth every minute. My husband and daughter got one slice and the rest was mine.

What's your favourite cuisine?

I love good Chinese food. When I go to London I always visit Chinatown.

Your last meal would be

Scampi and chips with honey chilli chicken on the side and Battenberg cake with a mug of tea. Simple but tasty.

Which celeb chef do you rate?

I have a list - Nigella Lawson, Marcus Wareing and James Martin - all Abernethy butter fans and of course, Paula McIntyre and Alex Greene, also butter fans and big supporters of Northern Irish foods.

Nigella often mentions our butter on Instagram.

Both Marcus and Paula have used our butter in their cookbooks and James has used the butter on Saturday Kitchen.

Do you enjoy a takeaway?

Not very often but it would be a chippy tea. Unfortunately, I don't have any good Chinese restaurants near where I live so that would be a really special treat.

What was the first dish you learned to make?

My mum had me cooking from about age four - probably sausages and potatoes. She also taught me how to make soda and wheaten bread, pancakes, scones.

I can remember standing on a stool in the kitchen beside the Aga turning pancakes.

My dad taught me to make butter. I lived on a farm and we were more self-sufficient in those days. Everything was made from scratch.

For more information on Abernethy Butter, made by hand using traditional methods, see abernethybutter.com
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has taken the unusual step of hiring an experienced lawyer with constitutional law expertise to help her win a court battle with legislative leaders over deadlines, data sets and powers to redraw legislative districts.

P.K. Runkles-Pearson was a partner at long-established Portland firm Miller Nash Graham & Dunn before she was hired as the secretary of states in-house general counsel in February, according to her LinkedIn profile. Runkles-Pearson has expertise in state and federal constitutional law, according to her former employers website.

None of the prior three secretaries of state had a general counsel. Instead, they relied on the Oregon attorney general to represent them and could get input from other staffers who were lawyers. The attorney general supervises Runkles-Pearsons work and Runkles-Pearson has been appointed as a special assistant attorney general for work on the redistricting case, a spokesperson for Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum noted.

Runkles-Pearsons annual salary is $165,936, according to the secretary of states Public Information Officer Aaron Fiedler. Fiedler did not directly answer a question about why Fagan chose to hire an in-house attorney to work on redistricting, rather than paying the Department of Justice to do the work, as is the norm.

Now that Runkles-Pearson has been hired, Fagans administration is working on figuring out what legal issues in addition to redistricting the general counsel might tackle.

P.K. Runkles-Pearson was hired as the general counsel for the entire agency and has been working with all seven agency divisions to assess and serve their general counsel needs, Fiedler wrote in an email. Included in agency needs are redistricting issues, in consultation with the Oregon Department of Justice.

Fiedler noted that legal work was part of the job description for former Secretary of State Dennis Richardsons government and legal affairs director Steven Elzinga, who was a registered lobbyist for the agency. Fiedler also pointed out that former Secretary of State Bev Clarno hired a private law firm to defend her decision to reject three forestry ballot initiatives, although Clarno only did so after the attorney general refused to represent Clarno in the case.

Redrawing Oregons legislative districts normally falls to the Legislature, and the state constitution requires the body to finish that work by July 1. That is usually not a problem, as federal law requires the Census Bureau to provide states with the necessary population data by April 1 and that has happened decade after decade. Only if the Legislature fails to agree on how to redraw state House and Senate district lines by the July 1 deadline does that task fall to the secretary of state. Under the state constitution, that officer has until Aug. 15 to complete the task.

But the pandemic and other factors complicated the collection of the once-a-decade tally of the U.S. population in 2020. As a result, the Census Bureau has said it cannot get the required population data to Oregon until Sept. 30.

The secretary of states role is among the key issues at stake in the Legislature and secretarys dispute over how Oregon should handle the conflict between the states constitutional redistricting deadlines and pandemic-delayed timeline to receive census data. So are the questions of how well the districts will reflect the states current population and potential disruption to 2022 elections.

In a March 10 court filing, the Democratic leaders of the Legislature, Senate President Peter Courtney of Salem and House Speaker Tina Kotek of Portland, asked the Oregon Supreme Court to extend lawmakers deadline to finish legislative redistricting until three months after the state receives census data. They also asked the court to order the secretary of state, who is also a Democrat, not to take up the task of legislative redistricting until at least three months after the census data is released  or roughly the last day of 2021. Candidates who run for office in 2022 must file to run by March 8, and many begin lining up financial and political support before that.

For Oregon, that delayabsent intervention by this courtcreates a constitutional crisis, the legislative leaders lawyers wrote. The legislators argued that redrawing legislative districts without the new census data would violate the Equal Protection Clause and Voting Rights Act and noted the census provides data on race and ethnicity in all the census blocks in Oregon necessary to ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.

The Legislature is represented by lawyers from the Portland firm Markowitz Herbold, who a legislative committee hired last month.

Kotek and Courtneys proposal would give lawmakers three months with the most accurate and final data, with no role for the secretary of state during that time. That much time with the final data would increase the likelihood that the Legislature could draw maps that satisfy the court and would stand, thus giving the secretary no role.

In the secretary of states response, her lawyers wrote that the unprecedented calamity of the last year and the related census delay would not justify the court ignoring Oregons constitutional redistricting deadlines. She insists the Legislature can complete the task by its July 1 deadline, using data that from Oregons federally-designated census experts at

Portland State University, which is not as accurate as what the Census Bureau plans to send at the end of September.

There is no dispute that final district lines should be evaluated in light of census data, and that the delay thus poses a significant challenge for the Legislative Assembly in drawing the map, Runkles-Pearson and the attorney generals staff wrote. But it does not justify the extraordinary remedy that (the Legislature) seeks here: an order from this court rewriting the constitution and leaving state legislative district boundaries in limbo until July 1, 2022, and enjoining the secretary of state from carrying out her own constitutional duties in a timely manner.

Fagan asserted through her lawyers that Oregon officials could draw adequately accurate legislative districts based on yet-to-be-published data the Portland State University Population Research Center.

Even if all of that data is not yet compiled, there are several months to do so before the July 1 deadline, lawyers wrote on behalf of the secretary of state. And when the census data becomes available, it will be straightforward to compare it to the data the Legislative Assembly used and determine if any corrections must be made to the map.

People who believe the new legislative districts are not fairly apportioned in light of the 2020 census data can file a placeholder protest in court by Aug. 1, Fagans lawyers wrote.

If the data (the Legislature) uses turns out to be close enough to the census data, the map will be lawful, lawyers for Fagan wrote.

Fagan also identified a possible outcome that could yield a role for her as final author of the states electoral maps: If a placeholder legal challenge is filed and approved, she could do the redraw using the Sept. 30 solid data from the Census Bureau.

As Fagans lawyers noted, This court could direct the secretary to revise the plan if there are material discrepancies between the data the Legislative Assembly used and the final census data. The secretary would then have until November 1 to make the required corrections and return them to the Supreme Court for final review.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the law firm Markowitz Herbolds only office is in Portland.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 03:56:24|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's Istanbul is known for its meyhanes, or taverns, where people traditionally meet after work in the evening around a dinner table. However, a series of COVID-19 restrictions have altered this old habit, and people started to gather in the daytime to drink the beloved raki.

There is an undeniable meyhane culture in Turkey, and Istanbul is its most important center as the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea surrounding the metropolis provide the main ingredients of the food consumed.

Fish and seafood dishes, served cold and warm, constitute the backbone of mezes, tapas-like appetizers that accompany long conversations and drinks.

"Turks are known for their capacity to adapt. And we have modified our drinking custom to the coronavirus," Erhan Atay said as he clinks glasses with two friends in a meyhane located in the Kurtulus neighborhood, a pioneer of the meyhane culture in the city.

"We used to honor the tradition of drinking raki in the evening, but now that there is a curfew, we drink at lunchtime. The COVID-19 pandemic cannot stop us to get together and have some good old conversation," the 55-year-old businessman told Xinhua.

Before the pandemic, a raki table typically gathered around 7 p.m. and dispersed, sometimes long after midnight, with diners eating all the while.

Meyhanes also used to be the reflection of the multicultural complexion of Istanbul: Turkish, Greeks, Armenians, and other people that have lived alongside in this historic city for many centuries.

Raki, an aniseed-flavored alcoholic beverage known colloquially as lion's milk, is Turkey's preferred drink, but increasing taxes in recent years on alcohol have deterred many to hang out in taverns.

And the strict hygiene regulations, social distancing limitations, and night curfews between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., which are in effect to fight the pandemic, have posed an extra financial burden on meyhane owners.

But for the moment, both customers and meyhane owners seem happy.

"We now serve many people during the daytime as we have to close at 7 p.m. So customers come in for lunch and drink one or two glasses of raki and have a good chat," Yaman Aydogan, a restaurant owner, told Xinhua.

"There is an increase in the number of customers recently, and there are still many old school clients who want to honor the ritual and come together with friends during the daytime to have a glass or two," he said.

Besides meyhanes, restaurants and cafes that serve alcohol during daytimes are also in high demand, and customers have to reserve at least two or three days ahead.

"What is important is to take pleasure from the company of friends and others and drink," Aydogan remarked. "We are happy that we are back in business after months of shutdowns. I can only hope that people will be responsible and respect hygiene and distancing rules. Otherwise, there will be new shutdowns on the horizon."

At the beginning of March, Turkey has eased the restrictions and lockdowns imposed in November on a provincial basis, but the daily infection cases are steadily rising, especially in Istanbul, the nation's most populous city of over 16 million.

"The raki table has a therapeutic effect. It takes us away from our daily problems. It has become a social luxury in pandemic times. Let's hope that this virus will go away soon and that we will reunite with friends until late in the night, as in the past," Erhan Atay added. Enditem
Junior analysts at the investment banking giant call for 80-hour workweeks (AFP via Getty Images)

In a damning leaked presentation, Goldsach Sach junior bankers have accused the investment bank of inhumane work conditions that are severely affecting their mental health.

At least 13 junior investment banking analysts took part in the survey, the results of which were presented to the bank last month and are now being circulated on social media.

It claims some new recruits were putting in 100-hour work weeks, with 100 per cent of the respondents saying they were given unrealistic deadlines and that a large majority have been ignored in meetings that they worked hard to prepare for. Most described themselves as unlikely to recommended Goldman Sach as a workplace to others.

The presentation also said that if working conditions do not change in the next six months, most first-year analysts say they are unlikely to stay at GS.

This isnt the first time allegations of gruelling work conditions and abuse of young bankers at the investment giant have come to light. In 2015, a 22-year old analyst struggling with high pressure and long work hours took his own life.

The 11-page presentation also includes quotes and first-hand accounts from young analysts. One investment banking division analyst who is quoted in the survey said: What is not OK to me is 110-120 hours over the course of a week! The math is simple, that leaves 4 hours a day for eating, sleeping, showering, bathroom and general transition time. This is beyond the level of hard-working, this is inhumane/abuse.

Read more:

The survey quoted another analyst saying: Being unemployed is less frightening to me than what my body might succumb to if I keep up this lifestyle.

The survey also chronicles the young workers mental and physical health deterioration. Before they started at Goldman Sachs, the analysts rated their mental and physical health on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the healthiest, at 8.8 and 9, respectively. They presented these numbers in bar charts. After joining GS, they said they rated their mental and physical health as 2.8 and 2.3, respectively.

Story continues

The gruelling and inhumane working conditions, the survey reported, had also led to a negative impact on analysts relationship with their friends and family. The majority of 1st-year analysts feel they have been the victim of workplace abuse and have or considered seeking help due to deteriorating mental health.

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The analysts also pointed towards a culture of toxicity in the workplace with 83 per cent claiming that they had been shouted or sworn at at work.

One analyst said: The sleep deprivation, the treatment by senior bankers, the mental and physical stress... Ive been through foster care and this is arguably worse.

Another junior analyst noted: I didnt come into this job expecting 9am-5pms, but I also didnt expect consistent 9am-5ams either.

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In a statement, a Goldman Sachs spokesperson said steps had been taken to address burnout at the company, including with the survey group.

We recognise that our people are very busy, because business is strong and volumes are at historic levels, the company said. A year into Covid people are understandably quite stretched, and thats why we are listening to their concerns and taking multiple steps to address them.

Last month, Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon rejected the idea that work from home was the new normal, instead calling it an aberration.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 05:24:46|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Italy's exports grew 2.3 percent in January from the previous month, pushed by a rise in trade within the European Union (EU) as well as with China, Italy's National Statistics Institute reported Friday.

The institute, best known by its Italian initials ISTAT, said that the country's exports with its EU trading partners grew 4 percent in January compared to December. It also pointed out that trade with China was a bright spot among its non-EU trading partners, with sales to China surging 29.2 percent compared to the previous month.

However, ISTAT said that the country's overall exports for January were down 8.5 percent compared with the same period last year.

Clothing, one of the worst-performing exports sectors, declined by 23.1 percent and refined petroleum products went down by 36.5 percent. The best performing sectors included motor vehicle sales, up by 6.5 percent, electrical appliances, up by 5.3 percent, and agricultural products which improved by 8.4 percent.

Italy's overall trade balance for January was positive, totaling 1.587 billion euros (1.893 billion U.S. dollars), ISTAT said. Enditem
The Biden administration admitted this week to detaining more than 14,000 unaccompanied migrant children in federal custody. More than 9,500 children are held by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), while the remaining 4,500 are in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Migrant children at a detention camp in Homestead, Florida, Feb. 19, 2019 [Credit: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File]

While some migrants are being allowed to stay in the US while their asylum claims are allowed to play out in immigration court, the vast majority are being turned away. A report by CBS News notes that 3,000 of the children in CBP detention camps, meant for adults, are being kept longer than is legally allowed, with some facilties operating at well over maximum capacity.

Biden administration officials confirmed that they are expanding the number of camps to hold the influx of migrants including a convention center in Dallas that will be used to imprison children. Another camp in Midland, Texas, is also being used.

The White House is desperate to cover up a swell of migrants coming to the US-Mexico border, the overwhelming majority of whom are escaping extreme violence and poverty in Central America. The worsening conditions in the camps have proven to be a political embarrassment for a government that was voted in on a promise to reverse the anti-immigrant policies enforced by Trump.

President Biden has responded to right-wing criticism of his handling of the border crisis by insisting that there exists no open border policy and telling immigrants that they should not come to the US.

White House press secretary Jen Psaski went out of her way Thursday to insist that the vast, vast majority [of families] are being turned away, adding, There are limited circumstances, very limited I should say, where families are coming across going through proper protocols at the border, being tested and then having their cases adjudicated.

The number of families and unaccompanied minors that will actually have their case brought before an immigration judge and then given asylum, after potentially years of legal appeals and requests, will be extremely few, by design.

In an effort at damage control, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and a group of senators travelled to El Paso, Texas, Friday to inspect CBP operations and receive a briefing on how migrants are being jailed and processed. The DHS did not allow the press to accompany the group citing privacy and COVID-19 precautions.

Mayorkas was forced to admit that CBP jails were no place for a child but still refused any journalists access to the facilities. The CBP for the first three years of the Trump administration offered ride-alongs to the press but stopped after the start of the pandemic.

President Biden has reportedly been briefed on the conditions on the border and given pictures of the CBP jails but has declined to make those images public.

Press secretary Psaki said this week that the White House would at some indefinite point in the future provide ways for a pool of media to be able to have your own videos or get your footage of these facilities. One can be certain that these inspections, if they are indeed allowed to take place, will be of Potemkin villages and not the actual conditions to which thousands of children are currently being subjected.

While the Democratic Party oversees the detention of thousands of immigrant children at the border, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives cynically approved two token immigration reform bills on Thursday including the so-called American Dream and Promise Act of 2021. The bill would ostensibly provide a pathway for citizenship for DACA recipients, or Dreamers, as well as for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients and Deferred Enforced Departure beneficiaries.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, the bills, if they are ever signed into law, would only make 4.4 million immigrants eligible for permanent residence out of a total of at least 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the US.

The House also passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act which could allow farmworkers and their families to qualify for legal status as long as they continue to toil in the agricultural sector, i.e., the nations crop fields and industrial farms where super-exploitation bordering on slavery is rampant.

The chances that either bill will pass with needed Republican support in the Senate are almost nil. However, both pieces of legislation are only meant to provide political cover to an administration which is increasingly being discredited for its anti-immigrant policies.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin admitted as much to CNN when he said that he does not expect Congress to pass a bill that would eventually provide citizenship to all the undocumented immigrants in the US, a key promise of Bidens 2020 election campaign.

I dont see a means for reaching that, Durbin said, I want it. I think we are much more likely to deal with discrete elements.

Once again, the Republican Party, which only a few months ago saw many of its leading members back an effort to overthrow the results of the 2020 election, is allowed to exercise sole veto power over the wishes of the American people, despite the fact that the Democrats control both houses of Congress and the White House.

In another ominous development, CBP officers dressed in riot gear briefly shut down the San Diego, California, border crossing in San Ysidro on Wednesday. The exercise was designed to train border agents to fight back a large crowd, with several traffic lanes shut down.

The drill lasted roughly 30 minutes with loudspeakers asking drivers waiting to enter the US to be patient. CBP called the training an Operational Readiness Exercise to assess the capabilities of our facilities.

CBP stated the operation had nothing to do with the large encampment of migrants and refugees who have been living in squalor south of the border for over a month after being turned away from the US.
Pamela Churchill is pictured above. Churchill's son Randolph erupted into a rage, accusing him of having encouraged his wife Pamelas seduction of important American men during the war

The salon in the boat was full of gold and silver ashtrays in the form of seashells, gold taps made in the shape of dolphins, and a 2,000-year-old Cretan mosaic dancefloor that could be converted at the touch of a switch into a swimming pool.

No wonder Winston Churchill revelled in the luxury of what he called the monster yacht, Christina. However, his wife Clementine loathed it and was suspicious of its owner, the Greek millionaire Ari Onassis.

The tycoon treated Churchill with filial reverence. Sometimes when Clementines back was turned, he sank to his knees and spooned extra caviar, which the former Prime Minister ate like toast, into his mouth.

It was the summer of 1963 and, Churchill, aged 88 and in increasingly poor health, invited his son Randolph to join them on his tenth trip on the yacht.

At first during the cruise, Randolph treated his father with affection and respect.

But one night, he erupted into a rage, accusing him of having encouraged his wife Pamelas seduction of important American men during the war.

Winston stared at his son with brooding fury before retiring, still shaking, to his cabin, where his secretary, Anthony Montague Browne, feared he might suffer a stroke. There, the two men sipped whisky and soda until Winston grew calm.

It was clear that Randolph must leave the ship.

Anthony, Randolph said, I do so very much love my father but something always goes wrong between us.

Randolph (pictured) was offered a parliamentary seat in Preston  under the terms of the wartime coalition, he would not face a challenge  and on October 8, 1940, Winston beamed as his anointed heir made his ceremonial entry into the Commons

From the moment his only son was born in 1911, a delighted Winston Churchill wanted to ensure Randolphs childhood would be better than his own.

Winston had hero-worshipped his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, the politician and social whirlwind who had died at 46. He learned his speeches by heart, took his politics unquestioningly and always pondered whether his father would approve of his decisions.

But whenever hed tried to begin a serious conversation with his father, he had been snubbed pitilessly.

He wouldnt listen to me or consider anything I said. There was no companionship with him possible and I tried so hard and so often. He was so self-centred no one else existed for him, Winston once said. So he vowed to treat his own son very differently. In an attempt to create an intimate father-son bond, Winston praised Randolph to the heavens and told him stories about their illustrious ancestors. He transmitted all his obsessions, ideas and prejudices.

Guests to the family home, Chartwell, were introduced by Winston to his son before his wife  which infuriated Clementine. Winston was unapologetic. He was preparing his son to be prime minister one day.

At dinner, the precocious Randolph enraptured his father, holding forth on the great events of the day to men such as David Lloyd George and Max Beaverbrook.

Not everyone found the experience to their taste. Randolphs cousin, Peregrine Churchill, said: My uncle was a great man but a frightful bully. So was my cousin Randolph. All those overpowering egos! But Winston dismissed criticisms of his son, including those of his teachers at Eton.

There were sometimes rows, but the moment always came when Winston kissed his son and told him that he had not meant to be unkind. Clementine was less forgiving.

Randolph believed she hated him. Indeed, at one point she began to fear her overbearing son, and instructed her staff never to leave her alone with him.

From the moment his only son was born in 1911, a delighted Winston Churchill wanted to ensure Randolphs childhood would be better than his own. They are pictured together at the seaside in 1912

As the 1920s wore on, Winston involved his schoolboy son more closely in his political life, inviting him to give speeches on the campaign trail. Randolph became his fathers chief cheerleader. In turn, Winston made it clear that success was all that counted. A career outside the Cabinet was worthless.

In 1929, Winston took his son on a tour of the US and Canada. In California, they stayed at media mogul Randolph Hearsts estate. Winston wrote to Clementine: Randolph enjoyed himself immensely. He got off at once with Mrs Hearst junior [the young wife of one of the tycoons sons]. They spent the greater part of the time in the sapphire bathing pool  occasioning some anxiety to the husband, some vigilance from Mrs H senior, & some relief to me when the young lady departed.

Winston did not tell his wife that Randolph had surprised him by climbing through his bedroom window after losing his way to a midnight assignation with Mrs Hearst.

Throughout their tour, Randolph regularly disappeared. On one occasion, he reappeared in his pyjamas with an actress.

Being in his fathers company had been exhilarating and he felt closer than ever to Winston, who was always telling him how clever and talented he was.

Now a student at Oxford, it became clear that Randolph considered university a tiresome formality before his gilded political career could begin. He led a sybaritic lifestyle of drunkenness and socialising.

An appalled Winston sent him a letter that could have been a carbon copy of the letters his own father sent to him: Your idle & lazy life is very offensive to me. You appear to be leading a perfectly useless existence You give nothing in return for the many privileges & favours you have hitherto received. I must therefore adopt a different attitude towards you for your own good.

The difference was that Winston cared what happened to Randolph in a way his own father never had about him. Randolph replied that Oxford had nothing more to offer him.

His father, somewhat reluctantly, relented, on condition that Randolph find a job. He opted to take up the calling for which no credentials or examinations are required  journalism.

He wrote articles for Lords Beaverbrook and Rothermere, and earned a salary editing a magazine for chemicals company ICI while living with the future poet laureate John Betjeman in Mayfair. Randolphs friends were brittle, witty Bright Young Things: Evelyn Waugh, Diana and Nancy Mitford. They lunched at the Ritz and went to parties where the guests got so drunk they could not speak, only bark and bite.

Randolph was louder, ruder and funnier than anybody else. He drank more, gambled more, and slept with more women than anyone. He spent more, too.

After Winston threw a 21st birthday party for him at Claridges, the journalist Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart wrote in his diary. What an amazing thing privilege and position still are in England! Here is a boy who, born in a less privileged circle, would have had to work hard and make his own way.

As it is, he is lazy, lascivious, impudent and, beyond a certain rollicking bumptiousness, untalented, and everything is open to him. One thing position has given him is good looks and charm.

Throughout the 1930s, the lives of father and son grew ever more tightly entwined. They drank and dined together; holidayed and gambled together; confided in each other; their friendships overlapped and, increasingly, so did their professional lives.

Randolph was seemingly more brilliant than his father. But his sallies into society were laced with uncertainty. As he entered the room, there was a crackle of fear. When Randolph got bored, he started fights. Many were scandalised by his affair with the wife of the Anglo-Irish banker-turned-journalist Lord Castlerosse.

No matter how often father and son screamed insults at each other, no matter how searing the pain of the betrayal over Pamela, Winston Churchill was the only person Randolph truly loved

Winston was entertained by his sons tumultuous behaviour and arranged for his large gambling debts to be paid off from a family trust. He collected examples of his sons repartee  the more Churchillian the better. He continued to shower him with love, which was reflected back doubled in force.

But to Randolphs frustration and Winstons disquiet, he had not put his foot on the first rung of the political ladder.

Then, in January 1935, the Daily Mail sent Randolph to cover a by-election in Wavertree, Liverpool, which the Conservatives had won in 1931 with a majority of 29,973.

To the dismay of his father, Randolph suddenly decided to stand as an independent against the official Conservative candidate. Winston was worried he would split the Tory vote. He was right. Labour took the seat and many in the Conservative Party never forgave Randolph.

He then failed in a number of other elections until, with war looming, he joined his fathers old regiment, the Fourth Hussars.

Almost as soon as war was declared, Randolph dashed around London in a panic, insisting he needed a Churchill heir in case he was killed in action.

Though he was sleeping with the vaudeville actress Claire Luce, and in love with the unhappily married Laura Charteris (who had left her husband, taking her baby, the nanny, her Pekinese and a monkey), neither would marry him. He was rejected by eight women in two weeks. Finally, someone said yes. The Honourable Pamela Digby had wide, deep-blue eyes, pink flushed cheeks and auburn hair.

Presented as an ingenue, she had already had affairs with older men and knew how to get them to pay her bills. She was bold, ambitious and did not care what anybody thought about her.

Randolph duly proposed. Both were aware of the transactional nature of the engagement: Randolph wanted a son, while Pam wanted glitter and fun.

Clementines doubts were whether it was fair to inflict her sons drunkenness, gambling, philandering and rudeness on his wife. But in the early months of 1940, all this was forgotten. Pamela was pregnant.

Winston seemed the most excited. A letter Pamela wrote to Randolph captures her father-in-laws pleasure: His eyes lit up with great joy when I told him of our child.

Before the war, Randolph had as much access to his father as he wanted. But that changed when Winston became Prime Minister in 1940. There were three chiefs of staff and two private secretaries at his side. They did not like Randolph.

Indeed, senior civil servant Jock Colville wrote that he was one of the most objectionable people I had ever met: noisy, self-assertive, whining and frankly unpleasant.

The pregnant Pamela moved into a Downing Street annexe when Randolph was posted away for training and the Churchills treated her like another daughter.

Randolph struggled with the new situation. Winston had always encouraged his outspokenness, but his son couldnt see this was no longer appropriate. Or that he had become a crown prince without hope of succession, kept near because he was essential to his fathers peace of mind.

He was often drunk at Chequers and liable to pick fights with anyone, including senior Army officers. Once, he arrived at Downing Street dead drunk at 6am and, far more seriously, had left secret military maps in his car.

But then things took a turn for the better. Randolph was offered a parliamentary seat in Preston  under the terms of the wartime coalition, he would not face a challenge  and on October 8, 1940, Winston beamed as his anointed heir made his ceremonial entry into the Commons.

Two days later, Randolphs son, Winston, the future Tory MP, was born in his grandfathers four-poster bed at Chequers. Randolph, meanwhile, was in bed with another mans wife in London  the actress Diana Napier.

He was then posted to Cairo. One of his new acquaintances in Egypt was society hostess Maud Momo Marriott, daughter of an American financier and the wife of a colonel in the Scots Guards.

She was sophisticated, with long red fingernails and simple, beautifully cut clothes. Although Momo denied it, everyone else in Cairo assumed, correctly, that she and Randolph were lovers.

Randolph did not, however, limit himself to one mistress. He was often seen fondling his Egyptian girlfriends at Madame Badias nightclub, and caused a scandal by bringing whores through the doors of the Mohammad Ali Club.

Meanwhile, Pamela was left to cope alone with a young baby and Randolphs huge debts, which she cleared by taking a 12-a-week job at the Ministry of Supply and selling her wedding presents and much of her jewellery. Before long, his absence felt like a liberation. By March 1941, she had moved into a room at the Dorchester hotel, where she thrived. She was regularly seen in the company of influential older men, often Americans  one man in particular

By the beginning of 1941, President Roosevelt sent his top expediter, Averell Harriman, to London. He was invited to Chequers at a moment during the war when American help was desperately needed. Winston liked him instantly. Pamela thought him the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

Harriman, too, also impressed. She was delicious, he said.

They first slept together at the Dorchester in mid-April in the middle of a heavy air raid. They cared for each other, but theirs was essentially a relationship that suited two people who collected people who might be useful.

At first, they kept the affair secret. And nobody asked too many questions when she moved into a suite at the Dorchester with Harriman and his daughter from his first marriage.

They moved in the highest circles and she passed on what she gleaned to Winston, saying: If anything, Winston made it easier for the two of us to see each other outside London by inviting both of us to Chequers nearly every weekend.

Randolph knew nothing. Indeed, his father wrote to him in June 1941 to say that Harriman was on his way to Egypt and could he do everything to make his trip enjoyable and fruitful. Over ten days, the two men toured military installations and discovered they liked each others company. The helpful and ebullient Randolph greatly impressed the man who was cuckolding him.

Find Randolph most delightful and stimulating travelling companion. Beginning to understand your weakness for him, Harriman wrote in a telegram to Pamela. In parallel, Randolph wrote to his wife that the American was absolutely charming... He spoke delightfully about you, and I fear I have a serious rival.

One night, Randolph chartered a dhow for a small party and boasted to Harriman of his affair with Momo. For years to come, he would be haunted by the thought that this indiscretion had unwittingly contributed to the end of his marriage. It was less the thought of the break-up of the relationship itself that troubled him. In a sense, by producing an heir, it had already served its purpose. What stung Randolph was that his marriages collapse set in motion a chain of consequences that would change his bond with his father for ever.

Randolph returned to London in January 1942, but his marriage was on the rocks. He was a wonderful person, Pamela recalled years later. But once a week was enough. They argued about money, but mostly Randolph criticised the way Pamela lived. He hated her frequent absences in London and the way young Winston had, as he saw it, been abandoned.

Pamela sought solace in the company of the Harrimans; Randolph at the bar at gentlemens club Whites, where he heard hints about Pamelas adultery. He reacted furiously, drinking too much then spreading malicious inventions about his wife.

He told friends that his father had not just condoned her affair, he had encouraged it because of Harrimans importance to Britain.

He confronted his father but Winston denied knowing about the affair and accused Randolph of mistreating the mother of his son.

Neither man could stop himself from saying words they knew would wound the other grievously.

Randolph vowed never to speak to his father again. Not long afterwards, he walked out on Pamela.

Randolph knew his relationship with his father contained a paradox. Winston venerated courage, but Randolphs desire to be where bullets flew risked causing his father devastating grief.

Nevertheless, he volunteered to go on an SAS raid to Benghazi in Libya  an experience he later described to his father as the most exciting half-hour of my life.

Even a serious crash on the way back that killed a man and left Randolph with crushed vertebrae could not dampen his enthusiasm.

Randolph later parachuted into Yugoslavia to make contact with Titos partisans at their secret headquarters and was again injured. But his undoubted courage did nothing to build bridges with his father.

Back in London, Randolph arrived drunk at Downing Street for dinner and bellowed at his parents, his sister Sarah and the chiefs of staff that his wife was a whore, naming her lovers. There is no record of how comprehensive Randolphs list was. Her many conquests included the journalist Ed Murrow and Major General Fred Anderson, the American air force commander.

Randolph turned on his parents and when Sarah  the only member of his family who ever liked him, according to Evelyn Waugh  protested, he hit her in the face.

Winston went deathly white and Clementine thought he was on the brink of a heart attack. When Winston could talk once more, he summoned the Marines to eject his son. The violence of the encounter left the family stunned. It became the talk of the Carlton Grill, the bar of Whites and the Commons smoking room. It had long been known that Winston had spoiled his son. Now, they said, he was afraid of him.

All the while, Randolph retained his conviction that great things awaited him, even after he lost his seat in the 1945 Labour landslide.

His devotion to his father remained almost religious, but the war had changed Winston, who no longer took delight in his sons rumbustious behaviour.

Still in his 30s, but deeply unhappy, Randolph grew fat and grey. He staggered around London, uttering gratuitous insults. He ruined parties, gatecrashed dinners, immolated old friendships. There were nights when he was thrown out of three hotels before dawn.

He became a shambling, pitiful object, much like King Lear on the heath. The next day, he would be assailed with regret, his bright pink eyes streaming tears.

Worse, as far as Randolph was concerned, was the way in which his father started to treat him as a failure  a situation that did not change until he was persuaded to permit him to write his authorised biography.

Randolphs reaction: Millions! he said. It will make us millions! He also felt that it proved his father still had confidence in his abilities. However, it was melancholy, more than anger, that came to dominate the final phase of their relationship.

Trapped in a cage built by his father, Randolph never had a chance to ask himself whether the Churchill path was what he truly wanted.

He barely outlived his father. He wanted desperately to survive long enough to finish his biography of the man who still dominated his life.

But his own declining health meant that he had only a tiny chance of doing so. He died on June 6, 1968, aged 57.

Randolph never lived up to his fathers extravagant hopes for him  he did not even come close.

One thing remained true, however. No matter how often father and son screamed insults at each other, no matter how searing the pain of the betrayal over Pamela, Winston Churchill was the only person Randolph truly loved.

 Josh Ireland, 2021.

Churchill & Son by Josh Ireland is published by John Murray on April 1 at 20. To pre-order a copy for 17.60 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193 before April 11. Free UK delivery on orders over 20.
Indigenous Congresswoman Deb Haalands confirmation should not be reduced to symbolism.

by Sonali Kolhatkar

In her farewell address to the House of Representatives, New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland said to her colleagues about her new role as interior secretary, I have the opportunity to make a real difference for communities everywhere by addressing climate change, protecting voting rights, [and] fighting for racial, environmental, and economic justice. It was a far cry from the oil and gas lobbyists who have long occupied the position she now assumes.

The 60-year-old Haaland is an activist-turned-lawmaker who was among the crop of progressive women of color who won a slew of races in the 2018 midterm races. She became one of the two first Indigenous women ever to win a congressional seat. Now, in a 51-40 Senate vote, Haaland broke barriers once more in winning confirmation as the nations first Indigenous interior secretary and first Indigenous Cabinet secretary.

I had the chance to speak with Haaland in 2018 before she won her congressional seat representing New Mexico. Six months before she was elected, she told me that creating a renewable energy revolution in our state and in our country was a central issue for her as a candidate and that she was working to get big corporate money out of politics because I dont believe that our elected officials should be working for the lobbyiststhey should be working for the people.

It isnt just Haalands Native American identity that symbolizes progress. What makes her a formidable force is that her racial and ethnic background in combination with politically progressive views is antithetical to power and capital. She is now in a position to direct the federal agency whose central task is to manage and sustain Americas lands, water, wildlife, and energy resources, [honor] our nations responsibilities to tribal nations, and [advocate] for Americas island communities. Not only will a Native American for the first time oversee the governments relationship to Indigenous Americans, but an avowed environmental activist will manage how the nations natural resources serve the interests of the oil and gas industryor not. No wonder Republicans are terrified.

The fear was on display during Haalands confirmation hearings when Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) led the GOP opposition to her nomination, claiming that she had a very well documented and hostile record toward made-in-America energy, toward natural resource development, toward wildlife management and sportsmen. Daines denounced Haalands very far left divisive positions that will fail to represent the West, to be in the mainstream of commonsense and balance. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, concurred with his colleague, deeming Haalands views as radical. The Center for Responsive Politics points out that both Daines and Barrasso have each received more than half a million dollars from the oil and gas industry.

As interior secretary, Haaland is as much of an opposite of her white male predecessors as one can imagine. In 2018, President Donald Trumps first Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told oil and gas industry representatives seeking to drill on public lands that the federal government should partner with them and not be in the business of being an adversary. At another conference he told the industry that the U.S. government should work for you. Zinke then resigned in a cloud of ethics scandals and went on to work as a consultant for the former industry clients he once was tasked with regulating. Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, a former oil lobbyist, known as a walking conflict of interest, then replaced Zinke. As one analyst described it, Bernhardt had alternated between lobbying gigs and jobs in the Interior Department since 1998.

Both Zinke and Bernhardt represent the epitome of the corrupt revolving door between corporate lobbyists and government. In contrast, before she ran for Congress, Haaland visited tribal leaders protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, and led the New Mexico Democratic Partys divestment from Wells Fargo over the banks funding of that controversial pipeline project.

As interior secretary, Haaland will oversee the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which has been accused of routinely auctioning off federal lands to oil and gas companies and ignoring tribal leadership in drilling projects. Haaland told me that her ancestral homeland of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico remains continuously under threat from the BLM, which favors hydraulic fracturing (fracking) projects on grounds that are considered sacred. Indeed, during his last year as interior secretary, Bernhardt proceeded to lease lands near Chaco Canyon for fracking and mining operations at the same time as tribes were occupied with trying to survive the coronavirus pandemic. Brian Sybert, executive director of Conservation Lands Foundation, complained that [o]nce again, Secretary Bernhardt is putting profits ahead of the people, and is failing to recognize the impact of the pandemic on tribal communities who hold Chaco Culture National Historical Park sacred.

Now, for the first time in this nations history, an Indigenous person not beholden to corporate interests will wield decision-making power over oil and gas projects on federal lands. While Bidens choice of Haaland to lead the Interior Department is indeed commendable and forward-thinking, the dangers of shaping policy through departmental discretion alone is that future administrations can easily reverse progressive trends. In order to truly cement a climate-justice-centered approach to the management of natural resources, Congress and the president need to lead through legislation. The environmental organization Food and Water Watch hailed Haalands confirmation as the first step in a fracking ban. But, as the group rightly asserts, Now the White House must follow through on a ban on fracking on public lands.

As soon as he took office, the president signed an executive order suspending oil and gas drilling on public lands for two months. But the move is symbolic and falls far short of an actual ban. Sensitive to relentless Republican accusations of wanting to ban the extractive industry, Biden took pains to reiterate as he signed the executive order, Let me be clear, and I know this always comes up: Were not going to ban fracking.

During Haalands confirmation hearings, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) was correct in seeing the battle over her nomination as a proxy fight about the future of fossil fuels. Indigenous Americans have led the fight for climate justice for years, successfully linking responsible stewardship of our land and water with the need to switch to renewable energy sources. Haalands identity and politics taken together are a threat to the oil and gas industry, its lobbyists like Zinke and Bernhardt, and its political champions like Daines and Barrasso. But in order to move past symbolism and avoid turning her identity into a tokenistic stunt, the Democratic Party leadership must itself embrace and embody Haalands environmentalism.

This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. She is a writing fellow for the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute.
At the reception, head of the Lao Commission for External Relations Somdy Bounkhoun said the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the LPRP have shared an origin and a historical mission of leading people in the struggles for national liberation and the cause of national construction. He rejoiced at the developments of the cooperation and friendship between the two Parties, States, and peoples.

The Lao official described the Vietnamese sides congratulations as a vivid demonstration of the solidarity and close ties between the two nations, and attributed Laos achievements to Vietnams whole-hearted support.

The Lao Party, State, and people will make all-out efforts to consolidate and tighten the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, he pledged.

Ambassador Hung expressed his belief that under the leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will reap greater achievements in national construction and development.

He also affirmed that Vietnam has consistently preserved and cultivated the bilateral relationship.

Under the leadership of the CPV and the LPRP, the two countries will together overcome the challenges and reach their socio-economic development targets, he believed.
GUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- XPeng Inc. (XPeng or the Company, NYSE: XPEV), a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle (Smart EV) company, today announced that its subsidiary in China has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with Guangdong Yuecai Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. (Yuecai), the investment arm of the Guangdong provincial government. Pursuant to the agreement, Yuecai will invest a total of RMB500 million, through the Guangdong Industrial Development Fund, in XPengs subsidiary in China to further accelerate the Companys business expansion.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210315005543/en/

XPeng and Guangdong Industrial Development Fund signing ceremony (Photo: Business Wire)

The investment recognizes XPengs leadership position in the Smart EV industry in China and its strategy of developing proprietary R&D tailored for local customer needs. The investment also acknowledges XPengs significant contributions to local economic development, in particular to the transition of the automobile sector, developing advanced EV technologies, and building the connected and intelligent mobility ecosystem and supply chain, as well as to the local talent base expansion in Guangdong Province.

The Guangdong Industrial Development Fund promotes high quality developments in the manufacturing industry with a keen focus on the strategic development of the automobile industry, one of the economic pillars of Guangdong. The investment in XPeng creates a win-win solution, not only enhancing XPengs leading role in the Smart EV sector but also accelerating the automobile industrys strategic transition in Guangdong.

Headquartered in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong, XPeng has a strong foothold in the Province. The Company currently employs over 5,000 staff, the majority of them based in Guangdong, and has two wholly-owned intelligent manufacturing bases in the Province, one in full operation in Zhaoqing, and the other under construction in Guangzhou.

A key component of Chinas Greater Bay Area, Guangdong Province is the largest contributor to the countrys GDP. In 2020, the GDP of Guangdong Province exceeded RMB11 trillion, marking its top GDP ranking in China for 32 consecutive years.

Guangdong is our birthplace, where we design, innovate, research and build our products. It has nurtured our growth and witnessed our progress for the past six years. This investment from the Guangdong provincial government reinforces our commitment to driving Smart EV transformation with technology and data, and to building a comprehensive EV infrastructure in the fastest-growing areas of China, said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of XPeng at the signing ceremony.

The Guangdong Industrial Development Fund manages RMB50 billion of assets, focusing on industrial upgrading and reform developments to foster growth in emerging sectors such as information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy and biomedicine.

About Xpeng

Xpeng is a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers in China. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology and data, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers mobility experience, Xpeng develops in-house its full-stack autonomous driving technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrification/electronic architecture. Xpeng is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley and San Diego. The Companys Smart EVs are manufactured at plants in Zhaoqing and Zhengzhou, located in Guangdong and Henan provinces, respectively. For more information, please visit https://en.xiaopeng.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210315005543/en/

Marie Cheung

XPeng Inc.

Tel: +852-9750-5170 or +86-1550-7577-546

Email: mariecheung@xiaopeng.com

Source: XPeng Motors
(@fidahassanain)

An Anti-Terrorism Court Judge announced the verdict inside Lahores camp jail and awarded 14-year jail term to both Abid Malhi and Shafqat Bagga over charges of robbing the victim woman.

LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 20th, 2021) An Anti-Terrorism Court has awarded death sentence to the suspects of Lahore-Sialkot Motorway gang rape.

The decision was announced in Lahores camp jail.

The court sentenced both Abid Malhi and Shafqat Bagga after they were proven guilty by the prosecution for raping a woman who was travelling from Sialkot to Lahore.

The court also awarded 14-year imprisonment to both the convicts.

Earlier, the judge reserved the judgment, saying that it would be announced later today. But it the whole day as the reporters kept waiting outside the Camp jail in Lahore.

On March 3, 2021, the same court indicted Abid Malhi and Shafqat Bagga for allegedly raping a woman on Sialkot to Lahore Motorway .The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty and decided to fight the case.

The police had earlier submitted 100-page challan before the court and as many as 40 witnesses recorded their statements to the court in this case.

The victim woman herself, the complainant of the case and the person who dialed 15 call were among the witnesses.

According to content of Challan, Abid Malhi confessed that his guilty during investigation while Shafqat, the other suspect, recorded his statement to a judicial magistrate in which he also confessed his guilt.

Accused Abid Malhi, however, spent over Rs 100,000 he had looted from the victim woman.

Malhi was arrested from Faisalabad by Model Town CIA Police. Strict security arrangments have been made outside the court.

The father of the suspect informed police about presence of the prime suspect in Faisalabad and helped the police to arrest him.

Earlier, the suspect many times had dodged the police and escaped arrest.

The horrific incident took place on Nov 9th, 2020 when a woman who is said to be a French national was travelling along with her children from Gujranwala to Lahore at midnight. Her car went out of fuel and she parked her car at the roadside and started waiting for her husband to arrive there. She had also dialed Motorway police but it fell on deaf ears. Suddenly, the robbers reached there who took her jewellery, money and cars document and also took the woman to a nearby place and gang raped her.
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Indian App developers had been protesting Google's high commission fee of 30% for a few months now. Most online services like banking, UPI services, digital wallets etc. usually charge commissions anywhere from 0.5 - 5 per cent on their transaction. However, Google's monopoly on Android meant that it could charge whatever fees the company wanted, and for years the company took 30 per cent of all app earnings on the Android platform. However, after a lot of industry leaders and developers raised their voices, Google has slashed its commission fee to half. Read on to know more about Google's decision.

Google Lowers Play Store Commissions to Half

As reported by Tech Crunch, Google is going to lower the commission for Play Store apps by half; from 30 per cent earlier to 15 per cent in the future. This new Google policy will be in effect starting July 1, 2021. However, it must be noted that this policy is only in effect for apps that have earned less than $1 million in revenue per year.

After any application makes more than $1 million in revenue the subsequent purchases on the App will have the regular 30 per cent commission charged by Google. So every year, developers of Android Apps will have a leeway where they will have to pay a lower commission on their first $1 million in revenue. This comes as welcome news to small developers and apps that make lower revenue compares to large apps. These small applications will see a significant increase in their revenue and this will also incentivise more small developers to improve and add new apps to Google Play Store. However, for high earning apps like Instagram and Snapchat, which cross billions of dollars in revenue each year, this new policy will hardly make a difference.

Indian App developers are still unhappy with this development and they had been expecting a much more lenient commission policy from Google. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, one of the founders of Paytm said in an interview with Tech Crunch that this move by Google is nothing but a PR strategy. He says that app developers will still have to pay exorbitant fees to Google for every transaction they make after crossing $1 million in revenue. While there are many apps that do not cross the $1 million threshold, there are also apps that make a few million per year but are still suffering losses due to the huge investment they have put into development.
Turkey season starts Saturday in Alabama!

Every seasoned turkey hunter has their favorite calls to use on a trip.

And you might get yours made locally - right here in North Alabama.

The man behind it all? Derrick Stuckey from Obsession Custom Calls in Maysville.

Box calls, pot calls, strikers...Stuckey makes them all.

"I had a whole collection of pot calls and box calls and strikers that I wasn't satisfied with. So, I thought I would start making my own," said Stuckey.

Obsession Custom Calls cranks out close to 750 pieces each year. And Derrick does it all himself from start to finish! Oh yeah...He has a full-time job, too!

"I spend about five hours a night during the peak season and then on the weekend sometimes twelve hours a day," said Stuckey.

It's definitely busy season for Derrick. Putting together something like a pot call isn't an overnight process.

He travels all over to places like Nashville, North Carolina, even as far as Seattle to hand-pick the wood he'll use for each call. Some of it he'll even import from Africa.

When Stuckey gets in the wood for one of his turkey calls, it can take up to two years until it's ready to go out the door.

It'd be easy to just pick up a few calls from a big box store, but Obsession Custom Calls are all handmade. Derrick considers it art.

"I can't make any more than what I'm already making. By myself. And everything has to be handmade and I'm not willing to switch to everything being machine-made," said Stuckey.

The process may take years. The work may be brutal. But, for Derrick - it's worth it.

"There's nothing better than to get a picture on an april morning of some 12-year-old in kansas that killed their first turkey using your call. That makes it all worthwhile. And I get those pictures constantly. And all call-makers do, not just me," said Stuckey.
The operator of Ashford Castle has secured planning permission for a boutique five-star, 60-bedroom hotel in Dublin.

Red Carnation Hotels (UK) has secured planning permission for the conversion and extension of a former Jesuit university students residence, Hatch Hall, which is located between Earlsfort Terrace and Leeson Street.

Dublin City Council has given the project the go-ahead after its planner found that the proposal will upgrade one of the most prominent locations in the city.

The city council planner also concluded that the proposal will contribute to the animation of the area, will allow for the refurbishment and re-engagement of a historic building, with the addition of a striking contemporary tower in an inner city location.

The planner also stated that the proposed scheme exhibits a respectful yet distinctive design narrative which will make a positive contribution to the subject site and Dublins urban fabric.

The hotel is to include two bars and a restaurant in the former chapel building.

Read More

John Hughes, director at CBRE, told the council that while Dublin has a strong pipeline of hotels, only 3pc are classified as being in the five-star category.

Mr Hughes stated that currently there is limited supply of five-star hotels in Dublin, making up just 12 of the 214 hotels in the capital  equating to 1,793 bedrooms, or a share of 8pc.

A submission lodged by Savills on behalf of Red Carnation with the application last year stated that since 2017 there have been only 50 five-star bedrooms added in the capital.

Savills stated that Dublin has many fine five-star properties, but there is a market for additional capacity at the higher end where we do not have the offering of most comparable European cities.

Hatch Hall is a protected structure and planning consultant for Red Carnation John Spain stated that the use as a five-star hotel would ensure that the building is restored and conserved, protecting it into the future with a viable use.

In the past Hatch Hall has been used as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers and is currently vacant.

The Red Carnation proposal also includes an eight-storey extension and Mr Spain told the council that a boutique five-star hotel would add to the citys attractiveness for high-spending visitors.

Red Carnation declined to comment on a timeline for the development of the hotel as the planning process is still in train, where third parties could appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 20, 2021 - 16:14 | All, Japan

The number of suicides among school children in Japan totaled 499 in 2020, up 100 from a year earlier and marking the highest level on record, according to government data.

Health ministry officials attributed the increase to worries among young people about their studies and career paths, as well as family discord as they spend more time at home in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2020 tally was the highest since comparable data became available in 1980, according to the National Police Agency.

Of the total, 14 were in elementary school, up six, 146 were in junior high school, up 34, and 339 were in senior high school, up 60. Pupils in elementary schools are aged between 6 and 12 in Japan.

Suicides committed by high school girls particularly surged to 140 from 80.

By month, the tally for all school children more than doubled in June and stayed notably higher for the rest of the year as the country faced second and third waves of coronavirus infections.

Suicides were almost unchanged between January and May, a period covering much of the first wave of the pandemic in the country and the first COVID-19 state of emergency.

Childline Support Center Japan, a Tokyo-based organization running a network of helplines for young people up to 18 years old, said parents and teachers must increase efforts to look after children who have grown vulnerable as home environments become more stressful during the coronavirus pandemic.

"The virus has taken away opportunities for them to engage with other students they feel comfortable with in school and afterschool activities, leaving them tormented for much of the day," said Junko Kobayashi, representative director of the organization.

"We would like parents, teachers and other adults to step up efforts to look after children who are worried and stressed," Kobayashi said.

The number of suicides among minors totaled 777, up 118, the NPA said, citing reasons such as depression and other mental illnesses, and distress about the future or slumping academic performance.

The number of suicides in Japan was also up 912 to 21,081 in the reporting year, marking the first rise since 2009 in the midst of the global financial crisis, according to the NPA.

Suicides involving women increased 395 to 7,026, while cases involving men dropped 23 to 14,055 for the 11th straight year of decline.

Police data cited health issues, family problems and economic hardships as motives behind the surge in suicides by women.

The total figures moved up in the July-December period, with October hitting the highest level at 2,230.

Some experts suspect that suicides by celebrities such as actor Haruma Miura in July and actress Yuko Takeuchi in September, might have propelled the increase.

Emergency service in Japan: 119



If you are having suicidal thoughts, help is available.

For Japan, call Yorisoi Hotline at 0120279338 (toll-free). Press 2 after the recorded message for consultation in English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Nepali, or Indonesian. The service in these languages is also available on Facebook messenger.



For those outside Japan, you can find a list of other resources here.
Gas Prices Rise in NW to Well Over Three Bucks: Oregon / Washington Coast Travel

Published 03/18/21 at 6:50 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Manzanita, Oregon)  Gas prices around the Pacific Northwest continue to rise this past week, according to the Portland office of AAA  something sure to affect the budget of visitors to the Washington and Oregon coast.

AAAs Marie Dodds said last months winter storm in Texas helped the surges in recent weeks, with Oregon jumping 13 percent in the last month to an average of $3.13 per gallon, while Washingtons average is considerably higher at $3.28.

With gas prices normally a few cents or more higher in the beach towns, you can expect to pay even more for spring break along the Oregon or Washington coast. Those coming from Washington to the Oregon coast will see a sizable deal, however.

With increased demand and tighter gasoline supplies, we are looking at more expensive pump prices with little relief in the weeks ahead, says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.

16 states in the U.S saw double-digit increases, with the national average going up eight cents to $2.87 a gallon. There are ten states that have moved above $3 a gallon, seven of them western states: California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, and Alaska.

Oregons average is at its highest since December of 2019, while the national average hits its biggest bump since May of 2019.

Behind the increased demand is several states easing or stopping COVID mandates and restrictions. Stock prices of crude oil have also dropped, Dodds said.

Many gas stations around the Portland area are around $3.09.

A quick look around Oregon coast gas prices according to GasBuddy.com showed the southern Oregon coast largely in the range of Portland as of Thursday. $3.05 per gallon to $3.25 was the range in Bandon and similar numbers in Coos Bay, although one listing was found just under $3.

On the north Oregon coast, the averages were higher than Portland at around $3.15 per gallon to $3.26. Vancouver, WAs average was $3.19 per gallon.

Dodds said the one bit of good news is that price of crude is stabilizing.

If crude sustains at this level, especially as refinery utilization increases, the jumps at the pump are likely not to be so substantial by April, Dodds said.

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Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been accused of betraying her principles as a cheerleader for the MeToo movement by advocating the use of porn films.

Writing on her Goop lifestyle website, she says: The first time you watch porn that genuinely and deeply arouses you is akin to the moment you have sex with another person and experience an elation that makes you think, Oh, so this is what sex can be.

The 48-year-old mother-of-two adds: If you havent checked whats available in a while, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Paltrow's attitude is unexpected considering that high-profile women have long condemned pornography as degrading  with much of it promoting female submission

Her intervention is part of a fightback by some feminists against misogyny as they champion female-friendly pornography which espouses ethical standards

Her attitude is unexpected considering that high-profile women have long condemned pornography as degrading  with much of it promoting female submission.

But her intervention is part of a fightback by some feminists against misogyny as they champion female-friendly pornography which espouses ethical standards. Some experts are unconvinced, particularly at a time of heightened concern about violence against women.

Claire McGlynn, a law professor at Durham University and an expert in pornography, said: I fear that debating the niceties of ethical porn is a worrying distraction from the realities of mainstream online pornography.

In truth, the multi-billion pound porn industry is not going to be changed, or its impact diminished, by a few ethical porn companies.

Ms Paltrow, whose Goop website has eight million followers, is an influential voice having been one of the few Hollywood stars to speak out about sex predator film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Of course, porn is not for everyone, she adds on her website. For some, taking sex to an external world, on a screen, disconnects us from our own bodies. Others experience porn as a powerful exploration of sexuality.

She goes on to give a guide to erotica sites and Paltrow-approved porn which is shown through the female gaze, made by women, ethically produced  and hot.

One of these is XConfessions, founded by Erika Lust, a Swedish film director, whose output is based on real-life stories and sexual fantasies submitted anonymously.

Ms Lust says her 25-a-month subscription service offers an alternative to traditional, debasing pornography. Typical of the material on offer is a 43-minute video in which a woman  her hands and feet bound  lies on a leather bed before being approached by a man who teases and touches her with objects he describes as his tools.

Other sites recommended by Ms Paltrow include Pink Label TV, an 18-per-month channel whose titles include Teen Angels and Black Sex Magic. Neither Ms Paltrow nor Goop responded to requests for comment.
Doris Duke, the fabulously wealthy tobacco heiress and socialite once dubbed 'the richest girl in the world,' got away with murder when she ran over her artistic director in 1966 and got police to cover up the misdeed - an author claims in his new book.

The October 7, 1966, crash in Newport, Rhode Island, that killed Eduardo Tirella and involved the heiress, daughter of American Tobacco Company founder James Duke, is covered in Peter Lance's new book Homicide at Rough Point.'

'Absolutely she intended to kill him,' Lance, who grew up in Newport and worked as a journalist there, said to the New York Post.

A new book claims heiress Doris Duke purposefully killed her artistic director by running him over with a Dodge station wagon in 1966

Tow truck prepares to haul away a station wagon driven by Doris Duke which fatally crashed into Eduardo Tirella

He continued: 'Newport is this strange kind of a place where everyone is connected to everyone else. One of the biggest legends in town was always that Doris Duke got away with murder. When I was a cub reporter, the town was buzzing with this rumor.'

Doris inherited her father's massive fortune when he died in 1925, also acquiring the Newport estate - known as Rough Point. The heiress was notorious for her tense relationships and horrible treatment of service workers.

'She was a living Cruella de Vil,' the author asserted. 'She was notoriously paranoid, stingy, hyper-jealous in her rages, incredibly troubled, driven by booze and barbiturates.'

Tirella, a gay man in his 40s, was one person who was troubled by the treatment he had been subjected to as Duke's artistic director. He had worked for a decade refurbishing her houses and appraising antiques.

Tirella, a gay man in his 40s, was one person who was troubled by the treatment he had been subjected to as Duke's artistic director

He had worked for a decade refurbishing her houses and appraising antiques

By 1966, Tirella was ready to move on to Hollywood and was determined to make it to the West Coast.

The night before the crash, Tirella came back to Rough Point to tell friends he wanted to inform Duke of his departure in person. But the next day, staff overheard the pair in an intense exchange that ended with them heading to a meeting at 5pm.

The pair hopped into a Dodge station wagon, with Tirella driving the car down the driveway and to the gate on the estate. Tirella stopped approximately 12ft from the locked gate and put the car in park before heading to go open the gate.

It was then that Duke slid into the driver's seat and released the parking brake, putting the car in drive and hitting the gas. The car sped into Tirella and through the gate before barreling across the street. It ended up crashing into a tree.

Doris inherited her father's massive fortune when he died in 1925, also acquiring the Newport estate - known as Rough Point. The heiress was notorious for her tense relationships and horrible treatment of service workers

Authorities were called to the scene by a passerby, with patrolman Edward Angel the first to arrive on the scene. Norman Mather, another patrolman, arrived on the scene as more officers arrived.

Tirella's body was found mangled under the vehicle's back wheels.

Case was ultimately dismissed after police conducted an in-depth interview with Duke, which Lance claims was fabricated and signed by the socialite

When Mather tried to ask Duke questions, she failed to answer them. Town police chief Joseph Radice soon arrived on the scene, informing Mather: 'I'll take over. You go back to the station and type it out.'

Radice then walked arm-in-arm with Duke back inside her home. She would later be taken to a hospital, spending the night under the protection of a doctor.

Mather typed the report back at the station but a sergeant took it from the typewriter and balled it up. 'This matter is being taken care of by Chief Radice. You don't have to do any more,' the sergeant reportedly told him.

When Mather went to ask Radice what was going on the next day, he was told: 'I'm the Chief. What I say goes. Now get out of my office.'

Duke was questioned two days after the killing, answering four quick questions while lying in her bed, surrounded by dogs and lawyers.

The heiress claimed Tirella death was an accident, as she had inadvertently hit the gas instead of the break. 'Suddenly the car leaped forward, and I was on top of him.' Duke said of the incident.

An informational card at the house in Newport - open to the public - surrounding the events of October 7, 1966, reads: 'Many rumors and half-truths surround this tragedy'

The little information was enough for Radice to declare the case closed but he was pressured to reopen the case by the public.

Lance would find evidence that suggests the police agreed to create an interview transcript that Duke would sign that they claimed was more in-depth. The case was closed, dismissed as an 'unfortunate accident.'

The October 7, 1966, crash in Newport, Rhode Island, that killed Eduardo Tirella is covered in Peter Lance's new book Homicide at Rough Point'

'It doesn't get any more baroque and corrupt than that,' Lance said. He speculates that Duke killed Tirella because she didn't want him to leave her.

While Duke claimed the car crushed Tirella against the gate, his autopsy report didn't show any damage to his lower body - which Lance accounted for had the victim been pinned against it.

Officer Angel - the first cop on the scene - told Lance that while there was no blood found on the gate or leading from the gate to the street, he did find Tirella's blood and skin in the middle of the street.

That suggested that Tirella had hopped onto the hood of the station wagon as Duke sped toward him. She would have stopped abruptly, flinging Tirella off the hood and onto the road - breaking his hip and leaving the skin and blood behind on the street.

'Now she's sitting there contemplating,' Lance explained. 'She just decides to go for it, and that's when she runs him over and drags him across the street.'

Duke became known for her more philanthropic nature following the incident, Lance shared. And seven months after the case closed, Radice retired and bought two Florida condos.

'I think Radice probably thought, 'I could benefit from this [case]. This is my chance to cash in,' ' Lance added,

Tirella's family sued Duke in civil court in 1971, where she was found 'negligent.' Each of his eight siblings only received $5,620 after legal fees (pictured at the trial)

Tirella's family sued Duke in civil court in 1971, where she was found 'negligent.' Each of his eight siblings only received $5,620 after legal fees.

Duke died in 1993, aged 80.

An informational card at the house in Newport - open to the public - detailing the events of October 7, 1966, reads: 'Many rumors and half-truths surround this tragedy.'

'It's time for them not to live in fantasyland,' Lance said of the Newport Restoration Foundation, which controls the house. 'Let's have a debate about my findings. They could look at this, but they don't want to.

'Doris' whole ethos was, "Clean up after me."'
The following statement was released by the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the United States of America on the occasion of a trilateral discussion among Afghanistan  Tajikistan  and the United States.

Begin Text:

Representatives of the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the United States of America convened via video conference on March 17 to discuss issues of mutual importance, including the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations and regional security. The meeting was co-chaired by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar, and Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

Participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to partnership, cooperation, and collaboration to promote prosperity, security, and peace in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, as well as prosperity across and throughout Central Asia. The participants:

Call on countries of the Central Asian region and the international community to support the Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace negotiations for a united, sovereign, stable, democratic, secure, inclusive, and self-reliant Afghanistan; at peace with itself and its neighbors;

Seek to preserve the economic, social, political, and development achievements of the last two decades, and intend to build upon those gains with regards to human rights, especially womens rights;

Express their concerns over the increased level of violence and targeted killings and highlight the urgent need for a reduction in violence leading to a ceasefire to end the violence;

Seek greater trilateral cooperation in the security, political, people-to-people, energy, and economic realms;

Intend to increase regional cooperation, information sharing and border security, and coordination to counter terrorist threats;

Plan to improve mutual efforts to combat cross-border threats and address issues of drug trafficking and the movement of illicit materials, including through strengthened cooperation between Tajik and Afghan authorities at border crossing points;

Recognize the United States intends to continue providing assistance in capacity building of the border security and counter-narcotics forces of the two countries. Also, the United States intends to provide training and technical assistance in risk management for Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Plan to expand the reach of cultural and educational exchanges and network building efforts;

Support increasing English-language proficiency to expand access to English-based information sources, counter disinformation, and provide greater economic opportunity throughout the region and internationally;

Aim to enhance participation in people-to-people programs, such as the C5+1 Youth Council, to build on the linkages between the peoples of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and the United States and encourage the countries future leaders to come together to create solutions to shared challenges;

Support the continuation of regional energy infrastructure projects, such as CASA-1000 (Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project) and electricity transmission projects. These projects should prioritize increasing electrical connectivity, regional cooperation, provide transit revenues, and clean, reliable energy to Afghanistan and countries in Central Asia;

Will discuss how to enhance connectivity between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, including through the construction of new transportation routes, such as railways, and through the improvement of international transportation mechanisms, including expanded usage of the TIR system;

Promote trade by supporting efforts to implement international agreements that ease nontariff barriers to trade, such as the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement;

Seek opportunities to expand business-to-business connections between Afghan and Tajik enterprises that open new markets and promote greater prosperity on both sides of the border;

Intend to participate in environmental protection programs that target climate change, wildlife conservation, and water and air quality; and

Seek to explore organizing a Trilateral Business Forum to encourage partnership between the private sectors of the Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and the United States

The Participants noted their commitment to continued trilateral cooperation and partnership, including high-level, in-person consultations when public health conditions permit.

End text.
CHICO, Calif.  One year ago, today, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the stay-at-home order, and in those 12 months of our lives have been filled with hand sanitizer, face coverings, Zoom meetings, and elbow bumps.

Perhaps it is what we have not had in the past year that is more note-worthy: birthday parties, grandparent visits, holiday gatherings, and for many, no job or paycheck. With vaccinations underway, better days seem possible in the future.

Spring is in the air at DeGarmo Park in Chico. Families, still enduring a pandemic now one year old, are just looking for moments of normalcy.

Related: Part One: One year later: Key points that led up to Californias stay-at-home order

Its been very challenging, said Petra Contreras Swift, a Chico mother. Ive actually had to stop working. I worked at a skilled nursing facility as a nurse, and I could not find childcare.

Like many of us, this mother is tracking the plunging coronavirus numbers and hoping its a sign of better days ahead. I miss getting together with family, good friends, like going out to eat with friends, Swift said.

However, since the post-holiday coronavirus spike, daily cases are plummeting nationwide. The U.S. was seeing about 250,000 new cases a day in January. Now, in March 2021, its down to about 50,000.

I think there's a lot of reason to be optimistic about those numbers, Linda Lewis with the Butte County Public Health Department, said in a Zoom interview. We're certainly on the downward slope. That's very good."

Even so, Lewis said the numbers in many areas are plateauing at a level considered too high by the health experts. We're all ready to be done with this, she said. But we have to hang in there a little bit longer and drive those case rates down before we can open up more.

Related: Part Two: Maintaining determination for restaurant survival in a pandemic

Still, the projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington show about 38,000 daily infections by May 1 and 11,000 by June 1. Daily deaths, which two months ago were in the 4,000 range, will be in the hundreds in a couple of months. And just above 100, nationwide, by July 1.

By July the 4th there's a good chance, you, your families and friends, can get together in your backyards, your neighborhoods, and have a cookout or a BBQ and celebrate Independence Day, President Joe Biden said in a press conference.

However, there is, of course, no guarantee these predictions will come true.

Were in a bit of a race between the vaccine and the variants, Lewis said. The continually emerging variant could halt all this process. But, Lewis says, the good news is these vaccines that we have now are fairly easy to adapt to a new variant. But we really need to drive the number of cases down in order to prevent other variants from emerging." Pushing toward her immunity through vaccinations is what health experts say is the only way that happens.

What do you say to people who are reluctant or straight up defiant in refusing to get the vaccine? Alan Marsden asked Lewis in an interview. "I wish they would follow the science, Lewis said. The science tells us these vaccines are very safe and very effective. And it's not just about protecting yourself. It's about protecting the community."
LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NAMI Greater Los Angeles County is announcing its annual NAMIWalks event taking place Saturday, May 22, 2021, going virtual this year in light of the safer-at-home pandemic restrictions.

The theme this year is NAMIWalks Your Way. The largest annual mental health advocacy event in Southern California, NAMIWalks Los Angeles County raises funds for free programs and services that bring NAMI's message of hope and community to everyone impacted by mental illness. NAMI Greater Los Angeles County is delighted to partner with HealthNet, which has chosen this year to provide major support for the walk. Typically, nearly 4000 walkers attend the walk held in Grand Park.

The 2021 event will be held concurrently with NAMIWalks all over the country, leveraging technology for a United Day of Hope to honor Mental Health Awareness Month. "We're especially excited to bring people together to celebrate virtually given the past year's social isolation and hardship," said Davi Weber, NAMIWalks Manager. "We can change it up this year -- hold a virtual bake-off or do a 5K on a treadmill or stationary bike. Participants get to decide what participation looks like."

"With the elevated awareness of mental health during the pandemic, our hope is that we can drive more interest and support for taking care of our collective mental health," said NAMI Greater LA County CEO Brittney Weissman. "NAMIWalks Los Angeles County is all about breaking down stigma and raising awareness about mental health issues to make it easier for folks to seek help and support."

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI works to end stigma by bringing awareness to mental health, providing support, educating the public and advocating for equal care.

Mental illness can be treated and people living with mental illness can recover to live fulfilling lives. To learn more about how NAMI can help, visit namiglac.org . All NAMI programs and services are free of charge for individuals living with mental illness and families and friends who care for them.

To register for the virtual event, please click here .

SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Greater Los Angeles County

Related Links

https://www.namiglac.org


Everybody dreams to be successful, but few make it happen in reality. Some of those few people turn their fortune wheel at a small age and become successful. Success does not come with luck. Opportunities come when you seek opportunities. When you put dedication, hard work, and patience 10X times better than anyone surrounding you, eventually success comes to your door, and people call it luck.

Successful people make their luck on their own. They do not wait for god or any miracle to happen on one fine day and bring success. Nobody becomes successful overnight. Nowadays when a video goes viral on social media people call it an overnight success, but in reality that video consists of too many sleepless nights filled with anxiety and lots of passion, creativity along with core commitment.

Digital marketing is not everyones Cup of tea because it requires a lot of encouragement and motivation, to begin with. Mohammed Nayem surely did stand his ground and manage to learn about digital marketing to be somebody in his life, instead of just going with the flow.

Growing up, Nayem Had a lot of motivation and expectations from his life despite the hardships and difficulties that he must have to go through. Most of the time, growing up, the young people back off from their goals because they consider them to be too difficult and unattainable. This never stopped him from dreaming. He is a Digital Marketing Expert, a young lad from Bangladesh, and one of the best Entrepreneurs. He is also the founder of Yeager Digital, which is rising in popularity in leaps and bounds.

The main advantage of digital marketing is that a targeted audience is reached through a cost-efficient and measurable approach. Mohammed Nayem well learns all these techniques since he has to work along with these quite regularly. One of the best and creative Digital Marketers, Mohammed Nayem and Tanjid Ahmed, work together to convert their dreams into reality.

Yeager Digital focuses on making modern PR plans for individual clients that correlates with the brand-building activity. Mohammad Nayem and Tanjid Ahmed has combined Public Relations and Marketing under the roof of Yeager Digital.

Meet Tanjid Ahmed, a man who made himself from zero to hero, literally. Tanjid Ahmed was born in the small town of Chittagong City in Bangladesh. His father, Mesbah Uddin, was a simple man of meagre means, and there were often nights when Tanjid and his family would have to go to sleep on an empty stomach. As much as Tanjid looked up to his father, he still had many more ambitions and desires in his life. Tanjids motivation was to make his parents happy and to give them a comfortable life in their old age.

At a young age, right after finishing his higher secondary, Tanjid Ahmed moved to Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. He was armed with determination and a youthful sense of hope, and Dhaka was the perfect place for him to begin his journey. Tanjid had always had a flair for digital marketing and had worked with a lot of social media and marketing houses as an intern in the past. He used these prior experiences and connections in the industry to land himself a good job. Today his clientele consists of a wide variety of people- anyone can hire his services if they want him to endorse their product or business. He also specializes in content creation and advises on networking and search engine optimization to his customers.

Nayem and Tanjid always keep their eyes wide open when its time to explore a new venture for his business Yeager Digital. While creating a strong brand endorsement story for his client, Nayem & Tanjid also maintains the authenticity to deliver more than 100% of their abilities so that his clients always remember the benefits they earned with the help of Yeager Digital.

Too many PR agencies in the market have increased the competition in general but if the standard remains outstanding for a longer period of time, then any brand makes its place in the midst of a highly competitive environment.

Building brand recognition and magnifying professional authority is the main purpose of Yeager Digital. To ensure these services, Yeager Digital hires high skilled professional writers, adroit web developers, and web organizers.

Having a great relationship with media houses is one of the most important characteristics a PR consultant should acquire. Nayem & Tanjid is a well communicative person, and his age does not define his experience.

To know more about Yeager Digital visit http://yeagerdigital.com/

Disclaimer: No Deccan Chronicle journalist was involved in creating this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.
HOLLAND, MI  Using very stern language, a judge ordered a West Michigan restaurant owner accused of violating multiple court orders to remain in jail, likely for several days, until its apparent she doesnt intend to reopen her business.

Behind bars in Ingham County is Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, the owner of Marlenas Bistro and Pizzeria in Holland, which remained open in defiance of warnings and cease-and-desist orders issued because of its refusal to comply with state requirements intended to curb the spread of COVID-19.

She was arrested by Michigan State Police early Friday, March 19, after she failed to turn herself in on a bench warrant issued earlier this month. The warrant charged her with contempt of a court order to close her restaurant, which continued to operate after its license was suspended.

Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina at the arraignment Friday afternoon said Pavlos-Hackney would be released only after she paid a $7,500 fine and the Michigan Attorney Generals office was satisfied the restaurant would remain closed until the court matter is resolved.

Were in the midst of a pandemic. You have selfishly not followed the orders, Aquilina told Pavlos-Hackney. Youve not followed them for your own financial gain, and apparently for the publicity that comes with this.

Pavlos-Hackney has appeared on national conservative talk shows to proclaim she was standing up for her constitutional rights. She has gained support of others who believe the government has overstepped its bounds with orders intended to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pavlos-Hackney had defiantly said Thursday that she would remain open, even if she was arrested.

So, maam, this is the wrong way to get publicity, this is the wrong way to be a good citizen, Aquilina said. It is the wrong way to assist the public in a pandemic.

Pavlos-Hackney remained silent during the proceeding. In fact, when she initially refused to take an oath to tell the truth, and then attempted to argue with the Aquilina, the no-nonsense judge threatened to arrest her for contempt of court.

I know you want to control this room, but this isnt Burger King, Aquilina said. When the sign changes to Burger King, you can have it your way.

That was before Pavlos-Hackney had a chance to confer with her attorney, Robert J. Baker of Holland, who was attending the court hearing via Zoom while the defendant was in the courtroom.

Prior to Pavlos-Hackneys arraignment, Aquilina did order the arrest for unauthorized law practice of Rick Martin, who indicated he was appearing in court as Pavlos-Hackneys assistance of counsel. Martin had filed a notice with the court that he was legally representing Pavlos-Hackney, the judge indicated.

Under questioning by Aquilina, Martin admitted he was not a licensed attorney, but insisted he was permitted to provide legal assistance under the Sixth Amendment.

He told the judge he was in the courtroom to assist Pavlos-Hackney, reportedly a Polish immigrant, because she does have understanding problems with the English language. That prompted Aquilina to respond, Apparently, sir, you have problems with the English language.

After citing case law, and Michigan legislative law, Aquilina said Martin would be charged with contempt, a 93-day misdemeanor, and he was led from the courtroom by a bailiff.

Pavlos-Hackney declined to enter a plea at arraignment and will return for a hearing, which has not been scheduled. Baker, her attorney, said Pavlos-Hackney was prepared to pay $7,500 immediately and to close the restaurant so she could leave jail.

Aquilina responded she had heard Pavlos-Hackney mutter that the restaurant had already closed at 2 p.m. The judge then wondered aloud if that was the usual closing time and that it would reopen the following day. Indeed, the restaurants published hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Im clearly convinced that right now, today, (the restaurant) has remained open, and she has no intention of complying with the law, Aquilina said.

The judge said she would only be satisfied that the restaurant would remain closed -- and therefore allow Pavlos-Hackney to leave jail -- when Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office is satisfied. A representative of the attorney general told Aquilina that the office typically is satisfied after its verified over a number of days by the health department or state inspector that the establishment is closed.

The restaurant has continued to operate after its food license was suspended in late January for failing to require workers and customers to wear masks or socially distance.

On March 4, Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes issued a bench warrant for Pavlos-Hackneys arrest for repeatedly ignoring the food license suspension.

That day, Pavlos-Hackney told MLive, Im not afraid. Im fighting for freedom in America.

She was given until Thursday to turn herself in, which she didnt do.

Pavlos-Hackney, recently featured on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight and Glenn Becks radio program, said she refused to be bullied by the government.

I stay strong because Im not going to let the government intimidate me or put fear in me, she told Beck. Im going to keep fighting for American freedom and my constitutionally protected rights.

The restaurant had remained open despite a state order last November that banned indoor dining at restaurants to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

At that time, a sign was placed on the front door that read: Welcome. We are a Constitutionally Compliant Business. We are not infringing on anyones inalienable rights. By law, we do not follow any of the governors, mayors, health departments, or other government agency orders or suggestions pertaining to social distancing or mask wearing.

Pavlos-Hackney has garnered the support of others who believe the government has overreached its bounds. Despite Pavlos-Hackneys arrest, the restaurant opened Friday, with her supporters packing the eatery for breakfast.

In Mason, about a dozen supporters appeared Friday morning outside the Ingham County Jail where Pavlos-Hackney was being held. Her supporters, many of them frequent attendees at patriot events opposing COVID-19 orders, chanted arrest the sheriff and displayed memorabilia in support of former President Trump.

Martin was there too, prior to his arrest, and called the coronavirus pandemic a Trojan horse to bring in economic warfare.

This woman has ultimate faith in God and she knows whats right, Martin said.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Pavlos-Hackneys legal fees, states that Pavlos-Hackney escaped Communism in Poland in 1983 for the Freedoms and individual rights of the U.S., where she became a citizen in 1992. It further compares the unconstitutional lockdowns issued during the pandemic with the communism she had fled.

The Michigan Republican Party on Friday issued a statement regarding Nessels complaint against Pavlos-Hackney:

Nessel is eager to spend taxpayer-funded resources going after small business owners trying to stave off bankruptcy but refuses to investigate the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents potentially caused by her political-ally Gretchen Whitmer, Ted Goodman, communications director for the GOP, said in the prepared statement. Its a massive abuse of power and shows what her priorities are.
Make It Come True dug himself a deep hole early in Fridays quest to repeat in the Snowshoe Pacing Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but thanks to a ferocious rush in deep stretch he managed to find the finish line in time for Team Hensley.

With Ed Hensley at the lines for trainer Ashleigh Hensley, Make It Come True got away ninth in the $17,000 tilt while Bettors Donttell powered to the lead from Post 9 and served up fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.4.

Hensley tipped his charge to the outside on the way to the half, and after sitting eighth in the middle splits of the mile the four-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Dream Of Treasure thundered home in :27.4 to win by a nose over Lyons Liberty in 1:54.3. Bettors Donttell was a lapped-on third while beaten a mere three-quarters of a length for all the marbles.

Brad Maxwell, Dr. Fred Kruszelnicki and Kenneth Frieder share ownership on the four-time winner who now boasts a 2-1-1 record from four trips postward this season. The victory pushed his overall earnings over $50,000 to date.

Major Makover failed to win on the front end in week one of the series, but his off-the-pace approach in Fridays second round assignment paid dividends for the duo of driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Blake MacIntosh.

Roy got away third with the three-year-old son of Art Major-Mako Wish while Noch Ten powered to the lead and whacked out the opening quarter in :26.3. Race favourite Modern Rock came first over in the backstretch and showed the lead while racing parked past the mid-way point in :56.

Modern Rock cleared before the final turn and went on to take the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4. Major Makover, who got backed up the seventh on the rail at the three-quarter marker, sprung loose in the lane and fired home in :27.4 to win by a length over Modern Rock in 1:53.2. P L Ozzy rallied from the backfield to be third.

Sent off at odds of 3-1, Major Makover improved his 2021 record to 2-1-1 from four trips to the track for Blake MacIntosh, Hutt Racing Stable, Touchstone Farms Inc and Ozzie MacKay. The colt has banked $72,998 to date.

The 11-race program also featured the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap for pacers, and all eyes  and a bunch of dollars  were on OBrien Award winner So Much More.

The public hammered her down to even-money in the seven-mare affair, but she just missed despite a late rally. Instead, the red hot Ivana Flybye N rolled to a fourth straight win for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Carmen Auciello.

Ivana Flybye N hustled to the lead from Post 6 and controlled the pace through fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:23.3 before kicking home in :28.2 to win by a head over So Much More in 1:52. Taking home the show dough was Gias Surreal.

The seven-year-old daughter of American Ideal-Cathys Flyby N now boasts a 4-0-1 record from six trips to the track this season for MT Stables Ontario Inc of Scarborough, Ont. It was career win 17 for the mare who lifted her lifetime earnings to $197,645 in the process.

To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results  Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Senator Marsha Blackburn will be visiting the U.S./Mexico border on Sunday in Arizona along with Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and Cochise County Sheriff Mark J. Dannels.

President Joe Bidens open border agenda has created a crisis at our southern border, said Senator Blackburn. Now, the Biden administration is censoring what Border Patrol agents can say, and hiding the truth from the American people.

I am going to the border to get the facts and see the crisis firsthand. I appreciate Sheriff Lambs strong leadership and commitment to upholding the rule of law. I look forward to joining him in Arizona tomorrow.

Pinal County is 60 miles north of the U.S. Mexico Border and Cochise County is situated along the southern border.
The war-torn region of Tigray in Ethiopia is experiencing a large-scale humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands of people continue to seek refuge after fleeing their homes following months of violence.

Around 300,000 people are now crammed into the town of Shire, camping in school buildings or makeshift homes.

They fled because of fighting between federal government troops and forces loyal to Tigray's regional leaders.

Between 50,000 and 60,000 people arrived in Shire over the past few weeks alone, a United Nations official told British broadcaster Sky News.

It is not clear exactly what new threats of violence caused many of the thousands of people to flee western Tigray, but U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "acts of ethnic cleansing" had been carried out there.

Ethiopias government has denied the allegations but witnesses and humanitarian workers have described scenes where Ethiopian federal authorities stood aside as Tigrayans were targeted.

Some of those who have fled have been forced out of their homes by the violence whilst other have been banished by militias in Ethiopia's neighbouring Amhara region.

Shire is a base of operations for humanitarian efforts that workers have said are not enough. Hospitals are close to becoming overwhelmed.

''There is no food and there is no shelter," one refugee said.

Even before the latest fighting in the region, Tigrayan communities were struggling to make ends meet.

The conflict erupted on the brink of harvest, and after months of a locust outbreak.

Ethiopia's prime minister Abiy Ahmed has urged Tigrayan refugees to return to their homes and resume normal lives.

But he issued what he called a final notice to the fugitive leaders of the embattled region, saying they should surrender peacefully to avoid severe punishment and prevent the misery of their people.

(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)
Medical staff wearing protective clothing arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Jan. 25, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Studies: Hundreds of Thousands Infected With COVID-19 in Wuhan in 2020; Patient Zero Emerged October 2019

As many as 968,800 people in Wuhan, China, had developed antibodies to COVID-19 by April 2020, while the first case appears to have emerged between mid-October and mid-November in 2019, according to two new studies.

An estimated 69 percent of a cross-sectional sample of the population of Wuhan developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, with 398 percent of this population seroconverting to have neutralising antibodies, a China-based research group wrote in an article published in The Lancet on March 18.

Our results define the period between mid-October and mid-November 2019 as the plausible interval when the first case of SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Hubei Province, a U.S.-based research group wrote in an article published in the online issue of Science magazine on March 18.

The results of both research groups revealed data that differ from the Chinese regimes disclosures.

The Chinese regime recognizes the first COVID-19 case as occurring on Dec. 31, 2019, while confirming human-to-human transmission of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, on Jan. 20, 2020. The regime finalized the number of infections in Wuhan on April 17, 2020, saying a total of 50,333 people had been infected, which is less than 10 percent of the analyzed figure.

In the past few months, multiple countries have criticized the regime in Beijing for its initial mishandling of the CCP virus and subsequent underreporting of the outbreak, leading to the spread of the virus internationally.

The ultrastructural morphology exhibited by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China, is seen in an illustration released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, on Jan. 29, 2020. (Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM/CDC/Handout via Reuters)

Infection Count

Thirty authors from China co-researched the status of the CCP virus infection in Wuhan for the Lancet study.

The research is based on data from 9,542 people who live in 100 communities throughout Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province and ground zero of the CCP virus outbreak. Blood samples were collected on April 14 and 15, 2020.

The result showed that 6.92 percent of the population had been infected with the CCP virus, with 82.1 percent of the infected ones being asymptomatic carriers. Among the infected group, 39.8 percent of them had neutralizing antibodies in their blood, which meant they were immune to the CCP virus after being infected.

In January 2020, about 5 million residents escaped Wuhan, which has a population of 14 million, ahead of a Jan. 23 travel ban. Based on an infection rate of 6.92 percent of the population, 622,800 to 968,800 people could have been infected with the CCP virus by April 2020.

People who lived in Wuhan in April 2020 were survivors of the citys epidemic, which peaked in January and February 2020. Theres a possibility the people who left the city in January had COVID-19, since the Science magazine study estimates that the first case likely emerged in October 2019.

A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus, the type of virus linked to the Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak, shared with Reuters on Feb. 18, 2020. (NEXU Science Communication/via Reuters)

First Case

Researchers at the University of CaliforniaSan Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues at the University of Arizona and Illumina Inc., published the Science magazine study about the worlds first possible COVID-19 case, studied through molecular dating tools and epidemiological simulations.

The study points out that the CCP virus is a zoonotic coronavirus, meaning its transmitted to humans from an unknown animal host. But based on over a dozen studies conducted by the researchers in the past year, its unlikely that the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhanwhich the Chinese regime claims was ground zerois the venue where the animal transmitted the virus to humans.

We used Bayesian phylodynamics to reconstruct the underlying coalescent processes, the researchers explained, saying they analyzed 583 CCP virus complete genomes that were sampled in China.

Combining the CCP viruss genetic diversity study with the earliest reported cases and other studys results about the spread of the CCP virus in Wuhan before the lockdown on Jan. 23, 2020, the researchers estimate that the first COVID-19 case emerged as early as October 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO), as well as scientists from several countries, are investigating the origin of the virus. To understand the environment better, WHO sent a team to China, which conducted its research in February; the team hasnt yet released its report.
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HARRISBURG  Prospects are dimming in the Legislature to employ a rarely used, emergency tactic so voters can decide this spring whether survivors of decades-old sexual abuse should have a chance to sue the perpetrators and institutions that covered up the crimes.

The state House of Representatives left the Capitol on Wednesday without a final vote on a measure that would have resurrected the hard-fought referendum on whether to give those survivors, who are time-barred under the statute of limitations, a two-year reprieve to pursue civil litigation.

That question was initially set to be decided by voters in the May primary. But in a stunning admission last month, Gov. Tom Wolfs administration acknowledged that it had failed to take the proper administrative steps to get the referendum on the ballot, devastating survivors and their advocates who have waited years for a resolution. The mistake forced the resignation of the states top election official and prompted an investigation by the states inspector general.

In an effort to correct the problem, the House of Representatives last month said it would pursue an emergency constitutional amendment to get the referendum back on track. But in recent weeks, Republicans who control the chamber have split on whether the emergency route is appropriate or even legal, dashing hopes that it can pass in time.

To appear on the May ballot, the Legislature would have to approve the emergency amendment by March 24, according to state officials.

House GOP leaders late Wednesday positioned the bill for a potential final vote next week, after Democrats publicly lambasted them for refusing to take action.

No commitments

A spokesperson for House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, made no commitments that the measure would be brought up for a vote when the chamber returns to session Monday. When pressed by a reporter Wednesday afternoon on whether a vote will take place, Benninghoff replied, Well, we have a lot of things on the agenda, and we are continuing to work on these.

They have absolutely no courage to do the right thing, said Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, a survivor of child sexual abuse who has been at the forefront of efforts to pass the two-year reprieve. I dont believe these politicians deserve to be in this building.

Responding to criticism from Democrats, Benninghoff said its his caucus that has pushed this initiative through.

And I think weve shown time and time again that we are committed to this issue, he said.

Even if the House negotiates a deal in the coming days, the measure still has to pass the Senate. Republican leaders there have not committed to backing it, although a key Senate committee earlier this week gave it a first approval.

What constitutes an emergency?

Still, some GOP senators raised concerns during the hearing about whether creating the two-year reprieve in the statute of limitations amounts to an emergency.

Emergency amendments can be used in situations where the safety or welfare of the commonwealth requires prompt change, according to the state constitution. Unlike traditional constitutional amendments, which require the Legislatures approval in two consecutive sessions, an emergency amendment needs to be voted on only once in both chambers (though it requires two-thirds, rather than majority, approval).

Legislative staff noted that its only been used three times since the 1970s, each time to address disastrous floods.

In an interview Wednesday, Rozzi said the Legislature has the ability to determine what constitutes an emergency. Survivors, he said, have waited more than 15 years for a resolution on creating a two-year reprieve. Over that time, some have turned to alcohol or drugs. Others, he said, have died by suicide.

The toll this has taken

Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair, a child sexual abuse survivor who has also championed the two-year reprieve, said getting so close to the finish line, only to have it undone by human error, created a fresh wave of desperation in the survivor community.

He said he felt the pain himself when it became clear earlier this week that the emergency constitutional amendment was in peril. He said he decided to attend Wednesdays voting session remotely because he was so upset by the decision not to bring the measure to a final vote.

The toll this has taken, he said, his voice trailing off. I didnt realize it until we couldnt get it done.

The push to allow a temporary legal reprieve for older survivors has been decades in the making. It gained momentum after the Pennsylvania attorney generals office released a scathing grand jury report in 2018 that documented how top Roman Catholic leaders in Pennsylvania covered up decades of child sex abuse involving more than 1,000 victims and hundreds of priests.

The report led to a tense debate in the state Capitol over the best way to help child sexual abuse survivors who were too old, under the states statute of limitations, to sue over the long-ago abuse.

Many Republicans in the state Senate opposed opening a two-year window through traditional legislation, saying they believed that route would violate provisions in the Pennsylvania Constitution that prevent retroactive punishment. Ultimately, the Legislature agreed to push the measure through as an amendment to the state constitution, with Republicans arguing that it would be legally sound and hard to overturn in the courts.

The Legislature passed the measure in the 2019-20 session and was on track to pass it again last month when Wolf acknowledged the administrative error.
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Workers at the Keurig/Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Bottling Co (KDS) distribution facility in Redford, Michigan west of Detroit have been on strike since March 11. The facility packages and distributes Keurig and Dr Pepper beverages around the state of Michigan. Almost three months after the contract expiration, Teamsters Local 337 was finally forced to call a strike under pressure from workers who were angry over the dragging out of negotiations.

Keurig Dr Pepper/Seven UP picket in Redford, Michigan [Source: Facebook]

The strike has been called by the Teamsters as an unfair labor practice strike, rather than a contract dispute, raising the possibility that the strike could be unilaterally ended before a ratified contract agreement is in place.

Management has continued operations throughout the strike using scab labor. According to a Facebook post, company security guards assaulted a Teamster business agent Wednesday and spewed racial slurs. Meanwhile, the corporate media has maintained a complete news blackout of the strike.

The current contact negotiations affect about 90 workers within the warehouse as well as beverage distribution drivers. According to Local 337, there were two separate pay tiers implemented for workers hired before and after 2005. Warehouse workers hired before 2005 make $2.30 more than workers hired after. In addition to the warehouse workers wages, the company is attempting to create positions that do not require commercial drivers license certification (CDL) for the distribution drivers. Since the beginning of the pandemic the plant has had workers on 12 plus hour shifts running at roughly 130 percent capacity.

On social media, KDS workers and workers from around the metro Detroit area have posted messages in support of the strikers. A relative of a distribution driver in the plant posted in groups regarding the attempt to force out seniority workers for lower wage unlicensed workers, They are trying to force out seniority workers and replace them with inexperienced workers without certifications and CDL They all continued working through covid because they deliver water and vitamin water so were considered essential even though for the first several weeks after all the mandates, they had no protection.

Local 337 also represents Sysco delivery drivers in Monroe, Michigan who struck one year ago for a first contract. Like KDP strike, the Teamsters called the Sysco strike over unfair labor practices.

The Local 337 website lists no demands in relation to the KDS strike, only stating that the local has been diligently working on negotiations.

Local 337 Business Agent Tony Reisdorf, in a video interview recorded by UAW local officials, pointed to three issues in the contract negotiations; pay disparity between warehouse workers, non CDL A driver positions at half pay and Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday. He noted that KDS had been operating at over full capacity for the last year, adding, were very thankful cause we had a lot of people struggling, were thankful we had that. But they busted their butts all on their backs to make this company record profits.

United Auto Workers Region 1A issued a statement in support of the strike, noting the assault on pickets by company security thugs. However, the UAW proposed no official action in support of the strike, other than to call for a boycott of Seven-Up/Dr. Pepper products.
Andersen Global extends its platform in Central Asia through a Collaboration Agreement with Turkmenistan-based Altyn Kanun LLC, further strengthening the organizations presence in the region by providing additional coverage.

Founded in 2008, Altyn Kanun LLC provides legal services to leading transnational corporations, financial institutions, investment funds, government agencies and large companies at the local and international levels. The full-service firm, led by Managing Partner Kerim M. Akmamedov, has capabilities in corporate, commercial, litigation, dispute resolution, labor, energy, customs and trade, banking and tax. The firm focuses on various sectors of the economy such as oil and gas, energy, chemical, mining, textile, construction, transport and logistics.

Our clients needs will always be at the center of everything we do, Kerim said. Over the years, our firm has been recognized for providing clients with high-level services as well as maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency in the provision of services. Collaborating with the like-minded individuals at Andersen Global further supplements our growth as we continue to expand and deepen our range of our services.

Kerim and his team have demonstrated their commitment to stewardship, which has led them to be one of the leading law firms in Turkmenistan, Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO Mark Vorsatz said. They have deep knowledge and expertise of the countrys legal environment. Our aligned values and client-focused approach allows for a synergistic collaboration that positions us for further expansion as we continue to add more resources in the region.

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 7,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 253 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210218005366/en/
As the United Kingdom seeks to reassure the public that the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is effective and safe, the country's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to receive his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to get AstraZeneca vaccine

The 56-year-old UK prime minister urged other individuals to get inoculated against coronavirus and cited that the UK's independent drug regulator's data showed that the vaccine is safe. Johnson also added that the benefits of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks.

According to CNBC, the UK prime minister's move came after a flurry of countries around the world had suspended the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine usage as part of their precautionary measure as reports of blood clots in some individuals have been recorded. Some health experts who criticized the issue cited a lack of data. Simultaneously, some analysts expressed their concern regarding the possible impact on the vaccine uptake as the virus continues to spread worldwide.

Regulators from the UK and the European Union have shared that there was no evidence that the coronavirus vaccine had caused the alleged blood clots. The World Health Organization (WHO) also stated that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine benefits outweighed the risks and recommended continuously using the vaccine.

On Thursday, while speaking at the Downing Street conference, Johnson shared that the vaccine developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca was safe but what is not safe is acquiring COVID-19. The Prime Minister reminded the public to get their vaccines as soon as their turn comes. The UK prime minister was also treated in a hospital for COVID-19 in April last year and spent days recovering in an intensive care unit.

Not only the UK prime minister will make such an act as Jean Castex, but the French Prime Minister will also be doing the same. Castex is also expected to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday as Paris experienced another month-long lockdown, Deutsche Welle reported.

Defense Secretary Says US Troops Are Ready to Fight After North Korea's Threats to Biden

Supply of Vaccines

Based on the latest update, countries like France, Italy, Germany, and Spain are among those European countries which will resume their usage of the vaccine after a drug regulator in Europe declared its safety and effectiveness. Even Indonesia, which had previously delayed administering the vaccine, stated on Friday that it had approved the vaccine's use.

But countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, have said that they will not yet resume inoculating the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca as they would conduct their independent reviews.

Biden Warns Putin Will 'Pay the Price' for Attempting To Sabotage 2020 US Presidential Election

The UK, which did not stop its rollout of vaccine shots, said there would be delays in its vaccine supply next month. But assured that its vaccination would impact the roadmap out of lockdown for England.

Meanwhile, the National Health Service had warned regarding a 'significant reduction' in the weekly supply of COVID-19 vaccines in England next month. The NHS also cited fewer doses than the initially expected that had arrived from India, Hindustan Times reported.

Also from HNGN:

Stimulus Checks Availability Enrages JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Customers

Stimulus Check Dispute Leads to Four Deaths in Indiana

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Photo: Contributed Karen Marie Jordan was killed in 2013.

A Prince George man has been charged with homicide in connection with the death of his wife, Karen Marie Jordan, in 2013.

Paul Tamasi, 57, was arrested by Grande Prairie RCMP and is due to appear in Grande Prairie Provincial Court on Monday.

Evidence gathered by police in the Alberta city, 535 kilometres northeast of Prince George, suggests Jordan was last seen with Tamasi in November 2013. Jordan, 47, was first reported missing in February 2016.

Her body was found last September after ground searches were conducted near Wembley, Alta., by investigators and members of the Alberta RCMP Special Tactical Operations Team, assisted by local Search and Rescue personnel.

The discovery of Jordans remains culminated a multi-year investigation by police from the Grande Prairie RCMP General Investigations Section and Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch.
Imperial Valley News Center

Two Men Charged with Assaulting Federal Officers with Dangerous Weapon

Washington, DC - A Pennsylvania and West Virginia man were arrested Sunday on criminal charges related to their alleged conspiring to injure officers and assaulting federal officers, among other charges.

According to court documents, Julian Elie Khater, 32, of State College, Pennsylvania, and George Pierre Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, West Virginia, were arrested on Sunday in connection with a complaint filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., charging them with conspiring to injure officers and assaulting federal officers, among other charges, on Jan. 6. Khater was arrested as he disembarked from an airplane at Newark Airport in New Jersey. Tanios was arrested at his residence in West Virginia.

Khater and Tanios are each charged with one count of conspiracy to injure an officer; three counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon; one count of civil disorder; one count of obstructing or impeding an official proceeding; one count of physical violence on restricted grounds, while carrying dangerous weapon and resulting in significant bodily injury; and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct, act of physical violence on Capitol grounds.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Khater and Tanios were at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and were observed in video footage working together to assault law enforcement officers with an unknown chemical substance by spraying officers directly in the face and eyes. During the investigation, it is alleged that law enforcement discovered video that depicted Khater asking Tanios to give me that bear s*it. Tanios replied, Hold on, hold on, not yet, not yet its still early. Khater then retrieved a canister from Tanios backpack and walked through the crowd to within a few steps of the police perimeter. The video shows Khater with his right arm up high in the air, appearing to be holding a canister in his right hand and aiming it at the officers direction while moving his right arm from side to side. The complaint affidavit states that Officers Sicknick, Edwards, and Chapman, who were all standing within a few feet of Khater, each reacted to being sprayed in the face. The officers retreated, bringing their hands to their faces and rushing to find water to wash out their eyes.

The FBIs Washington Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Pittsburgh and Newark Field Offices, the United States Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the case.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of West Virginia and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
The first face-to-face talks between Chinese and US officials since Joe Biden took office descended into a war of words on Friday, intensifying troubled relations between the two nations.

Both sides traded sharp barbs in an unusually public way at the Alaska meeting, with the US accusing the Chinese delegation of grandstanding and Beijing firing back, saying there was a strong smell of gunpowder and drama that was entirely the fault of the Americans.

As the summit opened on Thursday, Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said the Biden administration was united with its allies in pushing back against Chinese authoritarianism.

In response, Yang Jiechi, the Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief, accused Washington of hypocrisy on human rights and other issues.

Mr Blinken said Chinas actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability, and Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, said China has undertaken an assault on basic values.

Mr Yang responded angrily, saying there is no way to strangle China and demanding the US stop pushing its own version of democracy at a time when the country itself has been roiled by domestic discontent.

Read more

He also accused the US of failing to deal with its own human rights problems and took issue with what he said was condescension from Mr Blinken, Mr Sullivan and other US officials.

China will not accept unwarranted accusations from the US side, Mr Yang said, adding that recent developments had plunged relations into a period of unprecedented difficulty that has damaged the interests of our two peoples.

Mr Blinken appeared to be annoyed by the tone and length of the comments, which went on for more than 15 minutes.

He said his impressions from speaking with world leaders and on his just-concluded trip to Japan and South Korea were entirely different from the Chinese position.

Im hearing deep satisfaction that the United States is back, that were reengaged, the US secretary of state retorted.

Im also hearing deep concern about some of the actions your government is taking.

Underscoring the animosity, the State Department criticised the Chinese delegation for violating an agreed-upon two-minute time limit for opening statements and suggested it seem(ed) to have arrived intent on grandstanding, focused on public theatrics and dramatics over substance.

Americas approach will be undergirded by confidence in our dealing with Beijing  which we are doing from a position of strength  even as we have the humility to know that we are a country eternally striving to become a more perfect union, it said.

Yang Jiechi described the attitude of US officials as condescending (AFP/Getty)

Speaking later in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Mr Blinken and Mr Sullivan had provoked Chinese officials into making a solemn response after US officials made groundless attacks against China.

It was the US side that ... provoked the dispute in the first place, so the two sides had a strong smell of gunpowder and drama from the beginning in the opening remarks. It was not the original intention of the Chinese side, Mr Zhao said.

The meetings in Anchorage were a new test for ties between the two countries, which are at odds over a range of issues from trade to human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong and Chinas western Xinjiang region, as well as over Taiwan, Chinas assertiveness in the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic.

We wanted to share with them the significant concerns that we have about a number of the actions that China has taken, and behaviours exhibiting concerns, shared by our allies and partners, Mr Blinken said after the meetings concluded.

And we did that. We also wanted to lay out very clearly, our own policies, priorities, and worldview. And we did that too.

In separate comments, Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi said dialogue was the only way to resolve differences, but he also made clear that Beijing had no intention of backing down on any issue.

China is going to safeguard our national sovereignty, security and our interests to develop China. It is an irreversible trend, he said.

We hope the United States is not going to underestimate Chinas determination to defend its territory, safeguard its people and defend its righteous interests, he said.

Yang Jiechi (front row, third from left) and Antony Blinken (second from right) trade insults during the high-level strategic meeting in Anchorage (EPA)

The Biden administration has yet to signal whether it is ready or willing to back away from the hard-line stances taken under Donald Trump.

Just a day before the meeting, Mr Blinken had announced new sanctions over Beijings crackdown on pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

In response, China stepped up its rhetoric opposing US interference in domestic affairs and complained directly about it.

Is this a decision made by the United States to try to gain some advantage in dealing with China? State councillor Wang Yi said.

Certainly this is miscalculated and only reflects the vulnerability and weakness inside the United States and it will not shake Chinas position or resolve on those issues.

Mr Trump had taken pride in forging what he saw as a strong relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

But the relationship disintegrated after the coronavirus pandemic spread from the Wuhan province across the globe and unleashed a public health and economic disaster.

Additional reporting by agencies
In Scotland this week, we should see the climax of an extraordinary political storm with serious implications for transparency and democracy in these islands. We cannot predict how events will unfold. But we know how they should.

To put an end to her long and destructive row with Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon should tender her resignation as Scottish First Minister.

Mr Salmond and Miss Sturgeon were once the closest of friends, mentor and protege, the architects of the modern Scottish National Party and of its current dominance in Scotland.

Yet today they are at daggers drawn, with members of the SNP and the Scottish Government attempting to destroy his reputation. Miss Sturgeons political life hangs by a thread after a Holyrood committee found that she had misled it.

But the significance goes much further. For at the heart of the dispute is the dangerously close relationship between the SNP and the business of government itself, including the independence of the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Salmond (pictured) and Miss Sturgeon were once the closest of friends, mentor and protege, the architects of the modern Scottish National Party and of its current dominance in Scotland.

It was January 2019 when this often bewildering saga began in earnest, and Alex Salmond was charged with 14 counts of sexual misconduct. The following year, he was cleared of every single charge by a predominantly female jury in a court presided over by a woman judge.

Not only was Mr Salmond innocent, however, he believed that he had been the victim of a malicious and concerted attempt to remove [him] from public life in Scotland by a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the SNP, who set out to damage [his] reputation, even to the extent of having [him] imprisoned.

In response, Miss Sturgeon described Mr Salmond as a conspiracy theorist, dismissing him  and others  as members of the Westminster old boys club.

She might need to do better than that. In a few days there will be another report into her behaviour by James Hamilton, an Irish lawyer and the independent investigator into whether Miss Sturgeon has broken Scotlands Ministerial Code. If he, too, finds against Miss Sturgeon, it is hard to imagine how she will survive.

Back in 2017-18, her SNP government hastily wrote a new disciplinary code on sexual harassment  one with retrospective powers.

At the time it was viewed with discomfort by the Westminster Cabinet Office, which noted that the code was only retrospective for previous Ministers, not for former civil servants.

It looked to some as though it had been designed with a specific target in mind.

When Mr Salmond challenged this extraordinary procedure in the civil court, he was proved right. In fact, he won a massive victory and substantial costs.

The code was described by the judge as unlawful, unfair, and tainted by apparent bias. It is now being replaced with a fair and independent procedure, one of the few good outcomes of this sorry tale.

In response, Miss Sturgeon (pictured) described Mr Salmond as a conspiracy theorist, dismissing him  and others  as members of the Westminster old boys club

Throughout this civil case the Scottish Government was evasive, holding back information time after time.

Within the SNP, meanwhile, there seemed to be a concerted effort to encourage complaints against Mr Salmond, as texts passed to me  which I read out in a House of Commons debate last week  made clear. The Scottish Government, meanwhile, was finding other ways to put pressure on Mr Salmond. It decided, for example, to issue a press release about the complaints against him.

The complainants did not want this and the police did not want it. Mr Salmonds lawyers did not want it and took legal action to stop it. Before this action could take effect, however, the story was unfortunately leaked.

Then came the cover-up. After Mr Salmond won his 2020 criminal case, a committee of the Scottish Parliament began an inquiry into the debacle.

And so began another disgraceful tale of government misbehaviour. Its conclusions will be published this week, but we now know that this Holyrood inquiry has found that the First Minister misled the Scottish Parliament and the inquiry.

It has come to that conclusion despite the best efforts of the Scottish Government and Crown Office to frustrate them.

A case in point is the attempt to prevent release of the damning legal advice issued to the Scottish Government  which made it clear that the initial attempt to prosecute Mr Salmond had little chance of success.

But it is the behaviour of the Crown Office which has been most worrying of all. This organisation is responsible for prosecuting crimes in Scotland. But, unlike the English Crown Prosecution Service which has a director who is independent of political influence, the Crown Office is run by the Lord Advocate, who sits in the SNP Cabinet.

The Crown Office has prevented Mr Salmond, journalists, and even the Holyrood inquiry itself from holding the Scottish Government fully to account.

Within the SNP, meanwhile, there seemed to be a concerted effort to encourage complaints against Mr Salmond, as texts passed to me  which I read out in a House of Commons debate last week  made clear. Pictured: MP David Davis

It has done this with censorship and threats of prosecution. It effectively barred publication of the evidence provided by Geoff Aberdein, Mr Salmonds former chief of staff.

It ensured critical elements of Mr Salmonds evidence were redacted, supposedly to protect the identity of the complainants, but ignoring the fact that the evidence had already been published on the website of The Spectator magazine.

So the inquiry was, absurdly, banned from speaking about evidence freely available to anyone with an internet connection.

The Crown Office even blocked the disclosure of relevant evidence from Mr Salmonds criminal trial.

It is clear to me what the Scottish Government is trying to do. The acts of censorship and the redactions are not designed to protect the complainants. They are to protect the First Minister from accountability to the inquiry.

This is not acceptable in a mature Western democracy. A parliamentary committee should never be prevented from holding government to account.

The SNP-controlled Crown Office even has me in its sights, saying it will attempt to identify my source for the material I disclosed to the Commons. It clearly wishes to intimidate future whistleblowers from coming forward. But it is overreaching itself and I will not bow to its demands.

If Scottish police officers come down to my Yorkshire constituency, they can expect to receive a cup of tea and biscuit. But that is it. They will leave empty handed.

The Scottish Government, meanwhile, has turned its hand to discrediting the parliamentary committee. Miss Sturgeon has sought to dismiss it as partisan, saying opposition members had made their minds up about me before I uttered a single word of evidence.

I am in no doubt that the contempt shown to the committee will be extended to its conclusions.

For my part, had Miss Sturgeon simply said, I obviously got this wrong, perhaps my memory was faulty, I would have argued against her resigning.

But her response and that of her spokesmen has been savage. And in standing by her story with such force, she is saying that her actions have has been deliberate and intentional. Intentionally misleading Parliament is a resignation offence and she must go.

My own involvement has not been about one politician or one party, however. It is about the imbalance in power between the Scottish Parliament and the executive, between the supposedly independent seat of Scottish democracy and the overweening power of the SNP.

These are failures on the part of Westminster as much as the Scottish Government. It is a matter for all of us in the United Kingdom.

We need to make the Scottish prosecution authorities  the Crown Office  properly independent of government. We must give the Scottish Parliament and its committees real powers to summon witnesses and protection for what they want to discuss or publish.

We must amend the Scotland Act 1998 to ensure the Scottish Parliament can truly hold the Government to account and bring its overweening executive to heel. But above all, we must draw a line once and for all under this sorry affair.

Nicola Sturgeon has three days to save her skin: First minister's career on a knife-edge as she faces result of two inquiries AND a vote of no confidence

By Gareth Rose and Brendan Carlin for The Mail On Sunday

Nicola Sturgeons political future was on a knife-edge last night as she faced three make-or-break days that could end her career.

Scotlands First Minister is awaiting the judgment of two inquiries, which will rule on whether she broke strict parliamentary rules.

Tomorrow, James Hamilton QC is set to reveal the results of his probe into whether she broke the strict Ministerial Code  a resignation offence.

Then on Tuesday, a Holyrood committee is expected to rule that she misled parliament over the way harassment complaints about former SNP leader Alex Salmond were handled.

The Scottish Conservatives have said that if she does not resign by Tuesday, they will table a motion of no confidence on Wednesday  the same day that her former mentor Mr Salmond is said to be preparing to release a new statement.

Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) is awaiting the judgment of two inquiries, which will rule on whether she broke strict parliamentary rules

Last night Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said it looks set to be the most damaging 72 hours faced by any First Minister of Scotland.

Even members of Miss Sturgeons own party were fearing the worst, with one senior SNP source admitting: I think shes damaged goods.

And today David Davis, the former Brexit Secretary who last week used parliamentary privilege at Westminster to reveal bombshell accusations about the affair, calls for her to resign.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, he warns: We cannot predict how events will unfold. But we know how they should. To put an end to her long and destructive row with Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon should tender her resignation.

Open war erupted between the two big beasts of the SNP over the botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond. He denied the allegations against him and he was cleared at trial last year of sexually assaulting nine women.

He also won a civil case over the Scottish Governments handling of the investigation, resulting in a payout of more than 500,000 of taxpayers money.

Open war erupted between the two big beasts of the SNP over the botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond (pictured)

The fallout has centred on Miss Sturgeons meetings with Mr Salmond at the time and whether she offered to intervene in the process. Mr Salmond claims she did  something always denied by Miss Sturgeon, who accused her predecessor of peddling conspiracy theories.

According to leaks, members of the Scottish Parliament committee have already decided she misled them and consider her claims of when she first learnt of the allegations hard to believe.

The SNP leader dismissed their findings as political because the panel voted by a narrow majority along party lines.

David Davis (pictured), the former Brexit Secretary who last week used parliamentary privilege at Westminster to reveal bombshell accusations about the affair, is calling for Sturgeon to resign

However, any findings from the independent Mr Hamilton, the Scottish governments adviser on the Ministerial Code, will not be able to be brushed off in the same way. The row comes just a week before Holyrood packs up ahead of the May elections.

At stake is not only Miss Sturgeons political career but also the influence of the SNP who want to push for a second independence referendum should they gain a majority at the ballot box.

Recent polls have shown her popularity and that of her party, and independence, have dipped. If she is found to have breached the code, Miss Sturgeon would be expected to resign.

Last night Mr Ross urged other opposition parties to join him in an attempt to force her out. He said: We have given Nicola Sturgeon an ultimatum. She has misled Parliament and broken her promise to be truthful to the Scottish people.

'Her credibility is in tatters. So I say directly to the First Minister  dont drag down Scotlands institutions with you. Do the right thing and resign now.

'And to other opposition parties, I say it is our duty to hold the government to account. Get off the sidelines and join us in removing a First Minister who lies to Parliament.

An SNP source admitted there were growing concerns about Ms Sturgeons role as leader. A lot of SNP politicians think her days are numbered, they said.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: The First Minister has co-operated fully with James Hamiltons independent investigation into her adherence to the Ministerial Code, and looks forward to the publication of its findings.
To the Editor:

Once again Mr. Noonan relies on the standard liberal fall back of labeling anyone who disagrees with him. Make up your mind, Tom. Are we Trump supporters, Nazis or a cult?

I guess you havent figured out why we are Trump supporters. When looking at the alternatives your party has to offer, conservatives like me have an easy choice to make. Were anti-socialism, Tom. Thats a label were proud of.

Like your hero, Joe Biden, I prefer truth over fact. So allow me to point out what another hero of yours, Al Gore, might refer to as an inconvenient truth.

You are correct. CNN and other media outlets that call for elimination of Fox news are private companies. However, they are not objective in any sense of the word. By siding almost exclusively with one political party over another, they become a de facto propaganda machine for that party.

Ill give you another example of private entities stifling free speech. Six racist Dr. Seuss books were pulled by the publishers, and sales of those books were halted by Amazon and eBay. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler was unaffected by the ban. Remember Parler, Tom, a conservative website that Democrats despised and Big Tech tried to squash? I dont see any Democrats railing about censorship.

As far as refusing to report stories of dubious sourcing or out of context portrayal not being biased, you are simply oblivious to the bias that is rampant in the mainstream media. Want some examples?

Andrew Cuomo was the darling of the MSM and received an Emmy for his fantastic COVID-19 response. For months, he was featured as the gold standard of pandemic response. Oh wait. These same networks are attacking him relentlessly for botching that response.

The Hunter Biden laptop story was a Trump smear campaign and fake news until after the election. Then all of a sudden, Hunter was under investigation by the FBI and his own business partner stated that Joe Biden (a.k.a. the Big Guy) was in on the scam. Eric Swalwells relationship with a Chinese spy was taken out of context, right? How about those CNN contributors like John Brennan and James Clapper who lied under oath to Congress? Hows that for dubious sourcing?

Tom, you forgot to point out a few facts in your letter. You said the push to remove the presidents sole authority to launch a nuclear strike started under Trump. Not one Republican signed the letter to stop Biden from having that authority. All of the signees were Democrats. You may have forgotten that Nancy Pelosi revisited the 25th Amendment. When asked if that was aimed at Trump, she replied, Its about future presidents. Who do you think she meant?

Please dont lecture me about the Constitution. If Democrats have their way, it will be shredded up like a Trump State of the Union address.

By the way, Tom. If you truly hate that 6-foot golden statue of Trump in Orlando, why not take a few Xanax, gather up some of your liberal friends and tear the statue down? Now that is something liberals excel at.

William C. Wagner

Frackville
The first Indian female president of Oxford University's students' union has said she was subjected to a racist 'cyber lynching' before she was forced to resign.

Rashmi Samant, 22, stepped down within days of her election in February after old social media posts were unearthed.

In one post, she had captioned a photo of herself in Malaysia with the words 'Ching Chang' and in another was accused of being 'insensitive' to Jews.

Ms Samant was also accused of transphobia by writing a post which separated 'women' from 'transwomen'.

She issued an apology for the posts but resigned under pressure from the Oxford Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality and the LGBTQ+ Campaign.

Speaking to The Times from her home in south-west India, said the criticism she received 'starting getting quite racist', adding that it was 'almost a cyber lynching'.

The first Indian female president of Oxford University's students' union has said she was subjected to a racist 'cyber lynching' before she was forced to resign. Rashmi Samant, 22, stepped down within days of her election in February after old social media posts were unearthed

In relation to the first post, Ms Samant previously claimed the phrase 'Ching Chang' translates from Mandarin to 'eat the plants' - an inside joke about her vegetarianism.

But Mandarin speakers said the term is a reverse Google Translation not used by native speakers.

She was also accused of being 'insensitive' to Jews after posting a photo at the Berlin Holocaust Memorial, saying: 'The memorial *CASTS* a *HOLLOW* dream of the past atrocities.'

Before she stepped down, Ms Samant apologised to 'every student who has been hurt by my actions or words and seek a chance to gain your trust in me again'.

She wrote in Cherwell: 'I fully acknowledge my shortcomings over the years and the past few days in my capacity as President-elect.

'I come to you with an apology and a willingness to learn. I earnestly seek your help in making amends for my mistakes.'

Despite her apology, Ms Samant announced on February 16 she had decided to resign as President-Elect.

According to Oxford University, Ms Samant received 1,966 of the 3,708 votes cast for SU President - which is more than all three of her opponents combined

She wrote on Facebook: 'In light of the recent events surrounding my election to the Presidency of the Oxford SU, I believe it is best for me to step down from the role.'

She added: 'It has been an honour to be your President-Elect.'

Speaking in The Times on Saturday, Ms Samant said of the criticism she received: 'It started getting quite racist, especially the anonymous ones  all about my skin colour and where I come from.'

What did Rashmi Samant say? 'Holocaust 'pun'' (June 2017): 'The memorial *CASTS* a *HOLLOW* dream of the past atrocities and deeds. Reflecting on it gives us the power to live with the past vouching for a bettecr future. #holocaustMemorial #uniqueArchitecture'. 'Ching Chang' (December 2019): Following a post from Malaysia in which she used the caption 'Ching Chang', one Chinese student told Cherwell it was 'awful' that Ms Samant appeared to 'show no remorse for the use of a phrase which has been used to make fun of Chinese people for our whole lives.' 'Women vs transwomen' [date N/A]: In an Instagram post, she wrote 'women, transwomen and men'. By separating 'women' from 'transwomen', she was accused of transphobia. 'Cecil is like Hitler' (February 2021): At a union debate uploaded to YouTube, Ms Samant commented on Oriel's statue of Cecil Rhodes: 'If an organisation would come up to you and give you a heap of money to set up a scholarship and say 'I want to name this the Hitler fund or the Hitler scholarship', would you do it?' Advertisement

'It was almost a cyber lynching. Everything about me: my character, my reputation, everything.'

Ms Samant, an energy systems master's student at Linacre College, claimed she was told that her face looked 'like a black horse's a**e'.

She alleged she was also told to 'go home and stay there'.

On Monday, Ms Samant was backed by India's foreign minister.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told MPs he would talk to Britain about her having to step down from her post.

Mr Jaishankar told MPs he would discuss the issue with Britain, adding: 'As the land of Mahatma Gandhi, we can never ever turn our eyes away from racism.

'Particularly so when it is in a country where we have such a large diaspora. We have strong ties with the UK. We will take up such matters with great candour when required.'

Ashwini Vaishnaw, from the Bharatiya Janata Party, claimed her treatment was a 'continuation of attitudes and prejudices from the colonial areas'.

When she returned to India she claimed she had been a victim of a 'cancel culture mob' fuelled by 'anti-Hindu prejudice'.

She told the Indian Express: 'There was a conscious attempt made to unearth posts made by me...

'It was only after I won that they were brought up. I believe my posts were not malicious or racist.'

Oxford's Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality told the Times: 'There is no suggestion of malicious intent; as such, CRAE is confident in its firm recommendation that the president-elect should stand down from her position.'

Graduate student Ms Samant became the first female Indian President of the Oxford University Student Union following their biggest-ever turnout for voting.

Indian MP Shobha Karandlaje hailed Ms Samant's landmark win on social media, describing her success as a 'moment of pride for [the] whole [of] Udupi!'

The postgraduate student had studied at the Manipal Institute of Technology in Karnataka before accepting a postgraduate place at Oxford University.

Ms Samant, who went to school in Manipal and Udupi, is the daughter of Vathsala Samant, a homemaker, and businessman Dinesh Samant, the Times reports.

According to Oxford University, Ms Samant received 1,966 of the 3,708 votes cast for SU President - which is more than all three of her opponents combined.

It is understood a by-election will now be held to elect a new SU President. Pictured: Oxford University Student Union

India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (pictured) last week told MPs he would talk to Britain about Rashmi Samant after she had to step down due to old social media posts

Her comment on the Holocaust - during which six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis - was perceived as a 'pun' on the word.

One student, known as Ethan, chose to message Ms Samant explaining why her Holocaust post was offensive.

In messages seen by Cherwell, Ms Samant responded: 'I completely condemn the Holocaust in that caption and am not being insensitive.

'It is upto [sic] the interpreter. I am by the end of the day [sic] a non-native English student. I wouldn't even dare to be insensitive about something like that'.

Oxford SU President-Elect steps down: Who is Rashmi Samant? Oxford student Rashmi Samant Rashmi Samant was last week elected as the first Indian female president of the Oxford University Student Union after its biggest-ever voter turnout. The postgraduate is studying for an MSc in Energy Systems at Linacre College. She previously attended the Manipal Institute of Technology in Karnataka before accepting a postgraduate place at Oxford University. Ms Samant, who went to school in Manipal and Udupi in southwest India, is the daughter of Vathsala and Dinesh Samant, a businessman from Parkala and a homemaker. The student, who speaks several languages, has previously held the position of Women's Representative at Linacre College. She was also on the Student Council in India as a Sabbatical Officer. Her course ends this year but her father Mr Samant said she was expecting to serve a year in the Students Union post before returning to India next year. In an interview with the Oxford Student ahead of her win, Ms Samant had described her priorities as 'decolonisation and inclusivity', alongside introducing 'Covid interventions for all' and improving access to mental health resources. The MSc Energy Systems student, who moved to the UK from India in October, had planned to lobby the University to 'remove all statues proven to be imperialist', and 'conduct a comprehensive consultation on decolonisation of syllabi.' Her manifesto also included plans to 'tackle institutional homophobia and transphobia, first through conducting a university-wide consultation with the LGBTQ+ community.' Advertisement

When told her actions were perceived as insensitive, she replied: 'I don't agree with you there.'

Ethan told Cherwell: 'The main problem I have with her responses is that she focused her election slate around inclusion and acceptance, but when she was called out for ignorance, she has made no effort to recognise her mistakes'.

Following a post from Malaysia in which she used the caption 'Ching Chang', one Chinese student told Cherwell it was 'awful' Ms Samant appeared to 'show no remorse for the use of a phrase which has been used to make fun of Chinese people for our whole lives.'

Ms Samant also apologised for an Instagram post which separated 'women' and 'transwomen'.

The Free Speech Union said last month it was 'disappointed' to see Ms Samant resign from her post.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'She has apologised for the things she said and that should have been enough.

'Publicly shaming young people and hounding them from the public square just because they've said something a bit daft on social media will deter all but the most boring to get involved in student politics. I hope Rashmi runs for office again soon.'

Free speech campaigner Calvin Robinson added: 'Whilst we must do all we can do clamp down on racism where it still exists, we must also not lose perspective and context should always be considered.

'Rashmi's comments were entirely inappropriate, there's no doubt about that, but she has since apologised. It is now our job to forgive her and move on.

'We need to get to a point where we can accept someone for the person they are today, without trudging through their social media history from years ago in order to find evidence to discredit them.

'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Cancel culture is unforgive and unhelpful; it's a misguided approach at social justice.

'We'd do far better to remember the British value - the Christian value - of forgiveness.'

In an interview with the Oxford Student ahead of her win, Ms Samant had described her priorities as 'decolonisation and inclusivity', alongside introducing 'Covid interventions for all' and improving access to mental health resources.

The MSc Energy Systems student, who moved to the UK from India in October, had planned to lobby the University to 'remove all statues proven to be imperialist', and 'conduct a comprehensive consultation on decolonisation of syllabi.'

Her manifesto also included plans to 'tackle institutional homophobia and transphobia, first through conducting a university-wide consultation with the LGBTQ+ community.'

It read: 'Being a BAME woman from a former British colony, Rashmi is empathetic towards the struggles faced by marginalised groups.'

The current Sabbatical Officers of the Student Union released a statement in the wake of the controversy.

It said: 'As your elected representatives and in recognition of the Office we hold, we sincerely apologise for the hurt and discomfort caused by the actions of the President-elect. Oxford SU has a no tolerance policy towards discrimination. Racism, transphobia, and antisemitism have no place in our organisation.'

It is understood a by-election will now be held to elect a new SU President.

Her manifesto (pictured) included plans to 'tackle institutional homophobia and transphobia, first through conducting a university-wide consultation with the LGBTQ+ community'

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-21 01:04:05|Editor: huaxia

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KUWAIT CITY, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported on Saturday 1,347 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 217,933.

The ministry also announced five more deaths, taking the death toll to 1,215, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,386 to 202,208. A total of 14,510 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment, including 230 in the intensive care units.

Kuwait has imposed a partial curfew from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting March 7 until April 8, as part of its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Non-Kuwaitis are prevented from entering the country. Enditem
Power utility Eskom spent over R20 million on additional generation capacity in order to suspend load-shedding for the memorial service of King Goodwill Zwelithini.

Eskom ceased load-shedding for four hours on Thursday as an extraordinary measure to allow the nation to witness a key and significant historical event.

The utility on Friday told MyBroadband it had a supply shortfall of approximately 1,500MW between 9:45 and 14:16, the exact period for which load-shedding was suspended on Thursday.

In order to make up for this shortage, Eskom had to ramp up its open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs).

OCGTs draw and compress air which is then used to combust diesel which creates gases that can rotate turbines to generate electricity.

Because these require diesel to run, they can be very expensive to operate over long periods, which is why they are typically only used during emergencies or peak periods.

A previous investigation by News24 found that Eskom had spent R47.7 billion on diesel used in OCGTs between 2009 and 2019.

Cost of operation

Since each of the OCGT units used by Eskom can provide around 150MW of electricity, Eskom had to utilise nine units during the memorial to meet the electricity supply demand.

Of these, five units were its own, while power from four others came from independent power producers (IPPs).

Eskom told MyBroadband it costs around R500,000 to operate a single OCGT unit for an hour.

This would equate to R2.25 million per unit for the four and a half hours during which load-shedding was implemented.

Therefore, the estimated cost of running nine of these units would be around R20.25 million.

Only possible during middle of the day

Eskom told MyBroadband that the suspension of load-shedding was only possible because the memorial service had taken place in the middle of the day.

Suspending load-shedding was only possible given the time of the day when demand was relatively low, and indeed for the short duration of the event, the utility stated.

It emphasised that this exercise could not be undertaken every day.

Eskom made an exception to help the country in general and the Zulu nation in particular to pay its respects to the departed monarch at this difficult and historical moment in the life of the Zulu nation, Eskom said.

Below are images of Eskoms Ankerlig and Gourikwa OCGT power stations.
Urging the Centre to review its



order to four Myanmar-bordering northeastern states including to prevent illegal immigration from the neighbouring country and ensure expeditious deportation, Chief Minister Zoramthanga has asserted that the people of his state, who share ethnic ties with the refugees from Chin communities, can't remain indifferent to their plight.

The Mizo Front (MNF) chief, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 18, requested him to personally intervene in the matter to provide asylum to the political refugees on humanitarian grounds, an official at the Chief Minister's Office said on Saturday.

He said the MHA's March 10 advisory to Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur was not acceptable to his state.

Though the MNF is a part of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), it does not have an alliance with the saffron party in the state.

"This (MHA advisory) is not acceptable to I understand that there are certain foreign policy issues where India needs to proceed cautiously. However, we cannot ignore this humanitarian crisis," Zoramthanga said in the letter, a copy of which is available with the PTI.

He said the areas in bordering are inhabited by Chin communities who share ethnic ties and have had close contact with the people of the state even before India was independent.

Zoramthanga said a human catastrophe of gigantic proportions is happening in and innocent citizens are being killed by the military, which is supposed to protect them.

Every day, terrified Myanmarese people are struggling to cross over into Mizoram in search of shelter and protection, he said.

"Therefore, Mizoram cannot just remain indifferent to their sufferings. India cannot turn a blind eye to this humanitarian crisis unfolding right in front of us in our own backyard," the letter read.

Zoramthanga said that India, as the world's largest democracy and Myanmar's immediate neighbour, must act in this matter.

Meanwhile, Mizoram Rajya Sabha member K Vanlalvena told PTI that the number of Myanmarese refugees taking shelter in the northeastern state has soared to over 1,000.

An officer in the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), however, said that as per official records, a total of 547 Myanmarese have entered Mizoram since the coup on February 1.

He said that the actual number may be higher as many Mizoram residents have accommodated Myanmarese refugees without informing the authorities.

Myanmarese people fleeing the coup have taken shelter in eight districts and most of them are being handled by local NGOs, he said.

Several outfits, including the state's apex student body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), are raising money to support the refugees.

(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.)
Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group said it has signed a multi-year partnership deal with leading Dutch bank NIBC Bank in the field of ship leasing.

These leases are being offered by one of the funds of the Damen Ship Lease Cooperative which is managed by Damen Financial Services - both units of the Dutch group.

A leading global player in shipyard sector, Damen has been in operation for over ninety years and offers maritime solutions worldwide, through design, shipbuilding, ship repair and related services.

"We are very pleased with the collaboration and this new long-term commitment from NIBC," remarked Jan Willem van Helden, managing director of Damen Financial Services.

The NIBC funding will be used to enable financial or operational lease solutions for customers of Damen Shipyards Group.

This concerns state-of-the-art workships in offshore (wind) energy and (hybrid) tugs for, among other things, port activities, he stated.

Jeroen Conijn, Managing Director NIBC: "We are proud of this collaboration with Damen. Almost ten years ago we provided the first financing to Damen Ship Lease. During these years, Damen Ship Lease has shown that it fulfills a clear need of its customers with its lease solutions. We support the further growth of this activity by continuing our financing."

Martin van Eyk, manager of Damen Ship Lease, said: "With this fund we can facilitate the fleet renewal and sustainability of the fleet of various customers, while we also stimulate the growth of the Damen group."

"With the latest Damen ships and technology, we also contribute to the efficient management of our customers and a reduction in the ecological footprint of our sector," noted Eyk.

The leasing solutions offered by Damen tie in well with trends in the maritime sector such as servitisation (Ship-as-a-Service) and circularity, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A Hueytown father has been indicted in the 2019 death of his 2-year-old son.

A Jefferson County grand jury late last year issued the manslaughter indictment against 49-year-old Grady Scott Humphryes. He is charged in the drowning death of toddler Walker Humphryes.

Humphryes was arrested Friday and booked into the Jefferson County Jail Friday afternoon and was released at 8:45 a.m. Saturday after posting $100,000 bond.

Walker and his older brother, Huett, were at their fathers Hueytown home on a Sunday morning when the incident happened. The boys got out of the house in the 3200 block of Larabee Lane. When Humphryes went looking for them about 9:15 a.m., he found the older boy in the next-door-neighbors yard. Huett was asked where his younger brother was, and he replied, in the pool, authorities said at the time.

Walker was discovered in the water. He was flown by helicopter to Childrens of Alabama and pronounced dead two days later at 2:31 a.m.

Hueytown police said the investigation has been extensive and they finally presented it to the grand jury late last year, which returned the manslaughter indictment. They said they cant discuss the case in detail but said Humphryes was indicted because of reckless actions that led to Walkers death.

Humphryes attorneys, Laura Susan Burns and Keith E. Brashier of Burns, Brashier and Johnson released this statement Saturday: Mr. Humphryes is completely innocent. It was a tragic accident that took the life of Mr. Humphyres young son. To charge a father, after an accidental drowning in a neighbors swimming pool, is an anomaly if not an outright travesty of justice. This is a gross misuse of the court system.

Walkers mother, Brittany Salter, said Humphryes was asleep when the boys got out of the home. She has been fighting for justice for her son since his death, including her Facebook page, Remembering Baby Walker.

I promised Walker when he was in the hospital that I would not get a headstone until I saw some kind of justice, Salter said Saturday. She had called just three days ago to start getting prices on a headstone, and it was on that same day she saw that her ex-husband was listed as wanted by authorities.

Walkers death has been a tremendous loss for Salter and her older son. She filed wrongful death lawsuits against Humphryes and the owner of the pool. The case against the pool owner was settled and the civil case against Humphryes is ongoing.

She said she had asked police to do a welfare check several times on her boys when they were with their father, but that didnt happen. I get it. A lot of people go through divorces and it can get busy, but I feel like if they had at least done a welfare check and things may have turned out differently, Salter said. She said she will continue to fight on behalf of other mothers in similar situations.

Salter, a hairstylist, said she has used the down time during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on healing for herself and her older son. It really gave me time to focus on my mental health. I didnt feel so alone because the whole world shut down, she said. I honestly dont know how things would have gone if that hadnt have happened. I was really thankful it wasnt just me. I wasnt getting left alone.
globaldesi wrote:



I was really forward for such post. Really a great insight for people like me who are not sure Amazing post bb I was really forward for such post. Really a great insight for people like me who are not sure

Thanks! I appreciate your kind words. It all started with a PM and hearing the same question over and over. I figured it was time to put something more significant together. While more experienced candidates may not fit the mold of the traditional 2-year MBA, I think there are many other options available. Perhaps not as many "traditional" programs but they also may not suit as well. There is always an option of an Online MBA. I know a year ago it sounded like a horrible idea but last year, almost all programs were online... I think i can see more online mba activity spurring on the back burner where they are no longer taboo.I think the only part that remains tricky for a seasoned professional is switching industries. I would personally suggest not using the MBA for it but perhaps leveraging one's network and getting very very specific with your goals. E.g. instead of saying, I really want to get out of pharmaceutical sales job, how about say, I want to do financial analysis for a CPG company, and even better than that, I want to do finance at __________ (and that would be one of the 3 companies in the area that you have researched). That level of specificity does a few things: 1) it shows you are a goal-oriented person who did their research so people would be naturally helpful 2) it gives them hooks to jog their mind and remember that their cousin works at one of these companies. That's faster and cheaper than studying for the GMAT and then taking 2 years ... though of course this is a simplistic example but it does drive a point._________________
FILE PHOTO: A Visa credit card is seen on a computer keyboard in this picture illustration

(Reuters) - The Justice Department is looking at Visa Inc's debit practices, the company said on Friday, after reports the United States was investigating whether the credit card company uses anticompetitive practices in the debit-card market.

"The U.S. Department of Justice has informed Visa of its plans to open an investigation into Visa's U.S. debit practices," the company said in a securities filing. "We have received a notice to preserve relevant documents related to the investigation."

The Justice Department is probing whether Visa uses anticompetitive practices in the debit-card market, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, said the Justice Department's antitrust division was looking in to whether Visa limited merchants' ability to route debit-card transactions over card networks that are often less expensive.

"We believe Visa's U.S. debit practices are in compliance with applicable laws," the company said. "Visa is cooperating with the Department of Justice."

Visa shares fell sharply on Friday, sinking 6.2% to close at $206.90.

The Justice Department declined comment on Friday.

Merchants have long complained about the high cost of network fees, or interchange fees, which can be 2% or more of each transaction and go to the financial institutions behind the transactions.

Industry group the Merchants Payments Coalition, which fights so-called swipe fees, called the probe good news. "The MPC has been concerned about these practices to limit debit routing for years and it's great to see the Department of Justice looking in to it," said spokesman Craig Shearman.

While such investigations are not unusual, this one comes amid a greater interest in the digital marketplace.

Earlier this year, Visa and fintech startup Plaid called off a $5.3 billion merger after the government sued to stop the deal and called Visa a "monopolist in online debit transactions."

Story continues

The Justice Department has previously investigated the credit card payments industry but settled with Visa and Mastercard Inc in 2010 when they agreed to allow merchants to offer consumers incentives to use a low-cost credit card.

American Express refused to settle. It took its battle with the Justice Department all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2018 that it was legal for American Express to forbid merchants from trying to steer consumers to cheaper cards.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Matthew Lewis)
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Billionaire chicken heiress Jess Ingham married her beau Roger Zraika in an intimate ceremony on Saturday.

The couple, who announced their engagement eight months ago, celebrated their special day with their nearest and dearest at The Mint in Sydney.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their 80 guests enjoyed a sit down dinner at Merivale's Establishment.

It's official! Inside Jess Ingham and Roger Zraika's intimate wedding in Sydney - as it's revealed she wore a stunning $20,000 Vera Wang dress

Jess looked incredible in a $20,000 custom Vera Wang wedding dress, which sat off her shoulders and featured layered long bell sleeves with 'love' embroidered across them in black.

At the reception, each table was served an extravagant cake topped with different types of berries for dessert.

The guests then watched on as the newlyweds slow danced under a display of fairy lights.

The lavish ceremony had been organised by Jess' former friend Roxy Jacenko, who was also set to be a bridesmaid.

But they are believed to have had a recent fall-out and cut ties, with Lana Bosil being promoted to maid of honour.

Stunning: Jess looked incredible in a $20,000 custom Vera Wang wedding dress, which sat off her shoulders and featured layered long bell sleeves with 'love' embroidered across them in black

Man of the hour: Jess and Roger tied the knot during Sydney's horrendous downpour

Can't rain on their parade! The happy couple managed to puff off the lavish affair despite the unfortunate weather

Jess and Roxy apparently haven't spoken to each other since November, The Sydney Morning Herald claimed.

The pair, who are said to have met over a decade ago at Double Bay's Cosmopolitan Shoes boutique, allegedly started to grow apart when media outlets began writing about Jess' personal life.

Roxy, who 'loves being the brightest star', is said to have become jealous of the coverage.

Special moment: The guests watched on as the newlyweds slow danced under an display of fairy lights with Jess' four-year-old daughter Mimi

Storm: As NSW faced record-breaking storms, the newlyweds were left haphazardly racing through the rain

Ceremony: The couple, who announced their engagement eight months ago, celebrated their special day with their nearest and dearest at The Mint in Sydney

Party time: After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their 80 guests enjoyed a sit down dinner at Merivale's Establishment

While Jess refused to comment on the state of their friendship, she did confirm to the publication she was no longer in business with Roxy.

Roxy declined to get into the specifics of her falling out with Jess when approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Meanwhile, Jess and Roger tied the knot during Sydney's horrendous downpour.

Dessert: At the reception, each table was served an extravagant cake topped with different types of berries

Glamorous frocks: Jess' bridesmaids wore long black Velani gowns while her mother opted for a stunning purple dress with flowers

No longer friends: The wedding had been organised by Jess' former friend Roxy Jacenko (left), who was also set to be a bridesmaid. But they are believed to have had a recent fall-out and cut ties

As NSW faced record-breaking storms, the newlyweds were left haphazardly racing through the rain.

The heiress and her long-term partner Roger were engaged in June last year, during a lavish party at Bambini Trust in Sydney.

Jess announced the news via Instagram, following Roger getting on bended knee to propose.

Jess was previously married to Alex Macris. The former couple held a Great Gatsby style reception worth $500,000 in November 2013.

She is the granddaughter of businessman Jack Ingham, part of the Ingham chicken empire which sold for around $1 billion in 2013.
Pick up a video game controller. Put on a virtual reality headset. And suddenly you are in a strangely proportioned 3D space made up of fragments of the interiors of homes from all around the world captured during the COVID-19 lockdown. Meanwhile, you hear a voice talking about the quarantine. Use the controller to select one of the objects in this strange environment to access a new space. And continue experiencing these encounters from the inside, as if you were really there.

This is, in broad strokes, what will be offered by the artistic virtual reality and interactivity project co-created by Joan Soler-Adillon, a professor in the UOC's Faculty of Computer Science, Multimedia and Telecommunications, when it is exhibited for the first time at two major festivals in Paris and Copenhagen.

The project, which is called The Smallest of Worlds, is "a reflection on the value of private space, which takes you to strange places, as if you were in a dream or some kind of spatial poem", explains Soler-Adillon. The Catalan artist, who is an expert in interactive communication and digital art, created it with the Austrian architect Uwe Brunner and the German stage designer Bettina Katja Lange.

The title, as Soler-Adillon says, is a play on words: "Everyone's world has become smaller and the world is small because the same thing is happening everywhere". That is, we have been at home more than ever, establishing a new relationship with intimacy within its walls, while also, in many cases, showing our inner sanctums to others more than ever, via social media, video calls and virtual work meetings.

Soler-Adillon adds that The Smallest of Worlds is also an example of practice-based research: "We wanted to experiment with flash fiction; we wanted to see if there were stories that would not work as conventional documentaries that could be told with virtual reality; we asked ourselves how we could create fragmented, unrealistic environments with which people could also make an emotional connection."

The piece has been warmly received, and in April it will receive its premiere at two of Europe's leading festivals, where the state of affairs has forced the artists to present two different versions.

Specifically, on 6 April, it will feature at Les Ailleurs, a new Parisian festival with an impressive mise-en-scene and list of participants, where the work can be visited in person as a physical and virtual reality installation. And, on 21 April, the prestigious documentary festival CPH:DOX (Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival) will virtually open its doors. There, The Smallest of Worlds can be seen in its online version. The project has also been nominated as a finalist at DOK.fest Munchen.

Contributions from around the world

Where are the environments that appear in The Smallest of Worlds from? They are compositions created from a selection of more than 300 videos sent by people from all around the globe in response to the three artists' call for volunteers to capture their intimate spaces in images. The result is a collaborative piece that is very different to the original videos in terms of colour, texture and the proportions of the objects and people appearing in them.

The artists created the spaces based on the photogrammetry technique, which according to the UOC professor makes it possible to convert video images into 'imperfect' 3D environments.

The exhibition also includes messages spoken by the people who sent the videos, in which they either recount their experience during the first few days of lockdown or take stock of it some months later. English, Catalan, French, Chinese, Hindi and Swiss German are just some of the languages that can be heard.

For example, "in one of the spaces, you can see my daughters playing under the roof of the farmhouse where we live mixed with a chaotic room in Mexico sent by someone we don't know, while a girl explains, in French, how her family spent lockdown at their house in Morocco shortly after having moved to that country", said Soler-Adillon.

The project began a month before lockdown

Soler-Adillon and his two project partners met in February 2020 on an artist-in-residence programme at Barcelona's Espronceda Institute of Art and Culture. They collaborated on a photogrammetry project there and agreed to continue working in the same field over the following months.

And then the pandemic and the state of alarm hit. Even though Soler-Adillon was not able to work in person with Uwe Brunner or Bettina Katja Lange, in June they once again collaborated on an artist-in-residence programme, this time virtually, at a German festival, and in October they presented an initial version of the project at the DOK Leipzig festival.

As for the future, Soler-Adillon does not rule out bringing The Smallest of Worlds to Catalonia, and stresses that it remains to be seen how far the endeavour could be taken. He said, it would be interesting to 'build a community around this project'.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially before midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
News

Denver, Colorado - The U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that they have reached a proposed settlement with John Raftopoulos, Diamond Peak Cattle Company LLC and Rancho Greco Limited LLC (collectively, the defendants) to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) involving unauthorized discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States and trespass on federal public lands in northwest Moffat County, Colorado.

On Oct. 22, 2020, the United States filed suit in federal district court alleging that beginning in approximately 2012, and as recently as approximately 2015, the defendants discharged dredged or fill material into Vermillion Creek and its adjacent wetlands in order to route the creek into a new channel, facilitate agricultural activities and construct a bridge. These alleged unauthorized activities occurred on private land owned by the defendants and on public land managed by BLM, constituting a trespass in violation of the FLPMA. Vermillion Creek and its adjacent wetlands are waters of the United States and may not be filled without a CWA Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), which was not obtained. EPA develops and interprets the policy, guidance and environmental criteria the Corps uses in evaluating permit applications.

This proposed settlement will result in restoration of important waters in the arid west, deter future similar violations of the Clean Water Act and help ensure accountability and a level playing field, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jean E. Williams for the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The U.S. Attorneys Office and Department of Justice will take all necessary steps to protect our precious waters, wetlands, and wildlife, said Acting United States Attorney Matt T. Kirsch for the District of Colorado. Western rivers are a treasure and require protection from all threats, including damage to their vital creeks, streams, and tributaries.

Unauthorized dredging and filling of waters of the U.S. will not be tolerated, said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for the EPAs Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. With this action, EPA is ensuring the proper restoration of vital creek and wetland resources.

This proposed settlement will allow the public lands impacted to begin the process of recovery for the future use and benefit of all the public, said BLM Colorado State Director Jamie Connell.

The United States lawsuit further contended that the defendants alleged trespass also included unauthorized irrigation, removal of minerals and destruction of numerous cottonwood trees on federal public land. The fill and related activities on BLM lands were conducted without BLM authorization. The defendants trespass actions not only interfered with the publics right to current enjoyment of federal public lands, but also jeopardized the future health and maintenance of these lands for use by all.

Under a proposed settlement filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado to resolve the lawsuit, the defendants agreed to: pay a $265,000 civil penalty for CWA violations; pay $78,194 in damages and up to $20,000 in future oversight costs for trespass on public lands managed by BLM; remove the unauthorized bridge constructed on public lands; restore approximately 1.5 miles of Vermillion Creek to its location prior to defendants unauthorized construction activities; restore the 8.47 acres of wetlands impacted adjacent to the creek; and plant dozens of cottonwood trees to replace those previously removed from federal lands. Additionally, under the terms of the proposed settlement, the defendants will place a deed restriction on their property to protect the restored creek and wetlands in perpetuity.

This proposed settlement will repair important environmental resources damaged by the defendants. The portions of Vermillion Creek and its adjacent wetlands impacted by the defendants unauthorized activities provided aquatic and wildlife habitat, runoff conveyance and groundwater recharge. The straightening of Vermillion Creek contributed to erosion of the bed and banks of the stream and detrimental sediment deposition downstream of the channelization. Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, which provides important habitat for the endangered Colorado pikeminnow, is located at the confluence of Vermillion Creek and the Green River, approximately one mile downstream from the impacted area. Similarly, the destruction of numerous cottonwood trees located adjacent to the creek eliminated nesting, perching, and roosting habitat for raptor species, including bald eagle, golden eagle and red-tailed hawk. Cottonwood galleries with riparian vegetation also provide nesting habitat for a variety of migratory birds.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 19:35:29|Editor: huaxia

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A Palestinian man sits near closed shops in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, March 20, 2021. The Governor of Bethlehem announced on Thursday the closure of the governorate and a ban on all activities from Thursday evening until Sunday morning due to increasing numbers of COVID-19 infection. (Photo by Luay Sababa/Xinhua)
New Delhi/Mumbai, March 20 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the case of the SUV with 20 gelatin sticks found outside the residence of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, will also investigate the death of Thane based businessman Mansukh Hiren, who was found dead on March 5.

An NIA officer in Delhi told IANS: "The agency has received a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the case of death of Hiren. And we will soon register a case." The official said that they are collecting all the documents related to Hiren's death from the Mumbai Police and ATS.

IANS had reported on March 17 that the case of the death of the Mumbai businessman will be transferred to the anti-terror probe agency.

The body of Hiren was found in a creek in Thane on March 5. Earlier Maharashtra's ATS was probing Hiren's death.

On March 3, the NIA had taken over the probe of the explosive laden SUV found outside Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia in Mumbai on February 25. There was also a threat note in the vehicle.

The anti-terror probe agency arrested Mumbai police official Sachin Vaze on March 13. He was sent to NIA custody till March 25.
New Delhi, March 20: In their quest for a free and open Indo-Pacific, India and Japan will continue to make joint efforts to enhance connectivity, especially in Indias northeast and Bangladesh, to cope with various challenges the region faces, Japanese Ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki said.

Stressing that the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) has been given a major thrust under India's strong leadership, Suzuki believes that connectivity is the best area to showcase how both countries can bring about tangible benefits to the entire region.

While making the opening remarks at a webinar organised by India's Ministry of External Affairs, Japanese embassy in New Delhi and the ASEAN-India Centre at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Suzuki said peace and security of the Indo-Pacific remains paramount for stability and prosperity of not only the region itself, but of the entire world, given its weight in the global economy.

He pointed out the "exemplary case" of Japan-India cooperation in North East India and Bangladesh to highlight how India-Japan partnership can enhance both maritime and land connectivity in a mutually reinforcing manner.

"Japan's decision to become the lead country for the connectivity pillar of IPOI was a strong reaffirmation of our commitment to enhancement of connectivity. But on the ground, bilateral cooperation in this area is nothing new. Our two countries have long been advancing various connectivity projects in India as well as in third countries," Suzuki said during the inaugural session of 'Connectivity Cooperation towards a Free, Open and Inclusive Indo-Pacific' organised on Thursday.

The ambassador reiterated that India's North East remains a focus area for Japan in its quest for a free and open Indo-Pacific. With the North East itself not having an outlet to the sea, Japan and India continue to work closely in the region, upgrading highways all the way to the border with Bangladesh.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 'Maitri Setu' bridge between India and Bangladesh which has been built over the Feni river which flows between the Indian state of Tripura and Bangladesh. The 1.9 Km long bridge joins Sabroom in south Tripura with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. With the inauguration of the bridge, Tripura is set to become the 'Gateway of North East' with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 Kms from Sabroom.

From Ramgarh to Baraiyarhat, India is building a road while Japan is constructing eight bridges.

"This means, if you look at all these joint efforts by Japan and India in a holistic view, there appears a dynamic connectivity network in which Japan-India collaboration provides the landlocked North East with access to the Bay of Bengal and beyond, most importantly to ASEAN countries. As IPOI rightly captures, the Indo-Pacific maritime domain is the source of growth and prosperity, so better access to these Oceans is vital for the improvement of people's lives," said Suzuki while highlighting how much difference the two countries are making to the lives of people in the region.

Japan is also partnering India in building the 20 km, four-lane bridge between Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya. Besides the North East, Tokyo has undertaken a number of connectivity initiatives in India, including mega projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).

"Japan and India will continue such joint efforts of enhancing connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region, utilizing our expertise and complementarity. We welcome any other country which shares our vision to come on board on such endeavors," Suzuki said.

The joint vision was further highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga during the Quad Leaders Summit, last week Seeking the synergy between India's 'Act East' policy and Japan's 'Partnership for Quality Infrastructure', the two countries have agreed to develop and strengthen reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructures that augment connectivity within India, and between India and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

India has time and again underscored the importance of 'connectivity' in the Indo-Pacific, calling it a uniting factor rather than just enhancing trade and prosperity in the region.

It continues to be an important pillar of Act East Policy and doctrine of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), forming the building blocks for India's Indo-Pacific Vision since first announced by PM Modi during his first term.

"India's Indo-Pacific Vision envisages a free, open and inclusive region, which embraces all nations in the region and beyond in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity. The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative or IPOI envisages practical implementation of this vision with its seven pillars of cooperation and collaboration, with connectivity being one such pillar," Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary (East) at the MEA, mentioned during Thursday's webinar.

The Indian diplomat underlined how since the last few years, there has been a renewed focus on connectivity with efforts being made in India's immediate and extended neighbourhood by initiating activities including upgrading ports, rail, and airport infrastructure, laying of new pipelines, building electricity networks, and reinvigorating people-to-people exchanges.

"Robust connectivity with countries of the region, near or far, is deep rooted in Indian civilizational history. Indian culture has been enriched by ancient linkages with the rest of the world, just as the light of Indian culture has shone in lands connected across land and seas by emissaries and merchants," said Das.

India has since 2005-06, she informed, extended Lines of Credit worth nearly USD 31 billion to more than 64 countries. "Our Act East Policy is at the centre of our connectivity orientation and a fulcrum of our broader approach to the Indo-Pacific. Our efforts are focused on connecting our North-East with the dynamic economies of South East Asia, and enhancing connectivity within the North East itself." Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) are being constructed or expanded to facilitate trade and mobility along the borders with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Rail and road inland waterway connectivity agreements are being improved with Nepal and Bangladesh. The oil pipeline from Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal was inaugurated in 2019. In Myanmar, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit project, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Rhi-Tiddim Road continue to be the area of focus.

"India is also considering the eastward extension of the IMT Highway towards Cambodia, Lao and Vietnam. We are now exploring to build connectivity between Andaman and Nicobar and Sabang in Indonesia and also between Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Kolkata and Ranong port in Thailand. We intend to establish direct shipping routes between India and Vietnam," Das said.

Towards the west, India is developing the Chabahar Port as a gateway for onward connectivity to and from Afghanistan and Central Asia. It has potential to be an important link in the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC). INSTC is an important trade corridor project, wherein India is partnering with 12 countries to establish an economic corridor for the benefit of people.

Towards the South, Sri Lanka and Maldives remain India's focus of maritime connectivity efforts in the Indo-Pacific Region. In Sri Lanka, India has extended nearly US$ 1.2 billion towards the development of the railway sector. The Jaffna airport, in Northern Sri Lanka, is now reconnected with a direct flight to India. India and Maldives have operationalized a cargo ferry service. India is now looking to build other infrastructure and connectivity projects in Male.

"Given Japan's expertise in development of quality infrastructure, we believe that Japan's lead on the Connectivity Pillar of IPOI will give a boost to connectivity in the region and contribute to unlocking the potential for an equitable, positive and forward-looking change in the region contributing to security and growth of the Indo-Pacific," the Secretary said.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/

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


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Great Barrington Police Chief Paul Storti has issued a statement of support for the Asian community, and invites them to reach out for a conversation.
Photo: Contributed

I read a food article from BBC News this week that inspired me to chat.

It was about a controversy in Pakistan over a popular street food versus the local McDonalds version, and it made me think of the age-old argument of tradition versus evolution.

As we look forward into a new world full of changed things, are we more or less likely to want to eat new food?

Everyone has their non-negotiables in life. These concepts speak to our ethics, our roots, and our character.

As far as food is concerned, I have found that usually the topic of non-negotiables is more of a moving target, influenced by friends and new experiences and sometimes, one too many drinks. (Who has eaten that hot pepper on a dare?)

Even whether you like smooth or chunky peanut butter is sometimes an impulsive decision.

Globalization changed the way we look at food. Many foods previously considered exotic are now regular items at the supermarket.

Pineapples, dragon fruit, and daikon radish are easy to find and often not even expensive. Sauces and spices from other cultures sit alongside ketchup and mayo in peoples fridges.

We can have it all now, if that is what we want.

There is still cachet in local specialties and artisan products. But it is not uncommon to see the big chains take on favourite items. I remember the day my poor hubby, a classically trained chef, discovered McDonalds was serving creme brulee.

Thats it, he moaned woefully, I am not cooking that for clients any more.

Not to pick on McDonalds, but the same sort of situation now exists in Pakistan. There they have a street food made popular in the 50s, called a bun-kebab. It is a fried patty made with ground beef and lentils or potatoes, and sometimes a fried egg on top, served in a fluffy bun with crispy vegetables and chutney.

As is customary with street food, the bun kebab tends to be unique at each vendor, but always simple, cheap and full of fresh flavours. The perfect lunch for workers on the go, or at the school cafeteria.

McDonalds seemed to see this item as a twist on their burger, so why not add it to the menu?

They did manage to prepare a recipe of the deluxe anday-waala burger with the fried egg that offered the basic components, but it lacked the experience from a roadside stand.

It was also three times the price.

One could argue this is just a case of a company trying to offer everything, which we all know is impossible. You cant please all the people all the time. But I think it goes deeper than that.

If you translate anday-waala it means egg with You see, the bun-kebab is all about the extras that go into the bun.

The main patty is not the star, as is the case with a western-style burger. Even the language proves that difference, with the clients trusting the vendors to use their own flair in creating something special.

I will use my chef hubby again to give you another example. He will not cook Christmas dinner for a client, unless they agree to let him do something different with the menu.

Why would I attempt to cook your Grannys lumpy mashed potatoes that you love, and your Moms special gravy, when I know I could never duplicate it? he says.

The experience is as important as the food.

I am not making a case for lumpy, mashed potatoes, or mass-produced creme brulee. Food and cultures do evolve, often much to the delight of diners, as I have written about in previous columns.

I think the issue here is trust. There is an integrity to food that is created out of passion, and I for one believe that should be respected.

If you want to add ketchup on a bun-kebab when you visit the street vendors in Pakistan, that is your choice. Maybe someone from Pakistan might add some chutney to a McDonald's burger.

But can we stand up and support those who work to keep the integrity of their culture in simple things like a takeaway lunch item?

The world does not need more homogenization. If the cream never gets to float to the top, how will we ever be inspired?
THE operator of Ashford Castle has secured planning permission for a 'boutique' five-star, 60-bedroom hotel in Dublin.

Red Carnation Hotels (UK) has secured planning permission for the conversion and extension of a former Jesuit university students' residence, Hatch Hall, which is located between Earlsfort Terrace and Leeson Street.

Dublin City Council has given the project the go-ahead after its planner found that the proposal "will upgrade one of the most prominent locations in the city".

Read More

The hotel is to include two bars and a restaurant in the former chapel building.

The council heard that while Dublin has a strong "pipeline" of hotels, only 3pc are classified as being in the five-star category.

Hatch Hall is a protected structure and a planning consultant for Red Carnation said the use as a five-star hotel "would ensure that the building is restored and conserved, protecting it into the future with a viable use".

Red Carnation declined to comment on a timeline for the development.
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Mila Crawford was one of 2,500 Colorado Springs voters between the ages of 18 and 21 who received a duplicate mail-in ballot ahead of the citys municipal election on April 6

. The duplicate ballots were a result of a technical glitch that occurred in the data transmission to the printing vendor, city elections officials said.
New Delhi, March 20 : One of the tents installed at the farmers protest site at Singhu border on Delhi's outskirts caught fire around 10 a.m. on Saturday. It was doused quickly with the help of the fire brigade and no casualties were reported in the accident.

Duggal Singh, a farmer from Punjab's Patiala district, was participating in the protest when fire broke out in a tent due to a leaking gas cylinder. There were nearly 10 to 12 people in the tent.

The tent was completely burnt while the clothes, mattresses, mobile phones, chairs and ration kept inside the tent were also destroyed.

There were no casualties in this fire but one farmer suffered mild injuries.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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"You have never seen me say a word about any candidate, and I am not going to do that. Besides, no person in the Government is authorized to do that either," he told TVPeru on Friday night.













"This has required greater logistics and more resources, and the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) has had our full support," he expressed.









At the event, procedures were addressed. Besides, an agreement with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the National Elections Board (JNE) was signed in order to provide the mission with all the required facilities.





"All this is transparent and clean. In addition, the electoral party broadcast is being used correctly. We hope that citizens choose their candidates and vote," he said.





The restriction of commercial advertising and the use of electoral party broadcast has "leveled the playing field" in terms of the conditions that candidates have with the aim of presenting their proposals to the citizenry.





However, the statesman expressed his concern about the use of social networks in this campaign.





"We have seen the migration of the campaign with a preponderance of fake news, rumors, and allusions that spoil the electoral atmosphere," he emphasized.













(END) VVS/MVB
Attacked spas had been targeted by prostitution stings View Photo

ATLANTA (AP)  Two Atlanta area massage businesses where a gunman waged a deadly assault this week had been repeatedly targeted in police prostitution investigations over the years, raising questions about the mayors earlier comments that the spas operated legally.

Police records show officers went to the businesses repeatedly in the past 10 years, which appears to contradict Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms statement that officers in her city had not been to the businesses beyond a minor potential theft and that they were not on the radar of police. Bottoms added that she did not want to blame the victims.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, is charged with killing four women at the Atlanta spas and four other people inside a massage business about 30 miles (50 kilometers) away in Cherokee County. Long, who is white, told investigators the attacks were not racially motivated and claimed to have a sex addiction, which caused him to lash out at what he saw as sources of temptation.

Police in both Atlanta and Cherokee County said they were investigating if the killings could be considered hate crimes. Seven of the victims were women  six of Asian descent  and the gunman targeted the massage businesses despite a strip club and lingerie stores nearby.

According to a 2019 report written by a group of academics, public health experts and community organizers, employees in massage businesses that illicitly offer sex often ended up working there because they had few options to pay off the tens of thousands of dollars they owed smugglers or to support parents or children back home in countries like China and South Korea.

The authors of Illicit Massage Parlors in Los Angeles County and New York City Stories from Women Workers interviewed dozens of women who provided sex at the businesses. They said their employers sometimes offered them a place to live and eat in the businesses, which also made the work difficult to turn down.

The authors stressed not all massage businesses are involved in the sex trade. And the majority of the women they interviewed who did sex work didnt see themselves as being trafficked, instead feeling they were helping their families or themselves, said author Lois M. Takahashi, who heads the USC Price School of Public Policy in Sacramento.

But 40% of them reported that a client forced them to have sex while 18% said a client hit them or physically hurt them.

Takahashi said that for many of the women, getting arrested was an extremely traumatic process. A lot of times the women were thrust into a legal system that they didnt understand and in a foreign language.

They had a lot more fear of being arrested than they did of being robbed, she said.

Police records released by the city Friday show 10 people were arrested at the two Atlanta massage businesses on prostitution charges, but none since 2013. Almost all the arrests came in undercover stings where an officer paid for a massage and an employee offered sex or a sex act for more money. The reports were first obtained by The Washington Post.

At a news conference the day after the shootings, Bottoms said, As far as we know in Atlanta these are legally operating businesses that have not been on our radar, not on the radar of APD (the Atlanta Police Department).

A spokeswoman for the mayor said Friday the shootings were an ongoing investigation and she expected new evidence to be discovered.

What the mayor said was as far as we know and thats the operative part of that sentence, as far as we know, Bottoms spokeswoman Elise Durham said. The comments were made less than 24 hours after the shooting incident.

All three businesses where people were fatally shot Tuesday have detailed recent reviews on an online site that leads users to places that provide sexual services.

Authorities released the names of the Atlanta victims hours before President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Atlanta to meet with Asian American community leaders.

Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; and Yong Ae Yue, 63, were shot in the head, the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office said. Family members identified Grant by her maiden name, Hyun Jung Kim. Suncha Kim, 69, died from a gunshot to the chest, authorities said.

Three of the women died at the Gold Spa in Atlanta, while the fourth woman died across the street at Aromatherapy Spa. The medical examiner didnt immediately say which woman died at Aromatherapy.

Four people were killed and a fifth wounded at Youngs Asian Massage near Woodstock, in Atlantas northwestern suburbs.

Cherokee County authorities earlier identified the dead there as Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Daoyou Feng, 44; and Xiaojie Tan, 49, who owned Youngs.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said it helped police identify the four slain women of Korean descent and inform their families. Officials said they would help arrange funerals and asked U.S. authorities for a swift investigation to find the reason for the shooting amid an increase in violence against Asian Americans.

Georgia lawmakers last year passed a hate crimes law that allows additional penalties to be imposed for certain offenses when motivated by a victims race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender or disability. A hate crime is not a standalone crime under the law, but it can be used to add time to a sentence once someone is convicted of another crime.

Investigators believe Long had previously visited two of the Atlanta massage businesses where four of the women were killed, police said.

Crabapple First Baptist Church, where Long was an active member, issued a statement Friday that it was seeking to remove Long from membership, saying we can no longer affirm that he is truly a regenerate believer in Jesus Christ.

The church said its teaching does not condone violence against Asian Americans or women and its improper to view women as somehow responsible for male sexual urges.

Long waived his right to an initial hearing in Cherokee County Magistrate Court.

___

This story was first published on March 19, 2021. It was updated on March 20, 2021 to correct that there were 10 prostitution-related arrests at the two Atlanta businesses, and police were called to them repeatedly.

___

Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Rebecca Santana in New Orleans contributed to this report.

By KATE BRUMBACK and JEFFREY COLLINS

Associated Press
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Prince William was left 'reeling' by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey this month, sources have claimed.

The Duke of Cambridge's 'head is all over the place' after the Sussexes claimed he was 'trapped' within the system and said racism drove them out of Britain in their two-hour CBS interview, a source close to the prince said.

It comes after Meghan Markle's friend Gayle King this week revealed conversations between Prince Harry, his brother and their father Prince Charles were 'not productive'.

A friend of the duke's told The Sunday Times: 'It's still raw. He's very upset by what's happened, though absolutely intent that he and Harry's relationship will heal in time.'

Prince William (pictured during special message for Comic Relief) is still 'very upset' by the interview given by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey

Meanwhile a former Palace aide described how the Duke of Cambridge had been left with 'the absence of his brother' after he decided to step back as a senior royal and migrate to California.

They said: 'Once he got over the anger of how things happened, he was left with the absence of his brother.

'They shared everything about their lives, an office, a foundation, meetings together most days and there was a lot of fun along the way. He'll miss it forever.'

Elsewhere another close friend of both brothers said comments made by Prince Harry that his brother was 'trapped' within the system 'were way off the mark' and said: 'He has a path set for him and he's completely accepting of his role.'

Earlier today it was revealed that more than 90 minutes of unseen footage from the Oprah interview could be aired to the public by ITV and further scupper peace talks between the Duke of Cambridge and his brother.

A source told the Sunday People: 'There is a lot of interest in showing the interview in full.

'The original programme was the biggest show of the year so far in the UK and was bought by firms around the world.'

They added: 'Oprah's production company know they're sitting on a goldmine so it's possible a deal could be done.'

It comes after CBS presenter Gayle King said she had spoken to the Sussexes who told her that Harry had talked to the Duke of Cambridge and Prince of Wales after the interview.

But she said the conversations were 'not productive' and the Sussexes were keen for the 'royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant'.

CBS presenter Gayle King said she had spoken to the Sussexes and that conversations between Prince Harry and his brother and father were 'not productive'

Prince Harry arrives with his best man Prince William at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020

Ms King, 66, who is also close friends with Oprah, failed to give any examples of the stories she was referring to, but added that Meghan had 'documents to back up everything that she said on Oprah's interview'.

She told CBS This Morning: 'Well I'm not trying to break news, but I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too.

'The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation.

'And I think what is still upsetting to them is the palace keep saying they want to work it out privately, but yet, they believe these false stories are coming out that are very disparaging against Meghan, still.

'No one in the Royal Family has talked to Meghan yet, at this particular time.

'And I think it's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant.

'And until you can acknowledge that, I think it's going to be hard to move forward. But they both want to move forward with this and they both want healing in this family. At the end of the day, that is Harry's family.'

During their interview this month the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said racism drove them out of Britain and claimed their son Archie was denied the title of prince because he is mixed-race.

Earlier this week Prince William spoke with Syrian aid workers about how donations from Britain are being used to help millions of vulnerable people

Meghan Markle claimed she entered the Royal Family 'naively' and didn't do any research about her husband or the institution and Prince Harry accused his father Prince Charles of refusing to take his calls when the pair emigrated to the US last year.

Last week, Prince William defended the Royal Family, saying it was 'very much not a racist family' while on a trip to a school in London, and said ominously of Harry: 'I haven't spoken to him yet but I will do.'

This evening Kensington Palace released footage of Prince William speaking with Syrian aid workers about how donations from Britain are being used to help millions of vulnerable people.

Speaking with humanitarian workers Fadi Hallisso, Kawther Mohamad Ali, and Shahinaz Muamar via video call on Thursday, the duke said he was 'amazed' by the money raised to date, but acknowledged it is 'nowhere near what you need'.
She is a busy working mother juggling multiple fashion campaigns with raising her little girl alongside her amicable ex partner.

And model Irina Shayk caused quite a stir on Instagram on Friday night, when she shared a cheeky and completely nude photo with her 14.7 million followers.

The fashion icon, 35, showed off her long limbs as she stood on one foot behind a slate gray sculpture in the form of the classic Chanel logo.

Wowsers: Irina Shayk caused quite a stir on Instagram on Friday night, when she shared a cheeky and completely nude photo with her 14.7 million followers

The Russian-born beauty sported a dashing pixie cut, and only had Chanel cuffs on her wrists along with a pair of earrings  and nothing else.

The large logo covered modesty, although one shapely butt cheek was seen in profile.

Two days prior, the mother of one channeled a recent Beyonce image from Instagram, with a close-up of her face sheathed in a pink veil.

Two days prior: The mother of one shared another image for Chanel, a close-up of her face sheathed in a pink veil

The image was also for Chanel, as was evident in the chunky gold earrings she was wearing.

Irina sported the same short haircut, along with shiny pink lips and delicate eye makeup.

And her fashion parade on social media didnt stop there, as earlier in the week, the ex of Bradley Cooper unveiled a gorgeous promo video and still image for Oscar de la Renta.

Striking similarity: It seemed Irina was channeling a recent Beyonce image from Instagram, shared from right after the Grammys on Sunday

Her fashion parade on social media didnt stop there: Earlier in the week, the ex of Bradley Cooper unveiled a gorgeous promo video and still image for Oscar de la Renta

In the caption, Irina wrote that she was 'so excited to be the new face of @OscardelaRentas new fragrance, Alibi.'

The image and video, directed and photographed by Luigi and Iango, saw the Russian beauty in a sinfully low-cut black gown, adorned with little metal balls at the collar and a high slit at the thigh.

She uttered the slogan in the clip, 'Whatever happens, I have my alibi.'

Mom duties: The Instagram activity comes as the catwalker was seen dropping her daughter Lea off in downtown Manhattan on Friday

The Instagram activity comes as the catwalker was seen dropping her daughter Lea off in downtown Manhattan alongside her ex partner Bradley Cooper on Friday.

Their daughter, born in 2017, turns four years old on Sunday.

Bradley and Irina dated for four years from 2015 until 2019.
Ghazipur, March 20 : With more than 110 days having passed since the farmers began protesting against the Union farm laws at the borders of the national capital, the farmers have decided to celebrate the festival of Holi in Delhi and are adamant not to return to their native villages.

The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha has appealed to the protesting farmers to burn the 'anti-farmer' laws on the day of 'Holika Dahan' on March 28.

The farmers have made all preparations for 'Holika Dahan' at Ghazipur border.

Nearly half a dozen packets of coloured powder have been kept at the protest venue. During the early days of the agitation, Rakesh Tikait had made it clear that this time farmers would also celebrate Holi at the Ghazipur border.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Uttar Pradesh state President, Rajveer Singh Jadaun, told IANS, "This time all the farmers will celebrate Holi in Delhi. The agitation will continue so the farmers will not return back to their native villages. This year Holi will be celebrated at the border in a simple and peaceful manner." Will there be any ruckus on Holi as a means to express protest against the Central government? Responding to this, Jadaun said, "There will be no such thing, there will not be any ruckus or anarchy. We will celebrate Holi in a peaceful manner." Dharmendra Malik, BKU National Media In-charge, said, "Holi is a major festival, farmers will not return to their homes and instead celebrate Holi at the Ghazipur border. Even fire cannot defeat the truth, taking this message across, Holi will be celebrated this time."

Latest updates on Holi Festival 2021

-- Syndicated from IANS
Each night after work for the past year, Napa resident Yolitte Valencia has entered her home and asked her children to stay back.

They must wait until their mother has taken off her shoes, changed out of her work uniform, washed her hands for 20 seconds and put on clean clothing. Then they can give her a hug.

The nightly routine is just one way Valencia, 35, a long-time employee of La Morenita Market, has sought to keep her family safe amid the pandemic. As essential workers, Valencia and her colleagues see more than 7,000 people in their 8,000-square-foot store each week, according to La Morenita Owner Jerry Curiel.

I believe the majority of us have created a routine in order to protect ourselves (once we arrive home), Valencia said via text message in Spanish.

Last week, Valencia had the burden of at least some of her worry lifted off of her shoulders: she, along with almost every one of her coworkers, finally received their first dose at a clinic at St. Johns the Baptist on March 12. There was never a single doubt in Yolittes mind about whether she would take the vaccine, she said via text: just knowing there was a vaccine ready was a relief for many of us, she wrote.
Police search a taxi where a man and woman were found dead earlier this morning in Montreal, Friday, March 19, 2021. Montreal police are confirming the discovery of two bodies inside a taxi cab in northeastern part of the city Friday was a murder-suicide in a case of conjugal violence. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has indicated its readiness to crack the whip on presidential aspirants who are peaking before the time and warned that they may be sanctioned if they don't desist from starting the race ahead of time.

The Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen who gave the hint in a radio interview with Accra based Joy FM said the party will not hesitate to crack the whip if the need arise.



However, he said until the said aspirants formalise and make their intensions openly known, the party cannot sanction them as some of those "testing water" moves could be by party supporters or even non party members who are agitating for such persons to show interest.



"Once the ban [on internal party politics for positions] has not been lifted people should not... people should not steal start," Obiri Boahen said.



He said the time was not ripe for such a campaign and therefore those "testing the waters" should know better.



He however acknowledged that some of the moves being currently out-doored may not be with the approval and consent of the said aspirants.



Using himself as an example, he said he sighted a poster with the inscription, "Nana Obiri Boahen [for] General Secretary. I have sighted it yesterday and I don't know the person who did that, so are you going to suspend Nana Obiri Boahen?" he questioned.



He said until the aspirants formalise their intentions ahead of time, that is when the party can come in to sanction them.



Even though the race for a replacement for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the NPP for the 2024 presidential election is far away, some names such as Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former Minister of Railways Development, Mr Joe Ghartey have come up.



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In some instances, posters of the said aspirants have been pasted on walls.



Some leading party members of the NPP have expressed concern about the development saying such acts were likely to affect the government's programme and concentration, considering that the decision for a replacement will be made in 2023.



Just this week, it has emerged that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto met with some party members in Kumasi in what some have said was in relation to his interest in the flagbearership.



Dr Afriyie Akoto has however reacted and said it is... unfortunate for anyone to seek to create the impression that I held a meeting to announce my bid for the flagbearership position of the party.



In a press statement, Dr Akoto confirmed meeting some NPP executives in Kumasi and explained, I decided to go to Kumasi and have some rest during the weekend and try to recover from a fever I was running after I attended the budget reading in parliament on Friday 12 March, 2021."



"As a former member of parliament in the region and as a senior member of this government, I accepted to grant audience to some party executives who had been making calls for a meeting to discuss matters concerning the welfare of the party. However, such meetings end with an amount given as a transportation to guests who came from far and near.



I believe in decent political discourse devoid of insults, lies and mudslinging.



I will therefore encourage each and everyone, including the media, to refrain from acts that have the tendency to derail the historical gains made by the government and ensure continuation in development," he stated.

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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Yet the targeted violence hasnt stopped.

In recent years, hundreds have died in attacks on tutoring centers, mosques, hospitals, voting sites and even a wrestling club. More than 80 people perished in a double suicide bombing at a Hazara protest in Kabul in 2016. At least 31 died in a suicide bombing in a Hazara area during a 2018 celebration for Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Most of these attacks have been claimed by Sunni Muslim extremists of the Islamic State, who consider Shiites apostates and heretics.

What progress has been made by the ethnic minority is threatened by such attacks, and now a possible return of the Taliban to government. As recently as 2018, Hazara civilians were killed and forced from their homes during a Taliban offensive in Hazarajat.

Taliban negotiators have said the rights of minorities, including Hazaras, would be protected under Islamic law. In some Hazara areas, local militias have formed to protect communities from attacks.

Marzia Mohseni, 18, a Hazara student, said she feared losing her rights to education and to the workplace if the Taliban returned to power. She said she wants to be a lawyer and provide equal rights to all people in this country.

But a Taliban return could mean that all my gains and all my hard work would be wasted, she said.
Doctors in Georgia began to refrain from the AstraZeneca jab after the death of a nurse, the head of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Amiran Gamkrelidze, informed.

According to the head of the department, some doctors cancelled their registration and will wait for further developments next week. He also stressed that Georgia should continue vaccination, Sputnik-Georgia informs.
The exact length of time it takes to get on the property ladder across Australia has been detailed by new research - and it's a painfully long wait for would-be homeowners in the country's two biggest cities.

To raise 20 per cent of the asking price in Sydney it will take 11.4 years of saving, while in Melbourne prospective buyers can expect it to take just over 10 years to raise the same percentage.

The quickest to reach the deposit mark were househunters in Darwin, where it took 4.8 years. The median house price in the Northern Territory capital is $539,000.

This three bedroom terrace at 37 Vine Street, Darlington is for sale at Sydney's median house price of $1.15million. One estimate says it would take Sydneysiders 11 years to save a 20 per cent deposit for the home

14 Campbell Street Collingwood is for sale at auction with a price guide starting at $850,000 - just under Melbourne's median house price. The research says Melburnians take around 10 years to save one-fifth of the asking price

HOW LONG IT TAKES TO SAVE A 20 PER CENT HOME DEPOSIT IN YOUR CITY Sydney - 11.4 years Melbourne - 10.1 years Brisbane - 7.9 years Adelaide - 8.3 years Perth - 7.0 years Hobart - 8.8 years Darwin - 4.8 years Canberra - 6.9 years Advertisement

The data showed how long it takes to save for a 20 per cent deposit to buy a house in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin.

The long waits in Australia's biggest two cities correlates to where median house prices are highest - $1.15million in Sydney and $875,000 in Melbourne.

The estimates were based on data from homesales.com.au and the 2019 ANZ Housing Affordability Report.

In Australia the minimum deposit required for a major lender to approve a home loan is usually 10 per cent but 20 per cent is the figure often advised.

Borrowers who want to loan more than 80 per cent of the price of a home must take out expensive Lenders' Mortgage Insurance or pay a Low Deposit Premium.

Buyers in Brisbane - where the median house price is $596,000 - took an estimated 7.9 years to save up the money for a deposit.

Across the nation in Perth, buyers took seven years to raise the required funds.

The four bedroom 124 College Way at Boondall is on the market for $599,000 - just over Brisbane's median house price

The villa at 68 Alexander Drive, Menora is for sale from $529,000 - just under the local median house price

Meanwhile in Adelaide and Hobart, it took 8.3 years and 8.8 years respectively for buyers .

Canberrans took 6.9 years to save the 20 per cent deposit.

Adjusting for the high median house prices - $817,000 - Canberrans appeared to get to the mark comparatively quickly.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations Against Corruption insisting that he never undermined Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo.



The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations Against Corruption had claimed that the circumstances surrounding the decision to force Mr Domelovo into retirement was a travesty of Ghanas fight against corruption and appears to suggest that the government has lost interest in fighting corruption.



The questions regarding Mr Domelevos date of birth which formed the recent basis for the Presidents letter were not handled in accordance with the Constitutional directive in Article 23. The actions of the office of the President and the Audit Service affirm our belief that Mr Domelevo has been unfairly targeted they indicated.



But President Akufo-Addo in a 21-page response signed by his Secretary, Nana Bediatuo Asante said the Auditor General was "not targeted or chased out of office as has been wrongfully suggested in the public domain"



When the President assumed office, he worked and continues to work with all the constitutional office holders that had been appointed by his predecessor, former President Mahama including the Commissioner for CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, who, like Mr Domelevo, was appointed a few days to before Mr Mahama left office and the Chairperson of the National Commission of Civic Education Ms Josephine Nkrumah



Domelevo engaged in "unacceptable and unconscionable conduct"



The President has also indicated that Daniel Domelevo abused his office.



It is noteworthy that nary a sound of caution or condemnation was heard from you or your colleagues in civil society when Mr. Domelevo was using his office to engage in such unacceptable and unconscionable conduct. Indeed, a less charitable perspective would be that this was a patent abuse of office. Yet, there was no chatter from our friends of Civil Society part of the statement read.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 19)  Vice President Leni Robredo and other government officials voiced concern over the country's new record of most COVID-19 cases in a day.

"Again, first step in keeping our acts together is to acknowledge how big a problem we have," said Robredo in a Facebook post on Friday.

The Department of Health reported 7,103 new coronavirus infections on the same day, the most since the pandemic began a year ago.

Senator Risa Hontiveros also stressed there must be better action to prevent the country from reaching its "breaking point."

"We need a systematic plan now," she said in a tweet. "We have NOT flattened the curve yet. And we never will if we remain in denial of the problem and what needs to be done to solve it."

Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro shared the same sentiment and related that the city has 806 active or currently ill casesits highest since the beginning of the health crisis.

"I-synergize ang efforts ng local at national [Synergize the efforts of the local and national]," he proposed. "What is lacking really (is) a national framework for COVID-19 response."

Former adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Dr. Tony Leachon made the same proposition.

"IATF and DOH should meet ASAP and decide on what urgent plan of action is needed to slow down the virus," he said, referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Meanwhile, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda urged the DOH, the national task force, and the Government Procurement Policy Board to expedite the release of the vaccine program law's implementing rules and regulations. The law signed in February intends to speed up procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

"We cannot be bogged down by bureaucracy in the middle of a second wave," the congressman said in a statement.

However, the DOH itself has refused to classify the recent surge in cases as a second wave, even with the presence of new COVID-19 variants.

Several cities in Metro Manila and outside the National Capital Region have imposed strict regulations and lockdowns, and canceled Holy Week activities over the rising coronavirus infections.

The IATF also ordered some businesses to temporarily stop operations for two weeks while government offices were told to limit the number of personnel physically reporting to work.
For the next 30 days, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department will issue warnings to those who are caught speeding in school zones by the countys school zone speed safety cameras, according to a press release.
Manitoba's regulated, non-profit early learning and child-care facilities will receive $4.4 million in federal money in the coming weeks to help offset pandemic-related costs.

Manitoba's regulated, non-profit early learning and child-care facilities will receive $4.4 million in federal money in the coming weeks to help offset pandemic-related costs.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires and federal cabinet minister Jim Carr said Friday the funding represents the final instalment under a $15 million federal-provincial agreement that is due to expire at the end of the month.

The money will be distributed to 230 facilities as one-time grants based on need, Squires told a new conference.

"We're wanting to stabilize them so that they can really hit the ground running in a post-pandemic era, open their doors and be able to continue to provide that excellent child care that they always have...," she said.

Carr said the funding will help offset the costs associated with openings and closings due to the pandemic.

Winnipeg child care centres have had enrolments drop 20 per cent during COVID-19.

"This is about giving families a better quality of life and giving kids the best start we possibly can," the federal minister and Winnipeg MP said.

Jodie Kehl, executive director of the Manitoba Child Care Association, welcomed the new COVID-19 grant.

She said it appears to be similar to the pandemic-response grants issued last summer to all licensed facilities that were open between March and July.

What the association liked about the previous grant, Kehl said, was that it allowed facilities to direct money where they thought it was most needed, she said.

"They know what their needs are so they can identify where the money will be best used. Is it enhanced staffing? Is it cleaning supplies, PPE? Whatever the needs might be."

Ottawa entered into bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories, providing them with $1.2 billion over three years for early learning and child-care programs, starting in 2017-18. An extra $400 million in federal money is being spent this year through one-year agreements.

Meanwhile, Squires said she's had "productive conversations" with her federal counterpart, Ahmed Hussen, about a new bilateral child care agreement with Ottawa.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
New Delhi, March 20 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that he will resend the doorstep ration delivery scheme to the Centre to seek its approval, adding that the Delhi government will run this scheme following all the guidelines issued by the Centre under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

For this purpose, Kejriwal has called a cabinet meeting on Monday wherein a detailed discussion will be held on the matter.

"We have called a cabinet meeting on Monday where this idea will be passed. This will not be a new scheme and will not have any name. After the cabinet nod, we will send the decision to the Central government and I am very hopeful that this time it will approve our decision," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister's statement came a day after the Centre objected to its flagship scheme of doorstep delivery of subsidised food grains to the people of Delhi.

The Kejriwal government was all set to kick start the scheme on March 25, but the Centre had red-flagged it by issuing a notice to the CMO, saying the word 'Mukhyamantri' can't be used in the name of a programme to distribute food grains under the National Food Security Act.

The AAP government had named the scheme 'Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna' to provide subsidised ration in packed bundles with an idea to stop the old ration distribution system at government-run shops.

"I was a little disheartened with the Central government's objection, because we have been working on this project for the last 3-4 years and I was personally monitoring this scheme. But we have understood their issue with it and we just want the people to benefit and the ration mafia to be defeated," he said.

Kejriwal further stated that the doorstep delivery scheme is close to his heart as he has been fighting against the ration mafia for around 20 years as an activist.

"We did not bring this scheme to take any credit, all the credit should be with them (Centre) and all the work and responsibilities should be with us," Kejriwal said.

Elaborating more about his flagship scheme, Kejriwal said that people get ration from government-run ration shops but they face various difficulties. Ration shops are supposed to open every day, but generally they open for just two or three days in a week, which makes getting ration very difficult.

Also, many ration dealers mix unhealthy materials in their ration. In many cases, the ration dealers also charge extra money from the poor, which is why the citizens face a lot of difficulties in getting ration, the Chief Minister said while addressing a press conference on Saturday.

"Taking cognisance of this situation, the Delhi government came up with the idea of home delivery of ration. Under this scheme, we decided to prepare a pack comprising atta, rice and other ingredients, which the government would then deliver to the individuals. We realised this can reduce the issues the citizens face in getting their monthly ration. This is why the Delhi government came up with the doorstep ration delivery scheme," Kejriwal said.
New Delhi, March 20 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested a sub-inspector (SI) posted with Uttarakhand Police in connection with a graft case of Rs five lakh.

CBI spokesperson R.C. Joshi told IANS, "The agency has arrested Hemant Khanduri, a sub-inspector of Uttarakhand Police posted in Dehradun, from Chandigarh for accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh from the complainant, who is a taxi driver." He said the agency is carrying out searches at two locations of Khanduri in Dehradun.

Another CBI official said that the case relates to demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in lieu of relief to the complainant in a case registered in Dehradun wherein the name of the complainant had surfaced.
It is indeed a failure by conservatives, and it explains why the Liberal government is struggling to fully understand the zeitgeist. There are simply not enough women in leadership positions who can represent the diverse perspectives of half of the population within it. If Morrison has seemed tin-eared in his response to the women drawing attention to bad behaviour in Parliament House, it is not because he is a misogynist, but because he lacks the female confidants who could help him appreciate the resonance of the moment.

None of these polls is important by itself, but together they may represent a tipping point in a longer term trend. Women, for almost two decades, have been shifting their support from right to left . The Australians Greg Sheridan points out that , It is now a key strategic objective of centre-left parties all over the world to present centre-right parties as hostile to women, but, more importantly, notes that, The inability of centre-right parties to garner more female votes is a failure on their part, and a broader failure of the conservative intellectual movement.

There was another outburst of female anger that came before this one. It was a clue to the deluge of frustration that has surprised the government over the last weeks. It was unleashed during the leadership spill that saw Malcolm Turnbull rolled and Scott Morrison installed as Prime Minister. While claims of bullying and intimidation of female MPs were widely reported, it remained a beltway issue. Eventually the media grew sick of the story and the governments economic message started to cut through again. The Coalition went on to win the election.

As The Australians 2019 Power List reported, there are only a couple of women among Scott Morrisons inner circle of friends and advisers. Nor is there a surfeit in his parliamentary team. The Liberal Party has always resisted quotas for women, but it has not put enough effort into identifying and preparing women for preselection to obviate the need for them. The lack of electable women representing the party is compounded by a lack of female strategic input. Slowly but surely this is adding up to a lack of women voters.

The men of the Labor Party are having their own problems adjusting to equality, partly documented in the stories of aggressive and inappropriate behaviour submitted to a private Facebook group by Labor staffers. But the ALP is not as much at sea in the current moment as the Coalition. It has women who can interpret and align it with the current anger. Where the Liberal Party has responded to allegations of sexual harassment and rape as individual cases to be managed, the ALP has responded to a wider problem. It reflects an understanding that mens poor treatment of women is not just about isolated or even frequent incidents of abuse, but part of a bigger social picture.

Women, for almost two decades, have been shifting their support from right to left.

The ALP is flaunting the contrast. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese fronted the press to acknowledge the complaints of Labor staffers flanked by men and women in his team  and, importantly, their babies. There is nothing that tells women more clearly that they are unwelcome in an environment than a ban on small children  and nothing that says parliamentary sex party like male parliamentarians flanked by their lower-ranking female nodders. The symbolism of the unremarked presence of babies and their parents standing with Albanese will not have escaped women and family-oriented voters.

The right often moans that it is losing ground in the culture wars even as it wins elections; insofar as that is the case, this is why. You cant do culture without half the population on side, especially when its the half that mostly provides children with their earliest and stickiest values.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska  Top U.S. and Chinese officials offered sharply different views of each other and the world on Thursday as the two sides met face-to-face for the first time since President Joe Biden took office.

In unusually pointed remarks for a staid diplomatic meeting, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi took aim at each others country's policies at the start of two days of talks in Alaska. The contentious tone of their public comments suggested the private discussions would be even more rocky.

The meetings in Anchorage were a new test in increasingly troubled relations between the two countries, which are at odds over a range of issues from trade to human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong and Chinas western Xinjiang region, as well as over Taiwan, Chinas assertiveness in the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic.

Blinken said the Biden administration is united with its allies in pushing back against Chinas increasing authoritarianism and assertiveness at home and abroad. Yang then unloaded a list of Chinese complaints about the U.S. and accused Washington of hypocrisy for criticizing Beijing on human rights and other issues.

Each of these actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability, Blinken said of China's actions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and of cyber attacks on the United States and economic coercion against U.S. allies. Thats why theyre not merely internal matters, and why we feel an obligation to raise these issues here today.

Yang responded by demanding the U.S. stop pushing its own version of democracy at a time when the United States itself has been roiled by domestic discontent. He also accused the U.S. of failing to deal with its own human rights problems and took issue with what he said was condescension from Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and other U.S. officials.

We believe that it is important for the United States to change its own image and to stop advancing its own democracy in the rest of the world, he said. Many people within the United States actually have little confidence in the democracy of the United States.

Story continues

China will not accept unwarranted accusations from the U.S. side, he said, adding that recent developments had plunged relations into a period of unprecedented difficulty that has damaged the interests of our two peoples.

'There is no way to strangle China," he said.

Underscoring the animosity, the State Department blasted the Chinese delegation for violating an agreed upon two-minute time limit for opening statements and suggested it seem(ed) to have arrived intent on grandstanding, focused on public theatrics and dramatics over substance.

Americas approach will be undergirded by confidence in our dealing with Beijing  which we are doing from a position of strength  even as we have the humility to know that we are a country eternally striving to become a more perfect union, it said.

U.S.-China ties have been torn for years, and the Biden administration has yet to signal whether its ready or willing to back away from the hard-line stances taken under Donald Trump.

Just a day before the meeting, Blinken had announced new sanctions over Beijing's crackdown on pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong. In response, China stepped up its rhetoric opposing U.S. interference in domestic affairs and complained directly about it.

Is this a decision made by the United States to try to gain some advantage in dealing with China?" Yang asked. "Certainly this is miscalculated and only reflects the vulnerability and weakness inside the United States and it will not shake Chinas position or resolve on those issues.

Trump had taken pride in forging what he saw as a strong relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. But the relationship disintegrated after the coronavirus pandemic spread from the Wuhan province across the globe and unleashed a public health and economic disaster.

___

Lee reported from Washington.

Matthew Lee And Mark Thiessen, The Associated Press
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With New York City now offering public school families a new opt-in period for in-person learning, some changes have been made to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for classrooms.

The CDC recently updated its K12 school guidance to reflect the latest science on physical distance between students in classrooms, the agency says on its website.

Heres whats changed for students going forward during in-person learning  the biggest change being the physical distancing requirements.

In elementary schools , CDC recommends all students remain at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal  regardless of whether community transmission is low, moderate, substantial, or high.

In middle and high schools , CDC also recommends students should be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal and in communities where transmission is low, moderate, or substantial.

Middle school students and high school students should be at least 6 feet apart in communities where transmission is high, if cohorting is not possible .

The new opt-in period will begin next week

Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter talks to students in Mrs. Moraless fifth-grade class at PS 45 in West Brighton on March 19, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri)

According to the CDC, cohorting is when groups of students are kept together with the same peers and staff throughout the school day to reduce the risk for spread throughout the school. The CDC says this recommendation is because COVID-19 transmission dynamics are different in older students, who are more likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and spread it than younger children.

Previously, in elementary, intermediate and high schools, the physical distancing requirement was students should be at least 6 feet apart.

The agency said students can safely sit just 3 feet apart in the classroom as long as they wear a mask, but should be kept the usual 6 feet away from one another at sporting events, assemblies, lunch or chorus practice.

This will be a great relief to a lot of parents to know there is a chance to get their kids back into school, said Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference Friday afternoon.

The new opt-in period will begin next week, de Blasio said.

Middle school students at Bernstein Intermediate School (I.S. 7) in Huguenot head to class,. Feb. 25, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

The updated Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention is part of CDCs existing resources for K12 schools to open and remain open for in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These updated recommendations are specific to students in classrooms with universal mask wearing.

CDC continues to recommend at least 6 feet of distance:
Le gouvernement a pris la decision le 19 mars 2021 dadopter le Work from Home Protocol developpe par Price Waterhouse Coopers Ltd, un des consultants de lUNDP dans le contexte dun Business Continuity Model pour le service public.

Cabinet has agreed to the adoption of the Work from Home Protocol developed by the UNDP consultant, Price Waterhouse Coopers Ltd in the context of the development of a Business Continuity Model for the Public Service. The salient features of the Protocol are as follows 

(a) introduction of flexible and agile working policies that balances the needs of Government and Public Officers;

(b) all Public Officers should discuss the working arrangements with their Heads of Department/Division/Section and the latter should take every possible step to facilitate the process;

(c) the Protocol is applicable to all Public Officers and does not change or replace the existing terms and conditions of employment of Public Officers; and

(d) the policies of the Government including the terms and conditions of employment and policies to Safety and health, data protection and security will apply during a Work-From-Home arrangement.

A Steering Committee would be set up under the chair of the Secretary for Public Service to oversee the implementation of the Work From Home across the Public Sector.
Over 23,000 was raised by a 13-year-old cancer sufferer from Roundwood for the Crumlin Hospital cancer ward he received his treatment in.

Luca Nolan set about selling Christmas trees and other festive crafts during the build-up to Christmas last year, while family members, cousins and friends all lend a helping hand.

For his efforts Luca was nominated as an Avon Motors Rathdrum Hyundai Hero in association with East Coast FM. Members of the public nominate their 'Hero' and Luca was chosen as that week's overall winner, receiving 600 as his reward.

Luca is the son of Melanie and Shay and the older brother of Oscar and Ayshea. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma in October 2020 after a lump formed on his neck.

His diagnosis proved a huge shock for the whole family.

'The lump just appeared and started to grow during the summer of last year,' said Melanie.

Expand Close Avon Motors Hyundai hero Luca Nolan with Christina Tiny Short, Ray Carter and Paul Carter at Avon Motors, Rathdrum / Facebook

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Whatsapp Avon Motors Hyundai hero Luca Nolan with Christina Tiny Short, Ray Carter and Paul Carter at Avon Motors, Rathdrum

'He had just started secondary school in September. There were numerous trips to the doctors and specialists before his diagnosis was confirmed.

'It was a big shock for everyone and he had to be transferred to Crumlin Hospital where he has undergone chemotherapy and a lot of tests and scans.'

Luca attended the St John's Oncology Ward and soon left quite a mark on the nurses, doctors and specialists treating him because of his upbeat nature.

'We call him 'Mr Positive' because he always looks on the bright side of things.

'Even in the hospital all the nurses love him. They say he just brings a smile to their faces whenever they meet him,' added Melanie.

Impressed with the treatment he was receiving, Luca set about looking into ways in which he could show his appreciation to Crumlin Hospital, and St John's Ward in particular.

'We wanted to give something back to Crumlin so my brother, who owns a Christmas tree farm, donated some trees for us to sell.

'I made some Christmas crafts and goodies and we spent the first two weekends of December selling them.

'The local community were amazing with their support and we ended up raising 12,392.95. The response we received was brilliant and we are so grateful,' said Melanie.

Presentation College Bray and Roundwood National School both held Christmas jumper days, while cousin, Piaras Morris, organised a head shave in solidarity with Luca over him losing his hair.

'Piaras arranged for some of Luca's other cousins to get involved. Matt, John, Paul and Eanna all agreed to take part. Two friends, Eoghan and Darragh, were also involved.

'Barber Stephen shaved all their heads. Shay had his head shaved too. The head shave definitely helped Luca and his confidence a lot. It was a lovely gesture,' adds Melanie.

Those additional fundraisers ended up raising 11,116, bringing the total sum raised to an impressive 23,508. The money will be used to purchase a cardiac monitor and blood oxygen monitor for St John's Ward, as well as some Nintendo switches for the children being cared for and comfortable chairs for their parents.

'Luca was so happy with the support he received for the fundraiser,' said Melanie.

'We want to thank everyone for their generosity. I think during Covid people were very keen to support charities because they know how much fundraising they have missed out on during the pandemic.

'He was also delighted to be selected as an Anvon Motors Rathdrum Hyundai Hero. He has finished his treatment and is doing really well and we are all extremely proud of him.'

Authorities charged a 13-year-old boy with shooting and killing his 12-year-old sister in their Collegeville home Friday, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney.

Jahsir Vasquez was charged with third-degree murder, District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Upper Providence Township Police Chief Mark A. Toomey said. The boys sister, Jasiyah Vasquez, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The shooting happened around 7:51 a.m. on Larchwood Court, police said. When officers arrived, they found Jasiyah lying on the living room floor. She was lifeless, not breathing, and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

We followed the evidence in this case, which clearly showed that the 13-year-old shot and killed his sister, Steele said in a statement on the district attorneys Facebook page. Despite the childs age, Pennsylvania law requires that we charge Jahsir Vasquez in adult criminal court for the shooting death of his sister.

An autopsy was performed on the body by the Montgomery County Coroners Office. Ian Hood determined the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest and the manner of death was a homicide, authorities said.

Authorities said Daisy Vasquez, Jahsirs mom, asked him to go outside to her car to get her 9 mm handgun, which was legally registered to her. The home surveillance camera captured the shooting, the district attorneys office said.

The footage showed Jahsire entering the house holding the handgun in his right hand and then he points it at his sister, police said. Within seconds, he pointed the gun in his sisters direction when it discharged. Jasiyah is seen collapsing, police said.

3CBSPhilly interviewed nearby neighbor Gia Krystopa, who said the following:

It just sounded like a big bang, Krystopa said, whose children play with the victim and her siblings.

She said she was sorry that this happened to the family and that she would support them.

Accidents happen and thats so important to know that these weapons are dangerous and accidents are sometimes fatal, Krystopa said.

Along with third-degree murder, he will also be charged with other related charges, police said. He was arraigned today and denied bail. He was ordered by Magisterial District Court Judge Cathleen Kelly Reba to be held at the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center.

A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. on March 26.

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Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

20 March 2021; Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Jack Kennedy is still on cloud nine following his WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup victory aboard Minella Indo.

The 21-year-old steered Henry de Bromheads charge to a length-and-a-quarter verdict over stablemate A Plus Tard in the Festival showpiece on Friday.

He was back in action at Thurles on Saturday, winning on Commander Of Fleet, after which he reflected on his Cheltenham achievement.

He said: Yesterday was unbelievable, and Im still on cloud nine. The phone nearly blew up  I had close to 300 messages.

I never really had a moments worry throughout the race  and while he was pulling up on the run-in, it was idleness, and he had his ears pricked. When he heard A Plus Tard coming to him, he pulled out again.

Expand Close Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Everyone at home was thrilled, and it was great.

Rachael Blackmore partnered Minella Indos stablemate A Plus Tard to second spot in the Gold Cup, narrowly failing to cap a spectacular week which saw her claim the leading rider title at the Festival with six winners  including the Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle.

Blackmore was also in action at Thurles, with the limited personnel at the track forming a guard of honour before the third race to hail the riding stars.

Expand Close Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

She said: It was a fantastic week and it hasnt sunk in yet. It is hard to comprehend it all, to be honest.

Honeysuckle was unbelievable, and I think her performance in Leopardstown (last month) fairly rubber-stamped what race to run in at Cheltenham  so it was fantastic.

It was an unbelievable week for Henry (de Bromhead), and it was an incredible achievement.

When you are going over with the book of rides I had, you are just hoping you can get one of them to do it  and that was a big relief when that (first win) happened.

Expand Close Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jockeys Jack Kennedy, left, and Rachael Blackmore makes their way to the parade ring through a guard of honour from fellow jockeys, following their successes at the Cheltenham Racing Festival, before the Leugh Handicap Hurdle at Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

It is all about Cheltenham, and being able to get on the calibre of horse I was on over there  Im still trying to draw breath after the last four days!
Today, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on the initiative of its President, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva held a traditional action of distributing gifts to poor families in honor of the Nowruz holiday.

This year, about 100,000 families from socially vulnerable groups of the population received gifts, along with greetings from Mehriban Aliyeva, on the occasion of the holiday.

The distribution of gifts was held with the support of the Ministry of Labor and volunteers of the Regional Development Public Association. During the festive action the requirements of the current quarantine regime were strictly observed.
Nikol Pashinyan will retain his post as prime minister until early parliamentary elections on June 20. Calling the date of the plebiscite, Pashinyan expressed confidence that a nationwide vote would help overcome the internal political crisis. The prime minister came to this conclusion after a meeting with the leader of the second largest parliamentary party "Prosperous Armenia" (PAP) Gagik Tsarukyan.

Representatives of the non-systemic Armenian opposition expressed doubts about the need to hold early elections, hastening to refuse to participate in them. So it became clear once again that the influential oligarchy remains the main players.

Now Pashinyan's positions are shaken, and he can no longer postpone the early voting. The systemic opposition in the person of Tsarukyan's party and Edmond Marukyan's "Free Armenia" have never advocated holding early elections without the participation of the incumbent prime minister, limiting themselves only to calls for Pashinyan to resign, which he must do before the early elections, based on the current legislation. Marukyan even offered to sign a memorandum on the refusal to nominate an opposition candidate for the post of prime minister and on the dissolution of parliament if Pashinyan leaves his post voluntarily. One way or another, of all the evils, Pashinyan chose the lesser.

It should be noted here that the "March 1" criminal case, the main defendants of which are the ex-President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, is slowly falling apart. This could lead to a renaissance of the Karabakh clan, for which the post-war depression offers a chance to restore lost political positions. Sooner or later, elections should be held, but if Pashinyan hesitates, then the Karabakh separatists will have time for which they will have time to thoroughly prepare, mobilizing the remaining political resource. Now time is working against Pashinyan, and the threat of the restoration of the clan is dangerous for everyone, including the systemic opposition, which includes Tsarukyan and Marukyan. If the Karabakh separatists return to power, "retribution for the surrender of Karabakh" will affect both those who overthrew the separatists and those who supported them in the spring of 2018. This prospect forces Pashinyan to cooperate with Tsarukyan and Marukyan, with whom the current prime minister, by the way, formed the Yelk bloc in 2016.

On the other hand, Pashinyan is interested in clearing the streets of Yerevan from the activists of the Movement for the Salvation of the Motherland, whose members are mainly engaged in self-promotion. As in the case of the Karabakh clan, time is working against Pashinyan. The indefinite stay of street patriots at the walls of the National Assembly leads to the popularization of a little-known movement, while the rhetoric of the non-systemic opposition hardly differs from the ideas of the separatists; both there and there there are many former Armenian parliamentarians who want to return to big politics.

The violent dispersal of activists is unacceptable for Pashinyan, but holding elections, in which the "saviors" are willing to refuse to participate, if Pashinyan participates in them, is a good option to knock down the wave of street protest. If the outcome of the extraordinary vote, even with a minimal margin, turns out to be in Pashinyan's favor, the expediency of the existence of a pseudo-patriotic movement will itself disappear.

It is not known what exactly Tsarukyan and Pashinyan agreed upon between themselves during the meeting behind closed doors. It is possible that we could talk about a significant softening of control over Tsarukyan's charitable initiatives, which constitute the main political capital of his party. For this, the prime minister could ask Tsarukyan not to provide assistance to his most dangerous political opponents.
Beijing's top diplomat Yang Jiechi was bluntly sharp and unambiguous in his first vis-a-vis with senior US officials on Thursday: Don't speak to China in a condescending way, or seek to strangle the Chinese people, but work together and avoid confrontation.

Mr Wang Yi and Mr Yang Jiechi (second and third from left) speak with their US counterparts at the opening session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska.PHOTO: REUTERS

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the committee's Office of Foreign Affairs Commission, along with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, met top US diplomat Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan for the first time in the Biden presidency.

Yang said at the start of his opening remarks that he hoped the dialogue will be a sincere and candid one, as it is a follow-up on the common understanding of the two presidents reached during their phone conversation about a month ago, and people hope to see practical outcomes from the dialogue.

The dialogue was scheduled to have three rounds of talks through Friday following a supposed brief opening session shortly after Thursday noon.

The tone of the US side in the opening remarks, however, prompted Yang, a former Chinese ambassador to the US, to expound China's position in an extended speech.

Blinken, who ordered sanctions on China over Hong Kong issue just two days before the meeting, talked about US "deep concerns with actions by China, including in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan", and other areas  actions which he accused "threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability".

Sullivan went further in his opening remarks, accusing China has undertaken an "assault on basic values".

Yang said Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan are an inalienable part of China's territory, and China staunchly opposes US interference in its internal affairs. He warned that the country will take "firm actions" in response to any such interference.

"I don't think the overwhelming majority of countries in the world would recognize that the 'universal' values advocated by the US or that the opinion of the US could represent international public opinion," Yang said.

Those countries would not recognize that the rules made by a small number of people would serve as the basis for the international order, he said through an interpreter.

"What China and the international community follow or uphold is the United Nations-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, not what is advocated by a small number of countries of the so-called 'rules-based' international order," he said.

Unlike the US, whose arbitrary use of force has caused turmoil and instability in the world, China has followed a path of peaceful development, making "tireless efforts" to contribute to the world peace and growth, and to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

The US has yet to deal with its own human rights and other problems and should stop finger-pointing over China's human rights and democracy, Yang said.

"The United States does not have the qualification to speak to China in a condescending way," he said. "The Chinese people do not buy it"  a colloquial saying that was translated at the scene as "This is not the way to deal with the Chinese people."

If the US wants to deal properly with the Chinese side, it should proceed from the basis of mutual respect, Yang noted.

Blinken said the US relationship with China will be "competitive where it should be, collaborative where it can be, adversarial where it must be", while Sullivan said that the US didn't want "conflict" but welcomes "stiff competition".

China and the US have had confrontations in the past, while China has pulled through the situation, the result of confrontation did not serve the US well, according to Yang.

The senior diplomat said the two countries have achieved a lot together since they forged diplomatic relations, thanks to the concerted efforts of the people with vision of both countries.

With great changes taking place in the world and under the new circumstances, Beijing and Washington need to ramp up communication, properly manage their differences, and expand cooperation instead of engaging in confrontation, he said.

History will show that one can only cause damage to himself if he wants to strangle or suppress the Chinese people, he said.

Yang listed fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, restoring global economic growth and climate change as areas for the two countries to work together and where their interests converge.

In his opening remarks, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi denounced the latest US sanctions, which was announced just before the Chinese delegation, at the invitation of the US side, departed to the US for the dialogue.

"This is not supposed to be the way one should welcome his guests," Wang said, adding that if that was a decision made by the US to try to gain some advantage in dealing with China, it would be a miscalculation, only to expose the vulnerability and weakness inside the US.

Commenting on some countries' claim of "coercion from China" as mentioned in the opening remarks of the US side, Wang said the US should understand clearly if that was a direct complaint coming from those countries, or just the United States' own view.

If the US would indiscriminately protect and speak up for those countries just because they are allies or partners, it will then be very difficult for international relations to develop properly.

"Who is coercing whom? I think history and the international community will come to their own conclusions," he added.

The opening session of the dialogue lasted for about 70 minutes. The rest of the two-day talks were closed to the press.

The event, held in a downtown hotel in Anchorage, a remote, chilly Pacific location, was partly meant to avert the high-stakes attention in national capitals but still grabbed headlines throughout the world.
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The Ekiti State government has given farmers and herders another two-week window to register with the state government or be ready to leave the state.

The two-week grace begins on Sunday, March 22. In February, the state conducted a two-week registration of farmers and herders, but not all those involved seized the opportunity.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Olabode Adetoyi, said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday that the exercise was expedient to ensure that all farmers and herders could be accounted for.

He added that the registration was also aimed at ensuring peace between the two groups and bringing incessant clashes between them to an end.

He noted that the exercise was in consonance with the National Livestock Transformation Programme of the Federal Government.

Mr Adetoyi observed that clashes between farmers and herders posed dangers to human and food security, hence the need to take proactive measures to curb the menace.

The Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi on security matters and chairman, herders-farmers peace committee, Ebenezer Ogundana, warned in the statement that whoever failed to register would be treated as a criminal.

Such persons, he said, would be compelled to leave the state. The nations laws allows all citizens to stay in any part of the country although they must adhere to relevant laws.

Meanwhile, the Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Mobolaji Aluko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that identity cards would be issued to registered farmers and herders free of charge.

(NAN).
Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Mando Chapter in Kaduna, Ibrahim Danborno, has cautioned drivers against embark...

Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Mando Chapter in Kaduna, Ibrahim Danborno, has cautioned drivers against embarking on night journeys to avoid falling victims of kidnappers.

Danborno gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Kaduna.

He noted that although security agents were doing their best, drivers especially those who operate commercial fleets should avoid traveling at night, so as not to endanger their lives of passengers.

Transport unions across the country should continue to sensitise their members on the dangers of night journey.

Much as kidnappings still occur even during the day, chances of its occurrence are higher at night, he said.

The official said for now, articulated vehicles prefer to travel at night for convenience, but advised drivers of other vehicles to stay off the road at night for their security and safety.

He also cautioned drivers against taking passengers outside motor parks, as such practice is very risky because you dont know who you are carrying.

We had several instances where kidnappers connived with persons who hide under the guise of being passengers along the road to abduct people.

Drivers should ensure their passengers fill the passenger manifest before they take off from their respective parks, he added.

Danborno assured security agents of the cooperation of the association to curb incidences of kidnapping in Kaduna State.
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China in Focus (March 19): Top US, Chinese Diplomats Clash in First In-person Meeting

Top U.S. and Chinese officials clashed in their first in-person meeting. The Chinese side responded to American comments on human rights violations with a 15-minute monologue.

Chinese propaganda outlets reported on the fiery exchanges, but are telling a different story than the rest of the world.

The Chinese regime is blaming the U.S. government for alleged anti-Asian crimes, but a China analyst says its actually the Chinese Communist Partys fault.

The Biden administration subpoenaed a number of Chinese companies. The move aims to probe for information about possible national security risks.

And students from one Chinese university leave their campus en mass. Thats after enduring harsh lockdown measures since last semester.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.


The low ice at northwestern Greenland Camp Century completely melted at least once during the previous million years and was filled with vegetation, moss, and possibly trees, according to a paper released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Examination of This Remarkable Sediment

University of Vermont's Department of Geology and the Gund Institute for Environment researcher Doctor Andrew Christ disclosed that ice sheets usually dissolve and destroy everything in their way. But what they found out was fragile plant patterns - flawlessly conserved.

"They're fossils, but they seem as if they withered yesterday. It's a time pill of what used to live on Greenland that they would not be able to locate anywhere in the world."

Dr. Christ and colleagues examined sediment at the core of the Camp Century ice core, gathered 75 miles (120 km) from the shore in northwestern Greenland. They clarified that the subglacial sediment from the Camp Century ice bottom was obtained in 1966. The sediment was kept frozen, first from 1966 at the University at Buffalo, until it was transmitted in 1994 and 1996 to the Niels Bohr Institute.

The sediment, frozen below almost 0.9 miles (1.4 km) of ice, hold well-conserved fossil biomolecules and plants gotten from at least two ice-free mild intervals in the few previous million years.

ALSO READ: Scientists Find Huge Canyons Hidden Under Ice In Antarctica

The Camp Century Ice Core

The scientists explained that they utilized a sequence of highly analytical methods - none of which were readily accessible to scientists 50 years ago - to study the sediment, the waxy coating, and fossils of leaves discovered at the ground of the Camp Century ice sheet.

For instance, they assessed ratios of unique isotopes of both the element beryllium and aluminum that shape in quartz only when the floor is revealed to the sky and can be struck by cosmic rays.

The additional examination used unusual patterns of oxygen, discovered in the ice inside the sediment, to demonstrate that precipitation must have declined at much lower peaks than the height of the present ice sheet, revealing the ice sheet is missing.



The authors determined that the Greenland Ice Layer continued over much of the Pleistocene but reformed and melted since 1.1 million years ago, at least once. Dr. Christ explained that their research indicates that Greenland is a lot more susceptible to normal climate warming than believed - and they already understand that society's out-of-restraint warming of the earth greatly outperforms the normal rate.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

"Greenland may appear far away, but it melts easily, pouring plenty into the oceans that Miami, Dhaka, New York - pick your state - will go inside water" explained by scientist in Rubenstein School of the environment and Natural Resources at the University, the Gund Institute for Environment of Vermont in the department of geology.



The finding aids in substantiating a recent and unsettling perception that the Greenland ice has melted off altogether during previous warm periods in the world's history -- those periods such as the one presently generated with human-created climate change.

RELATED ARTICLE: Oldest Ice in Earth: The Hidden Glacier Ice in McMurdo Dry Valleys

For more news, updates about plant fossils and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
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Swarms of mice are infesting rural towns in Australia after its bumper grain harvest and destroying crops as the country continues to battle its out-of-control rodent plague.

Residents in New South Wales and southern Queensland have seen an explosion of mice in recent months with the rodents invading homes, fields and grain silos and some residents spotting the rodents in their water supplies.

Experts claim the plague is due to the recent heavy summer rains across eastern Australia which hit the country earlier after years of drought.

The shocking scenes come after three hospital patients were bitten by the creatures at facilities in Tottenham, Walgett and Gulargambone, NSW Health confirmed.

A plague of mice are infesting towns in New South Wales and southern Queensland in Australia after the recent heavy summer rains

Shocking images shows bags filled with mice as the country continues to battle its out-of-control rodent plague

In once scenes, hundreds of mice were captures scurrying around a farm that belonged to the Moeris family in Gilgandra

The current mouse infestation across western NSW is a natural occurrence,' a spokeswoman said.

'NSW Health staff are responding with appropriate control measures.'

NSW Western Area Health Service has also reported a case of leptospirosis - a rare disease which can cause kidney failure and meningitis - as a result of mice in domestic dwellings.

This month Melanie Moeris, from Gilgandra, shared footage of hundreds of mice scurrying over machinery on her family's farm.

She later took to Facebook to write: 'This is exactly what nightmares are made of! I can't even watch the videos.'

One resident, Lisa Gore, from Toowoomba, said her friend had found a nest of baby mice in her armchair while another person Karen Fox, from Dubbo, said said found a mouse in the ceiling vent of her home, The Guardian reports.

Meanwhile shopkeeper Naav Singh who works at 5Star supermarket in Gulargambone, said he was now arriving to his store five hours before opening to clean up after the mice and sweep their droppings.

Mr Singh, who had now reduced his stock to prevent items being destroyed by the rodents, claimed on some nights staff were catching 'over 4000 or 500' rodents.

He told The Guardian: 'We don't want to go inside in the morning sometimes. It stinks, they will die and it's impossible to find all the bodies  Some nights we are catching over 400 or 500.'

He added: 'We have got five or six bins every week just filled with groceries that we are throwing out.'

This month Louise Hennessy discovered dozens of rodents in her water tank filter at her property at Elong Elong in the New South Wales central west - a region where mice have been ravaging crops - and shared an image of the rodents on social media.

It came amid fears that the rodents could infect the drinking water being supplied to local residents.

Mice were spotted scurrying around the family farm in Gilgandra, New South Wales, earlier this month

Another resident was shocked to discover dead mice floating in the filter for her water tank and asked others to check their water supplies

Residents have been capturing hundreds of mice after the area saw an explosion in the rodent population

It also came as health official urged locals to take precautions to protect themselves against the potentially fatal disease leptospirosis

NSW Farmers is now seeking urgent action from the government as the mice plague continues to destroy crops.

President of NSW Farmers, James Jackson, said: 'Farmers need some more control options. We are requesting that an Emergency Use Permit be issued for Zinc Phosphide to treat seed.

'This will allow farmers to have their own grain professionally treated, removing the biosecurity risks posed by using foreign seed.

'It will also reduce the cost of sourcing sterilised or de-vitalised grain by farmers using their own treated seed to be sown for winter cropping.'

Mice run across machinery after they invade a farm in Gilgandra, New South Wales, following a boom in the rodent population

Melanie Moeris, from Gilgandra, shared footage of hundreds of mice scurrying around on her family's farm

The farmers organisation is also seeking some financial assistance through a small grants program.

'Mouse control is very costly. The severity of the current plague has resulted in the need for multiple aerial and ground bait applications in cropping regions,' Mr Jackson added.

'Potential options we are putting up include a rebate on rodenticide products or a subsidy for ground and aerial baiting. Action is needed now. This mice situation is only getting worse.'

Rodent numbers have exploded just as rural communities across New South Wales and Queensland were recovering from droughts and fields were beginning to return to green.

Favourable crop-growing conditions in recent months have provided the rodents with the ideal environment for eating and breeding.

In Coonamble, about two hours north of Dubbo, resident Anne Cullen said mice were running rampant across the town - and she even woke up with one in her hair.

'It's terrible. It's unbelievable. I came home after a couple of nights away staying down in Dubbo with my daughter, and I went into the house, there were just mice running everywhere,' she told the Today show.

'They have eaten my clothes. They have gotten into my wardrobe. There are holes in the couches. They are eating everything.'
CNN-- The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season finished with 30 total named storms  the most in any year on record  but three of those names will never be used again.

Something else that will never be used again: The Greek alphabet as a backup list for when all the names on the annual storm naming list are used.

"The Greek alphabet will not be used in future because it creates a distraction from the communication of hazard and storm warnings and is potentially confusing," the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced on Wednesday.

The WMO's Hurricane Committee held its annual meeting this week to discuss past hurricane seasons and update its operational plans for upcoming seasons. At Wednesday's meeting, the committee decided to retire the name Laura and replace it with Leah.

The committee also retired one name from the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season since it was unable to meet last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dorian will be retired from the 2019 season and replaced with Dexter on the list in 2025.

The Greek letters Eta and Iota from the 2020 season will be retired as well, which is significant since before this year, the WMO made it very clear that it would not ever retire Greek names. The issue here was that there was no formal plan for retiring Greek names, but the committee realized that any future use of the names Eta and Iota would be "inappropriate."

The controversy of the Greek alphabet

The WMO oversees the naming off all tropical systems in every ocean basin globally. The list of Atlantic tropical cyclone names repeats every six years unless a storm is so deadly or costly that the WMO retires it from future lists.

Hurricanes Eta and Iota were two of the top three deadliest tropical systems last year, but there were additional reasons as to why these Greek letters were retired.

"There can be too much focus on the use of Greek alphabet names and not the actual impacts from the storm," the WMO stated in a press release. "This can greatly detract from the needed impact and safety messaging."

"There is confusion with some Greek alphabet names when they are translated into other languages used within the Region. The pronunciation of several of the Greek letters (Zeta, Eta, Theta) are similar and occur in succession. In 2020, this resulted in storms with very similar sounding names occurring simultaneously, which led to messaging challenges rather than streamlined and clear communication."

This isn't the only year that this particular topic has been brought up. In 2005, Hurricane Beta became a deadly Category 3 storm, causing nine deaths and more than $15.5 million in damage across four countries.

However, 2005 was the first year that the Greek alphabet was ever used in 26 years of consistently naming Atlantic hurricanes. At the time, the committee did not deem it necessary to retire these Greek alphabet names as it did not expect to dip into that list very often. However, this same situation occurred in 2020 -- only 15 years later.

The Greek alphabet will be replaced by a supplemental list of names using the same rules as the main Atlantic hurricane season naming list  a list of names A-Z but excluding the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z  for if and when the initial list of names has been exhausted.

This will allow for the supplemental list of names to be more easily retired and replaced when the need arises.

"Names beginning with Q, U, X, Y and Z are still not common enough or easily understood in local languages to be slotted into the rotating lists" the committee said.

The record season

2020 was a record year for hurricanes in the Atlantic so it's no surprise that there are three names that will be retired  Laura, Eta, and Iota.

The record for most retired names in a single season is five, set in 2005: Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma. Four other years have had four names retired  1955, 1995, 2004, and 2017.

People along nearly every mile of coastline from Texas to Maine were affected by at least one named storm this season.

Laura caused 77 deaths and more than $19 billion in damages, making it the costliest hurricane of the 2020 season. Laura's top winds reached up to 150 mph, and its storm surge exceeded 15 feet causing heavy damage along the southwestern Louisiana coast. Laura was also the strongest hurricane (at landfall) to hit Louisiana since 1856.

Hurricane Eta made landfall in Central America as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm stalled over Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, for several days bringing torrential rain and subsequent flooding wiped entire communities off the map.

Landslides swept through the area, leaving mud 50 feet deep in some places. Just weeks later many of the same locations were hit by another devastating storm - Iota.

Hurricane Iota is considered the strongest storm to hit Nicaragua in the country's history. More than 400,000 people in Nicaragua were affected by the storm as it made landfall as a strong Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph.

The 2020 season got off to an early and rapid start with the first named storm, Arthur, coming two weeks before the official start date of June 1.

Due to this, it was also discussed at the meeting this week about moving the formal start date of Atlantic hurricane season up two weeks to May 15, to match the start date of the eastern Pacific hurricane season.

However, the committee decided against changing the official start date of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.

Storm intensity isn't everything

Just because a tropical system reaches a high category in strength doesn't mean it will automatically be retired. In 2019, Hurricanes Dorian and Lorenzo reached Category 5 strength, but only Dorian was retired.

Both hurricanes were incredibly powerful as well as deadly. Dorian and Lorenzo were the deadliest and second deadliest storms respectively in the 2019 season. But Lorenzo was not retired because it never made landfall as a tropical system.

Lorenzo attained its peak intensity over the open waters of the Atlantic before weakening considerably and transitioning into an extratropical cyclone.

Lorenzo was the second deadliest hurricane of the 2019 hurricane season causing 19 deaths. Eleven crew members of the Bourbon Rhode were killed when the ship sank near the eyewall of the hurricane, while it was over the open ocean.

An additional eight people died along the US East Coast due to dangerous surf conditions generated by the hurricane which was several hundred miles away.

Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas becoming the worst natural disaster in the country's history. Dorian recorded sustained wind speeds of 185 mph, tying the record for maximum sustained wind speed for an Atlantic hurricane that made landfall. It shares that record with the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated March 11, 2021 On application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) in relation to two Russian banks - Sberbank and Prominvestbank - for a period of three years.

The corresponding decree No. 107/2021 of March 19, 2021 was published on the website of the head of state.

Restrictive measures provide for the prevention of withdrawal of capital from Ukraine in favor of persons associated with the bank.

The NSDC decision of March 11, 2021 indicates that the National Bank of Ukraine made proposals to impose sanctions against two Russian banks. Thus, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, together with the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine, was instructed to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the effectiveness of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine was instructed to inform the competent authorities of the European Union, the United States of America and other states about the application of the sanctions and raise an issue of introducing similar restrictive measures.

As reported, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, during a meeting on March 11, extended the sanctions against two Russian banks, which were supposed to end on March 19, for another three years, NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said during a briefing.
Los Angeles County public health officials have come out with a timeline for some high school students to be vaccinated.

Video Transcript

- LA County health officials have come out with a timeline for some high school students to be vaccinated. Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer says all students ages 16 and over will be eligible for the vaccine on May 1. Teachers and staff are already eligible for shots. LAUSD elementary schools are currently scheduled to reopen for in-person instruction in mid-April. Middle and high schools could start back up in late April.
White Riot 

(MA) 80 minutes

Some documentaries are like time machines. Whatever their subject or purpose, they bring us to a time and place thats highly specific and full of portent  like London in 1977, when Margaret Thatcher ruled Britannia, the Sex Pistols went through two record companies in two months, and anti-racists fought the National Front  and the Metropolitan Police  on the streets of suburban Lewisham.

The Clash rock against racism. Credit:Syd Shelton

In the midst of all of this Red Saunders started Rock Against Racism, the subject of Rubika Shahs fascinating and pungent film. Ed Gibbs, who produced it, once reviewed films for The Sun-Herald. He and Shah have made films about cultural icons in the last five years  David Bowie, Spike Lee, Gore Vidal. White Riot is a fast-paced collage film, chock full of urgent music (The Clash, Tom Robinson, Poly Styrene, Steel Pulse, Sham 69), but without narration except in the form of interviews.

Saunders was a rock photographer by day, activist by night. He was appalled when Eric Clapton came out in support of Enoch Powell, a British politician who wanted to send all immigrants of colour back where they came from. Saunders wrote a steaming letter to the musical press, calling on musicians to stand up against racism. Rock Against Racism was born, and it quickly became the focus for a national movement opposed to the growing influence of the National Front.
The two sides clash over Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber war and Beijing's economic reprisals against Washington's allies. Common interests include Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and climate change. The Chinese are looking to Russia and Turkey to counter the US offensive. European Union and Australia make their move.

Washington (AsiaNews)  The first high-level summit between the United States and China since President Joe Biden took office in January ended today in Anchorage, Alaska, with a a defensive response from the Chinese delegation, this according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also attended the two-day talks along with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinas top diplomat Yang Jiechi.

In his final comment, Blinken referred to areas where the two sides have substantial differences: the repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, Beijing's threats to Taiwan, cyberattacks against the United States, and Chinese economic reprisals against Washington's allies.

The first day was marked by a bitter recriminations between the two delegations, who exchanged mutual accusations that they had violated the meetings protocol.

US representatives said that China is a threat to global stability. The Chinese responded by saying that the United States is inciting other nations to attack their country.

Yang and Wang arrived at the summit already irritated by Washington's decision, announced on Tuesday, to sanction 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials held responsible for persecuting pro-democracy activists in the former British colony.

Tensions were also high because of Blinken's diplomatic activism, setting up an anti-Beijing front with allies and partners in Asia, especially the Quad group (with Japan, India, Australia).

Yang said that the talks were candid, constructive and helpful, which in diplomatic jargon means that the two sides clashed over everything.

But Washington and Beijing have acknowledged that they have a common interest in solving problems such as the Iranian and North Korean nuclear issue, peace in Afghanistan, and the fight against climate change. On this last point, the two sides promised to set up a joint working group.

According to several observers, the Chinese envoys expected a tense summit. The fact that, unlike the Americans, they defined it as a strategic dialogue is explained by the need to sell it as a diplomatic success for President Xi Jinping.

To counter the US diplomatic offensive, Beijing announced a bilateral meeting between Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on 22 March. Three days later, Wang will fly to Turkey, another country with tense relations with the United States.

Meanwhile, US allies are starting to position themselves. On 22 March, the European Union will impose sanctions against China for its treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, the first sanctions since the Tiananmen massacre in 1989.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne today said that her government will not give up its rights just to resume a dialogue with Beijing, which broke down after the Chinese sparked a mini-trade war against Canberra.
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Highlights Xiaomi could soon launch the Redmi K40 in India but not with the same name.

A recent listing hinted that Xiaomi could unveil the K40 in India as the Mi 11x. The Redmi K40 was launched in China in February along with the Redmi K40 Pro and Redmi K40 Pro+.

The Redmi K40 was launched in China in February along with the Redmi K40 Pro and Redmi K40 Pro+.

Xiaomi could soon launch the Redmi K40 in India but not with the same name. Many reports have suggested that it could be launched as a rebranded Poco phone but a recent listing hinted that Xiaomi could unveil the K40 in India as the Mi 11x. The Redmi K40 was launched in China in February along with the Redmi K40 Pro and Redmi K40 Pro+.

As per the latest reports, the smartphone was on IMEI's alleged database. Tipster Mukul Sharma posted the screenshot of the IMEI listing with the Xiaomi phone mentioned on it. The K40 bears the model number M2012K11AI. If reports are to be trusted, the Redmi K40 has been tipped to launch in India as the Mi 11X. Apart from the model name, the listing does not reveal any details about the phone but it hints at an imminent launch.

Earlier, a report had suggested that the Redmi K40 could laugh globally as the Poco F3. But now there are possibilities that when Xiaomi releases the Mi 11 series in India, it would also include the K40 but with different names. However, Xiaomi has not made any official statement about the same so the information should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The Redmi K40 is already available in China so if it releases as Mi 11x in India, the specifications more or else remain the same.

MI 11X Expected specifications

The Redmi K40 features a big 6.67-inch full-HD+ with a resolution of 1,080x2,400 pixels. The smartphone also comes with a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The Redmi K40 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This is the latest flagship chipset that was announced by Qualcomm Snapdragon

In the camera department, the Redmi K40 sports a quad-camera setup on the rear. The camera module includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel secondary sensor, an ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. On the front, there is a 20-megapixel sensor for selfies.

For connectivity, the Redmi K40 includes support for 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.1, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, Infrared (IR), and a USB Type-C port. The smartphone houses a 4,520mAh battery that comes with support for 33W fast charging.

ALSO READ: | These are OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro as leak before March 23 launch reveals it all

Hanoi leader welcomes US, RoK ambassadors

Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanoi and Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh on March 19 received US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink.









Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanoi and Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh (6th, left) and US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink (5th, left) at the reception (Photo:hanoimoi.com.vn)





During the meeting, Anh highlighted the Vietnam  US relationship, and expressed his joy at the flourishing relations between Hanoi and US localities.



For his part, Kritenbrink affirmed that the US pledges to become a close partner with Vietnam, as well as cooperate with Hanoi in many fields.



He informed that the USs Peace Corps programme in Vietnam will be implemented in the time to come.



The same day, the Hanoi leader also hosted a reception for Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Vietnam Park Noh-wan, during which the two sides discussed how to promote the bilateral cooperation.



The RoK diplomat proposed organizing a dialogue between the municipal authorities and RoK enterprises to seek measures for further fostering cooperation.



Agreeing with the proposal, Anh said he hopes the ambassador will give his support for creating links between the two sides enterprises and for the sharing of experience and transfer of technologies in the areas that Hanoi is interested in such as urban transport, environmental protection and water resources management.



The Hanoi leader appreciated the RoKs support for Hanoi in building smart cities, and assigned relevant agencies to continue coordinating with the RoK side in the field in the time to come.



Hanoi will focus on accelerating administrative reform, removing difficulties, and creating favourable conditions for foreign enteprises, including those from the RoK, to expand invest in the capital city, he said.
The global coronavirus pandemic brought the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) to a screeching halt last summer. Organizers are counting on their upcoming Brighter Days Virtual Auction to return the IPNC to its in-person glory in 2022.

The IPNC brings winemakers and wine consumers worldwide to the Linfield University campus in McMinnville each July to celebrate pinot noir and Pacific Northwest cuisine. British wine writer Jancis Robinson describes the IPNC as One of the most enjoyable wine weekends in the world.

After 33 consecutive IPNCs, COVID-19 safety concerns forced organizers to cancel the 2020 event, and shift to a virtual model for 2021.

Losing more than a thousand paying customers for two consecutive years is described by Amy Wesselman, IPNC executive director, as a significant blow that would have been devastating if not for a series of virtual events the IPNC used to recoup some of its losses.

Wesselman hopes the Brighter Days auction planned for April 8-12, 2021, will take the IPNC across the financial finish line.

The success of this auction, along with the outpouring of support from our local winery partners, ensures that we will not only be able to gather in-person in July of 2022 but that the future of the IPNC is brighter than ever, Wesselman said.

Free registration for the auction is available through the IPNCs website. The online auction begins at noon on Thursday, April 8, with bidding running through noon the following Monday, April 12. Monies raised will go to preserving the infrastructure necessary for the IPNCs in-person return in 2022.

The list of available auction items will grow over the next several days, but it is already impressive. The list includes everything from travel packages and winemaker-led experiences to bottles pulled from the IPNCs famed wine library.

My personal favorite is the eight-bottle set of wines British wine writer and educator Steven Spurrier selected for his IPNC seminar titled Chalonnaise, the third Cote. Spurrier, who is best known for organizing the 1976 Judgement of Paris portrayed in the movie Bottle Shock, died at his Dorset, England home on March 8 of this year. He was the master of ceremonies at the 2019 IPNC.

Another highlight of Brighter Days is the live virtual auction from 4:30-6:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday, April 10. The one-hour event will feature a host of American and international wine luminaries.

Theres something for everyone and every budget in the IPNCs Brighter Days auction. For wine lovers, this is not to be missed, Wesselman said.

ipnc.org or 503-472-8964.

-- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine.
Hamilton County had 126 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total to 41,878. There is one new death from the virus as the total climbs to 469. It was reported that the death is was a white male, aged 71-80.

There are 48 patients hospitalized and 13 in Intensive Care Units. Nine others are in the hospital with suspected COVID. Of those hospitalized, 16 are county residents.



The number of those who have recovered from coronavirus in Hamilton County is 40,562, which is 97 percent, and there are 847 active cases.

The number of coronavirus cases in Tennessee is at 798,621 on Friday with 1,997 new cases. There have been 28 more deaths from the virus, for a total of 11,709, state Health Department officials said.



The state currently has 708 people hospitalized from the virus, 49 more than on Thursday.



Testing numbers are above 7.061 million across the state.

The number of people who have recovered from coronavirus in Tennessee is 773,817, 97 percent.

Here are the numbers by county:



Bledsoe County: 2,047 cases, up 5; 10 deaths



Bradley County: 13,655 cases, up 80; 142 deaths



Grundy County: 1,725 cases, up 3; 30 deaths



Marion County: 3,020 cases, up 8; 45 deaths



Meigs County: 1,287 cases; 23 deaths



Polk County: 1,868 cases, up 24; 24 deaths



Rhea County: 4,213 cases, up 4; 75 deaths, up 1



Sequatchie County: 1,606 cases, up 1; 26 deaths, down 1



Knox County: 47,431 cases, up 107; 602 deaths, up 3



Davidson County: 83,993 cases, up 246; 881 deaths, up 4



Shelby County: 89,228 cases, up 142; 1,536 deaths, up 2
New Delhi: For how many generations would reservations in jobs and education continue, the Supreme Court sought to know during the Maratha quota case hearing on Friday and raised concerns over "resultant inequality" in case the overall 50 per cent limit was to be removed.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was vehemently told by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Maharashtra, that the Mandal judgement on capping the quota needed a re-look in changed circumstances.

He said the courts should leave it to states to fix reservation quotas in view of the changed circumstances and the Mandal judgement was premised on the census of 1931.

Arguing in favour of the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas, Rohatgi referred to various aspects of the Mandal judgement, also known as the Indra Sawhney case, and said the Centre's decision to grant 10 per cent quota to people from an economically weaker section also breached the 50 per cent cap.

"If there is no 50 per cent or no limit, as you are suggesting, what is the concept of equality then. We will ultimately have to deal with it. What is your reflection on that... What about the resultant inequality. How many generations will you continue," observed the bench, which also comprised Justices L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and S Ravindra Bhat.

Rohatgi said there were many reasons for the re-look of the Mandal judgment which was premised on the census of 1931 and moreover, the population has increased many folds and reached 135 crore.

The bench said 70 years have passed since independence and the states have been carrying on so many beneficial schemes and can we accept that no development has taken place, that no backward caste has moved forward.

It also observed that the purpose of reviewing the Mandal judgement was that those who have come out from backwardness must be eliminated.

"Yes, we have moved forward. But it is not that backward classes have gone down from 50 to 20 per cent. We still have starvation deaths in this country... I am not trying to say that Indra Sawhney is completely wrong, throw it in the dustbin. I am raising issues that 30 years have gone by, the law has changed, the population has grown, backward persons may also have increased," Rohatgi said.

He referred to amendments made in the Constitution and said they are the indicators that the country has not reached "anywhere near the emancipation" it required for its backwards classes.

"The fact of the matter is Parliament should know what is going on in the country. If Parliament knows it is more than 50 per cent and has given 10 per cent to a class of economically backward section, no warrant from the court should say it cannot go over 50 per cent," he argued.

When a number of states have reservations exceeding 50 per cent and in this situation, it cannot be said that this is not "a burning issue" and does not require a relook after 30 years, he said. The arguments in the case remained inconclusive and would resume on Monday.

On Thursday, Attorney General K K Venugopal had told the apex court that the 102nd amendment to the Constitution does not deprive state legislatures to enact law determining the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) and conferring benefits on them.

The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserted Articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Class (NCBC), and 342A dealing with the power of the President to notify a particular caste as SEBC as also of Parliament to change the list.

On Wednesday, the top court was told that Marathas have been dominant "socially and politically" as almost 40 per cent of MPs and MLAs of Maharashtra are from this community and the entire hypothesis that they have been left behind faced historical injustice is completely flawed.

The top court has been hearing a clutch of cases challenging the Bombay High Court verdict which upheld the grant of quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs in the state.

Live TV

Supporters of a Holland restaurant owner arrested for operating without a business license and defying COVID-19 health orders view her punishment as the latest front in a war against government overreach.

Several hundred supporters, including West Michigan residents, Republicans seeking office in 2022 and patriot activists, held a rally outside Marlenas Bistro and Pizzeria Saturday calling for the release of Marlena Pavlos-Hackney. A battle between a restaurant owner who refused to comply with public health orders holds larger implications for conservatives who said the arrest affirms their worst fears about freedom being under attack during a pandemic.

Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock told the crowd that Attorney General Dana Nessel should spend her time investigating the impact of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers nursing home policies. Maddock said Whitmer is responsible for the death of senior citizens and should be incarcerated.

In case Dana Nessel needs some help with legal ethics, lets jail the governor for killing grandma but not waitresses and line cooks that just want to earn a living, Maddock said as a crowd of hundreds cheered. Friends, we are accused of being racist, sexist and stupid, all of you. They want to fire us, cancel us, silence us, while they go about with their treachery. I am imploring you to find your voice. Stand up, fight back and be brave.

Related: Supporters of jailed Michigan woman board up her restaurant, hoping to earn her release

Nessel announced last week that she will not launch a criminal investigation into the effect of Whitmers nursing home policies. In a letter to state lawmakers, Nessel said she has found no evidence warranting a criminal inquiry but would not hesitate to act if the situation changes.

Protesters outside a boarded-up Marlenas Bistro in Holland Saturday carried signs calling for the arrest of Whitmer and Nessel. Others expressed distrust in statistics on COVID-19 infections and studies linking a higher risk of exposure to restraints while some called the pandemic a conspiracy to usher in communism.

Several people who spoke with MLive noted that Pavlos-Hackney fled communist Poland and immigrated to the United States. Speakers at the rally claimed public health orders are unconstitutional and unlawful, though rules issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services carry the force of law.

Related: Michigans public health orders are legal under state code, but there will be constitutional challenges

Wyoming resident Julie Nelson said she doesnt believe any of the emergency measures have made Michigan safer. Nelson said she has little faith in the new coronavirus vaccines or that the government is doing the right thing to protect its citizens.

That trust went away because people have been lied to over and over and over again, Nelson said. People no longer trust government officials, they no longer trust the medical community.

Emergency restrictions on businesses have fueled resentment among opponents of Michigans top-ranking Democrats throughout the pandemic. In a prayer kicking off a vehicle caravan to the Holland restaurant, Make Michigan Great Again founder Mark Gurley asked God to remove Whitmer, Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson from office.

We thank you for all these patriots who have come out to stand up for Marlena, who is being held as if a prisoner of war for keeping her restaurant open and not wearing a face mask, Gurley said. Father, were asking you in the name of Jesus Christ to intervene on Marlenas behalf. Intervene and change the course of history, so that Michigan can become a free state, and that tyranny from our trinity of evil in our governors office, AGs office and secretary of state can be removed.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development determined Marlenas Bistro posed an imminent threat to public health because the restaurant remained open during a statewide shutdown on indoor dining and did not enforce mandates for face coverings or social distancing. Pavlos-Hackneys license was suspended in January, but she remained open and declined to follow state safety mandates.

A customer tested positive for COVID-19 after eating at Marlenas Bistro on Feb. 27, the Allegan County Health Department reported.

Pavlos-Hackney was arrested Friday morning on her way to work.

Around 20 supporters protested outside the Ingham County Jail Friday while patrons visited the restaurant for breakfast in solidarity with Pavlos-Hackney. Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina ordered that Pavlos-Hackney remain in jail until the state attorney general is convinced her restaurant will stay closed while her legal issues are resolved.

Her husband had the bistro boarded up with Friday evening after the court proceedings. A plywood plank changes the restaurants logo to read: Marlenas Bistro COMPLIED

State Rep. Matt Maddock, R-Milford, said he and his wife, Meshawn Maddock, were working to cover Pavlos-Hackneys bail but it remains unlikely she will be released this weekend.

There are a lot of people that want to help her and Meshawn and I are just two of them, Matt Maddock said in a text message. If she wants to stay in jail to make a point, I understand that as well.

The story has gained significant traction among conservative media networks. Pavlos-Hackney appeared on Tucker Carlsons Fox News program and Glenn Becks radio show before her arrest.

They want you to know defiance is the real crime, Carlson said in a Friday segment regarding the arrest. People can come here from foreign countries, rush the border, sent out with no penalty whatsoever ... They go right into your neighborhood, nobody cares. But if you try your level best to run a business and do the right thing, you go to jail. Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, remember the name.

More than 2,300 supporters raised $135,000 through an online fundraiser as of March 20. Donations to a GoFundMe page sat around $35,000 on Friday morning. Most people who contributed before Friday donated under $100, but larger donations poured in after Pavlos-Hackney was arrested.

Steve Ehmann, son-in-law of former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos gave $2,000. Garrett Soldano, a Kalamazoo chiropractor and Stand Up Michigan organizer considering a gubernatorial run, donated $4,000.

Soldano was among a handful of speakers who addressed a massive crowd outside Marlenas Bistro from the back of a pickup truck. Soldano called Whitmer, Nessel and Benson the terrible three and said likened them to the mean girls.

They continue to bring down the hammer on all of us, Soldano said. On Marlena, on small restaurants, and we are not gonna allow this any longer. The mental health crisis that we are currently in the mental health crisis that our children are currently in. This is not going to be an overnight fix. Its going to be a decade of hard work to undo the damage that this woman has done to all of us.

Two men in the crowd responded with lock her up and stop the indoctrination.

We will do that, Soldano said. We will stop the indoctrination, the conditioning, the programming. We are going to have our grassroots movement continue to build and we grow stronger every single day.

Maddock, the Michigan GOP co-chair, said chair Ron Weiser also donated to the fund but did not know how much he contributed. The Michigan Republican Party launched a campaign to collect stories about how the pandemic has negatively impacted residents and business owners.

Jon Rocha, who organized the GoFundMe for Pavlos-Hickney, launched a campaign to challenge U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, in 2020. He joined a group of around 20 supporters who protested outside the Ingham County Jail and attended Pavlos-Hickneys arraignment Friday.

Rocha was shocked to see Pavlos-Hickney leave the courtroom in chains after being arrested for a civil misdemeanor crime. He said she is being made an example of to shut down dissent.

Thats what the British did, you stifle any kind of uprising whatsoever you squash it, no one else will want to say anything, Rocha said Friday.

The next day, Rocha questioned why no local Republican representatives attended the protest in Holland.

They dont care about your voice, Rocha said. They dont care about you.

Meanwhile, Maddock implored conservatives not to give up on the GOP.

I am now talking to you on behalf of your party, Maddock said. Dont turn your back on the Republican Party. I know youre angry. Im angry too. Dont walk away from the Republican Party.

Austin Chenge and Ryan Kelley, two Republicans seeking to earn their partys nomination for governor, also spoke at the rally. Kelley, an Allendale Township planning commissioner who joined a mob of rioters outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, said Whitmer is trying to bring communism to this state.

What we see here is an attack on the American Dream, Kelley said. What we see here is an attack on every American who aspires to live a life worth living.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

They can arrest me: Holland restaurant owner defies state coronavirus order

Michigan restaurant open, packed after owners arrest over coronavirus restrictions

Holland restaurant owner arrested after defying state coronavirus orders
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reiterated that U.S. allies should steer clear of purchasing Russian military equipment to avoid sanctions after a meeting on March 20 with his Indian counterpart.

"We certainly urge all our allies, our partners, to move away from Russian equipment...and really avoid any kind of acquisitions that would trigger sanctions on our behalf," Austin told reporters in New Delhi.

Austins comment came after he and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh discussed India's planned purchase of Russia's S-400 air-defense system. India made an initial payment in 2019 toward the purchase, and the first set of missile batteries are expected later this year.

Ahead of Austin's trip, Senator Bob Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey), chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asked him to reaffirm the Biden administration's opposition to India's planned purchase of the Russian system.

Menendez said in a letter to Austin that the purchase threatens future U.S.-India defense cooperation and puts India at risk of sanctions.

The United States last year imposed sanctions on Turkey for buying the S-400 system.

Austins two-day visit to India is the first by a top member of U.S. President Joe Bidens administration. Washington is seeking closer ties with allies in the region to push back against China's assertiveness there.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 78F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
If - and hopefully never - the Ulster Bank pull out of Dundalk they will be vacating one of the finest buildings in town, located on a prime site on the corner of the Market Square.

The building is one of the most iconic in town, and was very tastefully restored to its former glory a few decades back by local builder, Danny Culligan.

As most people know the premises has an imposing presence, a cornerstone on the Market Square and if buildings could talk it would have some story to tell regarding pivotal incidents in the town's history.

Indeed the bank itself became part of that history when on August 28th, 1920 it was one of a number of buildings in the centre of town that were attacked by arsonists which claimed the lives of three people.

The three buildings set on fire the Ulster Bank, Craig's drapery store and McGorish's were all badly damaged in the attacks while a fourth building that of Melville's, on the opposite corner to the Ulster bank, was also set alight but no serious damage was caused.

The three who lost their lives were among 13 staff living in Craig's drapery store and were in their beds when the attack took place at 2.30 a.m.

The motive for the attacks was believed to be political or sectarian and took place during the bitter civil war that divided not just communities but families in town.

The group responsible for the attacks on the commercial heart of the town were believed to be on their way to burn out families in their homes when they were stopped.

The Ulster Bank and the other buildings were restored in the months that followed and the Ulster Bank continued to play a vital role in the commercial life of the town.

Staff at the bank had a bird's eye view of a much more pleasant historical occasion, but equally as important, the visit of US President, Bill Clinton to town in 2000.

No doubt the staff will be more concerned now with the prospect of losing their jobs and the closure of such a vital financial institution that served generations of customers from the Dundalk area will be a major blow to the town's commercial life.

The building because of its location and stature should be a major attraction to prospective buyers, but it must be remembered that another former bank building of some standing in the town, the former Bank of Ireland in Park Street remains idle.
Getting the gun was as simple as going to a local sporting goods store. Passing the background check took a matter of minutes.

Then it was a short drive to Young's Asian Massage, where surveillance video obtained by The Washington Post shows the suspect spent more than an hour before opening fire. Within hours of purchasing the handgun Tuesday, police say, Robert Aaron Long, a White man, had shot and killed eight people - six of them of Asian descent and all but one of them women.

Demonstrations unfolded across the country Saturday as activists and officials linked the massacre in Atlanta to a surge in violence against Asian Americans amid the covid-19 pandemic. In San Francisco's Chinatown, children drew chalk butterflies on sidewalks to symbolize the people killed. In Atlanta, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., issued a call for solidarity: "To my Asian sisters and brothers," he said, "we see you. And, more important, we are going to stand with you."

Meanwhile, a growing chorus of advocates has called for a renewed federal effort to fight gun violence, arguing that, amid rising racism, lax gun laws make it too easy for someone to act on their hate.

The victims - Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng and Paul Andre Michels - ranged in age from 33 to 74. They included a business executive two days from her 50th birthday. A single mother striving to support her sons. An Army veteran. A woman who loved to dance.

Yet activists say the attacks fit a pattern of racism and misogyny directed at Asian American women, as well as a broader trend of hate-fueled gun violence.

"Time and time again you've seen some of the most vulnerable communities in this country threatened by this lethal nexus of hatred and unregulated access to firearms," said Peter Ambler, executive director of the gun control advocacy group launched by former congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

He listed the targets of recent mass shootings motivated by prejudice: Latinos at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. A synagogue in Pittsburgh. A gay night club in Orlando, Fla. A Black church in Charleston, S.C. A Sikh temple in Wisconsin.

Using data collected in the National Crime Victimization Survey, Ambler's organization has found that 10,000 hate crimes involving guns occur in the United States each year.

"A complex matrix of inadequacy and failure" enables these crimes and foments the hatred that fuels them, Ambler said. "This isn't tolerable any more."

Georgia has some of the country's loosest gun laws. There is no waiting period for firearm purchases, a policy adopted by 10 states and the District of Columbia. Like most states, it does not bar people convicted of a hate crime from buying a weapon.

In Georgia, State Sen. Michelle Au, a Democrat, has proposed a bill that would close the loophole for background checks to include private gun sales and transfers, but has not been able to get a hearing in committee, she tweeted. In a private meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Friday, Au said, she also raised the need for universal background check legislation.

Georgia State Rep. Sam Park, a Democrat and the state's only Korean American legislator, expressed outrage Saturday that many of his constituents waited in line to vote for longer than it took Tuesday's massacre to unfold.

"This guy is able to get a gun, and on the very same day go on a shooting rampage?" Park said. "That can't be the society that we live in."

Bee Nguyen, another Georgia state representative, tweeted: "It wasn't a bad day. It was a brutal and violent crime in which racism, misogyny, gender-based violence, and lax gun laws intersect."

Nguyen was responding to a statement from Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jay Baker, who at a Wednesday news conference described the suspect as a man "at the end of his rope."

"Yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did," Baker said.

The statement ignited an instant outcry, and Internet sleuths later uncovered Facebook posts in which Baker promoted shirts that called the coronavirus an "IMPORTED VIRUS FROM CHY-NA." Baker is no longer a spokesman on the case.

More than a year into a global pandemic that has sparked record gun sales as well as racist rhetoric and attacks against Asians in the United States, lawmakers are now debating the best way to stem future violence.

Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, have introduced a bill that would require the Justice Department to appoint an official to review all pandemic-related incidents that are reported to federal or local officials. But previous legislative attempts to bolster hate-crime tracking have been blocked by Republicans, who have said existing laws are adequate to punish crimes.

The House of Representatives passed legislation this month that would require background checks for all gun buyers and give law enforcement agencies more time to inspect people who are flagged by the check system. This would close the "Charleston loophole," which enabled a White supremacist to buy the weapon used to kill nine Black people at Mother Emanuel AME church in that city.

The bills face an uphill battle in the Senate, where they are unlikely to receive the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

Those rules would not necessarily have prevented the shooting in Atlanta. A lawyer for Big Woods Goods - the store where the suspect is said to have purchased his gun - said there was no indication of "anything improper" in the transfer of the weapon. The store is cooperating with law enforcement.

Experts have found that active shooters typically purchased their guns legally, including, in many cases, buying them specifically to carry out the attacks.

But stricter gun laws can prevent future racially motivated shootings, said Vanderbilt University sociologist Jonathan Metzl, whose book "Dying of Whiteness" examines the intersection of White supremacy and gun violence.

"There are racists all over the world, but there aren't mass shootings all over the world," he said. "Part of the issue is just access to guns. We make it too easy for people who have these kinds of predilections or intentions to go get guns."

At the demonstrations Saturday, protesters voiced a desire to turn grief into action.

"We have a tendency to internalize our struggle," said Jennifer Chan, 27, one of the three women who co-organized the event in Chicago. She invoked the colloquial Chinese expression of "eating bitterness" - the notion of virtuously enduring hardship.

Chan said she was surprised not only by the turnout at the rally - which drew an estimated 250 people - but by its diversity. She underscored the importance of building solidarity not only with other racial groups but within the broad and diverse ranks of the Asian diaspora. She spoke of traditional rivalry between groups like Koreans, Chinese and Japanese, or how the American experience varies among Southeast Asians and South Asians, or immigrant Asians compared to ones who are American-born.

Tracy Wang, who attended the protest with several of her relatives, including her older sister, said she felt a sting of familiarity during the past week as the discourse turned to the twin threats of sexualized and radicalized violence that Asian women so often face. She said she endured name-calling and sexual harassment as a law student in rural Ohio decades ago but that Asian women in the United States are still "disrespected" and stereotyped as hypersexual yet submissive.

"We're going to break that image," Wang said, who plans to attend a second rally set for Chicago's Chinatown next week. "As a woman, as an Asian, we can't stay silent anymore."

- - -

The Washington Post's Jonathan Krohn and Mark Shavin in Atlanta and Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Julie Tate, Jennifer Jenkins, Hannah Knowles, Jorge Ribas, Elyse Samuels, Mark Berman, Brittany Shammas, Teo Armus, Marisa Iati, Meryl Kornfield, Paulina Villegas and Lateshia Beachum in Washington contributed to this report.
michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Europes vaccination process was expected to be well-orchestrated and efficient. So far, its been neither. Sabrina Tavernise spoke with our colleague Matina Stevis-Gridneff about whats behind Europes problems and why they may get worse before they get better. Its Monday, April 12.

sabrina tavernise

Matina, help us understand whats happening right now in the E.U. with the coronavirus and vaccines because from the outside, it looks like a mess.

matina stevis-gridneff

Unfortunately, Sabrina, it looks like a mess from the inside as well.

archived recording 1 The World Health Organization warned this week there are more Covid deaths in Europe now than in March of last year.

matina stevis-gridneff

Were in the middle of a third wave here in Europe.

archived recording 1 The highest per capita death rate is in Hungary. archived recording 2 In Germany, they are seeing the numbers of infections rising. archived recording 3 France has the fastest growing infection rate in Europe.

matina stevis-gridneff

More than half of the E.U. 27 member states have growing caseloads of Covid. Thats, of course, down to those really infectious variants.

archived recording 1 Politicians responding with lockdowns. archived recording 2 New regulations in Poland, Ukraine and France.

matina stevis-gridneff

But another piece of this worsening picture for Europe 

archived recording Its been a scandal throughout the continent.

matina stevis-gridneff

 is the ultra slow pace of rolling out the vaccine.

archived recording The World Health Organization has criticized the speed of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Europe saying that it is, quote, unacceptably slow.

matina stevis-gridneff

And just to give you a sense of what we mean by slow pace, about 62 percent of Israelis have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Thats maybe 47 percent of British people, a third of Americans. That percentage for E.U, nationals is just 13.5 And while that may be much higher than your average global citizen, its still very, very low for Europeans.

sabrina tavernise

And so what is the situation with the vaccine rollout? Why has it been so slow?

matina stevis-gridneff

Its not the sort of question that lends itself to a simple answer. But if you remember at the beginning of the crisis, this is February, March last year, when the pandemic hit Italy really, really hard, countries like Germany and France that had production and stockpiles of personal protective equipment, like masks, decided to actually hoard them and stop them from getting exported to Italy that desperately needed them at the time. And that was so ugly to see. It was like, you know, Texas is sitting on loads of masks that its not using and is not giving them to the state next door. It really was an existential problem at the heart of the E.U. And coming out of that first shock, and kind of regaining confidence, the E.U. decided we cannot have that happen again with vaccines. We cant have E.U. member states competing against each other to buy vaccines, and in a place thats so integrated as Europe, where borders are basically open. Cross-border trade is constant. People travel all the time. It doesnt really make sense for one country to be vaccinated and the other not to be. And so thats why the European Union became the leader in procuring and negotiating those vaccines on behalf of its 27 members.

sabrina tavernise

So Matina, the idea is almost that the E.U. is kind of functioning as its own country, right? And by negotiating as one body, it will do a better job at fairly distributing vaccines in an orderly way.

matina stevis-gridneff

Absolutely, and that it will also get better terms for these negotiations. It will get a better price. It will get a better schedule of deliveries. But there were fundamental problems from the outset. The one is that these efforts on E.U. level started multiple weeks behind similar efforts in the United States and in the U.K. and some other countries around the world. And as we now know so painfully, theres only a few vaccines to go around. So when youre joining second, third or fourth in that race, youre going to be potentially seeing some problems down the road. The other problem is that while the European Union shares policy on a bunch of issues, mostly economic related, it does not have much of a track record in health issues. E.U. guys can tell you how to do trade deals, and they can tell you how to deal with tech regulation. They dont have much of a track record in sitting down with big pharma and negotiating vaccine supply.

sabrina tavernise

And so what ends up happening when they start negotiating for vaccines?

matina stevis-gridneff

Well, to put it sort of simply, they go into this process, which is quite complicated as shoppers or consumers, rather than partners of the pharmaceutical companies. They have assumed that the free market is going to work perfectly in the global vaccine race, and they put a lot of trust in these companies. They seal deals and sign contracts with pharmaceutical companies for more than a billion doses  enough to inoculate the population multiple times over. They dont suspect that anyone else is getting better contracts, better terms than they are. And so they feel that theyve actually done a pretty good job. It turns out, however, thats not exactly the case. Looking over the Atlantic for example, in the United States, Operation Warp Speed is actually going into the vaccine development and procurement process as a partner, throwing billions at it for research and development, where the E.U. is investing much smaller figures.

sabrina tavernise

Got it. So essentially, the U.S. is just throwing money at this problem, and the E.U. is acting more as kind of responsible stewards of taxpayer money, more kind of like a shopper, a consumer shopping for prices comparing.

matina stevis-gridneff

Exactly. And that decision and that approach comes back to haunt them.

sabrina tavernise

What do you mean?

matina stevis-gridneff

Well, at first, they negotiate and sign deals with multiple pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Moderna and CureVac and Johnson & Johnson for hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines that havent even been discovered yet. But they really place a deal with this British Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca at the heart of their future vaccination campaign. The reason for that is it looks like AstraZeneca might end up being the first developing a successful vaccine. So in August, they signed an agreement for 400 million doses. And the additional benefit is AstraZeneca has said they will sell its vaccines at cost for quite an extended period of time. So this really looks like an attractive option. But when late January comes around, and AstraZeneca does have a viable vaccine and gets authorized in the European Union, the company suddenly informs the E.U. that its not going to be able to ship them 100 million or more vaccine doses like it had promised in the contract, because of some production problems and is actually only going to be able to supply them with 30 million doses.

sabrina tavernise

Whoa, that is a huge difference, Matina.

matina stevis-gridneff

It is. Its huge. It appends plans for the vaccine rollouts in the European Union. And what sort of adds insults to injury is that looking across the English Channel to Britain, which remember, has just left the European Union and has decided to go it alone, AstraZeneca seems to be supplying vaccines without any hiccups or any problems whatsoever. And that country is just going from strength to strength in its vaccine rollout.

sabrina tavernise

Why is the U.K. getting all this supply while the E.U. is just getting this tiny fraction?

matina stevis-gridneff

Sabrina, to answer your question, youre probably going to have to wait four years until the E.U. AstraZeneca legal battle plays out. But we do have some hints as to whats happened. First of all, AstraZeneca itself has said that we did our contract with Britain well before the European contract. The E.U. retorts that, well, there was never some kind of first-come-first-served clause in our contract. So we just assumed you would continue serving us and all your other customers around the world, the U.K. included, at the same time. But another issue seems to be a little more complicated. It seems that the U.K., and actually the United States as well, did quite clearly stipulate in their contracts with the same companies that doses produced domestically had to first go to serving domestic supply. And what that ends up looking like, Sabrina, is that virtually no doses have been exported from the United States or the United Kingdom. But its become clear now that the E.U. did not limit pharmaceutical companies from exporting vaccines produced in the E.U. to other countries. And pretty much half of the doses produced in E.U. factories have been exported for use outside the European Union.

sabrina tavernise

Wow. So the E.U. essentially did a really bad job in protecting itself in the case of a supply shortage. I mean, it sounds like the way the E.U. went about it just really backfired.

matina stevis-gridneff

Thats exactly right, and I think that goes to the heart of the issues we were talking about, which have to do with expertise and savvy going into those negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. The E.U. is a global champion of free trade. It didnt come naturally to them to tell private companies that they cant export vaccines produced in the E.U. And it definitely backfired.

sabrina tavernise

So Matina, theres this feuding going on in Brussels between E.U. leaders and AstraZeneca. But whats actually happening on the ground in European countries?

matina stevis-gridneff

Sabrina, people are really angry. Theyre seeing across the channel British people getting vaccinated faster than them. Theyre blaming the European Union for supply failures. Theyre angry with AstraZeneca, a third wave has arrived on the continent. And on top of all that, their own governments, which are actually responsible for getting the vaccines to them are failing in slightly absurd ways for the developed world. Like in parts of Germany, you can only make an appointment to get vaccinated over the phone, and people need to call 150 times. So the anger is really, really growing as we go through February and March. And when you couldnt really think of ways that things could get worse, they do.

sabrina tavernise

So Matina, you said things were just about to get worse. What did you mean?

matina stevis-gridneff

Well, in early March, we start hearing about some extremely rare, very unusual blood clotting incidents in Europe.

archived recording There might be a connection between the AstraZeneca vaccine and cerebral thrombosis.

matina stevis-gridneff

That occur and people who have recently received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

archived recording The cases are so severe, including fatalities, that it wouldnt be responsible to keep vaccinating without re-evaluation.

matina stevis-gridneff

And some of those events are fatal. Theyre very, very, very few. Were talking about fewer than 20 deaths. And thats in the millions and millions of doses that have been distributed. So statistically, this is a tiny figure.

archived recording The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, one of the most widely used Covid-19 vaccines in the world, has been suspended in three European countries.

matina stevis-gridneff

But the concern is such that several European regulatory authorities decide to suspend using the vaccine altogether and ask the E.U. regulator to look into these incidents and try and determine whats going on.

sabrina tavernise

I mean, thats a really, really small number of people out of millions. Did it seem like the response that the E.U. had given was overblown?

matina stevis-gridneff

Well, actually, the European Union regulator deliberates 

archived recording Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the European Medicines Agency in Amsterdam to this virtual press briefing.

matina stevis-gridneff

 and offers its first opinion a few weeks into March and says 

archived recording The committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion. This is a safe and effective vaccine.

matina stevis-gridneff

We dont think there is anything really wrong here.

archived recording Its benefits in protecting people from Covid-19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalization outweigh the possible risks.

matina stevis-gridneff

Were going to keep looking into this, but you should all go back to fully using the AstraZeneca vaccine. Its efficient, its effective, it works and its safe. And so those countries that out of an abundance of caution had suspended the vaccine start using it again. But the damage has already been done. People start really not trusting the AstraZeneca vaccine in significant numbers. The combination of concerns over whether its causing blood clots, the fighting over its supply, the politics around the vaccine. Its in the news daily. Europeans are just skeptical about taking it. And then 

archived recording The PRAC, after a very in-depth analysis, has concluded that the reported cases of unusual blood clotting following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine should be listed as possible side effects of the vaccine.

matina stevis-gridneff

Just in the most recent days, the regulator comes back and says, OK, there is a possible link between the vaccine and those clotting incidents. We still believe that the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the risks, and were not going to recommend suspending it. But that is exactly what some countries choose to do. And it is chaos. Across Europe, different countries start putting in different rules within 24 hours. Italy says it will stop giving it to people under the age of 60 because the evidence shows that these ultra rare blood clots are occurring in younger ages. For other E.U. countries, the age limit is 55. In the U.K., the authorities say, no, we will continue offering it, but we will offer an alternative option to people under the age of 30. So it becomes an incredibly messy and complex picture in terms of whos using the AstraZeneca vaccine and for what part of the population that has just compounded what was already a very, very messy difficult picture of suspicion toward the vaccine.

sabrina tavernise

So Matina, where does all this leave us? What does it mean for the E.U.s vaccination efforts right now?

matina stevis-gridneff

By some measures, were in a much better place than we have been in the last few months, partly because the last few months have been a total disaster. So there is some optimism in the E.U. about supply, for example. Theyre expecting 300 to 360 million doses of vaccines. That is a big improvement to the first quarter of the year, where they received under 100 million doses. That being said, theyre still very much behind the U.S. and the U.K. And just to give you a general sense of their goals, which they believe are realistic, the E.U. hopes to vaccinate about 70 percent of its adult population fully by September, and thats roughly what we would define colloquially as herd immunity.

sabrina tavernise

So Matina, considering everything we know now, that timing doesnt sound that bad. It doesnt sound that far behind the U.S. actually.

matina stevis-gridneff

I mean, youre right in that its probably eight, maybe 10 weeks behind. But oh, those eight weeks are going to be so important for the E.U.. Eight weeks is a long time in politics, and a lot of E.U. leaders are facing tremendous pressures at home. Weve already had one prime minister in Slovakia whos resigned over vaccine related problems. There are governments and their futures and fates hanging on those eight weeks, and those eight weeks also include the all important European summer.

sabrina tavernise

What do you mean by the all important European summer?

matina stevis-gridneff

Well, the summer in Europe is something of a mythical thing. Its very important for several economies in the E.U., especially those sun-soaked, azure water, southern countries like Greece and Italy and Spain and Croatia. Their economies, their employment really depend on tourist arrivals, and theyve already lost one summer season. Some of these countries would face really, really serious problems if they completely lost another summer season because of slow vaccination process.

sabrina tavernise

So Matina, I think of this kind of big global crisis as exactly the kind of thing the E.U. was set up to handle. So at this moment, if youre Germany and if youre France, if youre a wealthy member country, does it give you pause about the whole purpose of the European Union?

matina stevis-gridneff

Well, let me put it this way, euroskepticism and concerns around membership in the European Union were certainly given a face and a voice during Brexit with the U.K. leaving. And small contingents of euroscepticism exist in every single E.U. country for totally different reasons in each one. I dont think that the balance will shift in any E.U. country against the E.U. because of the handling of the coronavirus crisis overall, or because of whats happened with vaccines.

sabrina tavernise

Why not?

matina stevis-gridneff

Well, because of the 27 E.U. member states the majority are a lot smaller and poorer than Germany and France. And many of them, most of them probably would actually not even have vaccines right now if they had had to negotiate access to them on their own. And so bottom line is doing it collectively may have served the majority quite well. I think that maybe Germans and French people and Italians maybe sacrificed speed to go it together. But ultimately, they also benefit hugely from going it together. Take the example of Germany, which probably is the country that most credibly could have done much better on its own. Germany has nine borders with other E.U. countries. It exports to all of these countries. The region is effectively fully integrated. In order to maintain reaping those huge financial benefits, you sort of need to have accomplished a comparable level of vaccination and immunity. And the only way to that end goal was to go it together, which is why Germany agreed to do so in the first place.

sabrina tavernise

So Matina, ultimately while the vaccine campaign was bungled, you dont really come away from this with the feeling that what has happened poses any kind of existential threat to the E.U.

matina stevis-gridneff

I mean, Sabrina, I hesitate to make predictions given how everything that could go wrong has gone wrong seemingly so far. But overall, I think that the E.U. takes some lessons away and as it has done in the past, grows through crisis. Its what it does best. Fundamentally, the E.U. and its 450 million citizens have enjoyed much faster access to vaccines than the vast majority of the worlds population. Theyre well on their way to resuming a normal social or semi normal social and economic life, even if that happens a little behind Americans and British people. And so for that, they do have to credit to a certain extent the fact that they didnt go it alone, and they went to it together.

sabrina tavernise

Thank you so much, Matina.

matina stevis-gridneff

Thank you.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. In a major defeat for organized labor, Amazon workers at a warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama have voted against forming a union there, ending the most significant attempt to organize Amazon workers in the companys history. The defeat was decisive. The final vote, which was conducted by mail, was 1,798 against the union and 738 for it, meaning that fewer than 30 percent of workers who voted endorsed a union. Organizers had argued that a union was required to combat Amazons intense monitoring of workers productivity and to negotiate pay that matched the high pressure demands that Amazon places on workers. But in its successful campaign against the union, Amazon emphasized that it pays a minimum wage of $15 an hour, offers health insurance from day one of employment, and is responsive to workers concerns without a union.

archived recording No union election in decades has received this much attention.

michael barbaro

After the vote, union leaders insisted that the fight was not over.

archived recording Despite overwhelming odds, workers here at Bessemer have stood up to one of the most powerful companies in the world, to the planets richest man, and they were heard.

michael barbaro
Jamaican dub poet Mutabaruka is paying close attention to Clarks Originals announcement of a Jamaica Pack line and their promises to use some Reggae and Dancehall artists as brand ambassadors to promote the collection. The new line is set to be officially be launched in April featuring the beloved Wallabees, Desert Boots, and Desert Trek styles.

While the Clarks company has given the assurance that they will not exploit Jamaican culture for their own gain, Mutabaruka, does not believe this to be true.

In a recorded audio clip, the IRIE FM host said that the only reason the deal was happening was that Holness had endorsed the British footwear maker, when he showed up in the House of Representatives, in the lead-up to General Elections in 2020, in a pair of green Desert Clarks. He questioned why the PM, who he labelled Baby Trump, did not give local manufactures the same big up.

The Prime Minister, ah baby Trump did pose off in a Clarks shoes, and from him pose off in ah clarks shoes That alone that green Clarks shoes make ah influence.. Influence a whole heap ah youth fe actually want ah green clarks shoes, he said.

Now listen to this why the Jamaican Prime Minister couldnt pose off in ah something Jamaican. So much good shoemaker here.

He also recalled an incident where some youths were jailed for making knock-offs and said that they should have been put to work rather than be imprisoned.

Look how much tailor, look how much cabinet maker, look how much dress maker, look how much shoe maker ah deh ah Jamaica, and this brother here couldnt find something Jamaican fe promote Jamaica.

Mutubaraka said that while he understood that Clarks are woven into the fabric of the Jamaican culture, it still meant that a foreign company would be raking in the profits.

He acknowledged that the brand has been a staple of Jamaican fashion since the 70s, which was made even more popular by Vybz Kartels odes to the brand. However, he also described the promised ambassadorship deals for Dancehall artists as ah terrible thing for Jamaica.

The promotion of the Clarks by the Dancehall artistes .. Mean say dem weh get pay like if dem ah do a show  but the selling of the clarks will continually be sold under the guise of heres some Jamaican dancehall youth ah wear dancehall booty out here.

Muta also took umbrage with Holness acceptance of the title Bro Gad, saying that he was endorsing gangster life. Him accept the title Bro Gad. Him go further in the gangster business and promote Clarks, he said. The monetary part, the implications of that is beyond comprehension, when we realise say is the Prime Minister promote it to reach this level.

The STAR spoke with Jamaica Labour Party Government Senator Matthew Samuda back in 2020 before the elections about Holness endorsement of the brand.

Clarks is an iconic brand that has widescale acceptance among Jamaicans of all walks of life. Its comfortable and aspirational, which is unique. It is truly a multifaceted brand, he said. Much like the PM, the conscious, strategic leader who the youth affectionately call Bro Gad, wearing the green Clarks is an acceptance of this multi-dimensional role of leadership for PM Andrew Holness. Its an acceptance that he will help Jamaica step into the future, stronger, he said.

Holness first made his affinity for the Clarks brand known in 2015 ahead of the 2016 elections.

A weh yuh get dah new Clarks deh daadi?Clarks is my preferred shoe, the dessert Clarks is particularly comfortable. pic.twitter.com/ZMhWLdvIq3  Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) November 18, 2015

Time will change, but the design will always remain the same. I wore these iconic pair of Clarks in the 2016 elections. #ClarksOriginals pic.twitter.com/wUkRTSukSV  Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) February 10, 2020

Clarks continues to be highly regarded in Jamaican music, with Caanos Bank Robber & Pole Shorts, and Jahvillanis Clarks Pon Foot being recent hits that celebrate the brand.

The company says they will make islandwide community-based charitable donations from proceeds from the sale of the pieces in the collection.
Police are warning students and universities not to use a popular pirate website offering free access to millions of scientific research papers.

Sci-Hub, which was set up by Alexandra Elbakyan, a graduate student from Kazakhstan, claims to "remove all barriers in the way of science" by allowing users to avoid paying large fees to publishers such as Elsevier, Wiley and Springer.

It is estimated to include more than 80 per cent of the world's currently published scientific papers and has been acclaimed by academics in favour of open access.

But the City of London Police's intellectual property crime unit described the website as a "cyber criminal" and said it used compromised login details to steal research papers.

The force claimed Sci-Hub used phishing emails to trick university staff and students into divulging their login credentials, which were then used to compromise the universitys network and download the research papers. At least 42 universities in the UK have been targeted in this way, according to PSI Registry, an independent organisation which helps publishers crack down on subscription fraud.

Students should be aware that accessing such websites is illegal, as it hosts stolen intellectual property. Visitors to the site are very vulnerable to having their credentials stolen, which once obtained, are used by Sci-Hub to access further academic journals for free, and continue to pose a threat to intellectual property rights," said Detective Inspector Kevin Ives.

Read more:

With more students now studying from home and having more online lectures, it is vital universities prevent students accessing the stolen information on the university network. This will not only prevent the universities from having their own credentials stolen, but also those of their students, and potentially the credentials of other members of the households, if connected to the same internet provider.

It is essential that students and universities report incidents of cybercrime to Action Fraud, so that we can build up a clear picture of the latest threats and give the best advice on how to avoid falling victim to cyber criminals such as Sci Hub."

Police are advising university IT departments to block Sci-Hub on their network and urged students to use separate passwords for their personal and university accounts.

Max Bruce, cyber protection officer from the City of London Police, said: We would urge people to not use Sci Hub, as doing so could pose a threat to their personal information and devices."

Not all academics have taken have taken the warning seriously.

Professor Dan Parsons, a geoscientist at the University of Hull, tweeted: "Dear all students, what you really should not do is download these FREE research papers from this site."
Character emerges when under pressure.

The good, the bad, and the ugly of what we are makes itself known when the chips are down. So it was last Sunday when a decision was taken to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The decision was based on fear rather than science.

There had been four incidents of blood clots among people who had received the vaccine in Norway.

This information was enough for the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) to announce that the vaccine would be suspended until further notice.

On Sunday, Professor Karina Butler, chair of the NIAC, laid out the reason for the decision. The vaccine is proven to be very effective against severe Covid-19 disease, which is associated with a risk of clotting events we have taken this step out of an abundance of caution.

Why be so cautious? The World Health Organisation (WHO) wasnt buying it. The WHO advised countries to keep using AstraZeneca until further investigation was completed.

The WHO is reported to be examining 37 cases in total, involving blood clotting in people who have received the vaccine.

Thats 37 out of around 17m doses administered, which is a rate of 0.007 per 1,000. During the week, one commentator noted that the contraceptive pill has been shown to cause clotting at a rate of 0.006 per 1,000.

The anti-vaccine brigade

The other issue arising for the suspension is the boost it provided for the anti-vaccine brigade.

Once the news got online, it would have quickly morphed into conclusive proof that if you took the vaccine you were in grave danger of a blood clot and near-certain death.

The anti-vaxxer lobby may not be as big a threat in this country as it is among some of our European neighbours, but providing this kind of oxygen to conspiracy theorists did nobody any favours.

Then there is also the simple drain on confidence that is bound to occur among some people as a result of the scare.

By Thursday, the European Medicines Agency confirmed what it had stated earlier in the week.

We are still firmly convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing Covid-19, with its associated risk of hospitalisation and death, outweigh the risk of side effects, said the agencys chief executive, Emer Cooke.

So why the abundance of caution from this countrys advisory body? Perhaps one factor feeding into the decision was an instinctive avoidance of anything that might involve the prospect of blame further down the line.

The blame game

We have, in this country, evolved over the years into a society where the prospect of blame in general, and litigation in particular, are primary considerations in evaluating any initiative. Whatever you do, do nothing that might come back to haunt you.

This instinct has particular resonance in the medical world. One school of thought is that the blame culture is feeding into difficulty in retaining hospital consultants within the system.

Cliona Murphy, chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, raised this issue in 2019 in the context of a waiting list of 28,000 women.

She pointed out that the increased likelihood of having to fight a legal case deterred some from the speciality.

We have a bit more of a blame culture in this industry, I think, than other countries, she said. Other countries have more no-fault compensation where families can be helped along with resources.

In the wider health system, it is generally believed that one of the major organisational issues within the HSE is the cover ass culture.

This works to ensure that the main focus is on avoiding blame for any actions, even when the cost is ultimately borne by those using the service, who are often at a vulnerable station in life at the time of use.

The culture in question is not confined to medicine or litigation.

Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, broached the subject recently on the Reboot Republic podcast when discussing the failures in providing public housing.

There is a really strong sense in all the public sector that people are overwhelmingly concerned with not being criticised for wasting money or making a bad decision, he said.

So people feel much more safe or comfortable in having to defend not having done something than to have done something and it not worked out perfectly.

Rarely do you see a public figure roasted in front of a public committee for not having done something.

The prevailing attitude, he pointed out, is not counterbalanced with an encouraging sense of 'we want to help you get this done'.

The result of this approach is that while no blame can be apportioned for inaction, it is often those who are at the furthest reaches from the centres of power who are impacted greatest.

Culture of caution

Of course one persons blame culture is anothers accountability. And it is true that accountability was missing in action for a long time in this country.

A hierarchical and deferential society ensured that those who acquired any measure of power or status rarely had to defend their actions.

Those days are long gone. There is an argument to be made that the balance has tipped way too much, in some respects, towards the pursuit of blame rather than observance of accountability. In such an environment, an abundance of caution is the only way to go.

Tackling this culture of caution is difficult. Take the public servant who appears before an Oireachtas committee defending an action taken.

The politicians would be required to judge where accountability ends and blame begins. This would be no easy task at the best of times and these are not the best of times in terms of responsible politics.

in an environment where a belief persists that there is political capital to be gained by grandstanding, who is going to consider societys wider interests rather than their own instinct to reach out for a few stray votes?

This is the background in which an abundance of caution is instinctively applied in much of public life in this country, and may well have informed the decision to suspend the vaccine last week.

There is no suggestion that members of NIAC consciously acted on the basis of insulating themselves from any fallout.

They undoubtedly were acting in good faith to prioritise public health as they saw it. But decisions like that are not made in isolation from the prevailing culture.

That is the fallout from one aspect of the national character when it comes to public decision-making. And as always, those most ultimately impacted are likely to be the people who are at the furthest reaches from the centres of power.
The protests opposing the privatisation of the Vizag Steel Plant challenge the dilution of the public sector.

The Prime Minister, in a recent speech, said that the government has no business to be in business, as he pushed for the central governments proposal to privatise public sector units (PSUs), claiming that loss-making PSUs are a drain on taxpayers money. According to him, disinvestment will ensure money that can be put to public use, along with bringing increased efficiency from the private sector. The private, in its industriousness and wisdom, is seen to trump any notion of the public as an economic actor; the recent farmers protests have somewhat blunted this claim. Meanwhile, another emerging arena is further challenging this dogma of privatisation. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given in-principle approval to 100% disinvestment of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of the Vizag Steel Plant (VSP). The Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee, a joint action committee (JAC) of trade unions and employees of the plant, have been protesting for over a month, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the proposal for privatisation of the plant. Apart from support from political parties, including leaders from the ruling dispensation at the centre, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister has come out in support of the protests. The JAC hopes to intensify the struggle over the coming days, hoping to replicate the intensity of the farmers protests. VSP, which directly employs close to 18,000 workers, and indirectly many more, is considered a major driver of economic development in the area. As the protests around Indias first integrated coastal steel plant intensify, a deeper examination of the notion of the public enterprise is taking shape.

The VSP, commissioned in 1992, emerged from a long and protracted history of protests and delays, three decades after a United States (US) study team found the land around Visakhapatnam suitable for a steel plant. Protests demanding a steel plant in the region in 1966 saw 32 protestors killed in police firing across the state. This history appears to find currency in the language of the JAC. A deeper connection to the Andhra identity and pride is invoked. Publicness as opposed to private pulls is used by the workers protest to define the essence of the Andhra identity as well as underscore the normative basis of the centrestate relationship. More importantly, the protests point at how this pride is tied to the public nature of the plant, and the claim to resist privatisation is deeply linked to this sense of public ownership. In fact, ironically, as a response to the state governments appeal to the centre to withdraw privatisation, a union minister suggested that the state government take over operations. Citizens of Visakhapatnam have taken out rallies in support of the protests, as protests in different towns across the state intensify to save the plant from privatisation.
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Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Friday he does not rule out the possibility of his country authorizing the use of Russias Sputnik V anti-coronavirus vaccine on its territory, if the European community fails to make a coordinated decision, TASS reports.

"We will order [Sputnik V] and we will see. If European coordination is not working, especially in healthcare, we should be ready to act on our own. And Im not the only person saying this," Draghi said when answering to a TASS correspondents question during his first press conference as the premier of Italy.

"[German Chancellor Angela] Merkel told me that if EMA [the European Medicines Agency] approves Sputnik V, it will be fine, but if not - Germany will do it. This is ordinary pragmatism. We should rely on European unity, but if it cannot be reached, we should act in a different fashion," the premier said.

Earlier, Merkel said Germany may purchase Sputnik V from Russia on a national level if the EU fails to find a common decision to this issue.
David Chartrand has been president of the Manitoba Metis Federation since 1997  an incredible 24-year, seven-term run leading the main political body representing the province's Metis community.

Opinion

David Chartrand has been president of the Manitoba Metis Federation since 1997  an incredible 24-year, seven-term run leading the main political body representing the province's Metis community.

In Manitoba (and Canada, for that matter), there simply is no one else in Metis politics with his stature and status. For example, when Clement Chartier announced he was stepping down as president of the Metis National Council in 2019, Chartrand basically took over the organization and has been its "national spokesperson" since.

However, its frankly unknown if Chartrand is popular amongst Metis or not. No one polls an approval rating, and Chartrand has won his last two terms through acclamation, so there is no objective data to draw from.

While such acclamation (the latest coming in 2018) could come from Chartrand's appeal, its more likely due to the fact the MMF constitution makes it difficult to run for president.

To qualify as a candidate, a Metis citizen must have served at least six years as a volunteer and elected MMF official  a demanding, unpaid, and time-consuming role  and then be prepared to do the exhausting and costly work of running a province-wide campaign.

Chartrand may be president forever.

While this may seem dictator-like, its important to identify he has achieved some of the most important steps ever taken for Metis in this country.

During his time in office, Chartrand has taken the MMF from virtual bankruptcy to thriving organization. He has brokered millions of dollars of programming for Metis citizens, built funding to support Metis students, and won court battles for Metis rights and land claims.

Some of these successes have come from Chartrands emergence as the de facto Indigenous voice for Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus federal Liberal party, supporting such things as the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, while condemning former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould during the SNC-Lavalin Group saga in 2019.

Chartrand has said of Trudeau: "Theres never anyone whos spent so much political capital in trying to make a difference in Indigenous lives in this country."

Chartrands more-recent moves, however, have led to a growing number of Metis voicing great concern over the direction of the federation.

A letter to its leadership, co-written by 40 young (aged 20-40), professional Metis citizens who call themselves "Red River Echoes," says the MMF has grown "out of touch with many of its members."

They say this is due to Chartrands criticism of Wetsuweten activists during protests over a B.C. gas pipeline project; his dismissal of "calls to change the names of buildings named after people who killed and hurt Indigenous people;" and the "decision to force houseless people living near the MMF building to move somewhere else instead of offering them help and support."

The group writes: "These actions from the MMF go directly against what we Metis see as our responsibility to each other, to other Indigenous people and to our communities."

Speaking on behalf of the group, Allie Hartman said, "(While) we are not seeking Chartrands resignation at this time, we have deep concerns with processes within the MMF and demand systemic change. We dont feel the MMF represents us anymore."

The group is vowing to introduce constitutional changes and challenge Chartrands grip on the MMF.

"Why is it so much easier to run for MP then it is for the MMF?" asked Breanne Lavallee-Heckert.

The letter was spurred by last weekends full-page MMF ads run in the Winnipeg Free Press and Winnipeg Sun in support of the Winnipeg Police Service.

In the ads, the MMF applauds WPS Chief Danny Smyth "for defending and protecting the integrity and character" of a "noble profession," while protecting the public and breaking down racial barriers.

When asked why he ran the ads, Chartrand said: "Its good to show respect where respect is due."

At the very minimum, Chartrands endorsement of the WPS couldnt come at a more contentious time. The day after the ads appeared was International Day Against Police Brutality, and Manitobas Indigenous community is still reeling from the 2020 police shooting of teen Eishia Hudson.

Rather predictably, the MMF ads sparked Metis outrage across Canada.

An online letter to "Metis Leaders" signed by hundreds of Metis promised to "push back" against Chartrand because: "We cannot condone the MMF, or any Metis political organization, supporting ongoing police control and violence."

This showdown, between an aging, seemingly-permanent and politically-entrenched Metis president and young, professional Metis, is on one level remarkable; representing a shift in the MMF and a dialogue that needs to happen for its future.

Its also about a leader holding onto power no matter the cost. Even if it means leaving those he has power over behind.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Michelle Payne made history as the first ever female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015.

On Friday, the brunette beauty looked unrecognisable out of her riding gear as she stepped out for the Melbourne Fashion Festival.

The 35-year-old wowed in a black leather top that featured a deep, revealing V-neckline that showed off a hint of her bra and cleavage.

Winning look! Jockey Michelle Payne (pictured) looked unrecognisable out of her riding gear as she attended a Melbourne fashion event on Friday

The cut of the edgy top also accentuated her waist line that showcased the athlete's petite figure.

She teamed the look with a black midi length skirt that had the designer's name, Jason Grech, written all across it in sparkling gold lettering.

Her classy ensemble was completed with a pair of black kitten heels and a small cross-body bag.

Fashionable filly! The 35-year-old jockey wowed in a black leather top that featured a deep V-neckline that showed off her bra and a hint of cleavage - a far cry from her racing uniform

All in the detail: She teamed the look with a black midi length skirt that had the designer's name, Jason Grech, written all across it in sparkling gold

Michelle's luscious chocolate tresses was styled in soft waves that cascaded down her shoulders.

For makeup, she opted for a flawless, radiant foundation base with a hint of pink blush on her cheeks, a peachy eye shadow, mascara and glossy lips.

She looked elegant as she showcased her ensemble, posing with her hand on her hip before watching the runway show at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.

Stunning: Michelle's luscious chocolate tresses was styled in soft waves that cascaded down her shoulders. For makeup, she opted for a flawless, radiant foundation base with a hint of pink blush on her cheeks and glossy lips

Making history: Michelle is the first and only woman to have ever won the Melbourne Cup race in its 160 years. She won the illustrious trophy riding Prince of Penzance back in 2015

Michelle is the first and only woman to have ever won the Melbourne Cup race in its 160 years.

She won the illustrious trophy riding Prince of Penzance back in 2015.

Michelle's life story was immortalised in the 2019 film Ride Like A Girl, starring Teresa Palmer and directed by Rachel Griffiths.

At the time, she told Nova's Kate, Tim & Marty of the actress' portrayal of her: 'Teresa blew me away. It was so believable to watch me, be me.'
The following editorial was published in the Dallas Morning News:

(TNS) A national registry of the vaccinated is a bad idea.

In January, President Joe Biden directed federal agencies to assess the feasibility of creating COVID-19 vaccination credentials  certifications of health data that could inform Americans interactions with everything from airlines to restaurants.

Several other nations are pursuing similar programs. In Israel, the government is issuing green passports which grant their holders access to gyms, hotels and (coming soon) quarantine-free travel. Saudi Arabia issues an app-based passport for the same purpose; Iceland uses them for travel purposes, and Britain is studying a similar program, according to The Wall Street Journal.

If Biden wants an example of Neanderthal thinking, to quote his Oval Office presser, this is it. Who, after all, is protected by a green zone? The vaccinated people who are already inoculated? The unvaccinated who are left out? Scientists arent even sure whether COVID-19 vaccines stop people from spreading the disease, so the public health benefits of creating a vaccination in-crowd are precisely zero.

Such a program would almost certainly discriminate against undervaccinated communities: younger people who arent yet approved for the shot, and minority communities where uptake rates are lower.

Vaccination passports would also make private health information public. If theres one thing Americans are protective of in the internet age, its personal information. And if theres one place Americans dont want that information, its in a government registry.

The most dangerous factor in a system like this would be the skepticism it would undoubtedly breed toward the very thing it seeks to promote: more vaccinations. Especially in Texas, a government registry would add fuel to the already galloping fires of government distrust. People are wary. Telling them that the cost of a vaccine is entry into a federal registry will be enough to drive many away from the needle and take us that much farther away from herd immunity.

Proponents of these plans say they incentivize the vaccine. According to The Journals reporting on the Israeli program, Officials are warning those who shun the national vaccination campaign that they will be shut out of everyday activities.

Israeli health minister Yuli Edelstein is leaning hard on that message. Anyone who does not get vaccinated will be left behind, he said.

Were all in favor of better awareness campaigns, but socially shaming the unvaccinated is not the way to do it.

There are circumstances when its appropriate for an employer, a school, or even a restaurant to enforce public health standards. We all had to get our shots before starting grade school. But in those cases there was a public health benefit (namely, preventing spread) and the shot records belonged to Mom (or whoever registered us for school), not to the feds.

Passports and green zones would serve no scientific purpose and could very well thwart their own ends. The Biden administration should stay far away from this plan.
By Umar Farooq

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - The Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is planning to build two hydroelectric-powered pilot "mining farms" to capitalise on a bullish global cryptocurrency market, a minister overseeing a new government crypto policy told Reuters on Wednesday.

The announcement comes as cryptocurrencies are gaining mainstream acceptance, with Bitcoin's price reaching record levels as investors such as Elon Musk pour funds into it, and the first big U.S. bank, Morgan Stanley, offering its wealth management clients access to bitcoin funds.

Crypto mining farms involve large investments in computer data centres which require vast amounts of power.

Pakistan has formed a federal committee to formulate a new crypto policy, even as neighboring India is planning to ban cryptocurrencies entirely. The cost of the mining project has yet to be determined.

"People have already been approaching us for investment, and we want them to come to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, earn some money and have the province earn from that as well," Zia Ullah Bangash, advisor to the provincial government on science and technology said.

Both mining and trading in cryptocurrencies currently exists in a legal grey area in Pakistan, though, and federal authorities would have to provide a clear path towards legalizing the sector before it could be formally opened to investors.

In 2018, the State Bank of Pakistan said cryptocurrencies were not legal tender and the regulator had not authorized anyone to deal in them in the country. Pakistan also is currently on the global Financial Action Task Force grey list, and one of the areas the global money laundering watchdog has asked Islamabad to better regulate is cryptocurrencies.

Still, mining and trading in cryptocurrencies thrives in Pakistan, with apps like Binance and Coinbase among the most popular downloads in the country, according to web analytics company SimilarWeb.

"It's really just our government that is not participating right now, people all over Pakistan are already working on this, either mining or trading in cryptocurrencies and they are earning an income from it," Bangash said. "We are hoping to bring this to a government level so things can be controlled and online fraud or other scams can be prevented.

(Reporting by Umar Farooq; Editing by Kim Coghill)
She's excitedly awaiting the arrival of her third daughter in three years.

And Casey Batchelor looked sensational as she showcased her growing baby bump in a black top and checked shirt for a radiant snap on Saturday.

The television personality, 36, beamed a smile as she snapped the selfie and gushed over how 'blessed' she is to have three little girls with fiance Dane Goodson.

Not long mama: Casey Batchelor looked incredible as she showcased her growing baby bump in a black top and checked shirt for a radiant snap shared to Instagram on Saturday

Casey looked comfortable as she posed up a storm in her stretchy top and black leggings, which she paired with a checked shirt.

She wore her long dark locks tied back into a ponytail and left two strands at the front to frame her pretty features.

To compete her laid-back look, Casey donned a full face of makeup including some pink lipstick and a touch of blusher.

Posting the picture on Instagram, Casey penned: '11 weeks to go!!!!! Whhhaaatttt! Its just gone so quickly this time

All girls: The TV personality, 36, is already a doting mum to Florence, two, and Sadie, 13 months, who she co-parents with her fiance Dane Goodson

'3 little girls!! I never ever would have thought I would have 3 daughters #miracle #blessed #3daughters #thirdpregnancy

It comes after Casey revealed earlier this month that she was finding her third pregnancy exhausting.

In a candid Instagram post, the yoga teacher told her followers: 'I've not really been on social this weekend. I keep getting massive waves of tiredness where I literally can't keep my eyes open!'

Casey is already a doting mum to Florence, two, and Sadie, 13 months, who she co-parents with her fiance.

She said: 'I remember feeling tired in both my previous pregnancies but this time it's a whole other level, unless I've just forgot how tired I felt before.

'Or maybe that I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old that needs my attention.

'I am definitely starting to balloon, starting to swell a little, my face is starting to fill out or in more blatant terms.... I'm getting fat.'

Confirming her latest pregnancy to OK! magazine last month, the mum-of-two said that although she'll have a 'crazy' household to manage, she feels 'happy and fortunate' at how easy she they have found it to conceive.
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Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Armenian politician Senor Hasratyan, who previously was a "press secretary" of the Armenian occupation forces in Azerbaijan, reported today via Facebook that the remnants of armed Armenian citizens are gradually being withdrawn from the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers.

At the same time, he directly admitted that the matter concerns the Armenian citizens-employees of the RA Armed Forces. Units of the Armed Forces of Armenia are gradually being withdrawn from Karabakh, Hasratyan wrote.

The politician drew attention to the fact that the parents of the conscripts are now actively demanding the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree to enact the decision of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on the creation of the Center for Countering Disinformation of March 11, the presidential press service reported.

"In accordance with the Article 107 of the Constitution of Ukraine, I decree to enact the decision of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council on the creation of the Center for Countering Disinformation of March 11, 2021," the press service quoted the president's decree as saying.

NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov has been charged with monitoring the implementation of the decision.

The decree comes into force on the day of its publication.
A stone from Sita Eliya, the place where Goddess Sita is believed to have been held as a captive by Ravana in Sri Lanka, will be used in the construction of in

The stone is expected to be brought to India by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda.

"A stone from Sita Eliya in #SriLanka for the in # will be a pillar of strength for #India-#SriLanka ties. This stone was received at Mayurapathi Amman Temple by HC-designate of to India HE Mr Milinda Moragoda in presence of the High Commissioner, the Indian High Commission in tweeted on Thursday.

A temple in Sita Eliya is dedicated to Goddess Sita and is said to mark the place where she was held captive by the Lankan king Ravana and where she regularly prayed to Lord Rama for her rescue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year performed the bhoomi pujan' of the Supreme Court-mandated in Ayodhya, bringing to fruition the BJP's mandir movement that defined its politics for three decades and took it to the heights of power.

(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 tutorial will take people through a step-by-step painting demonstration of a butterfly

Artist Jade Butler has an oil painting tutorial available on mermaidartscentre.ie.

Jade takes the viewer through a step-by-step oil painting demonstration of a butterfly.

She is an Irish artist specialising in contemporary still life painting. Graduating from West Wales School of the Arts in 2010, Jade has exhibited in annual exhibitions of the Royal Hibernian Academy, the Royal Ulster Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy. Her works are held in private collections in Europe and the US, as well as in the public collection of the Office of Public Works, Northern Ireland.

In this tutorial, Jade starts off by adding base colours to her butterfly drawing, followed by lights and darks on top, as well as shadows, forms and blending. Jade also discusses adding texture with the use of different brushes, layering of paint and colour choices.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters.

Story by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG  Declaring it was time to eliminate perks in the legislature, a Democratic state senator this week introduced a bill to prevent lawmakers from cashing in on per diems: the generous reimbursement for lodging and meals during voting days in the Capitol that they can receive without even having to provide receipts.

The announcement came days after Spotlight PA reported that despite being allowed to attend voting sessions remotely last year, Pennsylvanias legislators requested and received $726,877 in per diems during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Two Democratic House representatives padded their salaries by an additional $24,000 each, the analysis found.

You can see if your lawmaker requested the payments here.

Sen. Jim Brewster (D., Allegheny) said he was re-introducing the per diem ban, along with three other government reform bills, because we will have tough decisions ahead as we rebuild our economy  and sacrifice has to be shared.

The bill has just four co-sponsors  a reflection of how difficult it is to garner support in Harrisburg for measures that pare back government perks. Brewster has proposed the same bill three times in the past, with no success. And at least one Republican on the House side has also tried several times and failed.

Still, Brewster said he was optimistic: I think the time is ripe for some serious self-reflection in the General Assembly that will give us momentum this time.

Members of the public who contacted Spotlight PA agreed. Some expressed outrage. Others questioned why lawmakers receive generous perks.

Below are some of their questions and observations:

We need to decrease the number of our legislators! Too many/too expensive. Linda C.

With 50 members in the Senate and 203 members in the House, Pennsylvania has the largest full-time legislature in the country. Pennsylvania lawmakers earn more than colleagues in 47 states.

Over the last decade, there have been several attempts to shrink the legislatures size, but none were successful. Part of the problem: Such a change requires amending the state Constitution, which is a lengthy and time-consuming process. Both chambers have to pass a bill in two consecutive sessions. Voters would have the final say, deciding the matter through a statewide referendum.

They should have to punch a time clock and turn in receipts. Bruce S.

Over the years, there have been accounts of ghost voting in the legislature  when a lawmaker casts a vote on behalf of an absent colleague. In general, lawmakers are required to be on the floor to be marked present in the chamber, but there is flexibility in the Senate for members who are in their districts (and not physically in the Capitol) to cast votes.

House operating rules are stricter, stating that, with few exceptions, no member shall be permitted to vote and have his or her vote recorded on the roll unless present in the Hall of the House during the roll call vote.

One of the largest, most overpaid, and underproductive legislatures in the country. What a disgrace. Jill A.

Pennsylvanias lawmakers make the third-highest salaries for state lawmakers in the country, according to an analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The base salary for a Pennsylvania lawmaker is $90,335, but leaders make substantially more. Majority and minority leaders in both chambers, for instance, make $130,884. The Senates president pro tempore makes $141,019. Despite being a full-time legislature, many lawmakers have second jobs and other sources of income, as well.

Last month, a Spotlight PA analysis found that out of 140 laws enacted in 2020, only 27 directly addressed problems brought on by the pandemic.

Shameful...why cant they ZOOM like everyone else? Doris T.

After the pandemic hit, the House approved temporary rules that required certain legislative leaders and committee chairs to be physically present in the Capitol to formally consider legislation. Rank-and-file members, however, were allowed to submit votes remotely, though they could not participate in debate.

Though many took advantage of the pandemic-related requirements, lawmakers who decided to show up in person defended their decision, saying it was important to them and their constituents to actively participate in legislative business. Some of those same lawmakers, however, failed to follow health guidelines while on the floor.

Why are we paying for their meals? Amount of money they get paid they can afford to buy their own food. Some of them got over $450 a week in per diem. Thats plain wrong to screw us over. Us common folk have to pay for our own meals when we work. Talk about wasting taxpayer money. Greg Y.

It is common in states across the country, particularly in geographically large ones, for lawmakers to receive reimbursement for lodging and meals. Still, Pennsylvania has some of the most generous per diem rates.

Florida, for instance, paid lawmakers $152 per day in 2020 and capped the number of days they could receive payments at 50 for senators and 60 for representatives. In Pennsylvania last year, the full per diem rate generally ranged from $178 to $200 per day with no cap.

This is craziness! They were not even in session half the time! Ron P.

Lawmakers typically work under a Monday-through-Wednesday voting schedule when in the Capitol, spending the remainder of the week in their districts. But that doesnt mean the legislature meets for a voting session every week.

In 2020, the House had 53 voting days over 24 weeks. The Senate met on 52 days over 23 weeks.

Why do we have people doing part-time work getting full-time pay. Steve K.

Legislators say that when they are not in the Capitol for a voting day, they are in their districts, meeting with constituents and attending local meetings and events. But many of them do hold second jobs and receive income from other sources.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.

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Lancaster Countys vast, gleaming COVID-19 vaccination center puts pressure on other county officials to do the same

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With Sachin Vaze, NIA, forensics team re-create crime scene outside Ambanis home

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 20: Officials of the Mumbai Police recreated the crime scene outside Mukesh Ambani's home in Mumbai, where a bomb scare was reported recently.

NIA and forensic officials made suspended cop Sachin Vaze walk the stretch in a bid to recreate the crime scene. On Friday night, the crime scene was re-created after the Mumbai Police blocked the road leading up Ambani's home. One forensic expert perched himself atop a car, hole another went on a huge ladder next to the CCTV cameras. The measurements of all these positions were also taken.

Vaze drove vehicle that escorted SUV with explosives to Ambani residence

The vehicles were asked to switch off the headlights and media persons were told not to switch on the camera lights. At around 10.40 pm, the NIA team arrived at the spot along with Vaze. The suspended cop was made to walk a few times while the other details were captured by the forensic team. Vaze was then asked to wear a PPE kit and tie a handkerchief around his head. He was again asked to take position in the middle of the road and walk to the footpath on the left towards, Antilia, Ambani's home.

As he walked, Vaze seemed to have lost balance. When asked if he was alright, he replied in the affirmative and started to walk again. He was then taken away by the NIA officials, following which the entire cordoning was removed.

NIA officials say that this exercise would help them piece together an explainer. This would help them understand what transpired on the night of February 24, when the explosive laden vehicle was found.
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The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said he will only support former President Goodluck Jonathan if he accepts the Peoples Demo...

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said he will only support former President Goodluck Jonathan if he accepts the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket for the 2023 election.

Wike insisted he would snub the former President if he opts to contest under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He stated this while speaking to BBC Pidgin at the weekend in Port Harcourt.

Governor Wike explained that even Jonathan understands that he would work against his ambition if Jonathan joins the APC and clinches the partys ticket to run for President in 2023.

He said: I am a PDP member, if former President Goodluck Jonathan picks a ticket to run in my party, I will support him. I cant do anti-party. But if he picks a ticket to run in APC, I wont support him because I cant do anti-party.

He knows I wont support him in APC even if he is from the south. I dont do that kind of politics. It is the party we are talking about and I dont play ethnicity.

However, the former President has remained coy over his intentions to contest for president in 2023, despite widespread insinuations that he may contest in 2023.
New Delhi: Twitter on Friday (March 19, 2021) evening faced a global outage following which the microblogging platform issued a statement and said that those were 'long 45 minutes'.

The Facebook-owned platforms WhatsApp and Instagram were down in several parts of the world and many users reported that they are not able to login to their accounts.

"Thanks for your patience, that was a long 45 minutes but we are back!," WhatsApp posted on Twitter.

Thanks for your patience, that was a long 45 minutes but we are back! #WhatsAppDown  WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) March 19, 2021

The photo and video-sharing social networking service Instagram said, "Some people were having issues with their Instagram accounts earlier, but we're back now. The issue's been fixed and we're sorry for the trouble."

Some people were having issues with their Instagram accounts earlier, but we're back now. The issue's been fixed and we're sorry for the trouble. #instagramdown pic.twitter.com/dd9mJPiqDz  Instagram (@instagram) March 19, 2021

A Facebook spokesperson also issued a statement and said, "Earlier today, a technical issue caused people to have trouble accessing some Facebook services. We resolved this issue for everyone, and we apologize for any inconvenience."

Minutes after global outage, a meme trend was started on Twitter. A user wrote, "The world coming over to Twitter when they realise Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp are all down." Another one expressed, "WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram down, it's almost as if monopolies are a bad idea."
CAIRO  Russia officially announced on Feb. 25 that Egypt had received five Sukhoi Su-35 advanced combat aircraft. The Russian Khabarovsk Krai regions official media agency stated that the most important achievement of the military factory in the region was delivering the five Su-35 fighter jets to Egypt, out of the 24 jets that were agreed upon, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 23, 2020, the first photos of the new Egyptian upgraded Su-35SE fighter jets were taken by journalist Andrey Neyman when five fighter jets, which represented the first batch of an Egyptian-Russian arms deal, arrived in the Russian city of Novosibirsk for refueling, according to The Drive.

Speaking at the Dubai Airshow on Nov. 18, 2019, R. Clarke Cooper, then-assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs, said the US government, represented by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, has sent an official letter to Egypt warning it of possible sanctions if it goes ahead with plans to purchase Russian aircraft.

Cooper said Egypt is aware of the risks it would be taking by purchasing Russian aircraft because this exposes it to possible US sanctions and threatens its future purchases of US equipment, noting Pompeo and Esper stressed that any major new arms deal with Russia would complicate US defense and security assistance to Egypt.

Esper and Pompeo had addressed their letter to Egyptian Defense Minister Mohamed Ahmed Zaki. Meanwhile, Washington had warned the commander of the Egyptian air force, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Abbas, of the consequences of the Russian arms deal and asked Cairo to review its military and intelligence relations with Russia.

Maj. Gen. Khaled Okasha, director of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that after Egypt's success in purchasing 24 Rafale aircraft from France in February 2015, Cairo ordered the upgraded Sukhoi 35 fighter jets so that it can diversify its weapons sources, especially for its air force, and not rely on US weapons only.

He said the United States has supplied Israel with the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, and thus Washington has guaranteed Tel Avivs military supremacy and sovereignty over the region with this type of aircraft. The acquisition of this type of aircraft could threaten the balance of power in the Middle East, especially after the United States refused to sell F-35 fighter jets to Egypt at the same time, he added.

Okasha stressed that the main goal of Egypt in acquiring the Sukhoi 35 aircraft is that this type of aircraft can match the Israeli and US warplanes, and thus the Egyptian army guarantees superiority in regional skies. This is why the United States strongly opposed this deal and threatened sanctions against Egypt.

Okasha stressed that Egypt has the full right to diversify its weapons sources without relying on the United States alone, rejecting US threats to suspend military aid because Egypt has a right to make independent decisions. He added that Cairo already received 40 Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters in November 2019, which is what may have angered the United States, since Egypt insists on completing its military deals with Russia without submitting to the dictates and threats of the United States.

On Feb. 23, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed to his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, his concern about Egypt's purchase of the Russian Sukhoi 35 planes. The former Donald Trump administration had previously warned against this deal, saying it would expose Cairo to the risk of US sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Blinken also expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Egypt, stressing that it will be pivotal in the bilateral relations between the United States and Egypt.

Ammar Ali Hassan, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor that US-Egyptian relations have gone through many stages and tensions in recent years, to the point that US aid to Egypt was suspended in 2013 when former President Mohammed Morsi was ousted and a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood supporters was launched.

He added, Even after aid resumed [in 2015], relations between the two countries remained unstable. Egypt heavily relied on the United States to secure weapons, but [after aid was cut], Cairo realized the importance of not relying on Washington alone. Besides, the United States refused to supply Egypt with the F-35 planes that it had provided to Israel to ensure its military superiority.
The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV.
Editor's note: Frida Ghitis, (@fridaghitis) a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist. She is a frequent opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN.

(CNN)  On Tuesday evening, when we started hearing the details of the murderous rampage that left eight people dead in the Atlanta area, a gnawing fear started taking shape. Gun violence has become eerily routine in the United States. But this time, there was nothing random about the shootings. The killer went to three separate establishments. The first one is called, "Young's Asian Massage." Of the eight people he killed, six were Asian women.

In addition to the sorrow for the lives lost, two troubling thoughts immediately came to mind. First, was this another instance of anti-Asian violence? And then, the elephant in the room, the question that almost didn't need to be asked: If it was a deliberate effort to kill Asians, does former President Donald Trump, who has spent more than a year referring to the coronavirus by using Asian slurs, bear any responsibility for helping set the stage for the rising tide of anti-Asian American violence?

The answer is obvious to many. California Rep. Judy Chu, who heads the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the former president, "clearly stoked the flames of xenophobia" against Asians. After public health officials named the virus Covid-19, deliberately seeking to avoid potentially xenophobic overtones, Trump ostentatiously, mockingly called it the "China virus," the "Wuhan virus," and the "Kung Flu." According to Chu, that led to attacks on Asians increasing exponentially. And what happened in Atlanta, she argues, is the result of what Trump unleashed. Chu is hardly alone in reaching that conclusion.

The Atlanta area shooting suspect, according to Police Captain Jay Baker, claims he wasn't looking for Asian victims, but there's much we don't know about the case. The fact that Baker, who was the spokesperson for the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office's case, has himself allegedly posted racist anti-Asian material on social media is only one more reason to be skeptical of the claim that race and national origin were not a factor.

Whatever the killer's motives, it would be naive to deny a link between the skyrocketing number of attacks on Asians and the words coming out of politicians' mouths. From the US-Mexico border to the streets of Georgia, California, and across the country, those who look like they might be immigrants, no matter how many generations ago their families arrived in the US, can become targets of violence.

Politicians didn't invent prejudice, but they are exploiting it for political gain, and destroying lives in the process.

Using fear of others to further a political career is hardly new. But in the United States there's nothing in living memory quite like the anti-immigrant rhetoric Trump deployed to propel his 2016 campaign. He stoked fear of migrants, described Mexicans as rapists, murderers, and drug dealers, and generally tried to frighten voters about Muslims, Hispanics, and others. Tragically, it served him well in his campaign. He became president and he continued his xenophobic reign while in office. When he came under pressure for mismanaging the pandemic, he sought to shift blame by focusing on China's role in the disaster.

The Trump playbook has been photocopied and reenacted across a party now remade in his image. Xenophobia has become one of the preferred political tools of countless figures on the right.

During House hearings on anti-Asian violence Thursday, Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, somehow managed to speak approvingly of lynchings -- "Find all the rope in Texas and get a tall oak tree...we take justice very seriously..." -- while excoriating China's regime and its role in the pandemic. It was a virtuoso performance of false equivalency and incitement.

But stoking racism and fear of immigrants has become one of the go-to tools of the Trumpist Republican Party.

It was Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona who apparently came up with the "Wuhan virus," idea, tweeting it a year ago. It was promptly retweeted by Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Then by Trump. Then by tens of thousands of their supporters.

In 2018, the Republican gubernatorial primary in Georgia became a competition to see who could be more grotesquely anti-immigrant. The winner, now-Gov. Brian Kemp, declared "I got a big truck," in his ads. "Just in case I need to round up criminal illegal aliens and take 'em home myself."

The entire issue of what to do at the border is treated by many Republicans more as a photo-op game than as the wrenchingly complicated human drama that it is. With the number of unaccompanied children growing at the border, Rep. McCarthy rushed there this week, saying before the TV cameras, "This is a human heartbreak," and blaming it on President Joe Biden. It is, indeed, a human heartbreak. We don't know if McCarthy found Trump's policies, like forcibly taking children away from their parents at the border, a heartbreak.

The current crisis was predictable -- and predicted. After four years of Trump's brutal border policies, a new administration would almost inevitably face copious amounts of asylum seekers.

The matter is complicated. It affects millions of lives. It deserves serious discussion, not political exploitation. But that's too much to ask these days.

The United States is not the only country where xenophobia pays dividends for politicians. It is painful to see it manipulated for gain anywhere on Earth. But it is particularly disheartening to see it done in the US, where in addition to destroying lives, it threatens to rip up one of the traits that made America great: its ability to attract people from different parts of the world and allow them to make a life for themselves and become part of the country.

Politicians exploiting differences for their benefit bear part of the blame for destroying lives, they are also guilty of lacerating the very country they claim to serve.

This story was first published on CNN.com "The GOP's xenophobia is fueling toxic culture of hate".
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 23:21:04|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China's COSCO Shipping investment in Piraeus, Greece's largest port, in recent years is a successful example of cooperation with mutual benefits, former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou told Xinhua in a recent written interview.

COSCO Shipping acquired the majority of Piraeus Port Authority S.A. (PPA) shares in 2016 after an international tender, while the Chinese company's subsidiary, Piraeus Container Terminal S.A. (PCT), has managed the port's container terminal since 2009.

The image of Piraeus has improved with impressive results posted in recent years, as work for the port's upgrade and expansion continues.

Since 2019 it is the top port in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the fastest-growing container terminals in the world.

Greeks and Chinese continue to work hard together to realize the vision to transform Piraeus into a key transit hub and logistics center for the growing trade between Asia and Europe, also in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China and Greece have widened their cooperation in recent years in many sectors, Papandreou noted.

"It is important first of all to follow through on the existing joint initiatives regarding economy, trade, tourism and of course culture that plays a big role in our relations as we share the wisdom of two ancient civilizations," he said, asked about the prospects of bilateral cooperation towards common development and prosperity.

"Dialogue between different civilizations is very important for mutual understanding," Papandreou stressed.

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has created many hurdles, but possibly new opportunities arise for cooperation in areas of health and wellness, such as the use of our traditional knowledge in medicine, he added.

"We hope that next year we will be able to host a large number of Chinese visitors in Greece," the former PM told Xinhua. Enditem
WEAVERVILLE, Calif.  A different type of scam is taking place in Trinity County, involving someone who is impersonating an employee from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The Trinity County Sheriffs Office warns that the imposter contacts victims through social media and tells them about some available grant programs.

The imposter has requested that victims purchase gift cards and send the person photos of those cards so they can be registered for the grant.

The Sheriffs Office has warned that people should be wary of anyone contacting them and asking for payment for a service by gift cards. They also warned about anyone who is requesting payment by Green Dot Moneypak.

If you have been victimized by the scammer you are asked to contact the Trinity County Sheriffs Office at (530) 623-2611.
Anya Kerrigan is making the best of her wedding day that wasnt. Credit:Daniel Farrawell

The states flood crisis has left a bride and 28 guests stranded on her wedding day at a venue cut off by floodwaters.

James Farrawell and his fiance Anya Kerrigan were due to be married on Saturday at their wedding venue on the Manning River, upstream from Taree.

Rising floodwaters cut off Ms Kerrigan from Mr Farrawell, who had followed wedding tradition by staying away from his fiance on the night before their wedding, Mr Farrawells brother Daniel said.

He is now trapped by the rising floodwaters of the Manning River and cannot get to the bride, he said.
Eleven people have been arrested at an anti-lockdown protest demonstration in Dublins Phoenix Park.

A number of those arrested are due before a special sitting of Dublin District Court tonight charged in relation to today's protest.

As many as 300 uniform and plain clothes officers monitored the gathering that took place in and around the Wellington monument.

Gardai said they were aware of an event organised on social media by disparate groups planning to gather in the park.

They said that officers engaged with those present at the monument, which included protestors as well as individuals and families who were not involved.

However, at approximately 3.30pm, demonstrators left the park and walked along the North Quays to the GPO on OConnell Street before turning to walk back along the South Quays.

Following persistent and ongoing non-compliance with Public Health Regulations uniformed members of An Garda Siochana intervened in a graduated response at Victoria Quay. Gardai said.

Eleven arrests were made in relation to this event over the course of the afternoon, they added. A number of Fixed Payment Notices (FPNs) will be issued in relation to persons attending this event in breach of Public Health Regulations.

An Garda Siochana will carry out an investigation into the organisers of this event.

Officers on the ground were backed up by Public Order Units, the Peaceful Crowd Management Unit, the Mounted Unit and the Dog Unit.

Read More

In supporting the Covid-19 public health guidelines and regulations, An Garda Siochana has and will continue to adopt, a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent, Gardai added.

This has seen Gardai engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce. Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events is in line with this graduated policing response taking into account public health regulations and advice.

Personal social responsibility, wearing of face coverings in open spaces and social distancing are public health guidelines and are not penal regulations.

They added: The COVID-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to all citizens to demonstrate personal and social responsibility to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations, in particular essential journeys, in order to continue to save lives.
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An all-star line up of Australian politics and media have gathered at an exclusive venue to celebrate Peta Credlin's 50th birthday at a function which has doubled as a rallying point for allies trying to position her as the next leader of the moribund Victorian Liberals - and the woman to take down Dan Andrews.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott - still close friends with his one-time chief of staff - and Sky News co-host and powerful Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones were among 100 approximately guests invited to Saturday night's shindig at the Melbourne Club, the social home of the city's business and society elite.

A bevy of fellow right-wing media personalities joined them on the invite list including Herald-Sun columnist Rita Panahi, Sky colleagues Paul Murray and Peter Gleeson, plus outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint and Jones's producer Jake Thrupp.

Ms Credlin's birthday bash has been a long time in the making with the powerbroker-turned-broadcaster telling colleagues it was an alternative to a planned but now impossible trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast.

Daily Mail Australia has confirmed that Credlin expressly asked her guests to bring their favourite book, in lieu of gifts, along with a personal message about why they selected it.

Peta Credlin arrives at the Melbourne Club for her 50th birthday party on Saturday. An all-star line up of Australian politics and media have gathered for the occasion

Ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott and powerful Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones were among 100 approximately guests invited to Saturday night's shindig at the Melbourne Club

That special request had been expected to spark a run on a nearby Collins bookstore this afternoon, with one guest admitting just hours earlier that they had 'no idea' what to bring.

Credlin and husband Brian Loughnane's celebration comes as allies Jones and broadcaster Steve Price openly pushed for the birthday girl to be parachuted into a safe Liberal seat so she can enter state Parliament and have time to tangle with Mr Andrews prior to the November 2022 election.

Jones took to his Sky News 'after dark' program this week to compare Credlin with Muhammad Ali and even a Biblical lioness.

Jones predicted that Credlin would 'wipe the floor' with Mr Andrews, who she famously hammered over the state's bungled hotel quarantine program at his press conferences she attended last year.

'A political fight between Daniel Andrews and Peta Credlin would be Ali and Frazer all over again, but it would be no rumble in the jungle,' Jones said.

'Chapter six of the Book of Daniel tells how the legendary Daniel was saved from the lions by the God of Israel. Nothing would save this 'Daniel' from the lioness of the Liberal Party.

'Just let her out of the Liberal cage and watch.'

Sky News broadcaster Peter Gleeson arriving for the high-society bash alongside Mr Abbott. Daily Mail Australia has confirmed Credlin expressly asked her guests to bring their favourite book

Jones (right, his producer Jake Thrupp left) took to his Sky News 'after dark' program this week to compare Credlin with Muhammad Ali and even a Biblical lioness

Sky News presenter Paul Murray arrives at the Melbourne Club. Credlin has told colleagues the event is an alternative to a planned but now impossible trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast

The birthday party has doubled as a rallying point for allies trying to position Credlin as the next leader of the moribund Victorian Liberals

Credlin hosted her birthday bash at the Melbourne Club - a prestigious city institution and gentleman's social club on Collins Street. The club famously does not accept female members

Gleeson and Mr Abbott are pictured centre arriving at the star-studded event. In her time as chief-of-staff to Tony Abbott, there were constant rumblings from the discontented that Credlin held too much power in his office

Jones went on to instruct local Liberal powerbrokers Michael Kroger and Jeff Kennett to 'start making calls now' - comments which were slammed as 'extraordinary' by former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Jones was echoing an earlier column by fellow conservative broadcaster Steve Price, who noted in the Herald Sun recently that at 50, Credlin was in the 'prime of her working life'.

Price described Credlin as having the 'most impressive' CV for the job, noting she is a Melbourne University educated lawyer, who has worked with three prime ministers and as Racing Victoria's public relations chief.

'Victoria needs a local version of the best State Premier in Australia and that's NSW's Gladys Berejiklian,' Price wrote in a Herald Sun column.

Price said Berejiklian's handling of Covid and dominance over Jodi McKay's opposition was the 'perfect blueprint' for a Credlin run for the top job.

But he admitted she wasn't actually putting her hand up for it.

Peta Credlin hammered Daniel Andrews over the bungled hotel quarantine program which landed the state in a months-long lockdown last year. Above, she is seen on left during an appearance at the Premier's daily press conference

'Sorry Peta if the idea horrifies you,' he said.

The calls comes amid ongoing concerns about Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien - and state opposition parties in general - following West Australian Premier Mark McGowan's stunning landslide victory last week.

Australia's success in handling the pandemic has significantly bolstered the profile of premiers and chief ministers across the country, and opposition parties have struggled to land blows on state leaders.

A group of Liberal MPs tried to eject Mr O'Brien at a party-room spill on Tuesday but he successfully held on, with about a third of his party room - nine out of 31 members - voting to remove him as leader.

A divided party room, a worrying lack of public cut-through, and a largely anonymous leader are fertile ground for a 'name' to be parachuted into the top job, particularly one with the no-nonsense reputation like Credlin.

In her time as chief-of-staff to Tony Abbott, there were constant rumblings from the discontented that Ms Credlin held too much power in his office.

They were rumours she addressed in 2016 after the scuttlebutt was put into print in a book by political journalist Niki Savva.

'I know I am not the first woman to face offensive and false rumours about the nature of her professional relationships but, sadly, I doubt I will be the last,' Ms Credlin wrote in The Australian.

She also defended her prominent role in the Abbott administration, which extended to admonishing government ministers over their performance.

'When I was working long days in the prime ministers office, doing my part to stop the boats, repeal the carbon tax and respond to growing terrorism threats, did anyone in the real world care that I was a tough operator, that the prime minister expected results or wanted ministers under pressure to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and deliver on our election promises?

'Ive never claimed that I got it right every time, but you dont survive 16 years in one of the toughest working environments around if youre not up to the job or dont have a good reputation.'

There's no doubt Credlin may wake up on Sunday - her birthday - with a few political memoirs in her gift pile.

And perhaps a few messages scribbled in the front urging her to run for office.
Addressing scores of supporters in the village of Nerkin Bazmaberd during one of his stops, Pashinian also referred to the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh that ended in the signing of a Russian-brokered ceasefire with Azerbaijan mostly on Bakus terms.

One of the provisions of the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia calls for the unblocking of all economic and transport links in the region, including the construction of new transport communications linking the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan with mainland Azerbaijan via Armenian territory.

A trilateral working group led by deputy prime ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia was formed in February to work on details of the projects.

The provision on unblocking communications in the region raised concerns in Armenia about possible geopolitical and economic implications of new transport links passing through the countrys southern parts.

In his remarks today Pashinian sought to allay these concerns, saying that unblocking transport communications could be a step towards overcoming animosity in the region.

This is a mutually beneficial thing. If someone says that the opening of these roads is beneficial only for Azerbaijan, do not believe it. If someone says that the opening of communications is beneficial only for Armenia, do not believe it either. The opening of communications, especially in this situation, is beneficial for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Armenian premier stressed.

It is in Azerbaijans interest, because it will get a communication link with Nakhichevan, and it is in Armenias interest, because we will get a reliable railway link with the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It means that the economy of our country may essentially change, he added.

Pashinians statement comes two days after he announced the holding of early parliamentary elections in June.

During the rally at Nerkin Bazmaberd Pashinian did not conceal that his political team will seek a fresh mandate from the people to be able to form a government again.

He said, however, that they were ready to accept any outcome of the elections.

Different opposition parties and groups in Armenia have accused Pashinian and his government of incompetence or even treason that they claim resulted in the Armenian defeat in the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. They have been demanding Pashinians resignation since the November 10 truce was signed to end six weeks of hostilities in which thousands of soldiers were killed.

Under the deal, a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces.

A coalition of over a dozen opposition parties has been holding anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and other parts of the country in a bid to force Pashinian to step down and allow an interim government be formed before snap elections could be held within at least a year.

But the prime minister, whose My Step alliance dominates parliament, has refused to hand over power to such an interim government.

Following discussions with the leaders of two opposition parliamentary factions Pashinian said on Thursday that it was agreed that early elections in Armenia will be held on June 20.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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 University of Scranton will stop accepting new clients through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program on Thursday to allow student volunteers time to complete their course requirements and prepare for final examinations.

The accounting students will assist area residents with filing their federal, state and local tax returns whose information is received prior to the cutoff date.

Residents of Lackawanna and Wayne counties with household incomes of $57,000 or less for 2020 can provide the information needed to complete tax forms in a secure drop-off box located in the university Police Department, 820 Mulberry St., Monday through Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

For information, contact the university at 570-941-4045.
Smaller players are eager to recommence talks with Venezuela over its crude oil opportunities before the majors start their attack. The eventual easing of sanctions on Venezuelan oil under President Joe Bidens Administration could allow Venezuela to once again take centre stage in Latin American oil.

President Maduro recently stated on national television, I want to tell investors from the U.S. and around the world that Venezuelas doors are open for oil investment.

Since 2019, U.S. sanctions on Venezuela have had a dramatic impact on the countrys oil sector, which previously fuelled its economy thanks to its 300-billion-barrel crude supply. While its production capacity remains strong, the sector will require greater foreign investment in exploration and extraction if it hopes to meet its full potential.

Maduro is expected to pass a law that will end state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SAs (PDVSA) monopoly over the countrys oil industry. This law would have a significant impact on foreign investment, as U.S. sanctions only forbid work directly with the PDVSA and Maduros regime, not other companies.

Independent firms in Venezuela could win big under this deal, as international oil companies search for non-PDVSA and associated organisations to build partnerships with, to tap into the countrys vast oil resources.

While oil majors are likely to wait until sanctions are lifted entirely, smaller international companies are participating in talks to make sure they get a piece of the action ahead of the rush.

As well as newfound interest in Venezuelas oil sector, the country has continued to supply large amounts of crude to China, which has largely ignored U.S. sanctions on both Venezuela and Iran.

Related: Rarely-Used Recovery Method Could Unlock Billions Of Barrels In Alaska

China has recently increased oil imports from Venezuela. Meanwhile, Iran and Venezuela are working hand-in-hand to enhance this trade partnership, with Iran supplying petroleum products in return for Venezuelan oil and gold.

Venezuela has been pumping around 500,000 bpd oil equivalent this March, down from 650,000 bpd last year but an increase from the 360,000-390,000 bpd average in the second half of 2020.

While governments around the world are pushing for greener policies and OPEC constraints are limiting the oil production of its member states, Venezuela has nowhere else to turn but its oil industry. "Venezuela needs to jumpstart the economy, and it's not going to come from tourism or from any other sector except the oil sector. That's the reality.", explained former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri.

Some oil majors, such as Chevron, have remained in Venezuela in the hopes of sanctions subsiding, a decision that bodes well for the future of the countrys oil industry in these troubled times. Chevron currently has a joint venture with Venezuelas PetroPiar.

Moshiri predicts that Venezuelas economy will begin to recover with the production of 1.5 million bpd of oil through an investment of between $5 billion and $8 billion. He believes an investment of $25 billion to $28 billion by 2028 would lead to the production of around 2.5 million bpd. However, more conservative predictions suggest the country would need an investment of around $100 billion to fulfil this production aim.

While Venezuelas oil industry will require significant foreign investment if it wants to return to pre-sanction levels, recent talks between international oil companies and Venezuelas national industry, as well as promises from Maduro for greater privatisation, suggest that things are finally looking up for the troubled nation.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A Dundalk family have been waiting months for the HSE to reimburse them for buying medicinal cannabis under a ministerial licence that is 'life-changing' for their teenage daughter, it emerged this week.

Abigail McQuillan (16) from Blackrock, began to experience seizures at the age of six, and over the years, as mum Deborah explains, 'She lost her ability to walk and talk, and feed herself.'

She was diagnosed with Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and the severity of the seizures also increased, leaving her family fearing 'that it was only a matter of time before one of them took her life.'

'The seizures only happened at night. They were horrendous. As a parent, you try everything to protect your child, but with this, there was nothing I could do. You just have to let the seizure happen,' said Deborah.

'She has been on medication all these years, which just left her like a zombie, lying on the sofa every day, which was no quality of life for her.'

There have been a number of interventions for the teenager, including an implant fitted in her chest, connected to her brain, which stimulates a nerve in order to try to diffuse the seizures.

But after exhausting all other measures Deborah secured a ministerial licence to have medicinal cannabis prescribed for Abigail from a London clinic, which she says has had 'a tremendous impact on the number of seizures.'

'They have reduced from 140 a month to around 30 seizures a month, so a huge improvement.'

The monthly cost of the prescription is 600, which the family have had to come up with in order to help Abigail.

'I would do anything, pay anything, to see the result we have seen in her, a lot less seizures.

'But I am a full time carer, and my husband is off on PUP, so it is a huge cost to meet.'

Deborah added that she had been told by the HSE that although the first three months were a trial 'to see if they helped the patient', the ensuing months treatment costs would be reimbursed.

But, despite have twice sent off all of the details requested by the HSE, Deborah was told the HSE 'had never heard of Abigail, and didn't know anything about her.'

'Our lives are difficult enough. We live on high alert with Abigail, with blue monitors in her room every night. We don't need to be facing this as well.'

Deputy Ruairi O Murchu raised the case of Abigail McQuillan in the Dail last week, but said he was 'disappointed that the issue had not been resolved, six days after he brought it to the attention of the government,

He said his office has been working since December to resovle the issue for the family, but with no success so far.

'Abigail has been in receipt of the ministerial-approved medicinal cannabis now for seven months. The frequency and intensity of the seizures she'd had have been greatly reduced because of the medicinal cannabis which is supplied through a chemists in Newry from a licenced clinic in London.'

'For the last number of months, Deborah has complied with the HSE's numerous requests for further information, from her and from the neurologist treating Abigail. Despite our best attempts, there has been no resolution to this case and there has still been no update from the HSE after the specific case was raised in the Dail last week.'

He added: 'Deborah has done everything possible in order to ensure the reimbursement is forthcoming, and continues to have to pay the 600 a month in order to get this lifechanging medication for her daughter. The family is now having to go without in order to continue to do this.'

The Dundalk TD said: 'This is not the way it's supposed to be for families like Abigail's. They should not have to fight to get reimbursement for medicinal cannabis that has already been approved under ministerial licence.'

'I am calling on the HSE to prioritise this case and ensure that reimbursement is completed as soon as possible. The system needs to be streamlined because it is a bureaucratic nightmare for families who already have enough on their plate'.
The SSC examination schedule has been released and the exams will be held from June.  Representational image

VIJAYAWADA: Recognition of as many as 259 private schools has been cancelled by the Andhra Pradesh government. Examinations director A Subba Reddy released the list of these schools on Friday.

Subba Reddy said the recognition of these private schools had expired in the 2020-21 academic year and they had not renewed the recognition. This apart, repeated warnings about their failure to provide infrastructure facilities to students have been ignored by the managements.

The government has cancelled their recognition from the academic year 2020-21. Nominal rolls of all these schools will not be accepted from the current academic year, he said.

Subba Reddy said the SSC examination schedule has been released and the exams will be held from June. Students can pay their exam fees online from March 20 to April 5 through the relevant school login and this is also payable through the school headmaster from March 20 to April 5.

He said students can pay their fees with a late fee of Rs 50 till April 12. With an additional payment of Rs 200, the fee can be paid till April 20; and with a late fee of Rs 500, it can be paid till April 30, he said.
A community has been left stunned after three people died in a suspected murder-suicide in Newtownabbey.

A man is believed to have stabbed his mother and girlfriend at separate properties before killing himself.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening. (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX) Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX General view of the scene at Glenville Road, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Stephen Hamilton / Press Eye. 20th March 2021) Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye 20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX) Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX / Facebook

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Whatsapp Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening. (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

Police confirmed the incidents were linked, and a double murder probe has been launched.

Officers were alerted shortly before 11pm on Friday night following a report of a stabbing at Derrycoole Way.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and woman were found at a second property around two miles away.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The deputy Mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey, SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland, said her thoughts and prayers were with the friends and family of the two women who she said had been "brutally killed.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said people had been left absolutely shocked and stunned by the news.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police and NIAS ambulance crews had responded to an emergency call shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

Just after 10.55pm on Friday evening, police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area. Officers attended, along with colleagues from NIAS. Sadly, a woman has been pronounced dead.

As officers carried out further enquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area. An unconscious male was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the male was pronounced dead. On searching the property, another deceased female was located.

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

"We would urge anyone with any information which may assist our investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"

Police were at the scene of both properties this morning.

Local people spoke of their shock, while political representatives said more needed to be done to address violent attacks against women.

Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Jim Montgomery posted on Twitter: A very sad incident that has created such shock with so many. My thoughts are with families involved who are suffering such loss and those having to pick up the pieces after this tragedy."

Ms McClelland, the deputy mayor, said: People in Newtownabbey are in shock today following three deaths in what police believe was a double murder.

My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the friends and family of the two women who were brutally killed last night.

This is a close-knit community and I know that they will offer every support to those dealing with the pain of losing a loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Once again it appears that two women have lost their lives in a violent attack. How many more women have to die before our Executive takes action to address gender-based violence?

Mr Finucane, the North Belfast MP, said the community was in shock.

He said: My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

Its important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.

North Belfast DUP MLA Paula Bradley said it was "extremely sad news" to hear of the deaths.

"It just brings that reality home again to us in Northern Ireland that violence against women and girls cannot be tolerated," she told the BBC.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken spoke of his shock. He said: This is terrible news - the loss of three lives is an awful tragedy for the community.

Alliance Policing Board member John Blair said it was the most sad and shocking set of circumstances adding: My thoughts are with family and friends of victims in what they are going through right now.

He said there was a great sense of shock throughout the Newtownabbey community."
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HOUSTON  When President Joe Biden rescinded former President Donald Trumps ban on immigrant visas from many majority-Muslim countries on his very first day in office, those eagerly waiting the change were elated.

I was so happy, so happy, said Safieh Mohammadi, a U.S. green card holder who lives in Houston and has been separated for five years from her Iranian husband, Bahram, who is currently in Canada. I started to actually do something since I knew that my husband was coming. So I went to shop, got a cover for my bed. I wanted to do something, you know, because I thought he's gonna come.

But Bidens reversal of one of Trumps signature actions hasnt resulted in a flood of airport reunions or any quick changes to his visa application. Instead, like almost all of the families who were impacted by the ban, their case is stuck in limbo. Her case is pending, and she has no idea when her family will be together again.

Image: Safieh Mohammadi, who lives in Houston, and her daughter, Lili, video chat Bahram, who is currently in Canada. (Randy Foster / NBC News)

I have to take care of my child, go to work, go to school and manage the whole thing like a single mom, she said. I'm not a single mom. So it is really hard. I just want my family back. Thats it. We came here legally and my husband wants to come here legally.

Mohammadi is just one of thousands of people across America still living in separation from their loved ones due to what was broadly dubbed the former presidents Muslim ban. Her sister Massy, a U.S. citizen, has been separated from her adult children for years.

Trumps executive order in 2017 sparked mass protests at airports and in major cities across the country. Several iterations of the ban were challenged through the legal system and struck down in courts, but one version was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Different countries were added to the list, with what was ultimately known as Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983 banning most immigration from 13 countries: Myanmar, Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela and Yemen.

Story continues

As of last September, more than 40,000 applications were denied due to the bans, according to State Department figures. But that number doesnt include people with applications pending or the unknown number of people from these countries who never applied to begin with out of fear of rejection.

Those cases are included in whats become a tremendous immigrant visa backlog that has significantly ballooned during the last year, partly thanks to coronavirus travel and social distancing restrictions, closures and adjustments at embassies and consulates overseas.

Image: Safieh and Bahram Mohammadi and their daughter, Lili. (Courtesy Mohammadi family)

In January 2020, around 75,000 immigrant visa cases were pending at the National Visa Center ready for interviews, but as of February 2021, there were 473,000 cases, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services Julie Stufft announced at a briefing earlier this month. That number doesnt even include cases where the applicants have not yet had an interview or where individuals are still gathering the necessary documents.

A State Department official cited declining revenue due to the coronavirus as a reason for why this visa backlog is building, telling NBC News in a statement, The Bureau of Consular Affairs is primarily reliant on revenue from visa and passport fees to fund our operations. The dramatic reductions in fee revenues due to the pandemic will have continuing effects on our staffing and available resources for several years.

Contributing to the backlog was also Trumps freeze on green cards issued during the pandemic last year with the aim of shielding the U.S. labor market. Biden resumed issuing them in February.

Theres no timeline for how soon these cases could be addressed, only adding to the anxiety among people who have already been separated for years.

For Mosed Mohamed and his son, U.S. citizens who have been living in Californias Bay Area, every day without their family intact has been difficult. His Yemeni wife has been living in Cairo, separated from them while they face numerous health issues.

While Biden rescinding the bans has offered some hope, and Mosed recently received an email from the embassy to resubmit his wifes paperwork, he describes the waiting game as brutal, running in a tunnel with all darkness, there is no end of it.

We're not asking for anything else  just to be together with the family, the single family, thats it, he said. Just watching your kids, in front of your eyes, you know, it's hard. I mean, we work hard to get to America, to live the dream, but not for me or for my son only. I need my wife to be there, because without her, I mean, the family's not there, it's nothing.

Mohameds immigration attorney, Lina Baroudi, who represents a number of cases related to the travel ban, said he is her only client who has received a recent update.

What I'm seeing is a tragedy across the board, she said. I don't want to just frame it as it's a sad situation because it's more than that, it's infuriating. Because this is something that can be changed by the U.S. government, and they need to take responsibility and accountability. ... I have all kinds of cases, you know, spouses trying to reunite with their spouses, with their children. I have a few cases of U.S. citizen parents who have petitioned for their children. Their adult children are basically in limbo waiting to come here.

Image: Bahram Mohammadi with his daughter Lili. (Courtesy Mohammadi family)

Safieh Mohammadi even wrote a personal letter to Biden asking him for help speeding up her case. I know hes busy with Covid and everything in the country, but I asked him if it's possible to do something for us, she said.

Her immigration attorney, Mana Yegani, called the situation heartbreaking because America is a place for where we pride ourselves on family unity, and we can see that families being separated like this really takes a toll on people.

If the Trump travel ban was not imposed, Bahram would be in the United States right now with a green card, she said. His case was basically on the brink of getting a visa when the travel ban was signed, and that delayed his case for years. And now unfortunately he's fallen into the backlog of the system.
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Nerja mayor Jose Alberto Armijo and Urban Planning councillor Nieves Atencia are to appear before judges accused of crimes against the environment and natural resources for their involvement in the illegal Rio de la Miel rubbish dump scandal.

If found guilty, they, along with seven local construction business owners, could be sentenced to two years in prison. The politicians could also face an 18-month ban from public office while the others could be banned from their professions for the same period.

The public prosecutor has also called for both Atencia and Armijo to pay a 7,300-euro fine, while the companies believed to have dumped the largest amount of waste could face fines of 18,250 euros. No date has been set for the hearing as yet, which will take place in a court in Malaga.

Construction companies started using the site, which is located in the Sierra Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama natural park, in June 1998 and over 800,000 cubic metres of waste accumulated between then and September 2016.
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Karnataka bornDattatreya



Hosabale was on Saturday elected as the'Sarkaryawah' (General Secretary) of theRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

He was until now the Sah-Sarakaryavah (Joint General Secretary) of the Sangh.

The election took place at the two-day annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the Sangh's highest decision-making body that began here on Friday.

"Bangaluru : Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of RSS elected Shri Dattatreya Hosabale as its Sarkaryavah.

He was Sah Sarkaryavah of RSS since 2009," RSS tweeted.

Hosabale will replace the 73-year-old Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi, who wasSarkaryawah for four terms,with each term having three years.

Sarkaryawah post is considered as Sangh's number 2 in command afterSarsanghchalak (Chief of RSS) which is currently held by Mohan Bhagwat.

Though ABPS is an annual meet held at different places, but every third year it is held at RSS headquarters in Nagpur as election of Sarkaryawah will take place.

However, it was shifted to Bengaluru this time in the wake of surging COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra.

Born inSorab in Shivamogga,Hosabale, aged 65-years, a post graduate in English literature, has grown in Sangh, which he joined in 1968 He was initially associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), student wing of the RSS, and became an organiser in RSS.

(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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New Delhi:

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Wednesday informed that BRICSs New Development Bank (NDB) would extend 470 million USD for rural drinking water projects in the state.

He wrote on Twitter that BRICS Bank is extending sovereign loan of US$ 470 million to Rural Drinking Water Scheme in Madhya Pradesh that would benefit 30 lakh people of the state.

BRICS Bank is extending sovereign loan of US$470 million to Rural Drinking Water Scheme in Madhya Pradesh. It will benefit 30 lakh citizens, he tweeted.

The scheme comes under the aegis of BRICS which has approved USD 1.2 billion for India.

BRICS Bank is extending sovereign loan of US$470 million to Rural Drinking Water Scheme in Madhya Pradesh. It will benefit 30 lakh citizens.  CMO Madhya Pradesh (@CMMadhyaPradesh) September 6, 2017

Earlier, the BRICS bank had informed that four infrastructure and sustainable development projects have been approved for three developing nations by the Board of Directors.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
She had been a server and master grill operator at the Waffle House, Mr. Beck said, arriving in the morning blasting gospel music and often buying eggs and grits for homeless people who had no money for food. She was raising a son by herself, but she also kept a motherly eye on Mr. Beck, checking in regularly to make sure he was OK.

Image Delaina Ashley Yaun, left, with her sister, Dana Toole. Credit... via Dana Toole

Her big dream, Mr. Beck said, was to get married. And last year, she did just that, marrying Mario Gonzalez, whom Mr. Beck said she had met at the Waffle House when he showed up as a customer. They soon had a daughter. It was real love, Mr. Beck said.

Tuesday was a date  they were going to get massages together.

Paul Andre Michels, 54, an electrician, was also killed at the spa on Tuesday. He was a workaholic, said his brother Fred Michels. He grew up as the seventh of nine children in a working-class Catholic family in Detroit that had a long history of building and fixing things. His father painted Cadillacs at a General Motors plant, his mother kept the family fed with pierogies and stuffed cabbage, and he went off to join the Army.

Mr. Michels returned to Detroit but eventually settled in Atlanta, his brother said, marrying and starting his own electrical business.

Image Paul Andre Michels Credit... Kennesaw Police Department, via Facebook

As the employees met with patrons inside the business, Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30, was out front, walking to a money exchange business next door. He had come to the area from Guatemala about 10 years ago, like most immigrants living here, his wife, Flor Gonzalez, said, leaving home to look for a better life.

He found work as a mechanic, sending some money to his family in Guatemala and taking care of his family here  the couple had been planning for next weeks birthday of their daughter Yoseline.
New Delhi:

An assistant Commissioner rank police officer of Tamil Nadu has landed himself in a controversy after he was caught on camera allegedly groping a female colleague during anti-NEET protest at Coimbatores Gandhipuram.

According to sources, the act was captured on September 4 when people were holding protests following the death of a 17-year-old Dalit girl, Anitha  who took NEET to Supreme Court.

The ACP was part of the Tamil Nadu police deployed at Gandhipuram to control the protesters to prevent any untoward incident.

In the video, one can see the Coimbatore ACP is allegedly groping a sub-inspector rank police woman officer while he was trying to manage the protesters.

The woman officer can be seen trying hard to push away his hand constantly in the one minute long video.

Till the time report was filed the woman sub-inspector had not lodged any complaint against her senior officer.

Coimbatore city Police Commissioner A. Amalraj talking to News Nation said, We are investigating the matter.

(Inputs from Sree Prapanch. C)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Actor Adah Sharma recently asked her fans, "If you were an non human animal, who would you be?" and went on to share her spirit animal. On March 20, she took to her Instagram handle and shared her pictures and compared them to pictures of the animal she would be if she wasn't born as a human. Sharing images of spirit animal, Adah Sharma said that she thinks she would be an Aye-Aye.

Adah Sharma wants to be an Aye-Aye

Aye-Aye aka Daubentonia madagascariensis is the world's largest nocturnal primate. It is a long-fingered lemur, a strepsirrhine primate from Madagascar. Aye-Aye has rodent-like teeth that perpetually grow and a special thin middle finger.

Talking about Aye-Aye, Adah Sharma said, "These guys are nocturnal creatures, they have long elongated middle fingers". The actor also further added, "They are solitary creatures and rarely socialize". As mentioned in Adah Sharma's Instagram post, the locals think these nocturnal primates are evil, which makes the star sad.

Fans' reactions

Fans and followers of Adah Sharma were quick to share their response to the quirky post. One of the users wrote, "yee kyaa hai bhai, ye ese janvar toh naa dikhao" (what is this, do not show us such animals), while another added, "Thanks for the nightmares". One of Adah's fans suggested, "You would be a peacock". Another fan asked, "The real question though- Are you evil?". Take a look at some more fans' reactions below.

Image credit - Adah Sharma's Instagram comment section

Adah Sharma often shares hilarious and quirky posts on social media. Recently the actor made a parody video of a grocery shopping makeup look. Here, she is seen doing an epic makeup fail video and making her fans go ROFL. Sharing the video on Instagram, she said, "Tag someone who should try this look to go grocery shopping #100YearsOfAdahSharma #adahsharma

DISCLAIMER: This is a PARODY video. Parody ka matlab hai kissi cheez/insaan ki nakal utaarna aur mazaak karna. If anyone got offended drink some neem juice. Why does my reel thumbnail get weirdly stretched?".

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.
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary NASA Flight Director Glynn Lunney, 84, died Friday, March 19.

Lunney was a flight director for the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission, and was lead flight director for Apollo 7, the first crewed Apollo flight, and Apollo 10, the dress rehearsal for the first Moon landing, in NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. He led the mission control team credited with key actions that made it possible to save three Apollo 13 astronauts aboard a spacecraft disabled on the way to the Moon.

Throughout his career, he was a key leader of NASA human spaceflight operations, beginning as a member of the original Space Task Group at NASA's Langley Research Center established shortly after NASA was formed to manage America's efforts to put humans into space. After moving to Houston, the task group eventually became the Manned Spacecraft Center, now NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

"Glynn was the right person for the right time in history. His unique leadership and remarkably quick intellect were critical to the success of some of the most iconic accomplishments in human space flight," said Johnson Director Mark Geyer. "Although he retired from the agency many years ago, he is forever a member of the NASA family. While he was one of the most famous NASA alumni, he was also one of the most humble people I have ever worked with. He was very supportive of the NASA team and was so gracious in the way he shared his wisdom with us."

Using the call sign "Black Flight," he was selected in the Class of 1963 with John Hodge and Gene Kranz, and became NASA's fourth flight director. Flight directors are responsible for leading teams of flight controllers, research and engineering experts, and support personnel around the world, and making real-time decisions critical to keeping NASA astronauts and missions safe and successful in space.

Lunney worked on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs. He retired from NASA in 1985 as manager of the Space Shuttle Program, but continued to lead human spaceflight activities in private industry with Rockwell International and, later, United Space Alliance until his retirement in 1995.

At NASA, he also was a flight director for Apollo missions Apollo-Saturn-201, 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, and 15. He served as lead flight director for Gemini missions 10 and 12, and was a flight director for Gemini missions 9 and 11.

He took on a leadership role in the planning and negotiations that led to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) which culminated in the docking of an American Apollo and a Russian Soyuz spacecraft July 17, 1975. The effort led the way for today's cooperative international efforts on the International Space Station.

One of the most notable events in his career came April 13, 1970, after an oxygen tank in the Apollo 13 service module exploded on the way to the Moon. His team reacted quickly and effectively to prepare the astronauts and their spacecraft to complete a safe-return trajectory around the Moon and return home safely. Under Lunney's direction, the team innovated and worked with the astronauts to deliberately shut down the command module systems so that the lunar module could be used as a lifeboat for the crew during the journey home to Earth. His team's work was widely credited with keeping the crew alive and safe while longer-term plans were developed for a successful reentry and splashdown.

Lunney received the Presidential Medal of Freedom as part of the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team.

In Lunney's own words from his NASA oral history:

"I felt that the Black Team shift immediately after the explosion and for the next 14 hours was the best piece of operations work I ever did or could hope to do. It posed a continuous demand for the best decisions often without hard data and mostly on the basis of judgment, in the face of the most severe in-flight emergency faced thus far in manned space flight. There might have been a 'better' solution, but it still is not apparent what it would be. Perhaps, we could have been a little quicker at times but we were consciously deliberate."

He was born Nov. 27, 1936, in Old Forge, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.

Concurrences:

Kelly Humphries/JSC PAO

James Hartsfield/JSC PAO Director

John Uri/JSC History Office

Mark Geyer, JSC Director

Lunney Family

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


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An alleged dissident republican who faces terrorism charges has been denied bail by a court in Belfast amid concerns he will leave the jurisdiction.

Kieran McCool, 52, appeared before Laganside Court on charges linked to the New IRA.

The father-of-four, from the Ballymagowan Gardens area of Londonderry, was arrested under the Terrorism Act on Thursday.

He was charged on suspicion of a number of terrorist offences on Friday.

These included preparatory acts of terrorism, possession of explosives with intent and possession of articles likely to be of use to terrorists.

The court was told that among the number of items recovered from his home included a pair of black gloves.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Hamilton said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges.

Man arrested in Creggan, Derry/Londonderry under the Terrorism Act charged to appear at court pic.twitter.com/sdLTSLGhMm  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) March 19, 2021

The detective opposed bail over concerns he would leave Northern Ireland, that he would reoffend and concerns over a proposed bail address.

The court heard that McCools home was searched in January 2017, in which his car was seized and examined.

A forensic examination of the car found low level traces of the explosive substances PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate).

The court heard that PETN is a highly explosive compound often found in detonator cords or with explosives linked to Semtex.

A search carried out on a property in December 2017 recovered component parts of an improvised explosive device in a cupboard.

This included a number of commercial timers and a partially constructed timer power unit.

Police recovered the pair of black industrial-type gloves in the kitchen in McCools home in April 2018.

Forensic examination of the gloves uncovered traces of PETN on the inside and outside of gloves.

The court heard that the DNA profile matched the accused.

Detective Hamilton said that McCool has been the subject of a large number of stop and searches by police officers in Derry and Strabane.

He said that McCool has made comments to police about them being blown up.

Expand Close The PSNI said McCool has been the subject of a large number of stop and searches (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The PSNI said McCool has been the subject of a large number of stop and searches (Niall Carson/PA)

He allegedly made comments such as dont forget to duck, things going bang and simulating an explosion with his hands.

This is a constant theme of his engagement with police, Detective Hamilton added.

I would describe it as a type of goading.

He also made comments like you can get out of prison, but you cant get out of a body bag.

A mobile phone was also seized in McCools home and included internet browsing searches for impact grenades and 14mm grenade.

The court was told McCool is associated with a number of Derry men who are currently charged with terrorist offences.

The men were charged last August in connection with a meeting of the New IRA executive council.

The court was also told McCool has attended protests associated with the same group, including a protest outside Maghaberry Prison.

Detective Hamilton said the items found at the accuseds home can be correlated to explosive devices.

The court also heard that the defendant did not answer any questions during police interview but made a prepared statement.

He also denied any part in engineering or having any role in making or designing explosives.

The detective told the court that police are concerned over his previous convictions, associations and risk he poses to the public.

Defence barrister Joe Brolly described the evidence as remarkably flimsy and untenable.

He said his client does not have a passport and suffers from a serious disability.

Mr Brolly said McCool has a serious spinal injury and needs to have wounds dressed daily and that he has not left the country in 12 years.

Mr Brolly also stated that his client has not absconded from the jurisdiction when charged with previous offences.

He also said that traces of PETN are widely found on surfaces and clothes which is a well-established scientific fact.

Mr Brolly said one of the items recovered included an egg timer, which was found in McCools kitchen.

Another item included the childrens toy, Lego ninjago container, which was found in August 2020.

These are items that the prosecution suggests he is involved in bomb making, we say thats entirely ridiculous, Mr Brolly added.

The judge described the charges as serious and refused the accused bail over flight risk concerns.

The case was adjourned until April 15.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 16:13:44|Editor: huaxia

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Rescuers work at the site of a bus accident in Passara, 357 km away from Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, March 20, 2021. At least 14 people were killed and over 30 injured when a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged down a precipice in Passara on Saturday. (Xinhua)

COLOMBO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and over 30 injured when a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged down a precipice in Passara, 357 km away from Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, on Saturday.

A police spokesman told Xinhua that the bus skidded off the road and plunged down a precipice at the 13th milepost on the Moneragala-Badulla Road. The accident was caused by negligence of the driver.

The deceased included nine men including the driver of the bus and five female passengers.

The injured have been admitted to nearby state hospitals.

An investigation is underway. Enditem
Saturday, March 20, 2021

Here are some excerpts from a memo written by Aaron Kohn, head of the Metropolitan Crime Commission of New Orleans, on May 31, 1967. On May 2, 1967 Kohn met with Walter Sheridan, who was in New Orleans working on the NBC documentary on Garrison, who had a question:

Huff had already informed the FBI:

Clearly, this fell under the jurisdiction of the FBI as it was a federal crime. But, the FBI was cowed by Garrison, and just wouldn't proceed with an investigation.

Kohn then went to the FBI with the allegations:

The FBI says it has two sources - but it does appear that Huff is the main source - since Kohn got his information from him. Regardless, the FBI had no interest in investigating this claim. This is yet another example of how the CIA and the FBI did not do what they could in either helping Clay Shaw, or in trying to stop the charade going on in New Orleans.
Pennsylvania is shifting its COVID-19 vaccine distribution to larger providers to speed up the rollout, but pharmacists argue the move will make it harder for some people to get the shots.

The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association said Friday the move will hamper access to many vulnerable people, including Black and Latino residents, seniors and those with disabilities. The group also said it will make it harder for those in rural areas to get vaccines.

While mass vaccination sites are important to large communities and can supplement other community-based provider vaccination efforts, the reality is that many Pennsylvanians do not live in large communities, nor have the ability to reach some of these sites, the association said in a statement.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is making the change in approach starting Monday. The health department said it is temporarily going to restrict vaccine supplies to 200-300 providers. The move will temporarily cut off supplies to hundreds of smaller providers.

Beginning Monday, most of the doses will go to entities including hospitals, government-supported mass vaccination clinics and some pharmacies. But some drug stores and some family physicians wont be getting shots temporarily. .

Pharmacies whose supply has been indefinitely suspended will have to disappoint the waiting lists of patients in the thousands that they now have to turn away, the pharmacists group said Friday.

Acting Pennsylvania Health Secretary Alison Beam said the approach is needed to get vaccines out faster. Gov. Tom Wolfs administration has received criticism over the pace of the rollout, although state officials say they are making progress.

What we have now is a stronger network of providers who cover 95 percent of the state and are located within a two-mile radius in urban areas, five-miles in suburban areas and 30-miles in rural areas, Beam said. Because there are fewer providers we will get more vaccine to them so they wont run out as quickly as they have in the past.

The health department said the providers receiving vaccines were chosen based on their ability to give out shots quickly, their geography and their access and ability to reach disadvantaged groups.

The pharmacists group urged the health department to reconsider its approach. They said keeping more pharmacists involved will help reduce vaccine hesitancy, saying people have relationships with their pharmacists and will listen to their reassurance about the safety of the shots.

Pharmacists are among the most universally trusted and accessible healthcare professionals, especially among rural and other at-risk communities including Latinos and African Americans, the association said int its statement.

Pharmacists have not been alone in criticizing the change in strategy. When state officials outlined the plan last month, family doctors and their advocates protested the move and said it would hamper access in areas that are vaccine deserts.

State officials are telling pharmacies, doctors and other suppliers to redirect patients to other providers that will be receiving vaccines. But the pharmacists group said thats not practical.

Unfortunately, in many instances, there is no other local vaccine provider to turn to for assistance, the group said.

As federal vaccine supplies have increased, Pennsylvania is getting more shots in arms.

To date, about 2.7 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine and more than 1.4 million people are fully vaccinated, according to the health department. The state data doesnt include Philadelphia, which receives its own vaccine supply and is doing its own rollout.

In Philadelphia, 415,676 have received at least one dose and 164,057 are fully vaccinated. Combining the city with the rest of the state, and more than 3.1 million Pennsylvanians have been given at least one shot and nearly 1.6 million are fully vaccinated.

The Wolf administration has reserved the first batch of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines - which require one dose - for teachers, school staff and child care workers. Wolfs office said Friday that effort is ahead of schedule and most school workers should be vaccinated by the end of March.

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After reports of serious blood clotting, Sweden on March 16 joined other European countries in halting the rollouts of AstraZeneca jabs. Swedens health agency announced that the country is pausing AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines as a precautionary measure. Nations including Germany, Italy, France Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and Latvia have already suspended the use of vaccine amid safety concerns.

AstraZeneca, on the other hand, has defended its coronavirus vaccine, saying that its analysis not only showed no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots in vaccine recipients but a lower number than in the general population. In a statement, AstraZeneca insisted that its vaccine was safe and added that the companys safety data showed zero evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or any in a particular country from the jab.

EMA, WHO and UK back AstraZeneca

The EMA has also clarified that there was currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine...The vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while an investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing. Additionally, the World Health Organization has backed the continued of the vaccine and said that of the millions of doses given out so far there was no clear evidence of an increased rate of blood clots. The WHO further added that the benefit of continuing to use AstraZeneca shot outweighed the risk.

On Tuesday, British PM Boris Johnson also defended the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine saying that the jabs were highly effective in bringing down both disease and deaths. The British leader asserted that the shots are not harmful and were being used across the world. Writing in his op-ed in the British daily The Times, Johnson stressed that the vaccine was absolutely safe and worked extremely well.
Maybe it shouldnt be so surprising, though. During that period, you had the backlash against opioids, said Donna M. Fick, a researcher who directs the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence at Penn State. With addiction and overdoses so prevalent, clinicians are wary of prescribing them to older adults anymore, so people are looking for a solution.

The inexorable increase in legalization plays a part, too. In November, voters in four states (Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota) approved recreational use; the Virginia Legislature did the same last month, with the governor expected to sign the bill.

That would bring the total to 16 states, plus the District of Columbia, that permit adult use marijuana. Mississippi and South Dakota legalized medical cannabis in November, too, joining 34 other states.

Its easier to get and its also less stigmatized, Dr. Jesdale said. With less punitive policies and just-say-no rhetoric, people who used in their youth and may have stepped away might have come back, now that its not Demon Weed anymore, he added.

There are no data yet on how the pandemic, with its stress and isolation, affected use among older people. But legal cannabis sales grew by 20 percent last year, according to the National Cannabis Industry Association. Leaf411, a nonprofit, nurse-staffed information hotline, received 50 percent more calls, most from older adults.

Researchers therefore expect the numbers will show greater geriatric use. Mental health surveys of older people last year showed rising anxiety and depression, conditions frequently cited as reasons to try cannabis.

Ive definitely seen my patients who were stable returning for tuneups, said Eloise Theisen, president of the American Cannabis Nurses Association and a geriatric nurse-practitioner in Walnut Creek, Calif. Their anxiety was worse. Their insomnia was worse.
It is just past mid-March, about ten weeks into a new U.S. Congress and eight weeks into America's forty-sixth presidential administration. Washington is now controlled by a ruling power monopoly owned by iron-willed Democrats, who dominate both legislative houses and a bizarre head-scratcher of a presidency.

In this period, Americans have witnessed a mostly peaceful demonstration on Capitol grounds declared as "violent" by pols and pundits who, contrariwise, termed last summer's violent urban upheavals as "mostly peaceful." In an unprecedented dual bit of history-making, a (1) former president received his (2) second impeachment under a fatuous accusation of "incitement"  this, despite ardent suspicions that the Capitol invasion may have been preconceived and conducted by violent actors unsympathetic to the Trump campaign, and sprung before the president had finished speaking.

Determined to consolidate power and close all gaps, Democrats have since begun launching a bewildering fire-hose spray of legislation and executive orders seemingly expressing every point in the radical leftists' wish list.

It's revenge politics at its ugliest, with media censorship and cancel culture on steroids, and with federal law enforcement now staging SWAT raids on the domiciles of arbitrarily selected critics of the new uncivil order, freedoms and rights be damned. MAGA supporters are being erased as Orwellian unpersons.

America's patriots are depressed, bewildered. How did we get here?

I am no less chagrined than the next observer. In a post shortly after the election, I noted the inescapable contrast between the Trump and Biden campaigns, the first outclassing the second with insuperable energy, optimism, and audience size. Trump supporters went to bed on Election Night, content with the president's dominant lead, only to awaken to the stupefying realization the next day that the lead had abruptly and mysteriously vanished in the night. Then began fervid reports of manifold irregularities. Friendly legal teams sought redress in courts, only to be arbitrarily swatted away over "standing" and "procedural technicalities." Finally, the Electoral College's automatons mechanically stamped their imprimatur, followed by uncritical acceptance in Congress.

In the two months between November 3 and January 6, it seemed to many, including myself, that corrective actions would smoke out the glaring inconsistencies, internal contradictions, and procedural irregularities of the voting and ballot counting processes. But it became unwaveringly apparent: the "fix" was in and any objector was subject to cancellation and being flatly dismissed as a fevered "conspiracy theorist."

Okay, call me a conspiracy theorist. In that article, I noted that Democrats have long made an industry of cheating in elections. Serial successes without consequence would simply embolden the cheaters until their brazenness would ultimately be checked. I termed it "political organized crime." This should be their moment of reckoning, I suggested. Once the cat was out of the bag, it would be game over for them.

Except this wasn't the moment. With their objectives fulfilled, the Democrat pols, with their media and Big Tech confederates, can now relax their efforts at concealment; they no longer need to hide their escapade. "Yes, we did it and we'll do it again. It's to save Democracy," proclaimed an unapologetic confessional published by Time Magazine.

"Donald Trump and his supporters have been checkmated and it was for the good of the nation, and for theirs as well," asserts the narrative. The founders' notion of democratic governance through the consent of the governed, however well-intentioned, has proven naive, archaic, and unsuited to the modern age. The American experiment has failed, evidence being the people's inability to make sound voting decisions, exemplified by their readiness to elect reprobates like Mr. Trump.

"Rule, therefore, can only be entrusted to the wise philosophers and technical experts responsibly occupying the nation's centers of erudition and power," goes the pitch. "This is our road to Utopia. Learn it and accept it."

Where do we go from here?

I offer a passage from Scripture. From Chapter 8 of St. John's Gospel,

... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

This is admittedly from a different context but it has relevance in any conflict between truth and deliberate falsity. And today's is such a confrontation, with our patriotic notions of truth and justice assailed by the deceitful confection shoved onto us by the Democrats' army of ballot manipulators.

Call this gaslighting effect "battered patriot syndrome." It's a problem for us.

The first steps in solving a problem are to admit there is a problem and to define it, both in nature and magnitude. We need real objective, verifiable truth, not the flexible, slippery truth of the postmodernist demagogues of moral relativism. There's been a crime committed, a big one, and by agents who have violated the commandments against theft and against bearing false witness, doing it with impunity, and with the attitude that their roles and actions are done at a level of righteousness higher than the "quaint, archaic and now-irrelevant moral standards" under which we patriots were reared.

Frequent AT contributor Jay Valentine, a professional sleuth of fraudulent enterprises, has authored a series of penetrating articles on the nature and scope of this scam. In a recent piece, he identifies it as a "sovereign crime of industrial-scale vote fraud."

Valentine and other investigators are in pursuit of that real, objective, verifiable truth. The truths they extract will become the swords and spears in the patriots' arsenal.

This seeming political mafia has constructed its edifice on falsehood, deception, and internal contradictions; it is now heir to the consequent imperative to labor feverishly in keeping it all patched, taped together, and oiled. Regardless of unalloyed cooperation with mendacious news media, censorious social media, and the strong-arm SWATs of the federal securitate, its inevitable ruptures and internal conflicts will become increasingly conspicuous. This is the fate of all leftist fabrications. The optics are wretched.

The U.S. Capitol is now a restricted federal area, with guards and security fences. What was the People's House has become occupied territory, what I now term the "American Kremlin."

America now waits for its newest president to be  er  presidential. His impression of a semi-coherent sock puppet is unsettling. Here is what may be a clumsy green-screen simulation of a faked press encounter. One can only wonder whether his first State of the Union Address will be a digital creation in the severely-controlled Capitol space, perhaps a CGI holographic analog of Max Headroom.

Opportunity knocks for us. Trump-haters waged a four-year war to sully a duly elected president with an engineered "Russian collusion" hoax and other fictions, in order to brand that presidency as "illegitimate." It's payback time. Now they must defend their verifiably illegitimate presidency against a fusillade of certifiable facts. This may be lost on "truth over facts" Joe Biden, who seems confused by the subtlety, but the truth may one day even set him free.

Patriots have the unsurpassed American model for success. The radical left only has a system of deceit and corruption that ruins everything it touches, and invariably fails.

The advantage is ours. Our weapons are the implements of truth. Expertly applied, they will precipitate the crumbling of the left's phony fool's-gold edifice onto its feet of clay.

Image: House of sand by Phil Hearing on Unsplash, edited by Andrea Widburg.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Prosecutors say a man suspected in the deaths of four people in New Mexico and one in New Jersey has claimed to be responsible for 11 more killings.

Chief of Detectives Thomas Gilbert, of the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office in New Jersey, said 47-year-old Sean Lannon told detectives he had killed 11 drug dealers around Grants.

He not only acknowledged that he had done the total of five but indicated he had done a number of other homicides, Gilbert said. The authorities now have to explore the veracity of his claim.

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Grants Police Lt. David Chavez said they have no indications that Lannons claims are true. He said there are no other recent missing persons cases or homicides that they are aware of.

Is it possible? Sure its possible. Is it probable? No, probably not, Chavez said, adding that they will look into the matter.

Lannon is currently suspected in the deaths of his ex-wife Jennifer Lannon, 39, Matthew Miller, 21, Jesten Mata, 40, and Randal Apostalon, 60.

The four were found in Apostalons truck  some of them dismembered  on March 5 when security guards noticed a foul odor in a parking garage at the Albuquerque International Sunport. Charges have yet to be filed in the case.

The admissions  which Gilbert said happened in an interview with detectives in Missouri  came out during a pretrial detention hearing for Lannon in New Jersey.

Prosecutors there are trying to keep Lannon behind bars in the homicide of Michael Dabkowski, 66, who was found beaten to death at his East Greenwich home on March 9.

Lannon is charged with an open count of murder, burglary, possession of a weapon and motor vehicle theft in Dabkowskis death.

Authorities say Lannon and his three children hopped a flight from the Sunport to New Jersey the day before the bodies were found in the parking garage.

Over the next few days, prosecutors say Lannon killed Dabkowski and stole his car, which he was found in March 10 in St. Louis, Missouri.

During the hearing, Gilbert said Lannons defense counsel claimed he had been sexually abused by Dabkowski as a child and had gone to the mans home to retrieve photographs. He said the defense counsel claimed that led to a confrontation that ended with Lannon killing Dabkowski.

Gilbert said Sean and Jennifer Lannon grew up in that part of New Jersey and knew Dabkowski, who had at times afforded a helping hand to Sean Lannon before the couple moved to the Grants area.

Chavez, of the Grants Police Department, said they are still looking for 45-year-old Daniel Lemos for questioning in the deaths of Miller, Mata and Jennifer Lannon.

The three were all from Grants and knew one another, but he said they arent sure how Apostalon fits in.

Grants police had been looking for Miller, Mata and Jennifer Lannon since last month and, on Feb. 26, said Lemos  a relative of Millers who knew all three  was wanted for questioning.
By Matthew Tostevin and Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police used water cannon and charged toward protesters who had gathered near the King's Palace in Bangkok on Saturday to call for the release of protest leaders and demand reform of the monarchy.

Hundreds of police in riot gear and shields advanced on different fronts against protesters to push people away from the Grand Palace. In some places they faced off with protesters who threw firecrackers.

More than 1,000 protesters had gathered near the palace in Bangkok in an area known as Sanam Luang, or Royal Field.

"We will arrest anyone on the streets," police said over loudspeakers as multiple lines of police advanced, pushing people back.

Police used shields, batons, rubber bullets and tear gas and detained five protesters, police deputy spokesman Kissana Pattanacharoen told reporters.

"We repeatedly issued warnings before escalating our response," he said, adding that protesters used metal bars and threw stones and marbles.

The demonstrations comes after parliament this week failed to pass a bill to rewrite the military-backed constitution, one of the protesters' main demands.

A mass trial for protest leaders began this week against activists who were accused of sedition and insulting the monarchy.

Were demanding real democracy and not a government that says it is elected but comes from the army, said a man who gave his name only as Kung, 60. The world has changed and we want the same kind of monarchy as in Western countries.

A portrait of the king near the protest area was defaced.

Thailand's youth protest movement has posed the biggest challenge so far to Prime Minster Prayuth Chan-ocha. Protesters say he engineered a process that would preserve the political status quo and keep him in power after a 2019 election. Prayuth has rejected that.

Protesters also demanded reform of the monarchy, breaking a traditional taboo, saying the constitution drafted by the military after the 2014 coup gives the king too much power.

The Royal Palace has declined to directly comment on the protests, but Prayuth and government officials have said that criticism of the king is unlawful and inappropriate.

(Reporting by Matthew Tostevin and Chayut Setboonsarng. Editing by Christina Fincher, Frances Kerry and Mark Potter)
China and the United States pledged to set up a working group on climate change as agreement was reached in some areas during two days of talks, though both sides noted a wide gap on many contentious issues, SCMP reports.

After the meeting ended on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his team received a defensive response when it raised contentious issues, but added that the two sides saw areas of common interest. Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi called the talks direct, frank and constructive before vowing to safeguard our national sovereignty.

The first high-level talks between the Chinese and President Joe Bidens administration, in Anchorage, Alaska, ended soon after noon local time, with Beijing later releasing a statement saying the two nations would step up cooperation on climate change by establishing a joint working group.

Beijing also said arrangements were discussed for the countries diplomats and consular staff to receive Covid-19 vaccines, and to facilitate exchanges between those missions and other groups, including the media. It said travel and visa policies were also on the table, raising the prospect that restrictions could be eased.

Blinken called the talks a very candid conversation on an expansive agenda.

We certainly know, and knew going in, that there are a number of areas where we are fundamentally at odds, he said, citing Xinjiang, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet and Chinas actions in cyberspace. And it was no surprise, when we raised those issues directly, we got a defensive response.

Blinken said the two sides also discussed areas where their interests aligned, including Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and climate change, as well as areas of difference, such as trade and economics.
Coalition Aims to Prod US Government on San Onofre Nuclear Waste Removal

A newly formed coalition of stakeholders is calling on the federal government to get serious about removing millions of pounds of radioactive waste from a closed nuclear power plant on Southern Californias coast.

Doug Bauder, vice president and chief nuclear officer for Southern California Edison (SCE), told The Epoch Times that the coalition wants to see real actionincluding funds appropriated in next years federal budgetto expedite the nuclear waste removal process from the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

We think that a separate nuclear waste program should be formed under the federal government because simply whats happening now under the DOE [Department of Energy] umbrella has not worked, Bauder said March 16. I can tell you already the coalition formation has been substantial.

The Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now group includes local government officials and business leaders in Orange and San Diego counties who want to see the spent nuclear fuel moved away from heavily populated coastal cities to a more permanent storage facility. The coalition blames federal agencies, including the DOE, for delaying plans to remove the radioactive waste from nuclear reactors across the United States for more than 20 years.

Bauder said the coalition cant solve the problem alone, but we have formed this alliance, and were going to join forces with advocates for better legislation.

We really think this is the way to put the appropriate pressure on the federal government and the administration to take action. We want a diverse coalition of stakeholders. We feel thats whats going to be needed to move federal and state legislators to make the right decisions, he said.

San Onofre is one of 14 nuclear power plants set to be decommissioned in the United States. The twin nuclear reactor power plant sits on 84 acres in northern San Diego County leased to SCE by the U.S. Navy. Currently, the spent nuclear fuel is securely stored in 123 sealed stainless-steel canisters that are housed in reinforced concrete structures and certified safe for at least another 80 years, according to SCE.

Were specifically saying federal action is needed so that we can fully decommission the station, restore the land, and return it to the U.S. Navy, Bauder said.

SCE, a subsidiary of Edison International, owns a 78 percent stake in the San Onofre plant, while San Diego Gas & Electric and the city of Riverside own about 20 percent and 2 percent, respectively. When the San Onofre plant was shut down in 2012, it was providing enough power for about 1.5 million homes.

Bauder said he understands that long delays in the decommissioning process are a little bit infuriating for the average resident, but the spent nuclear fuel has to be removed before the task can be completed.

You know, its our obligation to restore the environment here, and we cant do that. We can do part of it. Were tearing down the structures that are basically above ground and were doing a whole lot of remediation there, and thats a lot of work, he said.

Frustrated Residents

Ultimately, its the federal governments responsibility to take possession of the nuclear waste and dispose of it, Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett told The Epoch Times.

The residents of South Orange CountySan Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, plus all of the north county cities in San Diego Countyare extremely frustrated, and they have an absolute right to be frustrated, Bartlett said.

The supervisor, who is co-chair and founding member of the coalition, lives in Dana Point, not far from San Onofre.

Im very concerned. I mean, I live right in the 10-mile hot zone radius, she said. This is an issue that I was working on from 2006 to 2014 when I was on the Dana Point City Council, and Ive been working on it for six years now as a county supervisor. It is very frustrating for everyone involved here not to be able to get to a solution.

Bartlett said decisive action from Congress and the Biden administration is needed to make the SONGS decommissioning a priority.

We have an active military base with Camp Pendleton, and this entire region down there only has one freeway, the Interstate 5, so its not like we have a lot of options if theres an emergency, she said.

Im very hopeful that this administration, hearing from a very strong coalition of bipartisan support, will work with us to help solve this issue. Its going to require some enabling legislation that would accomplish several things, including funding, selecting storage sites, and approving a plan to transport the spent nuclear fuel.

Bartlett especially hopes Vice President Kamala Harris will take notice.

Because she is from California, I think shell take a very keen interest in assisting our efforts, she said. Im sure her plate is very full right now, but I can tell you in the very near future, we hope to flag this to not only our local representatives in Congress, but also to key people in the Biden administration.

It will be up to both the Orange and San Diego County boards to approve new action plans, she said. The two counties are now banding together, along with some other very significant partnerswith San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and other very key stakeholders.

A New Set of Plans

SCE has released a fresh set of plans to remove the spent nuclear fuel from SONGS. The reports, prepared by North Wind consultants with input from Edison experts, include action, strategic, and conceptual transportation plans.

The strategic plan looks at feasibility options for relocating the nuclear waste, the transportation plan details how to safely ship the spent fuel canisters by rail, and the action plan covers the steps SCE intends to take to ensure the canisters are ready to move when the time comes, Bauder said.

What we wanted was sort of a one-stop shop for all the work, he said. Think of it as a funnel. Every available option was reviewed, and a lot of thought was put into what are the best options to pursue  so that others can keep the plan moving throughout the years, so that we dont have to go back and reinvent it.

The plans indicate the time frame for removing the spent nuclear fuel could take 20 yearsif the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses temporary consolidated interim storage sites in New Mexico or Texas.

SCE spokesman John Dobken told The Epoch Times the companys planned timeline would fully decommission the site by 2051.

Thats why interim storage facilities seem much more feasible, to fit into that time frame, to relocate fuel from SONGS to a location like that while a permanent federal repository is being developed, Dobken said.

Bauder said the ideal solution would be for the federal government to decide on a permanent repository site. But, he added, in no way does it dilute our commitment to safely storing the fuel here. We will do that as long as we need to.

A Decades-Old Problem

The DOE has been contractually bound to begin removing waste from commercial reactors since 1998. However, theres still no permanent federal nuclear waste repository, although utility customers have sunk billions into the Nuclear Waste Fund to pay for it.

Plans to ship nuclear waste to the now-abandoned Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository project on federal land adjacent to the Nevada Test Sitewhere nuclear bombs were tested in the 1950simploded after Western Shoshone Native American tribes opposed it. The site is located in Nye County, about 100 miles north of Las Vegas.

Former Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) strongly opposed the Yucca Mountain project, which was approved by Congress in 2002. President Barack Obamas administration pulled federal funding for it in April 2011.

That same month, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded in a report that the shutdown was not made for safety reasons, and could delay the opening of a nuclear waste repository by more than two decades and cost billions of dollars.

Representatives for the DOE didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.

More than $10 billion was spent on Yucca Mountain. Dobken confirmed about $43 billion remains in the fund for a repository, including about $1 billion from SCE customers once served by the San Onofre plant.

Although Yucca Mountain isnt off the table, Bauder said its highly unlikely that the project will be revived. He said that a permanent repository should be built in a place where the surrounding communities welcome it and understand the reasons for it.

So all those things are important when we start talking about storing fuel. Certainly, theres no reason to think that one is not as safe as the other, Bauder said.

The only remaining operating nuclear plant in California is the Diablo Canyon facility in San Luis Obisbo. The plant, owned by Pacific Gas & Electric, is set to close by 2025. The state now prohibits new nuclear generation.
NILES, MI  Two men were arrested and arraigned this week on charges related to a home invasion and armed robbery.

About 10:20 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 700 Block of Broadway Street on a report of a home invasion with a shot being fired, the Niles Police Department said in a news release.

Upon arriving, officers found two black male victims, both 21 years old, who had been assaulted.

The suspects were described as two white males, one about 5-11 and the other about 6-3 tall, both with stocky builds, beards and wearing ski masks and dark clothing, police said.

One of the suspects was allegedly armed with a knife and the other was allegedly armed with a handgun and at least one shot was fired during the incident, police said. Police said one of the suspects allegedly fired the shot.

The victims said they were robbed of a quantity of marijuana, cash, and property, police said.

Both victims were assaulted, requiring them to be transported to area hospitals by ambulance for treatment, police said.

One victim was later flown to a hospital in Indianapolis due to the extent of his injuries. The injuries were the result of being physically assaulted, and not due to the gunshot, police said.

Through an investigation, detectives with the Niles Police Department and Michigan State Police Niles Post discovered a third victim, a 21-year-old white female who had fled the apartment before police arrived. The female had also been assaulted during the incident and sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Detectives identified Randy Dean McGrath and Larry Ray Sarters as potential suspects in the case. Search warrants for the homes of both men were obtained and during the early morning hours of March 17 those search warrants were executed, one in Niles Township by members of the Berrien County Tactical Response Unit, and the other in Cass County by members of the Michigan State Police Emergency Services tactical team.

Detectives from the Cass County Sheriffs Department assisted with the search of the Cass County residence. As a result, investigators located a handgun, a quantity of marijuana, and cash at both residences.

Police said the incident may have been related to a previous incident involving marijuana.

McGrath was arraigned in Berrien Countys 5th District Court in Niles on Thursday, March 18, and Sarters was arraigned Friday, March 19, police said.

McGrath and Sarters were each charged with one count of home invasion, two counts of armed robbery, and two counts of great bodily harm, police said.

McGrath and Sarters have pre-exams scheduled for March 31, police said.

Read more:

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Oregons frontline workers will become eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations on April 19, giving grocery store workers, bus drivers, waiters, waitresses and others access to the shots roughly two weeks before the general population will have its opportunity.

State officials announced earlier this week that they will open vaccine eligibility to everyone on May 1, following a directive from the White House. The announcement frustrated frontline workers who felt they hadnt been prioritized by the state and worried they would have to compete for doses with the general population.

But state officials announced Friday that they are accelerating their timeline for frontline workers to receive vaccinations to ensure workers who must interact with other people on a daily basis are prioritized ahead of the general population.

In terms of frontline workers, I want to say thank you, Gov. Kate Brown said. You literally have been on the frontlines since the beginning of the pandemic.  Oregon sees you and hears you and were incredibly grateful for your work.

Grocery store workers and others on the frontline have been pressuring the state for weeks to move up their timeline for vaccinating essential workers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that essential workers be included among the first groups to receive the vaccine. In Washington, grocery workers, public transit employees and other frontline workers who have regular contact with other people became eligible for the vaccines Wednesday.

Oregon had originally planned to make most frontline workers eligible for vaccines on May 1, while opening up vaccinations to the general population on July 1.

That drew criticism from unions and frontline workers themselves, who said they werent being prioritized by the state. Frustration grew earlier this week when the state announced that all Oregonians would become eligible for vaccines on May 1, the same date that frontline workers were supposed to become eligible.

Miles Eshaia, a spokesperson for UFCW Local 555, which represents grocery store workers at Fred Meyer, Safeway and Albertsons, said the union would still like to see the state make grocery store workers eligible for vaccines immediately, but called the new accelerated timeline that Brown announced Friday a step in the right direction.

Its a big step forward, Eshaia said. Before we were lumped in with everyone and there was going to be no priority whatsoever. The whole idea was, Hey, thanks for all your service to our community. Now, you get to fight for a vaccine along with everybody else. At least this way, we have a little bit of lead time to get our essential workers and our grocery workers that priority vaccine they deserve for interacting with this community so closely this whole time.

The majority of frontline workers, including grocery store employees, restaurant and bar staff, retail store employees, bus drivers, construction workers, government employees and news media will now become eligible to receive vaccines on April 19.

The vaccines will be available to agricultural workers even sooner.

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers that have already started working this harvest season will become eligible on March 22. Other farmworkers, food processing workers and other agricultural workers will become eligible on March 29.

Some of the largest COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in the state have occurred at food processing facilities and farms.

Frontline workers in certain Oregon counties may be able to access the vaccines before April 19.

State officials said Friday that counties that have mostly finished vaccinating elderly residents may begin vaccinating the next eligible groups starting March 22. People ages 45 to 64 with underlying health conditions will become eligible for vaccinations on March 29.

Bill Bradley, an executive board officer for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, which represents Oregon transit workers, said it is important that frontline workers are being prioritized above the general population. He said he is hopeful that many frontline workers outside of the Portland metro area will be able to access the vaccines sooner than April 19.

Its a bit positive news as we head into the weekend, Bradley said.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
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Almost three-quarters of EU countries are experiencing spiralling Covid infection rates, forcing vast swathes of the continent back into lockdown.

As a third wave sweeps across Europe, Britons were yesterday warned that foreign summer holidays are 'extremely unlikely'.

In France alone, 21 million people awoke yesterday to a fresh draconian lockdown. Millions more in Italy, Germany, Poland and Greece face severe restrictions.

Of the 27 EU member states, 20 have seen a surge in Covid cases in recent weeks. Fifteen have warned of a dramatic rise in intensive care admissions due to the virus.

Despite a ban on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine being largely lifted, there are fears that the suspension has slowed the EU's already snail-paced rollout

A government scientist has warned foreign trips are 'extremely unlikely' this summer as Europe struggles to control a surge in coronavirus cases. Pictured: Benidorm today

Will Germany now buy Sputnik? German police wielding water cannon, pepper spray and batons clashed with tens of thousands of lockdown protesters yesterday. More than 20,000 demonstrators took to the streets of the central German city of Kassel in defiance of a court order banning protests. A number of groups, including far-Right opponents of the government, had called for action in cities across the country amid growing anger over the bungled vaccine roll-out and lockdown restrictions. Virus infections have skyrocketed in Germany in recent weeks, with Chancellor Angela Merkel warning the country will have to apply an 'emergency brake' and reverse some recent relaxations of restrictions. Only 4 per cent of the country has been fully immunised against the virus. Germany's national disease control centre said new infections were growing exponentially as the more contagious variant first detected in Britain has become dominant in the country. Yesterday, the Robert Koch Institute reported 16,033 new cases and registered 207 additional deaths, bringing the overall death toll to 74,565 in Germany. Mrs Merkel will hold meetings with regional leaders tomorrow to thrash out new lockdown rules. Health minister Jens Spahn said they must 'be honest about the situation' and lack of vaccines means they couldn't stop the current wave. He hinted that Germany may strike out on its own and buy the Russian Sputnik jab separately from Brussels's joint procurement scheme. The move is allowed under EU rules but signals growing friction within the bloc. Mr Spahn said that EU vaccine shortfalls currently left lockdowns as the only defence against a new wave of the virus sweeping across Europe. 'We are in the third wave of the pandemic, the numbers are rising, the proportion of mutations is large,' he said. 'There is not yet enough vaccine in Europe to stop the third wave through vaccination alone. Even if the deliveries from EU orders now come reliably, it will still take several weeks until the risk groups are fully vaccinated. Only then can we also talk about the broader opening of society.' Spiegel magazine has branded the country's vaccine chaos 'The new German incompetence'. In Berlin, some 1,800 police officers were also on standby for possible riots, but only about 500 protesters assembled at the city's Brandenburg Gate. Meanwhile, around 1,000 citizens came together on Berlin's Unter den Linden boulevard to protest against the far-Right demonstration. Advertisement

France recorded 35,000 new cases on Thursday, with intensive care occupancy up to 4,246  higher than in November.

A quarter of those are in Paris where streets were eerily quiet this weekend, with non-essential shops forced to close for at least a month.

In Poland, most shops will be shut for the next three weeks along with hotels and cinemas.

Similar measures have been introduced in Ukraine's capital Kiev.

Streets in Rome and Milan, where shops, restaurants and schools have been forced to close, were empty but roads in cities in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands were crammed with anti-lockdown protests, some of which became violent.

In Yerres, a town just outside the French capital, the mayor said he had instructed businesses to remain open, defying the 'totally incomprehensible' restrictions.

Despite a ban on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine being largely lifted, there are fears that the suspension has slowed the EU's already snail-paced rollout.

The European Commission has urged countries to step up vaccinations, with figures showing governments sitting on a stockpile of millions of unused doses.

Europe has 9.7 per cent of the global population, but last week accounted for 39.5 per cent of Covid cases.

Estonia is currently the worst-hit country in the world with 1,130.12 cases per million people. By comparison, the UK has 79.55 per million.

New infections jumped 24 per cent across the bloc last week, with the Kent variant accounting for 75 per cent of new cases.

There are also concerns over pockets of the South African strain, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against it.

The surge in cases has dampened hopes of British holidaymakers jetting to the continent this summer.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Spi-M modelling group which advises the Government, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday: 'I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.'

In Italy, where the R  or reproduction  rate has soared to 1.6, the target of vaccinating all over-80s by the end of the month looks likely to be missed.

New rules mean people in more than half of the country can only leave home for work, health or other essential reasons.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is now threatening that the country will adopt its own vaccine strategy, including assessing the Russian Sputnik jab, if the EU response does not improve.

In Spain, figures show tourist numbers fell 80 per cent to 19 million last year, the lowest since 1969.

The country was one of those pushing hard for an EU vaccination certificate in a bid to stop a second lost holiday season.

In Greece, a fifth of the workforce have livelihoods linked to tourism.

They had also been desperate to welcome back Britons over the summer, but the country has a rate of 220.1 daily cases per million.

Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new variants which are less susceptible to vaccines (pictured: A cyclist passes on the empty Grand Place of Lille, northern France today)
This weeks wanted

The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated.

 Carly C. Stevenson, 44, of 119 Fairview Terrace is being sought on a warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on a domestic battery charge.

She is a white female standing 5 foot 1 and weighing 95 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes.

 Toby J. Wilson, 21, of Virginia is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on a domestic battery charge.

He is a white male standing 5 foot 10 and weighing 200 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.

.

Submit tips anonymously at tipsubmit.com, by calling 217-243-7300 or by text messaging CRIMES (274637) with payout as the first word of the tip.



Morgan County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Karley R. Piper, 19, of 28 S. Arch St., Winchester, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:57 a.m. Friday on charges of illegal possession of adult-use cannabis by a passenger, illegal transportation or possession of liquor by a passenger and consumption of alcohol by a minor.

 Styles L. Cockerill, 19, of 2005 E. Strawn Crossing Road, Ashland, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:18 a.m. Friday on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended.

Jacksonville Police

THEFTS, BURGLARIES

 The rear license plate was stolen between 11 p.m. Thursday and 8:43 a.m. Friday from a car parked in the 600 block of North West Street.

OTHER REPORTS

 A woman told police she was assaulted with pepper spray about 9 p.m. Thursday in the 900 block of West Morton Avenue.

 Jacksonville police are investigating a reported road rage incident during which a vehicle was damaged about 5:13 p.m. Thursday in the 1800 block of West Morton Avenue.

Waverly Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Matthew D. Davis, 36, of 338 E. State St. was arrested Friday on a domestic battery charge. He was accused of punching someone in the face.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer
STAMFORD  Invisible was a word used often during a University of Connecticut panel discussion of anti-Asian violence Thursday night.

It was even in the name of the virtual event, as the panelists shared stories of feeling unseen and isolated after instances of discrimination or exclusion, from acts of overt racism to microaggressions.

The consistent belief in the model minority myth plagues us, rendering us invisible, and if we are invisible then the crimes against us are also invisible, said Angela Rola, director of the UConn Asian American Cultural Center on the Storrs campus.

The panel, moderated by Terrence Cheng, professor of English and campus director at UConn Stamford, and called Anti-Asian Violence and the Fight Against Invisibility, had been scheduled weeks ago. But two days before the event, a 21-year-old man reportedly went on a shooting spree in Atlanta, allegedly targeting Asian massage parlors and killing eight people, including six Asian women.

Reports of anti-Asian violence have grown in the past year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Activists and elected officials blame former President Donald Trump for fueling the increased vitriol and attacks against Asians by using racist language to describe the coronavirus.

The nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks incidents of discrimination and hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, reports that 3,800 anti-Asian incidents have been recorded in the past year.

Na-Rae Kim, associate director at the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, said she was mad and frustrated by the shootings  but not shocked.

Anti-Asian crime has been happening for too long in American history ... from the very beginning of Asian immigration to the United States, she said.

She said it was irrelevant to discuss whether the employees at the parlors were engaged in prostitution. A New York Times article quoted residents who live near one of the parlors describing the area as the red-light district.

All these accusations miss the point of the intersectionality of the violence and oppression that happens, she said.

Kim added that Asian women are often sexualized and seen as subservient and submissive.

This violence is not new, she said. It is the distinctive form that Asian women have been seen in American history for a very long time, in media, in history, in literature, in cultural parlance.

Glenn Mitoma, assistant professor of human rights and education at UConn, suggested that it is relevant to mention that the establishments targeted in Atlanta were places suspected of sex work.

I think the other context is the criminalization of sex work and of migrants, he said.

The truth is, many working-class Asian women in massage parlors and elsewhere, theyre mostly in danger from law enforcement and others who would criminalize their behavior, Mitoma said, expressing solidarity with sex workers.

I dont want to call for more policing, because we know that doesnt help, he said.

While many have condemned the Atlanta attacks, the hesitancy by the local police to classify the killings as hate crimes has been criticized on social media.

Many bemoaned how the narrative shifted when the perpetrators crimes were described as a result of a sexual addiction.

This is a hate crime, UConn student Aubrey Tang said. This was racially motivated.

Panelists shared personal stories of their experiences as Asians in America.

Mike Keo, a West Hartford photographer who founded the #IAMNOTAVIRUS campaign, told a story from when he was 15 or 16, one which he referred to as a landmark moment.

During a discussion about field trips, a classmate said, I dont want to go to Chinatown because it smells, Keo said.

Keos teacher responded, Well, you dont have to eat the pigeons or the rats there, causing the class to erupt in laughter.

Once it dies down ... all of them stare at me, he said. I felt so alone in that particular moment.

When he was older, Keo realized why that comment was so damaging.

It was the fact that she made my experiences invisible, he said. Chinatown for me were these magical moments where my parents would give me $10 to go buy DVDs or Gundam figures with my brother. It was were we got longans, and lychees and durian.

He said, That was all stripped away from me with this one comment.

UConn student Shaina Selvaraju told a story of how she was made to feel un-American at the age of 6, even though she was born in this country. She described herself as the awkward kid with the weird lunches that smelled weird and how that started a conversation with other students about her American-ness.

They concluded that Selvaraju could not be American, but rather Indian, the homeland of her family. However, one student, from Sweden, had recently acquired American citizenship, Selvaraju said, and was accepted as American.

What makes them American and not me? Why do I not belong? Selvaraju said, recalling her thoughts at that moment.

That became a series of thoughts ... Why am I not American? Will I ever be American? Will I ever be enough? and that really impacted me in my formative years, she said.

Aubrey Tang shared an anecdote when she was the only Asian person on a volleyball team. Once, during volleyball camp, she fell and suffered a foot fracture. She was shocked when no one helped her, but one person sneered at her and told her to get out of the way.

That was one of the most powerful moments of my life where I realized, Wow, people dont care about me because Im different from everybody else, Tang said. That was one moment where I really felt invisible.

Some of the panelists suggested reaching out to Asian friends and family members to see how they are feeling, though Tang said people should check only on close friends so as not to be seen as performative allyship.

Keo said many others have called and messaged him.

I felt seen this week, he said.

Tang said she also got plenty of messages of support this week.

I cried a lot because I didnt realize how much I needed to be seen and needed that validation, she said.

ignacio.laguarda@hearstmediact.com
A man arrested for the deaths of his ex-wife and four others has shocked authorities by confessing that he has killed 11 more. Suspect Sean Michael Lannon, 47, was arrested last week after a multi-state manhunt.

Lannon was suspected of killing his ex-wife Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata, 40; Randal Apostalon, 60; and Michael Dabkowski, 66.

During a preliminary hearing for Dabkowski's death, Lannon claimed that he killed as many as 16 people, Daily Mail reported. Dabkowski, who was beaten to death with a hammer, was found dead inside a laundry room at his home in East Greenwich, New Jersey on March 8.

Sean Michael Lannon alleged that the victim sexually abused him when he was a kid and possessed lewd photos of them together, which he tried to retrieve.

Public defender Frank Unger said that Lannon and Dabkowski's relationship turned into an abusive one, where the latter sexually abused the suspect.

"He was repeatedly sexually assaulted and during that time the victim, in this case, documented those sexual assaults, those rapes, by taking pictures of himself with Mr. Lannon in sexually compromised positions," Unger noted.

After Dabkowski attempted to seduce the suspect, Unger also claimed that he attacked Lannon first before the suspect used the hammer on him.

READ NEXT: American Murder: 'Ghost' of Christ Watts' Daughter Allegedly Caught on Cam

New Mexico Crimes Linked to Sean Michael Lannon

A judge on Friday denied Lannon's release after hearing the shocking confessions. Assistant prosecutor of Gloucester County Alec Gutierrez said that Sean Michael Lannon admitted to killing 15 people in New Mexico and one in New Jersey.

The bodies of Lannon's ex-wife, Miller, Mata, and Apostalon were found in a pickup truck abandoned at an airport on March 5.

Lannon reportedly told a witness that he murdered his wife, along with his boyfriends in New Mexico, and then killed Dabkowski in New Jersey. The couple had three children, and they filed for a divorce in 2019, according to a Law Officer report.

Lannon was driving Dabkowski's SUV and still possessed the murder weapon when he was apprehended in St. Louis, Missouri on March 10. Investigators said Lannon has told them that he dismembered some of his victims after luring them to a home.

Grants Police Department Lt. David Chavez is not yet considering Lannon as a suspect in the 11 additional murders he has confessed to since it's still unclear who are Lannon's other victims.

Sean Michael Lannon has yet to be charged in the four deaths, making Dabkowski's murder the only charge Lannon is currently facing.

But he was also charged with burglary, possession of a weapon, and motor vehicle theft connected with Dabkowski's case. Lannon is reportedly an ex-military man with a history of drug abuse and a violent record.

Authorities urged any witnesses with information about this crime to call the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office at 856-498-6238, ABC 6 reported.

READ MORE: Brazilian Man Confesses to Rape, Murder of Japanese Woman

WATCH: Sean Lannon Wanted In Connection To Gloucester County Homicide, Quadruple Murder In New Mexico - From CBS Philly






Celebrities share the stories behind their favourite photos. This week its Dragons Dens Deborah Meaden, 62

Dragons Dens Deborah Meaden, 62, (pictured) has shared the stories behind a selection of her favourite photographs

1964: My mother Sonia was a single parent so when she was working at Butlins in Brightlingsea, Essex, my older sister Gail and I lived with a couple called Auntie Angela and Uncle Derek. Were in their veg patch here (me on the left), probably eating all the beans and peas. Uncle Derek was a fisherman and wed go winkling with him. I was only four, and he was 6ft  he seemed like a giant

1985: Gail and I are at my nephews baptism here. Id just had my first business failure. Id borrowed money to import Italian ceramics and glassware, but the firms started selling directly to Harvey Nichols and Harrods. I was 3,000 in credit card debt, and borrowed from the bank to cover it. Mum and her second husband Brian  who I call Dad  had to guarantee the loan, which I hated. I like to be independent

1989: My husband Paul had worked for Dad before Gails wedding, so my family knew him before I did. We met while I was running bingo at Minehead Butlins. Our shared love of intrepid travel bonded us  here we are in the foothills of the Himalayas. Im a very good bingo caller, but I didnt do the two little ducks 22 and all that business, because youre trying to turn over as many games as possible. Players would play six cards at once, knitting at the same time. They knew the numbers so well they didnt need to pay attention. Those ladies would have made fantastic accountants

1999: I was seven when my mother married Dad and he and my mum went on to have my younger sisters Cass and Emma. He came up with a brilliant idea for us to celebrate the Millennium in one of the oldest civilisations in the world, so we hired a boat for 40, and spent the Millennium evening in Egypt. Because of Agatha Christies Death On The Nile, we all dressed up in Twenties gear  thats me, Dad, Emma and my mum. We visited the Valley of the Kings and sailed into Karnak for New Years Eve

2006: This was taken when I first joined Dragons Den. We wear the same clothes throughout shooting, because the series is cut into episodes after its filmed. Its our money at stake, so you quickly forget the cameras  if it wasnt our money it wouldnt be authentic. I love the ingenuity of British entrepreneurs. Every year I think Ive seen it all and every year they prove there are still plenty of opportunities to go for

2007: I was trying to get the four sisters together for a photo, but it became obvious Gail had no intention of getting her picture taken, and kept being unavailable. Cass, whos sitting, works in PR, and Emma, whos kneeling down, is a homemaker. Theres a decades age difference between me and them, so we werent at school together. When Gail and I were young we had no money, but by the time Cass came along my parents had built a successful life so the girls went to boarding school and enjoyed it, whereas I hated school with a vengeance

2013: I loved being on Strictly [pictured, with Natalie Gumede, Abbey Clancy and Susanna Reid] but it takes over your life. I spent that time being terrified, but I enjoy a challenge. If youre not hurting, going from nothing to dancing 10 to 12 hours a day, youre not trying hard enough! I lasted five weeks and was gutted not to go further. Paul wasnt a ballroom enthusiast when I started, but now he dances four hours a week, and I do as much as I can

2017: I have an ever-changing number of horses, and at the moment I have six. It was only when I got my first ex-racehorse that had been cast out, that I started to think this must be happening all over the place, so I got involved in the RSPCA. Ive been out with their inspectors to see what they do in the community and I was blown away. Sometimes they get into dangerous situations

As told to Susan Gray. Deborah is backing the RSPCA Covid Emergency Appeal. To donate visit rspca.org.uk/coronavirus
Panaji, March 20 : 83.16 percent voters cast their ballot in the elections to six municipal councils in Goa, while 70.19 per cent voters exercised their right to franchise in the elections to the state's only municipal corporation on Saturday, a State Election Commission (SEC) spokesperson said.

The highest voting was recorded at the Pernem Municipal Council in North Goa where 91.02 percent voters cast the ballot, while the lowest voting was reported at the Cuncolim Municipal Council polls, where 76.35 percent voting was registered, the official said.

328 candidates were in the race for elections to the six municipal councils, while 98 candidates were vying for success in the polls to the Corporation of the City of Panaji.

Votes are scheduled to be counted on March 22, even as the coastal state is yet to witness elections to five other municipal councils before April 30.

The municipal polls are the last round of elections to grassroots bodies in the state ahead of the 2022 state assembly polls.
A final deal for a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in the state of New York could be closed imminently.

The effects of this decision could greatly affect the fate of a number of large and medium-sized multi-state operators, or MSOs, within the Empire State and New Jersey.

A major variable is whether New York legalizes and regulates recreational sales before New Jersey can launch its adult-use program, which was green-lit by voters during the last presidential election.

Cuomo Pushing Through: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has advocated for the legalization of adult-use cannabis for much of his time in office. He referred to this issue in a briefing held on Monday, noting that marijuana reform is one of the pieces of legislation that need to be completed this year.

There have been too many young lives that have been ruined because of marijuana laws, he said.

A public poll released on Wednesday revealed that 61% of New Yorkers support the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana sales, although more than half of those living in New York City said theyre opposed to sales happening in their neighborhood.

Cuomo included the cannabis reform proposal in his budget request earlier this year. While the request was denied by the Senate, talks are being held to close on a new deal that will result in a legalization bill, which is expected to move to a vote from both houses next week.

Beating New Jersey To The Punch: According to Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Pablo Zuanic, a number of factors are in place for a deal to be reached by the New York executive and legislative branches before April. Closing on a deal would speed up the regulatory process once a bill is passed. This could put New York sales in place before New Jersey can issue the necessary regulation for sales to begin.

Since New Jersey legalized through a public vote, the regulatory process is slower, as stakeholders must agree on how the legal market is deployed.

Story continues

Zuanic says that the assumption remains that NJ will start rec sales by late 2021 or early 2022, based on a series of statements from Governor Phil Murphy and Dianna Houenou, chair of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

Effects On Cannabis Stocks: New York legalizing before New Jersey could mean a positive impulse for companies with operations in NY and not in NJ, most notably Cresco Labs (OTCQX: CRLBF).

Those in the opposite position, with only New Jersey operations (like Ayr Wellness (OTCQX: AYRWF), TerrAscend (OTCQX: TRSSF) and Verano) would experience a negative outcome, as an important part of growth projections for the New Jersey cannabis industry are based on out-of-state shoppers coming in from New York.

Companies with operations in both states would still experience a positive catalyst, says Zuanic, though to a lower extent than Cresco. These include Acreage (OTCQX:ACRDF/ACRHF), Columbia Care (OTCQX: CCHWF), Curaleaf (OTCQX: CURLF), and Green Thumb industries (OTCQX: GTBIF).

It is unclear whether the deal being discussed by the New York authorities would benefit existing medical license holders in the fight for an adult-use license.

Massive Growth Potential: Taking the case of adult-use legalization in Colorado as a roadmap, Zuanic estimates the growth of both markets in a four-year time frame.

Recreational sales began in the mountain state in 2014, with average yearly spending of around $270 per capita in either recreational or medical cannabis, rising to $376 in 2020.

These numbers would put the New York market at $5.3 billion by 2025, doubling New Jerseys potential to reach $2.4 billion that same year.

Photo by Jonathan Riley on Unsplash

See more from Benzinga

 2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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SANTA FE  With just hours left in this years 60-day legislative session, a high-profile proposal to legalize recreational cannabis for New Mexico adults was still in limbo at the Roundhouse.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham spent much of Friday meeting with lawmakers  both Democrats and Republicans  on the issue and a spokesman said the governor would consider calling a special session if the legalization bill is not approved by the Legislature before Saturdays noon adjournment.

Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said such a special session could be called sooner rather than later, adding there was a largely-agreed upon framework in place between the Governors Office and lawmakers.

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................................................................

Nobody wants to wait another year  its too close to being done, Stelnicki told the Journal.

A House-approved bill that would make New Mexico the latest state to legalize marijuana has been on the Senate floor agenda since Thursday after being overhauled by two Senate committees.

But the legalization measure, House Bill 12, had not been brought up for a full Senate vote as of late Friday, with some senators saying the bill was still being revised.

And one of the senators that met with the governor, Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, indicated Friday he had a large stack of proposed amendments.

Meanwhile, the Democratic sponsors of the cannabis legislation bill  Reps. Javier Martinez of Albuquerque and Andrea Romero of Santa Fe  issued a statement late Friday saying it was up to the Senate to vote on it.

(The bill) puts forward New Mexicos best opportunity to establish a multi-million-dollar industry with a framework that prioritizes social justice and equal opportunity for our communities, said the measures sponsors, saying New Mexico was ready to legalize marijuana.

In its current form, the bill calls for legal cannabis sales in New Mexico to begin in April 2022.

It was amended during a Senate committee hearing this week to include a provision that would limit cannabis plant counts for producers for three years in order to give smaller operators time to create a market niche.

The plant caps would be set by the states Regulation and Licensing Department, which would establish the limits based on population density and other states rules.

As for taxes, the marijuana legalization bill in play at the Capitol would tax legal cannabis sales at about 20%, depending on the location.

Specifically, it would set an excise tax of 12%, with revenues split between state and local governments. The states gross receipts tax would also be levied on cannabis purchases, though medical cannabis sales would be exempted from that tax.

The tax rate would generate an estimated $20 million in annual state revenue, and about half that much money for cities and counties around New Mexico, according to analysis of the legislation.

While New Mexico lawmakers debate the issue, other states are moving ahead with legalization measures, as Virginia is on the verge of becoming the 16th state to legalize recreational marijuana.

New Mexico already has a medical cannabis program with more than 100,000 enrolled members. In addition, Lujan Grisham signed into law a 2019 bill that made possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana a civil offense punishable by a $50 fine.

While legalization supporters had expressed optimism this could be the year for a legalization bill to also win final approval, crafting an agreement with enough support to pass the Senate has proven to be a challenging task during this years session.

Among other issues, there has been lengthy debate over social justice provisions in the cannabis bill, such as expungement for marijuana possession convictions and a community grant fund to pay for education and other outreach efforts.

Several GOP lawmakers have argued those provisions should be stripped out and proposed in separate legislation.

But Democratic bill sponsors have so far countered that its important they be left in the bill in order to address uneven treatment in the states criminal justice system for marijuana-related arrests.

Meanwhile, a special session on cannabis legalization could be politically risky, as the cost of recent New Mexico special sessions have averaged $50,000 per day.

Under the states Constitution, only the governor can call a special session, which can last for no more than 30 days.
Photo credit: ARIS MESSINIS - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

Later this month, Prince Charles and Camilla will travel to Greece from March 24-25. This trip is being made at the request of the British government, following an invitation from the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

During the visit, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will take part in Bicentenary Independence Day celebrations in Athens. They will also attend a reception at the newly re-opened National Gallery of Greece and a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square. A traditional military parade will take place on the final day of their visit.

This isn't Charles and Camilla's first trip to Greece. The royal couple last visited the country in May of 2018. Prince Charles also previously made an official visit to the country in 1998.

Photo credit: Tim Graham - Getty Images

It also isn't their first overseas trip since the coronavirus pandemic began. In October of last year, Prince Charles traveled to Kuwait City to pay his condolences following the death of the late Amir, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. And in November 2020, both Prince Charles and Camilla traveled to Germany for the country's National Day of Mourning, which commemorates victims of war and fascism.

As the pandemic continues, and the UK is still under lockdown, the royals will take measures to comply with COVID-19 regulations and guidance during their trip. Fortunately, both Charles and Camilla have been vaccinated. They received their first shots earlier this year.

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Uyghur protesters demand Biden admin. 'recognize East Turkistan' as Blinken meets with Chinese officials

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WASHINGTON  Despite the inclement weather, Uyghur protesters gathered in front of the U.S. State Department Thursday, calling on the Biden administration to recognize East Turkistan as Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with officials from the Chinese government.

Protesters affiliated with the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement and the East Turkistan Government in Exile gathered in front of the Harry S. Truman Building, home to the State Department. The East Turkistan National Awakening Movement describes itself as an international movement striving for the restoration of East Turkistans independence as an open, pluralistic Republic guaranteeing Human Rights and Freedoms for all.

What the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement refers to as East Turkistan is officially recognized by the rest of the world as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Uyghurs are a group of Muslim religious minorities residing in Xinjiang, a region which those affiliated with the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement argue China has been occupying since 1949.

In recent years, a spotlight has been cast on China's so-called training education centers that Uyghurs have been subject to, which the U.S. government has characterized as concentration camps.

Shortly before former President Donald Trump left office in January, his administration designated Chinas treatment of Uyghurs as genocide and crimes against humanity. The Chinese government firmly rejects allegations of wrongdoing.

Protesters chanted several phrases at the State Department headquarters, including boycott China, sanction China, boycott the 2022 Olympics, Nazi China, terrorist China, act now America, act now to end the genocide in East Turkistan, act now to free East Turkistan, bring East Turkistan to the agenda of the U.N. Security Council, and grant refuge to Uyghurs.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Salih Hudayar, prime minister of the Washington, D.C.-based East Turkistan Government in Exile, explained the reasoning behind the protests: Were out here in front of the U.S. State Department today to call on the U.S. government to act upon its genocide designation by taking strong  meaningful action, statements of  displeasure or concern are not enough.

He also called on the U.S. government to bring the East Turkistan issue to the agenda at the U.N. Security Council, to urge the U.N. to implement its Genocide Convention and its commitment toward the responsibility to protect, to boycott the upcoming 2022 Beijing Olympics, which we call the Genocide Olympics, and grant refugee status to our population across the globe.

According to Hudayar, the Chinese government's actions against the Uyghurs constitute a holocaust.

Hudayar added that he was deeply outraged by President Joe Bidens suggestion that Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs is the result of different norms. However, he praised Blinken, asserting that he has continued (former) Secretary (Mike) Pompeos stance by reiterating that the U.S.  sees this as a genocide and that there would be  strong actions against it.

The Chinese government is not going to stop the genocide of Uyghurs and the Turkic peoples in East Turkistan until there is some strong action by the international community. And when I mean strong actions  raising the concerns and then saying, Oh yeah, we want to cooperate with you on climate change is not going to pressure China or saying, youre committing a genocide is not enough. There needs to be an increase on tariffs, there needs to be more sanctions, he continued.

Ideally, what we want is the U.S. government to ban all goods that are made in East Turkistan because, more than likely, those goods are being made with slave labor. We want western companies to pull out of East Turkistan because Chinas engaged in genocide there. And therefore, these western companies would be paying taxes to the Chinese government.  The funds from that would be used to engage in the genocide in East Turkistan, so there has to be economic and political costs on China.

Hudayar contended that by buying Chinese goods, we are essentially paying  the Chinese government to further engage in its genocide and other atrocities against the Uyghurs.

"So we must stop that, we must buy things that are made in America because everything that we buy from China, it only empowers China, even if its like 1% of that goes to the Chinese government, theyre going to spend a portion of that for their military and theyre going to spend a portion of that for their security forces engaging in these atrocities.

After his interview with The Christian Post, Hudayar addressed the small crowd of protesters and journalists gathered in front of the Truman building, where he referred to China as an evil empire.

Amannissa Mukhlis, the Women and Family Director of the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement, spoke to the crowd about the atrocities experienced by Uyghur women and children at the hands of the Chinese government.

Both Hudayar and Mukhlis repeatedly used the word genocide to describe Chinas actions against the Uyghurs. For decades, China has been forcibly aborting Uyghurs and other Turkic babies in (an) attempt to prevent the growth of our population and eradicate the future of our nation, she said.

Over the course of the last 40 years, the Chinese government, according to their statistics, aborted over 4 million babies in East Turkistan under the pretext of family planning, Mukhlis added. In recent years, the Chinese government has forcibly sterilized hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs and other Turkic women across East Turkistan, resulting in a decline of our population as women can no longer give birth.

The Chinese government is forcing tens of thousands of young Uyghur and other Turkic women who have not been sterilized to marry Chinese in a bid to assimilate and eradicate us, she continued. Furthermore, Uyghur and other Turkic women are being subject to systematic state-sponsored sexual abuse and rape inside the concentration camps and prisons.

Over 850,000 Uyghurs and other Turkic children have been forcibly separated from their families and sent to state-run orphanages and boarding schools to be assimilated and raised as loyal Chinese citizens. Children from Pre-K to (grade) 12 are brainwashed to denounce their own identity, to denounce their own existence as Uyghurs and embrace Chinese identity, culture and language.

Mukhlis reported that Children who even dare to speak in their native tongue are beaten into submissions. Our language, our culture, our history and our very physical existence is being eroded by the Chinese government.

As her speech concluded, she urged people across the world to boycott Chinese goods and services, to spread awareness on the issue and to call on their governments to act now.

As Hudayar told CP, the Chinese government also uses religious minorities for slave labor. According to a report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 80,000 Uyghurs have been transferred out of Xinjiang to work in factories across China between 2017 and 2019. The study also found that more than 80 multinational companies, including Apple, Nike, Adidas, Google, Microsoft and Tommy Hilfiger are directly or indirectly benefitting from the forced labor of Uyghurs.

While many additional companies such as Amazon, Dell, Gap, General Electric and Victorias Secret continue directly or indirectly benefitting from Uyghur labor, the report noted that a small number of brands including Abercrombie & Fitch advised they have instructed their vendors to terminate their relationships with these suppliers in 2020.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has introduced the Slave-Free Business Certification Act, which would require businesses with worldwide receipts of more than $500 million to investigate the presence or use of forced labor by direct suppliers, secondary suppliers, and on-site service providers. Hudayar expressed support for the legislation during his interview with CP.
Prince Charles 'took the lead' on Buckingham Palace's response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey, a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made several allegations in the bombshell TV interview, including that there were 'conversations and concerns' about what colour their then unborn child would have.

They also accused the Palace machinery of failing to support Meghan when she had 'suicidal' thoughts.

The Queen waited more than two days before releasing a short statement which said that, 'while some recollections may vary', the 'whole family' was 'saddened' to hear of the couple's 'challenging few years'.

Now, royal biographer Robert Jobson has said that, while the palace statement was in the Queen's words, the Prince of Wales is likely to have 'taken the lead' on the response.

He said the Royal Family like to 'do things as a team' and to react 'as a family' when being criticised.

Prince Charles 'took the lead' on Buckingham Palace's response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey, a royal expert has claimed

Writing for Hello! magazine, he said: 'I think the Prince of Wales has also taken the lead on how the Palace has responded,' the Mirror reported.

'The Queen is 94 and the Duke of Edinburgh is incapacitated, so he will be trying to placate and learn lessons from this so something can be worked out to everyone's satisfaction.'

He added: 'The royal family like to do things as a team, and if the team is being trashed they like to react as a unit and a family.'

Jobson also praised the Queen's response, describing it as 'dignified'.

Along with Charles, the monarch was reportedly set to speak with the Duchess of Cornwall as well as Prince William and his wife Kate about Harry and Meghan's allegations.

On Thursday, the Queen was said to be 'sad but not angry' about the interview.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made several allegations in the bombshell TV interview, including that there were 'conversations and concerns' about what skin colour their unborn child would have

The Queen waited more than two days before releasing a short statement which said that, 'while some recollections may vary', the 'whole family' was 'saddened' to hear of the couple's 'challenging few years'

The skin colour allegation sparked a frenzy with royal watchers speculating about the identity of the family member who made the comment.

But sources said the Queen was not angered by the interview and instead has privately pledged to stand by Harry.

An insider told the Sun: 'She is not angry, she is just sad. They have always worried about him (Harry) and the Queen feels very protective about him.

'They always tried to support him when Meghan came along. They all worried less about him when Meghan was on the scene as he seemed so happy.'

Prince William later said the royals are 'not a racist family' with the Queen ordering a private family investigation into the claims.

American broadcaster Gayle King revealed on US TV last week that William had taken part in an 'unproductive phone call with Prince Harry'.

The revelation - which the CBS presenter delivered live on air - has reportedly made William wary of engaging further with the couple, fearing that any talks with his brother will be leaked to American television networks.

Sources told Vanity Fair there was concern within the family that the Sussexes 'want to keep fuelling the soap opera'.
The Air Force's directive to its lower-level units to review emblems, morale patches and mottos for racist, sexist or derogatory images or language has concluded, but the service doesn't plan on publishing the findings.

In January, the Air Force gave commanders from the squadron level and up until Feb. 21 to abolish symbols that are derogatory "to any race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, age or disability status to ensure an inclusive and professional environment," according to the announcement at the time.

The review included nicknames, coins, and other heraldry and insignia.

Read Next: Army Pilots to Learn Bold New Tactics to Fly Future Helicopters

But the service did not collate results from the widespread review, an Air Force spokeswoman told Military.com on Wednesday.

"Commanders made changes on the spot, where possible," she said in a statement. "There was not a requirement to centralize findings. If emblems had historical significance, but are no longer appropriate in a diverse workforce, commanders were advised to work with their command historians to ensure symbols are retired in appropriate ways."

The review did not warrant additional action by top leadership, said Ann Stefanek, another service spokeswoman.

"I'm not aware of concerns that were up-channeled to Headquarters Air Force, but commanders were encouraged to consult with staff judge advocates or their chain of command if they came across issues where additional guidance was required," Stefanek said.

Don Christensen, president of advocacy group Protect Our Defenders and a retired Air Force colonel, told Military.com on Thursday that the service should have instructed commanders to come forward with their findings and consolidate the information in one comprehensive report.

"It's like a missed opportunity to ensure that things are going the direction [leaders] want them to go," said Christensen, who was also the Air Force's chief prosecutor. "You hope the lower-level commanders are doing what they should be, but we see from time to time where they're not. You just want to make sure that things are being handled the way that you have an expectation for it.

"The last thing the Air Force wants is for somebody to leak [information] in the media, something embarrassing that a commander didn't address," he said. "So get on top of it, make sure that doesn't happen by alleviating the problem."

As a result of the review, the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, known as the "Mongrels," changed its official pit bull patch logo, which the Anti-Defamation League labeled as a racist image for closely mirroring a white supremacist symbol, Stars and Stripes reported this week. The group Keystone United, formerly known as Keystone State Skinheads, used the pit bull insignia as its own logo, according to the league's website.

Air Force Instruction 84-105, last updated in 2019, directs units on how to best recognize their organizational lineage, honors and heraldry.

During the review, commanders were instructed to consult the AFI -- which emphasizes that symbols and language should be original, "in good taste and non-controversial" -- and their local historian.

In the midst of multiple reviews, the service aims to create a more inclusive culture, officials have said. Some reviews have produced immediate changes, such as allowing more flexible hairstyles while in uniform.

Last month, the Air Force Inspector General opened another independent review into how racial disparities in the administration of military justice affect airmen.

The new review, which followed another racial disparity assessment comparing the experiences of Black service members with those of their peers, focuses on differences in outcome by race, gender and ethnicity within the Air Force's Asian, Hispanic and American Indian communities. It also includes Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and Latinx members.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Air Force Brass Order Removal of All Offensive, Non-Inclusive Patches, Mottos and Emblems
Thiruvananthapuram, March 20 : The present Congress led Opposition United Democratic Front which is facing one of its most keenly fought electoral battle with the ruling CPI-M led left and the BJP led NDA is bringing in new modes of campaigning.

Kerala goes to the polls on April 6 to elect 140 legislators.

The latest strategy is to seek the help of film stars who are known fellow travellers of the Congress led UDF and it has roped in one of Kerala's most popular comedian cum character artiste Jagadish.

Jagadish on Saturday appeared to be the most sought after personality at the release of the UDF poll manifesto, with all leaders catching up with him.

Incidentally Jagadish ended on the losing side in the 2016 assembly polls when he lost to his film colleague turned full time politician, K.B. Ganesh Kumar.

"Even though I was asked to contest this time by the top Congress leaders, I had to opt out due to personal reasons. But I promised them, I would be available for campaigning anywhere at any time. I have kept myself free from March 10 till the end of the election," said Jagadish.

He said he and producer cum director Renjith are working out the strategy to be adopted for the various types of campaigning they are going to do.

"It would be a mix of video and audio clips and it would be a total professional election campaign highlighting the UDF and its candidates. Our only aim is to reach the maximum number of voters in the best manner," added Jagadish.

Among the other film personalities who are working for the success of the UDF candidates are Ramesh Pisharody and national award winning actor Salim Kumar.

For the UDF, the Congress has fielded young comedian Dharmajan Bolghatty from the Baluserry seat in Kozhikode, while the Left has Kumar into his fifth straight election and Mukesh aiming to retain the Kollam seat, which he won in 2016.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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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Brian Masse and Peter Julian look on as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at the start of a two day caucus meeting in Ottawa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. A debate over the definition of anti-Semitism that has divided the Jewish community has spilled over to the NDP ahead of the party convention next month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
There are few collaborative work spaces in the country that offer more than just an open-plan office and a printer, but The Kollective in Tauranga is certainly offering more than you regular office supplies.

Based in The Historic Village on 17th Ave, The Kollective has a focus on giving back to the community.

The Kollective is the largest co-working space in New Zealand, but its particularly interesting because its dedicated to the success of the charitable and not-for-profit community, says The Kollective general manager Gordy Lockhart.

Essentially, social impact is the aim of The Kollective, and The Kollective itself is a social enterprise.

Heres how it works: there are 35 residential member organsations, made up of 91 residential members. These organisations pay a membership fee and in return use the facilities The Kollective offer. Those fees are collected by The Kollective, costs are deducted, and all profits are handed over to TECT to divvy up into the community.

We produced a profit of $142,000 last financial year, ending March 2020, all of which went back to TECT for redistribution into the community, says Gordy.

But its not just about the profits going back into the community. The Kollective offers a collaborative working environment that fosters connections, mutual assistance and community.

The most important thing that we did  other than the build itself  was the member values agreement, says Gordy.

It talks about participation in the community, diversity, its all about what is a healthy society nowadays. Anyone that signs up to The Kollective has to agree to these principals and join on the basis of the aim of social good for us all.

For example, says Gordy, two organisations that we support are ConneXu  which is an organization that owns a few properties around Tauranga and look after the needs of the intellectually and physically handipcapped  and an organisation called Community Living, who supply the equipment for homes like ConneXu.

Previously, ConneXu would have to go to a website, send an email or call someone to order products that they needed, but now all they do is the look over the top over their desk and ask their neighbour to order what they need.

Those two organisations are a great example of what The Kollective is all about  for organisations to work that closely together, which saves time, saves money, which they can then redirect into services for their clients."

"The idea that you can help your neighbour with something one week, then your neighbour can help you with something the following week. The whole idea that, as a family we can achieve more, is what The Kollective is all about.

And its a system thats working, and working well.

We were fortunate to win the sustainable business award at the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards, hosted by the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, in 2019 and the social enterprise award in 2020, says Gordy.

But at the end of the day, its all about collaboration.

The most important aspect  and I suppose the social impact  is the collaboration. I know thats the element that Im most passionate about in terms of the Business Womens Network Speaker Series, is that we can achieve both societal impact and social change by doing collaborations together for a greater social good, says Gordy.

The Kollective isnt here to sell anything, were here to give the idea that the better world is in the interests of everybody. That means that the ideas of equity and equality, the idea that everyone is welcome in the same space, regardless of who they are, who they love, that sort of thing.

Gordy will be speaking at the Business Womens Network Speaker Series on Thursday, July 8, hosted by Tauranga Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Craigs Investment Partners and Cooney Lees Morgan. His topic?

The value of collaboration is the key. As organisations and as human beings, we collaborate every day, whether thats with your family, your mates, your neighbour. The idea well be presenting at the Speaker Series is about how we can make a bigger social impact and a better world by working together as opposed to working separately.

For more information on the upcoming Business Womens Network Speaker Series, visit: www.tauranga.org.nz/bwn/bwn-speaker-series-2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif.  The expected cost of administering COVID-19 vaccines in California grew nearly fourfold from two months ago to $1.3 billion, a price tag made public this week as the state also rolls back sweeping changes to its plan to centralize the delivery of doses under a program run by Blue Shield of California, the Los Angeles Times has learned.

In a letter sent by the California Government Operations Agency to counties this week, the state said it would give some decision-making powers back to local public health officials by requiring Blue Shield to consult with a county before making recommendations about how many vaccine doses a jurisdiction should receive.

The letter, which was obtained by the Times, also outlines another major change to the statewide vaccine network. The state previously planned to restrict a countys ability to provide vaccines to local clinics and healthcare providers, instead leaving decisions about who can administer doses to Blue Shield and state officials. Under the changes memorialized in a letter from Gabriel Ravel, general counsel at the Government Operations Agency, a county could use its discretion  subject to approval from the state  to distribute portions of its vaccine allotment to other providers.

The state is trying to make a positive step in addressing county concerns, Santa Clara County Executive Jeff Smith said.

In a legislative hearing Thursday, the Newsom administration said it will cost $151 million to create and administer the statewide vaccine network, the bulk of which is for information technology support. In addition to a $15 million contract with Blue Shield, the state has signed a two-month contract with management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. for $13 million to assist the insurance company and the state with the vaccine delivery system.

The Newsom administration estimates that between 2020 and 2022, the state will spend more than $15 billion on its COVID-19 response, most of which will be reimbursed by the federal government. Thats $2 billion more than the governor estimated would be needed just two months ago, with much of the increase due to the states new vaccine distribution system, according to the Department of Finance. The estimates released during Thursdays hearing are part of budget negotiations between the governor and Legislature.

Assembly Budget Chairman Phil Ting, a San Francisco Democrat, said the Newsom administration agreed to provide more details about COVID-19 spending in the revised budget released in May.

We also asked them to justify not just Californias vaccine expenditures, but all of our COVID-19 expenses, Ting said.

Newsom announced in January that the state would bring in Blue Shield to overhaul the states vaccine delivery system. Under the revamped system, Blue Shield uses an algorithm to make recommendations to the state on where to send doses and how many are needed. Previously, the state decided how much vaccine each county would receive, but the counties controlled where doses were sent locally.

Counties have been locked in a weeks-long stalemate over the changes, with most refusing to sign a contract with Blue Shield. Officials in some counties, including Los Angeles, asked the state to opt out of the changes, voicing concerns with the outsourced oversight. Only Kern County has signed the contract with Blue Shield.

Last week, the state offered to allow the remaining counties to sign a separate agreement with the Government Operations Agency instead of Blue Shield, with negotiations for additional changes to the terms prompting Tuesdays letter signed by Ravel.

On Friday, the California Department of Public Health announced that eight counties, including Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego, signed the agreement with the state.

Smith said Santa Clara County remains opposed to the statewide system run by Blue Shield.

Each county has different needs and different levels of investments in their delivery system, he said. One size doesnt fit all and we wont sign a (memorandum of understanding) that causes a deterioration of our vaccine delivery system or health delivery system.

Government Operations Secretary Yolanda Richardson told lawmakers Thursday that the memorandum of understanding between the state and local health departments is still being formalized so that we can work side by side to get the job done with as little disruption as possible.

Despite the hang-up with counties, Richardson said vaccine providers are signing on to be part of the statewide network every day.

By April and May, these providers will offer vaccinations at thousands of sites across the state, she said.

Richardson said supply shortages have hampered the states ability to offer the vaccine to the 25 million Californians over the age of 16 who want the protection. So far, more than 12 million doses have been administered in the state, with 4.5 million residents fully vaccinated.

Like every state in the nation, we have been getting less vaccine than we need, but in April we expect that to change, Richardson said. Based on meetings with the federal government, we are expecting a sharp increase in vaccines starting just in the first week of April.

The Newsom administration plans to spend $40 million on a media and outreach campaign aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy to encourage residents to get vaccinated.

Vaccine hesitancy is expected to increasingly become an issue as supplies increase in the coming weeks, and could grow to become the most critical barrier to mass inoculation. During Thursdays legislative hearing reviewing the states spending on COVID-19, the handful of speakers who called in during public comment railed against vaccines and falsely alleged that inoculations are dangerous.

One woman attending the hearing in person routinely shouted and interrupted lawmakers, at one point yelling, You are going to kill the children. Such outbursts have become routine inside the state Capitol whenever vaccines are discussed.

Richardson said the state expects it will be able to vaccinate every adult who wants a shot by the end of June, after President Joe Biden said the United States is working to produce enough doses for every adult by the end of May.

We will be ready to get those vaccines into arms, Richardson said. We have built a statewide vaccine network with Blue Shield that will be capable of administering at least 4 million doses of vaccine per week. Just in the last seven days here in California we have administered over 2 million doses.
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US Investment banks are planning to lead the charge back to the office as the first wave of City workers get ready to return to work.

Several banks contacted by The Mail on Sunday said they were preparing to open their offices again as soon as March 29  in eight days' time.

Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Credit Suisse are among those paving the way for workers to begin to return.

Back to work: Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Credit Suisse are among those paving the way for workers to begin to return

JP Morgan will allow staff to go back to their offices a week from tomorrow. The US banking giant, which has 19,000 employees in the UK, will tell heads of business divisions that they can inform staff about returning to the office if their workers wish to do so.

Rival Goldman Sachs  whose boss David Solomon has attracted criticism for describing working from home as an 'aberration'  is planning to tell its 6,000 UK staff that they can start to return after Easter  just a fortnight away.

It is understood that bankers have had concerns about whether they could be penalised by the Government for bringing more staff back to the office so soon.

Only some key traders and staff who have not been able to work from home have been allowed in up until now.

One banker said the Government gave 'a nod and a wink' that they will not be punished for allowing staff to return.

The Government's 'stay at home' rule will end on March 29. Official advice calls for people to continue to work from home where they can.

Swiss giant Credit Suisse is understood to be planning to bring back more staff from April 12. One trader at BNP Paribas said they were returning on March 29, although it is understood the French bank is not yet calling staff back.

Meanwhile, other City giants have quietly warned against bringing back staff too quickly. Companies that lure workers back too soon could face a backlash from employees who have not been vaccinated or from those who do not yet feel safe using public transport.

Goldman Sachs is feeling the heat after junior bankers in the US complained of 'sleep deprivation' and workplace 'abuse' while working 100-hour weeks.

Some City firms have yet to crystallise plans and many are thought to be expecting a slower return to the office.

A source close to US investment bank Morgan Stanley said he is expecting a more 'pronounced' return in the summer.

It has emerged that Lloyds Banking Group has pushed back plans to return in spring until the summer.

The lender, which employs 65,000 people in the UK, is drawing up trials to see how the bank will work in the future.

A survey conducted last year by a union found that two fifths of Lloyds staff do not want to return to the workplace.

Accountancy firm KPMG has sent a survey to staff to ask how they want to work in the future and whether they would prefer to work closer to home rather than commute to a City office.

A bigger shift to more flexible working deals a huge blow to local cafes, restaurants and pubs, which rely on commuters.

A number of City firms have already said they will slash office space. Insurance giant Aviva will cut a third of its office capacity this year and is on the hunt for a smaller headquarters once its current lease expires in 2024.

HSBC said it will slash 40 per cent of its offices around the world, while Lloyds said it will cut office space by a fifth in the next two years.

Many firms are still drawing up flexible working plans that will see employees come into the office for two or three days a week, while working from home for the remainder.

Fund group Jupiter is understood to have told staff that they can return to their offices for three days a week from May 17.

A new study has revealed a gap between business owners and employees' attitudes to returning to work.

Research showed a third of small to medium-sized business owners expect staff to come back full time when lockdown ends in June  double the figure for employees, at 16 per cent, in a survey conducted on behalf of testing firm Cignpost ExpressTest.

The research showed 38 per cent of 1,100 employees do not expect to return to the office for the foreseeable future with a further 20 per cent anticipating returning only after the entire workforce has been vaccinated.

By contrast, 51 per cent of employers questioned said they expect those who have been vaccinated to return to the office immediately.
President Joe Biden was departing for Atlanta on Friday when he had a rough go climbing the stairs to Air Force One.

Biden fell three times in the span of three seconds on the steps to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews. The White House has blamed the incident on wind gusts.

"It's pretty windy outside, it's very windy. I almost fell coming up the steps myself. He is doing 100% fine," said White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as reported by ABC News Go.

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield also tweeted that the incident was simply a misstep on the stairs. She said the 78-year-old president did not require any attention from the medical team on board.

After he tripped while boarding Air Force One, Biden's comment mocking former President Donald Trump's walking resurfaced on social media.

Last September, Joe Biden mocked Trump's slow walk down a "slippery" ramp after delivering a commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy.

"Look at how he steps and look at how I step... Watch how I run up ramps and he stumbles down ramps. OK? Come on," Biden said at the time, as New York Post reported.

READ NEXT: Biden Ends Trump Policy That Allows DHS to Deport Caregivers for Migrant Children

Atlanta Trip

Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Atlanta after a white gunman killed eight people, most of them were Asian American women.

Biden and Harris denounced racism at times like this and offered their words of comfort to the Asian Americans.

The president called on all Americans to stand up against bigotry when they see it, noting that silence is complicit and that Americans cannot be complicit.

"They've been attacked, blamed, scapegoated and harassed; they've been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed," Biden said as Mercury News reported.

Joe Biden described the shootings as an example of a public health crisis of gun violence. Biden's administration has come under criticism from some in his own party for not acting swiftly as he promised on reforming the country's gun laws.

On the other hand, Harris, who is the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office, said that the shooter's motive is still under investigation.

However, she noted that the facts are clear that six of the eight killed were of Asian descent, and seven of them were women.

Harris said that racism is real in America, as well as xenophobia and sexism.

"We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes, and discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs," Harris noted.

Congress has also talked about the incident, turning the hearing emotional and confrontational with Asian-American congresswomen talking about the shootings.

Representative Judy Chu said that the gunman's targets were not random. She noted that the shootings and attacks targeting Asians are the aftermaths of one year of hateful attacks and four years of ugly comments about immigrants and people of color, South China Morning Post reported.

Biden ordered that U.S. flags at the White House and all federal and military buildings be flown at half-staff to commemorate the victims of the shooting.

Atlanta Shooting

Suspect Robert Aaron Long has admitted to the crimes he committed that left eight people dead. Long, 21, is facing eight counts of murder.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that Long was on his way to Florida at the time of his arrest on Tuesday night and indicated that he would do more shootings.

Authorities on Friday identified the victims as Soon C. Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong A. Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, and Daoyou Feng. According to a USA Today report, a 30-year-old Hispanic man was also injured.

READ MORE: U.S. Near Max Capacity to Hold Migrant Children; Biden Administration Scrutinized Over Reopening Holding Facility

WATCH: Joe Biden Stumbles on Steps of Air Force One -From Guardian News






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Clarence Fanto can be reached at cfanto@yahoo.com or on Twitter @BE_cfanto.
Youre coming across these days sounding sort of like an antivaxxer.

MacCallum : Im going to totally switch gears on you.  Before I let you go, I want to spend the second bit of this talking about your approach to vaccines because Ive followed your coverage, and weve talked a lot on this show over the course of COVID. Youve busted a lot of myths in your writing about COVID.

Hi Alex. How are you doing today?

We want to talk to him about that, but we want to start today by asking him about his new book because I always knew Alex as a former New York Times reporter. Hes also a prolific novelist, whos written a new book called the Power Couple.

Martha MacCallum : Welcome everybody to this edition of the Untold Story. Were joined today by a frequent guest and friend of ours, Alex Berenson, who has covered in a really in-depth way the reality of COVID19 and the vaccine structure and the data behind all of it.

Despite this mixed message, his points are valid. Berensons arguments should be a part of every discussion where people talk about mandating this vaccine for employment or school attendance.

This was after pointing out that it hasnt been tested in her age group and that if it were up to him, these vaccines would not be available right now.

He did however advise his elderly mother to take the vaccine because at her age, shes more vulnerable to COVID.

After raising serious concerns about side effects and what these vaccines actually do to prevent COVID, he did tell us that hes not sure about getting it himself, although his children definitely are not going to get it.

He furthermore claimed that along with the risks, there is no proof these vaccines provide immunity or prevent spread.

Secondly, they havent been tested in the people most at risk from COVID19: those people who are older with preexisting conditions.

Berenson said that there have been thousands and thousands of adverse events reported to the government after this vaccine

First of all, the mRNA COVID vaccines are a new, insufficiently tested technology. Berenson told listeners something that Ive never heard anyone in the news, namely that these vaccines cause pretty severe events in a lot of people who take them in the trial phase.

This is what theyre not telling us in the mainstream media:

When Berenson got into his reasons for being unconvinced that the COVID19 vaccines are worthwhile, it was clear people should be worried about both safety and efficacy.

Berenson asserted that hes not anti-vaccine. Hes vaccinated and his children are vaccinated according to the CDC schedule.

Several things were happening here. MacCallum brought up the possibility that Berenson is an anti-vaxxer right at the start, and he had to defend himself against that charge.

Berenson had some really eye-opening information that made me wish he was interviewing Dr. Anthony Fauci on these same points.

Berenson: No, Im not an anti-vaxxer. Ive been vaccinated. Our kids have been vaccinated. I think you need to look at the COVID vaccines differently than other vaccines because they are different than other vaccines.

They arent based on technology thats been around for generations. They havent been around for generations. They are a completely new kind of vaccine, based on technology that really was what people in biotechnology call the bleeding edge of development in the last few years.

Meaning you were bleeding a lot of money and a lot of scientific effort to try to move these forward, and they really werent moving forward very quickly and there was a good reason for that.

Theres questions about the technology I dont really want to go into right now. It really to explore it takes a long time.

These vaccines didnt exist at this time last year, or theyd barely begun to exist.

We are trying to vaccinate everybody in the world with them even though the clinical trial data shows they have been pretty severe adverse events in a lot of people who take them. They cause pretty severe events in a lot of people who take them.

Heres what we know about them: We know that they stop mild or moderate COVID infections in a pretty healthy population. Thats what the clinical trials proved.

They didnt prove that these reduce deaths. They didnt prove that they reduce serious cases of COVID, although youll hear that they didnt actually prove that, they demonstrated some benefit in that direction, but they didnt prove it.

Most importantly, they werent tested in the people who are most likely to get sick and die from COVID.

Tens of thousands of people were tested with these vaccines, but only a handfulI mean in the hundredsare in the group of people that are 75 and older who have preexisting conditions, like kidney disease or diabetes.

Those are the people we know who get sick and die from COVID much, much more than other people.

Im not going to say its criminal, but it is a real failure of regulation that we didnt force the manufacturers to test the vaccines in those people.

So what were left with is a lot of guesswork as to whether or not these vaccine will actually do any good on a population wide basis, and against that we have a lot of data showing that they cause adverse events in many people who take them.

MacCallum: But thats not what were hearing. Were hearing in most cases only if youre someone who is prone to an allergic reaction to a vaccine, that it is very rare for someone to have an adverse effect to this vaccine so far.

Berenson: Thats just simply untrue. What the CDC is doing and what the media unfortunately is helping them do is defining adverse events very, very narrowly. As essentially, I got this and went into shock in 15 to 30 minutes.

Thats rare. Its actually not as rare as it is for other vaccines, but it is rare.

But there are many, many, many other adverse events that follow vaccination with these that we know about, that the clinical trials demonstrated.

There are fevers, in some cases fevers of 103 and 104 degrees.

There is nausea. There is fatigue that puts people out for days. There is diarrhea.

MacCallum: Heres what Im hearing in that, just to push back on that.

A lot of times when you get a vaccine, I mean essentially a vaccine is a tiny bit of the disease itself, right? So you sometimes get those symptoms.

Ive had that happen with the flu vaccine. I had a shingles vaccine, my arm blew up for four days afterwards.

Its that just sort of what happens when you inject a bit of any one of these diseases into your body?

Berenson: So now we go to what the vaccine actually is, and thats not what these mRNA vaccine are at all.

What youre being given is a little piece of genetic material that stimulates your body to produce a part of the corona virus protein.

That, in and of itself makes the corona virus vaccine different than the kind of vaccines youre talking about.

On top of that, because your bodys going to attack that little piece of RNA, it has to be protected by something called a lipid nanoparticle, and those can also cause adverse events. They can cause your immune system to respond.

The science on this gets very, very complicated, but when people say, Oh I like the fact I had this negative reaction after I had that vaccine because it shows my immune system is working, thats actually not really true at all.

I dont like it when people say it because a lot people who are saying it know its not really true at all.

Heres the thing. When we look at the vaccine adverse events reports that have been filed with the federal government, there are thousands and thousands of them for this COVID19 vaccine.

Its possibly in some cases theyre not directly related. Theyre just something that followed the injection and the injection didnt cause.

But what we know is that theyre being filed at much, much higher rates than other vaccines.

These vaccines are more toxic to people than the flu vaccine and many other vaccines, and the clinical trial data demonstrates that beyond a doubt.

All Im saying is, since we know the adverse events can be severe, we should be demanding proof of efficacy, not just that it reduces mild disease in healthy people, but that we see real evidence that in the people who die from COVID, this prevents COVID deaths.

There would be a way to demonstrate that if the companies had run the trials properly.

They didnt do that, so were guessing.

I dont think that makes me an anti-vaxxer to say this.

11: 49

MacCallum: So the J and J vaccine is not an mRNA vaccine. That is a more traditional style vaccine where they basically cook the virus, and they make it in order to create this vaccine.

Do you think that one is safer?

Berenson: We havent seen the side effect data on the J and J.

Its probably somewhat safer than the mRNA vaccines because it doesnt have the lipid nanoparticle issue, but we also, it also looks less effective based on the data

Heres ultimate problem with this: Theres something called science by press release.

Thats when you put out a press release that looks really great and then a month later, after everyone has sort of agreed how great this is, you release the full data set, and it looks entirely different.

The only people who read that are only a few scientists and a few journalists.

We dont know what the J and J data says because J and J hasnt put it out yet.

MacCallum: So for yourself and your family members, having done all of this digging, do you think people are just better off taking their chances with COVID19 than getting the vaccine?

Berenson: It depends very substantially on age because COVIDs risks are so stratified by age.

My mother asked me, Should I get the vaccine?

I said, Yes, get the vaccine. Youre 76 years old.

For me, Im 48 and Im in reasonably healthy condition. Im not interested in the mRNA vaccine, maybe a different vaccine.

And for my children, and again my children to the normal vaccine schedule to this point, they are not getting this vaccine.

We will pull them out of school, and my wife agrees with me about this, we will pull them out of school before we give them this vaccine.

They are at zero risk basically from COVID, and they should not be subjected to any risk from a vaccine.

MacCallum: Last question We talked a lot about Operation Warp Speed and the pipeline and the production of it was really unprecedented just separate from what you think about the vaccine, just from a logistic standpoint, very impressive.

But then it just sort of stopped at the state door and left the rest up to them.

What do you think about that failure so far?

Berenson: To me its sort of irrelevant. I dont think we should be pushing the vaccine on people. I think we should prioritize the vaccine for people 60 and over, certainly 70 and over.

Some states were better at that than others. That should have clearly been the national priority, rather than trying to get health care workersa lot of them dont even want to take the vaccineto take it.

I think thats what we should have done, but honestly if it were up to me, these vaccines would not be available right now. Theyd still be in clinical trial and wed be getting the data that we need to show that they actually work and by work I mean reduce deaths, and reduce severe hospitalizations in a statistically significant

MacCallum: Do you see evidence that that is beginning to happen?

Weve talked about the studies in California and New York that show that show many more people had COVID19 than is publically acknowledged.

Do you think, completely separate from the vaccine, how much longer do you think COVID19 will be with us without it?

Berenson: I dont know. In the US right now were going way down. Weve hit the peak of the third wave. Were well past it. It was in the beginning of January.

You dont hear this very much but cases are down something like 60 percent from the peak a month ago.

Hospitalizations are now down 35 percent, and theyre going down every day. It certainly looks like were well passed the third wave.

Will there be a fourth wave? Id like to think not, but at this point COVIDs made a fool of anybody whos made predictions that its over.

Id say one last thing. One more reason to be concerned about the vaccines on a population wide basis is that Israel, which has done a much aggressive job of vaccinating people over 60 than anywhere else in the world, is in the middle of COVID wave that has not gone down in the last month.

Ours has gone down. We vaccinated relatively few people. Theirs has stayed very high, and they vaccinated a lot of people.

You can come up with explanations for that dont say the vaccine doesnt work.

You can explain this is various ways and some of them still are okay for the vaccine, but to me, thats a warning flag.

But in terms of what were going to see in the U.S., Id like think that what were going to see is that cases continue to go down.
Colombo, March 20 : A Sri Lanka Air Force officer was killed in an accident during a parachute training exercise on Saturday, according to authorities.

An Air Force official told Xinhua that the accident took place during the exercise in Ampara, Eastern Province, when the parachutes of the two airmen collided over 8,000 feet in the sky.

The other Air Force man sustained injuries and was rushed to the Ampara Hospital.

The deceased officer was identified as a 34-year-old Squadron Leader of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Some local-history questions have more than one answer - like William Mayfields query about a fatal plane crash he remembers happening at Randolph AFB (now Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph) in the early 1950s, covered here Feb. 27 and March 6, which sparked another letter.

The first involved a B-29 Superfortress and claimed the lives of the pilot and five crew members in 1951; and the second, sent by reader David Fischer, took a solo pilots life in a F-80 Shooting Star in 1953.

The pilot who was killed in the Jan. 8, 1953, crash - the bases first jet aircraft fatality  was Capt. Joseph N. Eberle, 27, a World War II veteran whose plane dropped abruptly when one of the wings fell off. He was buried in his home city of Louisville, Ky. An outdoor family recreation area at Randolph AFB was named in his honor the year after his death.

But thats not the end of the story, as reported by Dale Eckroth, a former staff writer for Randolphs base newspaper.

When the pilots widow, Marie Eberle, visited Randolph in 1995 for the first time since the accident, Eckroth said he spent the day with Marie, listening to her story as she visited the park named in her husbands honor. For his story in the Randolph Wingspread, she recalled the day of the crash, confirming that it happened near the Taj Mahal administration building, as Mayfield remembered.

It was a cloudy, gray afternoon around 3 p.m. when my husband came home to change into his flight clothes, Eberle said.

The couple and their 2-year-old son lived in the West Wherry Housing area. She was visiting a friend next door.

He knocked on the window as he came by, saying hed be home in a couple of hours, after a solo flyover for the daily retreat, a routine occurrence, she said.

Back home, Mrs. Eberle was making dinner when she heard his plane, so I walked to the front door with my son to watch the flyover. Before she got there, she remembered thinking, Somethings wrong with that plane. It doesnt sound right. When she got to the door, the jet was already in flames and falling.

As Eckroth recounts, she ran across Harmon Drive toward the crash site but was stopped by security police and other base personnel. Remembering her distress, Eberle said, I wasnt thinking rationally. I wanted to pull my husband from the wreckage. According to witness, the plane exploded while still in the air, going into a spin and crash-landing in the area where the base elementary school now stands, narrowly missing units in the housing area, as Mayfield remembered.

The 24-year-old widow never saw her husbands body. After she went home to Boston to live with family, Eberle maintained hope for years that he was never on the plane and was perhaps undergoing secret U-2 (spy) plane training somewhere.

Eberle never remarried. A former Army nurse, she held a series of different jobs - for a radio company in Germany, teaching high school back in the states, working in New York City advertising, selling Chiquita bananas and working for the Massachusetts Department of Education from which she retired.

At age 67, she visited San Antonio with an Elderhostel tour group and decided to revisit Randolph, where the couple had been happy before the crash.

We used to go to hangar dances on base, she told Eckroth. I remember we put our son in the base nursery and went to a dance. We were dancing the night away, and everything seemed so perfect. We looked at each other and both agreed that This is too good to be true - and it was. Eight days later, he was killed.

During her 1995 visit, she visited Eberle Park, dedicated April 23, 1954, in memory of her husband. Marie Eberle was not present.

I didnt know what to expect when I came to the base, she said, adding that the park and the dedication plaque in the center is all so beautiful. I know if my husbands watching, hes happy with this.

Sadly, the two crashes recently discussed in this column were not the only ones at Randolph in the early 1950s. There are reports for 30 such accidents; about half involved fatalities, and five, including Joseph Eberles, happened on base, according to data supplied by Craig Fuller, owner of Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research, a Phoenix-based private company that researches and documents military aircraft crash sites in the western United States.

A former chief flight instructor at Arizona State University, Fuller ascribes the frequency of air crashes in the early 50s to a variety of factors.

It was a different era, he said. First off, there were a lot more flights, but even taking that into account, they had a much higher accident rate per every 100,000 hours flown, due to technological advances as well as a different culture. Crashes, including loss of life, were part of the cost to win the war (World War II), and this mentality continued through the Korean War, when being a pilot meant you had Tiger Blood.

As accident investigations became more sophisticated in scope and technique, the information gathered helped decrease the rate of accidents.

historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn
PORTAGE, MI -- The annual chance to rid your home of clutter and unwanted household materials is coming soon in Portage.

The City of Portage annual Spring Cleanup Program will run from April 12 to May 13, according to a press release from the city.

Residents can place unwanted materials on the curbside for pickup. In a news release, city officials encouraged residents to visit the citys website to view all the program details and see a collection map to learn their collection date.

The following items are accepted during the cleanup program: Bed springs and mattresses, old appliances, including washers, dryers, stoves, and hot water heaters, toilets and lawn/yard equipment  drained of oil and fuel.

Other items should be bundled, bagged or boxed, and each package should weigh less than 50 pounds.

Unacceptable items include: animal waste, wood fences or decking, household garbage, gas or fuel containers, large auto parts, paint and chemicals, TVs, computers and monitors, tires, sand, gravel or sod, broken concrete, scrap building materials from demolition, construction or remodeling or refrigerators, air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

Neighborhood collection occurs only once during the Spring Cleanup Program, so items must be placed on the cub by 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection data, the release.

Also happening this spring is the April Quarterly Bagged Leaf and Brush Collection Program. The chance for brush, bagged leaves and ornamental grasses to be collected will be April 5 through April 30. The website also has information about the leaf and brush collection program, including a collection map and dates, the release said.

On Saturday, May 1, the City of Portage Compost Facility will be open for residents to drop off brush and bagged leaves between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. The compost facility is located at 10905 Oakland Drive. The service is restricted to Portage homeowners. Residents should be prepared to show proof of residency, the release said.

Also on MLive:

Michigan reports highest one-day increase of coronavirus cases in 10 weeks

3 Michigan men fined nearly $20K for poaching waterfowl

New Orleans food, culture the inspiration of new Napoleon restaurant in old diner spot
Directions are still awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case against two men following the seizure of 75,000 worth of cannabis during an operation on the south side of Cork city.

Sergeant John Kelleher said at Cork District Court that directions were still awaited from the DPP.

Judge Olann Kelleher noted that both accused men were on bail in relation to the charges in this case.

He adjourned the case until May 20 to allow time for the DPPs directions.

Solicitors, Graham Hyde and Daithi O Donnabhain for defendants, Conor Casey and Zain Ali Haidri, respectively, had no objection to the cases being adjourned.

Detective Garda John Sheedy arrested Zain Ali Haidri, 29, with an address at Noonan Road, The Lough, Cork, and charged him with possession of cannabis and having the drug for the purpose of sale or supply at the Amber Garage on Bandon Road, on Tuesday, January 5.

The detective said it was alleged that drugs squad gardai stopped a car at the Amber filling station on Tuesday and carried out a search.

It was further alleged that approximately three kilos of cannabis worth 60,000 were located in the car.

Det. Garda Sheedy said there was a following up search at the defendants address and three-quarters of a kilo of cannabis with a street value of 15,000 was allegedly discovered.

Detective Garda Robert Kennedy charged 24-year-old Conor Casey of Mount St. Josephs, Bakers Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, with the same two charges of having cannabis and having them for sale or supply at the Amber filling station on Bandon Road on January 5.

The 24-year-old was remanded on bail to May 20 also, on condition that he would sign three times a week at Gurranabraher garda station and not apply for travel documents.
AMSTERDAM, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Staples Solutions B.V. earlier today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its business units in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Poland. This follows announcements earlier this year that the company has divested its UK Distribution Center business, and sold its International Contracts business.

In the coming months, Staples Solutions intends to also divest its remaining business units in Portugal, the Benelux and Finland. The company has engaged a number of interested parties to that effect.

Dolph Westerbos, Chief Executive Officer at Staples Solutions, expanded on the group's journey since 2017 when Staples Inc sold its European business to create the standalone company. "Staples Solutions has undergone a radical transformation in just a few years. We changed from a centrally-driven functional organization into a local country-based structure to better serve our customers. We simplified our business by focusing on contract B2B customers, and divesting non-core units in the early years. We broadened our workspace solutions so that the majority of our revenues now derive from higher margin categories beyond traditional office supplies. We invested in customer service and ecommerce, significantly improving our customers' experience. The relentless hard work paid off by returning the company to profitability."

Westerbos continued: "We have created a better business and a strong entrepreneurial culture, with the unfailing support of our shareholder Cerberus at every step. With the successful completion of our transformation, now is the right time for our shareholder to exit. I am pleased that we have secured strong futures for our business units, and I am proud that our people and customers will be an asset to the great strategic players they are joining."

About Staples Solutions

Staples Solutions is a leading provider of workplace products, services, and solutions to small, mid-sized, and large businesses in Europe. Through our integrated offering, Staples Solutions is the partner of choice to meet the diverse needs of the workplace of today and tomorrow. You can learn more about Staples Solutions at www.staples.eu.

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ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for the coronavirus two days after he received his first vaccine dose, officials announced.

Dr. Faisal Sultan, Khans special assistant on health, said Saturday the prime minister has quarantined himself at his private home on a hilltop in an Islamabad suburb. The government tweeted a statement from Sultan saying the vaccine had not been effective because Khan had received it so recently, and it was only the first of two required doses.

Sultan announced Sunday that Khan's wife had also tested positive for the virus along with two senior members of Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf (Justice) Party.

There has been a spike in COVID-19 cases in the capital and in eastern and northern Pakistan. Authorities on Sunday reported 44 new deaths and 3,667 new confirmed infections. Overall, the virus has killed close to 14,000 people in Pakistan and infected more than 626,000.

The positivity rate in Pakistan has jumped to over 8%, prompting government officials to say people could face a lockdown-like situation if violations of social distancing guidelines continued.

Since February, Pakistan has been using a coronavirus vaccine donated by neighboring China. Health workers have been vaccinated and now older people are receiving the jab.

Media reports say a private Pakistani pharmaceutical company has imported 50,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, but it was unclear at what price the vaccine will be available to people.
Challenges in the Indo-Pacific topped agenda of NSA Doval, Secretary Austins meet

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 20: India would get better capabilities and technologies from the US to enforce the rule of international law in the Indo-Pacific.

US Secretary of Defence Llyod J Austin who landed in India on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also met with National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. The discussions revolved largely around the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.

Officials described the meetings as positive. Austin and Doval's meeting that lasted two hours had a positive outcome, officials tell OneIndia.

Committed to our strategic partnership, says PM Modi after meeting with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

"Great meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval last night. The breadth of collaboration between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defence partnership as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region," Austin said in a tweet.

This is Austin's first visit abroad after the Quad summit and was the fist in-person engagement between the Modi government and Joe Biden administration.

Austin, it may be recalled had told the Senate confirmation in January that China presents the most significant threat going forward since China is ascending. Our goal is to make sure that we have the capabilities and the operational plans and concepts to be able to offer credible deterrence to China or anybody else who wants to take on the US.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 11:56 [IST]
HELENA  Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman said Wednesday hed like to see lawmakers put at least $350 million from Montanas share of the new federal coronavirus relief package into a major initiative boosting broadband connectivity across the state.

Details of the proposal are scarce, and likely subject to negotiations as lawmakers hammer out funding and policy specifics in the coming days. However, the pitch by the administration of Gov. Greg Gianforte signals that boosting access to high-speed internet is likely to be a major emphasis for policymakers as they work out how to spend the nearly $3 billion coming to Montana under the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Gianforte and other Republicans have criticized the $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which passed Congress without GOP support, as a wasteful spending measure that will drive up the national debt and potentially overheat the nations economy.

The governor tweeted March 11 that the stimulus bill is a fiscally irresponsible progressive wish list. At a press conference the following day, he again called the bill fiscally irresponsible while acknowledging that it is the law of the land.

Even so, Gianfortes administration and the GOP-controlled Montana Legislature have enthusiastically rolled up their sleeves to plan for spending the money the state will receive, scrambling to beat a procedural deadline that requires them to pass the first draft of a bill allocating the state stimulus money through the state House by April 1.

Congress has explicitly detailed water, sewer and broadband infrastructure spending as allowable uses of the new stimulus bills state relief dollars.

Appearing before a legislative fiscal committee Wednesday, Osterman told lawmakers that Montana is ranked 50th in the nation for broadband access. That situation, he said, poses a threat to the states ability to grow its economy and create jobs.

Osterman also said that connectivity is an issue not just in isolated stretches of rural Montana, but also in portions of counties with major urban centers. He presented lawmakers with data, for example, indicating 13,400 people in Gallatin County, around Bozeman, and 21,778 people in Flathead County, around Kalispell, dont have access to adequate broadband coverage.

That data, from Broadband Now, also indicates that 15 of Montanas 56 counties have broadband coverage for less than half of their population, including some relatively populous counties like Lincoln County, around Libby, where less than a quarter of 20,000 residents are considered covered.

If we look at where we are, were underserving our businesses in our largest areas as well, Osterman said. Its not just the remote rural connectivity that were talking about. Its the central growth engine of who we are and what we are as a state.

COORDINATED APPROACH

Osterman presented lawmakers with an 11-page proposal detailing the creation of a Montana Broadband Deployment Task Force.

That effort would be managed by the state commerce department and hire about 35 employees  a head count of roughly one worker per $10 million of the $350 million sum. In addition to spending the stimulus money in an effort to promote broadband investment by private providers, that group would be charged with precisely identifying the states existing coverage gaps and coordinating work with other broadband promotion programs, such as existing Federal Communications Commission and United States Department of Agriculture programs.

Jennie Stapp, a Montana State Library staffer who serves as the states current broadband coordinator, told lawmakers Wednesday that part of the challenge around the high-speed internet access issue is that it involves a patchwork of policy needs, technical issues and funding channels. States that have been successful with broadband promotion, she added, generally have a specific place in state government thats clearly responsible for sorting all that into a coherent strategy.

This is one of the driving reasons why the state of Montana is falling short  because we dont have that kind of coordinated approach, Stapp said.

UP TO SPEED

The commerce department proposal calls for providing universal internet connectivity with 100-megabit-per-second download and upload speeds to Montana citizens and businesses by 2025, as well as laying the groundwork for technology able to provide service thats 10- or 100-times faster, at 1- or 10-gigabits-per-second.

If we look ahead at the way technology is, 2030 is not that far away, and 10 gigabits is going to be sort of the minimal acceptable performance, Osterman said.

However, he cautioned that the effort will come with a hefty price tag. He estimates it would cost the state roughly $700 million  twice his $350 million request  to bring Montana service up to the 1-gigabit standard.

For comparison, Montana spends about $110 million a year running its state court system.

LEGISLATIVE GROUNDWORK

Lawmakers plan to authorize the broadband task force by amending a pending bill, Sen. Jason Ellsworth of Hamiltons Senate Bill 297, which was drafted to create a state broadband grant program able to accept federal stimulus funds.

In its current form, that bill calls for the creation of a state broadband program that would offer grants to internet service providers proposing projects in areas without at least 25 megabits-per-second download speeds and 3-megabit-per-second upload speeds. Providers wouldnt be able to double-dip with federal subsidies and would have to cover at least 20% of their costs from private capital. Government entities and private entities without previous experience providing broadband would be ineligible.

Ellsworth, a Republican, has also sponsored a separate measure, Senate Bill 51, that would give telecommunications companies a property tax break on newly installed fiber optic lines if they reinvest the savings in further broadband development. A similar bill passed the Legislature but was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in 2019. Gianforte supports this years bill, which has passed the Senate and is moving through the House.

Democrats have also pitched a series of broadband measures with mixed legislative success. Butte Rep. Derek Harveys House Bill 494, which would require the state highway department to coordinate with telecom companies about installing broadband during highway projects, passed the House with near-unanimous support and is set for a Senate committee hearing this week. A measure by Rep. Kelly Kortum of Bozeman, which would have let local governments operate broadband providers, was killed in a vote on the House floor earlier this month.

Two other Democratic measures would create a broadband coordinator position within the commerce department and use $200 million in federal stimulus money to set up a revolving loan fund for broadband projects.

House Democrats communications director Nathan Stein said Wednesday that he believed Republicans had integrated ideas from the Democratic bills, which were announced at a Feb. 3 press conference, into GOP legislation.

I think we clearly framed the conversation around broadband, Stein said. This is what we were going for from the jump.

Amanda Eggert contributed reporting.
A graphic designer who created a natural skincare line with no experience in cosmetics is now making $80,000 a month with her industry-leading products.

Kiri Yanchenko had suffered from stress and hormone-related acne for years, but found the side effects of harsh chemicals left her sensitive skin more irritated than using nothing at all.

Determined to find a holistic alternative, the 39-year-old, from Sydney, used her house deposit to pay for scientific research into a natural cure suitable for all skin types.

With the help of a cosmetic chemist, Ms Yanchenko spent five years developing ultra-gentle formulas that target chronic acne and perioral dermatitis, an eczema-like rash that forms around the mouth.

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Sydney graphic designer Kiri Yanchenko (pictured) spent five years developing Australia's first probiotic skincare range

Ms Yanchenko's products are specially designed to cure chronic acne and perioral dermatitis, an eczema-like rash that forms around the mouth (pictured: a transformation before and after using the range)

In 2018 she launched Amperna, Australia's first probiotic skincare range that contains cleansers and serums laced with powerful natural ingredients such as glycolic acid, vitamin B, and a fermented peptide that promotes skin renewal.

That 'wonder' ingredient, which also brightens skin and helps to prevent signs of premature ageing, is what Ms Yanchenko believes sets her brand apart from others on the market.

Others including hyaluronic acid, zinc and licorice root extract act as a protective layer on the skin, which staves off bad bacteria and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Ms Yanchenko told Daily Mail Australia she 'wants to help people cure their acne naturally without using intense medication like Roaccutane'.

She said her best-seller is the $140 Acne Trio Bundle, which contains a cleanser, exfoliator and lotion that soothe inflammation while strengthening the skin's protective barrier, making it less susceptible to breakouts.

Amperna is Australia's first probiotic skincare range that contains products laced with natural ingredients such as glycolic acid and a fermented peptide that promotes skin renewal

Customer photos stand testament to the effectiveness of the products, which are designed to cure adult acne and chronic inflammation

Her products, which are manufactured in Melbourne, boast dozens of five-star reviews from satisfied customers who say they had wasted huge amounts of money on over-the-counter treatments before discovering the magic of the brand.

A nurse from New Zealand who developed a persistent rash around her mouth from wearing surgical-grade face masks said the $95 Soothing Duo was 'the only thing' that cleared it up.

A woman from the UK who suffered from adult acne for years said she 'can't recommend' the products enough.

'I starting using Amperna in a mild flare up and it felt gorgeous on my skin, smells lovely and no irritation whatsoever - very rare for me! Within four days, the flare up was almost completely gone. I couldn't believe it,' she wrote on the brand's website.

The products boast dozens of five-star reviews from satisfied customers who say they had wasted huge amounts of money on over-the-counter treatments before discovering the magic of Amperna

The probiotic skincare craze With women around the world complaining of 'mask-ne' - Covid-induced acne from wearing face masks - Dr Giulia D'Anna, founder of Melbourne cosmetic skin clinic Dermal Distinction, says natural probiotic skincare is going to be bigger than ever in 2021. 'For acne, oily skin and breakouts, it's so important to introduce "good" bacteria to the skin,' she said. 'Much like probiotics in our diet, probiotic skincare is focused on improving the natural skin bacteria or microbiome - good bacteria are required to keep the "bad" bacteria under control.' Australian beauty brands are leading the way with probiotic skincare, with photos on the Instagram account of Sydney label Amperna showing incredible customer transformations after using the products. Advertisement

Amperna's cruelty and chemical-free products are available online, as well as in a handful of independent chemists and skin clinics across Australia.

That predominantly digital presence was a boon for Ms Yanchenko when the government shuttered brick-and-mortar business at the start of the pandemic.

She recorded a huge uptick in sales during the first lockdown in early 2020, when millions of housebound Australians turned to self-care for distraction.

Ms Yanchenko said business has also boomed as a result of constant mask wearing, which has caused a massive increase in inflammatory skin conditions.

'Our skincare is filled with all the ingredients people need in a simple, straightforward to use format,' she said.

Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and licorice root extract strengthen the skin's protective barrier, making it less susceptible to breakouts

'It's ultra-gentle and you know you can trust our formulas because we were in development for so long, over five years.

She said the company has doubled its turnover each quarter since launching three years ago.

'At the moment we're [making] about $80,000 a month, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more,' she said.

Ms Yanchenko said she hopes to expand her range to include probiotic makeup and hair care in the coming years.
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Saturday led mourners in paying their last respects to her predecessor John Magufuli, who died suddenly this week after an illness shrouded in mystery.

Mourners lined the streets of Dar es Salaam to bid farewell to the late president, some of them weeping and throwing flower petals as the casket, towed on a gun carriage by a military vehicle, was transferred from a church to Uhuru Stadium to lie in state.

"Before I saw the coffin, I didn't believe our president was really dead," said flower-seller Pauline Attony after watching the motorcade pass.

Hassan, who was sworn in Friday to become the country's first female president, led a government procession filing past the coffin, which was draped in the Tanzanian flag, offering her condolences to Magufuli's wife.

Many wore black, or the green and yellow colours of the ruling party, but few inside the stadium or among the packed crowds outside wore face masks in the Covid-sceptic country -- a scepticism Magufuli himself had embodied.

"It is too soon for you to go, father. You touched our lives and we still needed you," said one mourner, Beatrice Edward.

"We lost our defender," said another, Suleiman Mbonde, a tradesman.

- Coronavirus sceptic -

The government announced Wednesday that Magufuli, 61, had died from a heart condition at a hospital in Dar es Salaam after three weeks missing from public view.

His unexplained absence -- the government had denied he was ill, and several people were arrested for spreading rumours about his health -- fuelled speculation that he was being treated for coronavirus abroad.

Tundu Lissu, Tanzania's main opposition leader, who lives in exile in Belgium, insists his sources said Magufuli had died a week earlier from the disease that he had long downplayed.

Magufuli was one of a handful of world leaders, alongside former US president Donald Trump and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, who scoffed at Covid-19. He even went so far as to deny its presence in the country.

Story continues

He had declared that prayer had rid the country of Covid-19, refused face masks or lockdown measures, stopped the publication of case statistics and championed alternative medicine, decrying vaccines as "dangerous".

But by February, cases had soared. After the deaths of a number of senior figures -- officially from respiratory problems and pneumonia -- the president popularly known as the "Bulldozer" had to concede that the virus was still circulating.

While Hassan says she will take over where Magufuli left off, hopes are high she will usher in a change in leadership style from her predecessor, under whose rule there had been a sharp crackdown on the opposition, media, and civil society.

All eyes will be on her handling of the pandemic.

A softly spoken veteran politician, Hassan convened a special meeting of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party Saturday but it concluded without news of appointing a new deputy.

Under the constitution, the 61-year-old will serve the remainder of Magufuli's second five-year term, which does not expire until 2025.

She has announced a 21-day mourning period. The late president will lie in state in several locations across Tanzania before his burial next Friday in his home town of Chato.

str-np/jj
Bangkok: Thai police used water cannon and charged toward protesters who had gathered near the Kings Palace in Bangkok on Saturday to call for the release of protest leaders and demand reform of the monarchy.

Hundreds of police in riot gear and shields advanced on different fronts against protesters to push people away from the Grand Palace. In some places they faced off with protesters who threw firecrackers.

Riot police stand in formation preparing to disperse protesters. Credit:

More than 1,000 protesters had gathered near the palace in Bangkok in an area known as Sanam Luang, or Royal Field.

We will arrest anyone on the streets, police said over loudspeakers as multiple lines of police advanced, pushing people back.
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PDP8 priorities and risks addressed, illustration photo

The third draft of the National Power Development Plan 8 (PDP8) for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade is the result of the third consultation of ministries, sectors, and businesses operating in the sector.

According to the most recent calculations, the forecast commercial electricity mentioned in the PDP8 will be lower than the adjusted PDP7, by about 15 billion kilowatt-hours by 2030. As another new element, the electricity demand will shift from the south to the north.

The new plan will give priority to the exploitation of renewable energy sources for electricity generation. However, due to the exhaustion of natural gas resources, as well as the uncertainties linked to the exploitation of new gas fields, Vietnam will have to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) on a large scale to supply LNG-fired power plants and ensure energy security.

Along with that, the development of gas-related infrastructures such as warehouse and port systems are necessary.

Besides imported gas, it may be also necessary to promote the import of coal in large volumes to ensure a stable fuel supply for the current and planned coal-fired thermal power plants.

Nevertheless, there is a much stronger focus on exploiting renewable energy sources than before, especially offshore wind, solar, and biomass power sources, along with other renewables. The selected scheme satisfies the power supply and international commitments to reduce environmental pollution in the generation process with low production costs and harmonising benefits for the state, investors, and end-users.

Moreover, the PDP8 meets the criteria set out in Politburos Resolution No.55/NQ-TW on the orientation of the National Energy Development Strategy of Vietnam to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The PDP8 can give high priority to the development of renewable energy sources and promoting the development of projects for LNG power and the gradual reduction of coal-fired plants.

The plan is currently divided into six major areas and 19 sub-regions to analyse and build a strong transmission grid between the regions. Before 2030, all mentioned regions are planned to be linked by many 500kV lines. After 2030, there will be more one-way power transmission lines to release the capacity of clusters of large offshore wind power sources to the central units.

The scheme needs about $128.3 billion, of which about $95.4 billion are reserved for power sources and the remaining $32.9 billion for the grid. In the 15 years after that, another $192.3 billion will be required to be split into $140.2 billion for power generation and $52.1 billion for the transmission network.

Furthermore, the plan proposes three groups of mechanisms for its implementation, including investments in electricity development, capital attraction and mobilisation, and for ensuring the electricity systems operation under market conditions, including the integration of renewable energy sources.

In addition, 13 solutions related to the revision of legal documents, capital solutions, electricity prices, environmental protection, science and technology, human resources development, and organisation are also mentioned in this scheme.

Important source

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, who is also part of the National Power Development Plan Appraisal Council said, In this master plan, solar and wind energy sources should continue to be prioritised for development as they are both natural resources that are especially abundant in Vietnam. However, it is necessary to form and maintain a stable supply for the whole system.

The deputy PM noted that the development of renewable energies should consider power reserves while ensuring operational safety for the whole system and source capacities.

According to the PDP8, the coal power structure will be decreasing in total capacity. However, this is currently a particularly important source of energy and serves as the backup for the entire system. Regarding the implementation of the plan, deputy PM Dung said that appropriately allocated capital sources should be considered, including the list of projects that can be exploited soon.

He also believed the PDP8 will create an important innovation step and serve as the foundation for mobilising resources for the development of the power industry, thereby meeting the socioeconomic needs of the nation.

Coal power still preferred

The draft shows a gradual decrease in coal power development and a gradual increase in renewable energy development, separated into phases.

However in the next decade, coal-fired power will still have a high priority due to the addition of about 17GW of new coal power plants to the system.

The Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance, the Vietnam Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Alliance, and the Vietnam Rivers Network have recommended considering the suitability, feasibility, and consequences of the new coal power development plan in five aspects.

Firstly, without learning from the implementation of the PDP7, shortcomings will continue to exist, leading to risks of further delays of coal power projects. Their development between 2016 and 2020 faced many difficulties in both capital mobilisation and lack of support from residents and local authorities, resulting in a mere 57.6-per-cent fulfilment of the PDP7. In the past five years, only about 7GW of coal power plants were put into operation, of which only one unit (0.6 GW) was put into operation by 2020.

Secondly, there is a strong dependence on external supplies as 86 per cent of new coal plants must use imported material, while the ability to import from the sources identified in the draft forecasts face many difficulties, possibly affecting national energy security.

Thirdly, new high-tech coal-fired power plants do solve the environmental problem, and at the same time make it more expensive than developing renewable energy sources.

Also, continuing to develop new coal power projects will guide Vietnam in the opposite direction of the global world and contradicts the efforts to implement the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to close all coal power plants globally by 2040. However, the plants in the current draft are meant to operate at least until 2050, possibly even until 2070.

Lastly, according to the scenario in the current draft of the master plan, the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions will increase continuously from 9,500 tonnes last year to over 42,000 tonnes by around 2035, which poses a high risk of further air pollution and impacts the environment and public health.

The reports by the three agencies added that the total capacity of renewable energies that is meant to be mobilised is very low compared to the potential and makes up only about 4-5 per cent by 2030, and 13-16 per cent by 2045. Some renewable options that have the advantage of decreasing costs and offering effective solutions may not be sufficiently mobilised within the next 10 years.

According to the draft, solar power takes a minor role with only about 2GW put into operation. Moreover, solar power in combination with agriculture has not been considered and there is no mechanism to encourage this development. Meanwhile, offshore wind power, hydropower, and battery storage for these systems have not been included in this period.
(Alliance News) - The UK is on the verge of reaching the major milestone of giving more than 50% of the adult population their first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Government data up to March 18 suggests that 49.9% of the population aged 18 and over have received a first dose, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson received his first dose of the vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca PLC on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, a rise in coronavirus infections has led to countries across Europe imposing tougher restrictions, with UK scientists concerned about outbreaks of the South African variant.

Government sources said the UK needs to be wary of what is happening in Europe "because in the past that has led to a rise here a few weeks later", although how things will pan out is uncertain.

European countries are seeing pockets of the South African variant, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against this variant.

In the UK, hospital admissions and deaths are still coming down due to the effect of vaccines, but there are worries that cases could rise quickly once restrictions are eased.

Experts believe there will be an increasing "disconnect" between cases and hospital admissions and deaths going forward, as vaccines work to keep people from dying.

Regarding foreign holidays this summer, government scientists say it is still unclear what will happen, but the risk of importing cases and variants comes from countries with a higher prevalence than the UK.

On Friday, Johnson gave a double thumbs-up to mark his vaccination as he was given the jab at Westminster Bridge Vaccination Centre at St Thomas' Hospital in central London shortly after 6.30pm.

Leaving hospital he told reporters: "I literally did not feel a thing and so it was very good, very quick and I cannot recommend it too highly.

"Everybody, when you get your notification to go for a jab please go and get it. It is the best thing for you, best thing for your family and for everybody else."

The prime minister had previously dismissed concerns it was linked to blood clots, and told the nation it was "safe" at a press briefing on Thursday.

Johnson was treated in the intensive care unit at St Thomas' Hospital in April last year after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

His jab comes as England became the first of the four UK nations to pass the milestone of giving a first dose of vaccine to more than 50% of the adult population.

A total of 22,337,590 people had been given a first jab as of March 18, according to NHS England.

This is the equivalent of 50.5% of the population of England aged 18 and over, based on the latest estimates by the Office for National Statistics.

A separate milestone has been passed in Wales, where one in 10 of the total population is likely to have had both doses of the vaccine.

In Europe, the French government announced that new lockdown restrictions would be imposed on Paris from midnight on Friday due to an increase in cases.

Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was facing a "third wave" of the pandemic, adding the new measures will last for four weeks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany may need to apply an "emergency break" on relaxing restrictions amid a rise in infections.

Poland begins a new three-week lockdown on Saturday, with shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities closed, while other countries including Italy and Spain have opted for curfews in a bid to reduce the rate of transmission.

Earlier, Neil Ferguson, professor at Imperial College London, said the UK must keep the South African Covid-19 variant at bay as some European countries reported a third wave of infections.

Ferguson, who spurred the UK's decision to go into lockdown last March, warned that a group of European countries are seeing increasing levels of coronavirus cases.

"Perhaps more concern for the UK though is that some countries are notably seeing a significant fraction, 5-10% of cases, of the South African variant," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"That is the variant we really do want to keep out of the UK."

A study published on Thursday by Oxford University suggested that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs could struggle against the South African variant and may end up offering limited protection.

Researchers said the South African variant should be the focus of any efforts to create new vaccines that may be needed next winter.

Ferguson said there are "important decisions coming up" with regards to dealing with variants, including how much the ban on international travel is relaxed.

One way of dealing with variants may be through "introducing testing of people coming into the country", he suggested, but added: "These are policy decisions."

Countries including France, Germany and Italy have also began restarting their vaccine programmes with the AstraZeneca jab a reversing earlier decisions to suspend them over blood clot concerns.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will resume in Ireland on Saturday, the Health Service Executive has announced.

HSE chief clinical officer Colm Henry said: "We welcome the review by the European Medicines Agency and the positive outcome.

"We will now put in place the updated information and advice recommended by NIAC, and begin rescheduling vaccinations starting with a relatively modest number [Saturday]."

The European Medicines Agency ]said the AstraZeneca vaccine was "safe and effective" and its benefits in preventing Covid-19 hospital admission and death greatly outweighed potential risks.

The World Health Organisation and the UK's Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have said that the jab is safe and have encouraged people to take up their vaccine appointments.

By PA Reporters

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
NEW HAVEN  Dwaneia Turner was a joyous, spirited young woman, a mother of two. She was funny and outspoken; a good and willing cook; she doted on children. She was taken before her time.

Family and friends remembered Turner, 28, on Friday as they held a candlelight vigil on the corner of Auburn Street and Legion Avenue, where she was shot and killed earlier this week.

With smiles and tears, they came together and spoke of their friend and loved one. The group released balloons in her honor, watching as they sailed out into the evening light.

Jazzmine Smallwood said she met Turner at a young age; they sat together on the swings, talking about birthdays. She learned that they were a year and a day apart; they called each other sister from there on out.

She always just wanted to have fun, said Smallwood. There was never a dull moment for her.

Smallwood said Turner was a family-oriented person, with particular love for her two children, Sanaa and Cordell, known as King.

In her professional life, she worked a number of jobs, including at Home Depot and Hobby Lobby, seizing opportunities as they came, Smallwood said. In her personal life, she loved shopping and clothes; she always wanted to have something to do.

Smallwood asked people to remember the two young people as they considered the life of her friend.

Remember her by her children, said Smallwood. Remember her as a true woman who always handled her business.

Tache White, Turners older sister, described her as a fun and loving person. They would go back and forth, she said, playfully arguing about who was cuter. They would get together regularly, laughing and joking. She said she would miss those conversations.

Even though she was the youngest one, she was willing to take care of me, said White. She was always the one who wanted to make time to spend with the peple she loved... she was willing to give it all.

Charmaine Graham also described Turner as funny and outgoing  a goofball. They grew up together, Graham said; Turner was someone you could rely on for help in a time of trouble.

Brittany Odom said she had been Turners friend for 13 years. She said Turner was loud, funny, outspoken  just very outgoing.

When Turner lived in Fair Haven, Odom said, she would hold cookouts. At those, she would bend the rules to make sure the children had a good time, buying them candy, and cook for everyone.

Brianna Triplett is charged with first-degree assault in connection with Turners death. Odom said she had been close to both, making this time particularly difficult to process.

Right now, Im just numb. Im hurt, said Odom.

White said she was hurt and angry. She noted that her sister was young, just 28  her life shouldnt have ended this way, she said.

Smallwood said she had organized the vigil, in part, in hopes of getting justice for Turner and her two children.

After people had spoken, offering memories and urging one another to appreciate the lives of their loved ones while they are still here, White led the group in prayer.

She thanked God for her sisters life  for her love, for the times she would tell her off, for the chance to know her.

We thank you for the days, the memories, said White. Though her life was short, we thank you, Lord God.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Beijing, March 20 : Lenovo launched a single flagship Android tablet called Lenovo Tab P11 Pro and now the company is reportedly working on another such high-end Android tablet.

Lenovo Notebook Product Manager Lin Lin posted a 'Settings' page screenshot of an upcoming Lenovo tablet. The picture reveals some of the key specs of this product, reports GizmoChina.

As per the image, the tablet will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC. This chipset will be coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.

As per report, the tablet will run ZUI 12.5 based on Android 11. It will also have support for 'Lenovo One', which is similar to HUAWEI Multi-Screen Collaboration and Xiaomi Device Control.

Driven by demand due to work-from-home and online education amid the pandemic, the India tablet market grew six per cent year-on-year (YoY) in 2020 with Lenovo leading the market with a 39 per cent share, said a new report from CyberMedia Research (CMR) recently.

Lenovo, which replaced Samsung at the top, saw its commercial business registering robust growth, driven by government and education sectors, showed CMR's Tablet PC Market Report Review for 2020.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Geneva, March 20 : The US has appealed a World Trade Organisation's panel report in favour of Seoul over Washington's high tariffs on South Korea's steel and power transformer products.

The US filed a notice of appeal with the WTO's Appellate Body, a move that left the dispute in limbo as the de facto Supreme Court of international trade has stopped functioning for more than a year.

The WTO's Dispute Settlement Body had planned to hold a meeting on Friday to adopt the panel report, but the meeting was cancelled due to the U.S. appeal.

The U.S. move came two months after the WTO panel said eight cases of Washington's tariffs on South Korean goods violated the international organisation's rules, reports Yonhap news agency.

The US has been levying high tariffs on some South Korean products by applying the "adverse facts available" (AFA) provision since May 2016, according to South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The provision allows extremely high anti-dumping and countervailing tariffs if an accused company doesn't provide the data demanded by authorities.

The US has been imposing tariffs of 9.49 percent to 59.72 percent on South Korean steel products, with those on electrical transformers reaching 60.81 percent.

South Korea filed the lawsuit with the WTO in February 2018, as the two countries failed to narrow their differences.

In January, South Korea said the latest decision by the WTO will help in preventing unlawful application of the AFA provision on other products.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The children of Marshalstown National School are an innovative and inquisitive group and that's been highlighted throughout the pandemic.

Despite the challenges imposed by the recent lockdown, they continue to explore and experience nature in a very real and natural way at home, through continued engagement in online learning activities.

A spokesperson for the school described some of the activities the children have been engaging in; activities that she said 'harness each child's natural curiosity, creativity and growing appreciation for nature'.

Their activities were facilitated by the schools ongoing work in preparation for its biodiversity green school flag.

'Sixth class have made some great bird-feeders from recycled materials at home during lockdown,' said the spokesperson.

'The green school philosophy is integral to all environmental studies in Marshalstown,' she said.

'Green school activities at present include, bird surveys, wildlife studies, project work, growing vegetables, wildlife newsletters and a biodiversity webinar in preparation for the flag,' she added.

The ongoing studies build on all the school's achievements to-date with regard to its previous green flag awards in the areas of litter and waste, water, energy and travel.

The spokesperson said that the school continues to explore biodiversity, in our school and locality, it's hoped the project work will be extended in the future with a wildflower bed, pollinator area, compost heap, extension of the school's bug hotels, and development of a pond.

'Here in Marshalstown, the school and wider community continue to work together to foster biodiversity awareness and protecting nature all around us as we learn together,' said the spokesperson.

* More photos in the March 16th issue of The Enniscorthy Guardian
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Johnny Depp put aside all of his legal drama to make a rare social media post about his latest film.

The 57-year-old actor posted the poster for his new drama City of Lies on Instagram on Friday.

'Thank you to Voletta Wallace and the Poole family for allowing Brad, Forest, myself and the crew to tell this timely and important story,' he captioned the image.

Rare post: Johnny Depp put aside all of his legal drama to make a rare social media update to display the poster for his new drama City of Lies on Instagram on Friday

Sending thanks: 'Thank you to Voletta Wallace and the Poole family for allowing Brad, Forest, myself and the crew to tell this timely and important story,' he captioned the image

'Truth is a rare bird. All the more reason to search for it. City of Lies in US theatres today. VOD on April 9th. More territories to be added soon,' he said about the new release.

The crime drama delves into the mystery behind the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.

Depp filmed the movie back in 2017, but it was pulled from its original 2018 release, reportedly due to a lawsuit filed against Depp by a location manager on the film claiming the star assaulted him on set.

Based on the book LAbyrinth by Randall Sullivan, the film sees retired LAPD detective Russell Poole, played by Depp, team up with journalist Jack Jackson, played by Forest Whitaker, to investigate the Tupac and B.I.G. cases and uncover the truth.

Plot: Based on the book LAbyrinth by Randall Sullivan, the film sees a retired LAPD detective, played by Depp, team up with a journalist, played by Forest Whitaker, to investigate the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. and uncover the truth

Finally released: Depp filmed the movie back in 2017, but it was pulled from its original 2018 release, reportedly due to a lawsuit filed against Depp by a location manager on the film claiming the star assaulted him on set

New accusations: The post came one day after the Pirates of the Caribbean performer branded his ex-wife Amber Heard a 'scumbag gold-digger' and a 'f***ing wh***'' in the London Court of Appeal

The post came came one day after the Pirates of the Caribbean performer branded his ex-wife Amber Heard a 'scumbag gold-digger' after their marriage ended four years ago in the Court of Appeal in London.

He lashed out in a 2016 text to his nurse after the actress said she would hand her entire $7 million divorce settlement to charity.

Depp wrote at the time: 'No Way she'll give a dime to anyone!!! Thank f*** she's gone!!! Makes me sick to think of how hard I tried to make it work... Now... Honestly, I wouldn't touch that f***ing wh*** with a Hazmat suit on!!! What scum. I f***ing hate her!!!'

The star is trying to overturn a High Court ruling that he assaulted his ex-wife, 34, and put her in fear for her life, and is asking the Court of Appeal to order a re-trial of his libel claim against The Sun after he was called a 'wife-beater.'

Legal battle: The star is trying to overturn a damning High Court ruling that he assaulted his ex-wife, 34, and put her in fear for her life, and is asking the Court of Appeal to order a retrial of his libel claim against The Sun after he was called a 'wife-beater'

After the couple divorced in 2016, the Aquaman starlet said she would split the settlement between the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union.

His lawyers accused Amber of giving away 'a fraction' of the huge sum as part of a 'calculated and manipulative lie' to make herself look better.

The lawyer representing The Sun asked the court to reject the appeal demanding a re-trial and said that the actor knew that Amber's donation would be paid in installments rather than a lump sum and 'suspected that she would not make the payments'.

Ruling to come: The lawyer representing The Sun asked the court to reject the appeal demanding a re-trial, and the judge said the court would give its ruling at a later date

Trial results: Following a three-week trial in July 2020, a judge found that an April 2018 column calling the Edward Scissorhands star a 'wife beater' was 'substantially true'

Following a three-week trial in July 2020, a judge found that an April 2018 column calling the Edward Scissorhands star a 'wife beater' was 'substantially true.'

At the conclusion of Thursdays appeal hearing, the judge said the court would give its ruling at a later date.

Neither party was present for the hearing. The former pair got married in 2015 after first meeting on the set of The Rum Diary in 2009.

Heard then filed for divorce from Depp in May 2016, kicking off years of legal back-and-forth between the two.
Srinagar, March 20 : Night flight operation will soon start at the Srinagar international airport after the successful trial on Friday evening.

The first night flight trial was carried out successfully yesterday by Go Air to Delhi from Srinagar which operated at 7.15 p.m.

Ranjan Prakash Thakur, J&K Principal Secretary, industries and commerce, was present when the trial flight was operated.

He greeted the crew and the ground staff adding that night flight operations will increase the tourist footfall into Kashmir besides improving connectivity between J&K and the rest of the country.

Santosh Dhoke, Director, Srinagar international airport said, "After successful Atrial for the night flight operations from Srinagar to Delhi by Go Air, Indigo Airlines is likely to do another trial flight on Saturday." He said that the DGCA is expected to give final approval for regular commercial night flight operations next week after which such operations will become a regular feature at the Srinagar airport.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A decade ago, one of the first things Republicans did after taking back the House of Representatives was get rid of earmarks. For those of you who dont recall, earmark is the term of art for when members of Congress bring home the bacon to their district. The GOP was in a tea party-ish mood back then, and getting rid of bridges to nowhere, etc., was all the rage.

At the time, I thought the earmark ban was an encouraging sign of reform. But in recent years, Ive changed my mind somewhat. Yes, the practice had gotten out of control, and it drove some corrupt practices. But if the issue was runaway spending and debt, getting rid of earmarks was always more symbolic than serious. The main drivers of our national debt have always been entitlements, not road projects or ice skating rinks.

If the price of getting Congress to implement serious entitlement reforms was a gold-plated monorail in every congressional district, it would be well worth it. Besides, whos to say that a politician in constant contact with his districts voters and civic leaders wont have a better understanding of what his or her community needs than some bureaucrat a thousand miles away?

Also, getting rid of earmarks didnt get rid of spending. As my American Enterprise Institute colleague Kevin Kosar documents in a new report, Restoring the power of the purse: Earmarks and re-empowering legislators to deliver local benefits, Congress still allocated money for transportation projects, community rec centers, scientific studies, etc. Its just that the legislative branch gave up a lot of those decisions. Bureaucrats and political appointees in the executive branch got to decide where the goodies went. Getting rid of earmarks made almost no difference at all, and in some cases discretionary spending went up after the moratorium.

The ban not only weakened the congressional power of the purse, it turned legislators into elected lobbyists of the executive branch. The founders wanted Congress to be the executive branchs boss, not its supplicant. The further subordination of Congress contributed to its crippling polarization and dysfunction. Think of it this way: As prone to abuse as earmarks were, bringing home benefits to your district was a means of justifying your work in Washington in a way that could cut across partisan or ideological lines. (So-and-so is way too conservative for me, but he did get us that new firehouse.)

Instead of legislating or overseeing the executive branch, many House members spend their days as de facto pundits, spinning for their team or against the other. And why not? If all the real governing is being done elsewhere, spending your days as a cheerleader or critic on TV is good way to maintain your name ID for the next election.

So, you might think I was relieved to learn that earmarks are coming back. The Democrats brought them back to the House, and the Senate may soon be next. On Wednesday, House Republicans threw in the towel.

I think its the right decision in the abstract, but in reality its a little sickening.

Having just passed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, only a fraction of which deals directly with the pandemic, Democrats are moving on to an infrastructure bill. Theres no price tag yet, but Goldman Sachs estimates a range of $2 trillion to $4 trillion over 10 years. To build support for the effort, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., announced last month that shed allow earmarks, albeit with a few conditions. Members cant have a financial interest in them, they cant ask for earmarks in secret, and they cant ask for more than 10. (Thats right, 10.)

This put Republicans in a bind. If the money is getting spent anyway, why not have some say in how its spent?

Theres a real concern about the administration directing where money goes, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said. This doesnt add one more dollar to overall spending. I think members here know whats most important about whats going on in their district, not Biden.

McCarthys right. Still, ugh. Republicans banned earmarks because they claimed they contributed to runaway spending and debt. Spending and debt soared under Republicans and Democrats alike. And now, when these problems are the worst theyve ever been, the GOP wants earmarks back  not as a way to get control of our fiscal problems, but as a way to take more ownership of our fiscal problems.

Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast.
They always put on a fashionable display on social media.

And Jess and Eve Gale didn't disappoint as they flaunted their enviable figures in casual ensembles as they stepped out after a photoshoot in West London on Saturday.

The Love Island twins, 21, showcased their curves in skin-tight trousers as they headed home after the late night shoot.

Double trouble! The Love Island twins, 21, showcased their curves in skin-tight trousers in West London on Saturday

Eve put her best fashion foot forward in a nude all-in-one suit and matching cropped padded jacket.

She went for comfort and styled her look with a pair of light grey Yeezy trainers as she posed for the camera.

Jess, meanwhile, wrapped up in a brown cropped fur jacket and highlighted her ample cleavage in a black wrap-around top.

Pose: Eve drew attention to her curvy figure in the co-ordinating outfit while Jess sported a wrap-around top which showed off her cleavage

Stunning: Eve flaunted her enviable figure in a nude all-in-one body suit and matching padded jacket as she stepped out with her twin after a photoshoot

Cosy: Jess wrapped up in a brown cropped fur jacket and highlighted her ample cleavage in a black wrap-around top

She kept her ensemble casual with a pair of skinny jeans and added a touch of designer glam with her cream Balenciaga sock trainers.

The sisters both styled their locks in effortless buns and drew attention to their pretty features with a slick of makeup.

Earlier this month, Eve was pining for sunnier climes as she shared a throwback swimsuit snap, before slipping into tiny hotpants.

The blonde beauty flaunted her ample cleavage and underboob in a skimpy orange swimsuit.

Pose: Eve drew attention to her curvy figure in the co-ordinating outfit while Jess sported a wrap-around top which showed off her cleavage

Stepping out: The sisters both styled their locks in effortless buns and drew attention to their pretty features with a slick of makeup

The top barely contained her assets and drew the eye to her taut midriff and enviable legs as she posed.

She captioned the snap: 'Oh to be this tanned again #June2020.

The twins recently returned to the UK following their 'work' trip to the United Arab Emirates.

The TV stars were just two of many celebrities who jetted to Dubai in recent weeks, joining many other Love Islanders including Joanna Chimonides, Hayley Hughes and Francesca Allen.

Beauty: The twins are known for putting on a stylish display, and Jess flaunted her stunning figure in a brown jacket

After Dubai joined UK's travel ban list, celebrities have been flocking to Mexico's bars and beaches as it establishes itself as the latest COVID getaway destination.

The country appears to be the new destination of choice for global jet-setters and could rocket in popularity.

Travel abroad is now banned from the UK without a legally permitted reason, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced last month, as she criticised influencers for 'showing off in sunny parts of the world'.

Casual: The blonde beauty put her best fashion foot forward in the coordinating ensemble as she posed for the camera

Work it: Eve, left, went for comfort and styled her look with a pair of light grey Yeezy trainers while Jess opted for cream Balenciaga sock trainers as they posed for the camera

Many stars insisted their trips are for 'work purposes', with several influencers forced to hit back at fans after they were criticised for jetting off on holiday during the global pandemic.

The pair rose to fame on the first ever series of winter Love Island back in 2020.

While Eve was booted off after less than a week, Jess made it to the final with Ched Uzor - with the pair going their separate ways shortly afterwards.
New Delhi: The standing committee of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Friday (March 19) proposed to regularise "illegal and extra construction work" done in 'co-owned houses' of a certain category, which were built before 2012, after payment of penalties, the civic body said.

A resolution to this effect was passed by the NDMC panel in its meeting held at the Civic Centre.

Moving the resolution Leader of NDMC House Yogesh Verma said such "co-owned houses ('Sanyukt Makan') built before 2012 have not been amalgamated" and their number is huge, so due to layouts of such structures not getting cleared, people residing in them are "facing problems".

So, the NDMC standing committee "resolves to regularise illegal and extra construction work" done in 'co-owned houses' of a certain category, which were built before 2012, on payment of penalties, he said.

The committee said such property owners should submit the layout to the chief planner's office and the latter should "incorporate it".

In response to a query during the proceedings, the NDMC, in a written reply, said that the total amount of property tax collected till March 17 in this financial year, for the category of residential properties is Rs 153 cr, while for the non-residential and commercial properties category, it was Rs 410 crore.

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Mohena Singh, who played the role of Keerti Singhania is Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, quit the show as she didn't want to play a mother to a grown-up kid post leap. The actress, then surprised her fans by getting married to Suyash Rawat, a businessman. It was a royal wedding as she belonged to royal famil of Rewa. Currently, she is enjoying her married life in Dehradun. Mohena was recently in Jaipur to attend her friend's wedding, wherein she spoke about her plans to return to TV.

When Mohena was asked about her plans of returning to television, she said that she is not sure about it but added that it doesn't mean that she will never come back on-screen.

She said, "I strongly believe in the saying 'Never say never'. I am not sure whether I would ever like to return to TV, but that does not mean that I will never come back on screen. Currently, I can only say that I am in a very happy space and enjoying my life to the fullest."

The actress said that television has been a great learning experience and she learnt the craft of acting, about life, relationship and people. She added that she misses having a routine- getting up in the wee hours to be on the sets and meeting co-stars. She further added, "Technology has made so many things possible. Even if I am away from them, I can still be in touch through phone calls, video chats and so on. Now, it's very easy to stay in touch with your friends. But I like seeing them in person and would soon like to visit Mumbai to meet my friends from the telly world."

Although she has said goodbye to television for time being, she is still connected to her fans through her own channels and social media. She said that fans have showered her loads of love and affection and it is now her turn to return it to them. She further said she has been making dance videos to remain in touch with them. She also added that she ensures that she has something new and unique things to offer and she is doing things from the heart at her own pace.

Her family went through tough time when she and other family members tested positive for COVID-19. She said that after being hospitalised for a few days, they were all stuck at home and that is when she started singing to feel positive and energised. She then decided to go to Kerala and learn Kalaripayattu. She further added that she enrolled herself at a training centre, spent a few days learning the art and loved the experience. She is now planning to have another workshop in her city Dehradun.

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Let's Make Wa'paas classes meeting in-person again

Let's Make Wa'paas classes have begun meeting in person again. They are led by Bessie Martinez for others to learn about weaving the baskets and sometimes expand beyond weaving to other traditional arts and crafts.

The classes began meeting in person Tuesday in Yakima. Eight people attended that class, which took place in a garage to ensure adequate ventilation.

Martinez originally held the classes in her home and has taught the classes for a few years in Toppenish and Yakima. She had not held an in-person class for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next Let's Make Wa'paas class will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Yakima. The classes are free, but donations are welcome. People should follow COVID-19 safety precautions. Call Martinez at 509-901-7677 for more information.
Many assumptions have been made about the protesters who took to the streets of Dublin this week  but they dont fit into a single grouping.

While often there might be interviews with a few attendees in a bid to provide both insight and colour from such events, it can be hard to get a true feel for a broad spectrum of people on the ground.

There was a complex list of motivations that brought around 800 people out on St Patricks Day in defiance of public health officials and political leaders.

The only way to perhaps get an idea of what really drives them is to get into the protest and gather data from within.

I did this at Herbert Park on Wednesday where, from a crowd of about 800 people, 46 surveys consisting of 19 questions obtained views on lockdowns, masks, vaccines, voting intentions, trust in media, the Garda and government, in order to see if some of the stereotypes about these protesters were true.

I donned my mask, did my best to maintain social distance and, using a web-based survey on my phone, approached random people in the crowd to see if they would speak to me.

Forty-six might not seem like a huge number but its worth remembering that most political opinion polls consist of a sample of 1,000 people from an adult population of more than 3.5 million.

There has been a lot of commentary around protesters being far-right, racist, conspiracy driven, and often unemployed or on pandemic support payments  but my sample of attendees didnt fit this narrative.

When approached for a survey, almost all protesters were happy to take part, with only a few saying they wouldnt as they didnt trust media or they simply didnt want to discuss their views.

The survey consisted of 30 men and 16 women from age 17 to 70 with an average age of 45. The majority (30) of respondents were working in all manner of jobs, from surgeons to people in the public sector. There were retirees (5), students (2), people who are on pandemic payments (4), as well as people who are long-term unemployed (5).

Eight people voluntarily disclosed they are self-employed or own a business.

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Being anti-lockdown (98pc) was the main theme. Sixty per cent said mask wearing was an issue for them. The remainder either say they werent anti-mask or they are happy with personal choice.

Anti-vaccination is another common assumption. This one seems justified as just under 10pc said they would take the Covid vaccine if offered one tomorrow whereas national surveys indicate 75pc would. Many qualified that with replies like if I knew it was totally safe I would or Im not anti-vax, just the Covid vaccine.

Taken together, more than half were against lockdowns, mask mandates and also wouldnt take the vaccine.

Almost everybody (98pc) didnt believe Covid-19 is as dangerous to all people as the Government or Nphet say it is. This included the surgeon previously mentioned and a man who said he was a GP.

When asked about voting intentions the vast majority answered I dont know or I dont vote which, when put together, means 57pc of the group are politically disengaged, disenfranchised or have no political home.

Just over one in five said they would vote for the Irish Freedom party, explained given the partys chairperson Dolores Cahill was one of the speakers at the event. After that the most popular party in the sample was Sinn Fein (11pc), Independents (9pc) and People Before Profit (2pc).

None appeared to have racist connotations. When asked if people ever had any negative thoughts or interactions with ethnic minority groups the resounding answer was no (98pc).

As a second test for a tendency towards exclusion, people were asked should we keep people out of Ireland, at least until the pandemic is over and only 11pc agreed.

I spoke to people from Central and South America, Asia, across Europe and, despite being obviously American, I was respected at all times, even by those with a negative view of media.

When asked about being religious, a minority (30pc) said they were. This is similar to what you would find if you surveyed the nation. On abortion, the crossover of being both religious and pro-life was high (70pc), but overall 56pc of respondents said they are pro-choice.

Half said they believe the telecom network 5G could pose health risks  but this isnt the same as being a 5G conspiracy theorist. Some who answered yes qualified it by adding that masts on homes or offices is a bad idea  nobody indicated that they saw a connection with 5G to Covid-19 or population control.

The other unifying views were the attitudes towards government and media. These were all highly negative. On a scale of upset or trust, both government and media scored poorly. There is also below average trust in the police since the pandemic started, but outside of that this view becomes positive, indicating that its more a case of current policing strategy rather than an anti-garda worldview.

My survey suggests that it would be a mistake to totally dismiss those protesting as outsiders because many are middle class, working and hold views on other issues that are in line with the general public.

They are united by a dislike of lockdowns, masks and vaccines. They have a deep distrust of the media and government and a growing mistrust of the police.
The whole Doxa collection can be discovered at Watches of Switzerland, including the brand new SUB 300 carbon COSC in 6 colors, vibrant, bright, summery and ready for adventure!

Boutique Watches of Switzerland  Watches of Switzerland

Over the past 24 months Doxa has experienced a remarkable resurgence, particularly among a large and growing community of aficionados in the States. In joining forces with the Watches of Switzerland group, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, and both in physical stores and in e-shops, the brand continues its international redeployment with the strong partners worldwide.



The official kick-off is set for March 2021 in the heart of the Big Apple at Watches of Switzerlands trendy Soho boutique, which will also be the first to offer the famous Doxa diver's watches, and on the e-commerce platform.

Boutique Watches of Switzerland  Watches of Switzerland



This is an important step we are taking today", comments Jan Edocs, CEO of Doxa Watches. "We are very proud to have been selected by the exclusive Watches of Switzerland Group to complement their range of prestigious brands, not only physically in their stores but also on their e-commerce platform. The reach and strength of the Watches of Switzerland Group network will further strengthen the momentum Doxas development in the US and UK. The brands unique history, the quality of our watches and our ability to innovate are the ingredients of a strategy that remains unchanged since in 1889, when our founder Georges Ducommun made the commitment to design and manufacture high quality, high-performance, technical, reliable watches at affordable prices."


New Delhi: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a whip for all the MPs present in the lower house on Monday (March 22). Sources say that the government may bring the Bill related to the creation of new banks for infrastructure funding on this day. Apart from this, there are preparations to bring two other Bills.

A three-line whip issued by Chief Whip Rakesh Singh requested the support of the Member of Parliaments for the government's "very important legislative business". The legislative business will take place on Monday (March 22).

The letter signed by whip Rakesh Singh mentions "All BJP members in Lok Sabha are hereby informed that some very important legislative business will be taken up for discussion and passing in the LokSabha on Monday, the 22 March 2021. All the members of BJP in Lok Sabha are therefore requested to be positively present in the House through the day."

The BJP-led government will be going for three important bills on Monday (March 22). Finance Bil 2021 is the most important agenda from the list of legislation.

Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget on February 1. According to the Lok Sabha website, Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman will be moving the bill in order to "give effect to the financial proposals of the Central government for the financial year 2021-22 be taken into consideration."

The next important bill is The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development. On Tuesday (March 16) the cabinet had given a green signal for the creation of NaBFID that will be set up with a corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore.

The third bill is political in nature. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021in Lok Sabha on Monday (March 22).

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The Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv, based on materials of the SBU, seized the integral property complex and 100% of the shares of Motor Sich JSC.

According to the SBU press center, based on the results of the judicial review, the property was transferred to the management of Asset Recovery and Management Agency of Ukraine (ARMA) with the obligatory determination of a state-owned management company.

At present, the Main Investigation Department of the SBU carries out pretrial investigations of Motor Sich in two directions.

The first is on the grounds of crimes provided for in Articles 14, 15, 111 and 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (regarding sabotage and subversive activities in favor of the Russian Federation).

The second - on the grounds of crimes provided for by Articles 209, 212 and 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It examines violations of the law during the initial privatization and subsequent illegal concentration of shares.

"This is not only about the fate of one enterprise, but about how the state is able to protect its own interests. Since the security of the Ukrainian Motor Sich is a matter of national security," the press center quotes head of the SBU Ivan Bakanov.

The state-owned enterprise Motor Sich JSC will continue its work in accordance with requirements of the current legislation, with the preservation of jobs and fulfillment of obligations within the framework of production orders, the SBU reports.

As reported, on March 12, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on Thursday, March 11, it was not about the nationalization of Zaporizhia Motor Sich enterprise, but about its return to the ownership of the Ukrainian people in accordance with the current legislation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, in turn, stated that China requires Ukraine to protect the legitimate interests of Chinese investors in connection with the decision to nationalize the Motor Sich JSC, more than 50% of which is owned by Chinese companies.

The Chinese shareholders of Motor Sich initiated an arbitration against the state of Ukraine in December 2020 for $3.6 billion. They claim that the Ukrainian authorities expropriated their investments, as well as violated their other rights provided for by the intergovernmental agreement on the encouragement and mutual protection of investments between Ukraine and China from October 1992. The interests of the Chinese plaintiffs are represented by international law firms WilmerHale, DLA Piper and Bird & Bird.

According to a source in Ukrainian government, currently about 75% of Motor Sich shares are already owned by a group of Chinese owners, and some part of the disputed block of shares acts as collateral for financing provided, among other things, by China Development Bank.

Motor Sich is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aircraft engines and industrial gas turbine units. It exports its products to more than 100 countries. Motor Sich reported UAH 930.2 million in net profits in January-September 2020, while it saw net losses of UAH 532.7 million in the same period in 2019. The company's net revenue has grown by 20.2% to UAH 7.6795 billion.
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There are actually so many good things one can write about the life and times of this great lawyer, a consummate professional, a committed patriot, a loyal friend, passionate public servant, a devoted husband and dotting father. To say the truth, J.O.s death shook me. Since that sad Monday night, there has been no day I have not muttered his name J.O. about 20 times.

Why do I like pretending that no death can shake me again? Why was I deceiving myself that I have heard about and seen enough deaths in my short life time that none can shake me again? May be because as a thirteen year old boy, I had woken up in the morning to find out the person lying next to me, another young boy, was stone dead. May be because I had experienced speaking to my mother on the phone at about 2 p.m., and she was hale and hearty, only for her to slump six hours later and die. Maybe because I had seen my usually bubbling and happy father gradually become incapacitated by cancer and eventually give up the ghost. Really, I have experienced the death of too many people close to me, including three siblings.

Now, I pretend that as a Muslim, I am prepared for death and that no death will shake or disorganise me. Also, I thought I had steeled my heart so tough that I now consider death as part of the bargain of daily existence. However, all these posturing came out empty to me on the night of Monday, March 15. While watching the television, my son, Oladapo, suddenly shouted Inalilahi! Daddy, they are speculating that Mr. Odubela is dead. I frowned and looked at him to be sure he was okay.

John Olusegun Odubela, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was Dapos boss as he had influenced the young lawyers employment with Rickey Tarfa and Co., a leading law firm where he was a partner and Head of Chamber. The young man had in the afternoon of the same day informed me that the senior lawyer was indisposed and that I should try and contact him. For Dapo to start talking about the death of this my friend and brother a few hours later, was confusing and unimaginable for me.

From that moment, I was disorganised and was only wishing there was a mistake somewhere. Some minutes after, Dapo confirmed the news. The man I loved to call J.O. had passed on. This was one sad news I could not live with. Throughout the night, I was awake and this time, I was not in the mood to do any of the normal things I usually resort to when I have sleepless nights  Tahajud (night supplication), reading a book or writing.

It is still difficult to believe that J.O. is gone. I first met him in 2011 when we were part of the new appointees into the cabinet of the Ogun State Government under our captain, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who served as governor between 2011 and 2019. Odubela was Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology. Since we both left Ogun State government in 2015, we had kept in touch and maintained a close relationship. J.O. was one of the salts of our administration. There was no dull moment with this lawyer who permanently wore smiles on his chubby face like a glowing skin.

The governor named Odubela Commissioner Number One because his portfolio, Education, was the first in the five cardinal programmes of the Mission to Rebuild agenda of the Amosun administration. And he actually lived up to the appellation. Odubela was passionate about his job. He served with all his energy and the only time you could get him looking disturbed were those periods when schools were about to resume or it was time for the terminal examination, and he could not get the approval for funds to put all resources and other arrangements in place.

The energy J.O. put into his work and how he tried to mingle with and befriend the stakeholders in the education sector was commendable. During any first week of schools resumption, J.O. could visit as many as 50 primary and secondary school across the three Senatorial districts to assess the state of readiness of the management, students and facilities for the new school term. He was so active that the state television station, OGTV, had no option but to permanently place a television crew at his disposal to cover all his official functions.

He was a man of drama and I believe that had he not taken to the legal practice, he would have made so much money from the Nollywood industry in the area of acting, script writing and directing. He would crack jokes and appear so serious that you would not know what to believe. In those four testy and dizzying years, I cant remember seeing J.O. frowning, unhappy or engaged in any hot argument.

During the period, he accompanied me to my alma mater at the primary and secondary levels. Despite his tight schedule, J.O. would also attend all social events in honour of his colleagues and he was a man who was friendly with both political appointees and the bureaucrats. Whenever J.O. needed to write a crucial press statement, he would usually prefer that I handled it for him. He would walk from his office about 500 metres away with all the relevant officials to the Ministry of Information and Strategy, and we would all sit down to get the statement prepared, after which he would walk away with the hard copy. J.O. always cracked jokes that he liked sitting beside me at events because he knew the cameras would beam on the Information Commissioner and he would be on TV and in the newspapers.

He was a man of drama and I believe that had he not taken to the legal practice, he would have made so much money from the Nollywood industry in the area of acting, script writing and directing. He would crack jokes and appear so serious that you would not know what to believe. In those four testy and dizzying years, I cant remember seeing J.O. frowning, unhappy or engaged in any hot argument. He would always crack jokes and play pranks. It took our Commissioner for Budget, Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo, who we all called Mrs. M., over one year before realising that Odubela was not a medical doctor because he talked about the food he ate with his friends as surgical operations. Odubela would, in a jocular manner, switch from one side of an argument to the other and appear serious, that only those of us who knew him very well would know he was just being mischievous.

He was our spokesman during the agitation by cabinet members that our salary was too small and needed special augmentation by the governor. The agitation was code-named commencement. However, each time after the State Executive Council meeting when we raised the issue, Odubela would argue so beautifully for us but immediately the governor hailed him as Commissioner Number One and gave him friendly signs that he should not be leading an agitation against him, J.O. would jocularly make a u-turn. What is commencement?, Odubela would blurt out with that funny expression on his face. We cant be putting His Excellency under pressure. Dont worry, sir, they have to manage. This is Mission to Rebuild Ogun State. He would say it with that very funny expression on his face and everybody will burst out laughing. On such day, the governor had won, once again. Thanks to Commissioner Number One.

On another occasion at the Executive Council meeting, when J.O. needed approval for the request for funds for his Ministry, he would say Mrs. M., the Budget Commissioner was the best and even relinquished his Number One title to her. Once he got the approval, he would say, who is Mrs. M? I dont know her. Finance is the best. She is number one, that was a reference to Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Commissioner for Finance. And he would continue switching his adulation for both women, depending on whose intervention on his Ministrys request was critical at the point in time. He said those words in a unique way that anybody around would be forced to laugh.

One day he announced to the governor that his Ministry was ready for a press conference and that the entire global media, including CNN, Aljazeera, BBC, VOA and the rest of them were already gathered. He made the declaration so frankly and emphatic that the governor believed him. Meanwhile he did not even have Channels TV and AIT present at the event. As our administration got older, Odubela would tell me that he could not address any press conference if the Information Ministry would not get CNN, Aljazeera, VOA, BBC, Sky TV and the rest to be present. As Information Commissioner, I would also assure him that all your choice stations are there, you can now address the world.

At a time, I found out that anytime his day in the office ended before it was dark, J.O. would walk from the secretariat to his official quarters in Ibara GRA, and I started joining him for this. That is a work-out of about two kilometres. His younger brother, Tola, and another aide of his were usually part of the party. The Commissioner Number One would order customised cooked Ofada rice wrapped in leaves from his home town, Ikenne, to Abeokuta from a woman called Ayamase and distributed to many of us, his colleagues. He was very proud of his Ikenne origin and did so much to contribute to the development of the town, which had earlier produced Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Chiefs Kehinde and Idowu Sofola, as well as many other giants who preceded Odubela in the legal profession and its inner Bar.

Like a master Nollywood script writer, during our long sojourn in a Coaster bus called Exco Bus used to convey members of the cabinet across the state and its 236 wards during the campaigns for the 2015 general elections, J.O. created an imaginary Sacred Order, which had him as the Founder. There were many of us who held different top positions in the Order. That included Prince (later Senator) Lanre Tejuoso, Segun Adesanya, and myself. He later named my second son, Oladipo, a teenager, as the Deputy Founder. Without knowing what the Order was all about, J.O. would create stories about the Order and myself and Segun Adesanya would just key in and continue as if we were talking about one international, exclusive, powerful and secret group where influential people from across the world held meetings, discussed and influenced how to shape the world.

He was a lawyers lawyer. He loved the profession. He really worked hard to be called into the inner Bar. I am particularly happy that he became a Senior Advocate four years before his death. He craved the silk and worked so hard for it. Before he was admitted into the inner bar, he was always asking me to join him in prayers as he went through the process.

While we talk about this imaginary Order, the other Exco members in the bus would just be watching in amazement. They did not know what we were talking about when we discussed deliberations at a meeting in New Zealand last week hosted by General Koinyan and the promise by Grandmaster Patshon to host the next meeting in Malta. It was when J.O. would start talking about Awolowo, Zik and Chairman Mao attending our meetings that the burble will burst and people realise the Order was just a fantasy and non-existent. The script was so well verbalised that it was easy for the rest of us, the members, to join the conversation and fit in perfectly.

J.O. was a good friend. He would call me from the blues and we would gist about politics and other developments. J.O. always showed fellowship with his Muslim friends. Every Friday, he would send me and many of his Muslim friends Jummah messages. The last one he sent on February 26 reads as follows: Oh ALLAH, make life easy for us and our households, make us your beloved and rigtheous slaves, forgive all our sins and accept all our duas. Amin. Barka Jummah, my brother.

J.O. was a fantastic husband and father. You need not spend a long time with him before you realised this. He always kept in touch with his wife and children, even while handling the most serious assignment.

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He was a lawyers lawyer. He loved the profession. He really worked hard to be called into the inner Bar. I am particularly happy that he became a Senior Advocate four years before his death. He craved the silk and worked so hard for it. Before he was admitted into the inner bar, he was always asking me to join him in prayers as he went through the process. And I did. Only Allah knew the depth of my joy when J.O. was admitted into the inner Bar. His elevation brought to me the feeling that typified the Lagos Street lingo: now, I can go around and commit. Honestly, I knew if there was a case that required employing a SAN, J.O. would be there for me. And this time it wont be his usual joke about let us go to courtWe will sue them. I am sure he would truly file or defend a case on my behalf.

There are actually so many good things one can write about the life and times of this great lawyer, a consummate professional, a committed patriot, a loyal friend, passionate public servant, a devoted husband and dotting father. To say the truth, J.O.s death shook me. Since that sad Monday night, there has been no day I have not muttered his name J.O. about 20 times. Unconsciously, I would just soloquise and mention the word J.O. as if I longed for him to respond in his usual way: My Honourable Commissioner. I hope this piece, despite its imperfections, will be a catharsis for my deep feelings.

Adieu, my brother. I pray that Allah helps you take care of Mama, Madam Bimpe, the children, Tola and the rest of your family. In your absence, may Rickey Tarfa Law Firm continue to grow, because it was part of the legacies you bequeathed to your loved ones.

Yusuph Olaniyonu was Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State between 2011 and 2015.
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Incredible before-and-after photos have shown how Sydney's Parramatta River has broken its banks as the city is lashed by a once-in-a-century weather event.

The boat jetty and parkland on either side of the major river in the city's west were no longer visible on Saturday after the river spilled over between Charles Street weir and the ferry wharf.

The ferry terminal on the river has completely flooded - with services to and from the area cancelled indefinitely until the once-in-100 year weather event is over.

Across other parts of NSW, the forecast rainfall is up to 300mm in the lower Blue Mountains over the next 24 hours and 400mm is predicted for the mid-north coast.

Sydney's Parramatta River has breached its banks on either side on Saturday - flooding neighbouring parkland

The Parramatta River on a normal day. The river has spilled over between Charles Street weir and the ferry wharf

A view of Parramatta Wharf at the swollen Parramatta River as the state of New South Wales experiences heavy rains

A park bench at the swollen Parramatta River as the state of New South Wales experiences heavy rains

Incredible scenes at the Parramatta ferry terminal, with all services cancelled indefinitely

Definitely no ferries for commuters on Saturday, with more rain forecast across the state of NSW

Locals who live in close proximity to the Parramatta River said conditions are unprecedented after the banks were broken between Charles Street weir and the ferry wharf.

'The entire bike path looks like it has been swallowed up,' Leanne Roberts told Daily Mail Australia.

'It is incredible to see the amount of rain at the moment, I actually can't believe it.'

Rain has hammered the Harbour City in recent days, but the deluge on Saturday will be on another level, experts from the Bureau of Meteorology predicted.

The bureau warned of intense rainfall 'potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding' and 'damaging winds averaging 60-70km/h with gusts exceeding 90km/h.'

The Parramatta River has already reached dangerously high water levels, with residents encouraged to stay indoors and be prepared to evacuate if contacted by emergency services.

The Parramatta River seen breaking its banks on Saturday in unrelenting wet weather

The swollen Parramatta River in Sydney's west following an avalanche of rain on Saturday

The wet weather also caused plenty of delays on roads across different parts of Sydney

This fearless man in Sydney braved the elements minus a jumper on Saturday

Traffic was at a standstill in some parts as motorists were cautious in the wild weather

People walk past the swollen Parramatta River as the state of New South Wales experiences heavy rains

Parramatta river weir just outside the river cat terminal, getting higher by the minute. #NSWFloods #ParramattaRiver #NSWstorm pic.twitter.com/5x3c5JBiBM  Paul Hart (@pauLFChart) March 19, 2021

In Chester Hill, also in Sydney's west, a storm has left many homes destroyed or in need of urgent repairs on Saturday.

Dubbed a 'mini tornado' by NSW Fire and Rescue, the storm saw a large tree fall and countless homes damaged.

'Fire and Rescue Macarthur and Wollondilly crews are on scene in Chester Hill where a mini Tornado has left a trail of destruction damaging multiple properties,' an emergency responder tweeted.

'Crews are working to remove trees, tarp roofs and conduct rapid impact assessments.'

The Parramatta River is looking very different at the moment after a heavy recent downpour

Barricades were set up at the ferry terminal after the breaking of banks on the Parramatta River

Locals were stunned to see the Parramatta River break its banks following the heavy rain across NSW

Seagulls across Sydney embraced the weather, with puddles in virtually every direction

Motorists have been advised to slow down and stay home, with driving through flooded roads discouraged.

Sydneys main water source, the Warragamba Dam, is tipped to overflow for the first time in five years as heavy rainfall continues to bucket down.

'We are expecting the Warragamba Dam to spill this afternoon and this will then combine with river flows from the Upper Nepean and also the Grose River and the other local tributaries,' Bureau of Meteorology Flood Operations Manager Justin Robinson told The Australian.

The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed earlier on Saturday the Dam has already reached 99 per cent capacity.

WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING A FLOOD TO AID YOUR SURVIVAL *Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater *Stack possessions, records, stock or equipment on benches and tables, placing electrical items on top *Secure objects that are likely to float and cause damage *Relocate waste containers, chemicals and poisons well above floor level *Keep listening to your local radio station for information, updates and advice *Keep in contact with your neighbours *Be prepared to evacuate if advised by emergency services Source: NSW State Emergency Services Advertisement

How the serene Parramatta River in Sydney's west usually looks before being subjected to flash flooding
Alarming: Senators Visit Border, See Surge in Illegal Immigrants Firsthand

Senators visiting Americas southern border this week said they witnessed alarming conditions and urged President Joe Biden to quickly take action to stem the surge in illegal crossings.

It was stunning to see how many people, including unaccompanied children, unlawfully crossed the border, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said Friday, after touring an area in El Paso, Texas.

It was alarming to see the number of migrants who attempted to cross the border in the short time that we were there. One young man noted that they will never stop trying to find a way across, he added.

Portman spoke with border agents who said a processing facility in Paso del Norte is dealing with an increase in migrants of 150 to 200 percent, stretching both manpower and other resources thin.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) toured the border in Arizona with Gov. Doug Ducey, receiving a briefing from Customs and Border Protection and state officers and seeing firsthand the humanitarian crisis that Bidens policies have caused, he said in a statement.

Its time for the Biden administration to secure the border and send a clear message of law and order. And its time for the president to get down here and see the crisis hes created, he added.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) flies to survey the southern border of the United States, in Arizona on March 19, 2021. (Sen. Rick Scotts Office)

Biden has said he doesnt have plans to visit the border at this time. He has been traveling in recent days to promote the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package he recently signed into law.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also visited the border, touching down in El Paso with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and a bipartisan group of senators.

Murphy alleged that the Biden administration is trying their best to uphold the rule of law with humanity and, like most other Democrats, blamed the situation on the previous administration.

The senator said he was able to tour a border processing facility, where he saw hundreds of children packed into big open rooms.

In a corner, I fought back tears as a 13 yr old girl [cried] uncontrollably explaining thru a translator how terrified she was, having been separated from her grandmother and without her parents, he wrote on Twitter, adding: For clarification, kids are no longer separated from their parents at the border (in this case, the girls parents are in the US). But even though kids can now stay and apply for asylum, if they are traveling w relatives who arent parents, the relative cant stay.

The trip was closed to press. Federal officials have also refused media requests for access to border detention facilities and have not released photographs or videos from the structures.

Another delegation is scheduled to visit the border next week, led by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Asked about the border crisis, a White House spokesperson told reporters on board Air Force One on Friday that Biden is committed to implementing an immigration system that is orderly, that is humane, compassionate, and lawful, and his approach is focused on bold action to keep our country safe, strong, and prosperous.

The administration is working around the clock to move unaccompanied minors to sponsors such as relatives, she added.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), Hala Al-Ansari, has revealed that Bahraini women account for 49% of the workforce in the kingdom, surpassing the global average for this indicator of 47%.

She also pointed out that the rate of Bahraini women assuming executive positions has reached 46% in the government sector and 34% in the private sector, while their presence in the boards of directors in private companies has reached 17% in the same period.

Al-Ansari was speaking during the virtual ministerial roundtable themed Getting to parity: good practices towards achieving women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, held on the sidelines of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations (CSW 65).

She indicated that the efforts supporting womens advancement in the kingdom have made a quantum and unprecedented leap in the kingdom within the national reform process that began two decades ago, noting that the focus has been on the resumption of womens participation in political life and the decision-making process in public life based on gender equality, in line with the constitutional provisions, and the kingdoms international obligations, such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

She affirmed that 20 years after the establishment of the SCW as the official reference of womens affairs and issues in the kingdom, Bahrain has adopted policies that have enabled women to take part in developing their society and nation.

Al-Ansari highlighted the kingdoms strides in empowering women, including the creation of a work environment that embraces and supports the sustainability of womens participation in the labour market.

She also shed light on Bahrains achievements in the fields of social protection and family stability, including the revision and creation of 147 laws and legislation related to women.

Al-Ansari stressed that despite the major strides it has made in advancing women towards reaching womens full involvement in public affairs, Bahrain is determined to carry on its efforts to enhance womens status, citing the ongoing efforts to maintain womens participation in the sustainable development process in the midst of the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Concluding her statement, Al-Ansari said that the kingdom is looking forward to broadening joint cooperation and exchanging expertise in order to provide the necessary support for women.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Heres a look at the top criminal-justice-related headlines across the borough this week.

CHARGES IN BQE CRASH THAT KILLED S.I. DAD

Jesse McCalip, 35, was a husband, father of two and longtime vet tech on the verge of switching careers when he died suddenly in a fatal crash on the BQE. (Submitted)

A 21-year-old man from Queens has been arrested by police in connection with a crash nearly a year ago that claimed the life of a Staten Island husband and father.

Galib Dervisevic, of 78th Street, faces charges that include criminally negligent homicide in the crash last March 23 at about 8:45 p.m. on the eastbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) near Queens Boulevard in Queens, according to a statement from the NYPD.

Jesse McCalip, 35, of St. George, a beloved veterinary technician, was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens.

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ALLEGED PETE DAVIDSON STALKER ARRESTED

Pete Davidson is spotted filming his movie Staten Island at Rosebank Pizza on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. (Staten Island Advance/Shira Stoll)Shira Stoll

A Bronx woman who was arrested at the Annadale home of Pete Davidson told officers that she has a telepathic love connection with the Saturday Night Live comedian, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Michelle Mootreddy, 24, of the 200 block of E. Mount Eden Parkway, was arrested without resistance at the suspects home following the episode, which was reported at 3:29 p.m. on Thursday, according to a spokesman for the NYPD.

On Tuesday, Mootreddy sent out a press release claiming to be married to Davidson and was subsequently charged with third-degree trespassing and two counts of stalking, police said.

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ARREST IN MURDER OF YOUNG DAD IN STAPLETON

Latiff Dudley, 26, was fatally shot earlier in the year.

Authorities allege that a 44-year-old man gunned down a young father and shot at two other men in broad daylight last month in Stapleton.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea announced the arrest of Arthur Williams, 44, of the 600 block of Richmond Road in Concord, in connection with the fatal shooting of Latiff Dudley, 26, of Graniteville. Williams was apprehended in upstate Syracuse thanks to detectives from the 120th Precinct and the Regional Fugitive Task Force, the commissioner said.

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ARREST IN BROAD-DAYLIGHT BAY ST. SLAYING

Police respond to a reported shooting on Bay Street in Tompkinsville on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

A 21-year-old New Jersey man surrendered to police at his attorneys office Tuesday morning and was charged with murder for allegedly shooting 43-year-old Kenton Smith on Bay Street March 4, police said.

Ishawn Bryant, a resident of Sayre Street in Elizabeth, has also been charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal use of a firearm, according to the NYPD.

Police believe the shooting occurred as a result of an ongoing dispute between Bryant, Smith and a family member, cops said. Smith, a resident of New Brighton, was shot multiple times while on the 100 block of Bay Street.

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DRUNKEN DRIVING CHARGES AFTER TODT HILL CRASH

A man is accused of drunken driving after crashing into a brick wall on Todt Hill early Thursday morning.

Leonard Romano, 45, an off-duty FDNY lieutenant, was arrested at 12:06 a.m. in the 122nd Precinct, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Romano allegedly was driving a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup that hit a brick fence of a private residence on the 900 block of Todt Hill Road, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

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2 MEN CHARGED IN SEX-ABUSE CASES

Two North Shore men have been indicted on sexual abuse and other charges in unrelated cases involving young girls.

Marcos Guzman-Garcia, 40, of the 200 block of Lake Street, Mariners Harbor, and Rene Cortes-Concepcion, 21, of the 200 block of Port Richmond Avenue, Port Richmond, each pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Wednesday in state Supreme Court, St. George.

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MAN SOUGHT IN TOOL THEFT

WANTED FOR BURGLARY



The SI Grand Larceny Squad is endeavoring to identify the subject in the photograph. On 3/12/21 the individual was observed removing tools from a Commercial Vehicle parked on Leigh Ave.



Anyone with information regarding this case, please  718-876-7662. pic.twitter.com/vdnuGL5JOt  NYPD 121st Precinct (@NYPD121Pct) March 17, 2021

Police reached out on social media for the publics help identifying a man sought for questioning in the theft of over $11,000 in tools from a commercial vehicle in Graniteville.

The burglary occurred on March 12 at about 5:20 a.m. in the vicinity of Leigh Avenue and Elson Street, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD.

A 56-year-old man told police that he parked a 2005 Chevrolet van at about 4 p.m. on March 11. When he returned the next day, he found that a lock cylinder on the passenger door had been removed.

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ASSAULT CHARGE FOR FDNY LT.

An FDNY lieutenant was arrested on Tuesday night on Staten Island in connection with a domestic dispute, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Joseph Farinacci, 46, was apprehended on Tuesday at 7:39 p.m. in the 121st Precinct, according to a statement from the NYPD.

Police charged the suspect with strangulation, criminal obstruction of breathing, assault and harassment, according to the police statement.

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SCARY SEX-TRAFFICKING CASE

A 43-year-old Stapleton man flashed a phony police badge and threatened to harm a woman and her family if she did not prostitute herself on the borough, authorities allege.

Miguel Daniel Gatica Zeferino, of Tompkins Street, was arrested last Saturday on charges of sex trafficking and promoting prostitution for incidents from March through September of 2019, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim was in her early 20s at the time, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

The suspect forced the victim to engage in prostitution by intimidation, in a scheme which caused her to fear for her safety and the safety of her family should she refuse to continue prostituting herself, make a report to police, or leave the defendants operation, the complaint alleges.

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Almost 200 people have been rescued from floodwaters in NSW over the past 24 hours as emergency services urge communities to be vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel as the extreme weather continues.

The latest figures provided by the SES show the disaster response agency has received more than 8300 requests for assistance throughout the state since the heavy rainfall event began on March 10, with more than 2700 calls for help in the past 24 hours.

The Hawkesbury is expected to reach and exceed the 1961 flood. Credit:Nick Moir

More than 750 people have been rescued during the weather event, with 197 rescues occurring in the past 24 hours.

Following evacuation orders for residents in parts of Penrith, Jamisontown and Mulgoa earlier today, warnings have been issued for residents in the eastern part of Eastern Creek, including properties in parts of Riverstone, Schofields, and Quakers Hill.

All residents in caravan parks along the Hawkesbury River from Windsor and Wisemans Ferry are being urged to prepare to evacuate, as well as the Windsor CBD, South Windsor, southern parts of Wilberforce, and Marsden Park, among other areas.

Major flooding higher than the 1961 event is expected along the Hawkesbury River, with heavy rainfall upstream of Penrith causing the river levels to rise sharply.
A manhunt is underway to find those responsible for stabbing 18-year-old Hussain Chaudhry to death at his family home in northeast London.

The law student died cradled in his mothers arms after defending his family from attack, according to his sister.

My beautiful baby brother left this world the same way he came in, cradled in my mothers arms, Afia Ahmed Chaudhry wrote on Twitter.

He died defending his family. His eyes were bright, his face showed no pain, he was at peace. To God we belong & to Him we return. Youre home now baby, Ill see you soon.

Police and paramedics were called to reports of a stabbing on Lea Bridge Road, in Walthamstow, at about 5.20pm on Wednesday.

Mr Chaudhry, a first-year student at SOAS, University of London, died from a knife wound to his neck.

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Two other family members  his brother and mother  were found with slash injuries to their hands. They were taken to hospital but have since been discharged.

Flowers have been left outside the family home where he died, where Mr Chaudhrys family are being supported by specialist officers.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course, police said.

Mr Chaudhry has since been remembered as a lion by friends and a martyr by family, with his sister sharing an additional post on Twitter.

The entire community has come together for you. Weve lost our baby and no pain will compare, she wrote. Fly with green birds, my martyr. Meet me by at the gates of Jannah, will you? Ill wait for your familiar face.

Hussain was an incredibly kind and beautiful soul who always looked out for others. He was someone who always had a smile on his face, and was a blessing to the community, a tribute on a fund-raising website said.

He will be greatly missed. The community has reached out wanting to do something in his honour. For this reason, this is the official fundraising page set up by the family of Hussain for Sadaqah projects in his honour.

Sadaqah is the term used to describe an act of kindness undertaken without the expectation of anything in return.

SOAS said in a statement it was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Mr Chaudhrys death.

In a message to students, Scott Newton, head of the universitys law school, and Mr Chaudhrys academic advisor, Dr Samia Bano, said: We will remember Hussain as a very kind and thoughtful student who was excited to be studying law and brought this enthusiasm to his classes and his interactions.

Hussain had high ambitions and equally high aptitude and promise. All of us mourn his death and our love, prayers and condolences go out to his brothers Hasan and Aysh, also a SOAS law graduate, and his sister Afia, a SOAS history graduate, and to his parents, extended family, and friends.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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. 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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

Detective chief inspector Perry Benton, of the Metropolitan Polices specialist crime command, has asked anyone driving in the area at the time to check dash-cam footage, and for local residents to check doorbell cameras.

A young man has lost his life in tragic circumstances and my thoughts are with his family and friends at this awful time, he said.

The attack happened on a busy road during rush hour and I know there would have been lots of vehicles passing at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, detective superintendent Paul Whiteman, of the Waltham Forest police team, said extra patrols would take place in response to the killing.

We remain committed to tackling violent crime and we are working with a number of partners to help us prevent another tragic loss of life, he said.

You will see extra officers in the area this week and they will be using a range of tactics to target those who choose to put others in danger by carrying a knife.
Photo: The Canadian Press Brian Masse and Peter Julian look on as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at the start of a two day caucus meeting in Ottawa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020.

A debate over the definition of anti-Semitism has spilled over to the federal New Democrats ahead of the party convention next month.

Nearly 50 NDP riding associations have endorsed a motion that opposes a working definition of anti-Semitism set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Critics of the definition say it chills legitimate criticism of Israeli policy. Those who back it say it crystallizes understandings of anti-Semitism, which they say includes demonization of the Jewish state.

Canada adopted the definition as part of the federal government's anti-racism strategy in 2019, one of more than two dozen countries to enshrine the non-legally binding parameters.

B'nai Brith Canada is calling on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to ensure resolutions against the definition are rejected.

"The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism really is the bedrock of a global effort to confront the scourge of anti-Semitism, which is just Jew hatred by a different name," said Michael Mostyn, who heads the advocacy group.

"It does not stifle criticism of Israel whatsoever. That is a major mischaracterization, and it is something that some on the political left and within the NDP movement unfortunately seem to be picking up on."

Some advocates and New Democrats disagree.

"The IHRA definition does very little to actually protect Jews against anti-Semitism. What it serves to do is simply to conflate anti-Semitism with legitimate protest against Israel," said Aaron Lakoff, a spokesman for Independent Jewish Voices Canada.

B'nai Brith Canada has characterized the movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel as anti-Semitic under the IHRA definition, an example of how organizations can "weaponize anti-Semitism to shut down Palestinian voices," Lakoff said.

The statement's lead author, Kenneth Stern, has disavowed its deployment, writing in a Guardian opinion piece that "right-wing Jewish groups" had moved to "weaponize" a definition created initially to assist European data collectors.

The point of contention is not the 39-word definition itself, which describes anti-Semitism as expressions of hatred toward Jews, but rather the way some groups have applied it and the appended list of examples that contextualize it.

"The IHRA definition has already been used to attempt to silence voices of solidarity with the Palestinian people," said former NDP MP Svend Robinson.

Referring to Twitter posts in January that created a storm on social media, he added: "Its been used to target NDP MPs Charlie Angus and Leah Gazan, who spoke out on the issue of Palestinian access to vaccines."

Similar accusations have been levelled about the definition being unfurled to stifle academic research and campus demonstrations.

We also have to fight anti-Semitism with every bone in our body. Anti-Semitism is a real and grave threat. But a definition that is overly broad undermines the fight against anti-Semitism," Robinson said.

"Frankly, the position of the federal NDP caucus has not been clear on this issue."

More than 600 Canadian academics have signed an open letter opposing it. Prominent Canadians including Michele Landsberg and Avi Lewis have also come out against the IHRA approach.

The definition, with illustrativeexamples that include Holocaust denial and stereotypes about Jews, states that "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination"  for example by suggesting that the state is a "racist endeavour"  amounts to anti-Semitism. Critics say the phrase implicitly excludes Palestinians and their right to self-determination.

But B'nai Brith rejects that argument, citing the definition's qualifier that "criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic."

A letter endorsing the definition and signed by more than 100 Canadian Jewish organizations ranging from social service agencies to synagogues to summer camps landed on the desks of Singh and other NDP MPs earlier this week.

Blowback against the working definition comes from "activists" and "fringe groups," said Richard Marceau, general counsel for the Toronto-based Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

"The NDP is in front of a choice between continuing to fight for its egalitarian  open, social justice-oriented values, or make it about being Jew-obsessed," he said.

In a meeting with members of the Jewish community in Toronto in December 2019, Singh expressed support for the IHRA definition as a non-binding measure.

Asked about the issue and the riding association resolution, the NDP responded with a statement from the party's national director, Anne McGrath.

"Our conventions are guided by a democratic process that allows members to openly and freely discuss and vote on a variety of issues," McGrath said.

"As always, there will be no tolerance for hateful speech or any form of discrimination. Jagmeet Singh and the NDP will always stand up against antisemitism and all forms of racism."

NDP lawmakers have tussled with controversy over anti-Semitism accusations several times this year.

Two prominent Jewish advocacy groups voiced concerns ahead of a public conversation between MP Niki Ashton and former U.K. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier this month.

The Labour party has been grappling with allegations that anti-Semitism was allowed to fester under Corbyn, a longtime supporter of Palestinians and a critic of Israel who led the party for almost five years from 2015.

A Twitter post by Angus on Israel's vaccination policy set off a Twitter dust-up in January.

The online post linked to an article in the Guardian newspaper that highlights how Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza were not among the beneficiaries of Israel's rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, whereas Jewish settlements are.

"This is appalling," Angus wrote, capping off the tweet with the words "#apartheidstate."

The post sparked more than 1,000 likes, but also backlash, including from B'nai Brith and Liberal and Conservative lawmakers.

Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Gila Martow said in a Jan. 3 tweet that the comment underscores why Ontario needed to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which the province did months earlier.
Huntington, WV (25701)

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Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially before midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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Theatre director Thomas Kail was not worried in the least when Lin-Manuel Miranda first told him about the outlandish idea for a hip-hop musical based on the life of an obscure American politician.

If you walk by someone you dont know and you see them digging a hole, you might wonder what theyre digging for, he says. If I walk by and see Lin digging a hole, I just jump in, grab a shovel and just start digging.

If I walk by and see Lin digging a hole, I just jump in, grab a shovel and just start digging: Thomas Kail (right) with Lin-Manuel Miranda watching a rehearsal for Hamilton. Credit:Cassel

Their close collaboration over almost two decades has extended to Kail remotely directing an Australian production of that musical, the hit turned cultural phenomenon that is Hamilton, from 16,000 kilometres away in New York.

It started previews at Sydneys Lyric Theatre on March 17 and opens on March 27.
From time to time, whether motivated by politics or articulating a misinformed position, commentators will seek to claim Trinidad and Tobago is a failing state.

I take serious umbrage to that because when one understands what a failing state or economy looks like, it is clear we are very far from that. In fact, by independent measures, we are closer to the opposite side of that spectrum.
OTTAWA - A debate over the definition of anti-Semitism has spilled over to the federal New Democrats ahead of the party convention next month.

Brian Masse and Peter Julian look on as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at the start of a two day caucus meeting in Ottawa, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. A debate over the definition of anti-Semitism that has divided the Jewish community has spilled over to the NDP ahead of the party convention next month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - A debate over the definition of anti-Semitism has spilled over to the federal New Democrats ahead of the party convention next month.

Nearly 50 NDP riding associations have endorsed a motion that opposes a working definition of anti-Semitism set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Critics of the definition say it chills legitimate criticism of Israeli policy. Those who back it say it crystallizes understandings of anti-Semitism, which they say includes demonization of the Jewish state.

Canada adopted the definition as part of the federal government's anti-racism strategy in 2019, one of more than two dozen countries to enshrine the non-legally binding parameters.

B'nai Brith Canada is calling on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to ensure resolutions against the definition are rejected.

"The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism really is the bedrock of a global effort to confront the scourge of anti-Semitism, which is just Jew hatred by a different name," said Michael Mostyn, who heads the advocacy group.

"It does not stifle criticism of Israel whatsoever. That is a major mischaracterization, and it is something that some on the political left and within the NDP movement unfortunately seem to be picking up on."

Some advocates and New Democrats disagree.

"The IHRA definition does very little to actually protect Jews against anti-Semitism. What it serves to do is simply to conflate anti-Semitism with legitimate protest against Israel," said Aaron Lakoff, a spokesman for Independent Jewish Voices Canada.

B'nai Brith Canada has characterized the movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel as anti-Semitic under the IHRA definition, an example of how organizations can "weaponize anti-Semitism to shut down Palestinian voices," Lakoff said.

The statement's lead author, Kenneth Stern, has disavowed its deployment, writing in a Guardian opinion piece that "right-wing Jewish groups" had moved to "weaponize" a definition created initially to assist European data collectors.

The point of contention is not the 39-word definition itself, which describes anti-Semitism as expressions of hatred toward Jews, but rather the way some groups have applied it and the appended list of examples that contextualize it.

"The IHRA definition has already been used to attempt to silence voices of solidarity with the Palestinian people," said former NDP MP Svend Robinson.

Referring to Twitter posts in January that created a storm on social media, he added: "Its been used to target NDP MPs Charlie Angus and Leah Gazan, who spoke out on the issue of Palestinian access to vaccines."

Similar accusations have been levelled about the definition being unfurled to stifle academic research and campus demonstrations.

We also have to fight anti-Semitism with every bone in our body. Anti-Semitism is a real and grave threat. But a definition that is overly broad undermines the fight against anti-Semitism," Robinson said.

"Frankly, the position of the federal NDP caucus has not been clear on this issue."

More than 600 Canadian academics have signed an open letter opposing it. Prominent Canadians including Michele Landsberg and Avi Lewis have also come out against the IHRA approach.

The definition, with illustrativeexamples that include Holocaust denial and stereotypes about Jews, states that "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination"  for example by suggesting that the state is a "racist endeavour"  amounts to anti-Semitism. Critics say the phrase implicitly excludes Palestinians and their right to self-determination.

But B'nai Brith rejects that argument, citing the definition's qualifier that "criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic."

A letter endorsing the definition and signed by more than 100 Canadian Jewish organizations ranging from social service agencies to synagogues to summer camps landed on the desks of Singh and other NDP MPs earlier this week.

Blowback against the working definition comes from "activists" and "fringe groups," said Richard Marceau, general counsel for the Toronto-based Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

"The NDP is in front of a choice between continuing to fight for its egalitarian  open, social justice-oriented values, or make it about being Jew-obsessed," he said.

In a meeting with members of the Jewish community in Toronto in December 2019, Singh expressed support for the IHRA definition as a non-binding measure.

Asked about the issue and the riding association resolution, the NDP responded with a statement from the party's national director, Anne McGrath.

"Our conventions are guided by a democratic process that allows members to openly and freely discuss and vote on a variety of issues," McGrath said.

"As always, there will be no tolerance for hateful speech or any form of discrimination. Jagmeet Singh and the NDP will always stand up against antisemitism and all forms of racism."

NDP lawmakers have tussled with controversy over anti-Semitism accusations several times this year.

Two prominent Jewish advocacy groups voiced concerns ahead of a public conversation between MP Niki Ashton and former U.K. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier this month.

The Labour party has been grappling with allegations that anti-Semitism was allowed to fester under Corbyn, a longtime supporter of Palestinians and a critic of Israel who led the party for almost five years from 2015.

A Twitter post by Angus on Israel's vaccination policy set off a Twitter dust-up in January.

The online post linked to an article in the Guardian newspaper that highlights how Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza were not among the beneficiaries of Israel's rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, whereas Jewish settlements are.

"This is appalling," Angus wrote, capping off the tweet with the words "#apartheidstate."

The post sparked more than 1,000 likes, but also backlash, including from B'nai Brith and Liberal and Conservative lawmakers.

Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Gila Martow said in a Jan. 3 tweet that the comment underscores why Ontario needed to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which the province did months earlier.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday held talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in New Delhi, both pledging to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

Elevating the U.S.-India major defense partnership is a priority of the Biden-Harris administration, Hindustan Times reported citing Austin's remarks.

"We'll do that through regional security cooperation and military-to-military interactions and defense trade," said Austin.

The U.S. Defense Secretary told reporters that the issue of human rights of minorities in India was also discussed, saying that "partners need to be able to have those kinds of discussions," according to NDTV.

Singh mentioned the recent virtual Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) meeting, stressing bilateral and multilateral cooperation within the frame.

He added that the two sides agreed to "pursue enhanced cooperation," such as expanding military-to-military engagement across services, information-sharing, cooperation in emerging sectors of defense, and mutual logistics support.

They also discussed addressing non-traditional challenges such as oil spills, environmental disasters, drug trafficking, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, according to Singh.

Austin's visit to India is the last leg of a three-nation visit that included Japan and South Korea, making the first visit by a top member of U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to the country.

He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in New Delhi on Friday and held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. On Saturday, he also met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
This story has been updated to include comments from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

The Texas rent relief program has only made three payments despite being online for over a month, according to a video shared with the Houston Chronicle.

Weve paid three payments which is better than none but is way too few, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs director Brooke Boston said on a Friday Zoom call. We had some major system issues happen and so its really only been maybe, like, 14 days that weve been fully in our new system.

Bostons remarks came as part of a Zoom webinar run by the Department of the Treasury for agencies administering the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to share best practices and find resources.

This is a $1 billion rental assistance program that the State of Texas is standing up completely from scratch. While the funding will be extremely helpful to many thousands of Texans, it did not come with program guidelines or mechanisms for delivery, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs spokesperson Kristina Tirloni said in an email.

The Texas rent relief program opened Feb. 15. Tenants and landlords quickly complained about the programs accessibility. Among the top issues: The website would not allow applicants to enter their phone numbers, no one answered the phone number provided and people could not check their application status.

After a slew of complaints, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs took down the website and put a new one back up in the hopes of smoothing the process.

While the website was also improved, the system upgrade referenced on the webinar was the back-end application software system, Tirloni wrote in an email. Upgrades to the system were unsuccessful, so a new system was procured by the vendor to provide the necessary program functions.

Boston referenced the new system in the Friday call.

We actually had to switch out systems partway through, Boston said on the Friday call. On average from time of receipt to time we get somebody through and approved in the queue for payment right now might be, lets say, a month, but a week from now that may be 2  weeks. I dont want to paint my average as a trend yet.

After the state switched programs, Tirloni said, the vendor upped their staff to 400 people and is temporarily redeploying about 75 percent of its staff to focus specifically on assisting applicants.

Most applications are currently missing information or documentation necessary to qualify applicants for federal funds, she said. We are reviewing all applications and helping applicants provide the documentation necessary to qualify for federal assistance.

The Houston-Harris rental assistance program, which is separate from the state program, has so far paid or pledged $10.8 million to 3,190 applicants. The city-county program launched the week of Feb. 22.

It is important to note that this is not an issue limited to Texas, Tirloni said. Because there are not previous programs from which to model this new rental assistance program, many states are similarly creating systems.
Russia on Thursday hosted a peace conference between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Moscow, as the Kremlin pushes for a ceasefire and power-sharing agreement in the war-ravaged nation. As DW reports, the talks come after negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban have stalled in the Qatari capital of Doha, while Turkey is due to hold another peace conference in April.

US, Russia call for Afghan ceasefire

The Moscow talks included US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, along with officials from Pakistan and China. Washington has embraced Russia's role in the Afghan negotiations, forming an unlikely partnership on the issue.

The US, Russian, Chinese and Pakistani officials urged representatives from the Afghan government and Taliban to commit to an immediate ceasefire in a joint statement.

"We call on all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to reduce the level of violence in the country and the Taliban Movement not to declare a spring-summer offensive campaign," the statement said.

The parties added that the Afghans should reach a deal "as soon as possible" that would "bring an end to over four decades of war in Afghanistan."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he hopes the Moscow conference will "help create conditions for achieving progressive inter-Afghan relations," warning that "further delays are unacceptable."

Is an interim Afghan government possible?

US President Joe Biden's administration is currently trying to determine whether it would be feasible to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by May 1, in accordance with a deal brokered with the Taliban by his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Khalilzad hopes the Afghans will commit to a political settlement that would not only include a ceasefire, but also an interim government.

Russia has backed the idea of an Afghan interim government, which could include members of the Taliban. The interim government would remain until elections are held and a new constitution is drafted.

However, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has rejected the idea of an interim government, arguing that Afghan leaders should only be chosen through elections. The Taliban has also expressed skepticism towards the idea.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the co-founder and deputy leader of the Taliban, told participants in the Moscow conference that "Afghans should be left to their own fate."

"The world should take into account the Islamic values, independence and national interests of the Afghan people," Baradar said. The Taliban has waged an armed insurgency against the Afghan government since the US invasion in 2001.

Afghanistan struggles with renewed violence

The talks in Moscow come as the security situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate.

On Thursday, a roadside bomb killed four people on a bus carrying government staff in Kabul, one day after an attack on a helicopter left nine members of the Afghan security forces dead near the capital.

So far, no one has yet claimed responsibility for the roadside bomb or the attack on the helicopter. The Afghan government has blamed the Taliban for recent attacks on government personnel and security forces.
Astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday undocked the Soyuz spacecraft from the Earth-facing port and relocated it to another spot to clear the space for another spacecraft, which is expected to arrive in April. According to Russian space agency Roscosmos, cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov redocked the Soyuz MS-17 crewed vehicle from the Rassvet Mini-Research Module to the Poisk module of the Russian segment of the ISS to clear spot for another Soyuz spacecraft that is expected to fly with three crew members next month.

This time-lapse video of today's Soyuz MS-17 crew ship port relocation squeezes a 34-minute maneuver into almost two-and-a-half minutes. More... https://t.co/SYWVzZNwK8 pic.twitter.com/2SQRMdCfA2  International Space Station (@Space_Station) March 19, 2021

The Exp 64 trio aboard the Soyuz MS-17 crew ship docked at 1:12pm ET switching ports from the Rassvet module to the Poisk module readying the station for the next crew arrival on April 9. More... https://t.co/SYWVzZNwK8 pic.twitter.com/ImWMlJPTY2  International Space Station (@Space_Station) March 19, 2021

For arrival of Soyuz MS-18

Roscosmos, in a press release, said the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft separated from the International Space Craft at about 16:40 UTC. After moving to a safe distance, the vehicle started circling the space station for about 15 minutes before docking in front of the Poisk module. The space has been cleared for the arrival of Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft, which is expected to reach the ISS in April with three crew members for Expedition 65. The spacecraft will carry two Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov, and one NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei to the ISS on April 9.

"The relocation opens the Rassvet port for the arrival April 9 of another Soyuz, designated Soyuz MS-18, which will carry NASAs Mark Vande Hei and Roscosmos Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov to join the space station crew after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan," American space agency NASA said in a statement on Friday.

Meanwhile, Soyuz MS-17, which has been relocated, will return back to Earth next month. The spacecraft was used for transporting three astronauts to the ISS in October last year for Expedition 64. Roscosmos Sergey Ryzhikov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and NASAs Kate Rubins had been flown to the ISS for a six month science experiment. Their expedition will end in April, following which they will use the same spacecraft to return back to Earth.

(Image Credit: ISS/Twitter)
FM Chung Holds Separate Talks Costa Rica, Guatemala

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong made separate talks with foreign ministers from Costa Rica and Guatemala in Seoul about the bilateral relations and cooperation between the countries said the Foreign Minister on Friday.

Foreign Minister Pedro Brolo Vila of Guatemala and Foreign Minister Rodolfo Solano Quiros of Costa Rica visited Seoul to attend Korea- LAC (Latin American and Caribbean countries) Digital Cooperation Forum that was held earlier this week.

Chung expressed his greatest hope during his talks with Costa Rica's Foreign Minister that both countries would be able to further extend their bilateral exchanges, especially as they look forward to celebrating next year the 60th anniversary of the establishment of both country's bilateral relations.

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Foreign Minister Chung said that Costa Rica is Korea's traditional partner, of which they have shared common core values in upholding "democracy, peace and human rights." Moreover, the Prime Minister also congratulated Solano for being promoted to Costa Rica's top diplomatic post, who was formerly the country's ambassador to Seoul.

In addition, Costa Rica's Solano also expressed his hopes of having the two countries work together and extend their bilateral trade and investment.

Later on the same day, SK's Prime Minister Chung held his talks with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Pedro Brolo Vila, where they talked about their hopes of extended cooperation between both countries, especially for the development such as the infrastructures, medicine, and health care, and information and communications technology.

Guatemalan Foreign Minister also expressed his hopes that more South Korean enterprises would expand investment and businesses in his country. Today, around 150 South Korean businesses are said to be operating in Guatemala.

The talks are deemed necessary to expand South Korea's diplomatic relationships among countries that could benefit the country from good military relations, strong economic ties, medicine and health care, and among others.





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By Mary Ann Schwindt

schwindt@grinnell.edu

Man in Hat 2, left, shows a masculine face with a large nose and a third eye in a brown fedora. Jutting out against a yellow background, the colors pop throughout the piece.

Untitled (Woman Pegasus), right, features a figure with wings sprouting from the feminine head. With a similar theme, this figure also has multiple eyes and particularly prominent lips, nose and clothes.

Despite delays due to pandemic and weather, two Damon Davis digitally created paintings are now installed at the Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC), inviting viewers to contemplate the mythic nature of everyday life while also bringing color to the previously sparse building.

Davis, a social justice activist, hip-hop artist, record producer, filmmaker and visual artist, is the epitome of multifaceted. Grinnell first became involved with Davis when the Grinnell Museum of Art held his exhibition in May 2016. The work on display was the photograph collection All Hands on Deck, created in response to the 2014 murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. In 2019, Davis accepted Grinnell Colleges invitation to become Artist in Residence.

While he was in Grinnell he made a lot of work. It was a very fertile time for him, said Lesley Wright, director of the Grinnell College Museum of Art. To have a month to do nothing but work on his art was really a gift for him. That is often what an artist residency does for an artist, it gives them time to focus, concentrate.

The S&B reached out to Davis for this article and did not receive a response.

By the end of the residency, Davis had produced over 40 pieces ranging from multimedia pieces with old family photographs to digital paintings and created a mold of his own bust for the first time.

His finished work was to be displayed from January 2019 to April 2020, but unfortunately the gallery show was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic and ended in March 2020.

Prior to the pandemic, Wright consulted with Concerned Black Students and various others at the museum to see which pieces stood out to them in the interest of purchasing some works for the Colleges collection. The two pieces Grinnell College had secured through the Public Art fund were among the handful that were most often commented upon.

The purchase from Damon Davis particular collection was significant to Wright on two accounts; the pieces were made through his residency, and, with Davis activity in social justice, the purchase was a direct response to the calls from students to see more diversity in public art.

One of the things he was really playing with while he was here was the sort of merging of the everyday and the mythological. And how when you start to think about the myths as informing the events that are happening around you, it can really transform a bad situation into a sort of remarkable learning situation, said Wright.

Some of the characteristics that stand out are the wispy feathered look of the painting, the striking colors and the realism mixed with pure oddity in the abstract features of the human figures. Wright believed the perfect home for Man in Hat 2 and Untitled (Woman Pegasus) was in the HSSC as the building is the home of disciplines that rely heavily on storytelling and mythology. Roadblocks, however, delayed the installation of Davis two pieces from being installed promptly.

In an ideal world we would have purchased these at the end of his show in April, said Wright, we would have gotten them framed and probably would have installed them last summer. According to Wright, they have been ready to install the pieces since the 1st of the year, but they cant take the pieces outdoors in inclement weather.

Finally, this week, with the first breeze of spring, the paintings were permitted to make the trek across campus and be installed near the south entrance of the HSSC.

This is just the next piece, said Wright. There are other spaces in HSSC that are designated for art and we are slowly identifying things, but we do not want to slap some stuff up. We really want to be deliberate and find the right things for the right space.

Wright hopes students will look forward to more art pieces being installed over the next few years and that they are inspired by Davis world of the seemingly common extraordinary
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World oil prices continue to be on the rise

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Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

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Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

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The inaugural launch of these highly limited boxes has set a world record at $2million USD. The final bid and private sale of the first Emerald Isle box to be released was secured jointly on St Patrick's Day (17th March) by Houston-based Faberge collectors, James and Korrine Whipkey, and a group of private investors led by Scott H. Weissman. As part of this sale, all proceeds will go to the Correa Family Foundation, a charity supporting children affected by cancer, chaired by Major League Baseball star, Carlos Correa.

The remaining six Emerald Isle experiences boxes will be released at auctions and events in key cities throughout 2021.

Jay Bradley, Founder, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. commented: "My company shares the same brand vision as Faberge  to create timeless beauty and a lasting legacy. I am delighted to have set a world record, for the second time in three months and proud to be able to donate the full proceeds of this sale to the Correa Family Foundation, a cause which is very close to my heart as my own daughter was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare form cancer, when she was just five-months old. Thanks to the charities like the Correa Family Foundation, she is now a healthy 19-year-old and I am honoured to be able to support the foundation through this contribution."

Carlos Correa, Chairman of the Correa Family Foundation said, "I'm very thankful to The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. and Jay Bradley to be generous enough to donate the first release of The Emerald Isle to our foundation. This is a huge contribution to the Correa Family Foundation and will change thousands of lives. Seeing a sick child battle cancer and what it does to their families in normal times is heart-breaking, and something that Jay and his family have experienced first-hand but going through it during a global pandemic is truly unimaginable."

The generous donation will support underserved childhood cancer patients. The charity helps cover daily expenses including food, transportation and rent for over 15,000 children with cancer.

'The Emerald Isle Collection' is The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.'s second release, following the launch of The Devil's Keep  a triple distilled, 29-year-old single malt whiskey  which also set a world record for most expensive inaugural release when it sold at auction in November 2020 for $60,000 USD (approximately 46,000/51,000 Euros). 'The Emerald Isle Collection' now takes the crown as the oldest and rarest triple distilled Irish single malt in the world, comprising a seven-piece custom-made whiskey set which celebrates the 'Seven Wonders of Ireland'.

Beautifully presented in a dark walnut experience box, each set features a bottle of ultra-rare, single cask, 30-year-old, triple distilled single malt Irish whiskey, accompanied by two exclusive creations from Faberge  the first-of-its-kind Faberge Celtic Egg and bespoke 1/1 Faberge watch. Each collection also includes a humidor with two limited edition and sold out, ultra-rare Cohiba Siglo VI Grand Reserva (2009) cigars. Top rated scoring 100/100, it is the holy grail of cigar collectibles and has increased by over 1,200% in value in the last decade. It also features a gold-plated cigar cutter, gold plated water pipette, pure obsidian whiskey stones, a hip flask with a sample of the Emerald Isle whiskey, and a carafe filled with Irish spring water from the same region where the whiskey was made.

Each experience box has been inspired by the shape of an emerald, and features an illustration of one of the 'wonders' of Ireland and its geographical coordinates, making each box one of a kind. Inside each box is the piece de resistance, the hand-crafted whiskey bottle containing the 'liquid gold'  a collector's item in its own right, design inspired by the Imperial Faberge Hen Egg from 1885. All bottles of whiskey are accompanied by a bespoke - first of its kind - Faberge Celtic Egg. Each egg is handcrafted from 18k yellow gold and features Faberge's legendary guilloche enamel in a pastel green; the green, white and gold colours of the egg symbolising the Irish flag. Inside, a unique surprise awaits in the form of a rough, uncut Gemfields Zambian emerald. This represents a feature that is truly historical, as it is the first time Faberge has ever featured an uncut gemstone as the egg's surprise. The uncut gem can be customised by Faberge into an exquisite one-of-a-kind piece of Faberge jewellery.

Zoom interviews are available with Jay Bradley Founder, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

Further imagery & information: Laura Westmacott, Mercury Communications, [email protected], + (0) 44 7786 837 339

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1459955/Craft_Irish_Whiskey.jpg

SOURCE The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.
HONG KONG  When six of the eight victims of this weeks shootings at Atlanta-area spas were confirmed to be of Asian descent, the news reopened wrenching debates in the United States about anti-Asian violence, bigotry and misogyny.

In East Asia itself, the public conversations about the violence played out with far less intensity.

The South Korean consulate in Atlanta has said that four of the people who died in the attacks on three massage parlors on Tuesday were of Korean descent. The two others of Asian descent are believed to have been of Chinese descent.

In both countries, which have low rates of violent crime and strict bans on guns, the murders were shocking but not surprising, given the frequent reports of gun violence and racially motivated crimes in the United States.
US President Joe Biden headed to Atlanta Friday to comfort an Asian-American community plunged into grief and fear after a killing spree left six women of Asian descent dead and a nation alarmed by pandemic-era hate crimes

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2021 ) :US President Joe Biden headed to Atlanta Friday to comfort an Asian-American community plunged into grief and fear after a killing spree left six women of Asian descent dead and a nation alarmed by pandemic-era hate crimes.

The pre-scheduled trip to the southern metropolis was originally intended to focus on Biden's Covid-19 battle plan, with a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and promotion of the economic rescue package recently passed by Congress.

But the carnage around Georgia's largest city prompted the president to add a meeting with Asian-Americans.

Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, will "hear about the impact of the incident on the community, and to get their perspective on the rise in anti-Asian hate incidents," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

Biden will deliver a speech at Emory University, and will use the visit to reaffirm his "commitment to combating xenophobia, intolerance and hate," Psaki said.

Three massage parlors around Atlanta were targeted Tuesday, before a 21-year-old man suspected of the killings was arrested hours later.

Robert Aaron Long faces eight counts of murder and one charge of aggravated assault.

He has admitted carrying out the attacks, according to law enforcement, but claims he was not motivated by racial hatred.

Officers said Long told police he was grappling with a sexual addiction and that he wanted to "eliminate" a temptation that put him in conflict with his strict religious beliefs.

Authorities have not confirmed the motive, but the killings were seen as laying bare the intersection of sexism and racism in the United States.

"Asian-American women have been stereotyped in ways that are racialized, gendered and sexualized," Catherine Ceniza Choy, a professor of ethnic studies at UC Berkeley, told AFP.

She noted that when police stressed that the suspect denied a racial motive but claimed it was sexual addiction, "what those statements reflect is the sexual objectification of Asian and Asian-American women... And it hurt." - 'Single mother' - Authorities have gradually begun releasing details of the victims.

The four women killed in Atlanta itself -- at two neighboring spas -- were named Friday as Hyun J. Grant, 51, Soon C. Park, 74, Yong A. Yue, 63 and Suncha Kim, 69 according to the Fulton County medical examiner's office.

Grant, who worked at the Gold Spa, left behind two sons -- the eldest of whom, Randy Park, 23, set up a fundraising page which by Friday had attracted almost $750,000 in donations.

"She was a single mother who dedicated her whole life to providing for my brother and I," Park wrote. "Losing her has put a new lens on my eyes on the amount of hate that exists in our world." The other four victims -- targeted at Young's Asian Massage in the Atlanta suburb of Acworth -- included Xiaojie Tan, the spa's 49-year-old owner described as "the sweetest, kindest, most giving person" by a longtime customer, Greg Hynson, speaking to The New York Times.

The attack also claimed the lives of Delaina Yaun, 33 -- a mother of two who was at the spa for a couple's massage with her husband -- as well as two employees: 44-year-old Daoyou Feng and Paul Andre Michels, 54.

"It's heartbreaking," said Andrew Yang, a Democratic former presidential hopeful who is running for mayor of New York.

Yang recalled growing up "with this constant sense of invisibility, mockery, disdain," and lacking a true sense of belonging because he looked Asian.

"But this has metastasized into something new and deadly and virulent and hateful," he told a press conference Thursday.

Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House and other public buildings until Monday as a mark of respect for the Atlanta victims.

- 'Screaming out for help' - In Washington, an extraordinary House hearing Thursday heard testimony from four Asian-American congresswomen, one of whom said the community has been "screaming out for help." Another, Democrat Grace Meng, warned that Republican rhetoric on the pandemic, including language that paints Asians as responsible for the virus, has put "a bull's eye on the back of Asian-Americans." Vigils have been held in several US cities to mourn the victims and condemn racially motivated violence.

Police in New York, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and other major cities stepped up patrols in areas with large Asian-American populations.

Georgia is home to nearly 500,000 people of Asian origin, or just over four percent of its population.

Meanwhile the Cherokee County clerk's office confirmed that Long's first court appearance, set for Thursday, was cancelled and that a new court date had yet to be set.
A natural disaster has been declared for parts of New South Wales amid devastating floods and mass evacuations, as the Bureau of Meteorology warns of more 'treacherous conditions' to come.

The federal and state governments on Sunday morning announced the disaster zone starts from Coffs Harbour and Grafton areas in northern NSW into the west to Cessnock and Dungog, and to the Central Coast.

The zone spans 16 regions including Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie City, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings and Tenterfield.

Relief funding can now start to be funnelled into local council areas for recovery efforts from the catastrophic rainfall.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said the main area of concern for the rest of the weekend was the Mid North Coast, with rain set to ramp up on Sunday afternoon.

Parts of Port Macquarie and nearby towns have flooded and further south Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record nearly 100 years ago.

'And then we are also going to see heavy falls through Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains and down through the Illawarra as well,' he told ABC News.

'We are expecting generally 50-100mm, but some places could get as much as 200mm, and the weather warning has been extended, so it does reach all the way from Wollongong up to the Queensland border for heavy rainfall.

'We are really going to see conditions dangerous across western parts of Sydney.

'We've seen the Hawkesbury River at Richmond tick over the major flood level and there is possible major flooding downstream.'

This entire street near the Paterson river in Hinton, in the NSW Hunter region, is underwater

Yellow areas are subject to a Bureau of Meteorology severe weather warning of heavy rain and damaging winds for Sunday. The marked locations are subject to evacuation orders or warnings

Port Macquarie is now almost underwater as the Mid North Coast town is lashed with torrential rain

Many areas across eastern NSW recorded more than 100mm of rain over the past 24 hours, particularly in the Blue Mountains. Pictured: The Parramatta River in flood

The Bureau of Meteorology described the weather situation as 'volatile, dangerous and dynamic'

Meanwhile, an evacuation order has been issued for Picton in southwest Sydney after the Warragamba Dam started spilling over on Saturday afternoon, causing water levels to rise in the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.

'As a result of rising flood waters people within the Picton CBD should prepare to evacuate,' the NSW SES said.

'Residents should monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so. A flood evacuation order will be issued by the NSW SES if evacuation is required.

'Once floodwaters begin to rise in Stonequarry Creek you will see flooding of roads, sewerage lines and power may be lost, and properties to be inundated. If you remain in the area you may become trapped and it may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you.'

Natural disaster declared in the following regions: Armidale Bellingen Central Coast Cessnock City Council Clarence Valley Coffs Harbour City Dungog Shire Kempsey Lake Macquarie City Maitland City Mid-Coast Nambucca Valley Newcastle City Port Macquarie-Hastings Port Stephens Tenterfield Advertisement

Locals braved the rain on Sunday to watch the Hawkesbury River smash uprooted trees into the new Windsor bridge.

Residents face an anxious wait ahead of the tide peaking in the Hawkesbury at about 2pm.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Agata Imielsk warned of 'treacherous' conditions to come and said four times the March monthly average will fall in NSW in just two days.

'For the communities out there, you have already experienced some really dangerous conditions and they are going to be treacherous yet again so keep a close eye on warnings,' she said.

Earlier, the Bureau described the weather situation as 'volatile, dangerous and dynamic'.

'Even enough we are seeing the rainfall and rivers dropping down, we are expecting that to pick back up, so that will remain another watch point in the next 24 hours,' Ms Imielsk said.

'So for Sydney, we are still expecting a wet day tomorrow but today is really the bigger of the two.'

Many areas across eastern NSW recorded more than 100mm of rain over the past 24 hours, including the Sydney CBD. Picton received 159mm and Oakdale recorded 139mm.

More than 700mm of rain has fallen on Kendall, 35km southwest of Port Macquarie, since Thursday.

The wild weather caused devastation to a home on Shortland Esplanade near the Newcastle ocean baths with the property teetering on the edge after a landslide hit the area.

The heavy rain is expected to keep falling until Wednesday morning and people across the state are on high alert for rising floodwaters. Pictured: Taree on the Mid North Coast

A house is seen after a landslip took out some of its foundations, forcing the road to be closed on Shortland esplanade in Newcastle on Sunday

Parts of Port Macquarie (pictured) and nearby towns have flooded and further south Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record nearly 100 years ago

Residents in the Pitt Town Bottoms, Cornwallis and North Richmond areas west of Sydney were also told to evacuate in the dead of night as the Hawkesbury River began to flood.

The State Emergency Service issued several orders telling people in these areas to take pets and essential items with them and stay with family or friends, or go at an evacuation centre.

'If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water and other essential services,' the SES said in the evacuation orders.

Bellingen residents and people at a tourist park in the Mid North Coast town were also advised to evacuate because of the risk of flooding along the Bellingen River.

Evacuation centres were established at Richmond and Bellingen, adding to several others opened in the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.

Taree is in the grip of a flood rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago as parts of the town have flooded (pictured)

Heavy rain and flooding has triggered evacuations on the New South Wales mid coast with over 120mm rain expected for Sydney

Rainfall recordings Darkes Forest  107 mm Oakdale  105 mm Sydney Airport  104 mm Sydney Observatory Hill  103 mm Peakhurst Golf Club  100 mm Picton (Cedar Ck)  99 mm Marrickville Golf Club  98 mm Advertisement

Moderate flooding continues along the Colo River, with the river at Putty Road is expected to reach the major flood level of 10.70m on Sunday afternoon.

Flooding was also expected along the Nepean River and the SES urged people in low-lying areas to protect their homes by sandbagging doorways and clearing drains.

The Nepean River at Menangle Bridge is expected to reach 7.60m on Sunday with water levels to also reach moderate flood levels at Wallacia Weir.

'It's a very dynamic and evolving flood situation and we could see some very deep and rapidly responding rivers with very high levels,' BOM national flood services manager Justin Robinson said.

SES Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin said the service was dealing with downed trees, power outages, clearing of debris and damage to houses.

'Whilst a couple of areas have seen some receding flood waters overnight and into this morning, that heavy rainfall returning to those locations today will likely lead to additional peaks on those river systems,' Mr Austin told ABC TV.

'We're planning well beyond Easter for our own operations ... just because the rain may stop on Thursday, the rivers naturally don't go back to their normal state and then there's going to be an extended recovery period.'

Emergency crews kept working through the night, having already made more than 500 floodwater rescues.

Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the State Emergency Service's 500 flood rescues was 'completely unacceptable'.

'That's 500 crews that have put their lives at risk because people have not heeded the warnings,' he said.

Flood warnings as of 8am Sunday Minor to Moderate Flood Warning for the Bellinger River Minor to Moderate Flood Warning for the Macleay River Minor to Moderate Flood Warning for the Hastings River Moderate to Major Flood Warning for the Gloucester and Manning Rivers Minor to Moderate Flood Warning for the Hunter River and Wollombi Brook Moderate to Major Flood Warning for the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo Rivers Minor Flood Warning for the Deua River Minor Flood Warning for the Tuggerah Lake Moderate Flood Warning for the Orara River Minor Flood Warning for the Paroo River (NSW) Minor to Moderate Flood Warning for the Paterson and Williams Rivers Minor Flood Warning for the Nambucca River Minor Flood Warning for the Camden Haven River Minor Flood Warning for the Myall River Advertisement

Houses are destroyed after flooding following heavy rainfall in Tinonee, New South Wales

Residents looking at trucks stuck in a flooded road, following heavy rains in Taree

After three days of heavy rain, the Parramatta River (pictured) spilled over on Saturday

A bodyboarder in his 60s went missing off the coast of Coffs Harbour on Saturday afternoon and crews will resume the search on Sunday morning.

A group of students at Kendall Public School on the state's mid-north coast spent Friday night in the campus' library after roads cut rain prevented the children getting home.

Thirteen staff stayed with the children, when it was confirmed on Friday that flooded roads meant some families wouldn't be able to collect the children.

The school confirmed late on Saturday that all stranded students had made it home safely after the unexpected sleepover.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said weather modelling predicted it could be a one-in-25-year rain event.

'This will be a deep-seated, extreme weather event,' she told reporters.

'It's not going to be an easy week for us. None of us are out of the woods while the storm front is moving south.'

The Premier urged NSW residents who weren't in immediate danger to restrict their movements and heed the warnings.

Emergency crews kept working through the night, having already made more than 500 floodwater rescues. Pictured: Taree in NSW

A 'mini-tornado' that ripped through Chester Hill in western Sydney on Saturday damaged the roofs of houses

A car is left stuck in raging floodwater at the Audley Weir in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

In Katoomba, in the upper Blue Mountains, two bushwalkers were cut off by floodwaters on the Six Foot Track with NSW Ambulance saying they were 'extremely fortunate' to have survived.

The rescue required four crews and conditions were difficult with some roads impassable because of flooding.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the scenes across NSW were 'absolutely heart-breaking' and the government was ready to assist.

The federal government has announced financial assistance for more than a dozen local government areas.

Floodwaters in Port Macquarie are seen as residents are told to evacuate (pictured on Saturday)

Locals are seen having a drink at a pub despite the venue being completely flooded by the wild weather (pictured pub in Telegraph Point, northern NSW)

In Katoomba, in the upper Blue Mountains, two bushwalkers were cut off by floodwaters on the Six Foot Track with NSW Ambulance saying they were 'extremely fortunate' to have survived.

The rescue required four crews and conditions were difficult with some roads impassable because of flooding.

Sydney's Warragamba Dam spills over Residents in the Warragamba Dam catchment are on high alert and may have to evacuate as the primary reservoir of water supply for Sydney overflows. The heritage-listed Warragamba Dam, located about 70km from central Sydney, started spilling mid-afternoon on Saturday, as rain continues to batter parts of NSW. The volume of water is expected to increase into Sunday as rainfall and flooding continues, Water NSW said. Residents in the suburb of Picton have been urged to evacuate their homes after the Waragamba Dam overflowed on Saturday Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Saturday afternoon she had been briefed on the dam situation 'in relation to a potential for a one-in-five-year, one-in-10-year, or one-in-20-year event'. 'All three scenarios being planned for,' she said. She warned residents in the catchment area, as well as those in the mid-north coast, the Hunter, central coast and metropolitan Sydney to be on high alert and ready to evacuate. Flood expert Jamie Pittock is less concerned about the Warragamba Dam spilling as he is about tributary rivers downstream from it, such as the Grose River, overflowing and flooding parts of western Sydney. 'There are around 5,000 houses (in western Sydney) that lie below the one-in-100-year flood return interval,' the Australia National University professor told AAP. Most housing developments around the world are not allowed to be built in a one-in-100-year area, but successive NSW governments have allowed the irresponsible building of housing in these low-lying locations, Prof Pittock said. 'It's always worrying when there's a flood in western Sydney because it's one of the most dangerous places in Australia for floods.' Prof Pittock said he was most concerned about Penrith, Richmond and Windsor. Bureau of Meteorology national flood services manager Justin Robinson said a spill at Warragamba Dam could lead to minor flooding in Sydney's west, specifically at Penrith and North Richmond later on Saturday. 'It's a very dynamic and evolving flood situation and we could see some very deep and rapid responding rivers with very high levels,' he said on Saturday. Other dams such as Nepean, Cataract, Cordeaux and Avon are also expected to reach capacity and begin spilling on Saturday afternoon, Water NSW said. The mayor of Wollondilly Shire Council, the local government area in which Warragamba Dam is located, told AAP he was concerned about flooding in lower areas. Robert Khan cannot remember the dam spilling over in his nearly 40 years of living in the area and said businesses on the main street of Picton were currently sandbagging their stores. 'We've had drought, bushfires and floods. I know it's mother nature but how much can a local business take?' he said. The dam spill has occurred amid the NSW government's controversial plans to raise the dam wall by at least 14 metres to potentially hold back additional water in the Blue Mountains. Advertisement

A young couple's home was seen floating down the Manning River in Taree in startling footage

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the scenes across NSW were 'absolutely heart-breaking' and the government was ready to assist.

The federal government has announced financial assistance for more than a dozen local government areas.
OROVILLE, Calif. - Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey told Action News Now that the weapon used in the murder of Jerry Anderson of Oroville was a two-pound engineer's hammer, also known as a baby-sledgehammer.

It is suspected that mental illness was a factor with the main suspect, Tyler Anderson, according to Ramsey. There are also indications of previous violent crimes by Tyler.

RELATED: Son arrested in father's murder

There was a call for domestic violence in Nov. of 2017 at the Anderson household. According to Ramsey, Tyler punched his father in the face.

Tyler's mother was outside the home at the time of the homicide. When she came inside she immediately called 911 telling authorities that her son killed her husband.

Tyer is expected to be arraigned on first-degree murder charges on Monday at 3 p.m.
What explains Chief General Qamar Ahmed Bajwas call for India and Pakistan to bury the hatchet and make a new beginning? Is the overture for real? How should India respond given past disappointments? Shekhar Gupta assesses the geo-strategic options for both countries here

Other views this weekend examine the implications of tectonic technology changes in our lifetime, the DMKs manifesto, an Election Commission initiative and a botched Womens Day project:

From crypto-currency to the great white hope of digitisation has acquired confusing, often dystopian, dimensions that demand new rules and a different understanding of society, writes T N Ninan. Read it here

Rather than the usual offer of freebies, the DMKs is infused with the idea of shrugging off the imperialism of Delhi, writes Aditi Phadnis here

The Election Commissions move to set up a committee to oversee the use of hashtags in political advertising in all Indian elections is a good move. Sandeep Goyal explains why here

To celebrate Womens Day, UK hit on the idea of providing women with scholarships to train as professional chefs.

But the companys disastrous social media messaging created a fierce controversy instead, writes Chintan Girish Modi. Read it here
An example of the potential repercussions of the U.S. Equality Act can be observed in a Canadian case involving a certain Robert Hoogland, who refused to call his biologically born female child by the gender she identifies with: male.

Hoogland was arrested on Tuesday when a judge issued a warrant accusing him of being in contempt of court, after the Canadian father spoke about the case in public and referred to his transgender child "daughter" and using pronouns "she" and "her."

Christian Headlines reported that Hooglan was in fact ordered by the court not to discuss the case in public and was to call his child "son" and use the child's preferred pronouns, "he" and "him." The Canadian father refused to comply with the court's orders and even created a fundraising website describing his plight as a "BC father fighting medical transitioning of 14 year old child."

In the fundraising campaign, he claimed that he is "fighting the far left based on a civil disobedience defense." His five-day criminal trial will occur on April 12 to 16, which he claimed "could land me in jail for up to five years for speaking truth about state sponsored child abuse."

Hooglan and the mother of his transgender child are separated and are on opposing sides when it comes to the child's gender issues. According to The Post Millennial, his child had "complex problems'' on "gender dysphoria." When the child was younger and then idenfied as female, she had "intense crushes on male teachers" and "made a suicide attempt."

The Canadian father later found out that the British Columbia school the child attended had been showing students SOGI 123 -- "sexual and gender identity education materials" that "amounts to transgender ideology 'propaganda videos.'" Hooglan also discovered that the school independently made the decision to "'socially transitioned' the biologically female child on its own initiative," with some input from a gender ideologue psychologist.

Hooglan's ex-wife also signed papers agreeing to let the child undergo an "experimental treatment plan" to make the child's body appear more male-like. The Canadian father wanted a different, psychological approach to address his child's problems without any drugs.

"Here I am, sitting there as a parent, watching a perfectly healthy child be destroyed, and there's nothing I can do but sit on the sideline according to Justice Boden at the time. I can only affirm, or get thrown in jail," Hooglan said sadly. The court believed that Hooglan's consent was "irrelevant" and the judge ordered him to comply with referring to his child as his "son" and use "him" and "his" pronouns.

"There's a child-and not only mine-but in my case, my child out there having her life ruined," Hooglan said, as per The Christian Post. His attorney is now fighting to have him released following a claim that the detention is "unlawful." They hope to adjourn the trial on his criminal contempt of court charge until after the April 12 hearing.

This is only one of many examples of how the Equality Act may impact transgender children in the event that it gets passed into law in the United States. While the Equality Act may seem to advocate for the LGBT community, it can also set the stage for the persecution of conservatives and parents who only want to secure their child's wellbeing.
Austin pointed out that US President Joe Biden has said that human rights and rule of law are important to the United States of America

Austin said that the US reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India as a central pillar of its approach to the region. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: US secretary of defence Lloyd James Austin said on Saturday that the United States never thought that India and China were on the threshold of war during their military stand-off in Ladakh.

He also said that he had discussed the issue of human rights of minorities in India with Cabinet ministers in the Modi government and added that "partners need to be able to have those kinds of discussions."

"We have never considered India and China were on the threshold of a war," Mr Austin said during a press conference.

To a question whether he had spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about "violations of human rights especially against Muslim minorities in the Northeast", Mr Austin replied: "I did not have an opportunity to talk with him about that. I did have a conversation with other members of the Cabinet on this issue."

Mr Austin pointed out that US President Joe Biden has said that human rights and rule of law are important to the United States of America. "We always lead with our values. As a democracy that's pretty important to us. India is a democratic country and you treasure your values as well. There are a number of things that we can and will work on together," he said.

Sources said that Mr Austin on Saturday told external affairs minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar in an hour-long meeting that as the two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values are important to us and we will lead with these values. Mr Jaishankar agreed and emphasised that a strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world, sources said.

Mr Austin said that India is an important partner amid the rapidly shifting international dynamics. "US-India relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," he said.

Secretary Austin and defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday discussed the need to keep the Indo-Pacific region free, expanding US-India military-to-military engagement, information sharing, cooperation in emerging sectors of defence, and mutual logistics support.

Earlier, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Bob Menendez had, in a letter to the US defence secretary, urged him to raise the issue of human rights and democracy with India, and also the acquisition of S400 air defence systems from Russia.

The Indian governments ongoing crackdown on farmers peacefully protesting new farming laws and corresponding intimidation of journalists and government critics only underscores the deteriorating situation of democracy in India," Senator Menendez had said in the letter.

Secretary Austin said that he and defence minister Rajnath Singh had a bilateral meeting during which they discussed Indias planned purchase of Russias S-400 air defence system. He said that US has urged all of its allies to move away from Russian equipment and avoid any kind of acquisition which can trigger sanctions(under CAATSA). He said that since there has been no delivery of S-400 systems to India the issue of sanctions was not discussed.

"We are keen to work together to realise the full potential of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," Mr Singh said after the meeting. He said that both sides reviewed the wide gamut of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.

"The recent Leaders Summit of India, USA, Japan and Australia under the Quad framework emphasized our resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region," added Mr Singh.

Mr Austin said that the US reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India as a central pillar of its approach to the region.
Bengaluru, March 20 : The highest decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), on Saturday unanimously decided to elevate RSS Prachar Pramukh Arun Kumar to the post of Sah Sarkaryavah (joint general secreatary).

Kumar had played a crucial role in forming 'positive opinion' over the abolition of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Another senior RSS functionary, Sunil Ambekar, has been elevated to the post of Prachar Pramukh, which was held by Kumar till now.

Ambekar, who is the author of the book "The RSS: Roadmaps for the 21st Century", was functioning as Sah-Prachar Pramukh under Kumar for the last one year. From now on, he will be heading the information wing of the RSS.

His book, which was released in 2019 by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, is considered to be an effort to showcase the Sangh as a more forward-looking organisation.

Through Kumar, the RSS had even launched an ambitious plan to reach out to at least 10,000 key opinion makers -- jurists, bureaucrats etc. -- to dispel the "misinformation" related to Article 370 of the Constitution.

Kumar's 20-page study report had argued that due to Article 370, J&K had lost much in terms of central grants for legislations such as Right to Education, as well as in the case of benefits to women, tribal and backward populations.

An RSS functionary who worked closely with Kumar told IANS that his engagement with opinion makers was a first step towards removing this contentious article.
prsnck BHPian



Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 186 Thanked: 43 Times

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With gods grace I could do the following things pending for my RX-135. I'm just re-collecting all things which could help anyone in future and jotting it down here. My experience is at RTO (N) - Yeshwanthpur.



1. HPT (Hypothecation Termination)

2. RRC (Renewal of Registration Certificate)

3. TO (Transfer of Ownership)



RTO is always a scary place for anyone doing it individually. But I assure you once you go there, people will help you though officials are not so friendly as you expect to provide all information in a platter. But if you ask them, they are ready to help.



If you have the time and patience, you could save lots of money. I just paid total of R.s 1711/- for the following things mentioned above. I presume as you would already know the documents needed for the following - my case was unique. There was signature mismatch during HPT and my RC book was kept on hold during HP Termination in Aug 2018 till date. There was no fee for late payment of RC renewal which was due for close to an year, being signature mismatch of previous owner.



I went along with owner, he signed in the HP documents again as per one official mentioned with the date. Since HPT challan (payment fee for HP Termination) was void since it was almost more than a year I took in Aug 2018, I had to pay that again.



Then I also had to do the Renewal of RC (Along with vehicle inspection).



1. Form 25 duly filled (Get the chassis no. etched with a pencil on the form preferably in first page)

2. Valid Insure and Pollution xerox copies

3. Original RC Book/Smart card

4. Keep all this tied together and keep in a paper file folder

5. Envelope (rs. 18/-) for sending back the updated RC Smart card with your address. mobile no. and vehicle no. written on it



Make sure the superintendent (one of the official who verify this documents and write down manually in the form the application fee based on HPT, TO, RRC. ). Once it is written, give it for data entry one person sitting in-front of desktop. There maybe more, just ask where is data entry or anyone will help you.



Once data entry is done, you can go for fee payment. It is also easy (keep the change ready) and they will issue the challan receipt for the fee paid. It will include some fee for smart card (Some Rs. 60 I think). If you have the HPT, RRC, TO, it is advised to do it all in one go and save precious time (one day in RTO) and some amount of money since for smart card each time they charge few bucks. Next you can take the vehicle for Inspection along with the forms, challans etc.



My bike was ready in all aspects (Make sure Horn, headlamp, break-light, indicators working, RHS and LHS side view mirrors, tyres in good condition).l Once this is verified and satisfied, inspector put his signature on Form-25. Then take this form to office again for putting seal (plus some data entry) next to the Inspector signature. Verfiy this again with the first superintendent for final hand-over to the person who will give you the acknowledgment receipt. Keep that receipt always handy (1 month the updated RC will come to your address mentioned in Envelope) in case of any regular follow-up beyond 1 month and during your ride to show anyone that it is WIP.



Few pointers :



1. Always ask official about next step if you are not clear. If not replied in asking once, they will give info second time. Be polite, don't be rude ever. They are here to serve you, but they multi-task high time than a tech savvy professional.

2. Each step is important. Like without official jolting down manually the fee in your application with a red pen, it can't go for Data entry. Like wise without data entry in a computer, you can't go for challan (fee) payment.

3. First time is always scary for any new comer (read newbie in an RTO) who is giving the application for the first time. Next you will be experienced and get used to behavioral traits of RTO.

4. Keep pen, eraser, stapler, forms, file holder, glue, photo etc,. handy.

5. Plead, plead in cases like silly things like (lunch time closure, if you are last person plead once, they will take your request as you need to wait say more than an hour after lunch time)

6. You can see many applicants like you saving money - but with lots of patience and time taking effort. My personal opinion is it's worth knowing what you ride on road takes lots of effort in papers to be road worthy in all means.



Please feel free to PM me or let know any things more that I can help with. Next I have my Baleno for renewal in Jan 2020.



Regards

Prsn Folks,With gods grace I could do the following things pending for my RX-135. I'm just re-collecting all things which could help anyone in future and jotting it down here. My experience is at RTO (N) - Yeshwanthpur.1. HPT (Hypothecation Termination)2. RRC (Renewal of Registration Certificate)3. TO (Transfer of Ownership)RTO is always a scary place for anyone doing it individually. But I assure you once you go there, people will help you though officials are not so friendly as you expect to provide all information in a platter. But if you ask them, they are ready to help.If you have the time and patience, you could save lots of money. I just paid total of R.s 1711/- for the following things mentioned above. I presume as you would already know the documents needed for the following - my case was unique. There was signature mismatch during HPT and my RC book was kept on hold during HP Termination in Aug 2018 till date. There was no fee for late payment of RC renewal which was due for close to an year, being signature mismatch of previous owner.I went along with owner, he signed in the HP documents again as per one official mentioned with the date. Since HPT challan (payment fee for HP Termination) was void since it was almost more than a year I took in Aug 2018, I had to pay that again.Then I also had to do the Renewal of RC (Along with vehicle inspection).1. Form 25 duly filled (Get the chassis no. etched with a pencil on the form preferably in first page)2. Valid Insure and Pollution xerox copies3. Original RC Book/Smart card4. Keep all this tied together and keep in a paper file folder5. Envelope (rs. 18/-) for sending back the updated RC Smart card with your address. mobile no. and vehicle no. written on itMake sure the superintendent (one of the official who verify this documents and write down manually in the form the application fee based on HPT, TO, RRC. ). Once it is written, give it for data entry one person sitting in-front of desktop. There maybe more, just ask where is data entry or anyone will help you.Once data entry is done, you can go for fee payment. It is also easy (keep the change ready) and they will issue the challan receipt for the fee paid. It will include some fee for smart card (Some Rs. 60 I think). If you have the HPT, RRC, TO, it is advised to do it all in one go and save precious time (one day in RTO) and some amount of money since for smart card each time they charge few bucks. Next you can take the vehicle for Inspection along with the forms, challans etc.My bike was ready in all aspects (Make sure Horn, headlamp, break-light, indicators working, RHS and LHS side view mirrors, tyres in good condition).l Once this is verified and satisfied, inspector put his signature on Form-25. Then take this form to office again for putting seal (plus some data entry) next to the Inspector signature. Verfiy this again with the first superintendent for final hand-over to the person who will give you the acknowledgment receipt. Keep that receipt always handy (1 month the updated RC will come to your address mentioned in Envelope) in case of any regular follow-up beyond 1 month and during your ride to show anyone that it is WIP.Few pointers :1. Always ask official about next step if you are not clear. If not replied in asking once, they will give info second time. Be polite, don't be rude ever. They are here to serve you, but they multi-task high time than a tech savvy professional.2. Each step is important. Like without official jolting down manually the fee in your application with a red pen, it can't go for Data entry. Like wise without data entry in a computer, you can't go for challan (fee) payment.3. First time is always scary for any new comer (read newbie in an RTO) who is giving the application for the first time. Next you will be experienced and get used to behavioral traits of RTO.4. Keep pen, eraser, stapler, forms, file holder, glue, photo etc,. handy.5. Plead, plead in cases like silly things like (lunch time closure, if you are last person plead once, they will take your request as you need to wait say more than an hour after lunch time)6. You can see many applicants like you saving money - but with lots of patience and time taking effort. My personal opinion is it's worth knowing what you ride on road takes lots of effort in papers to be road worthy in all means.Please feel free to PM me or let know any things more that I can help with. Next I have my Baleno for renewal in Jan 2020.RegardsPrsn Last edited by GTO : 17th March 2021 at 19:48 . Reason: Copying post to new thread
According to a contract published by the United States Department of Defense on March 19, 2021, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $2,417,500,565 fixed-price incentive modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2100 to exercise an option for the construction of one Block V Virginia-class submarine with Virginia Payload Module for the U.S. Navy.

According to a contract published by the United States Department of Defense on March 19, 2021, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $2,417,500,565 fixed-price incentive modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-2100 to exercise an option for the construction of one Block V Virginia-class submarine with Virginia Payload Module for the U.S. Navy.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

The USS Oklahoma SSN-802 is the first Virginia-class Block V submarine. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

The Virginia-class is a nuclear-powered cruise missile fast-attack submarines (NSSN New SSN), currently in service in the United States Navy. Designed by General Dynamics's Electric Boat (EB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries.



The U.S. Navy has been procuring Virginia (SSN-774) class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998, and a total of 34 have been procured through FY2021 (FY Fiscal Year). Since FY2011, Virginia-class boats have been procured at a rate of two per year.



The U.S. Navy operates three types of submarines including nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), nuclear-powered cruise missiles and special operations forces (SOF) submarines (SSGNs), and nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). The SSNs are general-purpose submarines that can perform a variety of peacetime and wartime missions.



The U.S. Navy has been procuring Virginia-class SSNs since FY1998 and the first submarine entered in service with the U.S. Navy in October 2004. The baseline Virginia-class design is slightly larger than the Los Angeles-class design but incorporates newer technologies, including technologies used in the Seawolf-class design. The Seawolf design was intended to combat the threat of advanced Soviet ballistic missile submarines such as the Typhoon class, and attack submarines such as the Akula class in a deep-ocean environment.



The Virginia-class submarine is armed with VPM (Virginia Payload Module) with 28 Tomahawk BGM-109 long-range land-attack missiles, 12 VLS Vertical Launching System (Tomahawk BGM-109) tubes, and four 533 mm torpedo tubes able to launch Mk-48 heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes and UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The Virginia Payload Module (VPM) gives the guided-missile capability to the submarine. The Virginia-class Block V has an increased length, from 377 ft (115 m) to 460 ft (140 m), and displacement, from 7,800 tons to 10,200 tons.



It is planned that a total of 10 Virginia-class Block V will be built for the U.S. Navy, two of which have already been ordered.
Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) takes a swig of Tiger Beer in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier on Disney Plus.

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SINGAPORE  The Winter Soldier has officially 'endorsed' Singapore's Tiger beer. At least, that's what he's drinking in the first episode of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, which dropped on Disney+ yesterday.

Without giving away spoilers, what we can tell you is that Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is seen taking swigs from a bottle of Singapore's national beer in a scene where he's on a date with a waitress at the restaurant where she works.

Looks like the Winter Soldier knocked back a few bottles.

At one point, there are three bottles of Tiger beer on the table before Bucky (who's played by Sebastian Stan), so it seems like he's knocked back a few.

It's a Japanese restaurant, which might explain why an Asian beer brand like Tiger is served there.

Or, Tiger Beer simply forked out for a product placement in such a valuable property as a Marvel Studios production.

A Tiger spokesperson said in a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle SEA, "As a homegrown icon born in Singapore, we are so proud that our world-acclaimed Tiger Beer has made its way into a widely anticipated Marvel Studios production, The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. It is this continuous strong global appeal of Tiger Beer that makes us beam with local pride."

Sean O'Donnell, Global Brand Director for Tiger, added: "Because every superhero deserves a Tiger!"

READ MORE:

TFATWS is the second Marvel Studios TV series to be released on Disney+, after WandaVision.

The series follows Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and Bucky as they fight baddies and navigate a world which the Avengers leader, Captain America, has disappeared from.

Story continues

There are six episodes in TFATWS and Disney+ will drop one episode weekly, similar to how WandaVision released one episode per week.

TV streamer Disney+ was launched in Singapore just last month  you can subscribe to Disney+ here.

Here's a review of the first episode of TFATWS as well as everything you need to know to catch up on the story prior to watching the show:

Here's a trailer for TFATWS:
Turkey's human rights agency has rejected the request by Fr Remzi Diril for an investigation. Nothing is known about his father who went missing over a year ago while his mothers body was found, naked with signs of torture. Human rights groups call on the members of the human rights agency to resign.

Istanbul (AsiaNews)  The Human Rights and Gender Equality Authority of Turkey (TIHEK) has rejected a request by Chaldean priest Fr Remzi Diril to shed light on the murder of his mother Simuni Diril and the disappearance of his father Hurmuz Diril, who has been missing since January 2020.

The agency denied the request because the case, in its view, does not meet the criteria of confessional, ethnic or religious "discrimination".

Hurmuz and Simoni Diril were a Chaldean couple from Kovankaya (Meer in Assyrian), a Christian village in Beytussebap, a district in Srnak province, south-eastern Turkey, scene of fighting between the Turkish government and Kurdish separatists.

According to an eyewitness, armed men came to the village on 11 January and picked up the couple; bad weather and a silence imposed by the local authorities prevented search operations.

On 20 March 2020, the body of the 65-year-old woman was found on the edge of a stream with obvious signs of torture while her 71-year-old husband has not been heard of ever since.

Following their disappearance, the only other villager said that men from the PKK, the pro- Kurdish independence party, were behind the kidnapping. However, a few days later he changed his version of events saying that the couple had left home on their own, then they were never heard from again.

In the past few months, their son, Fr Remzi Diril, while continuing his investigation into his parents disappearance, filed a case with TIHEK , the human rights agency.

The clergyman said that his mother's body was found naked with many fractures and nothing was done to find out what led to her murder.

Likewise, nothing is known about his father, nor any serious efforts have been to find him, and that the uncertainty is like torture for the family.

For Remzi Diril, the lack of progress in this case is due to the indifference of state institutions towards his parents because of their faith and the political opinions attributed to them, namely complicity with Kurdish independence movements active in the area.

As he believes his family is the victim of a discriminatory attitude, he asked the human rights agency to intervene. The latter however rejected the request asking the family to use the term discrimination in their petition.

Human rights groups have criticised TIHEK, which is tasked with helping investigations into serious human rights violations and ascertain whether there is discrimination on the basis of religion or political belief.

With respect to the Christian couple, they call on the agencys members to resign because they failed to meet out justice.

In recent months, activists and others have launched a petition on change.org (Simuni Diril'i kim/kimler oldurdu? Hurmuz Diril nerede) urging the authorities to act, so far in vain.

For the Turkish government and local authorities, the emergency situation linked to the novel coronavirus pandemic are to blame for the slow pace of the investigation.

Several Syriac Christian villages are located in the area, whose indigenous population was forcibly driven out after war broke out between Turks and Kurdish separatists.
Wrexham selected to host Wales National Armed Forces Day in 2022

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 20th, 2021

Wrexham has been selected to host Wales National Armed Forces Day next year.

In partnership with the Welsh Government, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has been working with the 22 local authorities in Wales to develop a five year timetable for the event.

The event commemorates and celebrates the Armed Forces community and is a partnership event between local authorities, Welsh Government, the tri-services and other partners.

It is supported by funding from Welsh Government.





Due to the coronavirus pandemic plans are being made to mark National Armed Forces Day in Wales in 2021 virtually instead.

Following discussions, the WLGA have confirmed the below local authorities will be hosting this special event between 2022-2026:

 Wrexham

 Newport

 Swansea

 Monmouthshire

 Carmarthenshire

It will be the second time Wrexham has held the event, which last took place in the town centre in 2014.

Cllr David Griffiths, Armed Forces Champion at Wrexham Council, said: Whilst its disappointing that we cant hold the event this year we are very pleased to be hosting the event for 2022.

We last held Armed Forces Day in Wrexham in 2014 which was a very memorable and enjoyable event and we hope to repeat that next June.

Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Hannah Blythyn added: The Armed Forces have always supported our communities; during the current pandemic they have played a crucial role in getting help to those who need it the most.

Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to show our support and appreciation for the Armed Forces Community and Im looking forward to the events taking place in person once again.

All event planning will take into account any restrictions that are in place or are expected to be in place.
GV Ramakrishna, second chairman of the Securities & Exchange Board of India (1990-1993), and by far the most effective one so far, passed away in Chennai this morning. He was 91.

GVR, as he was popularly called, has had an illustrious career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) that ran for as long as 50 years. He became the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh in 1983, and then worked with the union government in the ministries of finance, industry, steel, coal and petroleum. Early in his career he went to Harvard University for his Masters in Public Administration. He retired from the IAS in 1988 but his expertise continued to be sought by the government.

He was appointed Indias Ambassador to the European Union in 1989. The fact that he was making waves in Brussels apparently did not go down well with some powerful bureaucrats in Delhi. So, he was sent to Mumbai as SEBI chairamn, to what was considered a dead-end posting outside his area of competence. SEBI did not have statutory powers at that time.

When Ramakrishna, a sharp, upright and no-nonsense bureaucrat, took charge of SEBI, brokers controlled the stock exchanges; there was no sanctity to settlements; defaults were frequent; and investors were hapless victims with no recourse.

Even though SEBI was powerless on paper, GVR created a storm in the stockmarkets by talking of investor protection, disclosure, transparency and accountability of all the market players. He started by asking various market intermediaries to register themselves with SEBI. This immediately caused deep anger and resentment among brokers. At that time, the broker controlled Bombay Stock Exchange was the largest exchange and extremely powerful, because of the political connections of brokers. GVR had no hesitation in taking on the power structure at the BSE. And yet, he openly met a wide spectrum of people connected with markets and listened to them.

His table used to be stacked with copies of the laws and rules governing the capital market  the Securities Contracts Regulation Act, the BSE bye-laws, the listing agreement of stock exchanges and more. Pretty soon, he was rattling the BSE administration by asking pointed questions about the implementation of their own rules. He forced listed companies to pay attention to SEBI through the simple and effective strategy of name and shame, by releasing the list of companies with the highest investor complaints every fortnight. Pretty soon, companies worked at getting their names off the list. His table used to be stacked with copies of the laws and rules governing the capital market  the Securities Contracts Regulation Act, the BSE bye-laws, the listing agreement of stock exchanges and more. Pretty soon, he was rattling the BSE administration by asking pointed questions about the implementation of their own rules. He forced listed companies to pay attention to SEBI through the simple and effective strategy of name and shame, by releasing the list of companies with the highest investor complaints every fortnight. Pretty soon, companies worked at getting their names off the list.

Old timers still remember his Assocham speech, where he laid out his agenda for change by listing all that was wrong with the capital market. This included, inadequate disclosure and transparency, poor investor protection, a secular imbalance building up between supply and demand, outdated rules and procedures at stock exchanges, poor quality prospectuses and the complicity of merchant bankers in keeping investors ill-informed. He outlined steps needed to fix the problem and to improve investor protection.

He caused an upheaval and made headlines when he banned badla (BSEs carry forward system), which was prone to speculative excesses, was poorly supervised and often led to broker failures.

In effect, GVR took on every segment of the capital market -- capital-raising companies, mutual funds, brokers, merchant bankers, underwriters, registrars and stock exchange boards. Consequently, each segment wanted him out. Even UTI had refused to come under SEBI regulation at that time, arguing that it was a unique Indian financial institution. At one time, GVR stopped many mutual funds from launching new schemes till they created appropriate structures: asset management companies, trustees, custodians and arms-length relationship with the sponsors.

In just two years, GVR had laid the foundation for a modern regulatory framework that covers the core of the market today  stockbrokers, mutual funds, investment bankers, insider trading etc. This led to intense lobbying by power brokers and stockbrokers to get him out.

Here is a story, probably apocryphal, which we heard at that time. Sometime in the second quarter of 1993, a Union Cabinet minister is supposed to have met Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in New Delhi with an unusual one-point agenda. With him were some top businessmen. These gentlemen, the minister told the Prime Minister, had traditionally been supporters of the Congress (I) and they could be of help to the party in the state elections, which were around the corner. But they were sore because the SEBI chairman was making life difficult for them with unnecessary rules and an unreasonably tough attitude. Could the Prime Minister help, asked the Cabinet minister? "But I am told that the SEBI chief is not tough enough," the Prime Minister is believed to have replied. "Can you suggest someone who is tougher? I will consider installing him." Both the businessmen and the minister were out of the Prime Minister's office in a matter of minutes. This story illustrates the implicit support GVR initially had from the Prime Minister Rao and finance minister Manmohan Singh. So, he survived for three long years, and seemed to get stronger with each crisis.

When the Harshad Mehta scam broke, one of Narasimha Raos son was found to be involved. In April 1992, scamster Hiten P Dalal had withrawn Rs two crore from his account at Andhra Bank and paid the money to a company called Goldstar Steels, through Andhra Bank Financial Services. The money was meant to shore up subscriptions to its rights issue, which was floundering and scheduled to close on 11 May 1992. Narasimha Raos son PV Prabhakara Rao was closely connected with Goldstar and it was clear that Hitens generosity was influenced by that connection. SEBI was asked to conduct an inquiry, which corroborated the irregularities that were alleged. In December 1993 when SEBI banned badla, the brokers shut down market. At the end of December, GVR was removed by making him a member of the Planning Commission, probably because he refused to water down the Goldstar report. When the Harshad Mehta scam broke, one of Narasimha Raos son was found to be involved. In April 1992, scamster Hiten P Dalal had withrawn Rs two crore from his account at Andhra Bank and paid the money to a company called Goldstar Steels, through Andhra Bank Financial Services. The money was meant to shore up subscriptions to its rights issue, which was floundering and scheduled to close on 11 May 1992. Narasimha Raos son PV Prabhakara Rao was closely connected with Goldstar and it was clear that Hitens generosity was influenced by that connection. SEBI was asked to conduct an inquiry, which corroborated the irregularities that were alleged. In December 1993 when SEBI banned badla, the brokers shut down market. At the end of December, GVR was removed by making him a member of the Planning Commission, probably because he refused to water down the Goldstar report.

By the time GVR left SEBI, he had used his deadly combination of brilliance, strategy and scrupulous honesty to challenge and change every entrenched capital market lobby. He had brought mutual funds, brokers, sub-brokers and stock exchanges under regulation, introduced Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) for public issues, introduced the idea of Self-regulatory organistions (SRO) under which the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) was set up.

After a stint in the planning commission he was appointed chairman of the Disinvestment Commission for a three-year term that ended in 1999. Some of his observations about the ideal disinvestment process that ought to be followed are relevant even today.

His final assignment with the government was as the chairman of the Construction Industry Development Council (set up jointly by the Planning Commission and the Construction Industry to achieve excellence in all areas of the construction activity), which ended in June 2003.

Although GVR is known today for his pioneering role in transforming the capital market, it was his run in with Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi over the Rs 1700 crore Hazira-Bijaipur-Jagdishpur pipeline project that first made him famous for his integrity and steely determination. He has recounted the episode in detail in his memoir titled -- Two score and Ten My Experiences in Government . It provides an inside account of the clout of an Italian national called Ottavio Quattrochi and the power that he wielded through his connection with Rajiv Gandhis family. Quattrochi was also a key suspect in the Bofors gun scandal that marred Rajiv Gandhis tenure as prime minister.

In 1985, GVR, as union Petroleum Secretary was shepherding the HBJ pipeline project, which was to carry natural gas for ONGC across 1,00 kilometers from the fields of South Bassein. Although the Spie Capag-led consortium won the pipeline bid in an open tender, the Rajiv coterie subjected the bidding process to scrutiny by several committees, all the time trying to find ways to hand over the contract to Snam Progetti, which Quottrochi represented.

GVR braved the wrath of the prime minister and refused to bow to pressure and ensured a clean bidding process with legal opinions to back all his actions and absolutely no slip up. In fact, petroleum minister, Naval Kishore Sharma paid the price and was shunted out. But there is a twist in the tale. After the deal was done, the Spie Capag representative met GVR to offer him a 5% kickback -- a massive Rs34 crore for making the deal happen. A stunned GVR called in his Financial Advisor and director and asked the representative to repeat the offer before them. He then forced Spie Capag to offer a further Rs34 crore discount on the project cost as a gesture of goodwill, without informing the minister about the reason for this generosity.

GVR documents how the PM called eight meetings to review the implementation of the HBJ pipeline project, often cancelling them at the last minute. Quottrochis constant attempts to thwart the project continued, and by the time the Bijapur fertiliser plant was ready, GVR was so fed up of the project that he did not attend the inauguration. Despite the unsavoury HBJ episode, GVRs personal experience of Rajiv Gandhi had a poignant ending. In May 1991 Rajiv Gandhi sent for him and asked if his assistance would be available to him after the general elections. He told his secretary Vincent George to give GVR priority on appointments and his direct personal number. A few days later, Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated and was no more. GVR documents how the PM called eight meetings to review the implementation of the HBJ pipeline project, often cancelling them at the last minute. Quottrochis constant attempts to thwart the project continued, and by the time the Bijapur fertiliser plant was ready, GVR was so fed up of the project that he did not attend the inauguration. Despite the unsavoury HBJ episode, GVRs personal experience of Rajiv Gandhi had a poignant ending. In May 1991 Rajiv Gandhi sent for him and asked if his assistance would be available to him after the general elections. He told his secretary Vincent George to give GVR priority on appointments and his direct personal number. A few days later, Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated and was no more.

GVR was unafraid of powerful politicians or about being shunted from one position to another. His book recounts the long list of run-ins he had with politicians -- Dr Charanjit Chanana, an acolyte of Sanjay Gandhi, the energy minister, Shiv Shankar (who wanted a say in the way the coal companies placed their equipment orders) and the Andhra Pradesh chief minister, NT Rama Rao, who was upset that Ramakrishna settled a mining strike without waiting for Rao to return to the state and gain political mileage from it. But though he spoke his mind (Enron deal, the power policy, and the Oman gas pipeline project for example), he was not pigheaded. He got his work done through the system with intelligence, integrity and ingenuity and was always open to feedback from every stakeholder. It was an extraordinary life dedicated to public service.
Ashland

The Ashland Public Library, 1229 Centre St., will have deviled crab or mac/cheese meals from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets may be bought at the library; the deadline to order is Tuesday. For more information, including pricing and menu, call 570-875-3175 or go to the librarys website, http://ashlandpubliclibrary.org.

Elizabethville

The Lykens Valley Childrens Museum is seeking volunteers to bring a fun and educational environment to families. LVCM is an all-volunteer-run facility at 33 S. Market St. Volunteers must be at least 13 and be able to acquire necessary clearances. For more information, call 570-809-6379 or email lykensvalleychildrensmuseum@gmail.com.

New Ringgold

Char Wills Kennels Training Center, 2 E. Railroad Ave., will have a Spring Fling, chili cookoff, basket raffle, bake sale, pictures with the Easter Bunny and other activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 27. To register, go to cwgsd.rescue@gmail.com. For more information, call 570-573-3366 or visit http://charwillsrescue.com.

Nuremberg

The Nuremberg Celebration Committee will have a reorganization meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday at the North Union Township building. All are welcome to attend and become volunteers.

Pottsville

The third annual Light in the Darkness show, an art exhibit of all mediums featuring the work of several local artists, is set for 5 to 8 p.m. April 15 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 16 and 17 at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St. Admission is free and most of the artwork will be for sale. There will be free activities for children on April 17. For more information, call the library at 570-622-8880 or go online to www.facebook.com/events/445233220235940.
Federal Judge Claims Democrats Are Close to Controlling All Major News Outlets

A federal judge last week said that the Democratic Party is close to controlling the press as he detailed what he described as shocking bias against Republicans.

D.C. Circuit Court Judge Laurence Silberman outlined his opposition to the Supreme Courts key decision in 1964 in New York Times v. Sullivan, which has since protected many media outlets from lawsuits.

Silberman, a Reagan appointee, wrote that the ruling is a threat to American Democracy and must be overturned.

The increased power of the press is so dangerous today because we are very close to one-party control of these institutions. Our court was once concerned about the institutional consolidation of the press leading to a bland and homogenous marketplace of ideas. It turns out that ideological consolidation of the press (helped along by economic consolidation) is the far greater threat, he said.

Although the bias against the Republican Partynot just controversial individualsis rather shocking today, this is not new; it is a long-term, secular trend going back at least to the 70s. (I do not mean to defend or criticize the behavior of any particular politician). Two of the three most influential papers (at least historically), The New York Times and The Washington Post, are virtually Democratic Party broadsheets. And the news section of The Wall Street Journal leans in the same direction.

The orientation of these three papers is followed by The Associated Press and most large papers across the country (such as the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, and Boston Globe). Nearly all televisionnetwork and cableis a Democratic Party trumpet. Even the government-supported National Public Radio follows along.

The news outlets mentioned didnt immediately return requests for comment.

The judge also expressed concern about the influence that Big Tech wields over how news is distributed, referencing how Twitter limited the spread of a New York Post article about President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey later told lawmakers that what happened was a mistake.

Silberman added that there are few notable exceptions to the outlets he mentioned: Fox News, The New York Post, and the Journals editorial page.

It should be sobering for those concerned about news bias that these institutions are controlled by a single man and his son. Will a lone holdout remain in what is otherwise a frighteningly orthodox media culture? After all, there are serious efforts to muzzle Fox News. And although upstart (mainly online) conservative networks have emerged in recent years, their visibility has been decidedly curtailed by Social Media, either by direct bans or content-based censorship, he wrote.

The uniformity of news bias has a political impact, the judge said, pointing to author Tim Grosecloses 2011 book Left Turn.

The George Mason University professor said in his book that he found that the way outlets report more favorably on Democrats aids the partys candidates by 8 to 10 percent in a typical election.

Silberman was writing a partial dissent in the case of Liberian government officials Christiana Tah and Randolph McClain versus Global Witness Publishing, an organization that investigates human rights abuses.

It should be borne in mind that the first step taken by any potential authoritarian or dictatorial regime is to gain control of communications, particularly the delivery of news. It is fair to conclude, therefore, that one-party control of the press and media is a threat to a viable democracy. It may even give rise to countervailing extremism, Silberman said.

The First Amendment guarantees a free press to foster a vibrant trade in ideas. But a biased press can distort the marketplace. And when the media has proven its willingnessif not eagernessto so distort, it is a profound mistake to stand by unjustified legal rules that serve only to enhance the press power.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Its March 22, 2001. The last barge carrying 505 tons of garbage is leaving the Fresh Kills landfill, ending its 53-year reign on Staten Island.

But what if it didnt?

The ever-growing mass of garbage, the flocks of birds, the remnants of litter outside its bounds, the smell  what if these not-so-subtle features of the borough still existed today and the dramatic transition of Fresh Kills never happened, leaving Staten Islanders with the dump?

In all honesty, had we kept the landfill open and continued to go with it, it would clearly be one of the highest points on the east coast, said Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Edward Grayson. It would be a mountain.

Already one of the biggest things you can see from space, Grayson said the size of the landfill would have been complemented with the excessive birds that came for the easy-pickings and the garbage that drifted from the area into residential neighborhoods.

This 1996 Advance photo shows garbage being unloaded at the Fresh Kills landfill. (Staten Island Advance/Rob Sollett)

Carrie Ellman-Larsen lived in one of those neighborhoods growing up.

Her familys home on Nome Avenue in New Springville was where she spent her days from the age of 2 until she was 18.

Sometimes, on hot, humid days, the smell was just so rancid and so terrible, you could smell it everywhere, said Ellman-Larsen. But then there were some days I couldnt smell anything, and maybe Id have a friend come from somewhere else, not Staten Island, and theyd go, Whats that smell? and I would say, What smell? 

It was equal parts desensitized and then it was just so bad, she added. It just filled the air, it was almost soupy because it was humid out.

Reminiscing back to her childhood, Ellman-Larsen said she recalls the odor vividly.

Its very clear, I could smell it now, she said.

A veteran of the DSNY for over two decades, Grayson also remembers the pungent aroma that spread in the area surrounding the dump.

Borough residents who lived near the Fresh Kills landfill couldnt open their windows during the spring and summer months and couldnt hold barbecues without expecting a whiff of foul odor, he said.

Especially in the summertime, you knew when you were on Staten Island, said Grayson. It wasnt immediately when you crossed the [Verrazzano-Narrows] Bridge, but once you started heading on the Staten Island Expressway, it was like, oh yeah. 

Julie Nygren, who grew up in Eltingville in the 1970s, said she recalls smelling the stink of that dump during hot summer nights, even miles away from the landfill.

It permeated the air, she said. It was even worse if you were close to it.

If garbage continued to pile up  Nygren was resolute: It would be even more of an impetus to move.

Birds swarm over Fresh Kills in this 1993 file photo.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT?

The effects of the city continuing to dump its trash on the boroughs West Shore could have also had wide-ranging implications regarding equity on the Island.

Ellman-Larsen worries that its existence would have created a further socio-economic divide on the Island.

Black and Latino communities are often located in areas of higher pollution, experts have said, and the coronavirus (COVID-19) has shed a light on health inequities present across the country. Additionally, Staten Islands minority communities, who live in more densely-populated areas of the borough, have bore the brunt of the pandemic.

If the Fresh Kills landfill persisted, it is likely that homes would have been cheaper closer to its bounds, said Ellman-Larsen.

It makes you think about equity, and who has to live near garbage and who doesnt and who would be forced to live there, she said. Its an issue of equity  Who has to suffer? Whose health suffers? ... I imagine an even-more divided Island.

A Sanitation truck dumps its load at the landfill in 1989. (Staten Island Advance)

This worst-case scenario was averted after then-Borough President Guy Molinari worked with then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Gov. George Pataki in 1996 to get a commitment to close the Fresh Kills landfill by 2001.

But, even if Fresh Kills continued to be a dumping ground for garbage, advances in environmental technology and sanitation practices, along with stricter federal regulations, would have likely changed the projection of the landfill; however, its most noticeable effects would have still caused issues.

There might have been different ways to try and deal with it, but there would have been a no escaping the smell and no escaping of the height of just its looming presence, said Eloise Hirsh, the Freshkills Park administrator for the Parks Department.

WHAT ABOUT MORALE?

Another byproduct of its continued hypothetical existence, would have been the effect on the morale of Staten Islanders.

If it had continued to go on, while there may be some improvements of the physical reality of it, you would have had a fairly angrier and much more engaged [population], Hirsh said.

And the push to revitalize the West Shore of the borough would likely have been futile if the knowledge of Fresh Kills closure was not guaranteed. The now-dubbed Jobs Coast relies on the willingness of companies to plant their roots in the ground not far from where the dump used to create a litany of issues.

It is unlikely if the landfill had continued that all that economic development would have happened, Hirsh hypothesized.

Lower Manhattan can still be seen from several of the covered mounds. Freshkills Park is currently under construction with plans to open some of the park by the end of 2021. March 15, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri)

A NEW LEGACY

Now, the legacy of Fresh Kills is a long ways from the nightmarish storyline that could have played out.

The Fresh Kills landfill is now more commonly known as Freshkills Park.

Staten Island is the Borough of Parks, but this park is actually an icon of environmental restoration, said Hirsh. I think Staten Islanders would be amazed to know how internationally known Fresh Kills is  not for its huge dump-ness  but actually for the fact of its resurgence.

That rebrand has been  and still is  an ongoing effort. When completed, Freshkills Park will be almost three times the size of Central Park and the largest developed park in New York City in over 100 years.

Construction of the park began in 2008 and is slated to continue in phases for 20 to 30 years. The city Parks Department holds early access and discovery days throughout the year for learning and exploration opportunities.

It gives the opportunity for a big, outdoor experience thats just not available anywhere else in the city, said Hirsh. Think of it as Bear Mountain in the city.

Hirsh called the creation of the park an incredible natural asset, adding that it will improve with the push to fully open the park in the coming two decades.

Mounds of garbage were capped, buried and covered along the water ways in Fresh Kills. Now, kayakers are welcome to spend the day in the water on certain days of the year. March 15, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri)

AN IMPORTANT LESSON

While Fresh Kills is no longer a harbor of garbage, Grayson said he hopes the ability for Staten Islanders to enjoy its natural beauty also helps shed a light on the need to be conscious of sustainability.

Garbage just doesnt appear, people create it, said Grayson.

The citys long-term solid waste management plan is to have all garbage either barged or taken out by rail, in order to reduce its carbon footprint, Grayson explained. Contracts are in place to remove garbage from the five boroughs to states like Pennsylvania, Virginia and even Ohio.

We dont host it here, but someone hosts it, noted Grayson. While were going to continue to make great decisions as a city to make sure we dont host refuse here anymore, he said it is important to remember that the garbage that would have went to the landfill still exists.

As New Yorkers, Grayson said residents should think about where garbage goes and how each persons footprint can be shrunk.

Fresh Kills is no longer a dump and its a green space and its amazing, and thats a great thing to celebrate, said Grayson.

But, theres a lesson to be learned there, he added. What is New York doing with its garbage? How do we leave a better footprint? How do we build a disposal plan and a personal footprint and a personal interaction with the waste stream that is the right thing for the next 20 years?

For more Fresh Kills photos:
County library to unveil story walk project in Vanderbilt

The Otsego County Library is hosting a ceremony Saturday to formally open the latest story walk project.
Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate owned by President Trump and the property where Trump has his private residence, was partially closed Friday after a COVID-19 outbreak, one week after a U.S. Senate candidate from Alabama held a fundraiser there.

Lynda Blanchard, who served as Trumps ambassador to Slovenia, raised campaign cash for her U.S. Senate run at Mar-a-Lago last weekend, which included a surprise visit from Trump.

At the fundraiser, the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee presented the former president with a proclamation praising him as one of the greatest and most effective presidents in the 245-year history of this republic.

Perry Hooper Jr., a member of ALGOPs executive committee who was one of the officials who gave Trump the proclamation, said he was surprised by the Associated Press report on Friday that Mar-a-Lago was partially closed in wake of the outbreak.

Thats really surprising to me because when I was there, all the people that were working in the facilities had their masks on and everybody was required to be socially distanced, so that was a surprise to me, said Hooper, who added that he had been fully vaccinated before attending the fundraiser and did not display any COVID-19 symptoms.

He said he did not hear of any other fundraiser attendees showing COVID-19 symptoms.

Mar-a-Lagos dining room and beach club were closed on Friday, the private clubs staff told the AP. The estate did not say who or what event caused the outbreak.
There is certainly a race with a lot of developers that Im talking to get DAs lodged and in the system as soon as possible, said Mr Fernon, who is also an Olympic athlete in modern pentathlon and will represent Australia in Tokyo. He said the proposed changes were very well intentioned but so bad and so poorly proposed that it is going to absolutely decimate boarding houses in NSW and therefore also have major impacts on affordable housing moving forward. Mr Fernon said developers would not build the affordable boarding houses permitted under the foreshadowed regulations. You cant charge market rent, you can only charge 80 per cent. So no developer will do that, he said. Rhys Williams, co-founder of Australias largest co-living provider UKO, said his firms business model would collapse if the reforms eventuated. The new co-living building category was not feasible with a minimum room size of 30 square metres or without the FSR bonus, he said. The economic drivers with the cost of land mean there will be no supply created, Mr Williams warned. The market has adapted and worked within those [rules] to create supply and now it is being pulled out from underneath us... That is going to stop supply dead in its tracks.

Mr Williams and Mr Fernon said developers would just build regular residential flats instead and sell them into the open market to maximise the value of the land. Planning Minister Rob Stokes told The Sun-Herald the draft planning controls had been through consultation last year and the final version would be released shortly. He said the new housing categories, including student housing and co-living, would ensure that those types of housing are available to those who need it while allowing boarding houses to stay affordable. Shelter NSW policy director Ryan Harris supported the governments reforms, saying it was a good outcome if developers were no longer offered incentives to build micro apartments they leased for $400 a week. [Developers] may be upset because theyve killed off a high yielding development category, he said. To say they will no longer develop affordable housing is false; they will now be managed by community housing providers and the more we support them the more they will develop it.

Loading The debate is playing out in Summer Hill in Sydneys inner west, where Mr Fernon is advising the developer of a proposed 105-room boarding house on Smith Street which has angered residents and the Inner West Council. Labor mayor Darcy Byrne said the proposal exemplified the use of the boarding house provision to create micro-apartments which were not genuinely affordable. Theres been a deluge of applications for boarding house proposals approved in the inner west, but the supply of actual affordable housing has continued to dry up, he said. As it stands, the new generation boarding house planning controls are rightly seen as a rort and a fig leaf to cover the governments failure to invest in building new social housing.

At a March 9 meeting the council unanimously voted to letterbox every Summer Hill resident about the Smith Street proposal and explain how they could make submissions to the deciding authority. Loading Theyre swamping us with these new-age boarding houses, Labor councillor Lucille McKenna told the meeting. There are no long-term tenants in them, theyre just very, very transient, so its not community building either. More than 100 people attended a public meeting about the development earlier this month. One resident, Chris Kirkby, has also created a web site to campaign against the proposal. He recently changed its name from Say No to Boarding Houses for Summer Hill to No more high density developments for Summer Hill. Mr Kirkby said he changed the name because he got a bit of flack for being a NIMBY.

The advent of new generation boarding houses, particularly in the inner west, has also triggered long-standing opposition to higher-density residential development, especially with the negative stereotypes attached to older boarding houses. A search of the state governments planning alerts register reveals dozens of DAs for boarding houses have been lodged since the start of the year, many of which attracted opprobrium from nearby residents. A proposed five-storey boarding house on Curlewis Street in Bondi Beach attracted 13 objections. Five stories is too high, wrote Nicolette Boaz. We have a nice low-rise development policy that keeps Bondi the nice low-key suburb it should be. A 44-room boarding house by developer Urbanland in Lane Cove West has received 28 comments condemning the proposal for its size and claiming it would be out of character with the area. Last month a DA was lodged for a five-storey, 48-room boarding house in Kirrawee, near Sutherland, which has already attracted several objections on the basis it is near a childcare facility.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (R) walks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh (L) in New Delhi, India, on March 20, 2021. (Manish Swarup/AP Photo)

Pentagon Chief Hints at Sanctions If India Buys Russian Missile System

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin urged India to reconsider its potential purchase of a Russian missile system, hinting to the longtime U.S. ally that the move could trigger U.S. sanctions.

We certainly urge all our allies and partners to move away from Russian equipment  and really avoid any kind of acquisitions that would trigger sanctions on our behalf, Austin said in New Delhi on March 20, responding to a question from a reporter about Indias plans to buy the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft weapon system.

The thorny issue of Indias planned purchase of the S-400 was widely expected to come up during Austins visit to India, where he met his Indian counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The pair discussed ways to expand military engagement between their respective countries, underscoring the strengthening defense ties between the United States and India, which are both worried about China flexing its military muscle in the Indo-Pacific region.

Austin said that, while he and Sing discussed the missile defense system, they didnt discuss potential sanctions.

We are aware of the fact that they have expressed interest in acquiring the system, Austin said, adding that they had not acquired an S-400 system yet, so there would be no reason for sanctions to be on the table.

The United States opposes Indias purchase of the S-400, with U.S. officials on the record as saying that the Russian system can be used to collect intelligence on American systems if both exist side by side in a given countrys arsenal.

The United States and India have steadily ramped up their military relationship in recent years and signed a string of defense deals and deepened military cooperation. In 2019, the two sides concluded defense deals worth over $3 billion. Bilateral defense trade increased from near zero in 2008 to $15 billion in 2019.

At the meeting between Austin and Singh, the two countries agreed to deepen defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, and logistics.

India is an increasingly important partner in rapidly shifting international dynamics. I reaffirm our commitment to a comprehensive forward-looking defense partnership with India as a central pillar of our approach to the Indo-Pacific region, Austin said.

The Pentagon chiefs visit to New Delhi is the first visit to India by a top member of President Joe Bidens administration. It follows a meeting last week between leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, which together make up the four Indo-Pacific nations known as the Quad.

The Quad is seen as a counterweight to China, which critics say is flexing its military muscle in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait and along its northern border with India.

The U.S.India security partnership enjoys strong bipartisan support in Washington, and it has grown significantly since the early 2000s even though trade agreements have been a sticking point. But in recent years, relations between the countries have been driven by a convergence of interests to counter China.

More recently, India drew closer to the United States following its months-long military standoff with China along its disputed border in eastern Ladakh, where deadly clashes erupted last year. Tensions between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have eased after the two countries pulled back troops from one area of contention.

The military tensions between the two neighbors at that time had stoked fears of a larger confrontation.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a readout from Austin and Singhs meeting that both sides exchanged perspectives on shared challenges confronting the region and committed to further strengthen their broad-ranging and robust defense cooperation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Public Procurement and Asset Disposable Board (PPADB) is seeking Court of Appeal intervention in a case in which High Court Judge, Michael Leburu has ruled in favour of Cul De Sac Construction Company in the P450 million Tshesebe-Mosojane-Masunga Road tender.

Judge Leburu ruled that the P450 million tender be awarded in favour of Cul De Sac instead of Landmark Pty Ltd and Van and Truck Hire Pty Ltd. According to court documents Cul De Sac (Pty) Ltd, Bango Trading, Zebra Construction, Landmark Projects (Pty) Ltd and Van & Trucks (Pty) Ltd were the companies that made bids for the 51 kilometre road tender. In his judgment Leburu said Independent Complaints Review Committee had deliberately disregarded the tendering and procurement laws.

But Tshiamo Rantaos (representing PPADB) bone of contention is that judge Leburu could have remitted the matter to PPADB and not to make a substitute order in favour of any company. In their grounds of appeal, PPADB said the judge has misdirected himself by ruling in favour of Cul De SAC in holding that the 4th and 5th Respondents supported the application, when the 4th and 5th Respondents actually opposed the substitution being sought. According to Rantao, the judge also failed to hold that there was no evidence of bias and/or connivance on the part of the Appellant at all. The Judge was also wrong in holding that it was entitled to make a substitution order in favour of the 1st Respondent (Cul De Sac) on the basis that, the Appellant and the 3rd Respondent, having resolved that bidders should be re-invited to submit their bids, the 1st Respondent was inexpiably excluded from so doing without any reasonable explanation, reads the court documents.

Rantao argued that since the judge said the PPADB and the 3rd Respondent (Government) had exhibited gross incompetence on the interpretation of the Invitation to Tender by initially contending that the tender was an Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and subsequently vacillating by stating that it was not an ESP project; a substitutionary order was necessary because this was a developmental project dating back to 2016. Rantao argues that this was wrong. Rantao further said in fact, quite apart from opining that the 6th and 7th Respondent was not technically compliant, the court did not even discuss the compliance of the 4th and 5th Respondents even though these two were lower in pricing than the Applicant. He said in fact, on its version, the Court a quo decided not to even discuss on the technical compliance of the 4th and 5th Respondents because it made a clearly incorrect factual finding that the 4th and 5th Respondents support the Applicants prayers for review and substitution.

The Applicant is the only tenderer standing, in casu, hence a foregone conclusion that it be awarded the tender. Rantao argues that this is patently and materially flawed; in failing to properly consider and/or make a proper substitution order based on the correct facts herein. He prayed for the Court of Appeal to set aside the decision of the High Court and to order Cul de Sac to pay the cost for both High Court and Court of Appeal. Justice Leburu in his judgement explained that to award the tender or recommend other companies other than Cul de Sac was irrational. The judge was clear that the awarding of the tender to Land Mark Projects and Van & Truck Hire was null and void in terms of regulations of the procurement. He pointed out that the successful bidders ought to have been disqualified at the technical stage of evaluation. Justice Leburu explained that the applicant was the only bidder who was technically compliant and should have been awarded the tender with a recalibration and revision of the pricing thereof, occasioned by the delay and price fluctuations.
If there's one desi meme format that has stood the test of time, it's the gutkha/pan masala one, usually featuring Ajay Devgn. The memer community's brilliance knows no bounds when it comes to churning out hilarious content even when nothing new is happening, so just imagine the frenzy when someone as iconic as, wait for it, Shah Rukh Khan, decides to endorse a pan masala along with Ajay Devgn.

Celeb endorsements can be the subject of strict public scrutiny as well as criticism, for good reason, especially since celebs in India hold the power to influence the public more than any other entity. Naturally, SRK's appearance in the said ad hasn't gone down well with a lot of people.

Meanwhile SRK fans to SRK - pic.twitter.com/FMzvm153gQ  Vivek Agrawal (@bholamarwadi) March 20, 2021

What can you expect from these money hungry rascals Ajay and Shah Rukh. They promote Gutkha to live lavish life, karma will strike them back.  Bharat Verma (@bharatverma) March 20, 2021

While most expressed their anger, some were more intent on the difference between pan masala and gutkha, and the legalities associated.

Pan masala. Not gutka.  Raptor (@ThisWurld) March 20, 2021

Companies and state guv thinks that people are fool. In Maharashtra gutakha is banned. So they sell it as sort of supari and provide tobacco in another pouch. Tobbaco is not banned.  Atoz (@Atoz28382459) March 20, 2021

Surrogate advertising, promoting banned products in the disguise of another product.



Like they promote liquor brands under the cover of music CD or packaged drinking water.



Small milate jao, large bante jao  Pravin Patel (@pravin_patel) March 20, 2021

The fact that SRK actually chose to share the screen with Ajay Devgn itself became a topic of animated discussion, given their controversial history, courtesy the countless gossip columns that thrive on Bollywood news.

Divided by Karan johar United by Kajol & #Vimal  Bhargav (@Bhargavmodi619) March 20, 2021

Inka jhagda katam Kab hua  Harvard faculty (@BehrupiyaNo1) March 20, 2021

But why Ajay Devgan is chasing SRK in this ad as if its Kajol   Apoorv (@aalisswell) March 20, 2021

i bet u they use green screen to shoot this video !  Vishal Singh (@imvishal_vk) March 20, 2021

As hilarious as some of the tweets are, some people went all the way, and left no stone unturned to turn this into a full-on meme-fest.

SRK after having it pic.twitter.com/MMZqV4yx95  Bhola Guru (@IGiveGyaan) March 20, 2021

Interestingly, a few people also defended SRK stating that if Pierce Brosnan can endorse Pan Bahar, why can't SRK do this?

SRK after having it pic.twitter.com/MMZqV4yx95  Bhola Guru (@IGiveGyaan) March 20, 2021

In a nutshell, we now know what will rule the meme pages at least for a few months. Jeez!


Xiumin, a member of EXO, gears up for his upcoming online fan meeting "ON: XIUWEET TIME"--- and fans can't wait to see the incredible stage performances he's about to unveil!

On March 20, a new behind-the-scene teaser video for EXO Xiumin's upcoming solo online fan meeting" ON: XIUWEET TIME" was released through the group's official social media platform.

As the EXO members appeared in the video along with Xiumin, K-pop enthusiasts, particularly EXO-Ls, have various reactions and anticipation!

is X-Xiumin Coming? EXO Members Teaches Xiumin New Dance Choreography

Twitter Error

On EXO's Twitter account, a sneak peek video for the upcoming fan meeting of Xiumin was uploaded, with the title "ON: XIUWEET TIME Practice Room #1."

The video's caption says, "Xiumin who is amid preparation for 'ON: XIUWEET TIME (along) one-day dance teachers EXO. What choreography is Xiumin learning?"

Adding, "Eris (EXO-Ls) who are curious, let us meet on 'ON: XIUWEET TIME' on March 27!"

The video immediately attracted attention from K-pop fans as it flaunted the EXO members together, including Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Kai, and Sehun, along with Xiumin, who are seemed to be practicing the dance choreography for EXO's previous tracks, including "Obsession."

As the latter idol was currently serving in the military when the song was released, K-pop fans are excited to see if they will finally be getting an "Obsession" performance from Xiumin!

In particular, EXO's "Obsession" is known for its unique concept of having the real EXO members and their evil clones X-EXO, with unapologetic lyrics and sharp sound. Aside from its incredible dance choreography, the makeup and outfits for their stages are also a must-watch. For these reasons, fans' and supporters' anticipation of meeting X-Xiumin increased tremendously.

You Can Also Read: EXO Xiumin and D.O. to Start Solo Activities Following Military Discharge

EXO Xiumin to Held his First Online Fan Meeting "ON: XIUWEET TIME"

After the male idol's military discharge, Xiumin is now ready to showcase his unrelenting singing and dancing skills in front of global fans through his first online fan meeting, "ON: XIUWEET TIME," which will be held on March 27 via Naver V Live Beyond LIVE channel from 5 p.m. KST.

This fan meeting is XIUMIN's solo fan meeting, which will be held in about two years since his first solo fan meeting, "XIUWEET TIME," held in 2019 prior coronavirus pandemic.

Unfortunately, Xiumin and his fans can only meet virtually at the moment, but it is expected to still showcase the different charms of the idol through stages, games, and talks.

Tickets for Xiumin's online fan meeting are available on Naver V LIVE+ and the Internet reservation site Yes24.

Read More: EXO Xiumin to Hold Solo Online Fan Meeting after His Birthday

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the northeastern states will become the torchbearer of new India as the country prepares to celebrate the 75th year of its Independence in 2022.

Addressing a seminar organised by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), he said in the post-COVID era, India's Economic Resurgence will not be complete unless it takes care of the vast unexplored potential and resources of the northeastern region.

Singh, the Minister of State for the Development of North East Region (DoNER), said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who gave the vision 'Act East' soon after assuming power in 2014, thus imparting a new push to the approach and focus to relations with the neighbouring countries, which was earlier known as Look East Policy.

Addressing the seminar 'Act East Policy: Enhancing Trade Infrastructure and Connectivity in the North Eastern Region' organised by ICRIER, he said the northeast will be the new engine of growth for new India.

Ever since Modi took over as prime minister, he has accorded a special priority to the development of the northeastern region of India, Singh said.

He said this also assumes importance because if India has to successfully engage with the countries across the eastern borders, it must have a strong basis in areas proximal to eastern borders which comprise the northeastern states.

With its geographical position and rich natural as well as agro-climatic resources, Singh said access to the growing ASEAN market is essential for optimum utilization of trade and business opportunities.

He recalled how with the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indo-Bangladesh agreement was successfully accomplished resulting in the exchange of enclaves, facilitating easier and cost-effective access to Bangladesh and other regions.

On the issue of connectivity, Singh said it includes both international as well as internal connectivity with dimensions of intra-regional connectivity and inter-regional connectivity.

About international connectivity, the DoNER minister mentioned the Agartala-Akhaura rail link between India and Bangladesh, intermodal transport linkages and inland waterways through Bangladesh, Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the Trilateral Highway Project connecting the northeast with Myanmar and Thailand, according to a statement.

Singh said the government's focus on Act East, which led to the development of the northeast region and completion of an array of projects like grandest of bridges, improving inland water transport, airports, rail and roads networks, has changed the narrative of news emanating from the northeastern region in the past few years.

India's pre-emptive response to COVID-19 and outreach towards other nations has enhanced bonding and trust with its neighbours r reliance in times of crisis, he added.

"Witnessing our commitment and continuous efforts towards the development of the northeastern region, ASEAN countries are now looking at strengthening trade ties with the region," Singh said.

He said the 'Act East Policy' announced in November 2014 is the upgrade of the 'Look East Policy' which was promulgated in 1992.

It aims at promoting economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop a strategic relationship with countries in the Indo-pacific region with a proactive and pragmatic approach and thereby improving the economic development of the northeastern region which is a gateway to southeast Asia, the statement said.

The policy has been continuously evolving since the early 1990s and involves intensive and continuous engagement with southeast Asian countries in the field of connectivity, trade, culture, defence and people-to-people contact at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

Nisha Taneja, Professor at ICRIER, highlighted the importance of enhancing trade infrastructure and connectivity in the northeastern region through a research study led by her, it said. The study states that 96 of the northeastern region shares its borders with other countries.

"ICRIER has undertaken a first of its kind comprehensive on-ground study across the entire northeastern region to assess the availability and quality of infrastructure at all 38 land customs stations and Integrated Check Posts in the region, the statement said.

The webinar was joined among others by Pramod Bhasin, chairman, ICRIER, and Rajat Kathuria, Director & Chief Executive, ICRIER.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Delta Electronics, a supplier of power components to Apple and Tesla, has reduced its workforce in China by nearly half, in the largest such move by a Taiwanese electronics firm in the country. The sudden decline comes as electronics manufacturers continue to adapt to the consequences of the US-China trade war.

Delta Electronics, a supplier of power components to Apple and Tesla, has reduced its workforce in China by nearly half, in the largest such move by a Taiwanese electronics firm in the country. The sudden decline comes as electronics manufacturers continue to adapt to the consequences of the US-China trade war to prevent skyrocketing manufacturing costs in the worlds second-largest economy.

Our target in China is to reduce the direct labour force by 90 per cent. We are not quite there yet. We have reduced [it] by 40 per cent, Yancey Hai, Deltas chair, told the Financial Times in an interview. Taiwanese companies that produce laptops, servers, tablets, and telecom infrastructure gear for Apple, Dell, Google, and Xiaomi are expanding their operations in Southeast Asia, India, and other areas of the world.

Following a filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange that disclosed a notice it obtained from a specific overseas client that plans to sever its procurement relations with OFilm and its subsidiary units, shares of OFilm plunged by the 10-percent daily cap at the opening, and the plunge proceeded into the market close. OFilm announced that net profits from the outgoing partner reached 11.7 billion yuan ($1.8 billion) in 2019, accounting for 22.51 per cent of overall sales for the year. The overseas customer is thought to be Apple, and the filing seems to support industry speculation that OFilm will be dropped from Apples list of suppliers starting in September 2020.

Read More: US Defense Secy Lloyd Austins India visit: Mega push to boost Indo-US strategic ties

The transition is being driven by US pressure to diversify supply chains away from China and increasing labour costs in the region. However, most firms, such as Foxconn, are wary of revealing the effect of the change on their China operations for fear of enraging Beijing.

Delta is also constructing four major factories in India, where it aims to manufacture photovoltaic inverters and industrial automation equipment for the domestic market as well as information technology and communications equipment for export.
on Saturday recorded its highest single-day increase in the infections this year with 3,876 new cases as the positivity rate reached 9.4 per cent in the country.

The national tally of cases reached 623,135 while the death toll jumped to 13,799 as 40 patients died in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.

The data showed that 579,760 people recovered so far but some 2,122 were in a critical condition.

The Sindh province reported majority 262,796 cases, followed by Punjab with 195,087 cases, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 78,653, Islamabad 50,843, Balochistan 19,306, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 11,483 and Gilgit-Baltistan 4,967 cases.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat tweeted that 747 new cases were detected in the capital on Friday, the highest number of daily infections ever recorded in the city.

He said the district administration had started a crackdown on violations of SOP (standard operating procedures).

Islamabad district administration announced that both indoor and outdoor dining in restaurants of the capital will be closed after 10pm along with all other commercial activities other than essential services link drug stores.

However, takeaway services were allowed to keep the restaurants functional.

The measures came as the government announced plans to import one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China by the end of this month, according to Minister for Planning Asad Umar.

First consignment would reach by March 25 and the second one on March 30. The government will acquire more [COVID-19 vaccines] next month. We are bringing these vaccines from two different companies in China, he told Geo TV.

He also urged the people to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in letter and spirit, warning that the government would be forced to place stronger restrictions if the situation continued to deteriorate.

(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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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 15:47:18|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's speaker of parliament has defended China's decision to improve the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) electoral system, saying that China's legislative arrangements were purely its internal matter.

The HKSAR is an integral part of China and Western countries should not interfere in China's internal affairs, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), last week adopted a decision to improve the electoral system of the HKSAR, so as to remove the existing institutional deficiencies and risks and provide a sound institutional guarantee for fully and faithfully implementing the principles of "one country, two systems," as well as "patriots administering Hong Kong."

"Everyone should forget about their differences and stand by their own countries when it is needed," Abeywardana said, adding that Sri Lanka would ask its people to do the same thing where national interests are concerned.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has been successful in its development attempts and the HKSAR was a part of the CPC's vision for the country, he said.

The Chinese government's decision will be firmly implemented in the HKSAR, Abeywardana said.

"We salute you because you are standing by your own country. We would give all our support and assistance to China," he said.

He said that Sri Lanka has adopted a neutral and non-aligned foreign policy, respects the sovereignty of other countries, and expects other countries to respect its own. Enditem
More HSE administrat ive staff, including a number working in payroll and pensions divisions, were vaccinated last week despite working in non-patient facing roles.

Back-office staff in Cork, Galway and Limerick received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with the HSE stating that it is currently vaccinating staff in category 2g of the sequencing framework.

This includes all other healthcare workers without direct patient care but working in a healthcare facility with the potential to meet patients/service users.

The Irish Independent understands that staff from the pensions department and a number of administrative staff in the HSEs Cork facility were vaccinated. The HSE declined to provide details, saying that it cant confirm the vaccination status of anyone or any group of people.

A spokesperson for the regional vaccination steering group for Cork and Kerry said that Sequencing group 2g includes healthcare workers without direct patient care, but with the potential to meet patients/service users.

The spokesperson added: It is important to point out that some staff with a named office base may also work face-to-face with vulnerable groups, or may also work in situations where there are outbreaks of Covid-19, or may be required to attend in clinical settings.

In relation to administrative staff from the HSE building in Catherine Street, Limerick city, who were vaccinated, the HSE said: While we cannot release individual information, we can confirm that there are administration staff based within the HSE Building, Catherine Street that would fall under the Category 2g.

A spokesperson added: As per National Direction, there have been some opportunistic vaccination of administration staff when there have been doses remaining in a vial, rather than wastage.

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The HSE said AstraZeneca is the vaccine currently being utilised for the Healthcare Workers Programme, with the exception of workers over 70. The programme has been paused since March 14. Staff working in the payroll department of HSE Galway also received vaccinations, it is understood.

Examples of sequencing group 2g workers include laboratory staff, pharmacists, catering, household staff, general support staff, ICT and maintenance staff. It also includes statutory/regulatory workers e.g. HIQA inspectors as well as critical management posts, particularly on Covid response teams who provide ongoing daily support to multiple locations.

Earlier this week, it emerged that staff at the HSEs finance department in Offaly were vaccinated despite working in non-patient facing roles.

The HSE confirmed that a small number of staff received vaccines after the reserve list was activated and there were vaccines left over.

A spokesperson declined to say exactly how many received doses of the Covid-19 vaccine but it is understood that a number of those involved are currently working from home.

In a statement, the HSE said: Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare Organisation adheres to the sequencing as agreed by Government when administering Covid-19 vaccines and has a reserve list which is activated when there is surplus vaccine available. However, on very rare occasions where a small number of vaccines are remaining, Midlands Louth Meath CHO operates on the principal that no vaccine should be wasted.

This is an agile and fast-evolving programme and the HSE is working to ensure the vaccine is administered as fast as supplies allow. A key factor of the rollout strategy is to reduce the risk of any wastage, it added.
New Delhi, March 20 : The main witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case Abhishek Verma has filed a complaint about facing threats.

The complaint was filed in the Maidangarhi police station in South Delhi which says that he received a threat on email to withdraw as a witness.

Verma said the threat was explicit that he and his family would be blown up by a bomb if he did not do as directed in the threat.

Verma is the chief witness in the CBI versus Jagdish Tytler case. The mail sent to Verma says that howsoever strict security may be provided to him but Verma will not be allowed to reach the court premises to depose in the matter.

If he does not withdraw as a witness, then his car and house will be blown up by RDX explosives, the mail said. Verma has earlier also received threats and the court was informed.

The police is said to started acting on the complaint received from Verma. He has also pinpointed some Congress workers said to be part of this threat message and the police is investigating.

The Delhi High Court in September last year directed the police to continue providing three security personnel round the clock to controversial arms dealer Abhishek Verma, a witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots, as he was receiving threats.
New Delhi, March 20 : Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that as India prepares to celebrate the 75th Year of Independence in 2022, the northeast will become the torchbearer of New India post the Covid-19 era.

"In the post Covid era, India's economic resurgence will not be complete unless it takes care of the vast unexplored potentialities and resources of the northeastern region," Singh said while speaking as Chief Guest at a seminar titled "Act East Policy: Enhancing Trade Infrastructure and Connectivity in the North Eastern Region".

The event was organized by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).

The Minister said the northeast will be the new engine of growth for new India.

Singh said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who gave the vision of "Act East" soon after assuming office in 2014, thus imparting a new push to the approach and focus to relations with neighbouring countries, which was earlier known as the 'Look East Policy'.

He said ever since Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister, he has accorded special priority to the development of the northeastern region of India.

The Minister said this also assumes importance because if India has to successfully engage with the countries across the eastern borders, it must have a strong basis in the areas proximal to the eastern borders which comprise the northeastern states.

With its geographical position and rich natural resources as well as agro-climatic resources, Singh said access to the growing ASEAN market is essential for optimum utilization of trade and business opportunities.

He recalled how on the intervention of Prime Minister Modi, the India-Bangladesh agreement was successfully concluded resulting in the exchange of enclaves, thus facilitating easier and cost-effective access to Bangladesh and other regions.

Dwelling on the issue of connectivity, the Minister said it includes both international as well as internal connectivity with dimensions of intra-regional connectivity and inter-regional connectivity.

On international connectivity, he mentioned examples like the Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link between India and Bangladesh, Intermodal transport linkages and inland waterways through Bangladesh, Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the Trilateral Highway Project connecting the North East with Myanmar and Thailand.

Singh said that the government's focus on "Act East" with the development of the northeast region and completion of an array of projects like bridges, improving inland water transport, airports, rail and road networks has changed the narrative of news emanating from the northeast region in the past few years.

The Minister said that the 'Act East Policy' announced in November, 2014 is the upgrade of the "Look East Policy" which was fashioned in 1992. It aims at promoting economic cooperation, cultural ties and developing a strategic relationship with countries in the Indo-pacific region.

The policy, Singh said, has been continuously evolving since the early 1990s and involves intensive and continuous engagement with the South East Asian countries in the field of connectivity, trade, culture, defence and people-to-people contact at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.
An anti-abuse group has demanded transparency from Santa Clara University in Northern California after the school's president was put on leave for 'exhibiting behaviors in adult settings.'

Rev. Kevin OBrien, a Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural mass for President Joe Biden, is being investigated by the USA West's Jesuit Provincial Office.

On Thursday, the Catholic university's board of trustees released a statement that said it had 'received accounts' that Father O'Brien 'exhibited behaviors in adult settings, consisting primarily of conversations, which may be inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries.'

Rev. Kevin OBrien, a Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden, is being investigated for 'exhibiting behaviors in adult settings'

Joe Biden, left, and his wife, Jill Biden, center, stand with heads bowed as the Rev. Kevin O'Brien says the blessing during a Thanksgiving meal

The board of trustees noted that Father O'Brien, 54, 'has agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation and honor the process that he affirms annually as part of his ongoing Jesuit training.'

The board also urged witnesses to O'Brien's alleged misconduct to come forward as the investigation is conducted.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, released a statement on Friday calling out the vague statement and asking for transparency to 'encourage others who may have experienced similar misconduct to come forward.'

'While we appreciate that action has been taken by the Santa Clara board of trustees, we think that the vague statement released by the university does no favors to either the university community or the alleged victims,' the SNAP statement said.

SNAP Executive Director Zach Hiner told The Mercury News that O'Brien was not on any advocate's radar.

'I'm just as mystified as you as to what the allegations are,' he told the outlet.

Father O'Brien became the school's president two years ago and has often written about church reforms in the wake of ever-growing sex abuse scandals.

Tracey Primrose, spokeswoman for the Jesuits West Province, which is overseeing the investigation, would not elaborate on the allegations in a statement to The Associated Press.

'Jesuits are held to a professional code of conduct, and the Province investigates allegations that may violate or compromise established boundaries,' she said.

'As with any organization, the Jesuits West Province has confidentiality practices, which is why I cannot provide any additional information regarding this matter.'

Jesuits are members of the the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers founded in 1540 by the soldier-turned-priest St. Ignatius of Loyola, according to its website.

SNAP Executive Director Zach Hiner said O'Brien, pictured, was not on any advocate's radar

Santa Clara University, a Catholic school, has notable alumni including California Governors Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown

Jesuits, of which there are close to 17,000 of worldwide, are known for their educational, missionary, and charitable works. Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, is the first Jesuit pope.

O'Brien gave the service at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, one of the most prominent Catholic churches in Washington, D.C., in January for Biden, who is the nations second Catholic president, before the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

The priest has known Biden for about 15 years, dating back to when he was serving at Georgetown University, and he also presided over services for Bidens vice presidential inaugurations.

The private Jesuit institution, located in the Silicon Valley, is ranked as one of the top 25 schools for undergraduate teaching nationwide.

California Governors Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown are among its alumni.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, March 18, 2021, a four-country meeting was held with the Prime Ministers of St. Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba and State Secretary Knops. The Caribbean countries were informed that the advice on the Kingdom Consensus Law from the Council of State was issued and shared with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) last week. As such, it was forwarded to the three Caribbean countries via the cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary today, Friday, March 19, 2021.

The advice cannot be debated or shared publicly per law until it is handled in the Kingdom Council of Ministers (RMR) meeting and sent to the Second Chamber of the Parliament of the Netherlands and the Parliaments of St. Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba. The Council of Advice of St. Maarten was also requested to render their feedback and once this trajectory has been completed the Parliament of St. Maarten can then debate the Kingdom Consensus Law.

During the meeting, the way forward was discussed and each country agreed to appoint a technical team to assist in addressing the concerns of the Council of State and collaborate on the further report to be submitted to the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

Furthermore, a letter requesting confirmation of our commitment was received from State Secretary Knops on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. A response was sent on Wednesday, March 17, with a clear affirmation. The letter and response have since been shared with Parliament. The Government of St. Maarten is committed to carrying out the established agreements on the country package for St. Maarten to receive further liquidity support. The Council of Ministers has approved the completed implementation plan on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. This is two weeks in advance of the scheduled April 1st deadline. The implementation plan will be carried out within the next three months and the next implementation plan will be prepared and finalized by July.

The Government of St. Maarten received broad support from 13 of the 14 Members of Parliament present to enter into agreements with the Netherlands to receive the third tranche of liquidity support. The country package agreements were signed between the Government of St. Maarten and State Secretary Knops on December 22, 2020, and included an agreement to follow the trajectory of the Caribbean Development and Reform Entity (COHO) as long as it does not infringe on the local, kingdom and international laws.

Today again, during the continuation of the Central Committee meeting of Parliament on the Country Package for St. Maarten, the majority of the Members of Parliament affirmed their support to the Government of St. Maarten to continue with the trajectory as was agreed back in December 2020.
SC asks CBSE, CISCE to place on record objective parameters for assessment of class 12 students in two weeks.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 06:40:05|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Friday urged the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Canada and the relevant EU countries to "address serious problems of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobic violence at home."

Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), made the statement at the ongoing 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA). We support African Group's view on mobilizing political will on the full and effective implementation of the DDPA," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, has exacerbated the existing structural inequalities and systemic racism and racial discrimination, which requires a global response.

The U.S. has said at this UN meeting that it would face up to its own problems of racism and racial discrimination. "We hope that the United States could turn its public statements into concrete actions," said the Chinese diplomat.

The U.S. should address, among other things, racism, racial discrimination and police brutality, prohibit the spread of racist and racial discrimination speech, crack down on discrimination and hate-driven violence against African and Asian Americans, and Muslims, protect the rights of ethnic minorities, commit itself to the international campaign against racism, and facilitate the implementation of the DDPA, Chen said.

"We urge the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the relevant EU countries to take steps likewise to address serious problems of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobic violence at home," he said.

China has always been firmly opposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, hate speech and related intolerance, said the senior Chinese diplomat.

China also agrees to the recommendations of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, which call for "addressing the root causes of racism and inequality," Chen said. Enditem
New Delhi:

In a tragic incident on Wednesday, Ananya Dixit, a first-year student of a private medical college in Bareilly, (Uttar Pradesh) allegedly committed suicide, said police.

The girl was a resident of Noida sector 62 and the police have informed her family about the alleged suicide after which the relatives of the deceased have left for Bareilly from Noida.

However, the cause of death is not known yet as no suicide note was found. The police have sent the body for post-mortem.

The 19-year-old MBBS student allegedly hung herself from the ceiling fan of her hostel room, a police officer said. Ananya Dixit, a first year student of the SRMS Medical college, was found hanging this afternoon, SSP Jogendra Kumar said.

Her two roommates told the police that the Noida resident had been tense for the past two days and had not gone to college because of illness.

They said that when they returned to the room for lunch they found her hanging and informed the college administration, the SSP said. He added that parents of the girl have arrived and investigations are on.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Fresno Police say a woman walked into the Little Caesars, told the cashier she had a gun and started demanding money.

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- Developing now. Investigators need your help tracking down a suspect who robbed a Southeast Fresno pizza shop. New surveillance video from Fresno police shows a woman walking into the Little Caesars location on Kings Canyon near Winery Monday night. She reportedly told the cashier she had a gun and started demanding money. The employee gave her the cash and the robber took off before officers arrived. She was last seen leaving the area in a white Ford Fusion. Anyone with information is asked to call Fresno Police or Valley Crime Stoppers.
Whos really driving the Responsible Investing agenda  and why?

At its heart, responsible investing is about incorporating social and environmental impacts into decisions about capital allocation  and vice versa. Managers controlling more than 30pc of global investments now consider these issues at some level, and many, including our firm, incorporate them into every investment decision we make.

Thats a lot of financial muscle. In a world where many governments are turning inward, capital is becoming more outward looking. To a meaningful extent, investors and fund managers are starting to tackle cross-border challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity and biodiversity as well as industry and company specific issues relating to equality, labour conditions and corporate governance.

Why have we seen this change in investor behaviour? After all, capitalists are not typically regarded leading lights in the fight against climate change, let alone advocates for greater diversity, or for stakeholders rather than shareholders.

A common view is that this is a result of increased regulation, such as the EUs Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations, which came into effect earlier this month.

I spend a lot of time talking to our clients and their advisors right around the world and its clear to me that the real drive for change is coming first and foremost from the asset owners  whether institutions or individuals.

And, importantly, it is motivated primarily by the principles of risk and return, not regulation, philanthropy, social justice or ideology.

Climate change surely represents the single biggest risk to the global economy

Crucially what has changed since the days of ethical investing is that many long-term investors have decided that what is bad for society and the environment is also bad for their investments.

For example, climate change surely represents the single biggest risk to the global economy. Therefore, investing in fossil fuel companies that are doing little to address the issue is a bad investment in the long term. It may also be a poor investment in the short term as the entire business model of those companies comes under severe threat.

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Mindsets and behaviour are changing, as is the thinking on fiduciary duties, historically seen as a barrier to responsible investing. It is now widely accepted that it may be a violation of fiduciary duty not to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in building portfolios.

Of course, the momentum towards responsible investment is not just seen among very large investors. Individual investors are also showing strong interest in the topic, right around the world. One feature we particularly notice is the extent to which millennial momentum is a factor.

Younger decision makers are more engaged on sustainability issues than their predecessors, and as the millennial generation moves up in seniority and influence within organisations, they are far more concerned about not only the size of their future financial wealth but also the kind of world theyre going to spend it in.

Another very interesting aspect of the surge in responsible investing is the extent to which corporate leaders have realised that if they dont consider the long-term impact of their actions they will be punished by markets, while those who do address it will be rewarded.

We see this first-hand. KBIGI have an active programme of engagement with the companies we invest in on a variety of sustainability issues.

Most significantly, we are now asked by many of our clients to quantify and report on the impact these investment strategies are having relative to benchmarks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Just this month for example, we are launching new sustainable equity investment products in Japan, Singapore and the US  all with local distributors, specifically to meet the demand from individual investors for responsible strategies investing in companies engaged in areas such as water, clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, energy efficiency and agribusiness  all exciting growth areas.

The investment management industry does have a role to play, and it is positive to see some of the worlds largest players, including our own parent group, Amundi, showing leadership by integrating responsible investment principles in their processes.

Corporate behaviour is already changing more quickly than we could ever have expected.

Sean Hawkshaw is CEO of KBI Global Investors kbiglobalinvestors.com/
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Gurugram, March 20 : A massive protest was staged on Saturday by shopkeepers in Sadar Bazar on the first day of a week-long trial aimed at making the city's oldest market vehicle-free and pedestrian friendly.

The protesting shopkeepers, showroom owners, street vendors closed their outlets against the initiative launched by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG).

The protesting shopkeepers said that without consulting them the civic body had forcefully installed benches and huge pots in front of their shops as part of the trial in Sadar Bazar.

"The MCG said this vehicle-free trial in Sadar Bazar will make the area pedestrian friendly but the authority are themselves encroaching the market lanes by installing benches and huge pots in front of our shops and in between the road," a protesting shopkeeper told IANS.

The shopkeepers alleged that the civic body did not notice that the market is not only a commercial zone, but there were also some residential areas.

"Hundreds of families are residing in the Sadar Bazar area and the civic authority without counsulting us closed all lanes for vehicles. If someone developed serious health problem how we will be able to tackle such a problem and who will be responsible for any mishap," another shopkeeper told IANS.

Despite its narrow lanes, Sadar Bazar has a footfall of around 20,000 people during weekends and congestion has become its hallmark.

The market has more than 1,200 shops and 400 street vendors.

The MCG had prepared a plan for the trial, 18 entry and exit points to the market were barricaded and passes have been issued to all shopkeepers to station vehicles at five designated sites, chosen by the municipal body in the market's vicinity, less than 100-150 metres from shops.

A feeder service of 15 e-rickshaws will ferry commuters from these three parking spots to the market.

Overall, a 650-metre stretch of the market, between Sohna Chowk and Head Post office, the market's main street, had been chosen for the trial.

"We will take up the matter before the MCG officials and the local MLA to reconsider their decisions of vehicle free trial in Sadar Bazar as it will hemper our business. If the vehicles are not allowed in the market how will the customer buy things for their daily uses and how they will carry belongings," a member of the Sadar Bazar market association said.

"The move is in favour of the market shopkeepers. This trial will not only benefit citizens visiting Sadar Bazar but also shopkeepers. The market will be safe, encroachment-free, clean and beautiful," then there will be an increase in the number of shoppers and as a result, business will also increase," said an MCG official.
It is with heavy heart that I write about the untimely demise of a very old and lifelong dear friend who taught me, nurtured me and was instrumental in preparing me for life. I always felt safe and secure being with her. She was the mother of my character.

New Hope in Berkeley County was my community. I said goodbye to her a few years back when we could still recognize each other, before all the development began.

Bordered by Interstate 26, U.S. Highway 176, Sheep Island Road and the Wassamassaw Swamp, our once-bucolic and peaceful community has been destroyed by unbridled and rampant development. We were supposedly designated a Rural Historic Community not subject to high-density development. Evidently that was meaningless. Now, we have a 165-home development being driven like a stake into the very heart of our community.

If that isnt bad enough, there are 500 acres under destruction for the construction of up to 4.9 million square feet of industrial warehouse space known as the Berkeley Charleston Tradeport off Jedburg Road. Developers were supposed to leave buffers around the project. That didnt happen. Now we have a monstrosity of an eyesore to be accompanied by 91 tractor trailers per day when fully operational. Jedburg Road will be four-laned. Next will come the traffic lights. Goodbye, country life.

The palindromic Wassamassaw Swamp was once beautiful and undisturbed. I was told many years ago by a dearly departed aunt that Wassamassaw was an Indian word meaning joining of two waters. I say once beautiful because the grand, old bald cypress trees have been harvested by someone who cared nothing about it except the money from the timber.

I grew up in this swamp hunting and fishing with my grandfather and father. My mother would join occasionally for a fishing trip at Snells or Glubbers Lake. Other times it was aunts and uncles, brothers, cousins and later several of my college biology classmates.

We all loved the Wassamassaw. The swamp was home to rice fields; the dikes still exist. There was even a railroad that crossed it before I was born almost 74 years ago. It ran from Prettymans sawmill in Summerville to where, I dont know.

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My grandfather told me about the Old Gun Hole on the edge of the swamp near the old Jenny Field that became a borrow pit during the construction of I-26 around 1964. Supposedly, local Confederate soldiers, upon learning of the Unions imminent approach, threw all of their guns into this watery hole on the edge of the swamp. There also was an old wagon road nearby. I asked my grandfather why there were roughly 3-by-5-foot depressions on the side of the road. He told me that when people traveled through and someone died, they were buried there.

There are four creeks that run through our community that feed into the Wassamassaw and eventually the Ashley River: Felder Creek, Miller Dam Branch, Smith Creek (which runs through our property) and Sandy Run Creek. There also are many other creeks that feed in from the west and north up to Lake Moultrie.

The Berkeley Charleston Tradeport, owned by out-of-state developers, is proposing to destroy 13 acres of wetlands to which I and many others in our community are adamantly opposed. Wetlands provide important habitat for animals and offer protection for our communities during storms and floods.

We also have to consider carbon and climate change mitigation. Thousands of acres already have been cleared for development in Berkeley County. Trees consume carbon dioxide and create oxygen. As everyone knows, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that causes global warming. Development causes more runoff because concrete, highways and houses dont absorb water as effectively as trees and underbrush. Building at an accelerated rate is the epitome of insanity.

More than 13,000 acres have already been cleared for Nexton, Cane Bay and Wildcat Farm alone. There is a lot more development to come and a lot more acres to go.

The last time I checked, they aren't making any new agricultural land and they aren't making any more swamps. We must protect out natural resources in Berkeley County from unbridled growth. Otherwise, there is going to be nothing left to protect.

Ron Harvey was born and raised in the New Hope community. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Baptist College and worked for 27 years in Westvaco's polychemicals department.
On Tuesday, a significant exchange took place between Texas history teacher Michael Hull and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten. During a question-and-answer session with Weingarten hosted by the Facebook group Badass Teachers Association (BATs), Hull raised critical points on the dangers involved with reopening schools, the role of Weingarten and the AFT in working with the Biden administration to implement this policy, and the underlying class issues involved. Video footage of the exchange is below.

AFT President Randi Weingarten talks to Teachers Against Dying founder Michael Hull

The World Socialist Web Site interviewed Hull last November, and we encourage our readers to review this interview for more background on his experiences, which speak to those of millions of educators and other workers worldwide. Last fall, he founded the popular Facebook group Teachers Against Dying to oppose the normalization of the pandemic and the back-to-work and back-to-school policies demanded by the ruling elites. Shortly thereafter, he was retaliated against by his school district, which ultimately forced him to resign from his teaching position.

Michael Hull is a member of the Texas Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, which was also formed last fall as part of a global network of rank-and-file committees established by educators and other workers to organize the working class independently of the unions, which have conspired with the government to prematurely reopen schools and nonessential workplaces before the pandemic is contained.

Michael Hull

Particularly since Bidens inauguration, Weingarten has been a key figure behind the national school reopening campaign. After doing nothing to mobilize the AFTs 1.6 million members across the US to oppose Trumps herd immunity policies last fall, she recently told the New York Times that she now spends upwards of 15 hours each day on the phone with the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local mayors and local union officials orchestrating the school reopening campaign.

The anecdotes and scientific evidence that Hull presents in his remarks are a damning indictment of the homicidal policy of reopening schools. As soon as he began raising the class questions involved in the drive to reopen schools, stating that schools are simply meant to serve as subsidized daycare for the employees of the rich, to whom both parties funneled and transferred wealth up to in the CARES Act, Weingarten cut him off and issued an unscientific and cynical response. Summarizing her subservience to the Democrats and the capitalist system, she stated, Were not going to fight to keep the schools closed.

We encourage educators, parents, students and all workers to join and participate in the Facebook groups for the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee and Teachers Against Dying and to share this video of the exchange between Hull and Weingarten widely on social media.
Artwork by Gorey Community School's transition year students entitled 'Coronavirus through Charcoal' has been selected as a runner-up piece in the RTE 'This is Now' art competition with Creative Ireland.

The work involved 48 students creating individual self-portraits while wearing masks, and the collage was created from September to December. A selection from the individual pieces were then formatted into one Artwork and submitted as a group entry.

Art teacher Julie Cadogan had the task of selecting 16 pieces to combine for the final entry in the group category, which just lost out to the piece from a group at Ard Scoil na nDeise, Dungarvan.

Ms Cadogan said that she was very proud of all of the students for their efforts.

'This project involved 48 students creating individual self-portraits and including the masks in the portraits felt like a natural thing to do as it represented the strange time we are currently in.

'Students were perhaps quieter than usual in class due to Covid restrictions, but this in turn led to some very intense and exciting work. Charcoal and white conte were the materials used,' she said.

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'Well done to all students involved, they are a very hard working and super talented group. I am very lucky to have facilitated them'.

Children of all ages submitted their work to the competition and in total close to 9,000 young people from around the country responded to the call out.

All artworks are now showcased in an online art gallery on RTE's website and twill be available for generations to come through a digital archive.

This will also be given to the National Archives to contribute the national record of this extraordinary time of Covid-19.

As the students are not in school at the moment, they have yet to finalise when they will receive their prize from the competition.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemns the closed-door espionage trial of Michael Spavor, a Canadian businessman who was arrested in the espionage case along with former diplomat Michael Kovrig. Canada accuses China of conducting 'Hostage diplomacy'.

A diplomatic spat has erupted between Canada, US, and China after the spy-trial of Canadian Businessman, Micheal Sparov has ended in China with no verdict. Michael was accused of espionage and was arrested two years ago in China along with former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig, who is scheduled to go for trial on Monday.

Spavors trial, that took place in the northern Chinese city of Dandong on Friday morning, seeemed to hhave lasted for two hours. The detentions came days after Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei, on a US extradition warrant.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted furiously on the case and has dismissed the closed-door trials stating it to be completely unacceptable. The leader condemned the case while talking to the press at a news conference and said that Chinas arbitary detention is completly unacceptable as is the lack of transparency in their court proceedings.

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As the trial took place, diplomats and media gathered outside the courtroom and all of them were barred from entering the premises. the charge daffaires of the Canadian embassy in China, Jim Nickel, who was also present outside and was denied an entry told the reporters that it was a breach of international law to bar them from the trial.

Justin Trudeau stated that China needs to understand that this is not just about two canadians. He further said that it is about respect for the rule of law and relationships with a broad range of western countries that is at play with the arbitrary detention and the coercive diplomacy they have engaged in.

Also Read:
Toyota is still feeling the effects of a global computer chip shortage affecting companies that make everything from cars and trucks to video games.

But the automakers South Side plant has mostly dodged the impact of other parts shortages hurting the auto industry.

Since the start of 2021, Toyota has slowed the production of the full-size Tundra pickup at the San Antonio factory because of the shortage of semiconductors, which are used to make computer chips.

On ExpressNews.com: Chip shortage, winter storm cause dip in Toyota's sales

Automakers have been preserving the chips for their best-selling models, such as the mid-size Tacoma pickup.

Toyota continues to manage the part shortage affecting semiconductor supply for select Electronic Control Units, Toyota spokeswoman Melissa Sparks said. We continue to implement countermeasures to minimize the impact to production.

The supply shortage will not affect employment at the plant.

On ExpressNews.com: Toyota slows Tundra production in San Antonio amid semiconductor shortage

Other automakers recently have been dealing with a shortage of plastics and some chemicals, as well as other disruptions related to extreme winter weather. But Sparks said semiconductors currently are the only component Toyota has in short supply.

While multiple global supply shortages are affecting the auto industry, Tundra production is not currently seeing an impact beyond semiconductor supply, Sparks said.

diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net
GREENVILLE  For nearly four decades, the Commerce Club has served as a social and business networking circle that harkens to a classic version of the city.

The club's future was dire just a few weeks ago as it announced it would close, but a new ownership group has stepped in to keep the club going atop the One Liberty Square.

On March 22, BNG Hospitality Group will take over ownership and promises changes.

The Texas-based group bills itself as specializing in "club turnaround opportunities" and positioning clubs to "become more relevant to a modern-day demographic."

We believe there is a great opportunity to build upon the established legacy of the Commerce Club and we are strongly committed to our club members and serving them at the highest level, Sean Laney, group founder and president, said in a release. BNG has made a strong commitment to operate the club as an extension of members homes by providing a quality facility, personalized service, and a wonderful place that they can continue to enjoy, personally and professionally."

The Commerce Club will keep its name, and BNG is negotiating a new long-term lease with One Liberty Square building owners.

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On March 1, the Commerce Club "with a heavy heart" announced on its Facebook page that it would permanently close the evening of March 19. The club began operation in 1984 and served as an event space and destination for business-casual socializing, speaking engagements and other similar functions.

"We thank you for many wonderful years and will treasure the memories we've made with members and staff over the years," the post read. "It has been our privilege and pleasure to serve you."

The club will undergo a "brief reboot" until April 1.

As part of the reset, BNG said it will work on club board redevelopment, new and improved sales and marketing efforts for membership and private events, expanding the programming calendar and bettering communication channels to connect with club members.
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday tested positive for the Covid-19 and is self-isolating at home, his top aide on health Dr Faisal Sultan said, two days after he got the first shot of vaccination.

Khan, 67, was vaccinated on Thursday as part of the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination campaign which is underway in its first phase.

Imran KhanSpecial Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Sultan took to Twitter to confirm that Khan has contracted the coronavirus.

PM Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at home, he said in a tweet.

Khans spokesman Dr Shehbaz Gill said that the prime minister has just a slight fever and cough.

Imran Khan

Supporters and ministers of Khan started sending messages of goodwill soon after the news of his diagnosis was shared with #ImranKhan becoming the top trend on Twitter.

Minister for Science Fawad Chaudhry said that the people of Pakistan are praying for their leader. "May God return him to good health soon."
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Raymeon Means, 35, faces a capital murder charge in the shooting

A 6-year-old Texas girl was fatally shot by an adult male during an argument over spilled water, authorities said.

Laurionne Walker, 6, was shot multiple times and died at Bayshore Medical Center in Pasadena from her injuries, police said.

The police department in Pasadena, southeast of Houston, said officers responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex around 11:30 a.m. Friday, NBC News reported.

Police said 35-year-old Raymeon Means faces a capital murder charge in connection with the shooting.

Means fled the apartment Friday morning but was later caught and taken into custody. He remains in jail without bond, police said.

Laurionne Walker, 6, died after she was shot multiple times at an apartment complex in Pasadena, Texas, on Friday morning, police said

The mother of Laurionne Walker, who was not immediately identified, following the shooting death of her 6-year-old daughter in Texas on Friday

The police department in Pasadena, southeast of Houston, said officers responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment around 11:30 a.m. Friday

People gathered outside the apartment complex where 6-year-old Laurionne Walker died Friday morning

His connection to Laurionne was not immediately explained by police but ABC13 Houston reported Means is related to the person who rents the apartment.

A capital murder charge is defined by the Texas Penal Code as an offense under the murder statute and in the commission of another crime, including the murder of someone 10 years or younger.

If convicted, punishments range from life in prison to the death penalty. It was not immediately known whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case.

The girl was taken to Bayshore Medical Center in Pasadena and later died of her injuries

'I'm at a loss for words right now,' Earline House, Laurionne's grandmother, said. 'My granddaughter was still a baby. She got shot twice in the chest this morning.'

A neighbor, Mauricio Alvarez, said Means knocked on the door to ask 'if you have water coming down because the little girl clogged the toilet,' according to Click2Houston.

He said Means left and he soon heard arguments from the apartment.

'[Later] he went running upstairs, and we heard like 4-5 shots, and he started running, and we started hearing screams,' Alvarez said.



Laurionne Walker was left in the care of a relative on Friday so her mother could attend a vigil for 28-year-old Porschia Branch, pictured above, and her three children, who all died in a crash with an alleged drunk diver Sunday night

Laurionne's mother, who was not identified by ABC13, told the news station that the girl was left in the care of a relative so she could attend a vigil for 28-year-old Porschia Branch and her three children, who died in a crash Sunday night.

Laurionne's mother was the aunt of three children who died in a car accident in Spring, Texas, marking the family's second tragedy in a week.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constables alleged that 35-year-old Daniel Canada was drunk with a blood alcohol level of at least .15 when he slammed into the family's car, causing it to burst into flames and resulting in a seven car pile-up, KPRC 2 Houston reported.

Laurionne's uncle, Damien House, who was the father of the three children who died in the crash, said 'All I can say to my sister, 'I'm here for her.' I can imagine what she's going through because we're all going through the same thing.'
In a recent public post, the Mayor of Meth Town offers her praise on a recent move for a local paper that moved to all-digital (read: blog) last year . . .



"I start every Tuesday- Saturday morning reading The Examiner. I liked the days when I got the Star in the morning and The Examiner in the evening. I no longer subscribe to the Star but am grateful every day that we have a local newspaper with talented and ethical journalists covering our local communities. I wrote a weekly column for The Examiner from 2005-2012, retiring when I ran for City Council. 500 word every week for 7 years was a big commitment but I learned so much about our community through that experience. Congrats to our paper for surviving and remaining relevant in the modern age. Cant wait to visit you in your new home. "



Read more . . .


The American Cultural Exchange Service is currently seeking host families for foreign exchange students for the 2021-2022 school year.

The program, which is a non-profit educational organization designed by the United States Department of State, arranges for places to stay for the school year for students from Japan, Korea, South America, Asia and Europe.
One of the Alamo City's largest employers will have some workers back at their offices this summer

The company announced plans to employees this Friday. They plan to welcome back leadership in May, followed by certain employees back to San Antonio offices in early July as they lean into a hybrid work model.

RELATED: New USAA CEO Wayne Peacock takes command during rocky times

The company announced they are re-imagining their workplace as COVID-19 cases dwindle, with plans to implement three ways of working for the insurance and bank company, solely in office, rotating office and home work days, or solely at home.

"Whether in an office, at home or working in a hybrid manner, our goal is to enable employees to have greater flexibility and ability to continue to serve our members with excellence," a spokesperson shared with MySA.

They did not specify which employees would be going back to their offices either part-time or full time.

As the company navigates the waters that will bring them back to a slice of normality, they emphasized that virus precautions will still be taken extremely seriously. USAA will put at-home and onsite testing protocols into place and continue social distancing and sanitation.

RELATED: USAA named one of the best employers for new grads, according to Forbes

If the conditions worsen, the company said they will make adjustments in real time.

USAA was the first insurance company in the country to earn a WELL Health-Safety Rating for 12 facilities. The rating is a third-party verification of health and safety for employees during the pandemic.

Karly Williams is digital producer for MySA. Follow her @karlyjwilliams
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got some good news on Monday: The testimony phase of his trial won't begin until after Israel's March 23 elections.

Why it matters: Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud in connection with a series of corruption scandals. If witness testimony and the presentation of evidence began before the election, it could have dominated the news cycle and damaged his hopes of winning a majority.

Instead, they'll begin on April 5 with three hearings per week, the judges overseeing the trial announced on Monday.

The bad news for Netanyahu is that the hearings will align with the post-election process of attempting to form a government.

Between the lines: A new right-wing majority would likely pass laws attempting to end Netanyahu's trial.

Flashback: In the court session two weeks ago in which Netanyahu pleaded not guilty, his lawyers asked that the testimony phase be postponed for another three to four months. They cited procedural reasons and didnt mention the elections.

But several hours after Netanyahu left the courtroom, he denounced the charges against him and argued for a postponement until after the elections and said that starting the hearing before March 23 would look like a flagrant interference in the elections."

Driving the news: The judges rejected Netanyahus demands that two of the charges against him be annulled on procedural grounds and that some pieces of evidence be barred because they were allegedly collected illegally. They did criticize the attorney general for the process by which the investigation into Netanyahu was authorized.
Canadian father jailed after publicly objecting to minor daughter taking testosterone

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A father who has long objected to his minor daughter taking testosterone as part of an experimental gender transition has been jailed in British Columbia for contempt of court.

Robert Hoogland was arrested Tuesday after a warrant was issued by a judge earlier this month for telling the public his name and showing his face, according to sources close to the situation. He will reportedly remain in police custody pending a decision on his release to be made at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver.

Sources told The Christian Post this week that at the Friday hearing, Hooglands attorney will ask that the arrest warrant be voided and that he be released on the basis that the detention is unlawful.

Hoogland has been outspoken in his opposition to what is now known as gender-affirming medical care in hopes of preventing his daughter from undergoing irreversible harm. Hooglands ex-wife, who is supported by the Canadian medical and legal system, is proceeding with their child's transitioning against his wishes.

The father discovered that his daughters school had been showing gender identity education materials called SOGI 123, The Post Millennial reported Tuesday.

His daughter had several complex problems, but they were all attributed to gender dysphoria. When his daughter was in seventh grade, her yearbook showed her being referred to by a different name as the school counselor changed her name without informing her parents.

The school decided to do so on its own after having received input from psychologist Wallace Wong, a known gender ideologue, according to The Post Millenial.

Wong reportedly advised Hooglands daughter to take testosterone and referred her to an endocrinology unit at a nearby hospital. When Hoogland contested the matter in court, the judge at the time held that his consent was not relevant and that if he did not affirm her as a male, he would be implicated in the criminal offense of family violence.

I had a perfectly healthy child a year ago, and that perfectly healthy child has been altered and destroyed for absolutely no good reason, Hoogland told The Federalist in a gag order-breaking interview from February 2020, referring to it as state-sponsored child abuse.

She can never go back to being a girl in the healthy body that she should have had. Shes going to forever have a lower voice. Shell forever have to shave because of facial hair. She wont be able to have children

Hoogland stated that sometimes he wants to scream so that other parents and people will jump in, understand whats going on.

Theres a child  and not only mine  but in my case, my child out there having her life ruined, he said.

Hooglands attorney is now petitioning the court to adjourn the trial on the criminal contempt of court charge until after judgment on a similar issue in a proceeding Notice of Application previously scheduled for a hearing on April 12.

The attorney working on behalf of the attorney general of British Columbia responded, both in open court and on the record, advising Hooglands attorney approximately 10 days earlier that there was never any intention to proceed with a trial in respect to the arrest and criminal contempt charges of and against Hoogland.

Hoogland is referred to as CD in court documents and is arguing that the provincial governments move to arrest him and hold him in custody with the foreknowledge that a trial will not be held is an abuse of his liberties under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, specifically the legal rights listed in the Constitution Act of 1982.

The law states that when a person is arrested or detained by police, they have the right to be promptly informed of the reasons therefore and can retain and instruct counsel without delay. They also have the right to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.

Regarding proceedings in criminal and penal matters, the law also provides that anyone charged with a criminal offense has the right to be informed without unreasonable delay of the specific offence and be tried within a reasonable time.

Sources told CP that Hooglands attorney maintains that the conscious decision to violate his charter freedoms is the very definition of arbitrary and for law enforcement to obtain a warrant from a Supreme Court justice without advising there was no intention to have a trial, is to mislead the court.

Thus, the warrant issued in this case in such a manner is therefore a nullity, and the arrest following upon the nullity warrant is therefore a false arrest, a source said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-19 23:07:07|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China next week, with the two countries' foreign ministers expected to compare notes on bilateral ties and upcoming high-level interactions, as well as exchange views on international and regional issues of common concern.

On Thursday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the visit will further consolidate the good momentum of the high-level development of the China-Russia relationship and boost strategic coordination on international affairs.

Under the current circumstances, the strengthening of communication and coordination between China and Russia is of great significance for the two sides, and for the world at large.

At a press conference on March 7, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "The more unstable the world is, the greater the need for carrying forward China-Russia cooperation," adding that China and Russia standing together will remain a pillar of world peace and stability.

Globally, both countries oppose unilateralism and protectionism, as well as power politics and bullying. They are also committed to upholding the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, one of the basic norms governing international relations.

Bilaterally, China-Russia ties have been an example of good-neighborly and friendly relations between major countries. In 2019, the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

And in 2020, the two countries stood shoulder to shoulder, working closely to combat "both the coronavirus and the political virus." President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin have had phone calls and exchanged correspondence on multiple occasions, providing the most important strategic guidance for the steady growth of bilateral relations.

China and Russia have every reason to provide each other with strategic support, development opportunities and global partnership. This approach is based on experience gained from history, as well as being an imperative under the current circumstances.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. The two countries have agreed to renew the treaty and make it more relevant in the new era, marking a milestone as well as a new starting point in bilateral relations.

It is hoped that the meeting of the two foreign ministers will further boost cooperation and coordination. Being each other's strategic anchor, diplomatic priority, development opportunity and global partner, the two countries will expand and deepen cooperation from a higher starting point. Enditem
It was an opportunity to pounce, and Irans outspoken foreign minister seized it. The United Kingdom has announced it is set to remove Cold War-era limits on its stockpiles of nuclear weapons, even as it is demanding that the Islamic Republic constrain its own atomic programme.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused prime minister Boris Johnson of utter hypocrisy for announcing plans to increase Britains arsenal of weapons of mass destruction while chastising Tehran for its decades-long attempt to master nuclear technology.

Mr Johnson told British MPs on Tuesday that the government is planning to reverse a planned reduction of its nuclear weapon stockpile. Under the new proposal, Britain will increase its number of warheads to 260. It had previously agreed to reduce the number to 180.

In a note posted to his Twitter feed and tagging Mr Johnson, Mr Zarif mocked the British leader for saying he was concerned about Iran developing a viable nuclear weapon on the very same day as announcing that his country will increase its stockpile of nukes.

He added: Unlike the UK and allies, Iran believes nukes and all WMDs are barbaric and must be eradicated.

Iranian state television widely covered Mr Zarifs remarks, which came before Russia also denounced Londons decision on Wednesday. Both Chinas and Russias official media have focused on the UKs plan to up its nuclear arsenal, describing it as hypocritical.

Read more:

Citizens are demanding that Boris Johnson look under his feet, fight against the coronavirus and street crime, state-guided NTVs London correspondent Liza Gerson said in a broadcast, referring to the murder of Sarah Everard. People are demanding safe streets and lamps in parks in London, not warheads in Scotland.

The UK decision comes at a particular tense moment in the arena of global arms control.

Iran is currently locked in a diplomatic statemate with the United States and the so-called E3  the UK, Germany and France  over an attempt to re-establish the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal forged by Tehran and world powers but abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018.

After abiding by the terms of the agreement for a year, even as the US upped crushing sanctions, Iran began to expand its nuclear programme beyond the strict limits set by the JCPOA. The new administration of president Joe Biden has said it would like to restore the terms of the nuclear deal, but insists that Iran first roll back its production and stockpile of enriched uranium that could be used as fissile material for a bomb.

Iran insists that its nuclear programme is meant for peaceful civilian purposes only, though arms-control experts and intelligence professionals believe Iran is at least aiming to achieve nuclear weapons capability, if not the bomb.

On Monday, Reuters reported that the United Nations nuclear watchdog had confirmed Iran had begun feeding uranium gas into a second advanced device that can more efficiently produce fissile material than the ones permitted under the JCPOA.

Iran has insisted the US first remove sanctions, since it was Washington that first breached the deal. On Wednesday, a senior official in Iranian president Hassan Rouhanis government confirmed that Tehran had received indirect communications from Washington regarding a possible return to the JCPOA.
Local business owners and rock stars have teamed up to create a company with a new brand of craft soda that will kick off with root beer, butterscotch root beer and birch beer.

John Phillips, owner of Wilkes-Barre-based event company MCR Design Group and 900 Management in Kingston and tour manager for Body Count and Public Enemy, teamed up with three others to create the root beer company Parlor Beverages.

The three others include: Aaron Bruch, bassist and vocalist for the multi-platinum band Breaking Benjamin; Josh Balz, former member of metal band Motionless in White and owner of The Strange & Unusual Oddities Parlor and Steamy Hallows Cafe in Kingston, Batty Fang Salon in the Woodlands in Plains Twp. and Noir Dark Spirits restaurant and bar in downtown Scranton; and entrepreneur and investor Kris Jones, co-founder of talent booking platform Special Guest App and owner of SEO company LSEO.com.

Parlor Beverages is slated to arrive on the market in early June and will be sold as four-packs in three flavors: original root beer, butterscotch root beer and birch beer, Phillips said.

Phillips, who has an office in the accelerator building in Wilkes-Barre, said he has always been an avid root beer fan and it was his idea to start the company.

The root beer will be sold at local businesses and distributors and online along with merchandise, he said.

He said it will be made in Northeast Pennsylvania, but declined to name the location where it will be made.

During the pandemic, Phillips said he had time to sample root beer from all over the country and he became immersed in learning more about the process. For many people, he said drinking root beer brings on nostalgia.

I always thought it was a product that you attach a memory to, he said. When a lot of people think of root beer, they think they used to get it with their grandfather or they used to get it with their friends. I never really knew that about another soda product.Balz said since all four of them are avid root beer drinkers and friends, they decided to work together to start the company. The group has been working on the project for months.

It was a like-minded project that we could all get behind, he said.

Balz said he looks forward to people being able to taste the root beer at local craft fairs in Northeast Pennsylvania.

I wouldnt want to do this project anywhere else, he said. Our area is so supportive of everything.

As a promotion, the new beverage company will give away a first taste of Parlor as well as tickets, VIP passes, airfare and a hotel stay for the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, which will be held Sept. 9-12 in Lynchburg, Virginia. To enter, go to drinkparlor.com.
Legislators in Utah are hoping that the governor would pass the proposed H.B. 72, which will require smart phones and tablets to come with a pornography filter to protect minors from exposure to such adult content.

H.B. 72 has passed the Utah House of Representatives and is now on its way to Gov. Spencer Cox's desk for his signature or veto. Legislators are hopeful that the governor would sign the bill into law, so that it would require mobile phone and tablet vendors in the state to install anti-porn filters to protect minors from inadvertent exposure to such content.

According to The Blaze, Utah was the first state in the union to formally declare pornography as a "public health crisis" in 2016. Utah legislators argued that porn addiction was an "epidemic" and that its harmful psychological and physiological effects must be combated with education, prevention, research, and policies, the latter of which is now being passed on to the governor's desk for his signature.

Just last year, Utah passed onto law, without the governor's support, a bill that would require the pornography industry to place a warning label on all of its content. That legislation was H.B. 243.

"Exposing minors to pornography is known to the state of Utah to cause negative impacts to brain development, emotional development, and the ability to maintain intimate relationships," H.B. 243 read, as per KUTV. "Such exposure may lead to harmful and addictive sexual behavior, low self-esteem, and the improper objectification of and sexual violence towards others, among numerous other harms."

Now the new H.B. 72 will require anti-porn filters on smartphones and other such devices sold or manufactured in Utah. The filter will be activated once the device is purchased and used, enabling adult users to turn the filter on or off depending on who will use the device.

The proposed legislation also places device manufacturers in a situation in which they can be sued if they do not meet the requirements of H.B. 72. Manufacturers of smart devices have already made a concession to agree that the bill will only take effect if five other states would pass laws with similar requirements. Meanwhile, some organizations have already shown their support for Utah's H.B. 72.

Dawn Hawkins, executive director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, affirmed the bill, saying, "Utah has passed a critical, common sense solution to help protect vulnerable children from accessing harmful pornographic content on phones and tablets."

H.B. 72 has also earned a number of detractors, as they believe the anti-porn filters on smartphones hampers one's freedom of speech. Others claim that the attack on the pornography industry is a blatant disregard on more pressing issues such as the lack of proper sex education for the youth.

The Associated Press reported that Washington D.C. internet policy group Center for Democracy and Technology has expressed their opposition to the proposed bill. Policy Director Samir Jain told AP, "You've basically got the state mandating the filtering of lawful content. That raises immediate First Amendment flags."
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Trump Promotes Julia Letlow for Louisianas Special House Election

Former President Donald Trump promoted Julia Letlow, a Republican, before the special House election to be held in Louisiana on March 20.

Letlow is the frontrunner in the states electoral district to fill her late husbands seat, former Rep. Luke Letlow (R-La.), who passed away at the end of last year due to complications related to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Virus.

Julia Letlow is outstanding and so necessary to help save our Second Amendment, at the Border, and for our Military and Vets. Louisiana, get out and vote todayshe will never disappoint! Trump said on Saturday.

Trump endorsed her on March 10.

Julia Letlow, a wonderful and talented person who is the widow of U.S. Representative-elect Luke Letlow, is running for Congress in Louisiana-5 at the urging of so many people who know her so very well, Trump wrote in a statement released by the Save America political action committee (PAC).

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow in a file photograph. (Luke Letlows campaign)

She is Pro-Life and strong on Crime, the Border, loves our Military, our Vets, and will always protect our cherished Second Amendment. Julia, who is so outstanding, has my Complete and Total Endorsement. The Great State of Louisiana will be thrilled!

She wrote a statement on Twitter after receiving the former presidents endorsement, who won the election in Louisiana by 30 points in both of his presidential races.

Its truly an honor to receive President Trumps endorsement and I look forward to joining in the fight to save our country by putting America first! Julia Letlow wrote on Twitter after Trumps endorsement.

Its truly an honor to receive President Trumps endorsement and I look forward to joining in the fight to save our country by putting America first! pic.twitter.com/maezK3nNA7  Julia B Letlow, Ph.D (@jbletlow) March 11, 2021
The thing about this exercise is that while it's simple and straightforward, it also requires a heck of a lot of courage and self-awareness to accomplish -- never mind being brave enough to discuss it afterward.

Let's go through some short background, and then get straight to the trick.

Unpack the words

One of the most efficient ways I've learned to improve emotional intelligence is to focus on language -- really unpack the go-to words and phrases that you use reflexively, and ask yourself with a clear eye if they truly mean what you think they mean.

Sometimes, you'll find that the meanings are a few degrees off from your intended effect.

As a classic example, people will sometimes quickly say, "I know how you feel," when they want to express empathy. But, unpack that phrase, and you can see why it sometimes suggests almost the exact opposite.

In short, most people know in their gut that it takes real effort to really understand someone truly. So, cutting right to the point of "I know how you feel" or "I understand completely" suggests you haven't actually done the work to try to understand.

Maybe you don't even understand what you're missing.

It's subtle, but it's there. Better alternatives might be phrases that convey an effort to understand, without implying that you've already finished the job, such as: "Tell me more about that" or "I can hear the excitement in your voice; I'd like to know more."

That's just one example. It's worth knowing. But the three-word phrase I want to explore today is much more powerful.

Don't say it out loud

It's so powerful, in fact, that I admit I'm nervous about sharing it. Also (very important!), I'm not going to suggest that you say it out loud.

Rather, just say it silently to yourself, before or during conversations in which you want to train yourself to display greater emotional intelligence.

Ready? The phrase is: "I love you."

I haven't been able to stick to this 100 percent, but for the past month or so, before I've gone into a lot of conversations, and Zoom calls, and online exchanges -- even very short interactions at the supermarket -- I've tried to think this phrase to myself before speaking.

You see why I don't actually suggest saying it out loud all the time, right? Things would get weird, fast.

However, it is uncanny how just thinking this way about your relationship with people improves things as a result.

For my sanity and vanity in this article, I have to clarify that I'm not talking about romantic love. I didn't fall in love with the cashier at the grocery store, and I don't want anyone to read this column and get the wrong idea about focusing romantic attention where it's not wanted.

Instead, I'm talking about an overall, platonic love for fellow human beings. I found that doing this habitually triggered several natural behaviors -- all of which happen to be the kinds of things that people with high levels of emotional intelligence do.

Focused attention

Let's start with something that resulted from the pure comedy of this exercise. Sometimes, I would nearly laugh out loud, as I remembered to think "I love you" before interacting with people. My thought process went something like:

"OK, here we go again. (silently, remember) 'I love you.'" "This is ridiculous. You barely know anything about this person." "Hmmm, good point. I wonder what we can find out about her. Let's see, she's working here in a grocery store. It's probably been a long day so far. It's kind of cold in here; I wonder if she's cold? I wonder how it feels to stand on your feet at work all day like that?"

I'm telling you: When you've spent a few quick seconds going through that thought process before the cashier has even asked you if you want paper or plastic, it changes things.

You're going to be more patient, more conscientious. Even if you don't wind up asking any of the things you've been thinking as you quickly focused on the other person -- focused in a polite, attentive, welcome way, I emphasize -- they will likely see that they have your attention. You convey that you care.

It's key attribute of emotional intelligence, and their perception of you, in turn, will be much more positive as a result.

Patience and silence

Next, let's talk about not talking. Emotionally intelligent people know the value of patience and quiet, and when you've conditioned yourself to feel even a small amount of platonic love for people before interacting with them, it makes patience and silence very easy.

I think there are two reasons.

First, when we find ourselves forgoing patience, it's usually because either we feel challenged or it's to fill a conversational void. Both of those circumstances involve the dynamic of your relationship with the other person.

But when you've literally just told yourself, "Remember, I feel platonic love for this person, so I'll treat him or her accordingly," it can short-circuit that whole dynamic. Insults, challenges, and even the need to fill the silence can evaporate.

Second, if you don't feel threatened by a challenging statement or action, you're more likely to pause to try to figure it out than to react right away. So, instead of assuming a negative motivation, you're more likely to look for a positive one.

It's the difference between:

"Wow, Joseph quickly cut off my idea in that meeting. He must think we're competing and not want me to get ahead. (And maybe I need to do something fast to keep up.)" Versus,

"Hmmm. Joseph quickly cut off my idea in that meeting. I wonder if he thinks he's saving me from putting my foot in my mouth. Let me think this through better."

I think there's also an added element, too. Even if you never say these three magic words aloud (remember, just to yourself) -- and even if, of course, the other person has probably never said them to you--some part of your subconscious naturally assumes that if you feel good feelings toward them, they'll be reciprocated.

Active interest and listening

I think you're going to find that it's much easier and more natural to engage in active listening techniques when you've conducted this little exercise.

It's probably related to the "focused attention" I discussed above, but it's a bit different. That element is about leveraging the natural curiosity that you've inspired in yourself; this is about developing a real interest in what the other person thinks or has to say.

That's going to lead you to use other-centered, emotionally intelligent phrases -- the kinds of things that lead you to have what some people call "support reactions" as opposed to "shift reactions."

I'm talking about phrases like:

"Tell me more about that."

"Let me follow up on what you said before, by asking you ... "

"Can I just repeat this back to make sure I'm following?"

"I want to understand, but I'm not sure I do."

"I'm going to think about what you said."

And so on. It's one of the keys to emotionally intelligent conversations: removing considerations of ego and emotion that can trip you up, and being cognizant of how ego and emotions on the other person's part can prompt them to act and react.

"I want to remember to ... "

I realized two things after doing this for a while. The first is that the germ of the idea goes back more than a decade for me, to a conversation I had with a fairly young Army officer when I was a reporter in Iraq.

This was a very quiet, thoughtful man who had seen a lot of fighting both there and in Afghanistan. He'd been separated from his wife and children for long stretches of time, and frankly, he seemed to me like he'd been to hell and back, more than once.

We had a long conversation, and we talked about why he didn't get out of the military. I remember that he said the number-one reason was: "At the end of the day, I love Joe."

("Joe" being all-purpose slang for every soldier in a military unit.)

Granted, the military during a war is a bit of an extreme workplace, but I remember thinking how things might be different, if the top reason people went to work every day was because they loved all their co-workers -- and weren't afraid to say it.

The second thing I realized is that in this context "I love you" is really shorthand for things like, "I want to remember to act in an emotionally intelligent manner" or "I need to remember to act here in a way that will engender positive feelings."

And, since we're being practical about this, and probably thinking about how improved emotional intelligence can help in a professional or business setting: "I want to remember to act and react in ways that help move us closer to our objectives."

I don't know if I could keep up this exercise long-term. For one thing, sometimes things are better left unsaid, even to yourself, and for another -- well, it's kind of exhausting to be "on" like that so often, hypersensitive about the nature of your relationship with so many people that you meet.

But honestly? That's OK. We're all only human.
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Rima Samman was never able to say a proper goodbye to her brother, Rami, who died of COVID-19 at age 40 last May.

Like so many others whove lost family to the coronavirus, she couldnt honor Rami with a funeral. Instead, she inscribed his name onto a stone to commemorate what would have been his 41st birthday and asked others in a Facebook support group if theyd like her to do the same for their loved ones.

Today, the beachside memorial features more than 2,000 names, some from as far as South Africa and Belgium, encircled by one of 11 yellow hearts formed from painted clamshells. Dozens of visitors come each day to pay their respects and a vigil last week drew more than 350 people, Samman said.

Mourners gather for a candlelit vigil on March 13 around Belmar's COVID-19 memorial.Photos by Star News Group

But, as Belmars summer season approaches, the memorials future at the 3rd Avenue Beach is in jeopardy.

The memorial cant stay on the beach, Samman told NJ Advance Media. It wasnt intended to grow as big as it has and natural elements are getting to it  its been snowed on a few times already, the suns beaming down it already, rain, all the storms, all that stuff is going to eventually affect it.

Shes been in touch with Belmar officials, including Business Administrator Ed Kirschenbaum, who said the town would allow her time to find a new location.

But the clock is ticking. Finding a physical space to accommodate the memorial proves a major logistical hurdle, considering it has multiplied in size since its inception in January.

Spring and summer seasons are coming, Samman said. Lockers have to be placed underneath the boardwalk, beach clean-up has to start in Belmar, so it just cant stay there. It has to move. The problem is, where do we move it to?

The memorial sits on Belmar's 3rd Avenue Beach. It now commemorates more than 2,000 COVID victims.Courtesy of Rima Samman

Offers from local groups have begun pouring in, though Samman has yet to find a long-term solution and has been asking for help on GoFundMe.

The Rotary Club of Asbury Park volunteered its manpower to move the stones, were Samman to find a new home. The Belmar Arts Council said it could house the stones but would only take three of the 11 hearts for display on the lawn of the Belmar Arts Center.

And the Monmouth County Historical Association said they wouldnt be able to display it, since they dont currently have a COVID exhibit, but that they would be happy to store it and help Samman digitally archive each name.

When youre living through something like this it doesnt seem like a big deal to you you dont realize in 150 years people are going to look back on this time and be fascinated, Dana Howell, MCHA Research Librarian and Archivist, told NJ Advance Media. Researchers are going to want this information.

A close-up of one of the memorial's 11 hearts, shows individual stones with COVID victims names written on them.Courtesy of Rima Samman

Believing the memorial to be an important part of our current historical moment, Samman has ambitious plans to augment it.

At this point, Im more looking to move to a location where we can create a permanent memorial  preserve the hearts that are already made but maybe even create a bigger memorial to honor more lives, Samman said.

Shed like to turn the memorial into an exhibit, akin to New Yorks 9/11 Memorial & Museum, with the stones mounted on walls as well as another wall honoring essential workers and a timeline of the pandemic. She envisions a location with a built-in social network where mourning families could be directed to counselors.

Samman has fired off letters to Gov. Phil Murphy, Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez and a number of other legislators. She has a meeting with County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone at the end of the month.

Her pitch is that the memorial has offered mourners a way to commemorate their family members and visualize the human cost of a virus that has claimed more than 24,000 New Jerseyans and more than 538,000 Americans. Many of the stones come from neighboring Jersey Shore communities or elsewhere in the state.

Mourners gather for a candlelit vigil on March 13 around Belmar's COVID-19 memorial.Courtesy of Rima Samman

These are peoples mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, Stacie Roman, 42, of Manville, told NJ Advance Media. Its not just a number people are just going about their business  we will never get back to our regular lives, its always going to be different for us that have lost someone due to COVID.

After losing her father to COVID-19 a month ago, Roman came across Samman on Facebook and reached out. She later attended last weeks vigil, looking for solace after not being able to visit her dad in the hospital.

[The memorial] gave us peace and solidarity that youre not alone going through something thats very unique  to lose a parent is one thing, but not being able to see them in the hospital, not being able to visit puts a whole other spin on it, Roman said. Its very unique. I think the grief that we go through is very different.

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Josh Axelrod may be reached at jaxelrod@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Australias sands are soon to be graced with a wanky monstrosity Australians have rallied against for years.

Beach bars.

Thats right. Though proposals last year for an Amalfi Beach Club to be set up at Bondi were rejected by local authorities, in a surprising episode of whack a mole a similar business model is now making legislative headway on the Gold Coast.

Deputy Premier @StevenJMiles will consider a plan for local beach bars. Council is pushing for a 2 year https://t.co/LvyXmKHjpb serve alcohol on selected beaches. A pop up bar has already been touted for just north of the Kurrawa Surf Club. https://t.co/tIEQ9K5sus #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/nbUKaHCtwS  7NEWS Gold Coast (@7NewsGoldCoast) March 16, 2021

In a bid to reinvigorate the hard-hit tourism sector amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate hopes to establish beach bars at select locations along regions 55km of sandy coastline in time for Christmas, news.com.au reports.

These bars, while only in the development stage, would allow beachgoers to have a drink and a light snack without having to walk off the sand to a nearby bar or pub.

Its also, perhaps to the horror of those that railed so hard against the notion at Bondi last year, a concept thats already working for Adelaide, which launched the European-inspired Mosley Beach Club for South Australians to visit and enjoy during the summer months, news.com.au reports.

RELATED: Controversial Bondi Beach Photo Depicts Scene That Could Never Happen In America

The beach bars are set to be reminiscent of Greece (i.e. removable) and will be established as part of a two year trial, in select locations. The initial concept design, however, still has a way to go before it gets the green light.

The Moseley beach club in Adelaide (pictured below) has been up and running for some time, and has been received, DMARGE understands, positively by the community, due to the lack of the same premium for space limitations as say, Sydneys Bondi.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Moseley Beach Club (@moseleybeachclub)

Purists will argue its a flawed concept, anyhow, and that the whole attraction of Australian beaches is their uncommercial nature. They also point out half the reason such concepts flourish in Europe (perhaps Adelaide fits into this category too) is that their beaches are not as soft and silky.

Why dont you people go away You dont get the right to sequester part of it to make money, one commenter wrote on Facebook, about this issue, last year.

Proponents will undoubtedly spout economic figures and engage you in a conversation about their massive, unrequited crush on Europe, and how epic it is to sip $12 Daquiris out of glassware on the beach.

RELATED: The Awkward Truth About Australias Europe Fetish

Sydney is looking more backwards than us [Adelaide] with their outcry over this, another wrote on Facebook, regarding last years Bondi beach club proposal.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @amalfibeachclub

As DMARGE reported earlier this week, this is not the first time in the last few years Adelaide has proven ahead of the curve, with its Gluttony festival and Spanish-style dining putting Sydneys deathly quiet Kings Cross to shame.

Will the Gold Coast iteration of this concept succeed? Only time and strange tan lines will tell.

Read Next
Today, the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the inclusion of most of Crimea in the list of border territories came into force. The decree signed a year ago, bans foreign ownership of land almost at all territory of the peninsula.

From now on, foreigners cannot own land in 19 out of 25 Crimean municipalities, including Yevpatoria, Kerch, Sudak and Yalta, as well as in 12 municipalities of Sevastopol. An exception was made only for Simferopol, Dzhankoy, Krasnoperekopsk, Belogorsky, Krasnogvardeisky and Pervomaisky regions of the peninsula.

Thus, the Crimean legislation was synchronized with the all-Russian one, since in the Russian Federation, it is forbidden for foreign citizens to own land in the border areas and at the territories that are attributed to the border by the presidential decrees.

Most of the foreign property in the 19 forbidden municipalities of Crimea belongs to the citizens of Ukraine. In accordance with part 1 of Article 238 of the Civil Code, they are obliged to transfer the rights to their land within a year from the moment the right of ownership arises, in other words, to sell it to the Russians until today, March 20, 2021, RBC reports.

Those who did not manage to sell their land will be forced to sell plots by court order. The money will be transferred either to the owner, who did not want to part with the now illegal property or to state property with compensation to the owner. The value will be determined by the court.

In total, over 11, 500 land plots are in foreign ownership. In addition to Ukrainian citizens, they are owned by citizens of 55 states, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Australia, Vietnam, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

As the chairman of the Committee of the State Council of Crimea on Property and Land Relations Yevgeniya Dobrynya explained earlier, the decree only applies to land - houses, apartments and other buildings do not fall under its effect.
In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write."

To Britain the murder of Sarah was what the Nirbhaya rape-murder was to India

The spoof of the bidding is in the cheating.

The source of the ruse is known as propaganda.

One mans meat is a cannibals horizon.

People in glass houses should keep their clothes on

From Bar Bar To The Bar My Friends by Bachchoo



Sarah Everard, 33, was walking home at night in South London. She crossed Clapham Common and walked down the South Circular, one of Londons arterial roads, to get home -- a distance of about half an hour perhaps. She never got there.

She was reported missing, a police inquiry was launched and a couple of days later her remains were found in woodland in Kent, around 50 miles away. A policeman in his 40s was arrested and charged with her murder. That one death was, with all the Covid-19 deaths raging around Britain, a shocking and dominating national event.

The trial of the alleged murderer will in all probability ascertain the motive for her abduction and murder. As yet, nothing is clear.

To Britain the murder of Sarah was what the Nirbhaya rape-murder was to India. It was the straw which cracked the camels back of tolerance of the crimes against women. In the last available statistic for March 2020, there were 207 women murdered in the UK in a year. Of these, 57 per cent were by partners, ex-partners or family members of the victims. The previous years figures were higher by 30 per cent.

Sarahs abduction and murder brought thousands of women onto the streets and the commons of Britain to express dismay and disgust at this palpable vulnerability. Women are targeted on the streets for being women. The protests had no uniform demand. That men change their attitudes, that Parliament stiffen the punishment for crimes against women, that the law take the prosecutions for rape more seriously as only 5.7 per cent of cases brought to court resulted in convictions, were all possible.

Feminist organisations contend that this statistic in itself suggests a kind of decriminalisation of the offence of rape. It sends out the signal that rapists, using one or other tried and now tested defence, can get away with it.

One of the demonstrations by women and their men sympathisers gathered on Clapham Common on Saturday night. The demonstrators by and large wore masks and held aloft their phone torchlights.

The Metropolitan Police, Londons force, moved in. The demonstrators were openly breaking the lockdown laws passed by Parliament. Scuffles broke out and 16 people were arrested. Young women who offered resistance to the arrests were physically subdued, handcuffed and led away to police vans.

A huge outcry followed. Womens organisations demanded the resignation of Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, the ultimate head of the force that confronted the demonstrators. Others went further, demanding the resignation of Pritti Clueless Patel, the home secretary, who is ultimately responsible for all UK police forces.

No resignations followed. Cressida Dick said her men were enforcing the lockdown law and the public should respect the fact. The demonstrators, everyone, were certainly conscious that they would be violating the lockdown and possibly endangering their own lives and others they came into contact with.

And therein lies the question. Should the police have stood by and made an exception, using their judgment? If the virus was to be spread by the demonstrators being where they were, the damage was surely done by the time they saw fit to wade in? A vast section of the public would certainly sympathise with the police action if it were against an illegal rave or drinks and drugs party. But a demonstration of mostly young women protesting against the unsafety of the countrys streets at night?

I wonder what the arresting officers, male or female, said to the young women they were carrying away in their vans to police stations and cells to be processed for their crime.

I ask the question, gentle reader, because of my own experience of being arrested at a demonstration years ago.

That demo was in support of the mainly Asian workforce of a factory called Grunwick. The workers who wanted, almost unanimously, to join a union had been denied that right and dismissed. I joined the protests as the member of a union myself and of a black and Asian radical organisation called Race Today.

I wont rehearse the circumstances of my arrest, but I found myself handcuffed to a police constable, being driven to the police station. He began, in a pseudo-friendly way, to question me and to express his own views about troublemakers and Communists. He said he was resolutely against this sort of demonstration which would lead to anarchy. I just laughed and reminded him that his police union had recently fought for an increase in wages which the government had granted them.

The memory made me wonder what the arresting officers thought they were doing on Clapham Common. The old dog Lenin said that the State was a group of armed men acting in the interests of a class. Did these officers think they were acting in the interests of the health of the nation?

And what do the soldiers who attack, kill and imprison pro-democracy protesters on the streets of Myanmar or Hong Kong think or feel they are doing? Do any of them sympathise with their victims and even perhaps contemplate mutiny?
(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during an event to launch the new Tesla Model X Crossover SUV on September 29, 2015 in Fremont, California.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk denied China's claims that their cars were being used to spy on their country, saying that the global lockdown will face the company would be shut down if they did.

According to Reuters, the statement comes after Tesla's cars have been banned from entering or go anywhere near China's military installations.

"There's a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information," Musk said during a virtual discussion, adding that his company would get a powerful incentive if they remain confidential with any information.

Being the world's biggest car market, China has become a key battleground for electric vehicles (EVs).

Also Read: China Imposes Restrictions for Tesla EVs; Says That Tesla's Camera Can be Used for Spying

Last year, Tesla sold 147,445 vehicles to China, equivalent to 30% of the EV manufacturer's global sales.

Despite the news, Tesla had received an immense amount of support from the Asian superpower, urging Musk to build a factory near Shanghai.

However, the company faces more competition in 2021 from local EV manufacturers like Geely and Nio Inc.

China's Concerns on Security

After the news, the ban surfaced that the top diplomats from the world's two biggest economies will be holding a contentious meeting in Alaska.

A source told Japan Times that the ban raised concerns that Tesla may have been collecting sensitive data through the car's built-in cameras without the Chinese government noticing.

Tesla cars use several small cameras located on the outside of the vehicle, and it helps to guide parking, autopilot and self-driving functions.

The imposed restriction informed residents of military housing and others that ultrasonic sensors and multi-direction cameras installed inside Tesla cars might "expose locations."

However, these concerns could hold water when one of Musk's tweets in April 2019 surfaced, wherein he said that the internal camera might be used to record incidents.

Its there for when we start competing with Uber/Lyft & people allow their car to earn money for them as part of the Tesla shared autonomy fleet. In case someone messes up your car, you can check the video.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2019

During that time, he said via a tweet that the car might be used when the company starts competing against Uber and Lyft.

The tweet also mentioned the company's goal is for Tesla's robotaxi fleet to be ready by the end of 2021.

Musk also boasted the release of the company's first computer chip to facilitate the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature, which utilizes the alleged hidden camera.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg requested China's Defense Ministry for comments about the military move, but the country did not immediately respond.

The CEO's Response

Musk, who also owns SpaceX, pointed out that China must not concern itself too much about the espionage allegations.

He also said that China was fortunate that the shutdown campaign against ByteDance Ltd.'s TikTok did not push through despite multitudes of concerns that China was spying via the popular app.

"If there was spying, what would the other country learn and would it actually matter? In the vast majority of cases, it doesn't even matter," he questioned.

During a high-level business gathering hosted by a foundation under the State Council, Musk campaigned for greater mutual trust between China and the United States.

Related Article: Elon Musk Breaks His Promise as Tesla Decides to Export CHINA-MADE Model 3 Cars

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Lee Mercado

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Modi tweeted after their meeting on Friday, "Pleasure to meet U.S. @SecDef Lloyd Austin today. Conveyed my best wishes to @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and US are committed to our strategic partnership that is a force for global good."

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and stressed the commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries amid rising tensions in the region and around the world with China.

Austin also met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, according to the US embassy.

Soon after his arrival, Austin tweeted that his discussions in India would centre on cooperating to face "most pressing challenges" in the Indo-Pacific region where China's aggressive actions, from the Himalayas to the South China Sea are on the rise.

He is scheduled to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the delegations from the two countries are to hold discussions during his visit.

The first visit by a member of US President Joe Biden's Cabinet to India came as leaders of the US and China clashed at a meeting in Alaska symbolising the growing aggressiveness of China.

It is particularly highlighted in the Indo-Pacific region and the US is responding by working closely with allies and partners.

Austin tweeted, "Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defense partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region."

Outlining Austin's agenda in India, Acting Assistant Defence Secretary for Indo-Pacific, David F. Helvey, said that he will "discuss operationalising the major defence partnership that we have with India, including through enhanced information sharing, regional security cooperation, defence trade, and cooperation in new domains."

The Indian Defence Ministry said that Singh and Austin "are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and exchange views on regional security challenges and common interests in maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region."

It added, "Discussions regarding defence cooperation would also focus on how both countries could consolidate military-to-military cooperation and defence trade and industry cooperation."

The US designated India as a major defence partner by the US in 2016 allowing it access to some defence hi-tech that would normally be available only to allies.

The visit reflects President Joe Biden's focus on the Indo-Pacific region to meet the Chinese challenge.

Last week Biden held a virtual summit with other leaders of the Quad nations, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India, Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan, at which they discussed security issues in the face of Chinese aggressive actions.

While on his way to India, Austin spoke to Australia's Foreign Minister Maria Payne, who also holds the defence portfolio.

Helvey said that Austin spoke to her about the "Quadrilateral process" of the four nations.

Before coming to India, Austin had visited two US treaty allies, Japan and Korea, on the frontlines of Chinese aggressiveness at sea in the region, and the military headquarters of the Indo-Pacific headquarters in Hawaii.

He and Secretary of State Antony Blinken held 2+2 ministerial meetings with their counterparts in Seoul and Tokyo.

The meeting of Blinken and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan with senior Chinese officials, State Councilor Wang Yi and Communist Party Foreign Affairs Director Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi, opened yesterday in Anchorage, Alaska, with open hostility.

Blinken said: "We will always stand up for our principles for our people, and for our friends."

Yi retorted that the US was trying to "obstruct normal trade exchanges, and incite some countries to attack China" -- a veiled reference to India, which hs defended itself against a by Beijing's army along the Line of Actual Control.
Finding a dream job has not been top of the to-do list for most workers in recent months.

After all, millions have been grateful just to hold on to work at a time of rising unemployment, while others have had other priorities such as health, family and adjusting to lockdowns.

But as we start to move back towards normality, there is still time for those determined to make 2021 the year they get that perfect role.

While some sectors such as hospitality and travel are shedding jobs, others are booming, and with social restrictions still in place it's never been easier to complete the whole application process  including interviews  without leaving your home.

But you'll need to be savvy. With unemployment running at a five-year high and the number of new jobs being advertised down a quarter on this time last year, you will need to push hard to stand out.

FOCUS ON THE SECTORS THAT ARE RECRUITING

The 'K-shaped recovery' is when some parts of the economy bounce back strongly from a downturn while others lag behind. Andrew MacAskill, founder of career consultancy Executive Career Jump, says: 'As a job seeker, you need to focus on the sectors on the upward part of the 'K'  they include e-commerce, logistics, medical devices, cloud communications and pharmaceutical companies.'

Persistent: Olivia Walker applied for more than 60 roles in lockdown to find her dream job

IT REALLY PAYS TO BE PATIENT Olivia Walker applied for more than 60 roles in lockdown to find her dream job. She had previously worked at a bank on a graduate scheme, but wasn't sure this field was where her future lay. 'I've always been interested in sustainability and wanted to do something in that area,' she says. Olivia, from Bermondsey in South London, was keen on launching her own business too, but with a mortgage, she felt she had to get a job with a regular income. 'I sent out seven or eight applications a week for months and targeted each one to the role,' she says. 'It was a bit stressful, but worth it.' Olivia, 26, now works for sustainable startup Notpla, which makes packaging from seaweed. She has also launched her own zero waste company, Keep Candles. 'Getting a job actually helped with my own business as they've been very helpful and supportive,' she says.

The Government's skills shortage list  gov.uk/government/publications/ skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations  is a useful snapshot of which sectors need skilled workers. It currently includes healthcare, IT, engineering and veterinary services.

Fiona Wilson, of talent search company FJWilson, says IT and technology, legal and regulatory, change management and digital transformation roles are good sectors to target.

You can find details of openings on professional network website LinkedIn, as well as specialist job sites such as Hays, Reed, Escape the City and Angel List. Alternatively, you can target companies directly.

HOW TO TAILOR YOUR APPLICATION TO THE JOB

In these days of heightened competition among job seekers, you have to tailor your application to each specific role.

Wilson says: 'Make sure your CV, profile and covering letter are all absolutely tailored to the vacancy you are applying for, using the job description and person specification as your starting point.'

The stand-out applicants, she says, are those who have done their homework  'reading the annual report and news feeds, identifying the employer's values and key stakeholders and then feeding some of the target employer's vocabulary and key words into their application.'

Amanda Reuben, founder of Bijou Recruitment, says most recruiters will only spend ten seconds looking at each CV, so getting it right is essential. 'You can't imagine how many errors I see,' she says. 'A CV will often be scanned by some form of artificial intelligence, which is why it needs to be factual and without pictures.'

MacAskill recommends contacting the hiring company directly. 'Send a video introduction or a voice note via LinkedIn,' he says. Potential employers will often check out your profile on LinkedIn, so ensure it is bang up to date and connects with your application by showing relevant skills or experience.

Finally, keep an open mind. You might not be right for a certain role, but if you are a great candidate, the company may want to find a position better suited to your skills.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19, his office said on Saturday, just two days after he was vaccinated against the disease.

The diagnosis comes as the country grapples with a deadly third wave of a virus that has already killed nearly 13,800 people from more than 620,000 infections - although limited testing suggests real figures are likely much higher.

Khan was suffering from a mild cough and a mild fever, his spokesman Shahbaz Gill later added, saying the positive test was performed on Saturday.

His aides were quick to put distance between the diagnosis and his first jab of the two-dose vaccine.

'Please do not link it to the corona vaccine. Immunity develops a few weeks after the vaccine is given. Make sure to vaccinate your elders and loved ones. Be careful,' Gill added.

Khan was probably infected before he got the vaccine shot, during a series of public engagements this week, information minister Shibli Faraz told the Geo News television channel.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tested positive for Covid-19 just two days after he was vaccinated against the disease. Pictured: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan receives a dose of the coronavirus jab on March 18, 2020 - two days before testing positive

Khan is 'self isolating at home,' said minister Faisal Sultan in a tweet, without giving further details as to whether other people who have been in contact with Khan would also be isolating.

Khan has been holding regular and frequent meetings lately, including attending a security conference held in capital Islamabad that was attended by a large number of people.

He addressed the conference without wearing a mask, and attended another gathering to inaugurate a housing project for poor people in a similar fashion on Friday.

The 68-year-old received a shot of the Chinese-produced Sinopharm vaccine on Thursday - one of over a million doses donated to Pakistan by Beijing.

Earlier Saturday, the leader's adviser on health Faisal Sultan said the increase in positive virus cases over the past few days was 'alarming'.

He said there was a 'quite visible' burden on the healthcare system, particularly in the country's most populous province of Punjab.

The impoverished nation of 220 million has largely avoided the kind of major lockdowns seen in other countries, instead opting for 'smart' containment policies which see neighbourhoods closed off for short periods.

Khan has been holding regular and frequent meetings lately, including attending a security conference held in capital Islamabad that was attended by a large number of people. Pictured: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan gives an interview to The Associated Press, in Islamabad on March 16, days before getting a coronavirus jab and testing positive for the virus

However, many guidelines have been ignored, with Sultan criticising 'a lack of administrative action and a lack of public compliance'.

Soon after the pandemic started the former cricket star told the nation in an address not to panic, saying '97 percent of patients fully recover', but he chided citizens just months later warning: 'People are not taking it seriously.'

According to numbers released by government, 3,876 people tested positive in the last 24 hours, the highest number of daily infections since early July, taking the total number of infections in the country past 620,000.

There were also 42 more deaths, taking the total to 13,799.

Pictured: Pakistan's maskless Prime Minister Imran Khan (right) and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa (L) gesture at the end of the Trade and Investments conference in Colombo on February 24

Pakistan launched vaccinations for the general public on March 10, starting with elderly people after seeing a poor response from frontline health workers, who expressed concerns about Chinese vaccines.

Chinese Sinopharm and CanSinoBio, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Russia's Sputnik V vaccines have been approved for emergency use in Pakistan.
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To this point, just one New York State governor has ever been impeached from office.

On Oct. 17, 1913, William Sulzer, known as Plain Bill, was removed from office, just a tad over 10 months after being sworn as New Yorks 39th governor.

A Democrat, he had earned the job after winning the November 1912 election in a landslide, following the split between the Republican and Progressive parties.

He had the support of Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic nominee for the President, party stalwart William Jennings Bryan, and newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst.

He was also favored by the powerful political machine at Tammany Hall and its boss Charles Silent Charlie Murphy.

But it would be this relationship which would lead to Sulzers downfall, for, after taking charge in Albany, he looked to govern without the shackles of the machines influence.

Political conventions must go! the governor said in a speech. Disgraceful secret alliances between special privileges and crooked politics must cease!

But that would not do for Tammany and Murphy, who began to look for anything to get Sulzer out of Albany.

In the impeachment and removal of Governor William Sulzer the arrogance of corrupt bossism in New York state reached its zenith in boldness and brutality, Jay W. Forrest wrote in his 1913 book Tammanys Treason.

Up to that time political bosses had controlled party organizations; they had commanded legislatures and administrative officers of the state government; they had nominated, for a consideration, justices of the supreme court, but it remained for Charles F. Murphy, the reigning boss of his period, to impeach and remove a governor only because the governor refused to do the bidding of the boss.

***

- Gov. William Sulzer was the first, and to this point only, New York chief executive to be impeached. His term lasted about ten months in 1913. Courtesy of WikipediaCourtesy of Wikipedia

William Sulzer was born in 1863 at Elizabeth, New Jersey.

After passing the bar, he entered politics and in 1884, and at just 21 years old, was working for Tammany Hall as a stump speaker on the presidential campaign of New York Governor Grover Cleveland.

He was elected to the New York Assembly in 1889 and four years later, thanks to his close ties to Tammany, was chosen to be Speaker of the Assembly.

He was a reformer. During his time at Albany, he worked on legislation which ended imprisonment for debt, abolished corporal punishment for prisoners, and pushed for the establishment of the New York City Public Library.

In 1895, he was elected to Congress, representing New Yorks lower East Side. He rose to be chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and favored more social legislation, like the direct elections of U.S. senators and womens suffrage. Sulzer authored 25 bills which became law, including the legislation which lit the torch of the Statue of Liberty.

In 1912, Sulzer was the Democrat nominee to be New Yorks governor.

He was not exactly Tammanys or Boss Murphys first choice, but when the Democratic State Convention was deadlocked, Sulzer was there to step into the vacuum, the New York Daily News wrote in 2017.

During the campaign, Sulzer made it clear that he would be his own man if elected, not a puppet for Tammany.

A career Tammany Hall politician, William Sulzer sought his independence from the powerful political machine when he ran for Governor of New York in 1912. In this newspaper advertisement from the Syracuse Herald during the campaign, Sulzer calls himself a "Friend of the Workingman" and said "he loves his neighbors." Under his portrait it says, "I have no boss." Courtesy of World ArchivesCourtesy of World Archives

In an Oct. 20, 1912 campaign advertisement in the Syracuse Herald, Sulzer called himself the Poor Mans Friend, the Great Commoner, and the Peoples Champion.

Under a stern portrait of himself, the self-proclaimed Friend of the Workingman wrote:

I have no boss. I am free and I am going to be free. If I am elected the executive office will be in the Capitol and I will be the Governor.

At his inauguration, Sulzer declined the custom of parading with a military procession. The man known as Plain Bill walked alone from the Executive Mansion, to shouts of Huzzah! from the people.

Boss Charles Murphy was conspicuously absent from the festivities.

- Known as "Boss" and "Silent Charlie," Tammany Hall's Charles Murphy helped pushed for the impeachment of Gov. William Sulzer in 1913. Courtesy of WikipediaCourtesy of Wikipedia

Sulzers independence continued when he entered the Governors Mansion, which he coined the Peoples House, and he looked for a complete break with Tammany.

Jack ODonnell, who told the history of Sulzer and his impeachment in his book Bitten by the Tiger: The True Story of Impeachment, the Governor, and Tammany Hall, wrote:

As soon as he was inaugurated, Sulzer declared his independence from Boss Murphy, cutting off patronage appointments and freezing out Tammany Hall. It was not all good government: Sulzer began filling patronage positions with men who would be loyal to him personally. More than just trying to defang Tammany, the governor was building a Sulzer Machine.

When Sulzer asked the Legislature to adopt direct primaries for nominating political candidates, Murphy and Tammany had had enough.

Lawmakers, pushed by Murphy, created a committee, called the Frawley Committee, which would investigate finances of various state-supported institutions. And also, a candidates campaign receipts and spending.

(Incredibly, they excluded from their work the receipts of senators, assemblymen and mayors.)

Sulzer, they discovered, has failed to add $9,000 from three checks to the $5,460 he did declare. It was then alleged that he had used the money to speculate in the stock market.

The governor said it was a simple oversight. But Murphy now had something that could get Sulzer out of office.

After six weeks of hearings, with Sulzer remaining silent, the Frawley Committee brought forth eight articles for impeachment.

Despite an eleventh hour confession by Sulzers wife, Clara, in which she said she had diverted some of her husbands campaign money herself for stock market speculation, on Aug. 13, 1913, the Assembly, controlled by Democrats, voted to impeach, 72-45.

Everyone seemed to know the real reason why this had all happened.

Inside the impeachment hearings of Gov. William Sulzer in 1913. Courtesy of Library of CongressCourtesy of Library of Congress

The impeachment of Governor William Sulzer by members of his own party, the Syracuse Herald reported, made history in a dramatic climax to a sensational warfare that Sulzer has led against the boss of the Democratic party, Charles F. Murphy.

Sulzer said he had no intention of resigning and when he walked past reporters just hours after his impeachment he said only, Its a fine morning, gentlemen.

At the High Court of Impeachment, testimony against Sulzer was damning. His undeclared campaign money was much more than an oversight.

The self-described man of the people, had 39 political donors, including liquor dealers and bankers, who testified, just four of whom had their contributions reported.

I concede that the failure to report one contribution might be an accident; the failure to report two contributions might be a coincidence; the failure to report a hundred is a crime, was how one impeachment manager framed the argument.

Sulzer refused to testify at his trial, only further eroding his public support.

On Oct. 17, the State Senate voted to convict him. He was succeeded by Lt. Gov. Martin Glynn.

If I had served Mr. Murphy instead of serving the state, Sulzer would exclaim, If I had obeyed Mr. Murphy instead of the dictates of my conscience Mr. Murphy would never have instituted this impeachment.

On the night of Oct. 18, hundreds of supporters stood outside the Governors Mansion in a driving rain.

They had come to say goodbye to Plain Bill.

Well have you back here next year, Bill! and Hurrah for the next president of the United States! they shouted.

Sulzer was presented with a silver cup which was inscribed with the following:

To William Sulzer, a victim of corrupt bossism, October 17, 1913.

Had I obeyed the boss, instead of my oath of office, I would still be the governor and the organization would be patting me on the back and telling the people that I was a second Andrew Jackson, he told the crowd.

The front page of the Oct. 17, 1913 Syracuse Herald announces that Gov. William Sulzer had been voted out of office by the High Court of Impeachment. Courtesy of World ArchivesCourtesy of World Archives

The Syracuse Herald did not feel sorry for the disgraced former Governor.

For a quarter of a century his code of political morality was Tammanys code, an editorial said. And he was never called to account until, in his desire to gain the goodwill of the people who had elected him to the Govornorship, he cast off a factional allegiance which he and his friends perceived to be a fatal obstacle to his official usefulness and political advancement.

Sulzer would not be away from Albany long.

He returned to his old district on the East Side of New York City, and ran for its Assembly seat as a member of the Progressive party.

He won but Tammany would have the final word.

They gerrymandered his district, and he was out after a single term.

He tried running for governor again in 1914 as the nominee for the American and Progressive parties but lost in the primaries. He finished third in the general election as a member of the Prohibition Party.

In 1916, he ran for President.

He left politics and died in 1941 at the age of 78.

On Aug. 13, 1974, less than a week following the resignation of President Richard Nixon had prevented another impeachment crisis, the New York Criminal and Civil Courts Association wrapped up a six-month study into the removal of William Sulzer 61 years before.

They found that his impeachment was illegal and unconstitutional because Sulzers offenses had been committed prior to the time that the Governor was elected to office.

The report further stated that his trial had been a hasty improvisation inspired by Charles Murphy, only after Sulzer declared his independence of Tammany Hall after his election.

Read more

1931: SU student builds and rides (briefly) a rocket sled on Oneida Lake

1911: After the resignation of a popular principal, Baldwinsville students go on strike

1936: Syracuse University chancellor sees the funny side of the Sugar Bomb Hoax

1911: To make city safer, Syracuse considers taking on a public menace: bristling hat pins

Check out our true-crime podcast

An invention from Upstate NY soon became the preferred method of execution across the United States -- the electric chair. In The Condemned, we trace the history of the chair through the stories of five men who were sentenced to death for their crimes. Explore our series here.

This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle at jcroyle@syracuse.com or call 315-427-3958.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-19 23:52:22|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- China will hold the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) from Oct. 11 to 24, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Friday.

The meeting, to be held in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, will review the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework."

Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the COP15 is the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the topic of ecological civilization.

China will earnestly fulfill the obligations of host country, work hand in hand with the international community, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation to ensure the meeting is a complete success, the ministry said. Enditem
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Hong Kong: HK detects 8 COVID-19 cases

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating eight additional COVID-19 cases, of which seven are locally transmitted and one is imported.

Among the local cases, one has an unknown source of infection.

The unlinked case involves a 42-year-old man who lives at Caroline Hill Court in Causeway Bay.

He had been asymptomatic before he went to a mobile specimen collection station for testing on March 18 and tested positive. He is a decoration worker in carpentry and last went to work on March 19.

The patient of the imported case arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines.

A total of 297 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days, including 230 local cases, of which 50 are untraceable.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Boston Public Schools (BPS) is on track to provide five days of in-person learning in all schools beginning in April. The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) paved the way for this in January by signing an antidemocratic Memorandum of Agreement allowing thousands of students to return to classrooms. High-needs students began in-person learning on February 1. On March 1, students in K0Grade 3 returned in two, two-day groups, followed by Grades 48 on March 15, also in two groups. High school students will return to in-person classes in two groups beginning March 29.

On March 5, an undemocratic vote of the majority governor-appointed Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) adopted amendments giving Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeff Riley unhindered authority to determine when district-wide hybrid and remote learning models no longer count for structured learning time. This gives Riley the force of the law to pry districts open regardless of local democratic decisions, logistical safety, scientific recommendations and, ultimately, the threat to the lives and health of an untold number of people.

In this Nov. 19, 2020, file photo, sixth-grade students listen to instruction in class at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School in East Harwich, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

The school reopenings will be enforced statewide in three phases, with Grades K5 beginning full-time, in-person, five days a week starting April 5; Grades 68, April 28; and with plans for Grades 912 forthcoming some time in April.

As of yet, parents and students will still retain the option for remote or hybrid learning for the remainder of the school year. But the goal of the current push, and the plans of DESE and the state, is to no longer allow families any option in fall 2021, save for students with medical exemption. Riley, DESE and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker present these murderous directives as beneficial for children, falsely claiming that the science is clear that it is safe to reopen schools.

Baker and Riley have been pushing to reopen schools in one form or another since they were initially closed in March 2020. While both claim they are acting out of concern for child welfare, school reopenings are a key element of the broader government policy in the US and internationally to drive parents back to work and resume profit-making for the financial aristocracy, whatever the cost in human life.

On June 25, 2020, DESE issued its initial fall school reopening guidance, based on cherry-picked and incomplete initial studies from the early stages of the pandemic that claimed children do not catch or spread COVID-19 easily. Since that time, countless studies have been conducted showing the contrary to be true. With hospitals once again nearing full capacity and new, more infectious and lethal variants emerging which spread more easily in children, both Riley and Baker are continuing their homicidal back-to-school drive.

This past September, Riley sent a threatening letter to school committee chairs in 16 schools that were operating remotely, threatening an audit to assess overall efforts to provide in-person instruction if they failed to provide a report on reopening plans within 10 days. By October, as cases were beginning to rise to over 1,000 cases per day, Riley audited the East Longmeadow and Watertown school districts, saying he was concerned the districts were not aligning [their] reopening model with town or city public health metrics, based on the states formula for calculating infection rates and transmission risk. State officials then changed their formula in November in a number of ways, including no longer counting probable cases of COVID-19.

As a result, the number of high risk or red zone districts went from 121 to 16 overnight. On November 6, the same week the changes were made, Baker claimed: At this point there is clear and convincing scientific data that shows children are at significantly less risk of developing serious health issues from exposure to COVID-19, and there is clear and convincing scientific data that shows learning in a classroom, as long as people are playing by the rules, does not lead to higher transmission rates.

On November 24, with cases at 3,000 per day in the state with no signs of slowing, Riley sent more letters to district leaders of the states three largest districtsBoston, Springfield and Worcesterasking for more information on their reopening plans and once again threatened audits depending on their response.

In Wareham, a town of 20,000 located 18 miles to the east of the economically devastated city of New Bedford, public schools have presently split in-person students into two cohorts, each attending school two times per week, one on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other on Thursdays and Fridays. The upcoming reopening in April will force full-time, daily in-person instruction for all students.

Deanna Semple, president of the Wareham Education Association, said the commissioners mandate was made without a concern as to social distancing, staff welfare, building space, sufficient teachers and staffwithout a care for any of it. But when science is molded to the needs of the capitalist class and profit accumulation, not as a method of guiding a social response to eradicate the pandemic, Riley need not concern himself with such mitigating factors.

In Wareham, as will become the norm in schools across the state, the minimum mandated distance between students will be three feet, a halving of the six feet previously required. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxed the six-foot distancing rule for elementary school students, saying that they need only remain three feet apart as long as everyone is wearing a mask, a claim with no basis in science that places the lives of students, teachers and the wider community at risk.

In fact, the focus on physical distancing ignores the fact that COVID-19 is mostly spread through tiny airborne particles produced by the act of breathing. These droplets accumulate in poorly ventilated areas. Only the most modern and well-maintained HVAC systems can significantly mitigate airborne transmission.

Official science, like official governor-appointed boards, aids the effort to fill classrooms. According to DESEs website, the Board that voted to give Riley absolute power to reopen schools includes the secretary of education, a student (the president of the State Student Advisory Council), and nine members appointed by the governor. Those members must include a parent representative, a labor representative, and a business representative.

By providing the appearance of democratic decision-making, governor-appointed boards such as the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authoritys (MBTAs) Fiscal and Management Control Board play a key role in pushing through the agenda of the states political elite. Of note, in the March 5 vote of 83 in favor of giving Riley executive powers, the three votes against the amendments came from the teacher, parent and student representatives on the board.

The pseudo-medical signatories of the February letter also take no account of the dangerous new variants, particularly B.1.1.7, a far more contagious variant introduced to the US in late 2020, whose prevalence has been doubling approximately every 9.8 days in the US and will soon be the dominant strain as schools reopen. The prevalence of B.1.1.7 has been increasing at an alarming rate in many European countries, including Portugal and Ireland, which, like the UK, have seen devastating waves of COVID-19 after B.1.1.7 became dominant.

The opening of schools is giving this and other variants a perfect breeding ground and means of spreading in the public at large, already seen in the correlation of school reopenings and the increasing prevalence of B.1.1.7. At every turn, the response of the unions to the homicidal drive to reopen schools, both in Massachusetts and across the country, has been to seek to head off resistance of rank-and-file educators with mealy-mouthed statements of protest and public opposition stunts, followed by agreements handing control of school reopenings to local mayors and state governors .

Decisions on school and workplace reopenings must be taken out of the hands of the unions and politicians of both big business parties. Teachers and other workers in Massachusetts and beyond should build rank-and-file safety committees, joining forces with the network of committees being formed in the US and internationally to fight the dangerous reopening of schools and nonessential workplaces.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after a closed-door morning session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, March 19, 2021. AP-Yonhap





US and Chinese officials concluded two days of talks on Friday with both sides noting a wide gap on many contentious issues, but pledging to set up a working group on climate change.



US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his team received a "defensive response" when it raised contentious issues, but added that the two sides saw areas of common interest. Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi called the talks "direct, frank and constructive" before vowing to "safeguard our national sovereignty".



The first high-level meeting between the Chinese and President Joe Biden's administration, in Anchorage, Alaska, ended shortly after noon local time, with Beijing later releasing a statement saying the two nations would step up cooperation on climate change by setting up a "joint working group".



Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.



Beijing also said arrangements were discussed for the countries' diplomats and consular staff to receive Covid-19 vaccines, and to facilitate exchanges between those missions and other groups, including the media. It said travel and visa policies were also on the table, raising the prospect that restrictions may be eased.



Blinken called the talks "a very candid conversation on an expansive agenda".



"We certainly know, and knew going in, that there are a number of areas where we are fundamentally at odds," Blinken said, citing Xinjiang, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet and China's actions in cyberspace. "And it was no surprise, when we raised those issues directly, we got a defensive response."



Blinken said the two sides also discussed areas where their interests aligned, including Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and climate change, as well as areas of difference, such as trade and economics.



"We expected to have tough direct talks on a wide range of issues, and that's exactly what we had, the opportunity to lay out our priorities and intentions and hear from the Chinese side, their priorities and intentions," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.



"We were clear-eyed going in and we're clear-eyed coming out. So we'll go back to Washington and continue to take stock of where we are" and consult further with allies.



Sullivan said the US would deal with issues such as Afghanistan through "normal diplomatic channels".





Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi, second from left, and China's State Councilor Wang Yi, second from right, depart the ballroom from the closed-door morning session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, March 19, 2021. AP-Yonhap
The Somers family. From left: Mary, Stella, Grace and James cheering on Eddie Mernagh on his charity walk

Eamonn Mernagh of Mernaghs Bar, Oylegate (in Pikachu costume) with his wife Sue and children, Hannah and Eddie

With some pubs now closed for almost an entire year, one local publican took it upon himself to use some of his time to raise money for charity.

Eamonn Mernagh from Mernagh's in Oylegate decided to walk 100km throughout February to raise money for the Mater Foundation and to-date has raised almost 4,500 for his efforts.

Eamonn said he decided to carry out the fundraiser after a friend of his told him he was doing it.

'I thought sure I might as well do it as well to see if I could raise some money for it,' he said.

Eamonn said it served as a means for him to use his time and get in some exercise. He also brought a bit of fun into proceedings after being challenged by some local friends.

'Two local girls said to me that if I reached the 3,000 mark I would have to go fancy dress,' he said.

'I said no way but I told them if I reached 3,500, I would do it but sure then it hit the 4,000 mark and I had to do it!'

Eamonn dressed up as the Pokemon character, Pikachu, much to the amusement of local children.

Eamonn expressed gratitude to everyone who supported his fundraiser including those who wished him well as he walked his route.

'It was a great success and it raised a lot more than I expected it would, which was great,' said Eamonn.
Azerbaijan, together with Turkey, has begun to pursue a very dangerous ecclesiastical geopolitics. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), David Babayan, stated this commenting, at the request of Armenian News-NEWS.am, on the policydeclared by the Azerbaijani leadershipof destruction of Armenian heritage in the occupied territories of Artsakh.

"Moreover, it is done on several fronts. Both during the 44-day war and especially after the war, the Armenian cultural heritage of Karabakh has severely suffered. Azerbaijan is currently committing a historical and cultural genocide in the occupied territories of the Artsakh Republic. Architectural and cultural monuments, churches and monasteries, cemeteriesboth old and neware being ruthlessly destroyed. The goal is to destroy the Armenian heritage, to eliminate all Armenian traces; moreover, the order is given by [Azerbaijan president Ilham] Aliyev himselfwith his wife, the first vice-president of Azerbaijan, who, by the way, is an ambassador of goodwill.

But there are two trends here. After the whole world learned about the destruction of the Armenian Church of Hovhannes Mkrtich (Green Church) in Shushi, speculations began. The Azerbaijani side presents it as a Russian church and claims that construction works are underway there. First, the Russian church [there] was destroyed in the [19]20s. It was located in the center of Shushi, not far from the site where the monument to [Armenian statesman] Vazgen Sargsyan was erected in our days, which is now also destroyed by the Azerbaijani occupiers. The Green Church is the oldest religious building in Shushi today. It is the first Armenian church, also called Karabakhtsots, meaning of Karabakh.

The Armenian part of Shushi consisted of districts, and the churches being built there corresponded to the geography of the origin of the people who inhabited them. The Church of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots is named as such after the village of Ghazanchi in Nakhichevan. The Meghrotsots Church was founded by those who came from Meghri. The Aguletsots Churchthose who came from Agulis, Nakhichevan. And the Karabakhtsots was founded by the inhabitants of various regions of Karabakh. Now there is no Russian church in Shushi; it was in a completely different place and was destroyed 100 years ago. And why do they [the Azerbaijanis] do that? First of all, in orderin their opinionto worsen the relations between the Russian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches. It is quite possible that with this cunning project they are trying to use the Russian community in Azerbaijan for far-reaching purposes.

But that, too, is not all. As it is known, the Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance is negotiating with the Vatican. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation funds projects (). At the same time, the Azerbaijani side called onwith advice to and in practicethe Vatican experts to contribution to the restoration of the historical and cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Artsakh. Thus, they are trying to disrupt the relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Moreover, there are also Russian Orthodox churches in those occupied territories. Among those already destroyed is the Russian Orthodox Church in the Martuni regionit destroyed during the first Azerbaijani-Karabakh war. As we can see, they are very far-reaching goals of deterioration of relations between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches.

Also, Azerbaijan intends to rebuild the so-called Albanian Church; to achieve the autocephaly of this church through the Turkey-controlled Patriarchate of Constantinople. It is planned to declare [the Armenian] Dadivank [Church] a cultural center. They [the Azerbaijanis] will give a number of famous Armenian churches in Artsakh to this church. They cannot destroy them because they are famous, so they will try to destroy them not physically, but historically and culturally, for whatever purpose the restoration works are presented.

In general, the trajectory of dividing the Christendom is clearly visible. This poses a threat to the whole civilized society," David Babayan concluded.
Sarah Ravani

A suspect wanted for three decades on a murder warrant for a San Francisco killing was arrested this week in Santa Barbara County and is expected to be transferred to San Francisco in the next few days, officials said Friday.

James Francis Edwards was almost immediately identified by San Francisco police as the suspect in the fatal shooting of 46-year-old Lamar Vaughn on Nov. 5, 1990 on the 200 block of Potrero Avenue. Police said Edwards and Vaughn had been involved in an argument at a soup kitchen shortly before the shooting.
Samina Dornan lost more than a husband this week.

She lost a "soulmate, a best friend, a brain-mate and an intellectual partner".

And she is not the only woman grieving.

"Women everywhere have lost a great champion of their rights," she said. "They've lost a real warrior in Jim."

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph from a Dubai home that suddenly feels very empty and quiet, Pakistan-born Samina is still trying to comprehend a loss she knows she will always struggle to come to terms with.

"I am shattered with grief; he has taken my soul with him," she said.

Prof Jim Dornan, a renowned obstetrician, passed away at King's College Hospital in Dubai on Monday after losing his battle with Covid-19.

The 73-year-old retired consultant gynaecologist died of complications surrounding the virus despite having received a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in January.

He is survived by his widow, daughters Liesa and Jessica, son Jamie - the Hollywood movie star - and wider family circle.

Samina - Mr Dornan's second wife - told this newspaper she was "grieving and utterly broken" following his death.

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"I will miss him terribly," she said. "We were so much more than just a married couple.

"We opened doors and windows for each other. I'll miss the conversations with him, and his great sense of fun.

"The loneliness of losing our relationship will never leave me".

Dr Samina Dornan, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the hospital where Jim passed away, spoke fondly of how she first met her beloved husband from Co Down, a year after the death of his first wife Lorna from pancreatic cancer.

"We met in Dublin in December 1999," she said.

"I was a 27-year-old junior doctor in Limerick in Ireland and Jim was a visiting professor and speaker at an annual meeting.

"I remember when he asked me to go out with him...

"Initially I wasn't sure about it but another consultant told me that Jim was an incredible man - and the only obstetrician and gynaecologist from Northern Ireland who was equally loved by people in the south!"

The couple got married at Clandeboye Estate and Courtyard in Bangor on May 3, 2002.

"He mentored me through medicine, and I mentored him through an international life," said Samina.

"I taught him about other religions and cultures and how important they are in human life, and he embraced that more than I had ever embraced them. I didn't expect the pupil to surpass the teacher, but he did."

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Mr Dornan, who was an advocate of women's reproductive rights in Northern Ireland for over four decades, entered hospital for routine knee surgery on February 24.

His oxygen saturation level dropped three days later and doctors diagnosed a pulmonary embolism and pneumonia.

He then tested positive for Covid-19, despite obtaining a negative result two days before his surgery.

He was put on a ventilator as his condition deteriorated and later suffered a fatal heart attack.

Samina said it almost broke her heart to have to tell Jim's three children the awful news.

"Jim died here in Dubai at 3.30am on March 15; it was March 14 at 11.30pm in Northern Ireland," she said.

"I know what I'm going through, but I would never underestimate the pain felt by his children and others who held him close.

"The most difficult thing after losing Jim was phoning the children. It was like I pierced their hearts with a dagger and I'll never, ever forget that.

"I phoned Liesa first but I think her phone was on silent because she didn't pick up.

"Then I tried Jessica but initially she didn't pick up. Jamie was filming in Australia - he picked up - and then Jessica picked up. Liesa we told later."

She added: "At some stage we will celebrate his life in Belfast. We'll organise that when this war against Covid is over. Jim was not a religious man so we will have a celebration of his life because he would have wanted a big party."

Ironically, Jim passed away at the same age - 73 - as Samina's father, Rahim Mahsud, following his battle with leukaemia. Jim was diagnosed with a similar affliction (lymphocytic leukaemia) at around the same time.

That led him to working closely with the charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Northern Ireland.

"I'm not religious and Jim wasn't but we always respected it," said Samina. "I wish now that I had strong faith; people who have faith are very lucky because faith gives you comfort.

"My message to anyone is if you have it, hold on to it. It will take you through dark times."

She said she will miss "how our souls saw with the same mind", adding: "I will miss the champion of women's rights.

"I am a woman. For me to fight and talk about this is normal but for him to be so passionate about it, I will miss that.

"All the women of Northern Ireland and Ireland have lost a soldier for them.

"He just wanted women to have a choice in everything. He was the first man I've ever met who truly believed that women exist above the neck."

Describing her late husband as "witty, cheeky, cocky sometimes but always great fun", Samina recalled how he used to say things to women that no one else would get away with.

"I remember working as a junior doctor with him in a gynae clinic and I needed to call him in because the patient needed a consultant intervention," she continued.

"He told her what the plan was but she was past herself...so Jim put his fingers through her hair and told her she needed her roots done. She promised him she'd have it done the next time she came!

"His patients loved him because he was like a father and brother and professor and curer. They never minded what he said to them."

It was what Prof Dornan said elsewhere that occasionally caused controversy, especially here where pro-choice issues are still contentious.

"He could often go into troubled seas, talking about abortion and human rights. We both did that," she said.

Mr Dornan moved to Dubai in 2019 when his wife was appointed head of the maternal foetal medicine department at King's College Hospital. Meanwhile he became head of department at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland in Bahrain.

Samina said her husband loved living in the Middle East.

"All religions live here and Jim had a dream that Northern Ireland would move into that international sphere because its people are very international, their hearts are very free," she said.

She told how she often joked about Jim's short attention span.

"I used to tell Jim he had attention deficit syndrome because he changed the direction of his life every few years," she said.

"He was a dedicated obstetrician and gynaecologist for many years. Then he became the vice president of the Royal College in London and he took global health to a different level.

"Then he wrote a book, then got involved more in international women's health."

There is no doubt that Prof Dornan's legacy will live on.

For his widow, however, the challenge now is in learning how to live without him.
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When Art Acevedo arrived in town, he set a new tone.

In both Austin, where he was chief for nine years, and Houston, he preached community policing. He spent time on the streets talking to people. He spoke bluntly, took on conservatives and liberals alike and promised transparency.

But by the time he left Austin to take over the Houston Police Department in late 2016, Acevedo was staring down a brewing scandal after a state commission found the citys crime lab was using outdated methods to examine DNA samples. He also faced pressure over an Austin police officers fatal shooting of an unarmed, naked high school student in February that year, and several months later apologized after video emerged of an officer slamming a woman to the ground during a minor traffic stop.

Now as he prepares to start a new job as police chief in Miami, he leaves behind a spike in crime, the fallout from a botched 2019 drug raid that left two homeowners dead, frayed relations between his administration and rank-and-file officers, and growing discontent among police reform advocates who have called for changes recommended by a task force more than five months ago.

Supporters of Acevedo, the first Latino police chief in Austin and first Latino to lead HPD on a permanent basis, say he pushed his officers in both cities to engage with residents in ways they never had before. And he helped Houston endure some of its toughest moments, leading the law enforcement response to Hurricane Harvey and helping the city avoid damaging unrest that erupted elsewhere last summer after longtime Houston resident George Floyds death in Minnesota.

The chiefs allies and critics alike have marveled at his ability to overcome controversies that might have torpedoed the career ambitions of others. Those who have watched Acevedos rise say his resilience is a product of sharp political instincts, a blunt and gregarious persona and well-timed exits ahead of unfolding scandals.

He is the chameleon of police chiefs in the U.S., said Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday. Hes the best politician in the state of Texas, hands down. He can turn a tragic situation into something that benefits his department or him.

But critics say the transparency he promised wasnt delivered and that he didnt tackle much-needed reform of the department.

Acevedo was great in front of the camera, with folks during the (Floyd) protests, but there was really little to no action outside of the camerawork, said Julia Montiel, a strategist for ACLU Texas, who said Acevedo hadnt put any policing reforms in place since then.

Weathering controversy

In California, where Acevedos career began, his steady climb through the ranks of the California Highway Patrol hit a wall in 2004.

Acevedo, a top candidate that year to replace the retiring highway commissioner, was passed over for the job after officials began investigating years-old allegations that he had stored sexually explicit photos of a fellow officer in the glove box of his cop car.

But instead of letting his career languish, he sued his bosses  later winning a nearly $1 million settlement  and took on a new role as chief of the planning and analysis division, then beat out the acting chief of the Austin Police Department to become the citys top cop a few years later, at 42.

In Austin, he set about remaking the department. He changed uniform policies, redid the department badge and ordered the police cars repainted.

He demanded community-based policing, Casaday said. We went from you will never talk to the press to you need to get out and be with the community. The overall attitude  his first four, five years here  I would describe as really, really good.

Acevedo cultivated that image to help grow the departments size and influence. The budget swelled from approximately $238 million in 2010 to $372 million in his final year.

But while Acevedo charmed Austin at first, his relationship with the union soured over concerns he was punishing officers for political reasons. And two significant use-of-force incidents brought a whirlwind of criticism.

In February 2016, Austin police officers shot and killed a naked, unarmed 17-year-old boy named David Joseph. Months later, video surfaced of an officer violently arresting Breaion King, a woman pulled over for speeding.

Despite the national attention those incidents brought, Acevedo beat out several other candidates to become Houstons police chief in late 2016.

I sought someone who was going to be a cops cop, who placed an emphasis on community policing, sensitive to the diversity in this city, who would keep us all safe, Mayor Sylvester Turner said when he announced Acevedos appointment in November 2016.

Houston

Acevedo quickly began shaking up HPD, an institution that reveres history and tradition.

Facing a wave of retirements fueled by pension reform, Acevedo reorganized the departments administrative structure and patrol districts. He instituted new policies allowing officers to display tattoos and grow facial hair. As hed done in Austin, he redesigned the departments badge, dismaying some officers.

He told top members of his command staff that he would promote them for only a few years before they had to find new jobs leading other departments or retire. He also required the departments leaders to participate in the citys many cultural events and disciplined them if they did not.

He has been really, really big with community engagement, probably more engaged with the community than ever before, said Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union. That I will give him. And that shows, because the community does love him.

Acevedo also put more officers on overnight or weekend shifts, created a special investigations unit to probe officer shootings and formed a new homicide squad aimed at investigating major assaults before they led to fatalities.

He routinely appeared on nightly cable news programs, often to express high-profile disagreements with Republican politicians over gun rights and legislation designed to ban so-called sanctuary cities. He attracted still more attention after a wave of mass shootings across Texas, when he lashed out at the National Rifle Association and the political establishment for failing to do more to reform the nations gun laws and check gun violence.

But the botched Harding Street raid has continued to dog his tenure. Relatives of Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle, the homeowners killed, said that Acevedo has blocked many efforts to learn about what happened, refusing to disclose basic details about the incident. Acevedo also refused for months to release an internal audit of the departments narcotics division, doing so only after a string of critical stories in the Houston Chronicle. The audit showed wider problems than he previously acknowledged.

As crime intensified last year, Acevedo repeatedly emphasized the need for more officers and criticized bail reform practices, which he and other law enforcement officials have blamed for the uptick in violence across the region.

After Turner authorized millions of more overtime dollars, Acevedo pumped the money into additional patrols and investigations. He excoriated bail reform efforts, occasionally clashed with District Attorney Kim Ogg and heaped vitriol on the countys Democratic judges. But observers said additional overtime dollars werent effective.

Putting more money into police overtime ... obviously, that isnt working, said C.O. Brad Bradford, a former Houston police chief.

Summer protests and reform

The hands-on style and emotional candor that endeared Acevedo to many Houstonians were on full display after the death of Floyd, a former Third Ward resident, under a policemans knee in Minneapolis last year. The chief marched with protesters, called for more police accountability and delivered viral off-the-cuff remarks that seemed to tap into the nationwide outrage over police killings of Floyd and other Black people.

However, Acevedos moment on the national stage also refocused attention on the series of fatal recent shootings by Houston police officers, his refusal to release body-camera video of the incidents and his initial rejection of calls to strengthen the citys Independent Police Oversight Board  one of the priorities of groups calling for America to reshape its approach to policing in the wake of Floyds death.

The movement spurred Turner to convene a task force to recommend reforms. The group delivered its recommendations in October, among them a blanket ban on no-knock warrants for nonviolent offenses, sweeping changes to the police oversight board and more stringent rules for investigating police misconduct.

Turner said he agreed with almost all of the task forces recommendations, but he and Acevedo have yet to implement any of the major reforms.

Even as police reform advocates called on Turner to do a national search to pick a replacement who would enact meaningful changes after Acevedo announced his departure, the mayor moved quickly to pick an insider. On Thursday, he announced that Troy Finner, one of Acevedos top two assistant chiefs, would be the new chief.

In choosing Finner, Turner said a key priority is to implement recommendations made by his police reform task force. Larry Payne, the task forces chairman, said he was ready to keep momentum going and was excited to work with Finner.

Some activists appeared more cautious.

I believe he has a chance to do better than Acevedo, but hes been assistant chief under both (former Chief Charles) McClelland and Acevedo, so Im not sure theres much room for improvement, said Ashton Woods, founder of Black Lives Matter Houston. I believe Finner is going to be stymied by Turner, who is slow to implement any of the changes and reforms of the task force he put together last year.

Acevedos abrupt announcement came as a shock to many people at City Hall and the Houston political community. He was widely expected to mount a mayoral bid to succeed Turner, whose term ends in January 2024, or run for a different office in Texas.

At first, I checked my calendar to make sure it wasnt an April Fools joke, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a former Houston police officer and city councilman. I always thought he would go to a bigger stage, even though Miami is a pretty high-profile city. I thought he would go to Los Angeles or run for office.

But critics said the mounting issues limited Acevedos options here, especially as it became clear his charisma and visibility  which helped him endure lesser challenges in California and Austin  would not be enough to solve the botched raid predicament or assuage police reform advocates.

In early March, Acevedo heard from Miamis top leadership. Their police chief had announced his intention to retire months ago, and they needed a replacement. Was Acevedo interested?

He never formally applied for the job but twice met quietly with Miami City Manager Art Noriega earlier this month, according to the Miami Herald. They finalized the deal several days ago.

Acevedo has explained his decision to leave Houston by pointing to Turners dwindling second term and family considerations. Hes also expressed deep affection for Miami, where he first entered the United States in 1968 when his parents immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba.

Last Sunday night, the chief typed out an email to his troops. He had news that was bittersweet.

He was leaving.

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(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The World Health Organization gave strong backing to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab on Friday, urging countries to maintain the roll-out after reviewing reports of blood clots

Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2021 ) :The World Health Organization gave strong backing to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab on Friday, urging countries to maintain the roll-out after reviewing reports of blood clots.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was "no question" over the benefits after the UN health agency's vaccine safety experts found no increase in clotting conditions linked to an AstraZeneca shot.

Several European countries resumed AstraZeneca vaccinations on Friday after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) likewise gave their green light on Thursday.

"We understand that people may have had concerns about the safety of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine," Tedros told a press conference.

"The question with any pharmaceutical or vaccine is whether the risk of taking it is greater or less than the risk of the disease it is meant to prevent or treat.

"There is no question: Covid-19 is a deadly disease and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can prevent it.

"The available data do not suggest any overall increase in clotting conditions following administration of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

"We urge countries to continue using this important vaccine." - 'Tremendous potential' - The WHO's Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) met virtually on Tuesday and Friday.

It reviewed available information and data on thromboembolic events (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low platelets) after vaccination with an AstraZeneca Covid-19 shot.

The committee said the jab "continues to have a positive benefit-risk profile, with tremendous potential to prevent infections and reduce deaths across the world.

"The available data do not suggest any overall increase in clotting conditions such as deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

" Those two conditions "occur naturally and are not uncommon", and also occur as a result of Covid-19, the experts said.

"While very rare and unique thromboembolic events in combination with thrombocytopenia, such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), have also been reported following vaccination with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Europe, it is not certain that they have been caused by vaccination." The EU's EMA regulators have reviewed 18 such cases out of more than 20 million AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccinations in Europe, and "a causal relationship between these rare events has not been established at this time".

The AstraZeneca vaccine accounts for more than 90 percent of the doses being distributed around the world in the first wave of the Covax global vaccine-sharing facility.

Just under 30 million doses have so far been distributed to 50 countries as part of the scheme, which aims to ensure poorer nations get enough doses to vaccinate at least 20 percent of their population by the end of the year.

- European countries resume shots - Worries that AstraZeneca's vaccine may cause blood clots have seen countries from Venezuela to Indonesia pause its use in recent days, besides European nations.

But Germany and Italy, among others, said they were using the jab again as of Friday after the EMA said it was "safe and effective".

Other European countries including the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal are also ending their suspension.

The WHO vaccine safety experts recommended that countries continue monitoring Covid-19 vaccine safety and report suspected adverse events.
Through some twist of fate, March has been an important month in Americas gradual and still developing representative democracy. The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified and certified on March 30, 1870; that amendment declared that:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude and that The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

The very next day, March 31, 1870, Thomas Mundy Peterson, an African American resident of Perth Amboy, N.J., became the first person to vote under its provisions. We know, of course, that the advent of Jim Crow laws and practices in the post-Reconstruction years effectively negated the 15th Amendment throughout the Deep South, an outrage that lasted for the next century. And while the 19th Amendment, which took effect in the summer of 1920, extended the franchise to women in America, black women in the South were excluded via law and practice.

The drive for civil rights -- including voting rights -- accelerated (mostly but not exclusively in the South) in the 1950s and 1960s, and reached a fever pitch in early 1965, as African Americans and enlightened citizens of other races argued, demonstrated, and marched to ensure that both the 15th and 19th Amendments were honored in all 50 states, including those of the old Confederacy.

On Feb. 18, 1965, voting rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot by a state trooper in Marion, Ala., while defending his family. In response to his death eight days later, the movements leaders decided to march from Selma to Montgomery.

March 7, 1965, is now regarded as a defining moment in that drive, for it was on that day --forever known as Bloody Sunday -- that the moral force of civil rights was confronted by the full fury of official and unofficial white supremacy. The power of the movement and the ugliness its opponents were captured by television cameras. Local police, county sheriffs deputies and state troopers, under the direction of Gov. George Wallace and pro-segregationist local officials, blocked the marchers at the end of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, using brute force to disrupt and dismantle the protest. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Chairman John Lewis, then only 25, suffered a fractured skull at the hands of one club-wielding officer.

In the shadows that dark day -- literally and figuratively -- members of the Ku Klux Klan cheered the authorities and their uniformed henchmen, waiting to apply their own murderous penalties. Unitarian minister James Reeb was fatally beaten by a racist mob outside an integrated Selma diner two days later. On March 25, Klansmen shot into a car with two civil rights workers, Viola Liuzzo, a white housewife whod come from Detroit to aid the cause, and Leroy Moton, a 19-year-old high school senior. Moton was uninjured, but Liuzzo was hit in the head and killed.

However, the power of news accounts of the violence and bloodshed proved to be infinitely greater than the clubs or the guns. Never was the effect of that power more evident than when, on March 15, 1965, President Johnson spoke to a joint session of Congress, and declared to the American people:

In our system the first and most vital of all our rights is the right to vote. Jefferson described it as 'the ark of our safety.' It is from the exercise of this right that all our other rights flow.

Congress, after vigorous and at times prolonged debate because of die-hard segregationists filibuster, approved the Voting Rights Act, which was signed into law on Aug. 6, 1965.

Five years later, provisions of the Voting Rights Act were expanded to include 18-to-21-year- olds (prior to that, the age of enfranchisement was 21 in 46 of the 50 states). But that provision hit a snag in December of 1970 when the Supreme Court determined that Congress had overstepped its authority in telling states what the age of eligibility should be in their elections. The high court ruled that it was okay in federal elections (president, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives), but not at the state and local levels.

The reaction of election officials in the states was swift and effective, as they were looking down the pike at an election in 1972 that would require two separate systems -- one for 18-to-21-year-olds in federal races, and one for all others in state and local contests. The result would be chaos and massive additional expense. The only remedies available were a repeal of the problematic section of the Voting Rights Act (an option never seriously considered), or a constitutional amendment establishing 18 as the threshold year for voting in all elections.

Congress moved with uncharacteristic speed and near unanimity, as the Senate approved the 26th Amendment by a vote of 94-0 on March 10, 1971, and the House followed suit  401-19 on March 23. The measure was sent immediately to the states, five of which ratified it the very same day. The necessary three-fourths of the states needed for ratification was achieved on July 1, 1971, and it was certified and went into effect on July 5 of that year, leading then-President Richard Nixon to observe:

I sense that we can have confidence that Americas new voters, Americas young generation, will provide what America needs as we approach our 200th birthday, not just strength and not just wealth but the Spirit of 76, a spirit of moral courage, a spirit of high idealism in which we believe in the American dream, but in which we realize that the American dream can never be fulfilled until every American has an equal chance to fulfill it in his own life.

Today, we know that the struggle for the right to vote on the part of minorities and young people is not complete, and even worse, serious attempts are being made to reverse advances previously made. And it is the party of Nixon -- and now of Donald Trump -- that is pushing those restrictions. At the urging of the American Legislative Exchange Council, among other conservative groups, legislatures across the country are considering measures (250 or so at last count) that would have the effect of rolling back the hard-won franchise.

As troubling as this assault on democracy might be, it should come as no surprise. More than four decades ago, prominent right-wing political activist Paul Weyrich was completely forthright about his movements philosophy. Speaking to a conclave of conservative evangelical Protestants gathered in Texas to support the 1980 presidential candidacy of Ronald Reagan, Weyrich declared to a cheering audience:

So many of our Christians have what I call the goo-goo syndrome: good government. They want everybody to vote. I don't want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people; they never have been from the beginning of our country and they are not now. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down. (Emphasis added.)

Whereas Weyrich was honest about his views and motivations, todays anti-voting rights advocates are much less so. They are, however, a lot more clever, and therefore more dangerous, as they mask their efforts to disenfranchise millions of their fellow citizens with feigned concern for election integrity and insincere attempts to root out virtually nonexistent voter fraud.

At the dawn of the 21st centurys third decade, political attention is understandably focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic and social impacts. We are hyper-concerned, as well, by the insurrection of Jan. 6 and what it might mean for the future of our democratic republic. Just down the immediate agenda are mega issues such as infrastructure investments and immigration reform.

Yet, my hunch is that one of the biggest stories of the era might turn out to be, as it was in the 1960s, voting rights, and assuring open access to the ballot for all Americans.
The Minister of Roads, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has said the Akufo-Addo government has constructed more roads in the Ashanti Region than any administration.

Amoako-Atta has therefore rejected claims that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has failed to construct roads in the region which happens to be the partys stronghold.



Addressing the media after touring some ongoing projects in the region, Amoako-Atta touted the governments achievement at the road sector describing them as unprecedented, announcing that five more interchanges will be constructed in the region.



The completion of these projects, according to the minister, is expected to ease vehicular traffic experienced at major intersections within the region.



According to him, Oforikrom, Bekwai, Ahodwo, Suame and Santasi roundabouts have been identified as areas the interchange projects will impact.



I want to assure the people of this region that developmental programmes in Ghana as a whole will be looked at in its entirety and every region will get its first share of the national cake, but Ashanti Region will never be short-changed and your interest will not be toyed with as far as the road sector is concerned. Ashanti Region will always have its fair share of the national cake, Amoako-Atta said.



I am privileged to lead that sector on behalf of President Akufo-Addo. So, while looking at the whole situation, there is no way I will joke and toy with Ashanti Region. If you look at asphalt overlay, we started with 227 kilometres plan for Ashanti Region. As I speak, we have completed 174 kilometres, he added.



Second year of roads



During the 2021 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Akufo-Addo reiterated that 2021 will be second year of roads.



Our roads are being constructed at a faster pace than before, and yes, there are still many more kilometres to construct. We defined last year as the year of roads. This year will be the second year of roads as we continue with our focus on dealing with the deficits of our road infrastructure, Akufo-Addo said.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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Dunlavin is looking its best after the local Tidy Towns group's recent socially distanced litter pick.

A small number of volunteers from the group tidied and collected litter along sections of the approach roads to the picturesque west Wicklow village. They also tidied the green space in the village as part of the clean-up.

Those taking part brought their own gloves and litter pickers. Masks were worn by all those taking part and Covid-19 public health guidelines were strictly followed.

Around 20 bags of rubbish were collected by the Dunlavin Tidy Towns volunteers, including items discarded along the roads. The beautiful sunny weather enhanced the good spirits of the volunteers on the day and the litter pick was completed in under two hours.

The Little Brew Cafe provided refreshments, including tea and coffee, to the volunteers once they had finished their morning's work.

Dunlavin Tidy Towns would like to encourage everyone in the community to do their little bit to keep the village looking its best. Preparation for this year's Tidy Towns competition is also under way.

Dunlavin Tidy Towns committee said a big thank you to all the volunteers who took part in the socially distanced litter pick and other Tidy Towns activities. Thanks were also extended to the Little Brew Cafe for providing the refreshments.

Dunlavin Tidy Towns is always on the lookout for new volunteers. More information is available on its Facebook page.

* More photos in the March 17th issue of The Wicklow People
In late January, when a Covid-19 outbreak occurred in Dong Trieu Town of Quang Ninh province, urgent measures were needed to deal with the emergency.

At 1pm on January 27, before getting into a car to go to the National Conference Center to attend the Party Congress, Nguyen Xuan Ky, Secretary of the Quang Ninh Party Committee, received bad news: a security officer at Van Don Airport had tested positive to SARS-nCoV-2.

Four hours later, Ky received further information: Dong Trieu Town, which borders Hai Duong, a Covid epicenter, was very likely to become a hotbed.

He was informed that 19 people with direct contact with infected patients had been found. They had had close contacts with a female patient, born in 1989, residing in Hung Dao commune in Chi Linh City in Hai Duong, who was discovered positive for coronavirus after going to Japan as a guest worker. She was a worker at Poyun Company in the Cong Hoa Industrial Zone in Chi Linh City.

But this was not all. On the next day, Quang Ninh was informed that 119 people in Dong Trieu worked at Poyun. Five days later, the figure rose to 651. And after three more days, the figure increased to 1,026.

From January 27, when the first patient was discovered, to January 29, Quang Ninh had 13 infection cases.

On the same day, the provincial authorities decided to impose social distancing for the entire Dong Trieu Town and a lockdown for Binh Duong commune (bordering Chi Linh City) for 14 days.

With speedy measures and testing contacts and high-risk cases, as well as zoning infected areas, the outbreak in Quang Ninh was controlled within one week by February 9.

As of 5pm of February 2, Dong Trieu Town had reported 15 infection cases. And 35 other cases connected to Dong Trieu were discovered in other cities and provinces.

Urgent meeting at epicenter

On February 2, Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Ky and Chair Nguyen Tuong Van were present at the Binh Duong epicenter. They were accompanied by Chief Commander of the Provincial Military Headquarters and the Director of the Provincial Public Security.

If we had not gone to the epicenter, we would not have known what was happening and how people were living, Ky said.

We were equipped with protective clothing and face masks and we tried to keep a safe distance. It was just like a miniature society, where people still were doing the usual activities, going to karaoke shops and cafes, and selling souvenirs, he said.

I immediately called an urgent meeting with 21 communes and wards, asking to stop this. A deputy director of healthcare department was sent to the epicenter. There was one medical worker in every hamlet, he recalled.

With speedy measures and testing contacts and high-risk cases, as well as zoning infected areas, the outbreak in Quang Ninh was controlled within one week by February 9.

Contact tracing is key

Thorough contact tracing was one of the actions strictly observed by Quang Ninh authorities. Ky said Quang Ninh strived to trace back to even F5 contacts.

Dong Trieu has a population of 200,000 and 20 out of 21 communes had an infected person considered F0. If the tracing could not be done urgently, everything would have been chaotic, he said. Soon after discovering Dong Trieus situation, we tried to trace to F5 contacts but we actually traced to F3."

The Party Committee Secretary remembers the first difficult days when Quang Ninh was not subject to a large-scale testing campaign.

The declaration of Covid outbreak should have been made in both Dong Trieu and Chi Linh, not only Chi Linh, because the two localities once belonged to one administration unit. The Poyun factory is located in Hoang Tien Ward of Hai Duong, adjacent to Bac Ma hamlet in Binh Duong commune in Dong Trieu, he explained.

The two communes share the same market, and the same road and canal where people come every day to wash clothes. And 1,000 out of 2,600 Poyun workers are from Dong Trieu.

At a meeting with the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control on February 4, Quang Ninh asked for a large-scale testing campaign as positive infections had been found in all five localities, including Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, Cam Pha, Ha Long and Van Don.

We are grateful to Deputy Prime Minister, head of the steering committee, for his agreement to the large-scale testing campaign which helped extinguish the hotbed quickly, he said.

As Quang Ninh now has controlled the outbreak, the province has resumed some activities since March 2, operating in a "new normal" situation.

The province has set up six testing centers in six areas and has encouraged people to take tests.

Quang Ninh Party Committee Secretary: Quang Ninh has not had to call for help to rescue farm produce, though Dong Trieu is a large farm produce center in the province. Potatoes and carrots have been selling as usual, and no peach or kumquat tree has been thrown away. At least 98 percent of farm produce has been harvested. Quang Ninh both fought the pandemic and maintained production at the same time.

Luong Bang - Pham Cong

Vietnam remains at high risk of COVID-19 infections: health minister Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has warned that Vietnam remains at high risk of COVID-19 infections from abroad as the number of cases in many countries keeps rising.
HUD Secretary Endorses Democrats at White House, May Have Violated Ethics Law

The newly sworn-in secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development may have violated an ethics law by endorsing Democratic candidates in a Senate race.

Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge, a former U.S. representative, in her first press conference in office, told reporters on March 18 that she had two friends who were considering running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

Tim Ryan, of course, is thinking about it. I understand that Nan Whaley is thinking about it. I mean, I think were going to put a good person in that race no matter who we choose, but theyre both friends. I think we have a good shot at it. I know people have written off Ohio. I havent written off Ohio. I believe we can win the Senate race, she said.

Ryan is a U.S. representative, and Whaley is the mayor of Dayton, Ohio. Both are Democrats.

Experts said the remarks may have violated the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from using their positions while engaged in political activity.

Under the Hatch Act, if you are giving an official policy talk at the White House, you cannot talk about the prospects for the Democratic Party or Republican Party in an Ohio Senate race. Its completely inappropriate and would violate the Hatch Act, Richard Painter, the top White House ethics lawyer during George W. Bushs administration, told the Washington Post.

Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, said, It is entering a dangerous territory when an official starts talking about a specific race and about which party can win and about their own party.

The Office of Special Counsel declined to comment. The office charged with reviewing possible Hatch Act violations.

The White House didnt return an inquiry.

Fudge told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that she shouldnt have answered the question.

When I was discussing getting relief to the American People and the American Rescue Plan from the briefing room on Thursday, I answered a question from a reporter related to Ohio politics, she said.

I acknowledge that I should have stuck with my first instinct and not answered the question. I take these things seriously and I want to assure the American people that I am focused on meeting the needs of our country.

OSC officials found that multiple officials in the Trump administration violated the Hatch Act, including former adviser Kellyanne Conway.
Invoking the goddess in times of disease and health crises, as with Corona Devi in the COVID-19 pandemic, is rooted in the mingling of Brahminical and tribal cultures.

We are witnessing an unprecedented pandemic that is destroying the everyday narratives of the old world and replacing them with a new normal. Although the pandemic has engulfed both the Orient and the Occident, the worlds response to it has been anything but homogeneous. While scientists across the world create vaccines and search for a cure for COVID-19, in some parts of India, the response to the disease has been superstitiousespecially in the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam where some worshipped Corona Devi, hoping to placate the coronavirus goddess and expecting a cure for the virus.

History tells us that the creation of the goddess cult dates back to the early medieval period. In the latter half of the Gupta era, land grants on the peripheries of villages and towns, in present-day West Bengal and Assam, were made to Brahmins in recognition of their services, and came to be known as Brahmadeya lands. As a result, with Brahmin communities as the main transporters of Brahminism to peripheral lands, there was an assimilation of Brahminism and local tribal culture in more ways than one, which created a strong and diverse regional identity. Historian Kunal Chakrabarti details the religious processes that stemmed from this assimilation of the Brahminical and non-Brahminical deities. According to Chakrabarti, the proliferation of the mother goddess cult and Tantrism is not a recent phenomenon, and is evident from the Mangal Kavyas, Bengali religious texts composed between the 13th and 18th centuries. Ethnographic accounts too suggest the regions long association with non-Brahminical goddesses. There was large-scale Brahmin migration in Bengal, after the Gupta period, to which tribal cultures interaction with Brahminism can be tracedthe assimilation of Brahminical deities with the existing goddess cult was a result of a puranic process.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Republican Senator Rand Paul says Dr. Anthony Fauci knows people don't need to wear masks if they've been vaccinated, but he won't say so because he doesn't want everyone else to take off their face coverings.

Fauci is telling a 'noble lie' to scare people into wearing masks even when they don't have to, Paul contended on Tucker Carlson's show Friday night.

'He is lying because he doesn't think we are smart enough to make decisions,' Paul said. 'His fear is if the vaccinating - if we quit wearing masks - the vaccinated will say: What the hell, I'm not wearing a mask either.

Paul and Fauci got into an argument about masks on the Senate floor earlier in the week, and the senator said he's even been confronted in the Capitol gym for not wearing a mask.

'I shouldn't have to prove I want to be free and left alone. I want to breathe the air. I was on the treadmill the other day and some Karen goes and reports people on the treadmill running without a mask,' Paul said.

'For goodness sake, since the world we live in where everybody is reporting everyone and the gestapo is going to come in a rescue like this poor woman?

Republican Rand Paul has fired back at Dr. Anthony Fauci as their war of words over face masks continues

Meanwhile, Fauci has hit back in recent days, saying Paul, an ophthalmologist, doesn't have the expertise to be making pronouncements on masks - and also isn't taking into account new variants that the vaccines might not be as effective against.

Paul said Fauci's masks are all 'theater.'

'He lies to say the mask makes a difference when in reality he knows better,' Paul said on the Fox News show Friday night. 'He's wearing two masks for theater. He is immune and he knows he will not get it but he's not being honest with the American public,' the senator contended.

'There are no news reports or scientific studies saying after vaccination that there is some sort of widespread contagion that people vaccinated are spreading the disease. It is just not true,' Paul said.

'What Fauci won't tell you is he is telling you a noble lie.'

Fauci has insisted that wearing face masks was still necessary for public safety

It was an allegation made earlier this week at a senate hearing when the Kentucky Senator accused him of using face masks as 'theater' for the 'nanny state'.

'One thing about freedom is freedom doesn't have to be practical or have a study to say why you should have to have freedom here they need to have a study in scientific proof to show us why we shouldn't have freedom,' Paul said.

'My goodness, they need to present the proof - the burden should be on the government to show that someone who is vaccinated is getting it again and being hospitalized and dying or spreading it instead of the conjecture of Anthony Fauci that says someday you might.'

Paul has accused Fauci of trying to keep Americans under COVID restrictions 'forever'.

Rand Paul tells Tucker Carlson he was running on a treadmill without a mask recently, prompting "some Karen" to complain about him pic.twitter.com/paXgt49wfd  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 20, 2021

'My response was someday the Spanish flu might come back so maybe we should always wear a mask because this isn't as bad as the Spanish flu and a lot less deadly, but someday the Spanish flu is going to come back. Why should we not wear a mask until we die?'

Paul continued: 'When they mandate it, it is incumbent upon them that they should have to show the proof. There is no proof when you have been vaccinated or when you have gotten the disease naturally that you are spreading it. If there were, it would be all over the news.

On Thursday night Fauci told CNN that it was 'not the first time' he and Paul had argued, but insisted that it was still essential to carry on wearing a face mask after being vaccinated.

Paul attacked government guidance that people who have been vaccinated still wear masks

Dr Anthony Fauci appeared on CNN on Thursday night to discuss his earlier row with Rand Paul

'There is always a kernel of truth in what he says; that there is protection, to some extent, after you get infected. There is no doubt about that,' Fauci told Chris Cuomo.

Fauci, 80, pointed out that Paul was ignoring the threat from new variants, and was 'selective' in his quoting medical literature.

Fauci highlighted an article in The Lancet published on Wednesday which said people aged 65 and over were at particular risk of getting re-infected.

'I'm afraid if people hear what he says, and they believe it, and you have an elderly person who has been infected, and they decide, well Rand Paul says you won't get it again - they could get re-infected again and get into trouble,' he said.

'That's the thing that bothers me about that kind of an interchange.'

Fauci said he understood that people were 'tired of the constraints' of social distancing and mask wearing, but insisted that for now it was still the right thing to do.

'We are not saying doing this indefinitely,' he said.

'We are not saying this is the way it's going to have to be all the time.

'We are saying that if you look at the data, look at the science, you could get in trouble if you pull back too prematurely.

Women are seen wearing face masks in New York City on Wednesday. Paul says vaccinated people don't need to worry about wearing masks - and that people should be free to decide for themselves what they're going to do or not do

'That's what we are saying. We are not saying it is not difficult to maintain public health measures, when you do it so long. On that, we agree.'



Fauci, who was appointed by Joe Biden as his chief medical adviser after serving on Donald Trump's coronavirus task force, said that Europe was now going back into lockdown because they were too quick to lift restrictions, and had not had as high a vaccine uptake as in the United States.





'We want to avoid that,' he said, of the risk of a fourth wave and new lockdowns, as in Italy and France.



'We've seen it before; we've been to that movie before; we want to avoid that.'



He said the recommendations on social distancing and mask wearing will change once more data becomes available that suggests it is safe.








VANCOUVER - Serial numbers associated with Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's electronic devices were a "gateway" to her private information and were improperly obtained by the RCMP to appease the United States, one of her lawyers said Friday.

Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, arrives at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, Friday, March 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER - Serial numbers associated with Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's electronic devices were a "gateway" to her private information and were improperly obtained by the RCMP to appease the United States, one of her lawyers said Friday.

Scott Fenton accused a Mountie of collecting the numbers through an unauthorized search after the Federal Bureau of Investigation asked for them.

"The theme that runs through this is: If the FBI make a bare request, the RCMP are only too pleased to jump and satisfy that request" without regard for Meng's charter rights, he said.

Fenton made the accusations during a hearing in the B.C. Supreme Court over whether Meng was subjected to an abuse of process and her extradition proceedings should be stayed.

Arguments in the extradition case are expected to conclude in May.

Meng was arrested at Vancouver's airport on Dec. 1, 2018, to face fraud charges in the United States related to economic sanctions against Iran that both she and Huawei deny. Her electronic devices were seized and stored in an RCMP evidence locker.

Court has heard evidence that days later, an FBI agent asked the RCMP for a list of the electronic serial numbers, makes and models of the devices for the purpose of entering a request for them through a legal channel known as a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

Const. Gurvinder Dhaliwal, who was tasked with overseeing the exhibits, took photos of the devices and collected serial numbers, including the phone SIM cards and international mobile equipment identity number, court heard.

Fenton said those numbers have the potential to unlock other "highly meaningful" information.

In an agreed statement of facts, the Crown and defence agree that law enforcement can use the mobile equipment identity number to seek a warrant or other form of compulsory order to obtain user information, such as stored emails, photos and contacts.

"Meng had an expectation of privacy," Fenton said.

The numbers were also unnecessary to the FBI's request for the devices under the legal assistance treaty, and the request could have been entered with more vague descriptions like "thumb drive," he said.

Lawyers for Canada's attorney general have not yet responded in court, but in court documents they say there is no evidence to suggest the U.S. sought the information for any purpose other than to particularize the request under the treaty.

The FBI agent entered the request after another senior RCMP officer advised him that was the information needed, the Crown says.

"The request for information by (the FBI agent) was legitimate and well within the bounds of police-to-police information sharing recognized by the Supreme Court as essential to combating transnational crime," it says.

Fenton argued that the "unprecedented" refusal to testify by the now-retired senior RCMP officer who acted as a go-between for the FBI and Dhaliwal only complicates matters. Staff Sgt. Ben Chang's failure to appear in court means there is no direct evidence that the numbers were ultimately passed to the FBI, Fenton said.

The final email correspondence asks Dhaliwal to share the numbers with another officer and says "we will take care of forwarding them information" so they can apply for the devices.

"That is where the email chain stops," he said.

He urged the court to make the "reasonable inference" that the numbers were sent.

The Crown counters that a second request made by the FBI agent to a new RCMP officer weeks later indicates the device numbers had never been shared.

"Why would the FBI seek this information in an MLAT request if they already had received it from the RCMP?" the Crown asks.

Even if the court decides the numbers were never shared, the way they were gathered was improper, Fenton said.

By opening the exhibit bags and collecting the numbers, Dhaliwal conducted a new search of the devices that Fenton said he didn't have the authorization to do.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.
More than four in 10 people here believe Scottish independence would hasten a referendum on Irish reunification, according to a new survey.

Polling carried out by Focaldata for the anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate found that only a third believed it would make a border poll less likely.

Elections to the Scottish parliament in May had been confidently predicted to return a majority Scottish National Party government with a clear mandate for a second referendum.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is not without problems of her own this weekend, with the expected publication next week of an official report into her government's handling of sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor, Alex Salmond.

The Hope Not Hate poll also found opinion in Northern Ireland divided on whether Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely, with 44% believing it does, while 18% think it less likely and 26% say it will make no difference.

Given our shambolic introduction to life outside the EU, perhaps unionists should encourage the calling of a border poll on the principle of be careful what you wish for.

Clearly, Scottish independence would leave the Union a significantly smaller entity and, arguably, Northern Ireland's role in it would be diminished accordingly.

But focus on events at Holyrood is likely to lead us up the wrong path.

There has never been a settled view of what a united Ireland would look like - much less one capable of being codified for the purposes of a plebiscite.

Moreover, only the Secretary of State currently has the power to order a border poll and he or she will be in no rush to call one based on a will-o'-the-wisp.

If even the "father of Northern Ireland", Sir Edward Carson's prediction that the state would only last 50 years is currently wrong by a factor of 100%, it suggests we'll still be having the same, circular arguments in another 100 years' time.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 20:00:14|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2019 shows a view of the China-aided project for the expansion and modernization of Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba, South Sudan. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

China will fund the expansion and modernization of the Juba Teaching Hospital in South Sudan that will allow the provision of improved services for patients.

JUBA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China and South Sudan have signed a development pact for the expansion and modernization of the Juba Teaching Hospital to offer medical services in the East African country.

Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, said the Phase II project is more comprehensive than the completed Phase 1 with multi-functional facilities including infectious disease division and several ICUs.

"I am very pleased to sign the agreement on the new project as we are going to celebrate South Sudan's 10th anniversary of independence and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Sudan," Hua said in a statement issued in Juba earlier this week.

"It is another major achievement in our health cooperation and concrete action in building China-Africa community of health for all. I trust the new project will significantly improve the healthcare delivery and pandemic control capacity in South Sudan when it is completed," the Chinese envoy added.

In the global fight against COVID-19, Hua said, China, South Sudan and other African countries have enhanced solidarity and cooperation by supporting each other.

A patient consults a Chinese medical doctor at Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba, capital of South Sudan, March 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)

"We will also donate 100,000 doses of vaccine to South Sudan in line with the country's vaccine policy," said Hua.

The Phase I project was completed and handed over to the government in 2019.

The Phase II project, with a total site area of about 2.28 hectares and a total floor area of about 16,000 square meters, includes six functional divisions: specialist outpatient division, medical technology division, inpatient division, infectious disease division, administration division and logistics support division.

Both projects are funded with the Chinese government's grants.

Mayen Dut Wol, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in South Sudan, lauded China for undertaking the implementation of the two health projects.

"This is a tremendous health infrastructure project which will culminate in a profound improvement of health care and welfare of the people of South Sudan," Wol said.

He added that the signing of the agreement marked a new chapter on the existing thriving bilateral relations between Beijing and Juba, noting that the deal has come at a time when the young republic will celebrate its 10th anniversary of the strong establishment of good diplomatic relations with China in July. 
On this weeks episode of Segue, Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles weekly radio program exploring the lives and work of the people on campus and beyond, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD, interviews Musonda Kapatamoyo, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Mass Communications.

This episode of Segue airs at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 21. Listeners can tune into WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound or siue.edu/wsie.

Kapatamoyo earned a bachelors in development economics and political science from the University of Zambia. He later earned a masters in communications and development studies, and a doctorate in information and communication technology from Ohio University. He recently completed an MBA at SIUE.

Since joining the SIUE faculty in 2007, Kapatamoyo has held local leadership positions with the Collinsville Jaycees, the Lynne F. Solon Foundation and the Edwardsville Rotary Club. Last year, he developed Madison Curbside, an application that connects customers to businesses that provide curbside service to aid in social distancing.

Welcome Musonda, begins Leonard. How did you become interested in mass communications?

After earning my undergraduate degree, I went to work in a rural town in Zambia, explains Kapatamoyo. I would go into the village, mobilize people and talk to them about their problems. One of the problems was communication on a mass scale.

I was involved in creating posters and would drive around on my motorbike trying to spread mass information. When the internet came along, I found a better tool to create content that can be seen by many people.

Inspired by the internet, Kapatamoyo learned HTML before heading to Ohio University, where he was exposed to more mass communication methods such as radio, television and newspaper.

These technologies led me to believe that mass communication is important for many activities. I was approaching it from wanting to help people uplift themselves from either poverty or some strife they are facing. When you apply the principles of mass communications, they go across the board.

Was there a pivotal moment where you realized you wanted to devote your career to teaching mass communications? asks Leonard.

During my PhD program, we had a colloquium almost every Friday afternoon where experts from the field told us that someone has to teach the next generation, explains Kapatamoyo. I became very interested and changed my focus in my doctoral program.

Kapatamoyo was initially hired at SIUE with the role of creating courses in web design. Since then, he has expanded his course offerings to include data analytics and app design.

How have your personal experiences influenced your career overall? inquires Leonard.

Im interested in all communication technologies, responds Kapatamoyo. Im one of those people who enjoys learning about how something works. Im not scared to break apart a computer and see whats inside or build a website from scratch.

Web design is applicable across many disciplines. Sometimes, my students wonder why theyre learning this. But in the end, they appreciate learning something new. Because I speak six languages, I tell my students that this is just another language.

What are the questions that have guided your research during the course of your career? asks Leonard.

I want to know who is behind a big technology that is being diffused in a society, answers Kapatamoyo. Im also interested in the companies that push for and design different technologies, and the users of these technologies. Design of technology is not by accident, and knowing why a platform is designed the way it is helps in addressing concerns such as privacy.

Are there any overarching conclusions youve found from this research? asks Leonard.

Because my recent research has been in data analytics, Ive realized that the world is not slowing down on the amount of data that is being generated, explains Kapatamoyo. For my students to be useful in the future, they must understand these multitudes of data. How they put this data together is how they become indispensable.

The Department of Mass Communications is hosting SIUEs 2021 Mass Communications Week virtually March 22-26. This years theme is Mass Communications in the Pandemic. Presentations will take place via Zoom and are free to the public. More information regarding these events will be posted on the Departments website and Facebook page.

Tune in at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 21, to WSIE 88.7 The Sound to hear the entire conversation.
It is a northeast town that, historically, is about as red as the red wall gets.

Hartlepool has never voted for anything other than a Labour MP in the almost half century since its own constituency was created in 1974. When The Independent visited in the run-up to the 2019 general election, one woman captured the mood: I could never go Tory, Dorothy Scott, a retired sewing machinist, told this publication. My father would turn in his grave.

And yet.

After Mike Hill suddenly quit the seat this week paving the way for a May by-election, this Tees Valley port town of 92,000 people suddenly looks the shakiest of grounds for Sir Keir Starmer.

The talk here is of the once unthinkable: that Hartlepool might be the latest Labour brick to go blue.

And, make no mistake, if it did so, the repercussions would reverberate around Westminster  and may offer a glimpse of how a future general election would play out.

Read more:

A Tory victory, analysts reckon, would add to questions already being asked about Sir Keirs appeal in these one-time party heartlands; while simultaneously suggesting that Boris Johnson has retained his ability to attract voters in seats that were once Tory no-go areas  despite what many view as a bungled handling of the pandemic.

A Conservative win would be massive, says Professor Matthew Flinders, director of the University of Sheffields Sir Bernard Crick Centre for the Public Understanding of Politics. It would be a defining moment because it would show that, even in spite of Covid and the rather shaky opening to Boriss tenure as prime minister, he is still managing to knock those red dominoes down  even though hes not really had time yet to invest in the levelling up agenda.

And the flip side of that for Sir Keir is that there are already concerns about his ability to connect with the public at an emotional level, especially so in those northern areas. Losing Hartlepool would absolutely amplify those concerns.

The problem is the numbers dont look good right now for Labour, which has already announced former Stockton South MP Paul Williams as its candidate.

Mike Hill  who stood down amid allegations of sexual harassment  held on to the town in 2019 with a hugely reduced majority of 3,595. But received wisdom suggests that if the Brexit Party had not stood  and won 10,000 votes  the Tories would almost certainly have clinched victory here.

This time round there will be no Brexit Party to split the poll; and, although its Farage-less successor Reform UK is considering chucking its hat in the ring, it would almost certainly be a bit player.

The upshot? If it comes down to a two-horse race, even Labour members in Hartlepool do not appear confident.

It would be an absolute scandal if this town, which has been treated the way it has been treated by the Tories down the years, voted for them, says Lesley Hamilton, a Labour councillor with Hartlepool Borough Council. But we probably have to accept theres a good chance thats going to happen. It will be a struggle to hold.

Why the potential shift?

Getting Brexit done (or, rather, getting the first part done) will have helped Mr Johnson in a town that voted 69.6 per cent in favour of leaving the EU. So, too, will the so-called vaccine bounce that has left the Tories as much as 14 per cent up in nationwide polls.

More pertinently, in Hartlepool itself, there appears to be a feeling that decades of Labour MPs have only brought decline: the town was ranked as the 10th most deprived in England in 2019, according to government figures.

For that reason, above all others perhaps, many here want a change. They have, in fact, wanted it for a long time. At three separate local elections, over 12 years from 2002, they voted for a man dressed as a monkey to be the towns directly elected mayor. Stuart Drummond  the man in the suit  ostensibly won power by offering free bananas to school children. More likely, though, he won because he was neither of the two main parties.

Dr Paul Williams (Labour)

The current leader of the council is also neither Labour nor Tory.

Shane Moore  a one-time Brexit Party member turned independent  is well-known in the town for working across the political spectrum and, as such, refuses to be drawn on who will win at the by-election. Whoever it is, he says, I just hope they will really have their heart in getting the best for Hartlepool.

Nonetheless, in general terms, he says he has noticed a decline in anti-Conservative sentiment here.

People have seen other old red wall towns getting investment  Darlington getting the Treasury headquarters, things like that  and I think they might be looking and wondering if that could be Hartlepool, he says. Thats just my sense.

Significantly, the directly elected mayor of the wider Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, appears a popular figure here for a perceived success in bringing investment to the region. He is a Conservative.

Significant too in all this, of course, is Mr Williams himself, the person chosen to be the Labour candidate.

Not all Labour members appear happy that the selection process resulted in a shortlist of just one name  and no women. Everyone is a feminist when its convenient, one female MP is said to have told the LabourList website.

There are also concerns about how well Mr Williams is suited to the town, not least because he is an arch-Remainer and was a vocal advocate of a second referendum.

Parachuting someone like that in is about the best thing they could do  for the Tories, Mike Young, leader of the Conservatives on the borough council, says. This is 110 per cent who we would have chosen to be against.

And of his partys own selection?

For now, the powder is being kept dry. We have the best chance to win Hartlepool in more than 50 years so its absolutely essential we get the right candidate, Mr Young, who is not involved in the selection process, says. Its going to be so tight and having the right person could swing it one way or the other.

There may be one potential curveball to consider in all this too: the Northern Independence Party.

The group, which calls for a full-blown secession from London and the south, only formed last year but has announced it will be standing a candidate.

By rights, such a party probably shouldnt stand much of a chance  it is yet to even define what the north actually is  but, in a town with a history of giving the political establishment a bloody nose (exhibit one: the monkey), anything could happen, reckons party leader Philip Proudfoot.

We could be genuinely transformative, he says. All that all the other parties are offering is misery. We are offering hope.

He himself, for what its worth, lives in Brighton.

Either way, the partys very presence could add drama to this knife-edge fight, reckons Matt Flinders back at Centre for the Public Understanding of Politics. More importantly, no one, he says, should underestimate the importance of this seat.

I wouldnt say winning here would quite point the way [for a Tory general election win] because Boris is Boris and he could easily put a bomb under his own chances at any time, he says. But if the Tories do win, it would be a massive confidence boost for those other new MPs in red wall constituencies. It would show that 2019 wasnt a one-off; that things may have changed permanently.
NIA taking over Hiran death case no setback to MVA government: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

India

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Mumbai, Mar 20: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) taking over the probe into the death of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran was not a setback to the Mumbai police or the Maharashtra government.

Talking to reporters in Nashik, Raut said, "There was no need for the NIA to take up the probe into the explosives- laden SUV and Mansukh Hiran case. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Mumbai police were capable of investigating them."

"However, the Centreis looking for opportunities to see how theMaha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government can be put in a spot. You can bring the CIA or KGB...It makes no difference. It is not a setback to the Mumbai police of the MVA government," he said.

Cops find another body where Mansukh Hiren was found dead

The NIA has taken over the probe into the death case of Hiran, whose body was found in a Thane creek on March 5, days after a vehicle laden with explosives was found parked near the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The SUV was in possession of Hiran.

Earlier, the Maharashtra ATS was investigating the case. The central agency is already probing the case related to the recovery of the explosives-laden SUV and has arrested Mumbai's assistant police inspector Sachin Waze.

Hiran's wife has accused Waze of involvement in her husband's suspicious death. Talking about the transfer of Param Bir Singh from the post of Mumbai police commissioner, Raut said, "Mumbai police has got a new leadership. The reshuffle in the police has been done to rectify the mistakes that may have happened."

Ambani security scare: NIA to now probe death of Mansukh Hiren

Singh, who was under fire for the handling of the Sachin Waze case, was shunted out on Wednesday and senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale was appointed in his place. Raut further said that although the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra is on the rise, the state government is taking steps to control it.

One of the reasons for the rising infection cases is increase in the number of tests, he said. "But attempts are being made to corner the state government in COVID-19 management...The numbers are rising, but no help is being provided (by the Centre)," he said.

Targeting the Centre, the Shiv Sena MP said, "Since there are no elections in Maharashtra, no help is being provided to the state...But even if elections are held, the BJP will not will." The central government should treat all the states equally in terms of providing the vaccines, he added.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 17:46 [IST]
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Once again the Kansas City company FAILS to adapt to the social media era and their tech that finally caught up to 1998 is now kaput.



Hallmark Cards exits eCards business - Kansas City Business Journal Hallmark Cards Inc. is exiting the eCards business after more than 15 years and will terminate the service on April 30. Kansas City-based Hallmark, along with American Greetings Corp. LLC, has the largest market share in the online greeting cards industry, according to a 2019 report from industry research firm IBISWorld.

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Sindy Benavides felt as if she understood what the Asian community was going through after eight people, six of them Asian women, were killed last week in Georgia. Benavides, national chief executive officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens, had felt the same trauma, and then rush of solidarity after a gunman in killed 23 people on Aug. 3, 2919, at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart in a mass shooting seen as an attack on the Latino community.

The manner in which so many have rallied around the Asian American community in the wake of the Atlanta shootings, she said, "reminded me of how our community allies were calling and texting us, asking how they could support us.

In the wake of this weeks killings, many have rallied in support of the Asian American community, producing a palpable sense of unity in the fight against anti-Asian violence. And some say the heightened solidarity also presents a chance for communities of color to effectively address the common enemy of white supremacy.

Were thinking about how we can work together on the issue of hate crimes and make sure our communities stop being targets, she said. This issue is not going to disappear overnight, and its going to take collaboration.

Killed in Atlanta Tuesday were Soon C. Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; and Yong A. Yue, 63, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office, while 30 miles north in Georgias Cherokee County, Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44, were also all fatally shot. A 30-year-old Hispanic man, Elcias Ortiz, was injured.

A woman attending a vigil to remember the victims of shootings at three Asian spas in the Atlanta area holds a sign with the names of the five victims.

While police said they havent yet determined whether the 21-year-old suspect specifically targeted his victims, many have pointed out that its hard to separate race from the equation  particularly after a recent spike in anti-Asian violence that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and which many believe was fomented by the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump's administration.

Story continues

'We all stand to lose'

U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, a Democrat from California, called the attacks horrific and said civil rights groups across the country were working together to address the issue.

We all stand to lose, said Bass, one-time chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Just because its happening to Asians does not mean that I dont care about it at the same level as though its happening to African Americans. All of us need to be concerned.

Manuel Pastor, director of the University of Southern California's Equity Research Institute in Los Angeles, said hate crimes are not the issue of one community.

People understand they are something that could happen to other groups, too, he said. If you let it run loose for one group, its going to come back and haunt you.

In New York, lawyer and civil rights activist Maya Wiley was among eight mayoral candidates who joined the Rev. Al Sharpton for a press conference Thursday to denounce the attacks.

Its on all of us, not only on the Asian American community, to call attention to the fact that despicable hate has no home here, she said in a later Twitter post.

Caroline Yang, an associate English professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst who has written about race issues, said shes seen real evidence of unity, especially between the Black and Asian American communities, both during last year's Black Lives Matter protests and now.

The first friends and colleagues who have reached out to me in solidarity have been Black, she said, Especially, Black women.

After dropping off flowers Jesus Estrella, left, and Shelby stand in support of the Asian and Hispanic community outside Young's Asian Massage Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Acworth, Ga. Asian Americans, already worn down by a year of racist attacks fueled by the pandemic, are reeling but trying to find a path forward in the wake of the horrific shootings at three Atlanta-area massage businesses that left eight people dead, most of them Asian women.

Gabriel Chin, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, called the Atlanta killings a potentially galvanizing wake-up call.

They are likely to be looked back on as a turning point, he said.

Chin compared the moment to the vicious 1982 slaying of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American who was fatally attacked by two white autoworkers in metropolitan Detroit who, angry over the Japanese auto industrys success as U.S. operations declined, apparently mistook Chin for Japanese descent.

Outrage over the killing  and a plea bargain that resulted in no jail time  inspired widespread Asian American activism and steps toward stronger hate crime legislation.

Chin said while many Asian Americans who've immigrated to the United States have been slow to embrace the fight for civil rights because they didnt grow up with it, theres increasing appreciation for the reality that Asian Americans are in the same boat as Latinx people, as African Americans, as people of color. We have no choice.

Latinx is a gender-neutral term some people prefer.

America was founded as a white country, he said. It isnt anymore, but people of color still have to fight to get a fair shot. And we are more likely to make progress if we work together.

Black civil rights movement has long inspired Asian leaders

While a renewed sense of unity between communities of color could prove fruitful in terms of future cross-racial organizing, such coalitions and cooperative efforts have existed since the civil rights era.

Jakobi Williams, an associate professor of African American and African diaspora studies at Indiana University, noted that members of the Asian and Black communities have cooperated on social justice efforts since the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

There was Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese American woman from New York City who became one of Malcolm Xs closest friends and allies after meeting him at a protest in New York City, while civil rights leader Richard Aoki in Berkley, California, was among the Black Panther Partys earliest members and the only Asian American to hold a leadership position with the group. And activist Grace Lee Boggs, of Chinese ancestry, devoted her life to bettering life for Black Americans.

Asian American activist groups like Yellow Brotherhood and East Wind took organizational cues from the Black Power movement, as well, Williams said.

Mai-Linh Hong, an assistant professor of literature at the University of California, Merced, said the Asian American communitys work with the Black liberation movements of the 1960s and 1970s helped develop the framework for todays field of Asian American studies.

While organizations and activists regularly work across racial and ethnic lines at the grassroots level, Hong said, shes hopeful that the moment can advance more opportunity for allied groups to connect nationally and strengthen their reach and influence. We are, of course, stronger together than apart or pitted against each other.

Among the factors driving the unified effort is a growing awareness of the concept of anti-Blackness, a term transcending academic circles and moving into activist ones that emphasize the Black American experience in a nation founded on slavery.

Racism can be applied to any non-white group, said political science professor Claire Jean Kim of the University of California, Irvine. But anti-Blackness is a structural feature of society that keeps Black people at the bottom. Its a force that pushes anyone up who is not Black and pushes down anyone who is not white. For Asians and Hispanics, its a force that lifts them above Blacks.

The dynamic privileges those in the middle but never allows them the full benefits of whiteness, creating conflict within the hierarchy.

Its about the lack of humanity and dignity given to Black people, and its baked into our society, said Anne Price, president of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development in Oakland, California.

The concept took on greater salience last year as people grappled with the deaths of unarmed Black people at the hands of police, Price said, and people are recognizing that each communitys ability to thrive is related to the others.

Ive heard a lot of that from Latinx and Asian American people  that our fates are bound, that theres a lot of interdependency, that we have to build more collective power, she said. And that takes us to a much different place of possibility."

United against a common foe

But building such alliances is difficult, said Robert Greene II, an assistant history professor at South Carolinas Claflin University, and at the moment, the focus should be on confronting the anti-Asian sentiment that has been allowed to build up for so long.

The true test of anti-racist solidarity will be in the weeks to come, Greene said. A coalition like the one being built will need to stay together for a considerable length of time, especially as we continue to see white supremacist groups harness the energy and momentum they built up during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

A family takes part in a rally to raise awareness of anti-Asian violence, at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles on March 13, 2021.

Ruben Martinez, a sociology professor at Michigan State University, said that while stronger alliances have been building, he sees the groups still largely focused on their own concerns.

It has to go beyond that and focus on the system of racism as a whole, he said.

That means that while he did not see much broad-based solidarity on Latinos behalf during the anti-Mexican rhetoric of the early Trump administration, the recognition that people of color are now engaged against a common cause is starting to move to the fore, he said.

We cannot dismantle this for one group at a time," Martinez said. "We have to benefit everyone.

Contributing: Deborah Barfield Berry

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stop Asian hate, stop Black hate: Americans unite against racism
The media has been rife with stories about democracy in decline: the recent coup in Myanmar, the ascent of strongman Narendra Modi in India, and of course ex-President Trump's attempts to overturn the U.S. presidential election--all of which raise alarms about the current status of democracies worldwide. Such threats to the voices of the people are often attributed to the excesses of individual leaders. But while leadership is certainly important, over the past decade, as established democracies like Venezuela and Turkey fell and others slid toward greater authoritarianism, political scientists and pundits have largely overlooked a key factor: how governments are funded. In a new study in the journal Current Anthropology, a team of anthropologists assembled data on 30 pre-modern societies, and conducted a quantitative analysis of the features and durability of "good governance"--that is, receptiveness to citizen voice, provision of goods and services, and limited concentration of wealth and power. The results showed that societies based on a broad, equitable, well-managed tax system and functioning bureaucracies were statistically more likely to have political institutions that were more open to public input and more sensitive to the well-being of the populace.

For more than a century, the accepted textbook account of democracy was that it was peculiarly modern, a purely Western phenomenon born of the "commercial restlessness" of European nations, with older agrarian/rural states viewed as static and authoritarian. However, the current crises of democratic "backsliding" have prompted a deeper dive by anthropologists and political historians into the core features, origins, and sustainability of modern democracy.

"The decline we are seeing today in many democratic governments is difficult to get a handle on," says Richard Blanton, professor emeritus at Purdue University, and the study's lead author. "In a sense, there's a fundamental tension at the heart of every democracy: the greater good versus individual self-interest. We wanted to identify the factors that motivate both leaders and citizens to maintain more egalitarian systems, given the potential of power to corrupt. As archaeologists, we know that the past always has lessons for the present." Blanton and his co-authors assembled data on 30 pre-modern societies, broke them down into numerically coded variables, and generated statistically significant scores for "good government" measures--public goods (like transportation infrastructure, wider access to water, and food security), bureaucratization (citizen voice, equitable taxation, official accountability), and controls over authorities (impeachment ability, limits on leaders' control of resources, institutions that checked each other's clout). The researchers, including Gary Feinman of the Field Museum in Chicago, Lane Fargher of the Instituto Politecnico Nacional-Unidad in Merida, Mexico, and Stephen Kowalewski of the University of Georgia, were initially surprised by the results. The case studies covered thousands of years of human history and spanned the globe, from the Venetian Republic (1290 to 1600) to the early-mid Ming Dynasty (15th century) to the Asante Kingdom in West Africa (1800 to 1873), but despite the great diversity of geographical, cultural, historical, and social contexts, there was a positive correlation between the three metrics. Capable bureaucracies, public goods, and limits on rulers tended to occur together in relatively good governments, and were largely absent in more autocratic regimes. As Blanton says, "although what we call good governments were not common--only 27% of our examples had relatively high scores--it's clear that it is both a global and trans-historical social process that existed well before Western history and influence." This unexpected finding led the authors to reconsider the broader and causal factors that shape democracy.

Today we tend to equate democracy with elections, but electoral democracies are a fairly recent phenomenon. They are not the only way to assess the voice of citizens, and elections alone are not sufficient to ensure the public's voice in government, or that personal power of leaders is checked. "The key elements of democracies are not elections themselves," says the Field Museum's Gary Feinman, "but rather features like the rule of law, checks and balances on official power, and tools to assess the will of the governed."

Economics are key, the authors argue. Evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that authoritarian regimes have broad discretion over a nation's wealth, for both personal and political gain. In the study's more authoritarian examples, there were few limits on self-serving leaders, and little incentive to ensure equitable distribution of public goods, or to monitor government administration. "It's no coincidence that the legend of Robin Hood arose in 14th century England," says Feinman, "where our coding identified ill-conceived and oppressive taxing schemes that diverted wealth into private hands." Conversely, the statistical models show that the more democratic systems were marked by broadly based tax revenues, which were responsibly managed by governments. In short, taxpayers generally comply if they see that the government is meeting expectations, and government authorities are incentivized to ensure that revenues will be used for the public good, and not for private gain.

In the United States, these realities were recognized during the founding of our country and that has contributed to the relative longevity of our democracy, Feinman observes. "James Madison put checks and balances in the Constitution because the Founders knew they could not rely on the virtue of leaders alone. One of the key changes in transforming the Articles of Confederation into the Constitution was to give the federal government a stronger foundation to raise funds."

This also underlines the authors' point that leaders, whether virtuous or selfish, are less important than the economic foundations of government, provisioning of public goods/services, and the bureaucratic institutions needed for both. "Look at Iraq after Saddam Hussein," says Feinman. "You could institute voting, and power-sharing agreements, but without an equitable means of financing and provisioning, it didn't matter how much shifting of leaders occurred. The system failed." Likewise, although a majority of people in the U.S. and abroad see Donald Trump as a threat to American democracy and governance, the threats were four decades in the making, with the increasing inequity of the tax base, the devaluing of labor, the lack of infrastructure and public goods funding. "The market fundamentalism that was ushered in with President Reagan, Fed Chair Alan Greenspan, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during the 1980s encouraged people to pursue financial self-interest with no restraint or regulation. Cutting taxes on the wealthy and starving government undermines democracy," says Feinman.

Like modern democracies, good governments have always been fragile and hard to maintain. Across time, neither monarchies nor democracies guaranteed good governance nor excluded its possibility. Rather, the main causal factor was the way that governance was fiscally funded. Above all, the authors of this article emphasize that politics and economics cannot be decoupled in understanding government quality. Nor can we assess by ideologies alone. Rather, we must look at the practice of governance and how it affects people. "Functioning bureaucracy and broad-based, equitable taxation are not stumbling blocks to good governance, as many on both the left and right have argued for years," says Blanton. "Rather, as our historical analysis illustrates, they are key legs of the stool."

For modern-day America and other faltering democracies, the implication is that the global turn toward market fundamentalism 40 years ago, which included reduced taxation rates and lowered values on labor, is likely a key cause of democratic backsliding over the same era. As Feinman notes, "in 1936 Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that 'political equality... [is] meaningless in the face of economic inequality.' But in fact, extreme economic inequality and the monopolization of resources required to fund government may render political equality unsustainable."

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Skerries RNLI carried out a medical evacuation of a crewman who was feeling unwell from a survey vessel six miles north of Skerries last Wednesday night (10th).

Shortly after 8pm Skerries RNLI were tasked by Dublin Coast Guard following a call from the skipper of the vessel requesting medical assistance for a crew member who had been feeling unwell for a number of hours and was showing no signs of improvement.

The lifeboat was launched and proceeded directly to the co-ordinates provided.

As they approached the survey vessel, a boarding ladder was lowered on the starboard side. The lifeboat was carefully manoeuvred into position, and the casualty was helped on board.

The lifeboat crew carried out an initial assessment of the casualty and tried to keep them as comfortable as possible on the way back to the station.

An ambulance was waiting at the station when the boat returned, the casualty was passed over into the care of the paramedics from the National Ambulance Service and taken to hospital for further assessment.

The lifeboat and station were deep cleaned and made ready for the next call out.

At the time there was a force five to six south to south west wind blowing and there was a moderate sea swell.

Speaking about the call out, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said: 'It wasn't a particularly pleasant evening to be out on a lifeboat, but our volunteers are always ready to go when they get the call. It was great to have the ambulance waiting on arrival and we wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.'
Cairde make their appearance on the giant screen in Times Square New York thanks to their performance on Good Morning America on St Patrick's Day

Seamus Morrison of Fermoy stepped it out in front of a worldwide audience with his friends on the St Patrick's Day edition of Good Morning America yesterday (Wednesday, 17th).

The talented Irish dancer and hurler with Castlelyons GAA is one of the seven members of the Irish Cairde Dance Company - a group of lads from Galway and Clare, with Seamus as the solitary Rebel representative - which is taking social media by storm.

The seven pals have become TikTok stars after a 15-second clip they uploaded to the video-sharing platform attracted 87.2 million views.

The clip of the lads dancing to 'Banjo Beats' wasn't the first Tiktok from Cairde. When they started off on TikTok last summer, they came up with the idea of tying a camera to a skateboard and pushing it down a slope as it filmed them dancing in chase, all to the music of Disco Line's remix of Taylor Swift's hit, Love Story.

They started that day with 300 followers on the platform; by day's end, they had 70,000.

The group first decided to get together to create TikTok content last summer as their jobs as professional Irish dancers with various shows were on in hold due to the pandemic restrictions.

While all of the dancers spent years mastering traditional jigs, reels and hornpipes, they dance to a different beat these days at their shared home near the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare.

Now if you drop in on their TikTok channel you're more than likely to see them dancing to music by Justin Bieber, Sean Paul and US punk band, The Dropkick Murphys.

And as of yesterday, Cairde had 1.9m followers, a figure which is likely to grow even further following their appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, the most-watched breakfast TV programme in the USA.

For their St Patrick's Day performance on the US coast-to-coast show, the group danced on special boards at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher to a Billie Eilish number, Bad Guy.

Speaking on Good Morning America's St Patrick's Day edition, Brian Culligan, another of the group's founding members, said they had started off as competitors back in the day when they were learning the steps, but last July they had decided to quarantine together so they could create their own content.

Now they have an even grander ambition they want to fulfill in the post-COVID world.

"Our ambition is to create our own show and tour the world," he said. "We'll know we've made it when we get to the USA."

Their appearance on Good Morning America was followed by an invite to dance for the UK show, Good Morning Britain, and a host of other invites are expected. In the meantime, Seamus Morrison wrote on his social-media platforms that he was 'buzzing' because the group had been broadcast on the giant screens overlooking New York's Times Square.

It's a fair step from Fermoy to Times Square for Seamus - who goes by the nickname 'Moose' - but who's to say he's going to stop there!
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Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has charged the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to initiate measures to stamp out cultism in the nations tertiary institutions.

Mr Umahi gave the charge on Friday, while declaring open the 65th Emergency Senate Meeting of the association held in Abakaliki.

He said: The NANS leadership can decide that there would be no more cultism in schools and it would stand.

The youths engage in cultism, robbery and kidnapping. Elders cannot kidnap or burn police stations.

Mr Umahi said all hands must be on deck to fight the menace because of its harmful effects on society.

He described cultists as weak people, saying that they usually gathered to kill in order to protect their weakness.

You cannot see any energetic or intelligent youth engage in cultism. The number of cultists in our schools is few.

It should also be mentioned that those who take delight in what murderers do are also hell-bound, he said.

The governor admonished students to shun killing, saying that anyone that sheds blood will always have blood flowing in his generations.

He commended the NANS leadership for acknowledging his administrations strides in infrastructure development.

Our projects are meant to protect the youths as future leaders.

You must be focused, hardworking and courageous to address the several socio-economic challenges confronting the country, he said.

Abraham Nwali, a Catholic priest and the senior special assistant to the governor on religion and welfare, urged the youths to look beyond government employment and focus on entrepreneurship.

You should put God first in all you do and be committed to achieving your goals, in spite of all distractions, he said.

The President of the students body, Sunday Dayo, commended the governor for his unparalleled achievements in infrastructure development.

The governor has motivated us to contribute in making Nigeria attain its developmental goals, Mr Dayo said.

(NAN)
For the first time researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Radboudumc, Maastricht UMC+ and international colleagues have gained insight into the "hidden genetic defects" of the general European population. This is important because these defects, if inherited from both father and mother, can lead to all kinds of illnesses in their children.

Research in the Dutch and Estonian population shows that every person has two to four such hidden genetic defects. In 1 in 100 couples, this leads to a situation with an increased risk of a genetic disease for future children. In the case of consanguinity, even 20 percent of the couples appear to be at high risk. This research is published in The American Journal of Human Genetics and Genetics in Medicine.

The genes of a every person are half maternal, half paternal. Therefor you have two copies of each gene. Sometimes one of those two copies is defective, without making you sick because the other gene still functions properly. In this case we call it a 'hidden genetic defect' (in scientific terms: an autosomal recessive gene). Such a hidden genetic defect can cause problems if a child inherits the same hidden defect, the same mutated gene, from both father and mother. Both parents are healthy and have never suffered from the hidden genetic defect. But when these two hidden genetic defects (maternal en paternal) come together in the child, the disease manifests itself.

Hidden defects in sight

How often such hidden genetic defects occur in the general population has been unclear. By screening all the genes of nearly 6,500 people in the Dutch and Estonian population researchers from Radboudumc and Maastricht UMC+ have now obtained insight into how often such hidden defects that can lead to disease are present in a single individual.

Every human being appears to have on average 2 to 4 such hidden genetic defects. Therefore the chance that a European couple is at risk of having a sick child due to two such defects is about 1 percent. The risk increases sharply in consanguineous couples. In a relationship of cousins, about sixteen percent of the couples are at high risk, with a particularly increased risks for skeletal disorders or intellectual disabilities." Christian Gilissen, Researcher, Radboudumc

Higher risk with consanguinity

In addition to this research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, research was also conducted in the hospital's clinical practice coordinated by Maastricht UMC+, together with Radboudumc and Amsterdam UMC.

This study, published in Genetics in Medicine, addresses the question of risk determination of hidden genetic defects in cousin relationships prior to a desired pregnancy. Clinical Molecular Geneticist Aimee Paulussen of Maastricht UMC+: "We mapped the risk in 100 consanguineous couples. About 20 percent of these couples were found to have an increased risk of serious disorders in their offspring through these hidden genetic defects. These results from clinical practice confirm the data already found in the population study mentioned above."

Valuable testing

Professor Han Brunner, head of the Department of Clinical Genetics Maastricht as well as the Department of Genetics Nijmegen, is involved in both studies. He sees them as a clear incentive to make genetic testing available to couples with a possible increased risk because of such hidden genetic defects: "Certainly for these couples, this information can help them to make an informed decision when starting a family. They can consider pre-implantation diagnostics and IVF to allow selection of embryos without these defects."
I would like to credit this achievement to our success in artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions which are driven by our robust data engineering strategies - Lokesh Anand (Co-Founder and CEO, Sigmoid)

Sigmoid, a strategic data and analytics partner to the world's largest data producers, today announced that it ranked 16th on Inc. 5000 Regionals: New York City Metro list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing New York City area-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the NYC area economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

It is an honor to be named to Inc. Magazine's prestigious list of the most successful companies in the New York metro area. I would like to credit this achievement to our success in artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions which are driven by our robust data engineering strategies. Earning a top place in this list has also been possible because of the trust shown by our customers and resilient teams who helped us achieve growth even during the challenging times of the pandemic said Lokesh Anand, Co-Founder and CEO of Sigmoid.

Sigmoids customers include Fortune 500 companies across the CPG, retail, BFSI, and Technology sectors, who have leveraged Sigmoids data engineering and data science capabilities across specialized focus areas such as MLOps, cloud migration, personalized promotions, multi-touch attribution, supply chain analytics and more. In these challenging times we also want to do our best by equipping organizations with data driven insights, that in turn serve humanity at large as we transition to the new normal, added Lokesh.

The companies on this years Inc. Magazines list shows stunning rates of growth across all industries in the New York City area. Between 2017 and 2019, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 214% and, in 2019 alone, they employed more than 48,000 people and added nearly $9 billion to the NYC Metro area economy. In relation to this, Sigmoids growth in this period was 3.6X higher. Companies based in Stamford, Connecticut, New York City, and central New Jersey brought in the highest revenue overall.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: NYC Metro area, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/regionals/new-york.

This list proves the power of companies in the New York City area no matter the industry, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay.

About Sigmoid

Sigmoid is a strategic data partner to Fortune 1000 companies in delivering innovative solutions using machine learning, big data, open-source, and cloud technologies. By leveraging their expertise in Data Science and Data Engineering, Sigmoid has worked with the worlds largest data producers across industries like retail, CPG, BFSI, advertising and technology. By helping companies in their digital transformation journeys, Sigmoid translates huge volumes of data into faster actionable insights and business value. Visit http://www.sigmoid.com for more information.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 08:54:59|Editor: huaxia

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ANCHORAGE, the United States, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States should stop meddling in China's domestic affairs including Hong Kong, said the Chinese delegation on Friday following a China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue here.

The electoral system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is a local electoral system in China, and how to design, develop and improve it is China's domestic affair, the delegation said, adding that no foreign government, organization or individual has the right to interfere.

Improving HKSAR's electoral system must follow the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," it said, urging the United States to abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, respect the decision of China's National People's Congress on improving Hong Kong's electoral system, and stop supporting "Hong Kong independence" forces.

It also called on the U.S. side to revoke illegal sanctions against Chinese officials and institutions, stop trying to mess up Hong Kong again, and cease forestalling China's implementation of "one country, two systems."

If the United States continues to go its own way, China will make firm responses, the delegation said.

The two-day dialogue marked the first high-level contact between the two countries after Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, had a phone call on the eve of the Chinese lunar new year, and the first face-to-face talks between high-level officials of the two sides since Biden took office in January. Enditem
Francesca Paris is The Eagle's data and public records reporter. She was previously the North Adams reporter. A California native and Williams College alumna, she has worked at NPR in Washington, D.C. and WBUR in Boston. Find her on Twitter at @fparises.
A televised address by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the countrys new parliament July 12 covered a wide range of topics from foreign policy and the domestic economy to the coronavirus pandemic. But what grabbed the most media attention was his rejection of a plan by some lawmakers to impeach President Hassan Rouhani. The closing year of any administration is usually the most sensitive one.  I do strongly believe that administrations should work hard to the very end of their tenure and fulfill their responsibilities, Khamenei said.

For weeks, hard-line parliamentarians had been lobbying and collecting signatures to bring down the president before his second term came to an end. The project was shut down with a simple statement by the supreme leader that he did not find the impeachment effort to be in the best interest of the country.

Two days after the supreme leaders speech, one of the dogged architects of the impeachment bid, Javad Nikbin reversed his previous confrontational stance, announcing that the motion is no longer on our agenda. The ultraconservative cleric from the Paydari Movement  the parliaments most hard-line and anti-Rouhani faction  noted, however, We still need close oversight of the governments performance.

Member of the Parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Ebrahim Rezaee said though it is the lawmakers' legitimate authority to impeach the president, doing so is not helpful under the current circumstances. Another conservative lawmaker, Reza Taghipour, said he feared impeachment could do more harm than good.

After that speech, we will no longer pursue the impeachment, said lawmaker Ahmad Hossein Fallahi. Still, the parliamentarians have vowed to press ahead with summoning the president and are expected to grill him over his handling of Irans crumbling economy.

On multiple occasions during his 30-year leadership, Khamenei has intervened to push back other institutions when their plans have countered expediency or endangered the face of the establishment. Yet the tactic has also inspired questions about the extent of the Iranian leader's legal authorities enshrined in the constitution.

In 2000, a new parliament of Reformists was determined to overhaul Iranian media legislation after a mass closure of newspapers and the detention of a large number of dissident journalists. The supreme leader blocked the plan in a directive to then-parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi, who is now under house arrest.

In 2012, the parliament summoned former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for questioning, but the move was blocked by a brief message from the supreme leader: The bid has already gone too far and it needs to be dropped right here, he wrote to the lawmakers, who withdrew their signatures immediately. Obedience of the directives of the supreme leader is an obligation all parliamentarians are proud to observe, former speaker Ali Larijani wrote back to Khamenei.

The supreme leader openly ordered an end to the heated media debates and parliamentary action on a $3 billion fraud case in the Iranian banking system that rocked the nation in 2011 as the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the Islamic Republic. Khamenei has separately argued that despite what critics have said, there is no systemic corruption in Iran. As recently as last November, Iranian lawmakers had to abide by the supreme leader's order not to seek the cancelation of a government fuel subsidy plan despite the widespread public discontent and the deadly unrest it had sparked nationwide.

The embattled president needs the supreme leaders support. On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Iran nuclear deal, the accords prospects appear dimmer than ever, leaving Rouhani an easy target for his hard-line opponents. The impeachment bid was motivated in part by the deal, which Rouhani's critics say has brought Iran nothing but empty promises and humiliation.

Despite escaping the impeachment bid unharmed, there is more yet to come for Rouhani. The new uncompromising parliament continues to oppose the administration with almost every single move it makes, particularly in its push to take the helm in the fight against the ailing economy.

In a televised address earlier this week, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf unveiled an economic road map that set out a new five-year vision for economic stability. Rouhani supporters see it as a clear example of Ghalibaf trying to frame Rouhani as incompetent.

The day before the televised address, Rouhani and Ghalibaf took part in a meeting of the Supreme Council for Economic Coordination. While state media coverage of the session presented a picture of consensus, Reformist paper Etemad reported on a verbal clash between Rouhani and Ghalibaf, in which the president allegedly criticized the parliament speaker for independently presenting an economic package to the supreme leader. It is the president who commands the economic war, Rouhani reportedly complained.

Then let it be and lets find out if you can handle the crisis or you will simply continue to make speeches  the fruit of which is the countrys current economic turbulence, Ghalibaf hit back, according to Etemad. Unsurprisingly, government spokesperson Ali Rabiee dismissed the bitter exchange as fake news.
For the month of March the Geraldine O'Hanrahan GAA Club are kindly asking all club members, friends, supporters and ex-pats to take on the 50 Miles in March Challenge to raise much needed funds for our club and New Ross Meals on Wheels.

With the grand auld stretch in the evenings, there has never been a better time to get out and get active.

A club spokesperson said: '50 miles sounds a lot right now but it's as little as 1.6 miles a day or 2.5km which is well within our current 5km restrictions. Don't be shy and #GetInvolved.'

Many people have already signed up for the challenge and supporting them is as easy as logging on to Geraldine O'Hanrahans Facebook page.

Sponsorship cards can be picked up from club members, O'Neill's Shop or Centra in the Irishtown. All card holders and donors will be entered into a spot prize draw on completion of the challenge. 'All donations greatly appreciated. Be sure to tag us on social media pages so we can share your activity.'
Leading the morning medical meeting at an intensive care unit in Sao Paulo, Jaques Sztajnbok reviews his Covid-19 patients.

Two, aged 56 and 53, are on ventilators. A third is breathing on his own, but writhing in agony. He is 26 years old.

There are fewer wrinkles and less gray hair among patients in Brazil's intensive care units as the country reels from a surge in Covid-19 that is increasingly hitting people under 60.

"We're seeing a high prevalence of younger patients, with no pre-existing conditions, hospitalized with very severe cases," Sztajnbok, head of intensive care at Emilio Ribas Hospital, told AFP.

"The same trend is being reported at ICUs across Brazil."

In Brazil, like most of the world, severe cases and deaths from Covid-19 were mainly among the elderly during the first wave of the novel coronavirus last year.

Now, the country is dealing with a devastating resurgence of the virus, blamed partly on the emergence of a new strain known as "P1" or the "Brazil variant."

The recent surge has pushed hospitals across Brazil close to the breaking point, as the country's death toll has soared to 285,000 -- second only to the United States.

This time, the demographic profile of the victims is increasingly young.

Before the trend emerged last December, the 30- to 59-year-old age group represented 20 percent of Covid-19 deaths in Brazil.

In about three months, that figure increased to 27 percent, according to health ministry data.

Meanwhile, the share of the death toll for over-60s fell from 78 percent to 71 percent.

"Half the (Covid-19) patients hospitalized in our nursing wards are under 60," said Luiz Carlos Pereira Junior, the director of Emilio Ribas.

A year ago, at the start of the first wave in Brazil, that figure was 35 percent, he said.

- Living dangerously -

Health experts say part of the issue is that young people are following social distancing and masking recommendations less than the elderly.

Story continues

In a country whose president, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, has railed against stay-at-home measures and face masks, many people have continued with life as usual despite the pandemic, especially the young.

It is common to see packed subways and buses, streets crowded with mask-less pedestrians and police raids to break up illegal parties and clandestine bars.

"Last year, I think the fear of an unknown disease had such an impact on people that they listened to experts' recommendations. But they aren't anymore," said Sztajnbok.

"Young people have lost their fear."

- Vaccine effect -

Even as the young expose themselves more to the virus, the elderly are starting to benefit from the protection of vaccines.

"Some states have already finished vaccinating over-75s," said epidemiologist Walter Ramalho of the University of Brasilia.

"And the elderly generally stay home more than the young," he told news site Poder 360.

Public health institute Fiocruz warned this week that the country of 212 million people is facing "the worst health care and hospital collapse" in its history.

Having to hospitalize more young people only adds to the pressure.

The average stay in intensive care has nearly doubled, from 15 to 28 days, according to Graccho Alvim, head of the Private Hospital Association of Rio de Janeiro.

"That's because we're receiving a lot of young patients, and they resist the disease better than the elderly," Alvim told newspaper Globo.

In what some called a troubling warning sign, a 22-year-old Covid-19 patient on Thursday became the first person in Sao Paulo to die while waiting in line for an ICU bed.

raa/jhb/acb
Congress leader Rahul



Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre was handing over public sector companies to two-three richest industrialists of the country.

Interacting with employees of public sector oil companies in oil city Digboi, Gandhi sought to know the need for privatising profit-making public sector companies.

"The BJP government has only one aim -- hand over the profit-making public sector companies to the two-three richest industrialists," he said at the meeting organised by the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union, Assam Petroleum Workers Union and Oil India Workers' Association, among others.

"The government gave Rs 2,000 crore of your money to modernise the Guwahati airport. Now, that has been snatched from you and given to Adani. In this way, everything in the country is being given to their two-three richest businessman friends," the Congress leader said.

If looked deeply, it will be seen that the public sector organisations are working effectively, efficiently and doing good work compared to the private sector, Gandhi said.

However, there is a uniform idea that the private sector is better than the public sector, he added.

"Why disturb strong public sector companies when they are giving benefits to the people? It can't be said they are not working. The public sector companies are working effectively and playing a positive role for society," he said.

Gandhi was on a two-day visit to Assam since Friday to campaign for the Congress ahead of the three-phase assembly elections.

(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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NASA's Mars Perseverance rover is about to give birth to a four-pound helicopter from its belly next month. The first-ever powered flight is expected to soar over Martian plains.

"Ingenuity's test flights are expected to begin no earlier than the first week of April," NASA officials wrote in a mission update. "The exact timing of the first flight will remain fluid as engineers work out details on the timeline for deployments and vehicle positioning of Perseverance and Ingenuity," NASA reported that its helicopter unit had selected a venue for the flights.

Ingenuity, an $85 million rotorcraft, could pave the way for a new approach to discovering other worlds. The drone will fly up to five test flights this spring, even though it is currently only a technical demonstration.

If it works, Ingenuity may be able to send back some amazing footage. Perseverance would most likely be following the flights with its own devices.

Unknown conditions could thwart Ingenuity's efforts because no one has ever flown a helicopter on Mars. Another groundbreaking Mars invention, a "mole" on NASA's InSight lander designed to hammer deep into the planet's surface, was unable to complete its mission in January due to unusually dense soil.

How Will Ingenuity Help Perseverance in Mars?

Perseverance, which landed inside the Red Planet's 28-mile-wide (45-kilometer) Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, also has Ingenuity tucked away in its belly. Perseverance would deploy Innovation onto the red dirt and travel some 330 feet (100 meters) away until it lands at the selected airfield.

According to mission team members, the six-wheeled rover would attempt to record the little chopper's flights using its Mastcam-Z video suite and two microphones.

ALSO READ: Could Sparkling Dust Particles From Martian Dust Storm Affect Mars Perseverance Rover?





Ingenuity is a research show intended to pave the way for future aerial exploration of Mars. Space.com says the helicopter carries a high-resolution camera but no scientific instruments. NASA officials have stated that if Ingenuity's flights are successful, potential Red Planet missions could involve helicopters that serve as scouts for rovers and/or gather data on their own.

"It will be truly a Wright Brothers moment, but on another planet," MiMi Aung, project manager for the helicopter team, said per Business Insider. "Every step going forward will be first of a kind."

Perseverance will continue working on its main objective in earnest after assisting Ingenuity in getting off the ground. The rover will search for evidence of prehistoric life on Mars and gather hundreds of samples, which will be returned to Earth through a collaborative NASA-European Space Agency exploration campaign as early as 2031.

NASA to Preview First Mars Helicopter Flights

On Tuesday, March 23, at 1:30 p.m. EDT (10:30 a.m. PDT), NASA will host a simulated media conference to address future activities for the agency's Ingenuity Mars helicopter.

The flight zone where Ingenuity and NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover can attempt the first operated, managed flights on another planet has been selected by the teams running Ingenuity and NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.

The briefing will be shown live on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency's website. They would also live stream the briefing on various agency social media sites, including NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California's YouTube and Facebook channels.

RELATED ARTICLE: NASA Perseverance Rover Officially Shares the Sounds of Driving on Mars





Check out more news and information on Space on Science Times.
Former Coronation Street star Charles Lawson has hit out at 'fame-obsessed' younger soap actors.

The actor, 61, - who played Jim McDonald on the show - said many of the aspiring actors he meets are only interested in being as famous as possible but that they should focus on the basics first.

Charles - who last appeared on the Manchester-based soap briefly in 2018 - said the youngsters should get rid of their 'bad attitudes' if they want to progress in the competitive industry.

Brutal: Former Coronation Street star Charles Lawson has hit out at 'fame-obsessed' younger soap actors

Speaking to The Star, he said: 'If you want to get into acting, stop being obsessed by fame.

'Most young actors I meet are more interested in being famous than practising their craft.

'Throw all that bad attitude away and go to drama school. It wasn't meant to be easy.

Wise words: The actor, 61, - who Jim McDonald on the show - said many of the aspiring actors he meets are only interested in being as famous as possible but that they should focus on the basics first

'I watch the actors of today on very popular and celebrated, familiar shows and some of them are just awful. Get in some work and learn your art.'

Charles joined the soap as Jim in 1989, and has acted on screen with icons such as Bev Callard, Simon Gregson and Sarah Lancashire.

He featured on the show full-time until 2000, and has dipped in and out since.

During the interview, Charles also revealed he has been rewatching the old repeats of Corrie to reminisce on old times.

Advice: Charles - who last appeared on the Manchester-based soap briefly in 2018 - said the youngsters should get rid of 'bad attitudes' if they want to progress. Pictured with Beverley Callard in 2018

He said: 'It was party, party, party! My friendships with Bev, Simon, Sarah Lancashire, Eva Pope and Peter Armitage  they are my fondest memories.

'I'm really enjoying classic Corrie at the minute.'

Charles had his fair share of difficult storylines when he was on the show including the tragic death of Jim's daughter Katie in 1992.

Support: Charles supported his friend Bev through her time on I'm A Celebrity stint last year, telling fans ahead of the show that she was 'tough cookie'

Jim also had a spell in prison in the early noughties.

Charles supported his friend Bev through her time on I'm A Celebrity last year, telling fans ahead of the show that she was 'tough cookie' and 'won't suffer fools' in camp.'

He told Ok! Magazine: 'If anybody thinks they're the dogs b******* or they're trying to be number one, she won't stand for it.

'If you hear her saying something like 'Who the f*** does he/she think they are?' then you'll know trouble is brewing!

'She's really a tough cookie.'
President Dr Arif Alvi of Friday invited Kuwait to benefit from the emerging economic opportunities under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by making investment in its various projects

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2021 ):President Dr Arif Alvi of Friday invited Kuwait to benefit from the emerging economic opportunities under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by making investment in its various projects.

In a meeting with visiting Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Dr Ahmed Naseer Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said Pakistan's geo-economic importance was enhanced due to CPEC and Gwadar Port.

The President said Pakistan and Kuwait had immense potential of cooperation in the fields of education, health and science and offered to provide the country's skilled labour and professionals.

He said Pakistan could also provide training to the military personnel of Kuwait.

President Alvi said Pakistan accorded highest importance to its cordial and fraternal relations with Kuwait and wanted to further expand ties with the brotherly country.

Both sides discussed the existing level of cooperation and agreed to further expand bilateral ties for the mutual benefits of the two brotherly countries.

The President also highlighted the atrocities and human rights violations being committed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and lauded Kuwait's support to Pakistan's position on IIOJK, especially at OIC.

He stated that Pakistan was also grateful to Kuwait for supporting Pakistan's resolution on 'International Day to Combat Islamophobia'.

The Foreign Minister of Kuwait emphasized the need for further improving the relations between the two brotherly countries.

He expressed gratitude to the President for visiting Kuwait to offer condolences over the death of late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.

He appreciated the contribution of Pakistani community in the development of Kuwait, saying they were an integral part of development programme of Kuwait.

He also thanked Pakistan for its principled stance on Kuwait during its invasion in 1990.
Asian American pastors Sunday sermon to issue call for prayers and action after Atlanta shooting

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The pastor of a Korean church in the Atlanta area said he plans to tell his congregation its time for us to act when he delivers his sermon on the first Sunday after a 21-year-old man, Robert Aaron Long, was charged with killing eight people at three massage parlors in the vicinity of the church.

Christians should not just pray, not just worry  its time for us to act, the Rev. Byeong Han of Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, told The Associated Press.

Im going to urge people with love and peace that we need to step up and address this issue, so that ... our next generation should not be involved in tragic ... violence, the pastor said. Thats what Christians need to do.

Another Asian American pastor, the Rev. Jong Kim of Grace Korean Presbyterian Church in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, was quoted as saying that he had spoken to other Korean pastors in the area, urging them to join the group Asian Americans Advancing Justice, to discuss issues of race and ethnicity and also help the victims' families to organize funeral services.

The groups Atlanta chapter believes the shooting on Tuesday happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism.

The 21-year-old suspect, who's now facing multiple murder charges, struggled with sexual sins he committed in these establishments, a former roommate said.

I lived with Robert Aaron Long for a few months. I can tell you right now that this is not racially motivated killing, but the product of an emotionally disturbed young man who was religious to the point of mania and who felt deep shame about why he frequented these places, Tyler Bayless revealed in a Facebook post Wednesday. I wonder how this would have gone if he had been in an environment where he wasnt repeatedly told how sinful he was for the things that drove him. What a tragic loss of life, and a kid that was all around one of the sweeter people youd meet.

Seven of the eight people Long killed were women, and six of them were of Asian descent. Two of the victims were white.

Long told law enforcement that he would regularly visit two of the massage parlors he attacked, according to The Washington Post, which reported that police had identified the spas as places where sex work and possible sexual exploitation regularly occurred.

The suspect told police he saw the people who worked at the spas as temptations he needed to eliminate.

The Post reported that the Atlanta Police Department had earlier raided Gold Spa, one of the spas attacked by Long, at least seven times and arrested 10 of its workers.

Police had received complaints alleging that Aromatherapy Spa, another massage parlor attacked by Long, was into prostitution. And the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office has been investigating Youngs Asian Massage, the third spa targeted by Long, since 2019, the Post added.

Those killed by Long included 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun, 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels, 44-year-old Daoyou Feng, and 49-year-old Xiaojie Tan, according to The Epoch Times.

Yaun and her husband had arranged for a babysitter for their 8-month-old daughter when they went to Young's Asian Massage on Tuesday. They were in separate rooms inside the spa when Long opened fire and killed Yaun.

Michels, who owned a security systems business after leaving the military, had been thinking about opening a spa himself, his younger brother, John Michels, was quoted as saying. He was a good, hard-working man who would do what he could do to help people. Hed loan you money if you needed it sometimes. You never went away from his place hungry, he added.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden indicated that the killing was an outcome of former President Trump calling COVID-19 China virus, a term that was first used by mainstream media, including CNN and MSNBC, whose lead anchors and medical experts called COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," "Wuhan virus," and Chinese coronavirus."

Words have consequences. Its the coronavirus  full stop, Biden told community leaders in Georgia on Friday, according to The Washington Times.

Vice President Kamala Harris also appeared to attribute the shooting to hate against Asian Americans, alluding to Trump. For the past year, weve had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans, Harris said at Emory University in Atlanta on Friday.

She added that people with the biggest pulpits were spreading this kind of hate.

Robert Cherry, a retired Brooklyn College economist, wrote in an article for The Spectator magazine that the majority of attacks on Asians in the U.S. cannot be attributed to white Americans.

Sharing his research based on 2019 FBI statistics, where he looked at black and white perpetrators of hate crimes as a percentage of men 18 to 44 years old in their populations, he wrote, The black rate was 40 percent, 76 percent and 303 percent higher than the white rate for hate crimes against the Asian/Pacific Island, Latino and LGBTQ communities respectively.

He added, Even more troubling, black rates for hate-crime assaults were 94 percent higher while for property destruction and vandalism, they were 14 percent lower than white rates.
UCD Students Union has requested an investigation into an anti-lockdown professor on the grounds of gross misconduct.

Professor Dolores Cahill spoke to several hundred people at a protest in Dublin on St Patricks Day.

She is the chair of the Irish Freedom Party and created the Facebook event page for the Le Cheile Day protest in Herbert Park. The event was promoted as being a demonstration highlighting mental health issues arising from the pandemic.

President of UCD SU, Conor Anderson, said Prof Cahill is using her role in UCD to position herself as an expert voice to the anti-mask, anti-lockdown far right.

He added: Dolores Cahill has been propagating medically inaccurate conspiracy theories in service of a far-right political agenda throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, her words are far-reaching. Prof Cahill has amassed a huge following and exerts considerable influence over the general public .

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Mr Anderson said the public may be inclined to listen to Prof Cahill due to her links with UCD School of Medicine, but said she has no expertise in the area of public health or virology.

UCD, which employs Ms Cahill and has a staff profile relating to her on its website, distanced itself from her comments. In a statement to the Irish Independent, the university said it does not discuss individual staff members.

It also said that Prof Cahill is not scheduled to teach students or co-ordinate modules this semester. The views expressed by Dolores Cahill are her own. They do not reflect the position of the University, said a spokesperson.

The university said it continues to fully support the public health position taken by the Irish Government concerning Covid-19.

Mr Anderson said he has written to the head of the UCD School of Medicine and the head of UCD Human Resources to request that Prof Cahill be investigated under Statute 28 of the Universities Act 1997. This statute defines gross misconduct, in part, as deliberate disregard for health and safety precautions likely to endanger another person, he said.
Here's a little factoid that may provide you a little comfort as tax day approaches: According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), paying income tax in the United States is voluntary. Seriously? It's true, but before you run your 1040 through the shredder and go lead your neighbors in a confetti parade, let's define "voluntary." The official term is voluntary compliance, and it means that the U.S. government doesn't calculate your income tax for you and send you a bill. It is up to the individual to voluntarily and honestly comply with the U.S. tax code  all 4,500 pages of it.

And for the most part, the voluntary thing seems to work. According to the 2012 "Taxpayer Attitude Survey" conducted by the IRS, 73 percent of respondents "completely agree" that "it's every American's civic duty to pay their fair share of taxes," citing "personal integrity" as the greatest motivator, not the fear of an audit [source: IRS].

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Yes, voluntary compliance seems to work... for the most part. When answering the question, "How much, if any, do you think is an acceptable amount to cheat on taxes?" an impressive 87 percent of respondents to the IRS survey said "Not at all," but a disturbingly significant 4 percent said, "As much as possible" [source: I RS].

Any attempt by a taxpayer to knowingly cheat the system, either by underreporting income, exaggerating expenses, hiding money or failing to file a tax return, is called tax evasion. And tax evasion is big business.

Tax evasion creates something called the tax gap, which is the difference between the total revenue the IRS is owed in taxes and the amount it actually receives. For the 2011-2013 tax years (the most recent years for complete statistics, released in 2019), the tax gap was $441 billion a year on average. The voluntary compliance rate from 2011-2013 was 83.6 percent, which doesn't mean that 16.4 percent of Americans didn't pay their taxes. It means that American taxpayers as a whole underpaid their taxes by 16.4 percent [source: IRS]. Since federal income tax revenue helps pay for items on the federal budget  like defense and Social Security  that missing $441 billion equals 12.7 percent of the total 2013 federal budget.

So, who are these wily tax evaders and why isn't anyone stopping them? The fact is that the IRS doesn't have the manpower to catch every last tax cheat. There are fewer than 39,000 employees working in IRS tax enforcement (a 23 percent decline from 2010), and Americans filed around 169 million individual and corporate tax returns in 2020 [source: IRS]. That's 4,333 returns for each IRS agent. The result is that the IRS audits less than 1 percent of tax returns, leaving plenty of room for "error" [source: IRS].

Keep reading as we dig deeper into the different forms of tax evasion  underreporting, underpayment, money laundering, offshore accounts  and explain the difference between benign negligence and criminal tax fraud.
By Agnes ANYA

JAKARTA (AFP) -- Siti Rohani remembers the day her teenaged daughter came home in tears after being bullied for not wearing a hair-covering hijab at her Indonesian school.

The world's biggest Muslim majority country recognises six official religions and has pockets of Christians, Hindus and other minorities living around the nation.

But the growing strength of religious conservatism in recent years hasfuelled fears of rising intolerance -- a force also directed against Muslims like Rohani and her family.

Students at her daughter's school taunted her with Koranic verses and said her parents would go to hell unless she wore Islamic garments.

"She was begging to drop out of school and move to another one because she was picked on by her peers and older students," Rohani, a mother of four, told AFP.

Schoolgirls, female teachers and civil servants across Indonesia are often forced or pressured to wear Islamic head coverings, according to a report published Thursday by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The pressure extends to Christians and other non-Muslim minorities and has "increased substantially in recent years", the study said.

'Tip of the iceberg'

Many of the nearly 300,000 state schools around Indonesia require Muslim girls to wear hijab starting in primary school, backed by dozens of ordinances issued at the local or provincial level, according to the report.

The issue made headlines earlier this year after a young Christian pupil in Sumatra was pressured to cover up, triggering a backlash.

The student refused and her parents later secretly recorded a meeting with an official who insisted that school rules required all girls to wear hijab, regardless of their religion.

That prompted the education ministry last month to ban state schools from forcing any female student -- Muslim or non-Muslim -- to wear headscarves, and threaten to pull government funding for non-compliance.

Religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has criticised the practice of forcing the hijab on non-Muslims and described the Sumatra case as the "tip of the iceberg".

Indonesia's government did not respond to requests for comment on the HRW report. The rights watchdog warned that it remained to be seen if the new education ministry rules would be enforced.

Peer pressure

Schools across the vast country of nearly 270 million have long used a combination of psychological pressure, public humiliation, and sanctions to persuade girls to wear hijab, HRW said.

"This environment encourages peer pressure and bullying by teachers and fellow students to ensure that 'good Muslim girls' wear a hijab," the report said.

Among the cases cited by HRW were former students who said scissor-wielding teachers would sometimes snip off strands of hair poking out of their hijab, or tear at clothing deemed too revealing.

Elsa, a 23-year-old Catholic, recalled the humiliation of being forced to wear a head covering in high school.

"Every time I look back now I always feel ashamed that I didn't fight for my rights," Elsa, who asked that her real name not be used, told AFP.

Teachers and female civil servants are also pressured to wear conservative dress, and some government offices require that visitors wear head coverings to enter, according to the report.

"(This has) led to harassment of women in public spaces who choose not to wear (hijab) and imposition of pressure to conform," it said.

Rohani -- whose teenaged daughter begged to drop out of her school over hijab bullying -- said one of her younger daughters is also now facing pressure to conform.

None of her family wear Islamic headscarves.

"We're Muslim but we have different beliefs about Islamic clothing," Rohani said.

"Good character doesn't just come from what you wear."
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The police in Enugu State on Friday said they arrested a total of 39 suspects for various criminal offences, as well as recovered 10 assorted rifles and ammunition in the state, in one month.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Aliyu, who disclosed this on Friday, said that the suspects were arrested for offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, unlawful possession of firearms, child stealing and conspiracy, car and phone snatching, house burglary, among others.

The arrests were made between February 12 and March 18, Mr Aliyu said.

The suspects included 37 males and two females, who were involved in child stealing and conspiracy, within the Aninri council area.

He said, The two women identified as Peace Ndukwe from Abia and Ebere Eze from Enugu, were arrested for conspiracy and stealing of a three-year-old child, whose mother had left him at home to fetch water.

Peace Ndukwe took the baby, pretending to buy him biscuit having discovered that his mother was not at home.

Later, the mother raised alarm, after looking for her baby and invited police operatives from the Aninri Division and special anti-human trafficking unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department that unravelled the mystery of the missing child.

He said the Command also recovered four live cartridges, five expended ammunition, one expended cartridge, two empty magazines, 12 vehicles, three tricycles and one motorcycle, from various operations during the month.

Other items recovered include one military camouflage uniform, three television sets, one LED video player, one laptop, 15 mobile phones, 36 sim cards of different networks, two power banks, one water heater, one international passport and one national identity card.

Mr Aliyu said the police in Enugu have been able to achieve much as a result of collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Neighbourhood Watch Group in the state.

The commissioner appealed to residents of the state to continue to support the police by reporting criminal activities to the nearest police station, in order to keep the state safe.

Security is everybodys business. Residents have to assist the police and also be watchful of negative developments in their areas and report it to the police, he added.

(NAN)
New York: The prospect of collecting $10 for winning second prize in a beauty contest will disappear this year as the manufacturers of classic board game Monopoly scrap its 16 Community Chest cards and replace them with a set of 21st century good deeds.

Game maker Hasbro announced this week that theyre retiring dated prompts such as receiving a tax refund or the now-rarely seen bank error in your favour.

In their place are more contemporary cards that evoke community service and social awareness that Hasbro believes will better reflect the world in the wake of the global pandemic.

Swaps could include a reward for shopping locally all week, rescuing a pet from a shelter or helping tend the neighbourhood community garden.
Hyderabad, March 20 : An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer R.S. Praveen Kumar landed in a row after he allegedly took oath with a group of people that they would not follow any Hindu rituals and traditions.

Praveen Kumar is Secretary of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TSWREIS), a body under the state government.

A video of the official went viral in which he was seen taking oath along with other people strongly affirming their disbelief in the existence of Hindu deities and their traditions.

The oath was taken at 'Swaero Holy Month' ceremony on March 15 that he launched at the famous Buddhist shrine at Dhulikatta in the Peddapalli district.

"I do not have faith in Gowri, Ganapathi or other Hindu gods. I will not worship them. I do not accept the concept of avatars of God. I will not do Sraadha Karma, nor do Pinda Daan. I will not do anything that is against the principles and teachings of Buddha. I will not consume alcohol. I do not believe in Rama, Krishna. I will not worship them," the IPS official administered the oath to a group, including children.

The video sparked a huge row with several right-wing groups condemning the action of the police official and demanding action against him.

The 'Swaero Holy Month', also called Bheem Deeksha, is a month-long event marked by reading Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar's works and other such activities.

The oath draws inspiration from the pledge taken by Ambedkar upon his conversion to Buddhism at Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, Maharashtra, in 1956.

Leaders of BJP, VHP and other groups slammed Praveen Kumar for what they call propagating anti-Hindu propaganda by using state funds. They alleged that he is instigating students of Telangana Social and Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions against the Hindu religion.

Praveen Kumar, however, issued a statement saying Swaeroism is an inclusive ideology, where people of all religious faiths are working for the liberation of the poor from poverty.

"Swaero Network has people with all religious beliefs in it, and we take the best from all religions, and we don't teach any prejudice against any religion both in our homes and in workplaces and celebrate all festivals. We work for a just and equal society in the country only through education, health awareness, scientific thinking and economic empowerment, not through hatred," he said in a statement.

"One local Buddhist family went on to the stage and recited Buddha Vandanam and they went on to recite the oath reportedly taken by Ambedkar on the day of his conversion to Buddhism," Kumar said in a statement. He clarified that they (Swaero) have no relation with that Buddhist family or do not subscribe to what that family has said.

The IPS official's supporters also came out in his defence in the face of attack by BJP and some Hindu groups. In their postings on social media, they hailed Praveen Kumar for being an upright officer, who helped students from marginalized sections of the society to excel through TSWREI institutions.

However, despite the IPS officer's clarification the controversy has refused to die down.

A Member of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh Raghu Ramakrishna Raju on Friday met President Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a detailed representation seeking disciplinary action against Praveen Kumar and investigations into the activities of his private organization 'Swaeroes'.

The rebel MP of YSR Congress Party alleged that Praveen Kumar is perpetrating anti-social activities by promoting anti-Hindu ideology and corrupting the minds of children studying in schools/hostels run under the aegis of TSWREIS.

TSWREIS is a society set up by the government of Telangana in 2014 with an aim to provide quality education to the needy and deprived children and to administer various schools/colleges/hostels which are run by the government of Telangana.

The MP claimed that the logo of Swaero intentionally copied the theme of TSWERIS and is having the same features, leading the public to misunderstand that it is also an officially set up government body.

Raju also pointed that Praveen Kumar was appointed secretary to TSWREIS and has been continuing in the same position and department for more than seven years which is a contravention to the general practice of department of personnel and training.

"Besides he was recently promoted as Additional Director General of Police though not having any experience as a full time police officer," he said.

The MP wrote that the Praveen Kumar-initiated movement called the Swaeroes which is indulging in highly enraging anti-social activities by poisoning the minds of little children and the society at large in the disguise of upliftment of Scheduled Castes students and providing quality education. Such dubious activities in the name of welfare activities must be stopped and punitive measures be adopted to bring such state actors working in a non-stately actor fashion to justice in the larger interest of public peace and maintenance of law and order.

The Legal Rights Protection Forum has lodged another complaint with Cadre Controlling Authority, Union Ministry of Home Affairs against Praveen Kumar.

It mentioned that section 3 of The Police-Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act 1966, clearly imposes restrictions respecting right to form association, freedom of speech, etc.

The rules also say that no member of a police-force shall participate in, or address, any meeting or take part in any demonstration organised by anybody of persons for any political purposes or for such other purposes as may be prescribed.

Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 3 shall, without prejudice to any other action that may be taken against him, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine which may extend to Rs 2,000 or both, pointed out the Forum.

The group earlier wrote to Jitendra Singh, minister of state in Prime Minister's office and Director General of Police Telangana seeking strict action against Praveen Kumar for violating CCS Conduct Rules and creating disharmony and enmity among different section of society through activities of his NGO Swaeroes.
Mumbai, March 20 : The number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra jumped to a new high of 27,000-plus on Saturday, with deaths shooting up in the 'second wave' of the disease that has gripped the state, health officials said.

The state recorded 27,126 new infections and 92 deaths on Saturday, taking up the tally to 24,49,147 and 53,300, respectively, both highest in the country.

Simultaneously, the recovery rate came down from 90.42 per cent to 89.97 per cent, while the death rate stood at 2.18 per cent compared to 2.20 per cent a day earlier. The number of active cases in the state jumped from 177,560 on Friday to 191,006 on Saturday.

The number of people sent to home isolation shot up to 918,408 while those shunted to institutional quarantine increased to 7,953 on Saturday.

The developments came a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned that "lockdown is an option in future" before the government and solicited peoples' voluntary cooperation as the new cases have surpassed all previous records.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Parasites are a concern for most pet owners: people worry about the risk to their pets and the possible risk to humans, and often they are not sure what they need to do.

This isn't a particularly complicated area, but there's a lot of confusion amongst pet owners. This week, my aim is to clarify what are the essentials in ensuring that pets and people in your home are safe. What actions do people need to take to protect their pets and their families from parasites?

The good news is that if simple steps are taken, any risk can be minimised. The best answer is a comprehensive regular parasite control programme for your pet.

Parasites fall into two groups: external and internal.

External parasites live on the outside of your pet: fleas, ticks, lice and mites. While very few of these creepy crawlies will actually infest humans, nobody wants them on their pets or in their home.

Fleas are the most common problem. In Ireland, for much of the year, the weather is warm enough for fleas to breed outside, so dogs and cats can easily pick them up if they visit outdoor areas frequented by other animals. If your pet brings these fleas into your home, flea eggs, laid in your carpets and soft furnishings, can hatch weeks or months later. Animals do not always itch when they have fleas, so you need to examine your pet's coat to check for them. Even if you don't see live fleas, you may see "flea dirt"|: tiny black specks which represent dried blood, and which make reddish-brown smudges when placed on moist cotton wool. Fleas sometimes take a few bites of human ankles and other areas of exposed flesh, but they don't live on us in the same way as they live on dogs and cats.

Most people prefer to prevent fleas, rather than waiting for a full blown infestation before taking action. A range of effective flea prevention and treatment products are available, including sprays, shampoos, spot-on products, tablets and collars, sold in vets, pet shops and even supermarkets. Some need to be used once a month, once every 2 months, or every 3 months, depending on the product. These all work in different ways: some are highly effective, while others far less so. It's best to talk to a vet for evidence-based information before deciding which method to use.

If you do have fleas on your pet, you need to treat your home as well as the animal: only 5% of the total flea population is on the pet, with 95% of the fleas in the carpets, floors and bedding in the form of eggs and larvae. A special household spray is needed to to stop these from turning into adult fleas. Again, not all sprays are the same: talk to your vet to find out about the most effective products.

The other common external parasites - ticks, lice and mites - are not seen as often as fleas and some anti-flea products also control these creepy crawlies. Otherwise, if your pet just picks up a tick once in a while, a special tick removing tool is sometimes the best answer.

Internal parasites means worms: this means roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, lungworms and others. Disgusting as they sound, most are harmless to humans, and just cause mild disease in pets, but there are two worms of particular concern: roundworm and lungworm.

Children can pick up roundworm from unwormed dogs' faeces, and exceptionally rarely, this can cause blindness. This is why hand-washing, poop-scooping and regular worming of your dog (and cat) with an effective product are so important. The frequency of worming depends on your individual situation, but it's usually once a month, or every three months.

Lungworm cannot affect humans, but again rarely, it can cause serious disease in dogs by stopping the blood from clotting, potentially leading to fatal brain haemorrhages. Dogs pick lungworm up by eating infected slugs and snails, or even by chewing grass that has tiny slugs on it. So if your dog is seen to eat slugs or snails, or to chew grass regularly, then you should talk to your vet about a prescription only preventive treatment specifically for lungworm: these can be "spot on" products or tablets, and they will usually also cover other worms, and some products also prevent external parasites such as fleas and ticks at the same time. You do need to go to your vet: you cannot buy lungworm controlling products from pet shops or supermarkets.

It makes sense to use so-called "broad spectrum" deworming medication that also treat for hookworms, tapeworms and the other wriggly but less serious parasites.

The need for preventive parasite medication varies between pets: it depends on their lifestyle, their habits, and on who they live with. A pet living with children may have different needs to pet living just with healthy adults. A dog that lives indoors all the time has different needs to one that spends a lot of time outdoors.

The best advice is to talk to your vet, so that the various risks can be assessed and discussed, and then the most appropriate medication can be organised. Online help is also available: my own new website, PetfixClub.com, includes a pet parasite planner tool.

Every pet is different: make sure you choose parasite control that suits them well.
The number of Manitobans hospitalized with COVID-19 has remained remarkably low over the past two months. It continues to fall, even after the province eased pandemic restrictions two weeks ago, for the third time this year.

The number of Manitobans hospitalized with COVID-19 has remained remarkably low over the past two months. It continues to fall, even after the province eased pandemic restrictions two weeks ago, for the third time this year.

Mitigating severe illness from COVID-19, including death, and protecting hospital capacity are the two main objectives of Manitobas pandemic response efforts. As long as those remain under control, it can gradually lift restrictions to reduce further harm to peoples livelihoods and mental health.

The tricky part for public health officials is figuring out how daily case numbers and infection rates impact severe outcomes and hospitalizations, now that vaccinations are starting to ramp up.

Higher case numbers and a rise in the test positivity rate (like were seeing now) will not impact hospitalizations and deaths the same way they did prior to the vaccine rollout. The greater the proportion of those over age 70 vaccinated, the less severe the impact.

Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, says Manitobans should expect case numbers and the test positivity rate to rise as restrictions are loosened.

Happily, that didnt occur after restrictions were eased in January and February.

In the three weeks after measures were loosened Jan. 23, the provinces test positivity fell by half, from 9.8 per cent to 4.8 per cent. It fell further (to three per cent) in the three weeks after restrictions were eased Feb 12 (even after the first U.K. variant was reported in Manitoba Feb. 9).

It wasnt until after measures were loosened March 5 case numbers and infection rates began to climb again, but only marginally. Manitobas test positivity rate jumped to 5.2 per cent earlier this week, and settled to 4.7 per cent Friday.

Hospitalization rates have not followed suit; theyve been on a steady decline since early January.

There were 272 patients in hospital with COVID-19 on Jan. 23. That fell to 240 by the time measures were eased again Feb. 12. The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units dropped to 29, from 40, during that period.

Hospitalizations fell again the following three weeks to 171, including 24 in ICU.

Vaccinations are likely playing a role. The vast majority of people over age 90 have been immunized and just over one-third of those over 80 have received at least one dose. Some of Manitobas most vulnerable, who may have otherwise fallen ill, are now protected.

There are signs, however, hospitalization rates could be levelling off.

The province breaks down hospitalizations between those who are still infectious with COVID-19 and those who are still in hospital, but no longer contagious. While the number of non-contagious patients continues to fall, those considered infectious (newly admitted) has plateaued and even increased slightly over the past week.

That may be just a blip, but its surely something Manitobas pandemic war room is monitoring closely.

The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU has also been largely unchanged for the past two weeks, ranging from 21 to 24.

The only surefire way to ensure hospitalizations continue to fall (they tend to lag a week or two behind infection rates) is to ramp up immunizations. That started to happen this week, with 4,794 doses administered Wednesday, and 5,075 Thursday  about double the daily number doled out over the previous week.

Manitoba also got confirmation Friday of Moderna vaccine shipments for the weeks of April 5 and 19, as well as weekly deliveries of Pfizer-BioNTech until the week of May 24. Manitoba has guaranteed shipments to do at least 8,000 jabs a day.

The faster it can do that, the fewer people will end up in hospital, and the quicker Manitoba can reopen its economy.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven hundreds of Africans out of Guangzhou sparking the most severe anti-Black racial clashes in China in decades. Guangzhou, already flocked by internal migrants, became an accidental experiment of multiculturism in China, as loose immigration rules and factories churned out cheap products, attracting many African entrepreneurs, according to CNN.

According to the local authorities by April 2020, only 4,550 Africans were living in Guangzhou, including students and diplomats and businesspeople. According to experts and Africans, due to several repatriation flights to Nigeria & Kenya and tougher coronavirus-era visa rules the number further diminished with most foreigners barred from entry to China.

"For the whole issue of African traders in Guangzhou, I suspect that era is over," says Gordon Mathews, professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Over the past year, one of the main reasons for the decline of the African community in China over the past year is Business. However, as Chinese migrants in Africa can easily order from Chinese factories themselves, and sell to locals where they are living, Africans have been cut out of the equation in their home nations.

"China wants to be the middleman and not have Africans (in its borders)... So it would make much more sense for the Chinese merchants to move to Africa, rather than having the Africans go to China," said Mathews.

According to CNN, the Africans also brought with them value systems that did not easily fit in with China's political environment.

Chinese authorities clamped down on African overstayers

Many Africans were deeply religious, founding underground Christian churches. However, in recent years, Beijing clamped down on the non-state sanctioned religion, raiding their house & churches, which were shut down by local police. Guangzhou also attracted communities of Hui and Uyghurs, Muslim minorities in China, who began serving halal food to the African incomers. In 2011, the provincial authorities clamped down on overstayers, offering rewards to Chinese who turned them in, and making it illegal for employers, hoteliers or educational institutes to serve them.

A Chinese government-led campaign in 2014 tore down signage in the area that celebrated foreign trade, swept up street stalls serving local cuisines, and introduced a heavy police presence. Africans across the city were evicted from their homes and hotels and forced to live on the streets. Guangzhou authorities also sparked unproven fears that Africans were vectors of COVID-19 after some Nigerians tested positive for the virus, according to CNN reports. Many Africans are now reluctant to return to Guangzhou once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

(With ANI Inputs)
Ranchi, March 20 : Generally government officials do not get free time from their work schedules. Proving to be an exception, Abu Imran, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has taken the initiative to promote education among parents and students in Jharkhand.

Imran not only visits schools himself in remote areas to teach students for a few hours, but also visits villages and inspires parents to send their children to school and explains the importance of education to them.

Imran, the Latehar Deputy Commissioner (DC) and IAS officer of 2010 batch, has also been the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of the district before taking over as the Deputy Commissioner. This is the reason he is well acquainted with Latehar.

When Imran joined here as the Deputy Commissioner, his attention was drawn towards the education system in the remote areas here.

Imran told IANS, "I have been in the habit of teaching children in schools and colleges since the beginning. There is usually a lack of awareness about education in remote areas, but when an officer goes to these villages to teach and meet the parents of these children, there is an increased need for imparting education to them and spread awareness about education." Nawagarh was once considered a stronghold of Maoists, but Imran, along with his wife Jabeen Fatima, has highlighted the need for education in the regions's Higher Secondary schools.

Imran took a class of intermediate and matriculate children along with his wife and gave the mantra of success in life to them. Gun-shots were once heard in these areas but Imran and his wife visited the schools and gave a pen and diary to encourage the children and said they should never adopt shortcuts in education or employment in life.

The Deputy Commissioner admits that there are many problems faced by the schools here, but by sitting on the children's benches, he came to know about the minor problems, which can be solved by communicating with the common man.

He told IANS that 'Gyan Kora Latehar' was started on YouTube when the schools were closed during the Coronavirus. Subjects were uploaded on this channel by getting experienced teachers to tackle the syllabus, which benefited the students a lot.

He said in many schools, students also complain of not finding teachers of requisite subjects, but today when many subjects can be learnt from social media sites, there is a need to inform the students about it.

Imran said there are several problems, but merely pointing at them cannot be the way out. Everyone of us can come together to solve these problems. There may not be a complete solution achieved to the problems, but some success would definitely be achieved.

Imran visits the villages and spreads awareness among the people to eradicate social evils. On Friday, in the Project High School at Sasang village in Chandwa Block, located on National Highway-39, Imran informed the children about curriculum-based knowledge and spread awareness among them to eradicate social evils. He then visited the Kasturba Gandhi Residential School at Chandwa.

The villagers also appreciate the Deputy Commissioner's initiative. Madan Prasad of Nawagarh says that it is because of this unique initiative by the Deputy Commissioner that teachers in schools are reporting on time and children are also coming to school.
In an unprecedented move, San Franciscos top elected officials, including the mayor, state legislators and nearly all supervisors, called Saturday for a school board member to resign over racist tweets she posted in 2016 directed at Asian Americans.

We are outraged and sickened by the racist, anti-Asian statements tweeted by school board Vice President Alison Collins that recently came to light, 22 current and former elected officials said in a statement Saturday. No matter the time, no matter the place, and no matter how long ago the tweets were written, there is no place for an elected leader in San Francisco who is creating and or/created hate statements and speeches.

Officials, who continued to add their names throughout Saturday, thanked Collins for her service and asked her to resign from her post. Mayor London Breed and school board members Jenny Lam and Faauuga Moliga and the head of the citys teachers union also called for her to step down.

Officials, community groups and parents have widely criticized Collins racist tweets, which resurfaced last week amid a surge of violence and harassment against Asian Americans in the Bay Area and across the country.

Twitter screenshot

The controversy was just the latest crisis to engulf San Franciscos school district. It comes after the district was hit with two lawsuits in recent months  one over its slow reopening of schools and the other over a push to rename 44 schools with links to racism and oppression. The board was also criticized for a controversial decision to change the merit-based admissions system at Lowell High School. The disputes inspired a group of parents to start a recall campaign against three board members, including Collins, who was elected in 2018. The recalls backers first uncovered Collins tweets.

More than 24 hours after the furor erupted and after dozens of public officials asked her to step down, Collins  who declined to apologize Friday  expressed regret in an online post Saturday morning for the pain her words caused.

She did not resign and as of Sunday afternoon she had not deleted the posts.

Collins declined to identify her tweets as racist and repeatedly insisted they were taken out of context.

A number of tweets and social media posts I made in 2016 have recently been highlighted. They have been taken out of context, both of that specific moment and the nuance of the conversation that took place, she said in a statement. ... I acknowledge that right now, in this moment my words taken out of context can be causing more pain for those who are already suffering. For the pain my words may have caused I am sorry, and I apologize unreservedly.

Breed, who also called for Collins resignation, does not consider Collins Saturday statement an apology for her social media posts, spokesman Jeff Cretan said.

Lam said she is dismayed by Collins statement, calling it a non-apology.

In short, she deflected the issue to former President Trump, and claimed her tweets were taken out of context twice when it was made clear when and why she made those statements, Lam said. I cannot imagine families will now feel safe with someone on our board who felt comfortable saying something so offensive about Asian Americans and still refuses to fully own up to it and apologize.

Moliga said in a social media post Saturday that Collins statements regarding the Asian American community are dangerous, hurtful, and unbecoming.

He added that the statements, no matter what context, are counter-productive and erosive to the trust and work we are called to do.

School board members Matt Alexander, Kevine Boggess and Mark Sanchez have not responded to requests for comment.

Board President Gabriela Lopez was the lone defender of Collins.

I stand in solidarity with Vice President Collins and Asian American communities, she said in a Twitter thread Saturday afternoon. This week has been marked by hate and violence. ... I appreciate that Vice President Collins has apologized for her remarks.

We will stand by each other and commit ourselves to working through the process of hurt and pain. We must fight against white supremacy and misogyny, not each other.

Lee Cheng, founder of the civil rights group Asian American Legal Foundation, questioned Lopezs ability to ability to lead, given her defense of Collins.

She is is putting ideological loyalty over basic decency, and as such cannot possibly be considered an appropriate leader of a Board of Education of a school district that is a third Asian American, he said.

Cheng also questioned Lopezs belief that the situation called for restorative justice.

Restorative justice requires real responsibility, he said. Not forced, insincere, let-me-excuse-myself, hey, hey let me make up context, Trump-made-me-do-it pablum.

Others also rejected Collins apology, including the Chinese American Democratic Club, which said in a statement it is dismayed by her refusal to accept responsibility.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Roughly one-third of the districts more than 52,000 students are Asian American.

Collins also came under fire in October when she was caught on a hot mike during a school board meeting about changing the admission process for Lowell High School. Speaking apparently to someone outside the meeting, she said, Im listening to a bunch of racists. Many of the speakers against the plan were Asian American students and parents.

Those who signed the statement included 10 supervisors, with Dean Preston the only name missing; former Supervisors Norman Yee, Jane Kim and Sandra Lee Fewer; Assembly Members David Chiu and Phil Ting; BART Directors Janice Li and Bevan Dufty; and David Campos, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party; Ivy Lee, former City College trustee. State Sen. Scott Wiener also called for her to step down. Susan Solomon, president of United Educators of San Francisco, signed the letter Saturday but said Sunday she took her name off it, pending further discussion with union leadership.

In the tweets, Collins singled out Asian Americans in recounting an incident she said had occurred in the past. She wrote that her mixed-race/Black daughter heard boys teasing a Latino about Trump, Mexicans and the KKK. The boys were Asian-American. ... She spoke up when none of the other staff did. The after school counselor was Asian.

Where are the vocal Asians speaking up against Trump? Dont Asian Americans know theyre on his list as well? Collins wrote.

Using asterisks in references to the racial epithet, Collins continued, Do they think they wont be deported? profiled? beaten? Being a house n****r is still being a n****r. Youre still considered the help.|

A group made up of Asian American and Pacific Islander district administrators, formed in the recent wake of anti-Asian violence, also called on Collins to resign.

We are distressed by Alison Collins anti-apology stance and urge that she take personal responsibility to repair the harm that has been caused by her choice of words in 2016, according to the statement by the Asian Subgroups Pacific Islander Coalition for Equity, which includes about 20 principals and other administrators, said founder Nancy Bui, the principal at Rooftop PK-8 School.

Alison Collins has always approached me with warmth and open-mindedness, but this was about impact, not intent, Bui said of the request for Collins to step down. We dont have a choice here but to ask that she do the right thing.

Students have also spoken out. Based on the tweets, the Lowell Black Student Union removed Collins as a panelist at a Women in Leadership event Thursday evening.

Schools Superintendent Vince Matthews declined to address the tweets specifically, but sent a letter Friday to district staff about the issue.

We have to band together and speak up when we see or hear racist actions or behaviors perpetrated against any member of our community, he said.  ... At a time when we are seeing a rise in anti-Asian violence, xenophobia and racism across our country we must recommit to creating safe communities.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
In a key development on Saturday, Pakistan PM Imran Khan tested positive for COVID-19 two days after being administered the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Pakistan PM on National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination made this announcement on Twitter. Moreover, he added that Khan is self-isolating at home. Till now, Pakistan has recorded 6,23,135 confirmed novel coronavirus cases out of which 579,760 patients have recovered while 13,799 fatalities have been reported. The country is witnessing a resurgence of COVID-19 with 3,876 cases being reported over the past 24 hours  the highest since July 2020.

PM Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at home  Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) March 20, 2021

Pakistan to get COVISHIELD vaccine

Pakistan will receive 16 million doses of COVISHIELD through the COVAX route after it refused to directly procure Indian-made novel coronavirus vaccines. India has reportedly committed 100 lakh doses of vaccines to COVAX, a global initiative which aims at ensuring that middle and lower-income countries get timely access to COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine doses will be provided free of cost to Pakistan. This information was revealed by the chairman of Pakistan Lower House's Public Accounts Committee.

He also mentioned that the first batch of the vaccine is expected by mid-March while the rest of it might arrive by June. So far, the Imran Khan-led government has approved China's Sinopharm vaccine, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and Russia's Sputnik-V for emergency use. On Wednesday, Pakistan received the second consignment of half a billion of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China. Currently, the country is vaccinating the frontline health workers and people above the age of 60 years.

COVID-19 inoculation in India

On January 3, the Drugs Controller General of India accepted the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, paving way for the approval of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN. On January 16, PM Modi launched the pan-India rollout of the novel coronavirus vaccination drive via video conferencing whereby the healthcare and frontline workers would get vaccinated in the first phase. In the second phase of the vaccination drive which is underway at present, all persons aged above 60 and those above 45 with comorbidities are eligible to get themselves inoculated by registering on the CoWIN portal. So far, 3,53,77,912 beneficiaries have been inoculated out of which 71,96,629 persons have been administered the second dose of the vaccine too.
New Delhi, March 20 : India is once again witnessing a massive surge in coronavirus cases as it recorded 40,953 infections in the last 24 hours, highest so far since November, taking the total tally to 1,15,55,284 on Saturday.

A single-day spike of 41,810 new infections were recorded on November 28 last year. The country has been registering an increase in cases for the 10th consecutive day.

According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh are exhibiting a steep rise in daily numbers.

The central government is closely monitoring and actively engaging with the states and union territories over the rising cases.

With death of 188 people in the last 24 hours, the toll has reached 1,59,558 in India. The active caseload in country has mounted to 2,88,394.

With the discharge of 23,653 patients in a day, a total of 1,11,07,332 persons have been discharged so far. A total of 10,60,971 tests were done on Friday.

So far, 4.20 crore doses of corona vaccines have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after approval for 'Covishield' and 'Covaxin'.

More than 18.16 lakh doses were administered on a single day on Friday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished his Pakistani arch-rival Imran Khan a "speedy recovery" from Covid-19 on Saturday, in a new sign of a thaw between the neighbours

New Delhi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Mar, 2021 ) :India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished his Pakistani arch-rival Imran Khan a "speedy recovery" from Covid-19 on Saturday, in a new sign of a thaw between the neighbours.

Since agreeing to halt hostilities on their disputed Kashmir border last month, the nuclear-armed rivals have shown signs of wanting to improve relations.

Modi used the announcement that the 68-year-old Khan had tested positive for the coronavirus to make his gesture.

"Best wishes to Prime Minister Imran Khan for a speedy recovery from COVID-19," the Hindu nationalist leader said on Twitter.

Modi regularly uses his rallies to lash out at Pakistan.

The two countries -- which fought intense artillery battles on their Kashmir border last year -- have had three wars since their angry split after independence in 1947.

But the surprise accord reaffirming a 2003 ceasefire came amid reports that officials from the two sides had held secret meetings in recent months.

There have been no reported shellings on the Kashmir Line of Control, as the disputed frontier is known, since the accord came into effect on February 24.

Khan has since called for increased trade with India, while Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed said this week that the neighbours should "bury the past".
Schuylkill County had 30 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the highest number in nearly two weeks.

The case total now stands at 12,429.

The largest daily new case totals thus far in March were 32 on March 2 and 30 on March 6 and again Friday.

Another death was reported Friday to take that total to 378.

Statewide, there were 3,455 additional positive cases Friday, bringing the total to 980,302, while there were 35 more deaths for a total of 24,741.

More PASD quarantines

Another Pottsville Area High School student tested positive, resulting in 26 additional students needing to quarantine, Acting Superintendent Jared A. Gerace said in an email to parents and guardians Friday. No staff are affected.

This follows three positive tests and 49 additional resulting quarantines reported Thursday.

Vaccine doses climb

The Department of Health said that as of Friday, 24.1% of Pennsylvanians have received at least one dose of vaccine. It reported that 1,428,867 people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 309,869 from last week, and 1,270,141 people are partially vaccinated.

Approximately 23% of Schuylkill Countians, 32,598 out of 141,359, have been partially vaccinated, according to state numbers reported Friday, including 19,181 who have received both shots and 13,417 who have had the first of two shots.

Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation for COVID-19 vaccinations administered, and is adjusting the state health departments website to make it easier to schedule vaccinations, officials said Thursday.

As of Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Pennsylvania behind only New Mexico for the number of vaccine doses administered per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said at a virtual press briefing.

That is proof that the pace of vaccination is accelerating here, Beam said.

She said more than 2,300 providers in Pennsylvania want to administer vaccines, but the department will focus allocations to a narrowed-down network of 200 to 300. That includes hospitals, pharmacies, federally qualified health centers and public health providers who are most suited to achieve the goals of getting as many individuals vaccinated as quickly as possible, she said.

The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association said Friday it was disappointed with that decision and called on the department to continually include community pharmacies in the effort.

While mass vaccination sites are important to large communities and can supplement other community-based provider vaccination efforts, the reality is that many Pennsylvanians do not live in large communities, nor have the ability to reach some of these sites, a statement from the 143-year-old organization 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.
Stocktrek

If New York is to meet its critical climate goals of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040, there is no role for natural gas. Methane from natural gas is a major greenhouse gas polluter. Its ubiquitous and an extremely potent greenhouse gas, many times more damaging as a heat-trapping gas over its lifetime than carbon dioxide.

The best strategy to reduce methane emissions is to halt fossil fuel infrastructure. This includes infrastructure like pipelines that promote more extraction, compressor stations that can vent and leak gas, and storage facilities that pose explosion risks. Additionally, carbon emissions from oil and natural gas have grown in recent years due to increased use.
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Key West theater community still suffering amid pandemic

ROB ONEAL/The Citizen Fringe Theater Managing Artistic Director Rebecca Tomlinson, above left, speaks with her crew of actors Friday at their new home at The Armory on White Street. ROB ONEAL/The Citizen Actors prepare for a play at in the dressing room of the Red Barn Theater. Photo provided The Studios of Key West This composite image of Michael Urie, Ann Harada, Colby Scott and Constance Shulman, shows the actors who starred in the digital play, Smithtown, which was written by former TSKW artist-in-residence Drew Larimore and directed by its artistic associate and board chair Stephen Kitsakos. The play was produced by TSKW, and had a one-month run online. Longtime friends and fellow performers Mimi McDonald, left, and Joy Hawkins, right, are seen outside the still shuttered Red Barn Theater behind the Key West Woman's Club on Duval Street Friday afternoon.

Pull Quote Our business is dying. Were all dying, whether it be small theaters or Broadway. Its a tough time to survive.  Actress Amy Poehler, NY Times

In Key West over the past year, the theater community has undergone various degrees of dying. None of its primary theater companies and performing arts venues have gone under or, at this point, are likely to. But only a combination of belt-tightening, COVID relief grants and an extraordinary outpouring of donations from local theater lovers has kept them afloat.

Like every other local industry, the Key West performing arts community was stopped in its tracks on March 16, 2020, when city officials announced they were shutting down the town. The Red Barn Theater was days away from opening a new play when the announcement was made. Over at the Waterfront Playhouse, actors were in the second week of a five-week run of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Fringe Theater Key West was one day away from opening the play Bloomsday inside the Frederick Douglass Gym.

We were able to hold our last dress rehearsal. It was a very emotional experience for us. Number one, we were scared. Number two, we had worked so hard, Fringe Managing Artistic Director Rebecca Tomlinson remembers about the final rehearsal on May 16.

Oh, I remember it well, said Christopher Elwell, president of the Waterfront Playhouse Board of Directors. We were in the middle of our most-purchased play ever. It was the most expensive production we had ever planned before. We were sold out for pretty much the entire five-week run.

As the shock of the shutdown set in, theater managers and directors initially were positive.

When all this happened and we were stunned, we said well close for three weeks, maybe four weeks then reopen, said Mimi McDonald, Red Barn Managing Director.

At that point, it was a scramble to keep everyone safe and figure out how they were going to set their bills paid, said Jed Dodds, executive director of The Studios of Key West. Our first instinct was to rally our wagons around our people.

But it shortly became clear the remainder of the winter performance season was lost. The good news was that the local companies had been able to get through about two-thirds of the season, with its attendant ticket sales and program advertising. While refunds were offered for the canceled performances, many ticket holders chose to donate the money to the company. And fundraising events had already taken place, with the money safely in theatrical coffers.

THERES A WAY

But as spring moved into summer, finances became more challenging. And perhaps even worse, the creative drive in the performing arts community was bottled up with no place to go.

Thats when the companies began to pivot to online streaming. One of the first was the Fringe. Tomlinson said that when the word came down on March 16 that all city properties, including the gym, would be closed the next day, her lighting director suggested recording the final dress rehearsal and putting it on Facebook. Seven hundred people watched the performance over the next two days. By comparison, Tomlinson said a sold-out night in the gym would have been only 50 people.

We hit the floor running when COVID hit. And we didnt stop until the end of our regular season, she said. We discovered that out there in Facebook Land, people wanted to see theater.

Tomlinsons crew then created what they called, Fringe Fridays, where anyone could submit a video that would be streamed on Facebook every week. The Selfi-monologues ranged from a scene from Shakespeare to an original theater piece to dance. Tomlinson said at its peak, she was receiving up to 20 submitted videos each week for Fringe Fridays, which were presented free of charge.

I feel tickled in hindsight. We didnt know what we were doing. But we needed to keep our creatives busy and keep a sense of connection to our audience and our community, she said.

At The Studios of Key West, Dodds and his team originated Between Two Palms, an online, one-on-one interview series with both local and national performers and playwrights. It attracted some big names, including actors Tony Shalhoub and Marisa Tomei. The ticket price was $20, down significantly from what a regular theatrical or musical performance would cost. However, it did create a small revenue stream and led to further ticket sales for TSKWs next online play, Smithtown. And the normally live concert series, Old Town New Folk, also went online. Dodds said The Studios converted its second-floor auditorium in to allow socially distanced, safe recordings.

We ended up working harder, I think, that we usually do. We did a lot of experimenting with classes online. Some were successful and others werent. Drawing a live model on Zoom is difficult, he laughed. But, he added, The reality, at the end of the day, is it doesnt make money. So, we tried not to worry about the bottom line.

The Waterfront went back to the past to help ensure its future. It revived the old-fashioned radio play, partnering with U.S. 1 Radio to broadcast a live, multi-actor show. The actors used the Waterfront stage and were able to stay 6 feet apart while recording the series. Again, the free radio performances did not bring money into the organization. But the Waterfront had a financial cushion.

We have been extremely fiscally responsible over the last 10 to 12 years. We were able to make sure we had a rainy-day fund, Elwell said. We are definitely feeling it [financial pressure] but we are going to survive.

The Red Barn also pivoted to online performances geared to actor monologues that could be recorded safely, then edited together. Its first pandemic performance was in July 2020, streaming a previously-recorded play, The Big Bang, with popular local actors Tom Luna and Danny Weathers. It was a hit, viewed by 638 people and bringing in over $7,000 in donations from patrons.

But its second show in November, Love, Loss and What I Wore, only sold 113 tickets, bringing in just over $1,200. Still, with COVID cases falling over the summer while visitors to Key West increased, hope at the Red Barn rose for a 2020 winter season of live performances, held outdoors in the theaters courtyard.

Several other theaters also were planning to have a 2020-21, in-person winter season either using outdoor spaces or reduced seating indoors. But by the fall, it was clear that could not happen. COVID-19 case numbers were on the upswing and city officials issued a series of new health guidelines in the fall, including requiring performance spaces to install plexiglass barriers between a performer and the audience. That wasnt a huge logistical or financial burden for local bars and restaurants. For theaters, it was.

The actors either had to wear masks or we had to build a plexiglass barrier. To build a big plexiglass stage was just not feasible to do, said Joy Hawkins, Red Barn Artistic Director.

WATCH AND WAIT

If it werent for federal grants and increased donations from patrons, the theater community would likely be in more serious financial difficulty. The artistic organizations still have to pay a skeleton staff and maintain their theater buildings. The Fringe, known for producing its plays in different venues because it does not have its own brick-and-mortar building, took the unusual step of renting the Armory on White Street as a permanent home. Not only does the company now qualify for the federal Save our Stages federal grant program aimed at small theaters, it provides a safe place to rehearse.

That is now our home. We decided we couldnt be safe if we were borrowing spaces, Tomlinson said. It doesnt mean we wont take you to new places. But we dont have to.

Making matters worse, much of Key West has experienced an economic resurgence this winter, as tourists stream into one of the only warm climates open to them. Hotels, bars, restaurants, parking revenue, bed and sales taxes have almost all recovered to pre-pandemic levels, a welcome surprise after last spring and early summers revenue drops.

But that recovery has left out the theater community. Visitors do not want to sit in an enclosed space. In addition to the loss of ticket sales, revenue from advertising sales in play programs is gone. Normal fundraising events have been canceled or had to be held virtually.

There are a lot of people in town who would have liked to have come to the theater. But I dont think we would have sold many tickets, The Waterfronts Elwell said. And we would have to be a 70% capacity nightly to cover our costs. It just doesnt make sense to reopen and throw money out the window.

So, it is still watch and wait for the Key West theater community. Some directors say the interest in online performances has dwindled. So has the initial outpouring of donations from theater-loving patrons eager to help out. But under the new federal stimulus plan, grant money is again available. And with the number of people getting vaccinated, there is a growing hope there will be a vibrant 2021-22 theater season. However, what live performance audiences will look like is up in the air.

Will people still want to pack into a theater shoulder to shoulder, asked Dodds. We have a 200-person theater but we may limit ourselves to half that to be comfortable. Ticket prices may increase. I think theyll have to. But then, how do you keep theater accessible?

Well probably never recycle our [play] programs again, said McDonald. That [program advertising] is a big money-maker for us. Maybe well start to move ads online.

I think well have to go outside more, Hawkins said about future Red Barn performances. We may have to incorporate some streaming. You have to adjust to the reality of the world.

We have several plays for summer, Tomlinson said about 2021. It just depends on the numbers and vaccinations and how everybody is feeling. We did decide our strategy was to stay active and busy in service to our community.

Elwell said the Waterfront is planning on reopening at full capacity one week before Fantasy Fest this year, with the play, Rocky Horror Picture Show. And the theater has purchased royalties for a regular 2021-22 seasons-worth of plays.

We feel when we are able to reopen, people will be craving arts and theater. It will have been so long since theyve been able to enjoy it, he said.

As they say, the show must go on.

psowers@keysnews.com
Saudi Aramco, the worlds largest oil and gas company, will present its 2020 financial results on Sunday, March 21st. Considering the turbulence and volatility of 2020, Aramcos results may reveal some of the trends to watch over the next decade in the oil industry. The impact of COVID-19, immense demand destruction, high volatility in oil prices, and continued weak demand are all factors to keep in mind when assessing the upcoming Aramco figures. As a semi-listed national oil company, Aramco has the largest company-based oil reserves on earth, estimated to be around 276 billion barrels of crude. The financial results reported by the five integrated supermajors - ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron, and Total - might lead some to expect weak results from Aramco. Between them, the oil giants posted a combined record loss of $76 billion in 2020. While most of that loss was caused by asset impairments and write-offs, estimated to be around $69 billion, the real concern for shareholders has been net losses, with ExxonMobil reporting a loss of $22.4 billion, Shell and BP reporting a loss of more than $20 billion, and Total and Chevron reporting net losses of $5 billion to $6 billion. The cost of the global energy transition and the immense pressure to reassess the value of existing reserves or to divest vast parts of operating assets has hit these companies hard.

These developments, however, are not an issue Aramco will have to deal with, as the national oil company is not yet adjusting its reserves or divesting its international operational assets. While the Saudi giant is readjusting its overall operations to deal with the global energy transition by entering full-force into hydrogen and unconventionals, it still plans to produce every barrel of oil it can. As a national oil company, Aramco does not have to bow to activist investors or short-term trends. That means oil and gas will remain the main revenue generator for decades to come.

Related: Rarely-Used Recovery Method Could Unlock Billions Of Barrels In Alaska

The most interesting parts of Aramcos financial report will be the possible changes in its budget, as it has already slashed its CAPEX budget and some major projects have been delayed. Global oil prices have largely recovered this year though, so some analysts are optimistic about Aramcos near-term future. Realistically though, despite being in a league of its own when it comes to production and spare-capacity, the current CAPEX cuts and postponement of major programs will likely be prolonged. Several large international projects have already been halted, such as downstream India, but Aramco will need to keep production in place and possibly even increase spare production capacity to counter possible demand growth in 2022. Aramcos CEO Amin Nasser has already indicated that he is cautiously optimistic about global oil markets, expecting growth in 2022.

Expectations, based on the first three quarters of 2020, are that Aramcos FY2020 figures will be lower than in 2019. In Q3 2020, Aramco reported a profit decline of 44.6% to $11.79 billion, compared to $21.29 billion in Q3 2019. The company also slashed its CAPEX 2020 budget to less than $25 billion, which is considered a critical level when considering the investment required to counter production decline. Some analysts expect similar CAPEX budgets for 2021, which would hurt the current bullish sentiment in the oil market.

In the short term, it will be Aramcos net profit and its overall margins that drive markets. As the largest oil producer in the world and the main power in the OPEC+ agreement, Aramcos financial stability is a major indicator of the stability of Saudi Arabia and the larger oil market. As the main government revenue generator, the stress on Aramcos financials is immense. Investors and Saudi government officials alike will be very wary of any potential negative news emerging. They will also be worried if Aramcos financials are not healthy enough to deal with the companys CAPEX/OPEX needs while also paying out $75 billion in dividends. If revenues are very low, the dividend issue could start to destabilize the companys future, as cutting CAPEX further would be seen in a very negative light. A potential expansion of production capacity, as was ordered in March 2020 by the Saudi government, has not yet been implemented due to low oil prices and CAPEX cuts. New production expansions, like Marjan, Berri, Safaniya, and Zuluf, have been delayed, while opportunities in the Red Sea offshore are currently still on ice. Aramcos figures will indicate just how strong the oil giants position currently is and whether its production capacity is about to come under pressure.

Related Video: Why The Oil & Gas Rig Count Matters

At the same time, analysts will be watching closely for any mention from Saudi Aramco officials about the ongoing escalation of the Yemen crisis. Increased drone attacks combined with the new long-range missile capabilities of the Houthis and other Iranian proxies pose a major threat to Aramco. Not only is the escalating Yemeni conflict a major threat to stability in the region, but also to the attractiveness and stability of Aramco. If a concerted drone-missile strategy is put in place, supported by Iran or other forces in the region, Aramcos oil production and export capabilities will be severely hampered.

Weaker financial results, Riyadh demanding a higher percentage of revenues, continued instability in the region, and low oil prices are not a cocktail that will attract new investors or financial institutions. Aramco management and the Saud Ministry of Energy will be under pressure to convince markets that Aramco remains strong.

The financial world will be watching on Sunday when the companys financials are reported. The attempts by Saudi officials at the moment to highlight substantial changes in the management of the company, major investments in blockchain, hydrogen, and even unconventional energy, are unlikely to be enough to halt the growing concern amongst analysts. Investors and traders will remain painfully aware that the future of Aramco is directly tied to the future of Saudi Arabia. Negative financial reports or assessments will have a tangible impact on the Kingdom itself. Luckily for Saudi entities, the world, even oil traders and hedge funds, are seeking stability at present. That sentiment could mean Aramcos potentially negative report will be viewed in a more positive light. Whatever the result, one thing is certain, all eyes will be on Aramco this Sunday.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
[March 19, 2021] R. E. Gilmore Investments Corp. (Gilmore) managing a cyber incident

KANATA, ON, March 19, 2021 /CNW/ - In the early morning of March 12, 2021, R. E. Gilmore Investments Corp. experienced a ransomware attack. To protect its network and data, Gilmore promptly turned off its services and retained an external cyber incident response firm to help it with safe and prompt service restoration. Gilmore's information technology team and the expert have been working tirelessly since last Friday, and Gilmore confirms that the majority of services came online early this week. The cyber incident response firm has certified Gilmore's network as being free of malware but is monitoring it continuously. Gilmore is also working with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) with respectto this incident.



"We are deeply sorry for what has happened," said Paul Brennan, Vice-President Finance. "This has caused an upsetting disruption to many of our clients for which we are responsible and will address. Right now, we are committed to continued hard work and open communication." Interactions with the threat actors earlier in the week gave us strong indications that they do not have any data in their possession. While encouraged, Gilmore will nonetheless have its expert conduct a thorough investigation including, to determine how the hackers compromised its network. "We will learn how this happened and examine any deeper causes, and we will make adjustments so we are stronger," said Brennan.

Gilmore has reported the incident to the authorities and will provide them with its cooperation. About R.E. Gilmore Investments Corp. R.E. Gilmore Investments Corp. provides technology and business service solutions designed to simplify the complex business needs of large corporate institutions. Through the Gilmore Group of Companies, the Corporation offers commercial printing, supply chain, IT, and reproduction services to its global clients. The Gilmore corporate headquarters is located in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. SOURCE R.E. Gilmore Investments

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Jennifer Granholm, a two-time Michigan governor and a clean-energy adherent, was confirmed as the newest secretary of energy in late February.

As the first-in-command at the Department of Energy, a Cabinet agency that sought some $35 billion for fiscal year 2021, Granholm oversees a panoramic portfolio of work, touching everything from energy efficiency, artificial intelligence, climate change and advanced manufacturing to nuclear-waste cleanup, nonproliferation and the upkeep of the nations formidable nuclear arsenal.

The latter few are especially important in and around Aiken County.

Granholm was confirmed by the Senate 64-35  a bipartisan tally, with support coming from California and Idaho and New Mexico and Nevada and Washington, a handful of states home to Energy Department installations.

South Carolinas two senators, Republicans Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, voted against Granholms nomination, as did lawmakers from Missouri and Tennessee and Texas, some other states with significant Energy Department interests.

Graham did not believe Granholm was the right person for the job at this time, according to Kevin Bishop, a spokesperson. It is why he opposed her nomination.

Scott voted against Granholms nomination, according to spokesperson Bradford Traywick, because he is dedicated to protecting the jobs of hard-working Americans in our energy sector.

Senator Scott believes that Ms. Granholms commitment to President Bidens job-killing, progressive energy policies is a step back from energy independence, Traywick continued in a statement to the Aiken Standard.

Its a familiar critique. When the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered advancing Granholms nomination to the full Senate  as was eventually done, 13-4  some lawmakers jabbed at the Biden administrations energy platform and a recent avalanche of executive edicts.

Gov. Granholm also stated multiple times that she didnt want to see anyone lose their job or get left behind, said Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican. But this is precisely what the Biden administration is doing. Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, piled on: I not only hoped, but intended to vote for her before these executive actions were taken, he said. For reasons stated by Sen. Barrasso, I cant, in good conscience, confirm her to this position knowing thats the approach this administration is taking.

The Energy Department, which Granholm now leads, stewards the Savannah River Site, where millions of gallons of radioactive waste await processing, where the Savannah River National Laboratory is situated, where tritium is handled and packaged, and where the cores or triggers for modern nuclear weapons could eventually be produced.

In an address to the Waste Management Symposium earlier this month, Granholm said the department is on a mission to save our planet and the people who live on it, and the Environmental Management program, of course, is one of the most important tools in this fight. Environmental Management is DOEs remediation office; it's tasked with cleaning up the legacy of Cold War weapons production and government-sponsored energy research.

Over the next few years, Granholm continued, were going to take our cleanup work to the next level.

Moving forward, Graham expects to have a professional working relationship with Secretary Granholm, Bishop said. Its not unusual for senators to vote against a nominee and then work with them when they assume their position in the cabinet.

Again, Bishop emphasized, he expects they will have a professional, working relationship. The statement provided by Scotts office did not answer questions about their future relationship. (Before Granholm was even confirmed, Rep. Joe Wilson, another South Carolina Republican, invited her to visit the Savannah River Site and congratulated her on the recent appointment. His January letter was addressed to Madame Secretary.)

Graham and Scott, former members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted to confirm Rick Perry as energy secretary in early 2017. When Perry's nomination went public, Graham praised it: Governor Perry brings a lot to the table as a very successful governor of a large, energy rich state. He espouses the goal of energy independence and has constantly talked about the need for an energy revolution in the United States. He is a great choice to lead DOE, which has a substantial impact on South Carolina.

When Perry abruptly resigned at the end of 2019, his deputy, Dan Brouillette, was nominated.

Neither Graham nor Scott voted at the time, records show.
Some of the books included in the auction of the personal library of the late John Wayse Jackson

An auction of the entire personal library of the late John Wyse Jackson of Gorey's Zozimus Book Shop will take place online on Wednesday, March 24 at 10 a.m.

The much-loved book seller passed away suddenly in Feburary of last year, and he is remembered for enstilling a love for reading in all he met in Wexford.

His shop Zozimus closed last month and the auction of his own personal collection reflects his own interests with over 10,000 books that he collected over 40 years.

He accumulated modern Irish and World literature, many signed first editions and with more than 800 lots in the collection and an 83-page portfolio, the collectable items are now available to browse now online at www.purcellauctioneers.ie.

Before Mr Jackson returned to Ireland in 2003, he was a partner at John Sandoe books in London and also wrote his own stories.

He was a true bibliophile and became a very highly respected Joycean scholar as well as having in depth knowledge on Flann O'Brien, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, as well as the Beatles.

Expand Close Some of the books included in the auction of the personal library of the late John Wayse Jackson / Facebook

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A spokesperson for Purcell Auctioneers said that the sale has already attracted unprecedented levels of enquiries and bidding registrations even before the catalogue went live online.

Lot 474 sees James Joyce's Ulysees a limited edition, No. 1343 of 2000 copies on handmade paper, estimated to be worth between 1,000 and 2,000.

Lot 594 sees an extremely rare sketch by Jack B Yeats which is signed, and dates back to 1945. This is estimated at 300-600

Lot 427 sees a first edition of The Nursery "Alice" by Lewis Carroll from 1889, and is estimated at 200-400.
New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) The United States and China have indicated no major breakthrough in the first high-level in-person talks between their top diplomats in Alaska that ended on Friday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi after the talks said that they had "candid" discussions during the two-day conversation in Anchorage, Alaska, that saw sharp exchanges in front of media on each other's policies.

Blinken said he conveyed the "significant concerns" the US and its allies have about China's actions and behaviour, and laid out US policies and priorities.

"We certainly know and knew going in that there are a number of areas where we are fundamentally at odds, including Chinas actions in Xinjiang, with regard to Hong Kong, Tibet, increasingly Taiwan, as well as actions that its taken in cyberspace," he told reporters, according to a State Department statement accessed here.

"And it's no surprise that when we raised those issues clearly and directly, we got a defensive response," Blinken added.

But the two sides had "a very candid conversation" over the hours on an expansive agenda and that their interests "intersect" on Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea and climate change.

"On economics, on trade, on technology, we told our counterparts that we are reviewing these issues with close consultation with Congress, with our allies and partners. And we will move forward on  in a way that fully protects and advances the interests of workers and our businesses," he said.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US expected to have tough and direct talks on a wide range of issues, and "thats exactly what we had."

"We had the opportunity to lay out our priorities and intentions, and to hear from the Chinese side their priorities and intentions. We were clear-eyed coming in, were clear-eyed coming out, and we will go back to Washington to take stock of where we are.

"Well continue to consult with allies and partners on the way forward and, of course, on issues ranging from Iran to Afghanistan through the normal diplomatic channels. Well continue to work with China going forward," Sullivan said.

Yang, director of China's Central Foreign Affairs Commission and member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the dialogue was "candid, constructive and helpful," but there were "still some important differences between the two sides," according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who also took part in the talks, said that China made it clear that sovereignty is a matter of principle and told the US not to underestimate China's determination to defend it.

The Chinese delegation also said that the US should stop meddling in China's "domestic affairs" including Hong Kong, and sought the removal of sanctions imposed in connection with moves which the US views as having undermined the autonomy of the territory, Xinhua said.

UNI SRJ PS1800
Managers of foreign oil companies have been visiting Caracas recently to negotiate a possible return of international firms to Venezuelas embattled oil industry after Nicolas Maduro began promising earlier this year he would end the monopoly of state oil firm PDVSA, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the talks.

Venezuela is opening up to foreign investment in its oil industry, Maduro said in January, in a bid to reverse a catastrophic drop in its output under the weight of U.S. sanctions. PDVSA already has overseas partners, but foreign investments in Venezuelas oil industry are capped at 49 percent of any given project to protect state control of the sector.

Now, with the industryand Venezuelas whole economyin tatters, this may have to change.

Venezuelas crude oil and refined product exports plummeted in 2020 to their lowest level in 77 years, as the U.S. continued to step up sanctions against Maduros regime and anyone found dealing with it. Last year, Venezuelas oil exports plunged by 37.5 percent, reaching just 626,534 barrels per day (bpd), the lowest level since the early 1940s, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon and internal documents from PDVSA, cited by Reuters.

Earlier this month, Maduro said the Venezuelan National Assembly would consider reforms to the countrys oil law that would open the door to new business models.

Foreign companies have expressed interest in getting their hands on some of Venezuelas massive oil reserves, the biggest crude reserves in the world. But most international oil firms, especially the biggest ones with exposure to the U.S. stock and banking markets, will wait for U.S. sanctions to potentially ease before trying to enter the Venezuelan oil sector again.

There is some easy potential to increase production if sanctions enforcement declines, Francisco Monaldi, an expert on Venezuelas oil sector and a lecturer in energy economics at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy, told Bloomberg.

A massive rebound in Venezuelas oil industry, however, would only occurif everwith tens of billions of U.S. dollars of additional investment.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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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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New Delhi, March 20 : Above the line of duty, the 41st Battalion troopers of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have turned part-time "judo" trainers for school children in the Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh, an approach to bring back locals to the mainstream through such civic initiatives.

The ITBP initiative, which began in 2016, has not only helped these children in getting various medals on national level tournaments and competitions, but has also brought about changes in their families' way of thinking which was inclined towards Maoism.

The self-defence form of martial art has changed the mindset of many tribals residing in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district, a hard-core Maoist belt around 180 km from state capital Raipur.

Kondagaon, which was separated from Bastar district on January 24, 2012, is mostly renowned for its bell metal craft and other tribal art forms.

The school children have won 112 medals so far after being trained by the ITBP -- a 90,000-strong force which is mandated to guard 3,488 km India-China border and provide security in the Maoist affected areas.

Two ITBP personnel, Head Constable Jai Prakash and Constable Zahir Hassan, of the 41st Battalion have been training some 200 local boys and girls in four batches daily for about six hours.

The initiative began in 2016 when the 41st Battalion was deployed for the first time in the region.

The two ITBP officers have since been grooming and training the school children in the modern Japanese martial art, which has since evolved into a combat and Olympic sport.

Of the 200 trained children, the group includes children and youth aged between five years to 25 years.

Of the 112 state and national level medals, the children won 15 (four gold, three silver and eight bronze) in 2017; 39 (15 gold, 15 silver and nine bronze) in 2018; and 58 (17 gold, 23 silver and 18 bronze) in 2019.

Among these medals, the children won three national level medals -- one bronze in 2018 and two (one gold and one bronze) in 2019.

The ITBP trained 161 school children have participated in various national level competitions till now.

Yogesh Sori had won a bronze medal in 2018 at under-14 national Judo in 35 kg U-14 weight category.

Anil Kumar had won a Bronze medal in 40 kg category in Judo national in Imphal in 2019, while Shivani had won Gold in U-14 category in 2019 in a national competition.

Head Constable Prakash told IANS that due to judo training, the children have learnt self-defence and are now more confident.

Constable Hassan started the training under the guidance of the Commandant Surinder Khatri in October 2016 as a free of cost training facility with the basic available resources in a room of a pre-matric boys hostel building with only 15 to 16 children.

"We started training these school children with 15. Now there is 200 children that include 125 girls. We train them from 5.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. in the morning and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the evening," Constable Hasan told IANS.

"We started selecting these children on schools' level and now several children are coming on their own. Earlier, they were hesitant, but their behaviour has changed. The family members of these children and other locals have changed their attitude towards the force and their confidence has been increasing day-by-day. They were earlier enclined towards Maoism." Mentioning that "soch badal rahi hai" (thinking is changing), Head Constable Prakash told IANS: "We call the parents of these children. They are now feeling that the Central government wants their welfare. The behaviour of the locals in Kondagaon district have completely changed in the last four years." The ITBP has been in the forefront of Maoist affected Kondagaon district. The force mingles with the locals under civic action schemes besides ensuring them security from Maoist activities.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
With Tamil Nadu witnessing a sudden surge in coronavirus cases over the last few days, the state government on Saturday ordered the closure of schools for classes 9, 10 and 11 from March 22 until further orders.

However, they would continue to function for the 12th standard students for they have to take the board examination.

Notifying the closure, the government said the director of public health and preventive medicine has recommended that it would not be advisable to continue classes for 9, 10 and 11 from the health point of view as there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases.

With regard to the 12th standard, the director said the students may be permitted to attend school as their numbers would be lesser and they have to sit for the board examination with strict adherence to preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

"The government of Tamil Nadu hereby order that schools shall be closed for classes 9th, 10th and 11th with effect from March 22 until further orders," state Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan said in the order.

However, online/digital mode of education shall continue for classes 9, 10 and 11, he said. Further, hostels too would be closed.

Announcing relaxations in lockdown rules, the government had permitted the re-opening of schools for 10 and 12 classes from January 19 this year and for 9 and 11 from February 8 after a year, permitting also the re-opening of hostels for those students.

The government allowed conducting board exam for class 10 other than Tamil Nadu State Board as scheduled by those boards besides the conduct of special classes to students appearing for the board exam for class 10 and also the functioning of hostels for those students.

While teachers and students were found infected at a school in Chennai, about 55 students besides a teacher at a girls'' school in Thanjavur were admitted to the government hospital recently after testing positive for COVID-19.

Also read: Not every person in the world will be vaccinated, says Harsh Vardhan

Also read: WHO approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 jab due to 'tremendous potential'
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MONTREAL, March 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSX:LB) has been informed today by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) of the results of the vote held among the unionized employees of the Bank. This vote followed a request for revocation of the union certification, filed on December 22, 2020 by an employee of the Bank. Employees voted in favour of revocation by a proportion of 56.6%.



The Union has filed an unfair labour practice complaint following the filing of the decertification application. The CIRB stated that the parties would be called upon in order to discuss the next steps regarding the complaint in light of the voting results. Employees covered by the bargaining certificate remain unionized for the time being.

Laurentian Bank will follow any further indications by the CIRB.

The union certification covers all unionized employees of Laurentian Bank. These employees work mainly in Quebec branches, as well as some in corporate offices in Montreal.

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

We may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including in this document and the documents incorporated by reference herein, and in other documents filed with Canadian regulatory authorities or in other written or oral communications. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our business plans and strategies, priorities and financial objectives, the regulatory environment in which we operate, the anticipated impact of the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic on the Banks operations, earnings results and financial performance and statements under the headings Outlook, COVID-19 Pandemic and Risk Appetite and Risk Management Framework contained in our 2020 Annual Report for the year ended October 31, 2020 (the "2020 Annual Report"), including the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements typically are identified with words or phrases such as "believe, assume, "estimate", "forecast", outlook, "project", vision, "expect", foresee, "anticipate", "plan", "goal", aim, "target", "may", "should", "could", "would", "will", "intend" or the negative of these terms, variations thereof

or similar terminology.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific in nature. Material economic assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained in this document are set out in the 2020 Annual Report under the heading Outlook. There is significant risk that the predictions, forecasts, projections or conclusions will prove to be inaccurate, that our assumptions may not be correct, and that actual results may differ materially from such predictions, forecasts, projections or conclusions.

We caution readers against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control and the effects of which can be difficult to predict, could influence, individually or collectively, the accuracy of the forward-looking statements and cause actual future results to differ significantly from the targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to risks relating to: the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Bank, our business, financial condition and prospects; technology, information systems and cybersecurity; technological disruption, competition and our ability to execute on our strategic objectives; the economic climate in the U.S. and Canada; accounting policies, estimates and developments; legal and regulatory compliance; fraud and criminal activity; human capital; insurance; business continuity; business infrastructure; environmental and social risk and climate change; and our ability to manage operational, regulatory, legal, strategic, reputational and model risks, all of which are described in more detail in the section titled Risk Appetite and Risk Management Framework beginning on page 43 of the 2020 Annual Report, including the Managements Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

We further caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional risks and uncertainties not

currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on our financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation. Any forward-looking statements contained in this document represent the views of management only as at the date hereof, are presented for the purposes of assisting investors and others in understanding certain key elements of the Banks current objectives, strategic priorities, expectations and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of the Banks business and anticipated operating environment and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether oral or written, made by us or on our behalf whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities regulations. Additional information relating to the Bank can be located on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

About Laurentian Bank Financial Group

Founded in 1846, Laurentian Bank Financial Group is a diversified financial services provider whose mission is to help its customers improve their financial health. The Laurentian Bank of Canada and its entities are collectively referred to as Laurentian Bank Financial Group (the Group or the Bank).

With more than 2,900 employees guided by the values of proximity, simplicity and honesty, the Group provides a broad range of advice-based solutions and services to its personal, business and institutional customers. With pan-Canadian activities and a presence in the U.S., the Group is an important player in numerous market segments.

The Group has $45.2 billion in balance sheet assets and $29.2 billion in assets under administration.

Information:

Fabrice Tremblay

fabrice.tremblay@lbcfg.ca

Office: 514 284-4500, ext. 40020

Cell: 438 989-6070
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pulled his country out of an international accord meant to protect violence against women. According to The Guardian, a Turkish gazette on Saturday notified that it is no longer part of the Council of Europe accord, also known as the Istanbul convention, a human rights treaty on combatting and preventing violence against women. Turkey has reportedly given no official reason on why it exited the treaty.

Zehra Zumrut, Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services, has said that the guarantee of womens rights is already present in Turkeys constitution, adding our legal system is dynamic and strong enough to implement new regulations according to need. The minister further said Turkey will continue its fight against violence with the principle of zero tolerance. Turkey signed the convention in 2011 and was the first country to ratify it before 33 other nations followed suit.

Domestice violence on rise in Turkey

Domestic violence against women in Turkey is on a rise as the country registered a sharp surge in femicides last year. According to WHO, violence against women in Turkey is well above the average mark in Europe. Turkeys decision to quit the accord may have an affect on its efforts to join the European Union. Many in Turkey believe that the pact tends to impose a certain lifestyle and promotes homosexuality as it requires signatories to follow non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Turkey is not the first country to exit the convention as in July 2020, Poland had announced it will begin the process to formally exit the convention. The far-right government in Poland believes that the accord justifies gay ideology and is a creation of feminists. In May 2020, Hungarys National Assembly had adopted a resolution, calling on the government to not any further in accepting the convention. The resolution was passed by a majority.

(Image Credit: AP)
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CORVALLIS, Ore. --- The Oregon State University Faculty Senate overwhelmingly voted no confidence in President F. King Alexander and called on him to resign.

During a special session Thursday night, 108 senators voted in favor of the motion, 7 opposed and 5 abstained. The Faculty Senate is the university's representative for all the faculty on campus. Even though they do not have the same power as the OSU Board of Trustees, this motion shows the dwindling support of Alexander.

Emily Bowling is a senator representing Student Affairs, and she read a letter from the Sexual Health Advocacy Response and Prevention working group on campus. In the letter, it called out Alexander for dragging his feet after the Husch Blackwell report was released.

"We're deeply disturbed about the information released in the Husch Blackwell report and the toothless decision made by the Board of Trustees."

The Faculty Senate also voted 64 to 30 in favor of a motion saying they have "no confidence in the Board of Trustee's ability to lead OSU in a way that is consistent with our values and calls upon the members to resign." Many senators said they do not think the board responded appropriately to the Husch Blackwell report and do not agree with placing the president on probation.

Another motion passed demanding the hiring of all executive positions in the university, including the president, be made transparent and open to public input.

Finally, the Faculty Senate demanded "an increase in funding and staffing for survivor advocacy and violence prevention programs on campus to meet the needs of OSU and provide increased focus on BIPOCE and LGBTQIA+ communities."
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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
HOLLAND, MI  As the owner of Marlenas Bistro & Pizzeria spent the day in jail Friday, supporters from around West Michigan blamed the heavy hand of government for trying to force her to follow unfair coronavirus guidelines.

Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, 55, has kept her restaurant on Hollands southside open despite a November ban on indoor dining at restaurants  and allegedly refused to enforce use of masks and social distancing.

One of the reasons that we were drawn to her particular restaurant, not just because she was local, but because she was standing up for her constitutional right to own and operate a business in the best way she saw fit, according to health guidelines, Fennville resident Holly Shashaguay said Friday, March 19.

Its not Marlenas responsibility to tell me to wear a mask. Its my own responsibility, if I feel a mask is medically necessary.  Shes just drawing the line at the government telling her to rule someone elses health.

In a hearing last week on Zoom, a judge issued a bench warrant for Pavlos-Hackneys arrest over the alleged violations of the states coronavirus orders. Michigan State Police told her to surrender by Thursday, March 18, but she refused. She was arrested in a traffic stop on Hollands northside early Friday.

Hours after Pavlos-Hackneys arrest, Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina said Pavlos-Hackney would stay locked up until she paid a $7,500 fine and the state attorney general was convinced the restaurant would close until legal issues are resolved.

Aquilina said Pavlos-Hackney ignored state orders, which are intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The state earlier suspended her food license.

Were in the midst of a pandemic. You have selfishly not followed the orders, the judge said.

Michigan Republicans, critical of restrictions set by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and later by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, also rapped state Attorney General Dana Nessel for initiating Pavlos-Hackneys arrest  as well as Nessels refusal to investigate Whitmers handling of COVID-19 response in nursing homes.

Nessel is eager to spend taxpayer-funded resources going after small business owners trying to stave off bankruptcy but refuses to investigate the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents potentially caused by her political-ally Gretchen Whitmer, Ted Goodman, communications director of the Michigan Republican Party, said in a statement.

Its a massive abuse of power and shows what her priorities are.

Nessel said in a statement: This owner has continued to willfully violate the states food laws, public health orders and the order of the court  a dangerous act that may have exposed dozens of diners and employees to the virus following the discovery that one of Marlenas customers tested positive for the virus within two days of eating there.

A customer tested positive for COVID-19 after eating at Marlenas Bistro on Feb. 27, the Allegan County Health Department reported.

On Friday, many faithful customers as well as newcomers  upset after hearing about the restauranteurs arrest  had breakfast or lunch at Marlenas Bistro as a show of support. The restaurant stayed busy until its 2 p.m. closing.

A man stopped by to donate to her legal fund as customers have done. A GoFundMe page had raised $75,000 for her legal defense as of late Friday afternoon. The original goal was $50,000 goal.

Ed Krasinski, 63, heard her story on the radio and stopped for Eggs Benedict. He said restrictions on schools and businesses have been too extreme. Those at Marlenas Bistro, mostly without masks, felt safe, and should be able to decide such issues for themselves, he said.

The damage its doing is not worth it.

Several people who didnt want to be identified said they strongly supported Pavlos-Hackney.

Weve got to keep our freedoms, a woman said.

Another woman, a regular customer, said she showed up because we believe what shes doing is right.

She said that many go shopping at Meijer, Walmart, Target, and no one worries.

COVID is only here? she said, in Marlenas parking lot.

A Holland couple followed the controversy on local and national news but had to look up the restaurants address before they showed up for lunch. When they heard about the arrest they felt compelled to support her.

Bob and Kim Collins drove in from Allegan.

I think people should be free to make their own choices, Bob Collins said. His wife said that those who fear they could contract the coronavirus should stay home.

If not, live your life.

Read more:

They can arrest me: Holland restaurant owner defies state coronavirus order

Michigan restaurant open, packed after owners arrest over coronavirus restrictions

Holland restaurant owner arrested after defying state coronavirus orders
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
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CHELSEA  A fast-casual burger concept is filling the space left by a historic tavern in downtown Chelsea.

Chelsea Burger owners Raunaq Savur and Paul Fredenberg took over the building at 110 W. Middle Street in December after Seitzs Tavern closed in 2019. Theyve kept Seitzs historic neon sign, hanging it inside next to their menu, as well as the 28-foot cherry-wood bar, and donated the taverns ceramic exterior tile and front door to the local historical society.

The pair then white-washed the interior and facade of the narrow space to create a bright, modern look. Local artist and former Chelsea High School student Olivia Maldonado contributed a line-art mural depicting Chelsea landmarks, as well as a street map of the town.

Savur, a chef with roots in Ann Arbor, and Fredenburg, a foodie who owns a farm near town, had resolved years ago to bring a fast-casual restaurant to Chelsea. They considered pizza and tacos before settling on burgers for their simplicity and dependability. In keeping with the less-is-more line of thinking, the menu is short and savory

We wanted something people were familiar with, Savur said. Something that we could put out in a limited menu so you dont get menu fatigue.

Creating the perfect burger took dozens of hours and hundreds of iterations testing and sourcing different ingredients, Savur said. For instance, they searched high and low for the perfect blossomy brioche bun, even considering baking in-house before settling on an egg-free product from an Ohio bakery.

Savur went to similar lengths to get the perfect brine for the restaurants pickles and the right ratio of lemon and garlic in the signature sauce.

Their CB Original burger features double smash-style patties with American cheese, bitter caramelized onions, house-brined pickles and the Chelsea Burger sauce. For those whod like to step it up, the restaurant offers a triple patty burger, as well as a fried chicken sandwich. Vegetarians can choose from a quinoa and black bean-based vegan burger or grilled cheese on a brioche bun.

Chelsea Burger also offers shakes made with dairy from Northville-based Guernsey Farms - chocolate, vanilla and strawberry are offered year-round in addition to a seasonal flavor, currently a green mint chocolate chip shake for St. Patricks Day.

The restaurant first opened for to-go orders only, due to COVID-19 restrictions, but began offering dine-in service in March when restrictions were relaxed to 50 percent capacity.

In the beginning, the restaurant expected to sell about 150 burgers per day, but on opening day of to-go service, it received 120 orders in about 20 minutes.

The community has been understanding, welcoming and eager to patronize their restaurant, Savur and Frendenburg said.

We managed to ride this wave perfectly, Savur said of the demand for the new restaurant in the area.

For Fredenburg, whos new to the restaurant industry, the exciting part is still to come. Hes hoping to establish outdoor seating, event space and even an outdoor kitchen in the parking area behind the building, as well as patio seating in front.

The return of indoor dining has both owners excited to see their customers enjoy their restaurant as it was intended.

Its really nice to see a family come in, or see a couple come in and theyre wanting to share a moment - theyre having that experience with the food, Frendenburg said. As everyone gets vaccinated and the virus subsides, we can welcome people out and itll be a little more fun.

As downtown Chelsea grows, Savur and Fredenburg see an opportunity to build on the spots legacy as a gathering place for locals.

Its this kind of bridge between old Chelsea and what the future looks like Fredenburg said. You can nod to history - you can nod to the things that used to be and really embrace that - and you can also add a little freshness, tighten it up a little bit and make it more accessible.

Chelsea Burger, 110 W. Middle St. in Chelsea, is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Customers can order by phone at 734-562-2916 or online at www.mychelseaburger.com.

More Washtenaw County local eats:

Local Eats: Franks Place keeps family pizza tradition alive in Manchester

Local Eats: Smokehouse 52 serving comfort food during COVID in Saline, Chelsea

Local Eats: Chelseas newest restaurant is burger joint meets sushi bar and more

Local Eats: L.A.s Bao Boys bring steamed-bun sliders to Ann Arbor via food truck

Local Eats: Goras Grill continues vegetarian tradition in Ypsilanti fast-casual space

Local Eats: Childhood friends, EMU alums open Halal burger joint in Ypsi

Local Eats: Ann Arbors Earthen Jar pivots from buffet style to Thali feast on a plate

Local Eats: Sip a cocktail or try steak on toast at Ravens Club in Ann Arbor

Local Eats: Try a taste of authentic Turkish cuisine at Ann Arbors Ayses Cafe

Local Eats: Miss Kim serves a taste of Korean zing in Ann Arbor

Local Eats: Gabriels Cheese Steak Hoagies has been serving sandwiches for 60 years

Local Eats: Taco Tuesday, margaritas keep Maiz Mexican Cantina lively in Ypsilanti

Local Eats: Old Town Tavern has served downtown Ann Arbor for nearly 50 years

Local Eats: Jamaican Jerk Pit serves a taste of the Caribbean in downtown Ann Arbor

Local Eats: Relish Red Hawks comfort food in Ann Arbor

Local Eats: Savor a bowl of ramen at Slurping Turtle in Ann Arbor
Louisiana's hard-hit daycare industry is in store for a $773 million infusion from the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus bill to help operators with coronavirus expenses and parents by expanding access to sites.

The day cares, like lots of businesses, have suffered major losses during the pandemic  about 70% were closed at one time last year amid plummeting attendance.

For Louisiana child care operators, staying open amid coronavirus is financially 'hard' Losses for Louisiana day care operators because of the coronavirus pandemic have more than tripled since May and now total $100 million, the l

Losses totaling about $100 million in the middle of 2020 rose to about $245 million through the end of January, according to a study by the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

The stimulus bill, called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, includes about $476 million for the state's child care centers and $297 million to expand access for low-income families, according to The Center for Law and Social Policy.

The money can be used for salaries, rent, maintenance of the facilities, personal protective equipment and COVID-related supplies, the group said.

+2 One third of Louisiana child care centers could close after coronavirus leads to $1.7M loss Child care providers have lost at least $1.7 million because of closings sparked by the coronavirus and sites that care for about 12,500 child

"We already had a child care crisis prior to the pandemic," said Jenna Chiasson, assistant superintendent for the Office of Teaching and Learning at the state Department of Education. "We know that we had families who had trouble affording child care, child care providers already struggling to stay afloat."

COVID exacerbated that. "This funding is going to really carry opportunities to stabilize the sector," Chiasson said.

The legislation includes $39 billion for child care centers nationwide. Louisiana's allocation is the 14th largest in the U.S.

The latest addition means the state will have collected more than $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars for child care.

Some advocates have cheered that the $1.9 trillion measure includes money for the child care industry and for parents who need to care for their youngest learners.

However, Kenneth Francis, the director of policy and child advocacy for the nonprofit Agenda for Children, cautioned that officials should be careful about how to allocate the one-time federal dollars so they dont end up covering expenses that should be funded through permanent revenue.

For instance, hes wary of using the money to fund more child care seats for families through the Child Care Assistance Program, a state-run initiative that uses federal money to help low-income families pay for education for kids under the age of 4.

If the funds arent recurring, more families could be served only to end up on a waitlist after they dry up, Francis said.

"This is an unprecedented, historic amount of money, no doubt," Francis said. "But people are going to be very wary of doing anything recurring with this money, knowing it's going to run out at some point. Because if were going to leave families and providers in the lurch -- thats a scenario we all desperately want to avoid."

Chiasson said the stimulus money will allow the state to pay child care centers based on enrollment rather than attendance.

Regardless of how the money is spent, local advocates say data shows the need for a flexible influx of cash in the child care industry, particularly in the New Orleans and East Baton Rouge markets.

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Louisiana Department of Education enrollment data for 2019, compiled by the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, shows that two out of three young children have both parents, or their single parent, in the workforce, meaning theyre likely in need of care.

But in New Orleans, only 37% have been able to access publicly-funded "seats" in daycares, leaving over 9,200 children in the lurch -- including an estimated 92% of the citys low-income infants. In East Baton Rouge, only 34% children in need from birth through age 4 have access, leaving over 10,500 children in need.

Daycare centers are struggling, too. Although only two centers in the New Orleans area remain closed from when businesses shut down in spring 2020 as most nonessential worker parents stayed home with their children, plenty have suffered financial losses, according to a Louisiana Policy Institute for Children and Agenda for Children report called "Struggling to Recover."

In fall 2020, 59% of New Orleans centers said that one of their biggest challenges is that "costs are exceeding revenue," according to Agenda for Children, and three-fourths said that financial support was one of their top three needs, with more than half it No. 1.

Meanwhile, a Louisiana Policy Institute for Children study from June 2020 concluded that 77% of daycares statewide suffered average losses of $110,000 per business, translating to an estimated $137.5 million statewide. Francis said those numbers have only grown since.

Rochelle Wilcox, the founder of three Wilcox Academy of Early Learning daycares in New Orleans 7th Ward and Central City, said hers are among those that suffered. She's spent $31,000 on protective equipment and things like plexiglass partition, and her daycares are still not operating at full capacity.

Before the pandemic, Wilcoxs three centers provided care to 155 children, with a wait list of 124 kids. Her daycares now have 101 children, a decline thats forced her to cut her 36 employees down to 24.

"People are just afraid to bring their babies. Theyre unsure," she said.

New problem for child care providers? Getting teachers to work for pay less than unemployment State officials said Tuesday day care centers already reeling because of the coronavirus pandemic face a new challenge: How to lure teachers w

Wilcox said shes still trying to figure out how to fairly use federal funds that are already allocated. For instance, she thinks raises are deserved for her teachers, who make between $12 and $15 an hour, and says child care workers in general are grossly underpaid. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the average salary for a kindergarten teacher in Louisiana is $45,200, compared to $20,320 for a child care worker.

However, shes also concerned about sustainability. "My concern is that while its great to give teachers incentives it cant adversely affect the child care center," she said. "I dont want to give a certain amount of money for just six months, for them to wonder where it went."

Sherrel Pointer, owner and director of Treasures From Heaven in Baton Rouge, said her center can always use financial assistance but things are much improved over 2020, when the site was closed between March and May.

Just 31% of Louisiana's childcare centers are open; advocates want $71M in aid for reopening Louisiana child care providers have lost $30 million because of the coronavirus pandemic and need more than double that to help re-start the e

"We are doing wonderful," Pointer said. "Everything is going really good."

A total of 99% of centers have opened statewide, state officials said.

Pointer's site is at capacity -- 27 children ranging from six weeks to age 4 -- and has a waiting list as well.

"We are just limiting adults coming to the building unless it is a state official or an employee," she said.
SAN DIEGO - A father has been arrested on suspicion of child endangerment after he carried his 2-year-old daughter into the elephant habitat at the San Diego Zoo to take a photograph with the animals.

FILE - In this June 11, 2020, file photo, a sign is near the entrance to the San Diego Zoo in San Diego. A father allegedly carried his 2-year-old daughter into an elephant habitat at the zoo to take a photo with the animals, police said Friday, March 19, 2021. An elephant seemed like it wanted to charge at them and the father dropped his child when they tried to escape the enclosure Friday, San Diego Police Sgt. Ariel Savage told NBC San Diego. He was eventually able to get her out safely. The elephant was not harmed, zoo officials told The San Diego Union-Tribune. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

SAN DIEGO - A father has been arrested on suspicion of child endangerment after he carried his 2-year-old daughter into the elephant habitat at the San Diego Zoo to take a photograph with the animals.

The man bypassed multiple barriers and purposely and illegally trespassed into a habitat for Asian and African elephants Friday afternoon, zoo spokesman Andrew James said.

A witness video provided to NBC San Diego shows a man dropping the child as they flee the enclosure as a trumpeting elephant charged at them. The man picked up the toddler and was able to get her out safely.

Police said the 25-year-old man wanted to take a photo with the African bull elephant. James said the elephants were not harmed.

San Diego County jail records show Jose Manuel Navarrete was being held on $100,000 bail for investigation of child endangerment. He was set to be arraigned on March 30.

It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer who would speak on his behalf.

Witness Lori Ortale told KSWB-TV she heard a woman yelling Jose, stop before a man jumped the fence and through the elephant enclosure.

These guys right away were saying, That elephant is going to charge, and it did, Ortale said.

We told him to get out and he turned around and he saw it thankfully just in time, said Jake Ortale, who also witnessed the incident. He runs, throws his baby through the gate and its seconds from hitting him. He jumps through the gate, falls on the ground and then it roared."

The baby starts crying and people were just mad at this guy, he said.

After Navarretes arrest, the child went home with her mother, police said.
The murder case against a white man charged with shooting and killing six women of Asian descent and two other people at Atlanta-area massage businesses this week could become the first big test for Georgias new hate crimes law.

Robert Aaron Long 21, told police that the attacks Tuesday at two spas in Atlanta and another massage business near suburban Woodstock were not racially motivated and claimed to have a sex addiction. Authorities said he apparently lashed out at what he saw as sources of temptation but were still investigating his motive.

Because most of the victims were women of Asian descent, there's skepticism of that explanation and public clamoring for hate crime charges, especially among the Asian American community, which has faced rising numbers of attacks since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

But, like many states, the Georgia law enacted last summer does not provide for a standalone hate crime, instead allowing an additional penalty when a person is convicted of another crime.

It's not something you get arrested for. It's a sentence enhancer, said Pete Skandalakis, a former prosecutor and executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia.

The law says an additional penalty can be applied for certain crimes if they are motivated by a victim's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or mental or physical disability. Even before the law passed amid the national reckoning over racial injustice, the pandemic had largely paused court cases, so Skandalakis said he doesnt believe the rule has been used yet.

A hate crime charge can be included in an indictment or added at some point before trial. If a jury convicts the defendant of the underlying crime, prosecutors can present evidence for a hate crime sentencing enhancement. Defense attorneys can present their own evidence, and the jury deliberates again. If jurors find it's a hate crime, there is a mandatory enhancement of at least two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 for a felony.

The federal government and some other states go further with laws that criminalize bias-motivated violence without requiring a conviction on an underlying crime.

The U.S. Department of Justice could choose to bring federal hate crime charges independently of the state prosecutions. Federal investigators have not yet uncovered evidence to prove Long targeted the victims because of their race, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials had direct knowledge of the investigation but were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

In Georgia, the minimum sentence for murder is life in prison, with or without the possibility of parole after 30 years. Prosecutors also can seek the death penalty if the killing meets certain requirements.

Long has been charged with eight counts of murder, and it will be up to Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to decide whether to pursue the hate crime enhancement.

Wallace said in a statement that she can't answer specific questions about the case but that she is acutely aware of the feelings of terror being experienced in the Asian-American community. A representative for Willis did not respond to requests for comment.

Given that someone convicted of multiple murders is unlikely to be released from prison, an argument could be made that it's not worth the effort, time and expense to pursue a hate crime designation that carries a relatively small additional penalty.

But Republican state Rep. Chuck Efstration, who sponsored the legislation, said it's not just about the punishment.

It is important that the law calls things what they are, he said. Its important for victims, and its important for society.

And the law needs to be used to give it teeth, said state Sen. Michelle Au, a Democrat who is Chinese American.

Au believes there has been some resistance nationwide to charge attacks against Asian Americans as hate crimes because they are seen as model minorities, a stereotype that they are hard-working, educated and free of societal problems. She said she heard from many constituents in the last year that Asian Americans  and people of Chinese descent in particular  were suffering from bias because the coronavirus had emerged in China and then-President Donald Trump used racial terms to describe it.

People feel like theyre getting gaslighted because they see it happen every day, she said. They feel very clearly that it is racially motivated, but its not pegged or labeled that way. And people feel frustrated by that lack of visibility and that aspect being ignored.

In addition to sending a message to the community, it's important for the new law to be used for legal reasons, Georgia State University law professor Tanya Washington said. While police have said it's too soon to tell whether the spa shootings qualify as a hate crime, she said it seems obvious the violence was motivated by bias given the people and businesses targeted.

Unless we test it with cases like this one, we won't have a body of law around how do you prove bias motivated the behavior, she said.

The Georgia law also mandates collecting and reporting data on hate crimes investigated by law enforcement, which allows tracking and proper allocation of resources, Washington said.

Georgia was one of only four states without a hate crimes law when lawmakers quickly passed it last year in the wake of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery and national protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was pursued and fatally shot while running near coastal Brunswick in February 2020. Three white men were charged with murder after video of the killing emerged months later.

Georgias Supreme Court had overturned an earlier hate crimes statute in 2004, saying it was too broad.

___

Associated Press writers Jeff Amy in Atlanta and Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed reporting.
While it hasn't happened yet, it is obvious that the Biden administration, along with the rest of the globalists, thinks vaccinations should be mandatory despite the hesitation of many millions of Americans to submit to what is essentially an experimental vaccine, approved on an emergency basis, still unapproved by the FDA.

"Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded." Friedrich von Hayek

Testing that would ordinarily take at least five years has been rushed even though the mortality rate of COVID is low and there are now very effective treatments. Had HCQ and Ivermectin been approved once it was known that they worked, thousands of elderly lives might have been saved. But the self-appointed COVID czar, the execrable, highest-paid employee of the entire federal government, Dr. Fauci, denied what he knew to be true, that those old and inexpensive drugs worked. And because President Trump mentioned HCQ, the media made sure it was thoroughly discounted.

There are four vaccines available, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and now the one by Johnson & Johnson. Only the J & J vaccine is not an mRNA gene manipulator. No one knows what the long-term effects or consequences of these new vaccines might be. They pretend they do but they do not. No one does.

What will be the effects when a new and different virus comes along? How do they affect our immune system? No one really knows. Are they a medical miracle? Maybe, but while many doctors and scientists sing praises for these mRNA vaccines, numerous doctors and scientists have expressed dire warnings about potential repercussions down the line so it is understandable that millions of Americans who have availed themselves of the probably thousands of articles and video discussions about these vaccines have reservations. Frank Luntz conducted a virtual focus group of Trump supporters. They all have contempt for Fauci, an obvious charlatan, and were all suspicious of the vaccine, perhaps for good reason. Perhaps we should follow the money.

It seems the military is now coercing enlisted personnel to submit to the vaccines against their own judgment. This is coming way too close to mandatory vaccination. The talk of "vaccine passports" is akin to Hitler's "executive order" that all the Jews of Germany wear the yellow star on their sleeves. So far the only voice of reason is Ron DeSantis who has vowed to prosecute any business that mandates their employees be vaccinated to keep their jobs.

Will other Republican governors, senators and members of the House follow suit? We shall see.

Thus far most of the Republicans in Congress have proved to be willing vassals of the Democrats. But if the Biden administration attempts to make having the vaccine mandatory to travel, fly, enter any place of business, there will be trouble in River City. Millions of us will not travel, fly, or enter those places of business. If the mask mandates continue, as Fauci has suggested, for another year or two, millions of us will not patronize those places of business. The mask mandates are a blatant leap toward the socialism the Democrat party hopes to install in America. And they are dangerous. The masks are useless in containing COVID and the lockdowns were and are entirely unnecessary.

The ultimate question then is: would the SCOTUS uphold a vaccine mandate? Given what we've seen of their recent decisions of late, they might. They seem paralyzed by their fear of the vicious and violent left. Maybe they are afraid of not presenting themselves as "woke" enough, the Constitution be damned. Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch are the only justices who do not appear to fear the leftmedia. Kavanaugh and Barret have been tremendous disappointments to those of us who avidly supported their confirmation. One would think that what the left put Kavanaugh through would have given him a superior fortitude to defend the Constitution and what is right, morally and legally. But no, he, like Roberts and Barrett, has shown himself to be a milksop. There is no way the court could constitutionally uphold a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate. But they might.

The United States must remain a constitutional republic if we are to continue as a free country as founded. The left becomes apoplectic whenever anyone suggests abortion should be limited. The Biden/Harris administration wants no limitations on the procedure up to and after birth, personal choice about one's own body is their mantra. But they will want us all to submit to an experimental vaccine and to wear masks for years to come. Choice be damned.

The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion. Albert Camus

Photo credit: NAID via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
(Newser)  A nation already dealing with shocking cases of violence against women was stunned Saturday when Turkey's president withdrew from an international treaty to protect women. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued the decree early in the day, and protesters immediately took to the streets of Istanbul, the BBC reports. An opposition leader said the decision is about "keeping women second-class citizens and letting them be killed." In 2011, Turkey was the first nation to sign the Council of Europe Convention, the first binding treaty to prevent domestic violence in the world. It's also intended to bring an end to legal impunity for perpetrators, per CNN. The head of Europe's main human rights organization called Erdogan's decision "devastating" to widespread campaigns against domestic violence. "This move is a huge setback to these efforts and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across Europe and beyond," said Marija Pejcinovic Buric of the Council of Europe.

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Erdogan did not explain his decision. Turkish conservatives say the treaty's support for gender equality and opposition to bias over sexual orientation promote homosexuality and threaten family values. Cabinet members tried to assure the nation Saturday that women's legal protections will remain. "The guarantee of women's rights are present in our current laws and especially in our constitution," said the minister for family and social policies. She said the government will maintain its policy of zero tolerance on domestic violence. Advocates say the number of women killed in domestic violence in Turkey isn't known, though the estimated total was at least 300 last year. A 2018 death drew national attention and led to public demonstrations. The victim was raped in a high-rise office building and thrown out a window to make her death look like suicide. Two men received jail terms in the crime. (Read more Turkey stories.)
The UK is on the verge of reaching the major milestone of giving more than 50% of the adult population their first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Government data up to March 18 suggests that 49.9% of the population aged 18 and over have received a first dose, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson received his first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, a rise in coronavirus infections has led to countries across Europe imposing tougher restrictions, with UK scientists concerned about outbreaks of the South African variant.

(PA Graphics)

Government sources said the UK needs to be wary of what is happening in Europe because in the past that has led to a rise here a few weeks later, although how things will pan out is uncertain.

European countries are seeing pockets of the South African variant, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against this variant.

In the UK, hospital admissions and deaths are still coming down due to the effect of vaccines, but there are worries that cases could rise quickly once restrictions are eased.

Experts believe there will be an increasing disconnect between cases and hospital admissions and deaths going forward, as vaccines work to keep people from dying.

Regarding foreign holidays this summer, Government scientists say it is still unclear what will happen, but the risk of importing cases and variants comes from countries with a higher prevalence than the UK.

On Friday, Mr Johnson gave a double thumbs-up to mark his vaccination as he was given the jab at Westminster Bridge Vaccination Centre at St Thomas Hospital in central London shortly after 6.30pm.

Leaving hospital he told reporters: I literally did not feel a thing and so it was very good, very quick and I cannot recommend it too highly.

Everybody, when you get your notification to go for a jab please go and get it. It is the best thing for you, best thing for your family and for everybody else.

The Prime Minister had previously dismissed concerns it was linked to blood clots, and told the nation it was safe at a press briefing on Thursday.

Mr Johnson was treated in the intensive care unit at St Thomas Hospital in April last year after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

His jab comes as England became the first of the four UK nations to pass the milestone of giving a first dose of vaccine to more than 50% of the adult population.

A total of 22,337,590 people had been given a first jab as of March 18, according to NHS England.

This is the equivalent of 50.5% of the population of England aged 18 and over, based on the latest estimates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A separate milestone has been passed in Wales, where one in 10 of the total population is likely to have had both doses of the vaccine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a double thumbs up after receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine (Frank Augstein/PA)

In Europe, the French government announced that new lockdown restrictions would be imposed on Paris from midnight on Friday due to an increase in cases.

Prime Minister Jean Castex said France was facing a third wave of the pandemic, adding the new measures will last for four weeks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany may need to apply an emergency break on relaxing restrictions amid a rise in infections.

Poland begins a new three-week lockdown on Saturday, with shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities closed, while other countries including Italy and Spain have opted for curfews in a bid to reduce the rate of transmission.

Earlier, Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said the UK must keep the South African Covid-19 variant at bay as some European countries reported a third wave of infections.

Prof Ferguson, who spurred the UKs decision to go into lockdown last March, warned that a group of European countries are seeing increasing levels of coronavirus cases.

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Perhaps more concern for the UK though is that some countries are notably seeing a significant fraction, 5-10% of cases, of the South African variant, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

That is the variant we really do want to keep out of the UK.

A study published on Thursday by Oxford University suggested that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs could struggle against the South African variant and may end up offering limited protection.

Researchers said the South African variant should be the focus of any efforts to create new vaccines that may be needed next winter.

Prof Ferguson said there are important decisions coming up with regards to dealing with variants, including how much the ban on international travel is relaxed.

One way of dealing with variants may be through introducing testing of people coming into the country, he suggested, but added: These are policy decisions.

(PA Graphics)

Countries including France, Germany and Italy have also began restarting their vaccine programmes with the AstraZeneca jab  reversing earlier decisions to suspend them over blood clot concerns.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will resume in Ireland on Saturday, the Health Service Executive has announced.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said: We welcome the review by the European Medicines Agency and the positive outcome.

We will now put in place the updated information and advice recommended by NIAC, and begin rescheduling vaccinations starting with a relatively modest number tomorrow (Saturday).

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and effective and its benefits in preventing Covid-19 hospital admission and death greatly outweighed potential risks.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have said that the jab is safe and have encouraged people to take up their vaccine appointments.

In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has urged people to watch a potential Wales rugby Six Nations Grand Slam at home within their household.

He added: The last thing we want is to mark a potential Grand Slam weekend with a surge in Covid cases.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  New Mexicos Job Training Incentive Program board awarded a total of $3.4 million in funding to 17 companies in March, according to the state Economic Development Department.

Companies receiving at least $100,000 in JTIP funding in March include the following organizations:

 Stampede Meat, which received $1.34 million to support 211 trainees in Sunland Park at an average wage of $12.53 per hour.

 Indica Labs, which received $309,165 to support 14 trainees and one intern in Albuquerque at an average wage of $22.12.

 Sceye, which received $287,619 to support nine trainees in Moriarty at an average wage of $45.97.

 OpenEye Scientific Software, which received $272,272 to support 10 trainees in Santa Fe at an average wage of $47.60.

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 High Plains Processing, which received $250,586 to support 18 trainees in Las Vegas at an average wage of $22.53.

 CAVU Aerospace, which received $238,898 to support 10 trainees and 10 interns. Trainees will make an average wage of $21.20, while interns will make $16.50, according to the release.

 Vitality Works, which received $150,812 to support 14 trainees in Albuquerque at an average wage of $24.23.

 Resilient Solutions 21, which received $120,314 to support four trainees in Albuquerque at an average wage of $52.58.

 SavantX, which received $104,654 to support four trainees in Santa Fe at an average wage of $45.97.
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary NASA Flight Director Glynn Lunney, 84, died Friday, March 19.

Lunney was a flight director for the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission, and was lead flight director for Apollo 7, the first crewed Apollo flight, and Apollo 10, the dress rehearsal for the first Moon landing, in NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. He led the mission control team credited with key actions that made it possible to save three Apollo 13 astronauts aboard a spacecraft disabled on the way to the Moon.

Throughout his career, he was a key leader of NASA human spaceflight operations, beginning as a member of the original Space Task Group at NASA's Langley Research Center established shortly after NASA was formed to manage America's efforts to put humans into space. After moving to Houston, the task group eventually became the Manned Spacecraft Center, now NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

"Glynn was the right person for the right time in history. His unique leadership and remarkably quick intellect were critical to the success of some of the most iconic accomplishments in human space flight," said Johnson Director Mark Geyer. "Although he retired from the agency many years ago, he is forever a member of the NASA family. While he was one of the most famous NASA alumni, he was also one of the most humble people I have ever worked with. He was very supportive of the NASA team and was so gracious in the way he shared his wisdom with us."

Using the call sign "Black Flight," he was selected in the Class of 1963 with John Hodge and Gene Kranz, and became NASA's fourth flight director. Flight directors are responsible for leading teams of flight controllers, research and engineering experts, and support personnel around the world, and making real-time decisions critical to keeping NASA astronauts and missions safe and successful in space.

Lunney worked on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs. He retired from NASA in 1985 as manager of the Space Shuttle Program, but continued to lead human spaceflight activities in private industry with Rockwell International and, later, United Space Alliance until his retirement in 1995.

At NASA, he also was a flight director for Apollo missions Apollo-Saturn-201, 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, and 15. He served as lead flight director for Gemini missions 10 and 12, and was a flight director for Gemini missions 9 and 11.

He took on a leadership role in the planning and negotiations that led to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) which culminated in the docking of an American Apollo and a Russian Soyuz spacecraft July 17, 1975. The effort led the way for today's cooperative international efforts on the International Space Station.

One of the most notable events in his career came April 13, 1970, after an oxygen tank in the Apollo 13 service module exploded on the way to the Moon. His team reacted quickly and effectively to prepare the astronauts and their spacecraft to complete a safe-return trajectory around the Moon and return home safely. Under Lunney's direction, the team innovated and worked with the astronauts to deliberately shut down the command module systems so that the lunar module could be used as a lifeboat for the crew during the journey home to Earth. His team's work was widely credited with keeping the crew alive and safe while longer-term plans were developed for a successful reentry and splashdown.

Lunney received the Presidential Medal of Freedom as part of the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team.

In Lunney's own words from his NASA oral history:

"I felt that the Black Team shift immediately after the explosion and for the next 14 hours was the best piece of operations work I ever did or could hope to do. It posed a continuous demand for the best decisions often without hard data and mostly on the basis of judgment, in the face of the most severe in-flight emergency faced thus far in manned space flight. There might have been a 'better' solution, but it still is not apparent what it would be. Perhaps, we could have been a little quicker at times but we were consciously deliberate."

He was born Nov. 27, 1936, in Old Forge, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.

Concurrences:

Kelly Humphries/JSC PAO

James Hartsfield/JSC PAO Director

John Uri/JSC History Office

Mark Geyer, JSC Director

Lunney Family

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


Communities across Michigan are set to receive more than $4.4 billion due to the recently passed "American Rescue Plan," with Midland County alone getting more than $16.1 million.

The $1.9 trillion plan  the third COVID-19 stimulus package  was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11.

"The pandemic has highlighted a number of important challenges that we face here in Michigan, including a strong need for affordable, high-quality health coverage," stated Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a press release. "I appreciate the leadership shown by President Biden and members of Michigan's Democratic congressional delegation who voted to make sure that this vitally important coverage is more accessible for all Michiganders, including critical policies like providing low-income moms health care for a full year postpartum to reduce health disparities and encourage healthy moms and healthy babies."

According to information from the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform, compiled this week by Bridge Michigan, the Michigan state government is expected to get $5.9 billion, with a total of more than $4.4 billion going to individual townships, cities and counties across the state, in amounts ranging from $199 per resident to $1,300.

The Midland County government is set to receive $16,127,594 ($194 per person) and the City of Midland will receive $5,604,000 ($134 per person). Coleman will get $118,782  about $99 for each of its 1,203 residents.

Bridgette Gransden, Midland County administrator/controller, said the receipt of the funding is "very new information," and Midland County has received very little guidance on the spending requirements of the money.

"We have not yet received the funding and will be working with the board in the future to determine its use," Gransden said.

Each township in Midland County will also receive funding at a rate of $99 per resident. The amounts for each township are as follows:

Edenville  $250,894

Geneva  $100,713

Greendale  $174,965

Homer  $394,559

Hope  $134,482

Ingersoll  $262,447

Jasper  $112,364

Jerome  $461,997

Larkin  $533,780

Lee  $419,638

Lincoln  $244,871

Midland  $218,903

Mount Haley  $163,116

Porter  $124,805

Warren  $202,513

The city of Gladwin will receive $285,650 ($99 per person), and Gladwin County will $4,935,677 ($194 per person).

Eric Scorsone, director of Michigan State Universitys Center for Local Government Finance and Policy, told Bridge communities have until 2024 to spend the money.
Aldi Ireland today announced details of its continued significant contribution to Longfords economy and the impact of its charity partnerships across the county.

Aldi sourced 6.7 million of locally produced food and drink from Longford based suppliers during 2020.

Aldi Ireland made the revelation as it highlighted its continued contribution to Longfords economy and the impact of its charity partnerships across the county.

Aldi partners with four Longford producers including long-term relationships with Goodness Grains and Lough Ree Distillery.

Aldi will boost its annual national spend on Irish food and drink by 17.5% in 2021 to 1 billion, with further opportunities available to Longford suppliers.

Operating one store in Longford, Aldi employs 32 full time staff, spending 1.3m on wages annually. It is seeking to recruit 12 new employees for its Longford store this year.

Aldis Longford store supports multiple charities across Longford at a local level. It is part of Aldis food waste reduction programme, having donated almost 18,000 meals through FoodCloud to local charities.

Aldis Longford Store is also part of Aldis Community Grants network, with The Longford Acorn Project and Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind some of the many local charities that have availed of the 500 bursary grant in recent years.

Commenting Niall OConnor, Group Managing Director, Aldi Ireland said: Our goal is to make a positive impact in every local community that our stores serve. Our operations and store contribute to businesses, communities and families right across Longford.

We have invested 8.4m in our Longford store over the last number of years, while we sourced 6.7m of locally produced food and drink from Longford based suppliers last year.

Multiple local charities have also availed of our support through our FoodCloud partnership and Community Grants initiative.
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A Nigerian living in Abidjan, Itunu Babalola, who has been incarcerated in Cote DIvoire for two years on charges of human trafficking was wrongly jailed, the Nigerian government said it has found.

A statement released by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission on Twitter said Nigerian authorities were convinced about Ms Babalolas innocence following painstaking investigations.

PRESS STATEMENT. NIGERIAN WRONGFULLY INCACERATED IN COTE D'IVOIRE'S PRISON, ITUNU BABALOLA: FACTS OF THE MATTER. ABUJA, MARCH 19, 2021. Following painstaking investigations by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigeria Mission in Abidjan, Cote D'ivoire,#Thread pic.twitter.com/w3aI9QZrnl  Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) March 19, 2021

The statement said the Charge DAffaires of the Nigerian Mission in Cote DIvoire, Mohammed Gana, has sent officials of the mission to Bondoukou, a city about 420 km northeast of capital Abidjan where Ms Babalola is being held.

It is now confirmed that Itunu Babalola, was wrongfully charged and incarcerated for a crime she did not commit, the statement said.

Wrongfully charged

The commission said Ms Babalola, whose family is from Oyo State, had lived in Bondoukou, Cote DIvoire, for a long time before she got entangled in a legal battle when she reported the burglary of her house to the police.

The commission said she was convicted after the former prosecutor allegedly connived with the police to twist the case.

Ms Babalola was convicted for human trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in jail, before it was commuted to 10 years.

She has now served two years out of the term.

But the Nigerian government has said it is determined to press for retrial to prove the innocence of Itunu Babalola at the court of appeal as plans are underway to engage the services of a legal luminary.

Reports indicate that the new prosecutor assigned to the case has given assurances of a fair and unbiased review and retrial of the case to secure the release of Itunu Babalola.

The Nigerian government also said efforts made to secure her bail have not been fulfilled because only the court can grant the request since she had already been convicted.
UP eases covid restrictions: Shops allowed to open on weekdays in districts with less than 600 active cases

Need to compile literature on Nath sect: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Gorakhpur, Mar 20: Asserting that footprints of the Nath sect are present across the globe, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that there is a need to compile the literature available on it.

"The Nath sect is very rich in terms of literature and followers. One could find signs of the Nath sect in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka," Adityanath said inaugurating the three-day-long seminar, "Global Contribution of Nath Panth", at DDU Gorakhpur University on Saturday.

"There is a need to assimilate and compile the literature on the Nath sect present in different parts of the world and the country," he added.

The CM also emphasised on the role of educational institutions and universities in projecting cultural and spiritual heritage on the global platform. "The Hatha Yoga of the Nath sect emphasised on 'kaya shuddhi' (physical well-being) and 'mann suddhi' (mental and spiritual well-being)," Adityanath said, praising PM Narendra Modi for promoting Yoga across the globe.

Assam elections 2021: Rahul Gandhi releases Congress manifesto, promises to scrap CAA

Adityanath said there are temples of the sect in Bangladesh's Dhaka and Pakistan's Peshawar. "A Sikh family from Gorakhpur now living in Singapore went to Pakistan and saw a Nath sect temple in Peshawar, visited by Hindus and Muslims," he said.

The UP chief minister said a seventh-century prince of Nepal, Ratan Nath, was a yogi of the sect and used to visit the Devipatan temple in Balrampur. "The Nath sect is not based on assumptions but on real experiences and there is no place of hypocrisy in the sect. Theories based on hearsay lead to ill practices and conservatism," the CM said.

He also inaugurated the first volume of the Nath sect encyclopedia which will be published in six volumes and in seven languages.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 18:36 [IST]
A new report suggests theres a very low level of Irish language content being broadcast at peak time on local radio station. Stock image

The chief executive of 96FM and C103 has defended the quantity of Irish language content on the two local radio stations.

This follows the publication on Monday of a new report commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on the fulfilment of the Irish language commitments of the local radio stations.

The report by Dr John Walsh, a senior Irish language lecturer, at the National University of Ireland Galway, is the third in a series on the issue within the sector.

Previous reports have outlined some of the obstacles faced by radio stations as they try to balance commercial pressures and their commitments under the licences granting them the right to broadcast to meet a certain quota of Irish language programming.

They also have a statutory obligation to broadcast Irish language content.

While Red FM broadcasts a two hour bilingual programme on Sunday mornings, there is no dedicated Irish language programme on the schedules of sister stations 96 FM and C103 respectively.

According to a statement issued to The Corkman on behalf of C103 and 96 FM Station Director Kevin Geary, the stations do fulfil the contractual obligations of their broadcasting licences.

"Cork's 96FM and C103 operate in line with the contractual obligations of our licence.

"While we don't have dedicated Irish language programmes, we run short features 'as Gaeilge' across the broadcast day on both stations.

"This delivers the Irish language to a wide audience - during primetime hours - who might otherwise choose not to listen to a dedicated programme elsewhere on the schedule."

The research conducted for the report indicates that there's still a very low level of Irish language content being broadcast by stations in the local radio sector.

In the report radio stations claimed that their listenership and commercial viability would be negatively impacted if they broadcast Irish language content.

According to the report, the quantity of Irish language programming is not only low but the content is also broadcast outside peak listenership times.

The report also indicated that there were a number of highly successful Irish language programmes on local radio stations.

The author of the report, Dr John Walsh, said that the Broadcasting Act should be amended to ensure that more local radio stations broadcast content produced by the stations themselves and that, in particular, local radio stations with Gaeltacht communities in their areas should be required to increase significantly their Irish language content.
A four year old boy who died after sustaining a critical head injury in an apparent fall at a house in Limerick last weekend, is to be laid to rest this Sunday.

Little Mason TJ OConnell-Conway from Carriage Court, Dublin Road and Rathbane in Limerick, died at Childrens Hospital Ireland, Temple Street, Dublin, last Tuesday.

Last Tuesday Gardai said they were investigating all of the circumstances around the boys death but were maintaining an open mind in their enquiries.

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Gardai stated that the results of a post mortem on the boys body will determine the course of the investigation. Gardai have not made any further comment or statement.

A funeral notice published this evening stated the boy passed away following an accident and was sadly missed by his heartbroken parents, mother Elizabeth and father John Paul, brothers and sisters Michaela, Aaron, Bonnie and Kyle, Elizabeths partner Aaron, John Pauls partner Tegan, and his grandparents, Breda, Tony and John.

The boys remains will be reposing at his grandmothers home at Scanlan Park, Castleconnell on Saturday, 20th March, for family and friends only.

The boys funeral mass will be held at St Josephs Church, Castleconnell, at 11.30am Sunday, with burial afterwards in St Josephs cemetery, Castleconnell.

The boys family has requested mourners to please adhere to Government guidelines regarding social distancing during the funeral.
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Its come to our attention that a few prominent voices from the trapping community feel like they can speak for all rural New Mexicans in their quest to continue their grip on safe public lands. We are rural New Mexicans from across the state, and we oppose the use of cruel, dangerous traps on public lands.

We have all chosen to live more rural lifestyles for a variety of reasons. Some of us want to be more connected to the land and nature. Some of us want a quieter, slower routine. Some of us want wide open spaces, including safe access to public lands.

Some of us are in the country for our livelihood. Among us are educators, artists, authors, farmers and veterans. We come from all walks of life. Some of us are relatively new to New Mexico, some of us have been here for decades, raised our families here, and some of us were born here. All of us revere and respect wildlife. And setting indiscriminate leghold traps to kill native animals for fun or money is just as foreign to us as it is to the nearly 70% of New Mexican voters who oppose trapping across the board.

The idea that we support trapping because we live in rural areas is like saying city-dwellers dont drive trucks. It is preposterous.

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One thing that does set us apart from a lot of urban and suburban residents is that we have the unfortunate fate of encountering traps more frequently. Traps are often closer to home for us, quite literally. They lie in wait for unsuspecting paws on state and federal lands that are sometimes adjacent to our homes. Many of us have had awful experiences encountering traps, from our own dogs being caught to finding brutally injured wildlife. If you look at a map of where people like us have had these experiences, the majority are away from the big cities. Rural residents face greater risk of being harmed and traumatized by a trap because we live closer to public lands. We want safe access to those lands, and traps put that safety at risk.

And most traps arent necessarily set by rural New Mexicans. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish sells more trapping licenses to urban New Mexicans than to those who live in rural areas. The notion that trapping is done by rural people and opposed by urban people is laughable.

Rural New Mexicans are a diverse set of folks. And there are plenty of us who do not trap, dont want anything to do with trapping and want traps off of public lands. Just like some city-dwellers support trapping  though probably not many since only 22% of voters approve of traps at all  some rural people do, too. But dont let trappers fool you by claiming to speak for all of us.

We support Roxys Law (SB 32), the bill to ban private, recreational trapping on public lands (that is now on the governors desk).
Hong Kong records single-digit Covid cases again

The Centre for Health Protection reported 8 Covid-19 infections on Saturday. File photo: RTHK

Health officials reported eight new Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong on Saturday, the first time in over a week that the figure has been in single-digits. Seven of them were local, one from an unknown source - a 42-year-old carpenter who lives in Caroline Hill Court in Causeway Bay.



The other local patients live in Tai Hang Road in Causeway Bay, Hing Wah Mansions in Mid Levels, the Ping Tin Estate in Lam Tin, and the Wah Sum Estate in Fan Ling. Two other local cases had no recorded address and the one imported case came from the Philippines.



The Centre for Health Protection said the tally of confirmed Covid infections now stood at 11,371.



There have been 297 new infections over the past 14 days. Two hundred and thirty were locally acquired, 50 from an unknown source.
Photo: (Photo : Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels)

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, hospitals had to implement strict health protocols. Even when giving birth, healthcare protocols restrict parents from having close contact with their newborn baby. That is, if there is a suspected or confirmed infection of COVID-19.

However, new research by the World Health Organization and its partners shows that newborn babies, especially the small and sick ones, are suffering and sometimes die. That is because of the COVID-19 protocols that limit the close contact of mothers and babies.

ALSO READ: Newborn Baby from C-Section Found to Develop Better Through Skinship with their Father

The importance of close contact between mothers and babies

In a study published in the Lance EclinicalMedicine, the importance o ensuring intimate contact between mothers and babies is highlighted. According to the survey, newborn babies who are too small or are born too soon need to stay close to their parents.

The COVID-19 protocols are believed to cause higher risks for these babies. These risks could include lifelong health complications and even death.

Reports say that if the kangaroo mother's care continues to be disrupted, the risks will worsen.

ALSO READ: Parenting During the Pandemic: Finding the Authenticity, Humor, and Irony

What is the kangaroo-mother care?

Several studies have proven the sound effects of kangaroo mother care. According to Queen Dube, the Director of Health at the Ministry of Health in Malawi, "Kangaroo mother care is among the best interventions to improve a premature or low birthweight baby's chances of survival, especially in low-income countries."

ALSO READ: 2020 Was a Baby Bust, Not a Baby Boom: Statistics Reveal

COVID-19 protocols affecting

Studies show that through the kangaroo mother care, babies born early or at low birth weight, infant deaths can be reduced by 40% and severe infections by 65%, and hypothermia by more than 70%.

Studies have also shown that through kangaroo-mother care, approximately 125,000 lives of newborn babies could be saved. That is contrary to the risk of 2,000 deaths if babies will catch the COVID-19 during close contact with parents.

WHO suggestions regarding COVID-19 protocols

In the research conducted by WHO, clinical guidelines which were reviewed showed that 1/3 among the 20 guidelines recommended the separation of mothers and newborn babies.

WHO says that they are strongly encouraging health systems worldwide to allow mothers to stay in close contact with their babies. Queen Dube said, "Much more attention is needed to ensure health practitioners and policymakers globally are aware of the need to keep mothers and babies together in these critical early days, especially for babies born too small or too soon."

Because studies show that newborns are only manifesting mild if no symptoms of COVID-19 infection, the organization advises that kangaroo mother care still be practiced.

Preterm and low birth weight babies

Around the world, babies born before they reach their 37th week are estimated to reach 15 million babies each year.

Also, around 21 million newborn babies are born at low birth weight. These newborns are born weighing below 2.5 kilograms.

ALSO READ: Good News to Pregnant Women: Coronavirus Does Not Pass to Newborn Babies During Pregnancy
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She dresses some of Australia's most stylish celebrities in her stunning designs.

But it was Effie Kats' time to shine at the Melbourne Fashion Festival on Friday night.

The fashion designer turned heads as she showed off her cleavage and plenty of skin in a daring long black gown at the star-studded event.

Taking centre stage! Designer to the stars Effie Kats (pictured) steals the spotlight as she shows off her cleavage in a very daring black gown at Melbourne Fashion Festival

The brunette beauty let her frock do the talking by wearing a pair of strappy stilettos and a few sparkly jewels.

The Melbourne-based fashionista pulled her back in a sleek style and rocked a smokey eye and nude lip.

Effie launched her namesake label in April 2018.

Daring! The fashion designer turned heads as she showed off her cleavage and plenty of skin in a daring long black gown at the star-studded event

Her stunning designs have earned her an army of dedicated social media followers along with a celebrity fan base, including DJ Havana Brown and April Rose Pengilly.

Effie has forged a new path in the industry, well away from the fast fashion market in which she first entered in 2012 when she created Zachary The Label.

She works closely with her clients at every stage of the design process, creating unique and flattering statement pieces which have become a staple at Australian racing events and award ceremonies since she opened shop in April 2018.

Star power: Effie has forged a new path in the industry, well away from the fast fashion market in which she first entered in 2012 when she created Zachary The Label

By that point, the businesswoman had already taken five months away from the industry, licking her wounds and finding her feet again after Zachary - her first label and brainchild - went into voluntary administration.

Effie told FEMAIL back in 2019 that despite all her newfound success, her proudest moment as a designer is still picking herself back up again after her first label collapsed.

'I picked myself up from rock bottom,' she said.

'I was told I only initially succeeded because I hit the market at the right time and in the right place.

Tough: Effie told FEMAIL back in 2019 that despite all her newfound success, her proudest moment as a designer is still picking herself back up again after her first label collapsed

'Essentially, I was told I had no talent. So doing it again is just so much sweeter.'

Instead, Effie found a hole in the Australian female market - and she's happy to fill it.

Effie runs back to back consults with clients from her Melbourne office - where she works one on one with women to bring their vision to life with the perfect outfit.

She specialises in tailored suits, and recently designed some of Kelly Rowland's popular The Voice looks, including a masculine bright yellow suit with a plunging neckline and loose fit slacks.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 20 : The Customs Department has served a second notice to former Kerala CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's wife Vinodhini to appear before it on March 23.

She failed to appear before the Department the first time she was summoned on March 10.

Vinodhini has been summoned by the Customs Department in connection with the now infamous missing iPhone, which was allegedly given by Santhosh Eapen, one of the beneficiaries in the controversial Life Mission flat project.

The Customs have traced the iPhone to Vinodhini, who was found to have used it till the infamous Kerala gold smuggling case surfaced in July 2020.

Balakrishnan had to step down from his position as state secretary last year after his younger son Bineesh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in Bengaluru.

His elder son Binoy is also entangled in a case where a woman from Bihar approached the Bombay High Court, stating that her child is his son.

Regarding his wife's case, Balakrishnan told the media on Friday: "She has not been given any notice. She does not even know Eapen. The IMEI number of that particular phone is in possession of Eapen only. We do not have any phone that has been gifted. We have the bills of our phones."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Nicola Sturgeons political future was on a knife-edge last night as she faced three make-or-break days that could end her career.

Scotlands First Minister is awaiting the judgment of two inquiries, which will rule on whether she broke strict parliamentary rules.

Tomorrow, James Hamilton QC is set to reveal the results of his probe into whether she broke the strict Ministerial Code  a resignation offence.

Then on Tuesday, a Holyrood committee is expected to rule that she misled parliament over the way harassment complaints about former SNP leader Alex Salmond were handled.

The Scottish Conservatives have said that if she does not resign by Tuesday, they will table a motion of no confidence on Wednesday  the same day that her former mentor Mr Salmond is said to be preparing to release a new statement.

Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) is awaiting the judgment of two inquiries, which will rule on whether she broke strict parliamentary rules

Last night Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said it looks set to be the most damaging 72 hours faced by any First Minister of Scotland.

Even members of Miss Sturgeons own party were fearing the worst, with one senior SNP source admitting: I think shes damaged goods.

And today David Davis, the former Brexit Secretary who last week used parliamentary privilege at Westminster to reveal bombshell accusations about the affair, calls for her to resign.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday, he warns: We cannot predict how events will unfold. But we know how they should. To put an end to her long and destructive row with Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon should tender her resignation.

Open war erupted between the two big beasts of the SNP over the botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond. He denied the allegations against him and he was cleared at trial last year of sexually assaulting nine women.

He also won a civil case over the Scottish Governments handling of the investigation, resulting in a payout of more than 500,000 of taxpayers money.

Open war erupted between the two big beasts of the SNP over the botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond (pictured)

The fallout has centred on Miss Sturgeons meetings with Mr Salmond at the time and whether she offered to intervene in the process. Mr Salmond claims she did  something always denied by Miss Sturgeon, who accused her predecessor of peddling conspiracy theories.

According to leaks, members of the Scottish Parliament committee have already decided she misled them and consider her claims of when she first learnt of the allegations hard to believe.

The SNP leader dismissed their findings as political because the panel voted by a narrow majority along party lines.

David Davis (pictured), the former Brexit Secretary who last week used parliamentary privilege at Westminster to reveal bombshell accusations about the affair, is calling for Sturgeon to resign

However, any findings from the independent Mr Hamilton, the Scottish governments adviser on the Ministerial Code, will not be able to be brushed off in the same way. The row comes just a week before Holyrood packs up ahead of the May elections.

At stake is not only Miss Sturgeons political career but also the influence of the SNP who want to push for a second independence referendum should they gain a majority at the ballot box.

Recent polls have shown her popularity and that of her party, and independence, have dipped. If she is found to have breached the code, Miss Sturgeon would be expected to resign.

Last night Mr Ross urged other opposition parties to join him in an attempt to force her out. He said: We have given Nicola Sturgeon an ultimatum. She has misled Parliament and broken her promise to be truthful to the Scottish people.

'Her credibility is in tatters. So I say directly to the First Minister  dont drag down Scotlands institutions with you. Do the right thing and resign now.

'And to other opposition parties, I say it is our duty to hold the government to account. Get off the sidelines and join us in removing a First Minister who lies to Parliament.

An SNP source admitted there were growing concerns about Ms Sturgeons role as leader. A lot of SNP politicians think her days are numbered, they said.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: The First Minister has co-operated fully with James Hamiltons independent investigation into her adherence to the Ministerial Code, and looks forward to the publication of its findings.

Hard week at the office, Nicola? MONDAY James Hamilton QC, Irelands former director of public prosecutions, is expected to present the much-awaited findings of his inquiry early this week. He has been tasked with investigating whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the Ministerial Code by interfering in investigations into Alex Salmonds alleged sexual conduct. The probe has the potential to be explosive for Miss Sturgeon, who will face almost insurmountable pressure to resign if the QC finds she broke the code. But if Mr Hamilton takes Miss Sturgeons side, critics fear she will be free to continue as First Minister with impunity. James Hamilton QC has been tasked with investigating whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the Ministerial Code TUESDAY The final report from a cross-party inquiry of MSPs is to be published. The committee has been probing the Scottish governments handling of allegations against Alex Salmond. Last week, leaks from within the group seemed to confirm they had ruled against Miss Sturgeon by a slim majority of five votes to four. Miss Sturgeon immediately faced calls to resign, but responded by insisting she had told the truth when she gave her evidence to the committee earlier this month. Her spokesman said the provisional decision was partisan. WEDNESDAY Following the publication of both the James Hamilton QC report and the Holyrood committee report, the Sturgeon versus Salmond saga will be pulled into sharp focus. After the findings of both inquiries are laid bare, Mr Salmond is expected to address the nation once again, offering a formal statement in response to any conclusions drawn. Meanwhile, no matter what the outcome of the reports, the Scottish Conservatives have pledged to remain on the warpath  stating that if Miss Sturgeon has still not resigned, they will proceed with a vote of no confidence in her. She could survive such a vote, as she will likely secure the backing of the Scottish Greens. Holyrood will also be dissolved on this day ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on May 6. Advertisement

If Scottish police come knocking, Ill give them a cup of tea  but no more, writes former Cabinet Minister DAVID DAVIS after his explosive Commons revelations sparked a hunt for his source

By David Davis for The Mail On Sunday

In Scotland this week, we should see the climax of an extraordinary political storm with serious implications for transparency and democracy in these islands. We cannot predict how events will unfold. But we know how they should.

To put an end to her long and destructive row with Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon should tender her resignation as Scottish First Minister.

Mr Salmond and Miss Sturgeon were once the closest of friends, mentor and protege, the architects of the modern Scottish National Party and of its current dominance in Scotland.

Yet today they are at daggers drawn, with members of the SNP and the Scottish Government attempting to destroy his reputation. Miss Sturgeons political life hangs by a thread after a Holyrood committee found that she had misled it.

But the significance goes much further. For at the heart of the dispute is the dangerously close relationship between the SNP and the business of government itself, including the independence of the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Salmond (pictured) and Miss Sturgeon were once the closest of friends, mentor and protege, the architects of the modern Scottish National Party and of its current dominance in Scotland.

It was January 2019 when this often bewildering saga began in earnest, and Alex Salmond was charged with 14 counts of sexual misconduct. The following year, he was cleared of every single charge by a predominantly female jury in a court presided over by a woman judge.

Not only was Mr Salmond innocent, however, he believed that he had been the victim of a malicious and concerted attempt to remove [him] from public life in Scotland by a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the SNP, who set out to damage [his] reputation, even to the extent of having [him] imprisoned.

In response, Miss Sturgeon described Mr Salmond as a conspiracy theorist, dismissing him  and others  as members of the Westminster old boys club.

She might need to do better than that. In a few days there will be another report into her behaviour by James Hamilton, an Irish lawyer and the independent investigator into whether Miss Sturgeon has broken Scotlands Ministerial Code. If he, too, finds against Miss Sturgeon, it is hard to imagine how she will survive.

Back in 2017-18, her SNP government hastily wrote a new disciplinary code on sexual harassment  one with retrospective powers.

At the time it was viewed with discomfort by the Westminster Cabinet Office, which noted that the code was only retrospective for previous Ministers, not for former civil servants.

It looked to some as though it had been designed with a specific target in mind.

When Mr Salmond challenged this extraordinary procedure in the civil court, he was proved right. In fact, he won a massive victory and substantial costs.

The code was described by the judge as unlawful, unfair, and tainted by apparent bias. It is now being replaced with a fair and independent procedure, one of the few good outcomes of this sorry tale.

In response, Miss Sturgeon (pictured) described Mr Salmond as a conspiracy theorist, dismissing him  and others  as members of the Westminster old boys club

Throughout this civil case the Scottish Government was evasive, holding back information time after time.

Within the SNP, meanwhile, there seemed to be a concerted effort to encourage complaints against Mr Salmond, as texts passed to me  which I read out in a House of Commons debate last week  made clear. The Scottish Government, meanwhile, was finding other ways to put pressure on Mr Salmond. It decided, for example, to issue a press release about the complaints against him.

The complainants did not want this and the police did not want it. Mr Salmonds lawyers did not want it and took legal action to stop it. Before this action could take effect, however, the story was unfortunately leaked.

Then came the cover-up. After Mr Salmond won his 2020 criminal case, a committee of the Scottish Parliament began an inquiry into the debacle.

And so began another disgraceful tale of government misbehaviour. Its conclusions will be published this week, but we now know that this Holyrood inquiry has found that the First Minister misled the Scottish Parliament and the inquiry.

It has come to that conclusion despite the best efforts of the Scottish Government and Crown Office to frustrate them.

A case in point is the attempt to prevent release of the damning legal advice issued to the Scottish Government  which made it clear that the initial attempt to prosecute Mr Salmond had little chance of success.

But it is the behaviour of the Crown Office which has been most worrying of all. This organisation is responsible for prosecuting crimes in Scotland. But, unlike the English Crown Prosecution Service which has a director who is independent of political influence, the Crown Office is run by the Lord Advocate, who sits in the SNP Cabinet.

The Crown Office has prevented Mr Salmond, journalists, and even the Holyrood inquiry itself from holding the Scottish Government fully to account.

Within the SNP, meanwhile, there seemed to be a concerted effort to encourage complaints against Mr Salmond, as texts passed to me  which I read out in a House of Commons debate last week  made clear. Pictured: MP David Davis

It has done this with censorship and threats of prosecution. It effectively barred publication of the evidence provided by Geoff Aberdein, Mr Salmonds former chief of staff.

It ensured critical elements of Mr Salmonds evidence were redacted, supposedly to protect the identity of the complainants, but ignoring the fact that the evidence had already been published on the website of The Spectator magazine.

So the inquiry was, absurdly, banned from speaking about evidence freely available to anyone with an internet connection.

The Crown Office even blocked the disclosure of relevant evidence from Mr Salmonds criminal trial.

It is clear to me what the Scottish Government is trying to do. The acts of censorship and the redactions are not designed to protect the complainants. They are to protect the First Minister from accountability to the inquiry.

This is not acceptable in a mature Western democracy. A parliamentary committee should never be prevented from holding government to account.

The SNP-controlled Crown Office even has me in its sights, saying it will attempt to identify my source for the material I disclosed to the Commons. It clearly wishes to intimidate future whistleblowers from coming forward. But it is overreaching itself and I will not bow to its demands.

If Scottish police officers come down to my Yorkshire constituency, they can expect to receive a cup of tea and biscuit. But that is it. They will leave empty handed.

The Scottish Government, meanwhile, has turned its hand to discrediting the parliamentary committee. Miss Sturgeon has sought to dismiss it as partisan, saying opposition members had made their minds up about me before I uttered a single word of evidence.

I am in no doubt that the contempt shown to the committee will be extended to its conclusions.

For my part, had Miss Sturgeon simply said, I obviously got this wrong, perhaps my memory was faulty, I would have argued against her resigning.

But her response and that of her spokesmen has been savage. And in standing by her story with such force, she is saying that her actions have has been deliberate and intentional. Intentionally misleading Parliament is a resignation offence and she must go.

My own involvement has not been about one politician or one party, however. It is about the imbalance in power between the Scottish Parliament and the executive, between the supposedly independent seat of Scottish democracy and the overweening power of the SNP.

These are failures on the part of Westminster as much as the Scottish Government. It is a matter for all of us in the United Kingdom.

We need to make the Scottish prosecution authorities  the Crown Office  properly independent of government. We must give the Scottish Parliament and its committees real powers to summon witnesses and protection for what they want to discuss or publish.

We must amend the Scotland Act 1998 to ensure the Scottish Parliament can truly hold the Government to account and bring its overweening executive to heel. But above all, we must draw a line once and for all under this sorry affair.
Shiv Sena leader on



Saturday said that the Investigation Agency (NIA) taking over the probe into the death of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran was not a setback to the Mumbai police or the

Talking to reporters in Nashik, Raut said, "There was no need for the NIA to take up the probe into the explosives- laden SUV and Mansukh Hiran case. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Mumbai police were capable of investigating them."



"However, the Centreis looking for opportunities to see how theMaha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government can be put in a spot. You can bring the CIA or KGB...It makes no difference. It is not a setback to the Mumbai police of the MVA government," he said.

The NIA has taken over the probe into the death case of Hiran, whose body was found in a Thane creek on March 5, days after a vehicle laden with explosives was found parked near the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The SUV was in possession of Hiran. Earlier, the Maharashtra ATS was investigating the case.

The central agency is already probing the case related to the recovery of the explosives-laden SUV and has arrested Mumbai's assistant police inspector Sachin Waze. Hiran's wife has accused Waze of involvement in her husband's suspicious death.

Talking about the transfer of Param Bir Singh from the post of Mumbai police commissioner, Raut said, "Mumbai police has got a new leadership. The reshuffle in the police has been done to rectify the mistakes that may have happened."



Singh, who was under fire for the handling of the Sachin Waze case, was shunted out on Wednesday and senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale was appointed in his place.

Raut further said that although the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra is on the rise, the state government is taking steps to control it.

One of the reasons for the rising infection cases is increase in the number of tests, he said.

"But attempts are being made to corner the state government in COVID-19 management...The numbers are rising, but no help is being provided (by the Centre)," he said.

Targeting the Centre, the Shiv Sena MP said, "Since there are no elections in Maharashtra, no help is being provided to the state...But even if elections are held, the BJP will not will."



The central government should treat all the states equally in terms of providing the vaccines, 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.)
The days leading up to March 17 are usually a hive of activity in Irish communities across the world as residents of the Emerald Isle and its diaspora set about building floats; practicing music, dances and drama; and putting the final touches to their costumes ahead of the big day.

For the second year in a row, celebrating the life and times of our Patron Saint has been a low-key affair, with no parades, large celebrations or visits to the pub to wet the shamrock.

However, like a beacon of hope, the children who are just back to school stepped up to the plate and lifted our collective spirits with their very own St Patrick's Day celebrations. The Corkman called to Kilbrin National School on Wednesday morning, when a colourful parade was in full swing in the school grounds. The children sang and danced in their separate pods, and rousing Irish songs provided the perfect accompaniment. 'Irish and Gorgeous', 'Kiss me, I'm a Kearney' and 'Conas ata tu?' were among the slogans on shirts and jumpers. The Corkman was also greeted by a sea of green in the village of Ballydesmond on the Cork/Kerry border as the local children paraded from their school to the community centre. High spirits were the order of the day, with the children delighted to be back to school and meeting their friends after the long, bleak winter of COVID.

The younger children carried green balloons and notices saying 'I look awesome in green' and 'Happy St Patrick's Day'.

If St Patrick is looking down, he is surely very proud of his flock as we continue to remain optimistic and positive in the face of the huge challenges we have endured over the past 12 months.

* More photos in the March 18th issue of The Corkman
St Kilian's Community School in Bray has been participating in Drinkaware's Junior Cycle Alcohol Education Programme.

This was accompanied by a three-year study carried out by Maynooth University.

Wicklow teenagers are more likely to delay the age at which they have their first drink with in-school alcohol education, the study revealed.

They found that the tipping point for underage drinking happens between 2nd and 3rd year

Over 13,000 students, including pupils from St Kilian's, have to date participated the programme.

The study tracks 1st to 3rd year students' experiences of alcohol education in Ireland.

Lead author of the study, Professor Sinead McGilloway, Founder Director of the Centre for Mental Health and Community Research at Maynooth University's Dept. of Psychology said: 'To date, public policy on alcohol has primarily focused on older teenagers. However, our research clearly indicates that we need to engage with our children at a much earlier age.

'The collective findings of this study suggest that Drinkaware's Alcohol Education Programme is a useful, feasible and high quality programme that is successfully engaging and empowering young people to develop sustained improvements in knowledge, awareness, understanding, confidence and appropriate decision-making skills around the consumption of alcohol The results also highlight the important role that parents play in protecting and educating their children on alcohol, and a need to provider better support to them in this regard.'

As the national charity working to reduce and prevent alcohol misuse in Ireland, Drinkaware commissioned Maynooth University's Centre for Mental Health and Community Research to investigate the programme's effectiveness and, in particular, its primary prevention goal to delay the age of first drink.

The programme includes eight to 10 lessons delivered by a trained teacher. 134 schools have done the programme.

The report found that as the students progressed through the JC AEP, the proportion who expressed no intention or interest in drinking, rose from 30 per cent in 1st year to 54 per cent in third year. The findings also show that participation led to substantial and sustained improvements in students' knowledge and understanding of alcohol when compared with pre-programme delivery data.

Students' knowledge of the impact of alcohol on overall health and wellbeing increased substantially and progressively from 22 per cent pre-programme to 50 per cent in 3rd year.

A similar increase was found regarding students who reported 'knowing a lot' about alcohol's impact on mental health which also doubled from 23 per cent pre-programme to 46per cent in 3rd year.

Furthermore, nearly half (46 per cent) of participating students identified the negative impact of alcohol on physical and mental health as a reason why teenagers do not drink.

As the study followed participating students through their three formative years of secondary school, there was a marked shift across some of the results when comparing 2nd and 3rd year data. For instance, the 60 per cent of students who indicated that they had never drunk alcohol remained fairly stable between 1st and 2nd year, but then decreased sharply by 17 per cent as students went from 2nd to 3rd year.

A disturbing result revealed in the study was that 38 per cent of 3rd year participating students who drink, have already experienced one or more negative effects of alcohol consumption, such as physical fights, arguments, accidents/injury, and/or feeling physically sick/vomiting.

A recurring theme identified within the report, was that of parents' role in underage drinking.

Parental permissiveness - even if this is only perceived by the student - and the ease with which alcohol can be accessed in the home setting, may either inhibit or enable underage drinking. For instance, 57 per cent of 3rd year students had first consumed alcohol either in their own or someone else's home, most saying they did so with little difficulty whilst only 1 in 4 said they got into trouble with parents for drinking.

In contrast to the 44 per cent in 3rd year who cited tolerant parental views regarding alcohol, 19 per cent indicated that their parents do not like to see them drinking, and 17 per cent of those in 3rd year who had not started drinking cited concerns over their parents' reaction as a deterrent to drinking.

The findings on the views of teachers, reflected a general consensus that parents and guardians should take primary responsibility for alcohol education (63%) and that they either were not fulfilling this role or needed support to do so.

With regard to the participating students and teachers' views of the JC AEP, the study reveals consistently high proportions of students in each year of the evaluation, rated the JC AEP highly, for example 63 per cent of students in Year 3 rated it as 'excellent', 'very good' or 'good'. 60 per cent also said that they would recommend the programme to other students or schools.
Registered nurse Morgan James loads a syringe with a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Blood Bank of Alaska in Anchorage on March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

All Veterans, Their Spouses, Caregivers, Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines Under New Legislation

All veterans, their spouses, and caregivers will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the Department of Veterans Affairs once doses are made available, under legislation finalized by Congress on March 19.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to veterans and their families under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

It passed without objection in both the House and Senate on March 17 and now heads to President Joe Bidens desk to be signed into law in the coming days, the Military Times reported.

Under existing rules, VA medical facilities are only permitted to administer vaccines to veterans who are eligible for VA health services, as well as certain caregivers registered in departmental support programs.

Currently, the number of people eligible for the vaccine through the VA currently totals just under 7 million individuals. Under the new bill, that figure would jump to more than 20 million, according to the Military Times.

It would also make vaccines eligible to all veterans, veteran spouses, caregivers, and Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) recipients to the extent that such vaccines are available.

CHAMPVA recipients are spouses or children of permanently and totally disabled veterans or of veterans who have died from service-connected disabilities.

The legislation also urges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to adjust VAs vaccine allocation based on this increased eligibility pool, as much as the supply chain allows.

Military service is family service, and it is why the VA and this committee aim to care for both veterans and their families, said Moran in a statement on Wednesday.

The Senate acted quickly to make certain the VA has the freedom to vaccinate veteran spouses, non-enrolled veterans, caregivers, overseas veterans, and others with excess COVID-19 vaccine supply. While the VA will continue to prioritize vaccinating VHA enrolled veterans with its allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine, this legislation will help further protect our veterans and their families.

The VA has registered 11,037 deaths and recorded 223,565 CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the medical system.

The newly finalized legislation comes amid Bidens sweeping effort to inject 100 million CCP virus vaccines, more than a month before a target date of his 100th day in office.

Biden is aiming for the country to return to a relative state of normalcy and begin to move on from the pandemic by the July 4th holiday.
We are surrounded by sheep people wearing masks. Photographs taken during the past year will forever be recognizable as dating from the era of covid hysteria. Dr. Fraudci and others assure us that masks work, although if you plot cases, hospitalizations or deaths against dates when mask mandates were adopted, it is impossible to see any effect. And studies that purport to prove the effectiveness of masks fall apart on examination.

At American Thinker, Spike Hampson applies a simple test. He compares the combined covid death rates of the ten states that have never had mask mandates with the combined death rates of the 40 states that do have mask mandates. The result:

States with a mask mandate: 13.0 deaths per 10,000 population. States with no mask mandate: 12.6 deaths per 10,000 population.

But maybe the problem is that some states waited too long to impose a mask mandate. So Hampson tried another test: the ten states that have never had mask mandates vs. the ten states that imposed such mandates the earliest. The result:

[T]he bottom ten outperform the top ten by a small but noteworthy margin (12.6 deaths per 10,000 versus 13.3 deaths per 10,000).

Do masks kill people? Probably not, but they certainly dont appear to do any good. Of course, mask advocates could argue that the states that imposed mandates did so because they had more covid than the states that didnt, and their numbers would be even worse but for the wearing of masks. That hypothesis could be tested, but given the pretty much universal spread of the Wuhan virus, it lacks any plausibility.

The best we can say for masks is that they probably dont do much harm. Shutdowns are worseequally ineffective, but with catastrophic consequences, especially for our young people. Other than Operation Warp Speed, our entire response to the covid epidemic has been a fiasco.
Its fair to say that many of us are living through the most anxious period of our lives right now. I find that some days Im OK, trucking along feeling relatively disconnected from the stresses of a global pandemic. Other days, like today, Im lying with my head on the table, asking my husband to rub it, while whinging, Everything is bad, the world is bad, people are terrible. (Im a little hungover, Ill feel better tomorrow).

When anxious, sleep becomes harder and harder to achieve, and when youre not well rested, you guessed it, anxiety comes more easily. Im not a doctor or a sleep expert, and you probably know the gist of what theyd recommend anyway (getting fresh air, no screens in the bedroom, a regular sleep routine etc), but what I can do, is tell you about some products that are designed to get you the best sleep possible.

I think its important to acknowledge before I begin that no sleep spray or fancy cream will cure insomnia. Ive yet to meet a product that can perform miracles, sorry marketers. However, I do find that taking mindful steps to relax, or get into the mood to sleep, genuinely helps and products can be a part of that.

Before we get to the products, though, lets talk about routine. My friend Sophie recently revealed on her brilliant podcast, Mother of Pod, that she doesnt brush her teeth at night. She likes the furry feeling and doesnt understand why anyone would invite a menthol wind tunnel when theyre supposed to be cosying into bed. I can see where shes coming from. Theres nothing less appealing than the cold reality of brushing your teeth when youre making the sleepy transition from couch to bed. Thus, I recommend that you get the brushing out of the way early. If youre finished with food and drink for the day, get it done. I keep a toothbrush and toothpaste in the downstairs loo especially for this purpose.

Equally, the idea of washing your face and applying hundreds of skincare products doesnt always scream restful (if it does to you, then ignore this). I do my skincare before settling down for comfort time in the evening and cant recommend it enough. Aside from the fact that it means the couch-to-bed transition isnt broken up by wetting my face (literally a means of waking someone up), a skincare consultant recently told me it was a good idea, because it gives all your products more time to do their work.

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Thus, with the wet tasks of the evening out of the way  unless you decide to have a bath, in which case (1) Radoxs Scent Touch Sleep Aromatherapy Range (1.99) is not to be sniffed at  actual bedtime can be time for relaxation. Lavender has been repeatedly proven to relax people, with studies seeing subjects going to sleep more quickly and getting better quality sleep. A diffuser can be a lovely, soothing presence and is a nice way to gently introduce a relaxing scent into the bedroom. Irish brand Kotanicals Stone Diffusers (59.99) are beautiful.

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NEOM Organics is a brand that focuses on essential oils and wellness. Its Scent to Sleep range uses lavender for relaxation, from pillow spray to candles. I like to apply the (2) Perfect Nights Sleep Magnesium Body Butter (43) to my hands and arms in bed, using the breathing exercise included with it to get into the sleep zone. A lavender-scented night cream can also help: my favourites are (3) Dermalogicas Sound Sleep Cocoon (85) and (4) It Cosmetics Confidence in your Beauty Sleep Pillow Cream (52)  the latter is more heavily scented.

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If lavender isnt your thing, friends of mine swear by silk pillowcases, both for the positive effects on the skin and hair, and because they feel delightful to rest your head on. Irish company (5) The Silk Pillowcase uses luxury mulberry silk to make its beautiful products (65).

Something old

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Theres no point in spending a load of money on skincare if youre not wearing an SPF, because the sun is our mortal enemy when it comes to damaged skin. French brand La Roche-Posays Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid Sun Cream SPF 50+ (19.99) is one I recommend often. For years, women have relied on it to protect their skin without aggravating it. It sits well under makeup, is broad spectrum, doesnt leave white marks and is water resistant.

... something new

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It wasnt broken, so the original Anthelios is still going strong. However, La Roche-Posay recognised a desire from consumers to add anti-ageing properties to the SPF step of their skincare routine, and it has delivered. The new Anthelios Age Correct SPF 50 (26) includes niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and PhE-resorcinol, which work together to brighten, moisturise and smoothen ageing skin while maintaining the qualities of the original formula. I am, as the French say, in there like swimwear.

Buy Irish

Skingredients, the Irish skincare brand by Jennifer Rock (AKA The Skin Nerd), has been mentioned in this column a couple of times already, for one reason: the products work  and they work well. Skin Protein (42) is a vitamin A and C serum, which means it tackles dullness and speeds up skin repair. The packaging is brilliant, allowing you to eke out every drop while keeping pesky bacteria at bay. This is an all-round gem.
For many long weeks last summer, protesters in American cities faced off against their own police forces in what proved to be, for major law enforcement agencies across the country, a startling display of violence and disarray.

In Philadelphia, police sprayed tear gas on a crowd of mainly peaceful protesters trapped on an interstate who had nowhere to go and no way to breathe. In Chicago, officers were given arrest kits so old that the plastic handcuffs were decayed or broken. Los Angeles officers were issued highly technical foam-projectile launchers for crowd control, but many of them had only two hours of training; one of the projectiles bloodied the eye of a homeless man in a wheelchair. Nationally, at least eight people were blinded after being hit with police projectiles.

Now, months after the demonstrations that followed the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police in May, the full scope of the countrys policing response is becoming clearer. More than a dozen after-action evaluations have been completed, looking at how police departments responded to the demonstrations  some of them chaotic and violent, most peaceful  that broke out in hundreds of cities between late May and the end of August.
ATLANTA  President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris offered solace to Asian Americans and denounced the scourge of racism at times hidden in plain sight as they visited Atlanta on Friday, just days after a white gunman killed eight people, most of them Asian American women.

Addressing the nation after a roughly 80-minute meeting with Asian American state legislators and other leaders, Biden said it was heart wrenching to listen to their stories of the fear among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders amid what he called a skyrocketing spike of harassment and violence against them.

We have to change our hearts, he said. Hate can have no safe harbor in America.

Biden called on all Americans to stand up to bigotry when they see it, adding: Our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit.

Theyve been attacked, blamed, scapegoated and harassed; theyve been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed, Biden said of Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

Harris,the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office, said that while the motive of the shooter remains under investigation, these facts are clear: Six of the eight killed were of Asian descent and seven of them were women.

Racism is real in America. And it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America, and always has been. Sexism, too, she said. The president and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs.

She added that everyone has the right to be recognized as an American. Not as the other, not as them. But as us.

Before leaving Washington, Biden declared his support for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill that would strengthen the governments reporting and response to hate crimes and provide resources to Asian American communities.

Their trip was planned before the shooting, as part of a victory lap aimed at selling the benefits of pandemic relief legislation. But Biden and Harris instead spent much of their visit consoling a community whose growing voting power helped secure their victory in Georgia and beyond.

Activists have seen a rise of racist attacks. Nearly 3,800 incidents have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based reporting center for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and its partner advocacy groups, since March 2020.

Biden and Harris both implicitly criticized former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the China virus.

For the last year weve had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans, said Harris, people with the biggest pulpits, spreading this kind of hate.

Weve always known words have consequences, Biden said. It is the coronavirus. Full stop.

In his first primetime address to the nation as president last Thursday  five days before the Atlanta killings at three metro-area massage businesses  Biden called attacks on Asian Americans un-American.

Biden also used the visit to tour the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he received a briefing on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered a pep talk to the agencys scientists.

We owe you a gigantic debt of gratitude and we will for a long, long, long time, Biden said, adding that under his administration science is back driving policy to combat the virus.

Though the originally planned political event to tout the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill has been delayed, Biden still met with Georgia voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, Democrats likely 2022 candidate for governor, as Republicans in the state legislature push several proposals to make it harder to vote in the state. He also met with newly minted Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

As the fastest-growing racial demographic in the U.S. electorate, Asian Americans are gaining political influence across the country. In California, two Korean American Republican women made history with their congressional victories. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, typically dominated by Democrats, has its largest roster ever, including Asian American and Pacific Islander members and others who represent significant numbers of Asian Americans.

Were becoming increasingly more visible and active in the political ecosystem, said Georgia state Sen. Michelle Au, a Democrat who represents part of the growing, diversifying suburbs north of Atlanta. Yet, Au said, What Ive heard personally, and what I have felt, is that people sometimes dont tend to listen to us.

Au said a White House spotlight, especially amid tragedy, is welcomed by a community often overshadowed in national conversations about diversity. She noted Trump and other Republicans merely brushed off charges of racism when they dubbed the coronavirus the China virus because of its origins.

To have them talk about it in this way, so publicly, and to say AAPI, or to note that our communities are going through difficult times, is huge, Au said.

As he boarded Air Force One on Friday morning, Biden, who was wearing a mask, stumbled several times up the stairs to the aircraft, before saluting the military officer who greeted him on the tarmac. Jean-Pierre said Biden was doing 100% fine.

--By Jonathan Lemire, Jeff Amy and Zeke Miller
What started off as a normal Tuesday for one Huntsville man quickly turned into an afternoon filled with several agencies pursuing his stolen truck across multiple counties and ending with a suspect being shot.

Jhonatan Garcia-Lopez was on his way home from work with his brother-in-law when he got an alert of his phone from his home alarm system.

It warned him that someone may have broken into his home.

When he checked the live camera feed, Garcia-Lopez saw that his back door was wide open. The system also sent him five snap shots from around his property, one of which showed a man holding his MacBook Pro and his personal drone.

"At that point, the alarm folks gave me a call and told me that the alarm had been triggered and if it had been false or if there was a real break in. And I told them yeah, send the cops. Send the cops right over. Somebody broke into my house," Garcia-Lopez said.

Once he arrived home, which turned out to be just minutes after the suspect had left, he went to get his gun and noticed that his 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 pickup was missing.

When he looked around to see if anything else was missing, Garcia-Lopez noticed that the suspect, later identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) as Jaylen Edward Jordan, 21, not only took his AirPods, but also his Apple Watch.

"That Apple Watch has got its own line, AT&T line. I can track it. And surely enough, that's how I found out he was in Athens at that moment. And I just ran out to my bro and was like, 'Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! He's in Athens,'" Garcia-Lopez said.

He alerted Athens Police to that information and officers were able to locate the trck on Highway 72 near Hines Street. Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said officers followed the truck and let deputies with the Limestone County Sheriff's Office take over when it went onto some back roads.

Athens Police picked the chase back up when the truck got onto I-65 at the Elkmont exit. Officers stopped pursuing when they hit the state line but asked for help in Tennessee.

Johnson said Jordan may have also committed a burglary while he was in the City of Elkton in Giles County.

As law enforcement in Tennessee was tracking the truck, Garcia-Lopez was right behind them, tracking his Apple Watch. He said the chase wound its way through the counties of Giles, Marshall and Maury.

Agencies in all three counties along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) assisted in the pursuit.

While in Marshall County, Garcia-Lopez said Jordan was able to shake law enforcement and he lost the signal from his Apple Watch. He started heading home at that point.

As he was reentering Madison County, Garcia-Lopez said he got the signal back on the watch and called police again. They said they were tracking him as well.

TBI said while in Marshall County, Jordan got control of a utility task vehicle and led law enforcement on a chase into Lincoln County.

In the 300 block of Boonshill Road, TBI said Jordan crashed the UTV and ran behind a home. When confronted by a Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy, "he produced a gun."

A deputy shot Jordan and he was taken to a hospital near Nashville. No officers were injured in the shooting.

Jordan was eventually released from the hospital and taken to Maury County Jail. TBI told WAAY 31 News on it's investigating the officer-involved shooting and made no arrests in connection to the incident.

THP said the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office asked for TBI to help with the investigation and may bring additional charges, along with other jurisdictions, like Athens and Huntsville.

Currently, officials with the Maury County Sheriff's Office said Jordan is being held without bond and is charged with aggravated assault and evading arrest.

Garcia-Lopez said he and his family are still shaken from the whole ordeal. He said he can't help but play the incident back over in his head and wonder what could've happened if his pregnant wife had been home alone when the man believed to be Jordan enter his home with what appeared to be a handgun.

"That was my biggest fear: that he was armed. My wife could've... anything could've happened," he said.

Garcia-Lopez has since spoken with his neighbors about watching out for one another and hopes that his story can inspire others to be guardians of their neighborhoods to prevent something like this from happening to them.
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The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation into Visa Inc.s practices regarding debit-card transactions.

The department is looking into the networks rules for routing transactions both in stores and online, according to a person familiar with the matter. Representatives for the Justice Department declined to comment.

The U.S. Department of Justice has informed Visa of its plans to open an investigation into Visas U.S. debit practices" and is cooperating with the department, the company said in a regulatory filing Friday afternoon. We believe Visas U.S. debit practices are in compliance with applicable laws."

Last year, the department sued Visa to block a $5.3 billion deal the network had signed with Plaid Inc., saying that the combination would further limit competition in the market for online debit-card transactions. Visa and Plaid ultimately abandoned the deal.

Visa shares slumped 6.2% to $206.90 Friday, their biggest one-day decline in almost a year. The Wall Street Journal first reported the investigation earlier Friday.

In its suit against Visa last year, the Justice Department said Visa already possessed monopoly power in the market for online debit-card transactions, arguing that roughly 70% of such transactions in the U.S. routed over the firms network.

At the heart of the Justice Departments issues with Visa is the 2010 law known as the Durbin Amendment, which requires banks to include two networks on their debit cards. The idea is that merchants are then supposed to be given the choice of routing over a major network like Visas or the one run by rival Mastercard Inc. versus a smaller alternative such as Pulse, Star or NYCE. Those alternative networks can be cheaper for merchants.

New Technology

That system generally works for in-store transactions. The problem, the Justice Department has said, is that Visa has created new technology that makes it harder for online transactions to be routed over alternative networks.

As a result, merchants do not use PIN networks in any significant volume to process online transactions, and instead pay higher fees to use Visa," the Justice Department said in its lawsuit last year, referring to the personal identification numbers debit-card customers use when paying.

Merchants complaints over their struggle to route online debit-card transactions over alternative networks has only intensified during the coronavirus pandemic, with consumers turning to online shopping in droves. Retailers already spend more than $100 billion a year to accept cards and other electronic payments, an amount thats swelled in recent years as consumers shifted away from cash, and banks dangled rewards and perks to spur more card usage.

Visa, in its response last year, argued that the Justice Department cherry-picked its definition of the online debit-card market to make it seem like the network holds more power than it does. Visa also said the departments claim that it doesnt face real competition from Mastercard was dubious."

What Bloomberg Intelligence Says

Visas defense against a new U.S. Department of Justice probe may be the superior security of the companys network vs. cheaper options, which we view as a sound argument and one that Apple may invoke against Epic Games. The Visa investigation will take at least a year and could spur a lawsuit that would further delay resolution."

--Julie Chariell, senior industry analyst, and Meryl Thomas, associate analyst

Nothing could be further from the truth," Visa said. In recent years, Mastercard has convinced numerous banks to switch their debit-card portfolios from Visa to Mastercard and competition has driven down overall pricing on accounts."

For years, Visa has reported in regulatory filings that the Department of Justices antitrust division issued the company a civil investigative demand in March 2012, seeking documents and information tied to its debit-card practices.

Although its not clear what specifically the DOJ might be looking at currently, we believe the threat of regulation has historically proven to be a near-term multiple compressor, as was the case with the Durbin Amendment, but note the financial implications were less impactful," Daniel Perlin, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said in a note to clients.

While Visa hasnt received a civil investigative demand from the Justice Department yet, it did get a notice to preserve relevant documents, the company said in its filing Friday.

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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A thoughtful ten-year-old girl from Rathnew who was about to have her hair cut for the very first time in her life decided to undergo the chop to the benefit of two different charities.

Kayla Kearney is the daughter of Gemma and Colm and had been growing her luscious locks for all of her young life.

Kayla is also the proud sister of Daisy, who is aged 17 months and has Down Syndrome.

Having decided on her first haircut, Kayla wanted to do something special to mark the occasion, whilst also lending a helping hand to others.

'Kayla was talking about cutting her hair and we thought since she has been growing her hair for ten years, it would be nice to raise a little money.

'Daisy was born in August so we felt it would be proper to give something back to the Down Syndrome community. That was the reason why we decided to chose Down Syndrome Ireland,' said Gemma.

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Friends and family quickly came on board to lend their support, while dad Colm received plenty of backing from the Columban Sisters at Magheramore, where he works as a maintenance manager.

Kayla attends St Coen's NS in Merrymeeting and staff from Salon Elm of Merrymeeting cut off a staggering 21-inches of her hair.

Her hair was donated to the Rapunzel Foundation, which is a charity organization that works to improve the lives of those living with hair loss.

She also raised 1,100 for Down Syndrome Ireland which she presented to the charity alongside Daisy and her other sister Faye.

Gemma said: 'Kayla was delighted with the amount raised. We want to thank everyone who sponsored her or made a contribution toward her fundraising drive. People were so generous.'
Mexicos top diplomat said Friday the U.S. will send 2.7 million doses of unused AstraZeneca vaccine next week, and acknowledged continuing questions about whether Mexico agreed to close its southern border in exchange. Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said, There are people who ask me what did they get in exchange?. Ebrard suggested that, rather than a quid-pro-quo, Mexicos desire to get more vaccines happened to mesh with U.S. concerns, including an upsurge in migrants reaching the U.S. southern border through Mexico.

More than thinking that with each move we are going to have negotiated something for something else, what we are doing is building a framework for very good medium-term cooperation, Ebrard said in a video message. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said earlier that I give special thanks to President (Joe) Biden for this, noting that Mexico has already received vaccines from Russia and China.

Ebrard said at least some of the new U.S. doses will be used as second shots for elderly people who have already received AstraZeneca vaccines. While the AstraZeneca shot has not yet been approved for use in the United States, which has a stockpile of, Mexico has already approved and begun using it. Officials had said Thursday the U.S. shipment would include 2.5 million doses. Mexico has had difficulties getting enough vaccines, and has so far administered only 5 million doses, roughly equivalent to one dose for 4% of its population.

Mexico announced restrictions Thursday on nonessential travel across its southern border with Guatemala and Belize to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Ebrard's department did not explain why the measure was announced now, more than a year after the start of the pandemic. Mexicos assistant health secretary, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, said Thursday that the countrys decision was triggered by the increasing number of migrants entering from Central America.

There was a verifiable increase in local inflows, particularly from Central America, Lopez-Gatell said when asked about the timing of the restrictions. Mexico and the United States long ago imposed similar restrictions on Mexicos northern border. But Mexico had previously been unwilling to impose them on the southern border or most flights entering Mexico.

The restrictions coincide with a huge uptick in the number of Central American migrants reaching the U.S border through Mexico. The number of migrants attempting to cross the U.S. border has been growing since April, with the 100,441 reported last month the highest level since March 2019.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A vibrant collection of 20,000 masks designed by eight Bay Area artists will be distributed to the community as part of a public education campaign, city officials said Friday.

The mask project, funded by San Francisco's COVID Command Center, tasked artists with creating designs reflecting their art and the spirit of their cultural community.

Artist Cheryl Derricotte described the project as "our 21st century Works Progress Administration (WPA)" and said she was delighted to create a mask that would resonate with the city's Black community.

"Wearable art, during the time of COVID-19, is next-level public art," Derricotte said.

The virus has taken a devastating toll on Filipino American nurses, said artist Kimberley Acebo Arteche, who comes from a family and community of healthcare workers, nurses, and doctors.

The project helps to honor the spirit of "bayanihan", or communal unity and working together to achieve a common, greater goal, and "all of the healthcare workers that continue to fight for our health and safety," Arteche said.

The masks are being distributed in communities most impacted by the pandemic, in partnership with community nonprofits, cultural district offices, senior sites, testing and vaccination sites, food distribution hubs, and shelters throughout San Francisco.

The initiative is part of San Francisco's "Mask On, Stay Strong" campaign to promote mask-wearing as essential to combatting the spread of COVID-19 and safely reopening the city for business.

Participating artists include Kimberley Acebo Arteche, Cheryl Derricotte, Nancy Hom, Crystal Liu, Lydia Ortiz, Ron Moultrie Saunders, Kim Shuck and Betty Trujillo. They were selected from community stakeholder nominations in late 2020.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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.




By Baek Byung-yeul







The GV80, an SUV model of Hyundai Motor Group's Genesis luxury brand, has been recognized as one of the safest vehicles in the United States in crash test ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the automotive group said Friday.







IIHS, an organization funded by auto insurance companies, said Genesis' luxury SUV GV80 earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ award after receiving good ratings in its crashworthiness tests.







According to IIHS, the SUV underwent six tests: driver- and passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.







To earn the TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating, a vehicle must pass front crash prevention tests and earn a superior or advanced rating in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. Also, the car needs to have good or acceptable headlights across all trim levels and packages.







"With a standard front crash prevention system that earned superior ratings in both evaluations, as well as standard acceptable-rated LED projector headlights, the first SUV in the Genesis lineup meets all those requirements," the IIHS elaborated.







The GV80 is now Genesis' third vehicle to earn the TOP SAFETY PICK+ ratings this year. The brand's G70 sport sedan and the G90 flagship sedan already won TOP SAFETY PICK+ ratings in February.







"At Genesis, the customer is at the core of everything we do, and safety is our top priority," Mark Del Rosso, president and CEO of Genesis Motor North America, said. "The GV80 is our latest entry in the Genesis line-up of vehicles that places customer safety first."







IIHS began awarding the TOP SAFETY PICK + ratings since 2013, helping U.S. consumers choose the safest vehicles. In this year's midsize luxury SUV category, Hyundai Motor's Nexo fuel cell vehicle also won the same safety ratings as the GV80.


A senior Cork County Council official has said the authority will take measures to ensure that there is no repeat of the recent flooding that occurred in Fermoy due to a malfunctioning pumping unit in the town's flood defence system.

The issue was raised in a motion at the northern area committee by Cllr Frank O'Flynn (FF) in which he sought a report explaining why the Fermoy flood alleviation plan failed on the morning of February 24 last.

The report said the flooding, which affected a handful of properties in Brian Boru Square, was related to a build up of flood water behind the flood defences, which was unable to gravitate into the River Blackwater.

It said there was a series of pumping stations in the defences deigned to start up during high water events and feed excess storm water back into the river.

"It appears that on February 24 there was a malfunction in the pumping station at Rathealy Road, which resulted in storm water build-up leading water ingress at three premises on Brian Boru Square," read the report.

It went on to say that in light of this every aspect of the malfunction is being investigated and the council was reviewing its protocols and systems "to ensure a similar event does not reoccur".

This will include ensuring online monitoring systems for pumps are working properly, implementing a more frequent maintenance schedule with the service contractor, on-site checks during flood events and trail runs of pumping stations.

"It is important to point out that the Fermoy flood relief scheme, with the exception of the pumping station issue, operated as intended and flood water from the Blackwater River was prevented from inundating the town," the report concluded.

Expanding on this point, divisional manager James Fogarty said that while it was "mightily unfortunate" some properties had been impacted by the malfunction, more than 90 properties would have been damaged had the 37.5million flood defence works not been in place.

"We have to learn lessons from this on. We also have the same system in place in Mallow. We will have to look at systems in all other towns, particularly those in West Cork in light of this incident," said Mr Fogarty.

Welcoming the report's findings and recommendations, Cllr O'Flynn said it was good to note that back-up systems were being put in place to prevent a re-occurrence of the flooding, particularly in light of the fact that property owners in Brian Boru Square do not have flood insurance cover.

Cllr Kay Dawson (FG) said it was unfortunate the "glitch" had happened when the rest of the flood defences worked so well, while Cllr William O'Leary said it was important that the proper "checks and balances" were in place to ensure there was no repeat of the incident.

Cllr Noel McCarthy (FG) requested that an alarm be put in place that would alert officials if the online system failed so the pumps could be worked manually.
She is quite busy promoting the new season of her show documenting her recent path to sobriety.

And on Friday, 'Mama June' Shannon spoke with TMZ about her prior drug addiction, and how she is working to 'mend' the damaged relationships she has with her children including Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson.

June, 41, explained in the video chat that the financial strain created by her drug addiction in 2019 and early 2020 along with boyfriend Geno Doak was more than previously estimated.

On Friday: Mama June Shannon spoke about her prior drug addiction, and how she is working to 'mend' the damaged relationships she has with her children

'In our whole addiction, I would say close to $1.5 [million dollars],' the mother of four said on Friday.

'Our habit in Georgia would be like, 24 [hundred dollars] to 3 grand,' she added.

But the television personality then said that in LA, her addiction cost 'maybe double,' estimating that the weekly take would be in the vicinity of $20K to $28K.

And when asked about her relationship with her family, June allowed that 'its an everyday struggle. I am trying to mend those relationships with the children.'

When asked about her relationship with her family: June allowed that 'its an everyday struggle. I am trying to mend those relationships with the children'

She added: 'With the covid virus [pandemic] hitting, its still been kind of hit and miss.'

But she maintained that she is 'still trying to work on it, staying present, calling them all the time whether they answer my phone calls or not.'

She then referenced the work shes done in her recovery.

'I have learnt through the meetings that they were working on my timeline in my addiction, and now Im having to work on their timeline.'

Where it all began: MJ maintained that she is 'still trying to work on it, staying present, calling them all the time whether they answer my phone calls or not'; seen on their TLC show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

And specific to maintaining her sobriety during the pandemic lockdown, Mama June was proud to say that she has experienced 'No relapses.'

Of her recovery with boyfriend Geno after their crack cocaine addiction, she said, 'we came out of rehab on February 25th of 2020, and the pandemic hit shortly after that.

'Ive had no relapses, I havent even thought about it, and I think what it is is because Ive opened up my social media to those fans that were struggling during Covid virus.'

Specific to maintaining her sobriety during the pandemic lockdown: Mama June was proud to say that she has experienced 'No relapses'

June then explained that 'giving my gift away of sobriety to somebody else, or somebodys family who is struggling with addiction'  something she would spend '10 hours a day' doing on her Instagram with fans  'is what has held me accountable, and held me to help me with my sobriety.'

Season five of Mama June: From Not to Hot premieres Friday on WeTV, and touts the additional title 'Road To Redemption' as it focuses on the reality star's path to maintaining sobriety.

Additionally, the enterprising TV personality is launching her very own merchandise, which includes t-shirts, face masks and more with various cheeky phrases that sound like they came right out of Mama June's mouth herself.

She's a star: Season five of Mama June: From Not to Hot premieres Friday on WeTV, and touts the additional title 'Road To Redemption' as it focuses on the reality star's path to sobriety

June was arrested in 2019 for cocaine possession and, at one point, was on the open road with boyfriend Doak, after reportedly selling her home in Georgia for $100,000 in cash.

In October 2019, Shannon and Doak pleaded not guilty to crack cocaine possession but are still both facing charges of felony drug possession stemming from a March arrest in Alabama.

Her 15-year-old daughter Alana, aka Honey Boo Boo, has been living with her older sister Pumpkin throughout the turmoil and it was reported at the time that June and Geno were living in an Alabama casino.

The WeTV network has been the home of Shannon's makeover show From Not to Hot since 2017 and producers have scrambled to get her the help she needs following her crack cocaine arrest.

Shannon received the spin-off from her daughter's TLC reality series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which was a spin-off from the famed pageant show Toddlers and Tiaras.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sit to deliver a joint press statement in New Delhi, India, Saturday, March 20, 2021. The top officials from India and the United States Saturday said the two countries will expand their military engagement, underscoring a sign of strengthening defense ties between the two democracies amid Chinas growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Grocery workers at American Canyons two major stores will receive $5-an-hour hazard pay as they work amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City Council this week required the hazard pay on top of base compensation for 120 days at grocery stores of a certain size. City officials said Safeway and Walmart Supercenter will be affected.

Council members heard from union officials saying the grocery workers are essential workers who, because of their jobs, face COVID-19 health risks. They also received letters from the California Grocers Association urging them not to take action.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.

People get paid more to take higher risks, City Councilmember Mariam Aboudamous said in expressing her support for hazard pay.

The American Canyon council passed the grocery store worker hazard pay law by unanimous vote on Tuesday. Various other cities in the state have taken similar actions, among them Los Angeles, Long Beach, Berkeley, San Jose, and San Mateo.

Among those addressing the American Canyon City Council by phone during the Zoom meeting was Leila Elabed, who works at Safeway. She said shes loaded groceries into hundreds of peoples cars. Some customers wear masks and stay in the car.








8,520 tons of foodstuffs brought in by 830 trucks from the coast, highlands, and jungle of Peru arrived today (March 20) before 6 a.m.





The Municipal Markets Company (EMMSA) operated by the capital's municipal council has been facilitating the entry of freight carriers, which continue arriving with their loads, even out of hours, in order to guarantee the maximum supply of products.





Prices

Staple food prices at this major trading center are getting back to normal following an increase in some food prices due to the strike by transport workers and regular prices are expected to be available starting Monday (March 22).

Moreover, EMMSA urges retailers to avoid price speculation, as this practice threatens the economy of Peruvian families.









(END) NDP/RRC/RMB/MVB

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The Great Wholesale Market in Lima (GMML) on Saturday ensured a normal supply of the foodstuffs demanded by consumers in Peru's capital city Lima, following the reopening of roads , which were blocked for five days due to a strike enforced by transport workers.Publicado: 20/3/2021
A 31-year-old Hindu journalist in Pakistan has been shot dead by some unidentified assailants while getting a haircut at a barber shop in the countrys Sindh province, the police said on Saturday.

Ajay Lalvani, a reporter with a private Royal News TV channel and an Urdu language newspaper Daily Puchano, died on Thursday after he sustained bullet injuries in stomach, arm and knee.

He was sitting in the barber shop in Sukkur city when assailants on two bikes and a car drove by and opened fire.

Lalvani was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died.

His father Dileep Kumar said that the family did not have any enmity, dismissing the polices claim of the murder being the result of a personal enmity, according to The News International.

Condemning the killing, Hindu member of Pakistan's National Assembly (MNA) Lal Chand Malhi said that it is a matter of great concern.

Strongly condemn D killing of yet another journalist Ajay Kumar at Saleh Pat, Sindh. It is a matter of great concern that media persons are increasingly feeling unsafe in Sindh. Offered condolence to the heirs of the victim. Police should (go) beyond forming comtes. (sic), he said on Twitter.

A group of journalists, holding the police responsible for the incident, protested against Lalvanis killing and carried out a march, claiming that it was a targeted killing.

Lalvanis body was cremated amidst tension in Sukkur city which remained shut on the second consecutive day, the police said.

Journalists, many of whom from Karachi, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Sukkur and other towns, participated in the last rites along with Lalvanis relatives, friends and members of the minority Hindu community, Dawn newspaper reported.

The police said that they were investigating the motive of crime, and if it was linked with the victims professional responsibilities.

Pakistan ranks ninth on the Committee to Protect Journalists annual Global Impunity Index, which assesses countries where journalists are murdered regularly and their killers go free.

Meanwhile, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an American independent non-profit organisation, urged authorities in Sindh province to must immediately launch a credible investigation and apprehend those responsible for the killing.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Three years ago, Garry Naftarski was facing major surgery to remove his bowel.

He knew the operation would leave him with a stoma bag and force him to give up his job as a diving instructor.

But it was his only hope for an end to the agonising pain and life-destroying symptoms he'd suffered  for the better part of ten years  due to gut disorder ulcerative colitis, a condition that affects 140,000 UK patients.

For Garry, who was 33 at the time, it was a bleak choice.

'I was told it was impossible to get my disease under control with drugs and there was damage all the way up my digestive tract,' he recalls. 'For five years I'd barely been able to go out because I was scared I'd have an accident.

'I was constantly exhausted, my wife had to help me get in and out of the bath. I'd go to the toilet 20 to 30 times a day and could barely move because of the stomach pain.'

Father-of-two Garry Naftarski (pictured with his daughter Poppy) was one of the first British patients to try a new ulcerative colitis drug called filgotinib - and it transformed his life

But Garry didn't have the operation. Shortly before his surgery was scheduled, he was thrown an alternative lifeline  the chance to become one of the first Britons to try a new ulcerative colitis drug  and it transformed his life.

Now he has returned to his high-energy job, is well enough to run around after his two young children, Max, six, and Poppy, three.

He says: 'I'd tried every treatment under the sun and nothing worked. Now I'd say my health is back to how it was before my diagnosis.'

Experts say the daily pill, called filgotinib, will be available on the NHS within months after studies showed nearly half of patients saw their symptoms vanish after a year.

The drug is one of a group of medicines known as janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, some of which are already used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Doctors hope the breakthrough will mean sufferers no longer need to rely on powerful medications that suppress the immune system, which come with a host of life-wrecking side effects.

'It's an exciting time for colitis patients,' says Dr Daniel Gaya, consultant gastroenterologist from Glasgow Royal Infirmary. 'A decade ago, there were little to no options for a large chunk of people with severe disease.

'Now we have medicines that don't just work to stop symptoms temporarily, but actually seem to alter the nature of the disease for good.'

Ulcerative colitis develops when the immune system attacks healthy gut tissue, causing ulcers and inflammation in the lining of the bowel, triggering pain, uncontrollable diarrhoea and bleeding.

It's perhaps the lesser-known type of the inflammatory bowel diseases, despite it being the most common. The other type is Crohn's Disease, which affects about 115,000 Britons.

In Crohn's, the inflammation and damage occurs along the entire digestive tract, from end to end. But in colitis, just the large bowel, including the back passage, is affected.

Two age groups are most commonly diagnosed: those in their mid 30s and people in their 50s and 60s.

Many older patients suffer what's known as microscopic colitis, where damage isn't visible unless bowel tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.

Doctors don't yet know what causes the condition, or why the microscopic type is more common in older adults, but those with parents or siblings with the disease are up to 30 per cent more likely to suffer.

Some research suggests a viral or bacterial infection may disturb the balance of healthy microbes in the bowel, causing the immune system to go into overdrive.

Experts say the daily pill, called filgotinib, will be available on the NHS within months after studies showed nearly half of patients saw their symptoms vanish after a year. Pictured: Stock image

The most common tell-tale sign is blood in the stools  but that causes a key problem with diagnosis. 'Most people think if they have blood in the stools, it's cancer,' says Dr Gaya.

'And so as soon as they find out it isn't cancer  which happens in 95 per cent of cases  they don't go back to the doctor for further investigations until the symptoms get worse.'

By then, the disease is likely to be advanced and harder to treat.

Experts say there are thousands of Britons with the condition currently undiagnosed  with up to ten per cent of over-50s thought to have some form of the disease.

'With microscopic colitis, often the only symptom patients present with is diarrhoea, which is easily mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome,' says Dr Ian Beales, consultant gastroenterologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

'Patients are otherwise well, so they do nothing.'

If a patient is suspected to have colitis, the first step is a stool sample test for a protein called calprotectin  a sign of inflammation in the gut.

If there's a positive result, a specialist gastroenterologist will conduct further tests to look for physical signs of damage.

This usually involves a endoscopy procedure  in which a camera is inserted down the throat and samples of the tissue are cut away for testing.

Once a diagnosis is made, patients are first offered drugs called aminosalicylates, which work directly on the gut lining, reducing the inflammation and promoting the growth of new, healthy tissue.

For most patients with moderate to severe disease, these fail to work at all.

Next, doctors try drugs to suppress the immune system. But not only do these cause a host of unpleasant side effects, they only control the disease in roughly a third of patients, according to studies.

'These aggressive drugs dampen down the effect of the immune system on the entire body,' says Dr Gaya. 'But patients can feel very rough after picking up even the most minor of infections.'

What's the difference... Between a side effect and an adverse event? During clinical trials for a drug, experts try to track any unexpected negative effects  usually by monitoring trial volunteers and questioning them about any and every symptom they might have experienced. These are reported at the end of the trial, and are known as adverse events. These may or may not have been caused by the drug or treatment itself  further analysis is usually needed to work out if there is a direct causal link. If so, it may be determined to be a side effect  a term that refers to a known consequence of that treatment. Advertisement

Other side effects include nausea and vomiting, aching joints and persistent fevers.

Newer 'biological' drugs block chemical messages that cause the immune system to attack the gut but treatment involves injections in hospital once every eight weeks, and then a wait of least a month for the effects to kick in.

Again, these only work in a third of cases, and lose effectiveness over time.

If all else fails, many patients are forced to rely on short courses of potent steroids which temporarily dampen inflammation but raise the risk of other diseases as well as causing skin damage, weight gain and mental health problems.

Eventually, patients are left with little option but to have their bowel removed.

Unlike previous treatments that involve regular injections, JAK inhibitors come in the form of a daily pill.

The drugs change the way that immune cells found in the gut work, stopping them from attacking healthy bowel tissue.

But they don't interfere with the rest of the immune system. The compound also vanishes from the system in 24 hours, meaning side effects are minimal.

Roughly two years ago, health chiefs approved the first JAK inhibitor  tofacitinib  for colitis patients who'd failed to respond to other treatments, following trials that showed a fifth of patients achieved total remission after just two months on the drug, with minimal side effects.

Trials of the newer filgotinib showed that after a year, nearly half of all patients on it were symptom free  not cured, but classed as 'in remission'.

'None of these drugs work for everyone, nor are they miracle workers,' says Dr Beales.

'But the difference is they're far easier to take and patients can stay on them for a long time without suffering side effects.

'It's not just about improving their colitis symptoms, it's also ensuring their life isn't constantly impacted by their illness and the effect of drugs they take to control it.'

Another patient to benefit is Holly Turner, a 26-year-old designer from South London.

She noticed an unexpected benefit soon after she began taking tofacitinib last month: the eczema that covered her arms and legs almost vanished.

Holly, who also has colitis, was prescribed the new generation treatment after nearly a decade of suffering persistent diarrhoea.

'I was diagnosed when I was 16 after spotting blood in the toilet, and spent the next few years on and off strong steroids to control my extreme flare-ups,' she says.

'The drugs then made me constantly ill with colds and flu and, in my early twenties, they sparked a series of panic attacks.'

Further immune-suppressing injections failed to stop her constant flare-ups.

Finally, last month, her gastroenterologist suggested that she try tofacitinib.

Holly says: 'In two weeks, my symptoms pretty much disappeared, and I didn't have any side effects other than dizziness at the very beginning.'

But most bizarrely, the patches of eczema that Holly has suffered for the past two years have also eased up. 'My skin is nearly completely clear of dry, flaky patches,' she says.

'It's like a wonder drug. Finally I feel like I can go out and live my life completely normally.'

Earlier this month, the UK health watchdog NICE approved another JAK inhibitor drug, called baricitinib, for the treatment of eczema  first reported in this newspaper.

Eczema is also caused by overactive fighter cells released by the immune system  which JAK inhibitors work to control.

Garry experienced a similarly astonishing turnaround, after struggling with his mood on steroids and bad blisters with the newer biological drugs.

But with the new drug, things are markedly different. 'I haven't even have a headache. Nothing,' he says. 'Now, I go to the toilet as regularly as I did before I got ill. But there's no urgency, no blood and no pain.'

Garry visits Dr Beales for monthly blood tests to monitor his inflammation, but is down to annual internal scans  as opposed to every couple of months, like most colitis patients.

And he says: 'I'll happily take this pill every day for the rest of my days  it's given me my life back.'

For more information, support and resources about Crohns and Colitis visit

www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk
Cecil Graham is the founder of The Prince's Trust in Northern Ireland and a member of the Presbyterian Council for Public Affairs.

Q. Can you tell us about your background?

A. I was born in Belfast in 1933. My parents were Richard and Peggy. My dad was a self-employed hairdresser. My younger brother, Dickie, is deceased and my younger sister, Eileen, lives in Belfast. I married my wife, June, 63 years ago. We have two very loving and caring children, Peter and Jill, and their spouses, five delightful grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

I was educated at Fane Street Public Elementary School, Belfast Tech and Queen's University, Belfast. Currently, I chair the board of governors of Fane Street.

Initially, I spent seven years in the printing industry, then one year in British Guiana (now Guyana) with St John Ambulance Brigade, followed by 13 years as training and development secretary for the Boys' Brigade, then four years with the Northern Ireland Training Authority, 20 years in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, eight years as chief executive of Action Mental Health and, finally, six years as executive chair of an organisation which managed residential projects in Co Durham.

I was also responsible for the start of The Prince's Trust here and served as vice-chair of the national council for four years. I chaired an EU Horizon-funded project involving 26 partners from 10 member states, dealing with mental health and employment issues. I was chair of the Eastern Health and Social Service Council and a member of the Belfast Abbeyfield board of management for 16 years.

Q. How and when did you come to faith?

A. From an early age, our parents encouraged us to attend church and Sunday School. At 14 years old, at a BB Bible class, I made a commitment. I pay tribute to the influence both the Boys' Brigade and St John Cadets had on my teenage years and, particularly, the example of several outstanding leaders which set me on a path of involvement in Church, the voluntary sector and community-based organisations.

Q. Does this faith play a real part in your life, or is it only for Sundays?

A. I seek to fulfil my family, Church and community responsibilities. This is reinforced by attendance at Sunday worship and I pay tribute to the preaching/teaching received from faithful ministers.

Q. Have you ever had a crisis, or a gnawing doubt, about your faith?

A. No fundamental crisis, but many questions have arisen.

Q. Have you ever been angry with God and, if so, why?

A. No. God has been good to me.

Q. Do you ever get criticised for your faith and are you able to live with this criticism?

A. Not to my knowledge, but this question challenges me when I'm confronted with the fact over 240 million Christians across the world are experiencing high levels of persecution and discrimination.

Q. Are you ever ashamed of your own denomination?

A. I am proud to be a Presbyterian and, while never ashamed, I have at times been disappointed at decisions taken by the General Assembly, including breaking fraternal links with the Church of Scotland.

Q. Are you afraid to die?

A. With advancing years, one's mortality becomes a closer reality and the (temporary) separation from family and friends becomes nearer. I am not afraid to die. It's only the end of a chapter, with the rest of the book ahead.

Q. Are you afraid of hell?

A. No.

Q. Do you believe in a resurrection?

A. Yes. While the specifics are a mystery, my confidence lies in Jesus's victory over death and His glorious resurrection.

Q. What about other denominations?

A. Many of my friends and acquaintances are members of "other" denominations. I have a deep respect and regard for them.

Q. Would you be comfortable in trying to learn something from others?

A. My faith gives me a confidence to meet people from other backgrounds and such contacts have been helpful and illuminating.

Q. Are the Churches fulfilling their mission?

A. While I distinguish between "Christianity" and "churchianity", I believe many Church members seek to fulfil their mission. This is not only in activities promoted by parishes and congregations, but also in the contributions made by hundreds of Church members to the political, civic, health and social services, educational, economic and cultural and social life of society.

Q. Why are so many people turning their backs on organised religion?

A. "Organised religion", or "Church membership", no longer has the social significance it once did. However, many are still seekers. With Covid-19, the past 12 months have been difficult. Many members have missed the fellowship and friendship which public worship provides, but with the streaming of services, more people are now in communication with the "message". This provides a renewed challenge and opportunity. Yet, even when the pandemic problems are solved, the biggest challenge facing society will still be loneliness. The Church exists for the "outsider" and Christianity is essentially a "relationship" faith.

Q. Has religion helped, or hindered, Northern Ireland?

A. If "religion" is expressed through "denominationalism", then at times it has hindered.

Q. What is your favourite film, book and music, and why?

A. The film is The Sound of Music. The book, The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monserrat. And the music Finlandia by Sibelius?

Q. Where do you feel closest to God?

A. Worshipping with fellow Christians.

Q. What inscription would you like on your gravestone, if any?

A. I leave this to others!

Q. Finally, have you any major regrets?

A. No. But I am conscious that, having more regard to the sins of commission and omission, I could have lived so much better.
New Delhi:

Shunning its popular stand of being in denial of existence of terrorist organisations in the country, Pakistan has admitted that Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammed were operating from its territory. The admission has come for the first time in the history.

As per reports in Times of India, Pakistans Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif admitted existence of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammed on its soil and called for tougher actions against these groups.

"We should impose restrictions on activities of elements like LeT and JeM so that we can show the global community that we've put our house in order," Asif told.

Asif also asserted that Pakistan could no longer afford to test its friends on the issue of terrorism.

"Friends like China should not be tested every time, particularly in the changed (global) scenario," Asif said.

Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa also defended Pakistans role in the fight against terrorism, saying we have done our part, as the country faced criticism for not doing enough to combat the menace.

Bajwa was addressing a Defence Day ceremony at General Headquarters. His comments days after US President Donald Trump criticised Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists.

BRICS nations too expressed concern over threat posed by terror groups, including those based in Pakistan.

Bajwa said that Pakistan made countless sacrifices in the war against terrorism but still we are told that we have not done enough.

We have done our part and now the world must do more instead of telling us to do more, he said.

He highlighted Pakistan success against terrorism by launching successive successful military offensive.

With PTI inputs

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Wet weather is expected to continue battering the state until midweek, with Warragamba Dam starting to spill as it nears capacity and a mini-tornado tearing up trees in Sydneys west.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that rivers near Sydney may flood and the SES is urging residents to prepare for possible evacuations.

Flooding in Port Macquarie on Saturday. Credit:Matt Gilligan

On Sunday, areas including the Blue Mountains and western Sydney are expected to see very heavy rainfall and strong winds. Sydney CBD is expected to receive between 25 and 45mm, while Penrith is expected to see up to 120mm and Richmond up to 80mm.

Its going to keep raining, with heavy rainfall tonight and tomorrow, basically until Tuesday night or Wednesday when the next front comes through and clears out the heavy rainfall, the Bureau of Meteorologys forecaster David Wilke said. Showers may linger on Wednesday or Thursday but wont be like this.
Dallas, March 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Everyone is looking for a way to earn a bit of extra income, and affiliate marketing is an excellent way to do just that. As a content consumer, you probably see affiliate marketing everywhere, but you dont have to be a YouTube star or have a blog with hundreds of thousands of subscribers to be an affiliate marketer. Read the answers to some frequently asked questions about affiliate marketing here, and read KissPRs full step-by-step guide here.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a partnership between a content creator and a business, where the content creator (or the affiliate) promotes products or services to their audience in exchange for a commission when sales or specific actions are generated through their links. Anyone with a website can become an affiliate, and make money with affiliate marketing.



What Are the Benefits of Affiliate Marketing?

The partnership benefits both sides in obvious ways: for the affiliate, its an extra source of income, and for the seller, its a way for their product to reach a larger audience. Here are more benefits of affiliate marketing for the affiliate, as compared to traditional advertising.



Its more subtle than traditional advertising.

You have full control over what products you promote to your audience and how.

You use content that youre already creating for other purposes to generate extra income.

How Do I Find Affiliate Products to Promote?

Affiliate marketing is a well established form of advertising, used across platforms in just about every niche. As a result, there are plenty of affiliate networks you can join, which connect you with businesses that want their products promoted. Here are a few affiliate networks to get started with:

How Can I Earn Affiliate Sales?

Making money with affiliate marketing is dependent on being able to convince your audience to actually buy the products you promote; most of the time, clicks are not enough. Earning affiliate sales is a more complicated matter. It ultimately comes down to who youre reaching with your blog content, and how much they trust you. Not only do you have to optimize your content for search engines, you also have to make sure your content is appealing enough to retain the audience and encourage them to make a purchase.

Make sure to build Expertise, Authority, and Trust (EAT) with Google in order to appear in search results; this will also show your readers that they can trust you. To do so, explain why you are uniquely qualified to answer the questions youre answering.

Get in touch with a digital content expert to learn more about strategies that will work for your business and your platform.

What Content Should I Write For Affiliate Marketing?

SEO-friendly blog posts on topics that people are seeking out are the best for affiliate marketing. Generally, these are blogs that help solve problems, such as:

Blogs that explain how to do something (e.g. How to Set Up Your Planner for A Productive 2021)

Blogs that provide specific tips (e.g. 8 tips for Planning that Increase Productivity)

Blogs that recommend the best products of a category (e.g. (The 10 Best Notebooks for Planning and Productivity)

Where Should I Place Affiliate Links In My Content?

Theres no right or wrong way to use your affiliate links as long as youre following the terms and conditions laid out by the vendor, but here are some best practices:



Make it clear that youre recommending something.

Be honest with your audience about the quality of the products youre promoting.

Dont be too pushy with your recommendations

Dont use too many links in one post.

Dont forget to include a clear, concise disclosure stating that your post contains affiliate links.

How to Optimize for Affiliate Marketing

At KissPR, building SEO-friendly content that also genuinely appeals to readers is part of the storytelling strategy that we use to earn customers for our clients. For advice on how to get your blog started, guidance on what kind of content you should be publishing, or help writing and promoting content for your platform, book a free consultation with a storytelling expert.



Media Contact

Agnes Zang

az@kisspr.com





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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.





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Energy minister Gwede Mantashe recently announced the preferred bidders for the governments emergency risk mitigation IPP programme, which include three Karpowership SA projects.

Karpowership SA is a subsidiary of Karadeniz Holding, a Turkish energy company which owns and operates power plants and powerships.

The winning bids from Karpowership SA are for liquified natural gas powerships at Coega, Richards Bay, and Saldanha.

Karpowership SA will station its powerships at the three coastal towns to provide 1,200MW of ship-to-shore electricity.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, IPP Office CEO Bernard Magoro said the liquified natural gas will be provided via ships as South Africa does not have this resource naturally available.

The liquified natural gas (LNG) is then channelled into generators on the powerships to produce electricity.

The power is fed directly into the transmission network from an onboard high voltage substation which does not require any land acquisition.

Karpowership has been collaborating with Mitsui OSK Lines since 2019 in a joint venture called KARMOL to offer a reliable and preferable LNG to powership solution.

The solution generates power through the powership by receiving regasified LNG through a floating LNG storage and regasification unit.

According to Karpowership, the collaboration helps to drive down construction costs and create savings for customers which urgently needs to meet the power demand.

The natural gas solution also serves as a replacement for higher emission fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

KARMOLs first Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) was delivered on 15 March 2021 and has begun sea trials off Singapore.

After testing it will be deployed to Senegal where Karpowership is operating a 235MW capacity powership.

The company plans to switch its entire fleet of powerships to LNG, which it says is a sustainable, affordable, and environmentally responsible fuel.

Karpowership currently operates in numerous African countries, including Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, and Sudan.

South Africa will now be added to this list after the successful Karpowership SA emergency risk mitigation IPP bid.

The Karpowership SA projects are three of the eight preferred bidders of the governments emergency risk mitigation IPP programme announced by Mantashe.

The other projects, which are also aimed at alleviating electricity supply constraints and reduce the extensive use of diesel-based peaking electrical generators, are:

ACWA Power Project DAO

Mulilo Total Coega

Mulilo Total Hydra Storage

Oya Energy Hybrid Facility

Umoyilanga Energy

These preferred bids are set to produce 1,845MW using a combination of solar PV, wind, batteries, and the three liquid natural gas powerships.

Mantashe said these power projects will inject a private sector investment of R45 billion into the South African economy.

The bidders are now required to reach financial close by the end of July 2021. Due to the urgency to bring power online, the minister said this date is not negotiable.

The first power from these projects is expected to be connected to the grid from August 2022.

Mantashe has also announced that the first bidding round to acquire 11,813MW from a range of technologies has opened.

The first bidding round is for 2,600MW  1,600MW from wind and 1,000MW from Solar PV.

The energy department is also planning to release four more requests for proposals within the next 12 months, which include:

2,600MW from renewable energy.

3,000MW from gas.

1,500MW from coal.

513MW from battery storage.

In line with the IRP and the provisions in the electricity regulations of new generation capacity, additional determinations will be issued to Eskom and Municipalities as and when requests are received, Mantashe said.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III on Saturday attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial in the nation's capital.

After the ceremony, Austin will be meeting with his Indian counterpart Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Security Advisor Ajit Doval and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd James Austin III on Friday discussed areas of mutual interest, strategic partnership and cooperation on various aspects of security and defence.

"Great meeting with NSA Doval last night. The breadth of collaboration b/w our 2 nations reflects significance of our major defence partnership as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing Indo-Pacific region," Austin wrote in a tweet on Saturday adding that he was "looking forward to great meetings today."

Austin, who arrived in Delhi earlier on Friday, is on a three-day official visit to the country. It is the first visit to India by a top official of the Biden administration.

Earlier, Austin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed America's strong desire to further enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

PM Modi outlined his vision for the strategic partnership between the two countries and emphasized the important role of bilateral defence cooperation in India-US ties.

(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, March 20 : Khadi "Mujeeb Jackets" will be the centre of attraction during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Dhaka next week with dignitaries at the Indian High Commission wearing the signature garment honouring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's Father of the Nation.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has supplied 100 such custom-designed "Mujeeb Jackets" to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

The garment will be the key attire of dignitaries during Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic visit to the nation on March 26-27.

"As Bangladesh celebrates 'Mujib Borsho', the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Cultural Centre of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, had placed an order for 100 Mujeeb Jackets, ahead of the Prime Minister's visit," KVIC Chairman, Vinai Kumar Saxena said.

The "Mujeeb jacket" is an immensely popular outfit in Bangladesh.

For the older generation, it is symbolic of the ideology of their great leader, while it has increasingly become a fashion statement for the youth of Bangladesh.

Modi has always been particular about Khadi and its heritage and cultural value to strengthen diplomatic ties with foreign countries.

In 2016, the BRICS leaders, which also includes Modi, had attended the summit in Khadi jackets in Goa.

"The Prime Minister always accorded top priority to Khadi during his diplomatic visits. This is to carry forward the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi who always carried Khadi products specially a Khadi handkerchief with him and presented it to dignitaries during his foreign visits," Saxena said.

The specially designed "Mujeeb Jackets" have been made of high-quality handcrafted Khadi fabric. The black Mujeeb Jackets have been designed with six buttons, two pockets on the lower half and a front pocket on the left, as worn by Rahman.

In keeping with the eco-friendly nature of the fabric, the zip-covers for these jackets too have been made of black cotton fabric with "Khadi India" logo embroidered over it.

These jackets will be carried in specially designed white coloured waste plastic-mixed carry bags made at KVIC's Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI) in Jaipur.

"Mujeeb Jacket" is historically significant in Bangladesh and it is a matter of great pride that these jackets made of Khadi fabric be adorned during the Bangladesh visit of Prime Minister Modi who is the biggest brand ambassador of Khadi, Saxena said.

"Mujeeb jackets made of Khadi will add significantly to the historical and cultural values of the celebrations," he said, adding, this will also promote Khadi on the global and diplomatic platform in a big way.

Since the jackets were meant for diplomatic purposes, KVIC accorded top priority to it and delivered the consignment before time.

Earlier KVIC sent its high-quality cotton and silk masks to various countries.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy early with thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 76F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Pakistan Prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday tested positive for the COVID-19 and is self-isolating at home, his top aide on health Dr Faisal Sultan said, two days after he got the first shot of vaccination.

Khan, 67, was vaccinated on Thursday as part of the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination campaign which is underway in its first phase.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Sultan took to Twitter to confirm that Khan has contracted the coronavirus.

PM Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at home, he said in a tweet.

Khans spokesman Dr Shehbaz Gill said that the prime minister has just a slight fever and cough.

Supporters and ministers of Khan started sending messages of goodwill soon after the news of his diagnosis was shared with #ImranKhan becoming the top trend on Twitter.

Minister for Science Fawad Chaudhry said that the people of Pakistan are praying for their leader. "May God return him to good health soon." Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi said that the premier will recover soon and be back to work "in a flash".

Khan had been active until Friday when he visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and inaugurated a highway and an academic block of a university.

He urged the citizens to ensure the full implementation of norms to prevent the surge in cases of coronavirus.

Pakistan officials last week said that the country was hit by the third wave of the pandemic.

According to the Johns Hopkins Universitys coronavirus tracker, Pakistan has so far reported 623,135 cases and 13,799 deaths.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Faith community offers tech help with inclusion in hopes to reach out to the observant across the metro and even amongst other traditions.



Check nice local news today . . .


BATON ROUGE  Efforts to remove Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards from office because of complaints about his coronavirus restrictions and mask mandate have failed.

The Louisiana Secretary of State's Office said Friday that all parishes but one have completed counting signatures on a petition seeking to recall the Democratic governor, and the numbers have fallen far below what is needed to force a recall election.

+2 Louisiana expands COVID vaccine eligibility to include essential workers; here's a list Gov. John Bel Edwards said that beginning Monday, more than two dozen categories of essential workers will be eligible for the coronavirus vac

Only 26,679 signatures have been submitted by parish registrars of voters, according to Secretary of State spokesperson John Tobler. That's less than 1% of registered voters.

The petition was filed with the Secretary of State's Office on Aug. 29. To be successful, supporters of the recall effort needed to get signatures from 20% of voters within 180 days to hold an election on whether to recall the governor. That's nearly 600,000 signatures.

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Edwards is serving his second term as governor. He was re-elected in 2019.

+3 Nungesser pushes for relaxed standards for outdoor gatherings to boost tourism Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says Louisiana, which suffered though a pandemic-influenced downturn in tourism commerce, jobs and taxes collected in

The recall petition was filed by Lee Joseph Vidrine and Michael Lyn Vidrine, both of Eunice. In its reason for seeking a recall, the petition accused Edwards of "impeding the constitutional freedoms and livelihoods of all Louisiana citizens without concrete scientific data" and "unconstitutionally mandating that masks be worn in all public places."

Several judges in the state have upheld Edwards' coronavirus restrictions and face covering requirement.
SC asks CBSE, CISCE to place on record objective parameters for assessment of class 12 students in two weeks.
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
Silver lining in the dark cloud': Closure of public schools creates challenges, opportunities

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A year into the coronavirus pandemic, many public schools in the United States remain closed for in-person instruction. While some experts assail the prolonged widespread closure of public schools for causing students to experience declines in mental health and academic performance, others see a blessing in disguise that will empower alternative forms of education.

When the coronavirus pandemic was declared in March 2020, schools around the world ceased holding in-person instruction. Many school districts transitioned to virtual learning, where students would meet with their teachers via digital platforms such as Zoom. The widespread closure of public schools continued in most cases for the remainder of the 2019-'20 school year.

When the 2020-'21 school year began, many school districts in the U.S. continued to conduct classes entirely virtually or embraced a "hybrid" model where students attend classes in-person for part of the week while distance learning the rest of the week. While only a small number of school districts offered full, in-person learning for all students at the beginning of the school year, that number has expanded as the year progresses.

The extended closure of public schools in the U.S. has had negative effects on American students. Still, it might have opened up other opportunities for education in the long term, according to experts who spoke with The Christian Post.

Education Week has kept track of the reopening statuses of member districts in the Council of the Great City Schools. This collection of school districts, featuring some of the largest school systems in the country and one in Canada, contains more than 8.2 million students. It accounts for 15% of the total public school enrollment nationwide.

While 56 of the 75 districts included in the Council of the Great City Schools currently offer some type of in-person instruction, a significant number of them have not offered widescale in-person learning for any part of the school year, which is well into its second semester.

Portland Public Schools, the largest school district in Oregon, has not opened for in-person learning this year. The district will implement a hybrid option for students in kindergarten through fifth grade in early April and a hybrid option will begin for older students later that month.

Other districts that have yet to hold in-person learning this school year but will offer it in some form before the conclusion of the academic year include Sacramento City Unified School District in California, Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri, and Long Beach Unified School District in California.

Richmond Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in Virginia, will remain completely virtual for the duration of the second semester. School districts in Fresno, Oakland and Santa Ana, California, have yet to open for widescale in-person learning this school year. But they have opened classrooms for select groups of students, such as those enrolled in classes for students in which English is a second language and special education programs.

Four people who shared their perspectives on the consequences of the widespread closure of public schools include a senior official with a conservative-leaning think-tank, the author of a book detailing her experience educating her children during the coronavirus pandemic, the president of a coalition of Christian schools and universities, and the author of a book urging parents to pull their children out of public education.

Consequences of widespread public school closures

According to Hadley Manning, the policy director for the Independent Women's Forum, who has extensively studied the consequences of school closings, the widespread closure of public schools "has exacerbated some existing inequalities in our educational system."

In an interview, Manning said that while many families have the "means and resources to put together a homeschooling pod, hire a private tutor, put the children in private school or to make other arrangements," students who come from families who lack the aforementioned means and resources "have been working essentially on their own at home through virtual learning, which the data would suggest is no replacement for in-person schooling."

David Dockery, the president of the recently formed International Alliance for Christian Education, echoed Manning's concerns.

"I think students from strong families, particularly  where both parents are educated  there will be strong efforts to ensure that those students are taken care of and almost a homeschooling approach provided, he said.

"But for so many families ... both parents working, both are busy, not able to provide the care and instruction needed for the students who are missing that from their teachers, I think we don't know the impact of that at this time, but it's certainly a concern for all of us.

Dockery, the chancellor of Trinity International University in Illinois, said he's concerned for students in primary school, saying that in-person instruction for elementary grade students is vitally important.

Emily Greene, the author of School, Disrupted: Rediscovering the Joy of Learning in a Pandemic-Stricken World, who researches and writes about education, creativity, the neuroscience of learning, agreed with Dockery.

"It doesn't take an advanced degree to realize that [the] format of [online] learning is not how young children learn, she said.

Manning expressed concern for "children who have essentially lost a year of education because their school system has been closed and they haven't had access to good alternatives. She warned that "those children may face a real education deficit."

"I think that would be ... a totally reasonable expectation to see the education gap widening between children who are advanced and who continued to advance during the pandemic and children who probably have seen some backsliding."

"It's pretty common knowledge that over the summer months, when schools are typically closed, you see some sort of regression educationally among students who are out of school for the summer, but this is like a summer that has lasted for 12 months, she continued.

"One of the biggest failures with virtual learning is that you can't make kids show up," Manning remarked. "For example, in Boston, only half of the students showed up for online instruction on any given day."

"The question of school closure is much bigger than an academic question," she said. "It's a question about what's best for children broadly speaking, not just in terms of their progress on reading, writing and arithmetic, but their social and emotional development, their mental health, and their ability to have a safe place to be during the day."

Manning also spoke about the mental health impacts of the widespread school closures and the accompanying social isolation.

After citing reports about "higher numbers of youth reporting depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms" and suicide attempts, Manning maintained that it was hard to get concrete mental health statistics because the U.S. has a "delayed reporting system" when it comes to suicide rates.

In Japan, which Manning said "has one of the fastest data capturing systems in the world when it comes to suicide rates," previous data from the fall showed an 80% increase in the suicide rates among women.

"There's an impact certainly on the mental health of our young people, our children and also I would say on parents because there is that additional layer of stress that comes with trying to educate children at home while also continuing to provide financially for the family, she contends.

Many families depend on two incomes, and so that math doesn't work out. Two full-time jobs plus the job of overseeing virtual education at home is too much for many working parents," Manning said.

Another unintended consequence of keeping schools closed for in-person learning, Manning asserted, relates to the reporting of child abuse because "the school system is a very important part of our child abuse reporting mechanism in this country."

"Aside from parents, family members, pediatricians, teachers and school counselors are some of the most important people in preventing child abuse or stopping child abuse, Manning stressed. And so we've lost that with the widespread closure of public schools."

Opportunities presented by widespread public school closures

Lt. Col. Ray Moore is the chairman of the board for publicschoolexit.com, a website designed to provide resources for parents seeking to withdraw their children from public schools.

Moore, an Army Reserve chaplain and an outspoken critic of contemporary public education, sees a silver lining in public schools' widespread closure and the accompanying adaptation of virtual learning.

With many parents at home with their children, they have the opportunity to listen to what they are learning at school.

"The public school curriculum is coming into their living rooms, and some of it is just terrible, borderline pornography, he asserted. They teach sex education in ways that are not compatible with Christian teaching. And the parents are seeing on the computer in their living rooms, and they're just horrified."

Moore said that in some districts, public schools are trying to get parents to sign a document saying that they will not look at the curriculum that their children are getting in their living room.

[Its] pretty amazing that they would go that far," Moore told CP.

For example, a Tennessee school district asked parents to sign a waiver promising not to listen to or monitor their children's virtual learning sessions due to concerns about "confidential information about a student being revealed."

The district later issued guidance that would allow parents to "assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor."

"They are fearful, the public school people are fearful that the parents will discover what they've been doing to harm the children, and they are in fact discovering it, Moore concluded. The system's out of control. It can't correct itself.

Moore elaborated on the content that some public school children have been exposed to in school, including lessons related to the Black Lives Matter movement, transgender ideology and critical race theory, which he described as "viruses that have attached themselves to the education system."

In addition to slamming the "anti-Christian" philosophy that has infiltrated some public schools, he reiterated that the U.S. and other nations find themselves in "a 100-year moment for private Christian schools and homeschooling."

While acknowledging the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moore said that the widespread closure of public schools has provided "an unprecedented opportunity for K-12 Christian schools and homeschools to really accelerate and grow exponentially."

Moore pointed to studies finding that a significant share of students who attended public schools before the pandemic might never return to the state-run schools when the pandemic comes to an end and in-person learning resumes on a mass scale.

Although Dockery was "expecting an enrollment decline of perhaps deep significance because of the coronavirus," he told CP that "overall our enrollment has maintained health.

The level has been better than what we expected, and there are a handful of schools that even have shown increases for which we are both surprised and grateful, Dockery said.

Greene agreed with Moore that the widespread closure of public schools was "a long-overdue disruption of a very outdated education system" that triggered "the most robust period of innovation in the entire history of education in America."

She told CP that "American society and American parents have relied on outsourcing their education to schools for 100 years and in a blink, we experienced how fragile that framework is."

"Parents started opening their mind for new ways for children to learn, which is so exciting," she recalled.

Greene cheered one new method of learning: the increased establishment of "learning pods," a form of homeschooling where a group of parents and their children band together, and each parent would teach the children a specific subject.

She also disagreed with the notion that children learned less during the widespread closure of public schools than they would have if they were attending school for in-person learning.

"Many families experienced this completely new vast expanses of free time during the pandemic and the things that parents and children did to discover new talents and passions, new interests and curiosities in this free time might very well lay the foundation for their future careers, Greene added.

"The way that families got outside in new ways during the pandemic, there's a completely new path of learning for many kids who go to public schools and get 20 minutes of outside time per day. There was a verifiable explosion in making things, in hands-on making things, meaning people who never picked up a needle and a thread started making things with their kids. People who never baked cookies all of a sudden were making sourdough starters, and it goes on and on and on.

Greene concluded that if the insight was available to measure how our kids actually grew during the pandemic, we might discover that they learned more than they would have in traditional schools."

Moving forward

The experts who spoke with CP shared their thoughts on what they think the state of American education will look like following the pandemic and what changes they would like to see regarding education in the U.S. going forward.

Manning predicted that following the pandemic, Americans will "have a greater appreciation for the importance of education. Not simply as a means for educating children but as a means for learning social skills and allowing peer-to-peer interaction." She also expressed hope that "many of these bills that have been proposed in state legislatures to allow for greater school choice" will become law.

Specifically, Manning would like to see policies enabling "all families to have an education savings account that is funded by the state and allows them to direct their education dollars to public schools, private schools, homeschool pods or other education models.

Manning favors the implementation of a "robust school choice policy" that extends beyond "people who have the resources" and "the financial security that supports alternative methods."

Dockery hypothesized that following the pandemic, "parents will take more responsibility for the education of their children" and "Christian education in various forms" will "expand and be strengthened."

He told CP that he believes society has learned a new level of flexibility that will lead to new levels of innovation for the days ahead."

"I think we have learned that online education is here to stay," he added. "I think we have all learned how to use online learning, and we will continue to do so, making it not an auxiliary option but a significant part of our educational offerings, Dockery said.

So yes, I agree that the changes that have been implemented during the COVID season will likely remain with us, but I think our schools have adjusted well to the hybrid model, and we'll be healthy and maybe even stronger as a result of it."

With the expansion of homeschooling following the pandemic, Moore suggested that "it's possible the public school system will begin to implode and unravel and ideally collapse."

He surmised that such a scenario would allow the U.S. to "revert back to a private, free-market, Christian and home education, which was the original American model for the first 200 years of American history."

"Public education is a socialistic model in education. And socialism never works, Moore asserted. It always is very self-destructive, and it's not working now in education. So public education is pretty well dysfunctional, and a lot of people know it."

Moore envisioned an America where parents and churches were working together by "rescuing the children" from public schools, believing that such an arrangement would lead to the home transforming into a "biblical learning center" that "strengthens marriages" and ends up "revitalizing the family."

Greene praised the rise in parental engagement that has accompanied the coronavirus pandemic. She expressed hope that when the pandemic is over, people will not forget that "ultimately, the people who are most responsible for our children's education are the parents." She warned that "without the parents' voice in the revitalizing of our education system in this final moment, things will simply regress into status quo.

So this is the time for people to stay engaged and speak up and not just slide back into outsourcing our children to schools, the author said.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed citizens of Iran saying that the republic needs to maintain constructive contact with the outer world. The President expressed confidence that Iran has an opportunity to become a centre of attraction for international investments and large-scale trade with the near and far abroad.

Rouhani warmly greeted medical workers, agrarians and border guards of Iran on the Nowruz holiday. The President stressed that the current unprecedented economic war against Iran will eventually end up with the victory of the Iranian workers, IRNA informs.
Susanna Reid has received her first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at St Thomas' Hospital in London.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 50, took to Instagram on Friday to thank her nurse Kamilah and the other staff at the vaccination centre.

She wrote: 'JABBED! Thanks Kamilah & everyone at St Thomas Hospital vaccination centre. Didnt see Boris. Do need a haircut.'

'JABBED': Susanna Reid has received her first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at St Thomas' Hospital in London, sharing a snap of the momentous occasion to Instagram on Friday

The broadcaster wore charcoal jeans and a grey T-shirt with a 'Vintage 1970' slogan for the momentous occasion.

Her raven tresses hung naturally around her shoulder as she acknowledged she 'need[s] a haircut,' when salons re-open in April.

'Didn't see Boris,' revealed the mother-of-three, who received her first jab on the same day as the Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson, 56, also headed to St Thomas' on Friday to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in the same hospital where he was treated for Covid in April last year.

Grateful: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 50, took to Instagram to thank her nurse Kamilah and the other staff at the vaccination centre

Susanna's vaccination comes amid controversy on Good Morning Britain after an explosive interview with EastEnder's Patsy Palmer on Wednesday.

Bosses have reportedly held a crisis meeting over the handling of the interview after the actress stormed off the show.

After receiving backlash for her actions on social media, Patsy angrily told 'trolls and haters' to 'go f**k themselves' for judging her, after 'working hard to remove negativity from her life'.

And ITV bosses are reportedly concerned about the show's reputation following the awkward interview.

A source told The Sun: 'On Thursday, the GMB production team were summoned to a meeting about the handling of Patsy's chat.

Drama: Susanna's vaccination comes amid controversy on GMB after an explosive interview with EastEnder's Patsy Palmer on Wednesday (pictured with Ben Shephard)

'Her interview was viewed as a disaster as obviously upsetting anyone is the last thing anyone would want.

'It was made clear to some members of the team that this was a crisis meeting as there were issues that needed addressing quickly.'

MailOnline contacted ITV for a comment at the time.

On Wednesday, the ex-soap star hit back after she declared she was 'doing a Piers' and shut down the interview, ranting 'my issues I had years ago were talked about by me many, many years ago and it's over'.

Susanna and her co-host Ben Shephard apologised to Patsy on air for the offending strap line, but explained 'addict to wellness guru', was a quote she used herself in her 2007 book All of Me: Love, Life and Addiction.
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Authorities are offering a $20,000 cash reward to anyone who can directly lead them to the arrest of Danny Nicholson, II, Pennsylvania State Police said Friday.

Nicholson is wanted on an arrest warrant dated March 9 for a double homicide and shooting of three others at Bogeys Tavern, 2105 Buffalo Rd, in Erie, police said. The incident happened on March 3.

He is considered armed and extremely dangerous, police said.

The 39-year-old has been charged with two counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault attempts to cause serious bodily injuries or causes injury with extreme indifference, six counts of aggravated assault - attempts to cause or causes bodily injuries with a deadly weapon, two counts of discharge of a firearm into occupied structure possession of a weapon, six counts recklessly endangering another person, firearms not to be carried without a license, and three counts criminal attempt - criminal homicide.

Danny Lee Nicholson, II is wanted by authorities on charges of two counts of criminal homicide and seven additional charges. Photo: Pennsylvania Crimestoppers

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering $10,000, and both the U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are offering $5,000.

Nicholson is accused of entering Bogeys Tavern, where he began to shoot. He was identified from the businesss cameras. Patrons said they first heard shots fired outside the establishment before he came inside.

Police said they think he then went to an apartment building at the 1900 block of Buffalo Road, where he shot at a window, YourErie.com reported.

Fortunately at the time nobody was present, but it just shows that the danger this individual is, said Chief Dan Spizarny, Erie Police Department.

Two people died from the shooting. Three others are recovering from their injuries, according to the report.

Nicholsons motive remains unknown, but police said they think the shooting was intentional.

Danny Lee Nicholson, II is considered armed and extremely dangerous. Photo: Pennsylvania Crimestoppers

We have some thoughts to that matter, but until we capture Mr. Nicholson we cant be 100% sure yet, said Spizarny.

Nicholson is 5 feet six inches tall and weighs about 250 pounds, police said.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Nicholson is asked to anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-8477 or submit a tip on the website.

Read more from PennLive

4 men linked to Proud Boys charged in plot to attack Capitol; one suspect is from Pa.
OTTAWA - The national advocacy group for patients with blood-clot disorders says there is a greater risk of getting blood clots from COVID-19 than there is from the vaccine.

A health-care worker holds up a vial of the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Montreal, Thursday, March 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

OTTAWA - The national advocacy group for patients with blood-clot disorders says there is a greater risk of getting blood clots from COVID-19 than there is from the vaccine.

Thrombosis Canada issued an updated statement on the risk of blood clots late Thursday, after the European Medicines Agency released its final report on the risk of blood clots after getting the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

The agency says there is no evidence of increased risk of blood clots from the vaccine, but added there is still not enough evidence to say if the vaccine played a role in a small number of clots in the vein that drains blood from the brain.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said further analysis is ongoing in Canada and around the world.

"Overall, the benefits of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and protecting Canadians from COVID-19 continue to outweigh the risks," she said.

Thrombosis Canada, whose board is made up of physicians specializing in blood clots, says the incidence of those clots, known as cerebral sinus vein thrombosis, occurred at a rate between one in 250,000 and one in 500,000 people who received the vaccine.

By comparison, they say blood clots occurred in about one in 20 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and about one in 100 patients who have COVID-19 but were not hospitalized.

Dr. James Douketis, president of Thrombosis Canada and a blood clot specialist at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, said it can be hard to reconcile the risk of a serious complication like a blood clot but he said it is an extremely rare reaction.

Douketis said this isn't just any drug on the market either.

"We're dealing with a vaccine in the middle of a pandemic that can help potentially millions and millions of people, in many ways, not least of which is preventing blood clots related to COVID," he said.

At least four European countries that halted AstraZeneca injections pending the review are resuming them, with France, Germany and Italy restarting the vaccinations today and Spain planning to do so next week.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex rolled up his arm to get his dose of AstraZeneca in front of the cameras Friday to try and restore confidence in the vaccine.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson did the same.

"The Oxford jab is safe, and the Pfizer jab is safe," Johnson said Thursday before getting his injection. "The thing that isn't safe is catching COVID, which is why it is so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes."

Johnson was infected with COVID-19 last year and spent several days in intensive care last April.

Canada has only received about 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca so far, but anticipates getting 1.5 million more from the United States before the end of the month. Canada is to receive almost 24 million doses of AstraZeneca through different channels, including 20 million directly from the company made at a Maryland production facility, two million from the Serum Institute of India, and another 1.9 million from the global vaccine sharing initiative known as COVAX.

More than three million Canadians have now received at least one dose of vaccine, or about eight per cent of the population. There are to be enough doses delivered to get every adult one dose by the end of June, and a second dose by the end of September.

Most Canadian provinces are spacing out the second dose by up to four months to try and get more people one dose quicker.

Data released by Public Health England show in people over the age of 70, a single dose of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca had cut the risk of getting symptomatic COVID-19 infections by 60 per cent. In people over 80, the vaccines reduced hospitalization due to COVID-19 by 80 per cent and death by 85 per cent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.
An attempt by a minibus driver to swerve and prevent running over a chop box that had fallen from another vehicle that was running ahead of it resulted in an accident leading to the death of eight people.



The eight died on the spot while 14 others sustained injuries in the accident which occurred near Bodi on the Wa-Sawla-Bole road in the Savannah Region on Thursday, March 18, 2021.



The deceased and injured persons numbering 22 were on board a Mercedes Benz Splinter Bus with registration number AS 3022-15.



The bus was travelling from Wa in the Upper West Region to Kumasi when it veered off the road and run into a tree after.



This was after the driver had attempted to swerve a falling chop box from a Ssangyong mini bus that was ahead of it.



The Ssangyong bus had reportedly done an overtaking and just when it went ahead of the Splinter bus, the chop box fell from the vehicle onto the road.



In an attempt to swerve running over it, the driver lost control and veered off the road and run into the tree.



The police in Sawla who confirmed the accident to Graphic Online said eight of the injured persons were referred to the Wa Regional Hospital for treatment while six others who were treated and discharged at a health facility in Sawla have returned to their various communities in Wa for further treatment.



The police said the driver of the Splinter bus who survived the accident told the police that a Ssangyong mini bus overtook him and in an attempt to swerve a chop box that fell from on top of the bus, he run into the tree.



The accident occurred at Bodi, a community on the outskirts of Sawla on the Wa-Sawla-Bole road around 10.30 am on Thursday, March 18 ,2021.







Source: Graphiconline.com









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March 20 : Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been honoured with the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Award 2021 on Friday evening. The veteran actor is the first Indian to receive the award for his efforts to preserve Indias film heritage. The award was bestowed on him by Hollywood filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan.

The veteran took to social media and shared a picture with the award while he thanked Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan for bestowing the award on him. I am deeply honoured to have been conferred with the 2021 FIAF Award. Thank you to FIAF and to Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan for bestowing the award on me in the ceremony today.

Big B also said that his commitment to the cause of saving Indias film heritage is unshakeable and along with Film Heritage Foundation he will continue to save Indian films. Our commitment to the cause of saving Indias film heritage is unshakeable and Film Heritage Foundation will continue its efforts to build a nationwide movement to save our films, he wrote on his Instagram profile.

During the ceremony, Martin Scorsese praised the star and said, Amitabh Bachchans advocacy for preserving Indias film heritage really has been exceptional. I mean, as a career spanning over five decades, he is a celebrated actor who has put the considerable weight of his reputation behind the cause of film preservation in India and actually the entire subcontinent.

He further said, I am well aware of the time and the effort that Amitabh has personally devoted to this cause. I mean 20 years ago, I was proud to, actually really proud, to be the first recipient of this prestigious award and I think FIAF could not have chosen a more deserving individual to recognize this year."

Amitabh Bachchans name was nominated by the FIAF affiliate Film Heritage Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation in India founded by filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. The organisation works towards preservation, restoration, documentation, exhibition, and study of Indias film heritage. The 78-year-old actor received the award in Mumbai from Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.
The Biden administration used its first top-level meeting with Chinese officials, held in Alaska, to dramatically raise the stakes in the escalating US conflict and confrontation with Beijing. Far from seeking to ease the dangerous tensions fuelled by the Trump administrations provocations and economic warfare against China, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan doubled down on Trumps aggressive, anti-China demagogy.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after a closed-door morning session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, March 19, 2021 [Credit: Frederic J. Brown/Pool via AP]

In an extraordinary breach with diplomatic protocol, during normally formal opening remarks before the media, Blinken bluntly warned that China had to abide by the rules-based international order or face a far more violent and unstable world. In reality, US imperialism established the so-called post-World War II order, in which it sets the rules, and is prepared to use all means, including war, to prevent China from challenging its global hegemony.

Blinken regurgitated what has become standard US propaganda against Chinadeep concerns with actions by China, including in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber-attacks on the United States, and economic coercion toward our allies. While not ruling out possible collaboration, he emphasised that the US relationship will be competitive where it should be adversarial where it must be.

Sullivan rubbed salt into the wound by highlighting the Biden administrations strengthening of military alliances and strategic partnerships, in particular the holding of the first-ever leaders summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, involving the US, Japan, India and Australia. Ever since the Quad was first mooted over a decade ago, it has been clearly aimed at consolidating an alliance to encircle China and prepare for war.

Like Blinken, Sullivan laid out an agenda for the talks that focused exclusively on US concerns with Chinafrom economic and military coercion to assaults on basic values. Accusations of Chinese coercion stand reality on its head, given that the Biden administration has reversed none of Trumps trade war measures against China and has continued US naval provocations close to the Chinese mainland in the South and East China Seas.

Just before the meeting, Blinken piled more US sanctions on 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over changes to Hong Kongs electoral system that were rubberstamped at Chinas annual National Peoples Congress this month. Washington has seized on the Chinese regimes autocratic methods in Hong Kong, as well as Xinjiang and Tibet, not out of any concern for democratic rights but as a means of vilifying Beijing, and potentially weakening and fracturing China. With staggering cynicism, the US has for decades routinely exploited human rights as the pretext for regime-change operations and wars.

The deliberately provocative remarks from US officials, designed to poison rather than mend relations, led to bitter exchanges with the Chinese representativesForeign Minister Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi, Chinas top foreign policy officialin front of the media.

In response to what he called some quite different opening remarks from Blinken and Sullivan, Yang was also blunt. China, he insisted upheld the United Nations-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, not what is advocated by a small number of countries of the so-called rules-based international order. He pointedly noted that, unlike the US, Chinese did not believe in invading through the use of force, or toppling other regimes through various means, or massacring the people of other countries.

Yang further challenged US claims to stand for human rights, pointing to the eruption of widespread protests over police killings, adding that the abuse of democratic rights in the US did not just emerge over the past four years. He also rebutted US accusations of Chinese cyber espionage, saying whether its the ability to launch cyber-attacks or the technologies that could be deployed, the United States is the champion in this regard.

Yang declared: The United States itself does not represent international public opinion, and neither does the Western world. The majority of the worlds countries, he said, would not recognise the universal values as espoused by the US, or that the rules made by a small number of people would serve as the basis for the international order.

Summing up Chinas position, Foreign Minister Wang emphasised that it would not accept the unwarranted accusations from the US side. In the past several years, Chinas legitimate rights and interests have come under outright suppression, plunging the China-US relationship into a period of unprecedented difficulty. This has taken its toll on world stability and development, he said, and this situation must no longer continue.

Faced with an increasingly aggressive United States, first under Obama then Trump, Beijing has on the one hand sought to build up its military and develop its own alliances, while offering economic concessions in a bid to ease tensions with Washington. The remarks of Yang and Wang in Alaska indicate that Beijing has concluded that compromise is just as unlikely under Biden as Trump, underscoring the escalating dangers of war.

In the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, US strategy has been based on preventing the emergence of any regional power that could challenge its global dominance. Chinas rapid economic growth, overtaking Japan in 2010 to become the worlds second largest economy, increasingly turned Washingtons focus to its containment and subordination. Obamas pivot to Asia, formally announced in 2011, set out a comprehensive diplomatic, economic and military strategy to assure American supremacy over Chinaa confrontational policy that accelerated under Trump.

Just months after assuming office, Biden is setting course for war, ratchetting up the anti-China propaganda by accusing Beijing of vaccine diplomacy and the genocide of Uyghurs in Chinas Xinjiang province, as well as economic coercion of allies such as Australiaall of which is creating a toxic political climate of anti-Asian racism in the United States, leading to the killing of Asian Americans. Diplomatically, Biden is revitalising alliances, with the priority given to military allies in Asia by convening the Quad summit and organising a tour of Japan and South Korea by Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin just before the Alaska meeting.

The most ominous warning of the imminence of war was given by the head of the US Indo-Pacific command, Admiral Philip Davidson. In congressional testimony this month, he called for a doubling of the Pentagons budget for the region and predicted that the US could face war with China over Taiwan within five years. He also alluded to plans for the stationing of intermediate-range nuclear ballistic missiles close to the Chinese mainland, which were confirmed when Japans Nikkei news service published extracts from the Pentagons Pacific Deterrence Initiative.

The US-China talks began on Thursday, Alaskan time, and continued through Friday. Whether or not a final joint statement is patched together to paper over the tensions, the opening remarks must serve as a warning to workers and young people in the US, China and throughout the world of the advanced character of the US war drive. Outside of the political intervention of a unified anti-war movement of the international working class, the rapid slide toward a world war involving two nuclear-armed powers is irreversible.
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian has addressed a message on the International Francophonie Day, the MFA told Armenpress.

The message reads:

March 20 is celebrated around the world as the International Francophonie Day. Nearly 300 million French-speakers around the world celebrate this day not only as a celebration of the French language, but also reaffirm their will to live together in the context of solidarity and cultural diversity. Armenia, which currently chairs the Francophonie summit, attaches great importance to the celebration of the Francophonie Day which symbolizes peace, solidarity, tolerance and cultural diversity.

The strengthening of peace, solidarity and mutual relationships based on mutual trust, which open development paths, are important in the Francophonie fundamental value system. Hatred, discrimination and falsification are rejected here.

Its regrettable that not all countries in our region share these universal values. On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan, with the direct support of Turkey and the involvement of foreign terrorists, have unleashed an aggression against Artsakh, which caused heavy humanitarian problems for the peaceful population. In this context the decision by the numerous representatives of the worlds Francophonie family to stand by us in the difficult days of the war is of utmost importance for the Armenian people.

Being committed to the Francophonie and universal civilizational values, Armenia is ready to continue making efforts for the establishment of fair and dignified peace in the region. As you know, in March-April of each year the bi-monthly Francophonie is celebrated in Armenia within the frames of which various cultural and educational events are being implemented in the countrys capital and provinces. Due to the COVID-19-related restrictions this year its impossible to celebrate the Francophonie Day in a way as each of us would like.

Nevertheless, we are convinced that all Armenian francophonies of schools, universities, local authorities and civil society will celebrate this symbolic day dedicated to the French language and the Francophonie. We hope the pandemic will be overcome in Armenia and the whole world next spring, and the Francophonie community of our society will have the opportunity of enjoying the traditional bi-monthly.

On the occasion of the International Francophonie Day I wish our Organization to always be relevant and justify the expectations of the peoples of the Francophonie space.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Saudi Arabia bars its men from marrying Pakistani women

International

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Riyadh, Mar 20: Saudi Arabia has prohibited men in its country from marrying women from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chad and Myanmar, a report in the Dawn said.

Citing a Saudi media report, Dawn said that men who want to marry foreigners will face more restrictions. Around 5000,000 women are currently residing in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi men wishing to marry foreigners now face tougher regulations, says a report in Makkah daily quoting Makkah Police Director Major General Assaf Al-Qurashi. The move is aimed at discouraging Saudi men from marrying foreigners and additional formalities have been placed before issuing permission for marriage with foreigners, the report also said.

Same-sex marriage not a fundamental right: Centre tells Delhi court

Those wanting to marry foreign women should first obtain consent of the government and submit a marriage application through official channels, the report also said. It further said that divorced men will not be allowed to apply within months of divorce. The official said applicants should be over 25 and attach identification documents signed by the local district mayor as well as all other identity papers, including a copy of his family card. "If the applicant is already married, he should attach a report from a hospital proving that his wife is either disabled, suffering from a chronic disease or is sterile," the report also added.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 13:42 [IST]
Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Some 5,255 beneficiaries of a presidential pardon since March 5, have not yet been released from prison for not having yet completed civic re-education for better social reintegration, the Burundian head of state, Evariste Ndayishimiye, explained on Saturday in an exclusive interview on public radio
Eight states including Maharashtra and Delhi are reporting a rising trajectory of new COVID-19 cases as India recorded one lakh infections in just three days including the latest spike of over 40,000 cases in the biggest daily increase in nearly four months.

The Union Health ministry while giving the latest COVID-19 update on Saturday said that on the other hand, Kerala is showing a "consistently declining" trend.

The worst-hit state of Maharashtra recorded the highest number of new cases -- 27,126 -- since the outbreak of the pandemic early last year while Delhi reported over 800 cases for the first time this year as the positivity rate breached the 1 per cent-mark after over two months. The latest data was released on Saturday by the respective health departments.

As authorities sound alarm over the fresh surge in the cases, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said the "main reason" is that people feel the pandemic is over and they are not following COVID appropriate behaviour.

"There are multiple reasons for the surge, but the main reason is that there is change in people's attitude and they feel coronavirus is over. People should still restrict non-essential travel for some more time," he said at an event organised here by the Indian Police Service(Central) Association.

NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul said the chain of transmission has to be stopped and for that vaccine is one tool but another is containment and surveillance strategy.

"Not following COVID-19 behaviour and laxity is a major reason for the surge," he said speaking at the same event.

The Health Ministry said Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab cumulatively account for 76.22 per cent of India's total active caseload, with the western state contributing to 62 per cent of such cases, while Kerala and Punjab account for 8.83 per cent and 5.36 per cent of active cases respectively.

"A rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states. These are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana. Kerala is showing a consistently declining trend," the ministry said in a statement.

India reported 40,953 new infections in a day, the highest single-day rise in 111 days, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,15,55,284, it said. On November 29, a total of 41,810 new infections were recorded in 24 hours.

With this, India has registered over one lakh cases in just three days. On Friday, 39,726 new cases were logged while 35,871 fresh cases were recorded the previous day.

Registering an increase for the tenth day in a row, the total active caseload has reached 2,88,394 accounting for 2.49 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 96.12 per cent, the Health ministry data showed.

The COVID death toll increased to 1,59,558 with 188 new fatalities, the ministry said, adding that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

The 188 new fatalities include 70 deaths from Maharashtra, 38 from Punjab and 17 from Kerala.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,11,07,332, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.38 per cent, the official data showed.

Amid a spurt in coronavirus cases in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) has decided to carry out over 47,000 rapid antigen tests at public places every day.

Mumbai has added more than 37,000 new cases in one month. It reported the highest spike of 3,062 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, taking the total caseload to 3,55,897, the BMC said.

In a circular issued on Friday, the civic body stated that rapid antigen tests will be carried out for free, except those at shopping malls. The tests conducted at shopping malls will be chargeable.

The tests will be mandatory for those selected, and those who refuse will have to face action under the Epidemic Act, 1897, the circular stated.

"It is a bitter pill we have to swallow now to check the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city. We appeal to citizens to comply and help carry out the rapid antigen tests," a civic official said.

As per the circular, BMC officials have been given the target of carrying out 47,800 tests daily at places such as railway stations, bus depots, food joints, markets, tourist spots and government offices.

People will be chosen randomly for testing.

Even if a person has already undergone testing, the civic body will insist on retesting, as detection of the infection is more important, the BMC official said.

Responding to a question on vaccinating more people, Paul said the issue is vaccines are limited and that is why, prioritisation has been done.

"If we had unlimited supply, we would open the vaccination for everyone. That is the reason, not everyone, is getting vaccinated. Most countries in the world are not able to go beyond priority group because of this reason," he added.

Paul also said the highest mortality was seen among people with co-morbidities and older age groups.

"These people must not delay taking the vaccine. So the message is that they need it more than others. That is the reason they have been prioritised for getting the COVID-19 vaccine."

Over four crore people in the country have been vaccinated against the disease till now. Under the current phase of the inoculation drive, people above 60 years of age and those in the 45-59 years age bracket with co-morbidities, are being vaccinated.

In a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus in Ahmedabad, one of the cities in Gujarat where the cases are rising, the civic body said it has decided to once again launch its drive to screen the virus 'super-spreaders'.

'Super-spreaders' are those people, who are likely to spread the infection to a large number of people.

People such as vegetable vendors, medicine store owners, grocers, auto-rickshaw drivers, saloon owners, and masons will have to obtain identity cards after getting themselves tested for the virus across 18 urban health centres in the city, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said.

They will be screened through rapid antigen tests and issued COVID-19 negative identity cards, the civic body said in a release.

Apart from them, food delivery boys and those working in supermarkets will have to get their RT-PCR test done.

With Tamil Nadu witnessing a sudden surge in coronavirus cases over the last few days, the state government ordered the closure of schools for classes 9, 10 and 11 from March 22 until further orders.

However, they would continue to function for the 12th standard students for they have to take the board examinations.

Also Read: WhatsApp was down for 50 minutes, development down in Bengal for 50 years: PM Modi's dig at Mamata

Also Read: Modi govt's vehicle scrappage policy: All you need to know

Also Read: 20 states implement ease of doing business reforms; get nod to borrow additional Rs 39,521 cr
New Delhi, March 20 : The bilateral meeting between Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Lloyd James Austin on Saturday focussed on defence cooperation, expanding military-to-military engagement across services, information sharing, cooperation in emerging sectors of defence, and mutual logistics support.

"We had a comprehensive and fruitful discussion with Secretary Austin and his delegation. We are keen to work together to realise the full potential of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," Singh said after the meeting.

Austin is on a three-day visit to India starting Friday. Upon arrival, he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Singh said that they reviewed the wide gamut of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.

"Acknowledging that we have in place the foundational agreements, LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA, we discussed steps to be taken to realise their full potential for mutual benefit," he said.

The minister pointed out that the recent Leaders' Summit of India, the US, Japan and Australia under the Quad framework emphasised on the resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

"We discussed the need for enhanced capacity building to address some of the non-traditional challenges such as oil spills and environmental disasters, drug trafficking, illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing and others," Singh said.

India is committed to further consolidate robust defence partnership with the US, the minister said.

After the meeting, Austin first expressed condolences for the tragic accident that killed an Indian Air Force pilot earlier this week.

"Our hearts go out to his family and friends. His death reminds us of the risks our brave service men and women take each day to defend our democracies, our people, and our way of life," Austin said.

The US Defence Secretary said that he had a productive discussion on a number of security issues which are important to both the countries.

"And at the top of my agenda, I wanted to convey the Biden-Harris administration's message of our strong commitment to our allies and partners," he said.

India, in particular, is an increasingly important partner amid today's rapidly shifting international dynamics, he said.

"I reaffirmed our commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defense partnership with India as a central pillar of our approach to the region. As the world faces a global pandemic and growing challenges to an open and stable international system, the US-India relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Austin said.

He added that Prime Minister Narendra has stated that India stands for "freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and adherence to international law".

"This is a resounding affirmation of our shared vision for regional security in the Indo-Pacific," he said.

"Our work today is grounded in our shared values and converging strategic interests. We discussed the opportunities to elevate the US-India Major Defence Partnership, which is a priority of the Biden-Harris administrationa, through regional security cooperation, military-to-military interactions, and defence trade," Austin said.

He also pointed out that both the countries are continuing to advance new areas of collaboration, including information sharing, logistics cooperation, Artificial Intelligence, and cooperation in new domains such as space and cyber.

"We also discussed engagement with like-minded partners through multilateral groupings such as the Quad and ASEAN. As the Indo-Pacific region faces acute transnational challenges, such as climate change, and challenges to a free and open regional order, cooperation among like-minded countries is imperative to secure our shared vision for the future.

"Despite today's challenging security environment, the partnership between the US and India -- the world's two largest democracies -- remains resilient and strong," he said.

Later in the day during a presser at the US Embassy in the national capital, Austin said that they never thought India and China were at the threshold of a war due to the tensions in Ladakh.

"India and US will continue to work with like-minded countries and that is the way to counter any challenge," he said.

Austin also said that he has discussed human rights issues with Indian Cabinet ministers.

India and the US share close defence cooperation with Washington authorising over $20 billion in defence sales to India.
Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk said on Saturday his company would be shut down if its cars were used to spy, his first comments on news that China's military has banned Teslas from its facilities. "There's a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information," Musk told a prominent Chinese forum during a virtual discussion, asserting that Tesla would be shut down if its vehicles spied in China or anywhere else.

Sources told Reuters on Friday that the Chinese military has banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes, citing security concerns over cameras installed on the vehicles. Those restrictions surfaced as the top Chinese and US diplomats were holding a contentious meeting in Alaska, the first such in-person interaction since US President Joe Biden took office in January.

Musk urged greater mutual trust between the world's two biggest economies, in his remarks to the China Development Forum, a high-level business gathering is hosted by a foundation under the State Council. He was holding an discussion panel with Xue Qikun, a Chinese scientist specialising in quantum physics who is now head of Southern University of Science and Technology.

In China, the world's biggest car market and a key battleground for electric vehicles, Tesla sold 147,445 vehicles last year. However, it is facing more competition this year from domestic rivals from Nio Inc to Geely.

Also read: China's Geely plans to launch premium EV brand to take on Tesla

Also read: Tata Motors says CEO-designate Marc Llistosella will not join company
Women in the Tara Tara district of Matuge, northern Mozambique, at a center for displaced people fleeing attacks in Cabo Delgado (AFP or licensors)

About 2,700 people have died since a conflict began in 2017 in Cabo Delgado, a province in north-eastern Mozambique. Almost 670,000 others have fled their homes and some 950,000 are facing famine.

By Linda Bordoni

The Cabo Delgado crisis is rooted in endemic poverty, corruption and political neglect that analysts say has provided fertile ground for recruitment and empowerment of a fundamentalist jihadi group known as Ansar al-Sunna.

Horrific accounts have emerged in the past days telling of children, as young as 11, being attacked and beheaded by the militants who have reportedly evolved from a radical Muslim sect and have links throughout east Africa.

According to humanitarian watchdogs and aid agencies cases of cholera and malaria are increasing among the more than 650 thousand displaced persons fleeing the armed attacks in the region. Camps have been abandoned and the drought makes the situation even more difficult.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that there are about 950,000 people "facing severe hunger" in northern Mozambique, a quarter of whom are children.

Appeals

Mozambiques Bishop Joao Carlos has appealed to the people of the southern African nation and to the international community to stand in solidarity with Cabo Delgados suffering population.



He is also calling for more awareness about the situation.

In December, Pope Francis conveyed his closeness to the people of Cabo Delgado as reports emerged of hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes due to violence.

According to recent statistics, some 670,000 people are now displaced inside Mozambique due to the conflict in Cabo Delgado. Thats almost seven times the number reported a year ago, pointing to a situation that has seriously deteriorated over the past 12 months, with the escalation of attacks on villages.

Climatic shocks

Cabo Delgado is also still reeling from consecutive climatic shocks, including 2019s Cyclone Kenneth, the strongest cyclone ever to hit the northern part of Mozambique, and massive floods in early 2020.
On Saturday, Mar. 20, The Korean Brand Research Institute released their March 2021 brand reputation rankings for individual male idols. From BTS Jimin, ASTRO Cha Eun Woo, SHINee Minho, and more, who do you think landed at No. 1?

What are the Brand Reputation Rankings?

The brand reputation rankings is an index created through the analysis of big data. It is used to find the online habits of consumers and see what influences brand consumption. By analyzing individual male idol's brand reputation index, it is possible to measure the positive and negative influence of a male idol on a brand, the media's interest in them, consumer's interest, and communication volume.

In order to analyze this month's individual male idol brand reputation rankings, the Korean Brand Research Institute analyzed 11,032,619 pieces of data concerning 653 individual male idols from Feb. 20 to Mar. 20.

The brand reputation index is determined from the participation index, media index, communication index, and community index. Compared to last month's 117,152,545 pieces of big data available, this month decreased by 5.83%.

BTS Jimin is the Most Popular Male Idol for March 2021

Sitting in the first place (again!) is BTS member Jimin with a brand reputation index of 6,488,864.

Jimin has a participation index of 671,545, a media index of 1,255,744, a community index of 2,261,571, and a communication index fo 2,300,003. Compared to his brand reputation index of 7.51 million in Feb. 2021, his index fell by 7.98%.

ASTRO Cha Eun Woo is the 2nd Most Popular Male Idol for March 2021

Trailing after BTS's Jimin is ASTRO member Cha Eun Woo with a brand reputation index of 5,978,646.

Cha Eun Woo has a participation index of 858,726, a media index of 1,374,392, a community index of 1,918,018, and a communication index of 1,827,509. Compared to his brand reputation index of 6.85 million in Feb. 2021, his index fell by 11.89.

SHINee Minho is the 3rd Most Popular Male Idol for March 2021

Coming in at third place is SHINee member Minho with a brand reputation index of 4,963,529.

Minho has a participation index of 772,481, a media index of 1,415,990, a community index of 1,518,002, and a communication index of 1,257,056. Compared to his brand reputation index of 1.54 million on Feb. 2021, his index rose by 221.41%.

BTS Jungkook is the 4th Most Popular Male Idol for March 2021

Fourth place went to BTS member Jungkook with a brand reputation index of 4,963,529.

Jungkook has a participation index of 358,173, a media index of 1,531,497, a community index of 1,223,178, and a communication index of 1,257,056.

Compared to his brand reputation index of 4.99 million on Feb. 2021, his index fell by 5.40%.

BTS's V is the 5th Most Popular Male Idol for March 2021

BTS member V snags fifth place with a brand reputation index of 3,978,560.

V has a participation index of 464,429, a media index of 1,083,844, a community index of 1,288,478, and a communication index 1,141,809. Compared to his brand reputation index of 5.32 million in Feb. 2021, his index fell by 25.39%.

These are the Top 50 Most Popular Male Idols for March 2021

1. BTS's Jimin

2. ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo

3. SHINee's Minho

4. BTS's Jungkook

5. BTS's V

6. BTS's Suga

7. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

8. EXO's Chanyeol

9. BTS's Jin

10. BTS's RM

11. BTS's J-Hope

12. SHINee's Taemin

13. SEVENTEEN's Mingyu

14. SHINee's Onew

15. Super Junior's Heechul

16. EXO's Kai

17. EXO's Baekhyun

18. Super Junior's Kyuhyun

19. DRIPPIN's Cha Junho

20. NCT's Jaehyun

21. DRIPPIN's Hwang Yunseong

22. NCT's Doyoung

23. Super Junior's Eunhyuk

24. Ciipher's Hyunbin

25. DRIPPIN's Joo Changuk

26. MONSTA X's Kihyun

27. NCT's Jungwoo

28. ONF's Hyojin

29. Super Junior's Leeteuk

30. Ciipher Tan

31. THE BOYZ's Hyunjae

32. THE BOYZ's Juyeon

33. AB6IX's Park Woojin

34. NCT's Haechan

35. Ciipher's Keita

36. MONTA X's I.M

37. ONF's MK

38. ONF's E-Tion

39. AB6IX's Lee Daehwi

40. ONF's J-US

41. AB6IX's Kim Donghyun

42. TXT's Soobin

43. Shinhwa's Eric

44. TXT's Beomgyu

45. ONF's Wyatt

46. Ciipher's Tag

47. ONF's U

48. TREASURE's Jihoon

49. THE BOY's Sunwoo

50. Shinhwa's Junjin

Did your favorite male idol make this month's top 50? Tell us in the comments!

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Alexa Lewis
The Queen is to appoint a diversity tsar to modernise the Monarchy, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Sources say the proposed move is an acknowledgment that 'more needs to be done' to champion minorities' rights and follows the explosive claims made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of institutional racism.

As part of a major drive encompassing Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, aides will undertake a 'listen and learn' exercise over the coming weeks which will involve speaking to a range of businesses and individuals about how the Monarchy can improve representation.

Plans seen by this newspaper detail how the Palace will 'seek independent views' to help assess and improve the approach to diversity  including ethnic minorities, the disabled and the gay and trans communities.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey

William was angry at Harry and Meghan's 'insulting and disrespectful' response to Queen Prince William was furious that Harry and Meghan 'insulted' the Queen with a 'disrespectful' response to her ban on them using the word 'royal' in future ventures, allies revealed last night. The Duke of Cambridge's rift with his brother is said to have soured even further when the Sussexes 'blindsided' Her Majesty with a terse statement hitting back at the Palace last year. In a post on their SussexRoyal website the couple wrote 'there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy... over the use of the word "Royal" overseas'. The curt phrasing, issued as courtiers haggled over the Sussexes new settlement away from frontline duties, crossed a line for William, who felt it a slap-down to the Queen. 'That was it for William, he felt they'd blindsided the Queen in such an insulting and disrespectful way,' a source close to the Prince told The Sunday Times. The tension was palpable during the brothers' last public engagement together, at a Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey, and the SussexRoyal statement was still at the front of William's mind, friends said. Advertisement

The potential recruitment of a diversity chief to champion reform is also set out.

A Royal source said: 'This is an issue which has been taken very seriously across the Households.

'We have the policies, procedures and programmes in place but we haven't seen the progress we would like and accept more needs to be done. We can always improve.

'We are not afraid to look at new ways of approaching it. The work to do this has been under way for some time now and comes with the full support of the family.'

The project has been given fresh impetus as Harry and Meghan appear to step up their battle with the Royal Family over racism.

In their interview with Oprah Winfrey, they claimed a family member asked how dark their son Archie's skin might be  although their accounts differed as to whether the alleged comment was made before or during pregnancy.

Ms Winfrey responded: 'Because they were concerned that if he were too brown, that that would be a problem? Are you saying that?'

Meghan replied: 'I wasn't able to follow up with why, but if that's the assumption you're making, I think that feels like a pretty safe one.'

Prince Harry said racism had been a major factor in the couple's decision to move to California.

Ms Winfrey later conveyed that the alleged comment had not been made by either the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.

In a statement two days after the initial broadcast on the US TV network CBS, Buckingham Palace insisted it took the couple's claims  particularly on race  'very seriously', but pointedly added that 'recollections may vary', suggesting some allegations are disputed.

Prince William said later: 'We are very much not a racist family.' But The Mail on Sunday understands the issue of racism continues to sour the relationship between Harry, his father and his brother  and was the reason Gayle King, a US chat-show host and friend of Harry and Meghan, last week described recent phone calls between them as 'not productive'.

It is understood that the Sussexes feel that while disputed allegations of bullying made against Meghan are the subject of an independent review ordered by the Palace, the claims of racism aren't under formal investigation.

The Queen is to appoint a diversity tsar to modernise the Monarchy as part of a major drive encompassing Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attending the Commonwealth Day Service 2020

In an intervention criticised for reigniting the furore, Miss King last week said the Duchess has 'documents to back up everything she said', adding: 'It's frustrating for them to see that it's a racial conversation about the Royal Family when all they wanted all along was for the Royals to intervene and tell the Press to stop with the unfair, inaccurate, false stories that definitely have a racial slant.'

Palace insiders emphasise the Royal Family's strong track record of celebrating diversity, particularly through their support of hundreds of charities in Britain and throughout the Commonwealth.

Prince Charles has even faced criticism for championing diversity.

In 1994, there were critical headlines after he said he wanted to be 'Defender of Faith' rather than 'Defender of the Faith' when he ascends the throne and becomes head of the Church of England.

Prince William has repeatedly spoken out against racism, backing high-profile campaigns including those run by the FA.

The Queen is not a puppet! Her Majesty has never been more in charge or more ready to be ruthless after Harry and Meghan's claim that 'men in suits' run the monarchy

In the refined environment of Windsor Castle, a calmness is slowly being re-established following the tremors of that Oprah Winfrey interview.

When not at her desk working, the Queen is said to enjoy playing cards with her lady-in-waiting.

There is a sense of order, not panic, a source says. After all, there are more pressing national matters than the Sussexes salvo of woes.

Worries about the global pandemic and financial earthquake apart, the Queen was greatly relieved to welcome home her husband after four weeks of hospital treatment.

Prince Philip, less than 100 days shy of his 100th birthday, is said to be in good spirits. Yet for all the outward calm, something profound has changed at Windsor  and decisively so.

Lawyers draft bully probe questions A law firm brought in by Buckingham Palace to review the handling of claims that the Duchess of Sussex bullied staff is drafting questions to be sent to current and former employees. The allegations  angrily denied by the Duchess were made in October 2018 when Jason Knauf, then Meghan and Harry's communications secretary, detailed his concerns in an email to Simon Case, then the Duke of Cambridge's private secretary. In the email, published this month by The Times, Mr Knauf wrote: 'I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household The treatment of [X, name redacted] was totally unacceptable The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying [Y] and seeking to undermine her confidence.' A spokesman for the Sussexes said the couple were victims of a calculated smear campaign, adding that the Duchess was 'saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself'. An independent law firm is assessing if 'lessons can be learnt' from the handling of the original complaint with aides past and present invited to contribute. A Palace spokesman declined to comment, but a source said the public should not expect 'a running commentary' on the inquiry, which is unlikely to conclude until next year. Advertisement

Throughout her 69 years on the throne, the Queen has been the soul of discretion when it comes to her private thoughts and opinions. Aside from a love of dogs and horses, her feelings have largely remained a secret. But a little less so now.

For these are extraordinary times for the Royal Family. In response to Harry and Meghans incendiary and hurtful accusations  addressed to a global TV audience of millions  the Queen has responded with a show of force.

She has made it as clear as possible that she, and she alone, remains in charge. Such leadership is vital. The Sussexes claims are not just hurtful, they are dangerous to the image of the Windsors and of Britain as a country.

At best, our Monarchy was branded stuffy and staid. At worst, cruel and racist. The storm clouds from the Sussexes Californian home have been brewing for some time.

And ever since then, weve seen the hand and the mind of the Queen more than ever. Take, for example, the uncompromising way in which Harry was stripped of his honours and patronages, the couple banned from carrying out engagements on behalf of the Queen, and from using their HRH titles to further their financial interests.

No longer were the Queens views judiciously concealed. She was unhappy and acted swiftly. The Queen let it be known that she was not only disappointed but also hurt.

Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that Her Majestys reaction to the Sussexes behaviour has revealed more about her decision-making than at any time in her reign so far  apart, perhaps, from the days following Princess Dianas death.

For the Sussexes victim statements to Oprah Winfrey were not merely unexpected in their severity but they destabilised the Royal machine. Prince Charles had been targeted. William had been criticised. His wife had been given a verbal mauling.

With the Royal Family under siege from Harrys Hollywood howitzers  so blatant that one Royal watcher described them as tantamount to treason  retribution had to be sharp and very public.

Of course, this doesnt mean there is no love between the divided Royals. There still is. But with the love there is also deep sadness and a sense of grief. Particularly over the Sussexes not-even veiled allegations of racism.

It has been firmly made clear on behalf of the Queen and her staff that the Royal Family disagrees in the strongest terms with their version of events. A statement, noticeable for its brevity, said that while recollections may vary, the Sussexes concerns were being taken very seriously.

The interview was tantamount to treason... the retribution had to be sharp

Sources say this statement had the full backing of both Prince Charles and Prince William. Meanwhile, at Buckingham Palace, an inquiry  or a review as aides euphemistically prefer to call it  has been launched after an email emerged showing a complaint had been made about the Duchess of Sussexs unacceptable and bullying behaviour towards staff when she lived at Kensington Palace.

Meghan denies the claim and her lawyers have dismissed it as a smear campaign. While it is the Royal Familys duty to remain calm, the tense mood in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle has been noted below stairs, with Palace servants unsettled by the family ructions and allegations against loyal staff.

As one insider said: The place feels like a crumbling mansion  with no one in charge of the housekeeping. With the institution of the Monarchy under attack from 24-hour US news channels, there has been bombshell after bombshell.

The days following the Oprah interview have seen a running commentary on the Sussexes gripes from Meghans friend, Gayle King, the CBS TV anchor. King told millions of viewers on Wednesday that the conciliatory phone calls from the Prince of Wales and Prince William to Harry in the aftermath of the interview were not productive.

It is hard to understand exactly what the Sussexes friends think the couple might gain from all of this. After all, any future phone calls are hardly likely to be more productive if Charles and William fear that details of their conversations  perhaps even verbatim quotes  will be broadcast on prime-time TV within moments of hanging up.

And how must they have felt to learn that part of the deal to screen the Oprah interview involved an agreement that it would be pulled from the schedules in the sad event of Prince Philips death.

Perhaps this is considered good PR in California. In Windsor, they are simply baffled. They are also concerned by one particularly dangerous accusation that has, so far, been little-noticed.

This was the insinuation by the Sussexes to Oprah that there is some sort of distinction between the Queen  whom they have been at pains to say is blameless  and the institution of Monarchy itself.

Just two days before the couple announced that they were to step down as working Royals, Harry discovered that despite an earlier invitation to visit the Queen at Sandringham, he was stopped from going.

We asked if we could come to see her, Meghan told Oprah. Yeah, said Harry. Come up to Sandringham. Love to have a chat. Come for tea. Why dont you stay for dinner? Its going to be a long drive and youre gonna be exhausted. Wed love that.

Her Majesty can do what she chooses - there is no sinister organisation

The moment we landed in the UK, I got a message from the Queens private secretary basically saying, please pass along to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that he cannot come to Norfolk. The Queen is busy. Shes busy all week.

While not blaming his grandmother personally, he claimed the Queen had received really bad advice from courtiers  the men in grey suits, as Meghan is said to have described them.

Harry suggested this was a snub and the implication was that the Queen had no free will and was dictated to by courtiers. Incredulous at the idea that Her Majestys aides, not her, were calling the shots, Oprah asked: Doesnt the Queen get to do what the Queen wants to do? Harry replied: No. When youre head of The Firm, there are people around you that give you advice.

What has also made me really sad is some of that advice has been really bad. No wonder Palace aides are so furious. To try to separate the Monarch from the Monarchy strikes at everything the Royal Family stands for. One source said: Her Majesty can do  and does do  what she chooses.

The Queen is not some sort of puppet. The Queen is the Monarch. The head of the Monarchy. The head of the Royal Family. Her Majesty is the institution. Its not run by a sinister organisation, which is what the Sussexes seemed to be suggesting. The Sussexes went out of their way during their Oprah interview not to criticise the Queen personally.

Indeed, they repeatedly told warm anecdotes about her. Cynics have suggested that this may have been because they were well aware how their popularity had plummeted in Britain and how much further it would fall if they disrespected the Queen. Regardless, the damage had been done.

It didnt help either that they had already said  in what was seen as a challenge to a staid, unreformed Monarchy  that they themselves would carve out a progressive new role within this institution.

Interestingly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, the episode has given renewed prominence to Prince William, who has played an important role in helping the Palace hold the line.

Like the Queen, his response has been deeply personal. As a future King, he could hardly keep silent when asked about the racism allegations, replying during a visit to a London school: We are very much not a racist family.

Those who have worked with both William and his father say that William is more likely to address something head-on. Charles feels deeply but by nature avoids confrontation. William is increasingly acting as The Firms gatekeeper  a role previously performed by Prince Philip.

Royal biographer Robert Lacey describes the task as Royal bouncer  a much grander version of a nightclub doorman keeping trouble at bay.

William is now the Royal Family bouncer keeping any trouble at bay

William was said to be incandescent that his wife was dragged into the firing line during the Oprah interview and that his subsequent phone call with Harry was leaked and then reported on American television in such a vulgar way.

Confrontation with his younger brother is not something William is fond of, but nor is it something from which he shies away. His bouncer duties are bound to increase, with Charles having less of a stomach for the fight and the Duke of Edinburgh having retired from the fray.

Incidentally, a well-placed source has told The Mail on Sunday that the ever-practical Philip has long made his future wishes clear. When the time comes  which all hope will be some way off  there should be a no-fuss funeral.

One source said: Philip has told the Queen that he should just be driven off to the Chapel in Windsor in the back of a Land Rover. No fanfare. No fuss. There is likely to be plenty more fuss emanating from the Sussexes 11 million Montecito mansion, however.

But Her Majesty, a dedicated card player, knows the rules of patience  and will not allow Harry and Meghan to derail the Monarchy she has worked so hard to maintain.
A group of parents filed action against the Boston School Committee and is seeking immediate injunctive relief for Asian and white school children seeking admission to the citys three exam schools, claiming the new zip code policy is discriminatory against certain racial and economic groups.

The Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence (BPCAE) filed action in late February against the School Committee and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. The parents involved are seeking relief which would prohibit the School Committee from implementing its new zip code quota admission plan.

According to BPCAE, the new admission policy limits the number of children from certain predominantly Asian and other zip codes for admission to the exam schools for school year 2021-2022.

The three exam schools include Boston Latin Academy, Boston Latin School and the John D. OBryant School of Science and Math.

BPCAE is a group of Boston parents organized as 501-c4 corporation in November 2020 in response to the new zip code quota admissions policy. The plaintiffs comprise 14 sixth-grade students who reside in Boston zip codes that have been allocated fewer seats at the exam schools because of the racial demographics of their home zip codes, said BCPAE in a statement.

By using zip codes to suppress the number of children from certain racial backgrounds gaining admission to the exam schools, plaintiffs argue that their right to equal protection under the law, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, has been violated, said BPCAE in a statement.

The new zip code quota admission policy was recommended by Cassellius and was supported publicly by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, most members of the City Council and was approved unanimously by Bostons appointed School Committee at a public meeting on October 21, 2020, according to BPCAE.

In its lawsuit, BPCAE argues that the zip code policy is, Purposefully used here as a proxy for race and ethnicity. By depriving some school children of educational opportunity, based on their race or ethnicity, defendants do great harm, not only to the children they seek to exclude, but also to the Boston exam schools, which they would use as the instruments of their discrimination; to the City of Boston; and to the principle of equal protection.

The Boston School Committee organized an Exam School Task Force to engage families and seek feedback on the zip code admissions policy.

As a task force, we wanted to be very intentional about starting this process with listening sessions, said Exam School Task Force Co-Chair Tanisha Sullivan. We spend our time really listening and hearing our Boston community, our Boston families, our Boston stakeholders about our exam schools admissions process.

While proponents of the zip code quota say the policy may aid in flattening the curve for underprivileged students in low-income areas to have guaranteed seats in exam schools - while promoting equity and diversity - the policys opponents claim it takes away opportunities for equal, merit-based competition.

Leia Wu, a Boston Public Schools parent, said the School Committee should have students take an exam to qualify for admittance to the three schools. The old system, she said, allows for a fair chance and keeps the standard cohesive across the district.

Even though students will gain admission to the exam schools through zip codes, it doesnt mean they can keep the standard academically in those schools, Wu said. Even if the kids get admission because of the zip code system, they might not be able to do as well in school. It can be difficult for them and the student that didnt get admission because of the zip code system, its very unfair to them even though their academic level is good.

Boston Public Schools Parent Jodie Chan agreed, adding that Asian American families want fairness and equity as well. The academic exam is an example of fairness and competition and has nothing to do with racial problems, she said.

Parents opposing the zip code admissions policy claimed that by speaking out they are misconceived as being anti-equity. Opponents argued families can be in favor of equitable solutions and not agree with basing admission off of location and income.

Chan also noted there should be better quality resources in place for all schools at all levels in the Boston system. If a student does not gain admission to an exam school through testing, Chain said, building up the quality in other schools will provide an equally strong education.

If all the kids are not as competitive and dont do as well to get into these exam schools, in other schools they can still get a very good education because they have increased resources in all other schools as well, said Chan, who has a fourth grade son in Boston Public Schools.

Boston Public School graduates, including Sarah Granfield, said they support the goals of diversity within and equitable access to the exam schools, however, the zip code quota is a poorly devised plan that will only exacerbate inequities related to wealth within neighborhoods.

If the premise of the proposed zip code quota is true - that wealth is a highly determinative factor in exam school admissions - then it must follow that even with no exam, children and families with greater economic needs will continue to have advantages that maximize their admission to exam schools, Granfield said.

Granfield noted the result will be that low-income students in many neighborhoods will face drastically reduced odds at exam school admission. She noted communities like Charlestown, which has significant economic diversity, will see a large reduction in seats.

The impact will be felt by all low-income students in all neighborhoods in which there will be a manufactured reduction in seats Granfield added.

I urge the working group and School Committee to focus on paths to equity that are not intentionally discriminatory to students based on where they live and how much their neighbors earn, Granfield stated. Where is the working groups task of creating enough good high schools to meet the demand of all the students who are both capable and deserving of an exam school caliber education?

Amid the lawsuit, some parents are turning to private and Catholic schools for their students to attend, including Sacred Heart STEM School in Roslindale and St Johns North End. The two schools did not return calls for comment.

Joy McDonald says her son was granted admission to Boston Latin Academy two years ago, however, she chose not to send him there because she did not think the school was the right fit for his learning style. However, she noted her sixth-grade daughter has been working hard for years to get into one of the exam schools.

She is a hard worker, self-motivated, gifted student who should not be discriminated against based on her zip code or her race, McDonald said.

Fixing the pipeline to these exam schools at the elementary level was a common solution advocated by opponents to the zip code quota. McDonald and others are urging School Committee members to fix our failing elementary schools and give students the education they need to succeed, especially those who are underprivileged.

The solution is not to tear down the system from the top, but to fix the problems building early on in a Boston Public Schools students career, said McDonald, who noted this starts with fixing the citys non-exam schools.

We need more good high schools in Boston, not exam schools, just regular high schools for kids like my son, McDonald said. But we cannot discriminate against students based on their zip code or race or hide the districts failure to prepare students at an elementary level.

Students deserve a transparent, unbiased admissions policy.
English Lithuanian

Draft resolutions to the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Panevezio statybos trestas AB to be convened at 10:00 on Friday, 9 April 2021 at the registered office of the company at P. Puzino Str. 1, Panevezys, are as follows:

1. Withdrawal of the Board members.

To withdraw the Board of the Company (in corpore) before the end of the term and elect the new Board.

2. Election of the Board members.

To elect for the term of 4 (four) years the following members of the Board of Panevezio statybos trestas AB:

Gvidas Drobuzas (born in 1963)  a businessman since 1989, a member of the Supervisory Board at Panevezio keliai AB.

Vaidas Grincevicius (born in 1980) (as an independent member of the Board)  educational background: Vilnius University, Master in Management and Business Administration. Participation in activities of other companies: LitBAN  a member of the Lithuanian Business Angel Network, a venture capital investor, SIQOR industries UAB  the Chairman.

Justas Jasiunas (born in 1982)  educational background: Mykolas Romeris University, Master in Law. Participation in activities of other companies: Panevezio keliai AB  a member of the Board, Aliuminio fasadai UAB  the Chairman, Vekada UAB  the Chairman, Skydmedis UAB  a member of the Board, Kingsbud Sp. z o. o.  the Chairman.

Kristina Maciuliene (born in 1978)  educational background: Kaunas University of Technology, Bachelor in Business Administration, Lithuanian University of Law, Master in Law. Participation in activities of other companies: Panevezio keliai AB  a member of the Board, Skydmedis UAB  the Chairman, Hustal UAB  the Chairman, Metalo meistrai UAB  a member of the Board, Vekada UAB - a member of the Board, PST investicijos UAB  a member of the Board.

Lina Simaskiene (born in 1968) (as an independent member of the Board)  educational background: Kaunas University of Technology, Engineer-Economist.





Egidijus Urbonas

Managing Director

Panevezio statybos trestas AB

Information

Tel.: (+370 45) 505 503




Millions in New South Wales will endure a 'major, prolonged weather event' as hundreds of homes are evacuated during record rainfall, Gladys Berejiklian has warned.

The NSW premier staged an emergency press conference on Saturday afternoon to beg families to stay at home, warning the rain wouldn't stop until Thursday or Friday.

'The last time we got major floods in the NSW the weather event passed in two or three days, unfortunately, this will be a deep-seated, extreme weather event,' she said.

'This is an event that will not be going away in the next few days.'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned the disastrous weather in the state will not be going away anytime soon (pictured house floating down Manning River)

The extreme weather has battered Sydney with unabated rain for hours (pictured, the city on Saturday)

As the state continues to be lashed with endless rain, the SES has responded to more than 4000 calls for help including 500 flood rescues.

BoM had issued a severe weather warning on Saturday morning covering an area from the mid-north coast to the far south coast of NSW as well as Canberra.

The state premier said the 'unexpected mini-tornado' in Chester Hill, in Sydney's west, had created a path of destruction in the area and left several homes damaged.

Shocking photos show upturned trampolines stuck to the side of houses while others had their backyard fences completely ripped out.

Ms Berejiklian urged residents across the state the best thing to do was to stay at home.

'Regrettably this will be a prolonged event, none of us are out of the woods while the storm front is moving south,' she said.

As the state continues to be lashed with endless rain, the SES has responded to more than 4000 calls for help including 500 flood rescues (pictured Port Macquarie)

Homes have been damaged in Chester Hill after a 'mini tornado' tore through the area

Sydney's Warragamba dam is already spilling, with days more rain ahead.

'Everybody else who isn't living in directly impacted areas, don't move around unless you have to... whatever you do, do not drive through those floods, make sure you put safety first, it is not the time to be out and about.'

The premier said nine evacuation centres had been set up across the state as hundreds are told to leave their homes in what 'won't be an easy week'.

People living on the mid-north coast, in the Hunter and Central Coast regions, in metropolitan Sydney, and in the catchment of Sydney's Warragamba Dam, must be on high alert, she says.

Some Sydneysiders braved the wild weather on Saturday (pictured) which saw streets flood

Two men sit on a park bench in a flooded park at Port Stephens, NSW on Saturday

A road has been washed away in Port Stephens after the area was battered with severe rainfall

Situation reports due by Saturday evening will determine which communities will be ordered to leave their homes.

'Make sure if you are asked to evacuate you do so immediately. The window for evacuation is not a big one depending on where you live. Some communities already have been advised to stock up and stay home,' Ms Berejiklian said.

Sydney's Warragamba dam is already spilling, with days more rain ahead. Even after the rain stops the water in the system means pressure on that dam will not ease for some time.

The premier said she had been briefed on the dam situation 'in relation to a potential for a one and five year, one in 10 year, or one in 20 year event'.

'All three scenarios being planned for.'

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) warned the wild weather wouldn't ease until Thursday at the earliest

Sydneysiders are being told the best activity for the weekend is to stay at home to avoid rescue call-outs (pictured, SES volunteers in Penrith)

Heartbreaking footage and photos have circulated over Saturday including a harrowing video of a young couple's home floating down the Manning River in Taree.

The bureau had earlier warned of intense rainfall 'potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding' and damaging winds averaging 60-70km/h with gusts exceeding 90km/h.

Record breaking rainfall was seen in areas on the mid-north coast such as in Kendall with the town recording more than 400mm of rain, meanwhile up to 300mm is expected in the lower Blue Mountains region.

Sydneysiders are being told the best activity for the weekend is to stay at home.

'This will be the difference between what could seem like inconvenient rain, to actually something that might be quite dangerous and threatening,' Agata Imielska from the BoM told the ABC.

'It is really important for Sydneysiders to be mindful about reconsidering their plans.'
Much as military or terrorist attacks have inspired untold numbers of Americans to join the armed forces in defense of the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has inspired many thousands of Americans to enter public health fields.

According to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, applications for masters and doctoral programs increased by 23% from fall 2019 to fall 2020. The association also said that the increase will be even greater in the current application cycle.

This has really thrust public health into the spotlight like weve never seen before, Darleen Peterson, associate dean for academic affairs at Claremont Graduate Universitys School of Community and Global Health in Claremont, California, told the online medical news site STAT. The school has experienced a 66% increase in applicants for its masters in public health program.

Some public health officials attribute the surge to what they call the Fauci effect, for the ubiquitous Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Another major contributor, some school officials said, is that young people interested in social justice see public health as a vehicle to improve lives.

Brown Universitys public health school reported that applications for its master of public health program had jumped 116% from last year, and were up 187% among Black candidates and 137% among Latino candidates.

Whatever the reasons for the surge, its crucial that federal, state and local governments match the applicants zeal. COVID-19 has exposed the sweeping inadequacy of the nations public health infrastructure, yet a year into the crisis there is no plan in place to improve it.

The nation needs to vastly improve that infrastructure. In addition to the obvious need to head off another pandemic, it would be a shame to waste all of the young talent that wants to help.
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Tesla cars might be hot sellers in China, but don't tell that to the country's government. Reuters and Bloomberg sources say the Chinese military has banned Tesla vehicles from its military facilities over fears the EVs' cameras pose a security risk. While the drivers themselves won't be in trouble, they'll have to park outside the premises.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that China was limiting use of Tesla cars by employees in both the military and "key state-owned companies." It told some agencies to ask staff to stop driving their cars to work, and to avoid driving into housing compounds for families of people working in sensitive fields.

The concern, as you might guess, is that a spy might use the bevy of cameras on a vehicle like the Model Y to detail the facilities and their activity. The Dashcam feature records up to 10 minutes of video from the front, and there's a one-hour looping buffer of footage. Sentry Mode, meanwhile, will record incidents around the car starting 10 minutes before they took place. Newer vehicles like the Y and Model 3 also have a driver-facing interior camera. While it's not quite around-the-clock recording, it's theoretically possible to map a base or capture troop movements.

Tesla has so far declined to officially comment apart from telling the WSJ that its privacy policies complied with Chinese laws and regulations. However, company chief Elon Musk denied the allegations in a virtual forum. Tesla would "get shut down" if it used cars for spying in China or any other country, Musk said, adding that there was motivation to keep data confidential.

Whether or not the claims are merited, they may serve a political role. China is still frustrated that the US has labeled Huawei and other companies as security threats. Restrictions on Tesla cars could serve a form of retaliation, especially with Chinese and American officials engaging in tense discussions.
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Australia Post has nabbed 108 parcels containing drugs such as LSD, steroids, cocaine and cash in a two-day period.

The operation from Joint Taskforce Icarus by Victoria Police targeted criminals using the postal service to traffic drugs from March 17 to 18.

Police said they found 3.2kg of cannabis, 45g of cocaine, 265 LSD stamps, and 480mls and 485 tabs of steroids.

Australia Post has nabbed 108 parcels containing drugs such as LSD, steroids, cocaine and cash in a two-day period (Stock)

The operation from Joint Taskforce Icarus by Victoria Police targeted criminals using the postal service to traffic drugs from March 17 to 18 (Stock)

Police said they found 3.2kg of cannabis, 45g of cocaine, 265 LSD stamps, and 480mls and 485 tabs of steroids (Stock)

79g of methylamphetamine, 200ml of GHB, prescription drugs and a large quantity of cash was also seized, police alleged.

'Anyone considering the domestic mail service as an option for trafficking drugs should think again and these results really demonstrate that,' said Detective Inspector Craig Darlow.

The operation was a joint effort between Victoria Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police and the Department of Home Affairs.

Mr Darlow specifically commended Australia Post for its efforts during the drug bust.

'The ongoing support of Australia Post to law enforcement in combatting the transporting of drugs in the mail is outstanding,' he said.

'Anyone considering the domestic mail service as an option for trafficking drugs should think again and these results really demonstrate that.'
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
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Britain was last night on the brink of a vaccine war with the EU  as the UK smashed its record for the number of daily inoculations.

In a dramatic move, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen threatened to join forces with the French and German governments to hold hostage more than 19 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to be shipped to the UK over the coming weeks.

The extraordinary development came as the EU faced criticism over the glacial speed of its vaccination programme and many of its members were plunged into fresh lockdowns as Covid-19 cases soared.

Meanwhile, the UK delivered 711,156 jabs in 24 hours  a new record that means more than half of all adults have had at least one vaccine dose.

Boris Johnson hailed the success by tweeting: 'Many thanks to everyone involved in this fantastic achievement. Let's keep going!'

It comes as the Government began working on plans to move the majority of the UK's coronavirus vaccine production onshore to make Britain more self-sufficient, the Telegraph reported.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is understood to have held talks with Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, about how to speed up production in the UK - and reduce the risk of other nations disrupting the rollout.

An insider said: 'There is a lot of domestic production already. We are always looking at ways we can increase vaccine production in the UK. The Government is looking at ways vaccine supplies can be increased all the time.'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has threatened to join forces with the French and German governments to hold hostage more than 19 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to be shipped to the UK over the coming weeks

Brussels claims AstraZeneca has delivered only a third of the 90 million vaccine doses that it promised to the EU during the first quarter of this year, but has met its contract to supply the UK in full.

An irate Ms von der Leyen said the bloc reserved the right to hit back by banning the export of batches made by the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant to the UK. They account for around 20 per cent of Britain's future supplies.

The explosive plan will be discussed at a European Council summit on Thursday, but already has the backing of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But a senior British Government official last night warned any such move would be illegal. 'The reality is our contract with AstraZeneca is rock-solid and better than the EU's,' said the official. 'And we're only getting what we helped to develop and paid for.'

The EU's disastrous vaccine rollout means barely 12 per cent of adults in France, Germany and Italy have so far had jabs. Swathes of Europe are now in lockdown, with almost three-quarters of the EU's 27 member states suffering spiralling Covid-19 infection rates.

In contrast, the number of first dose vaccinations delivered in the UK soared to a total of 26,853,407  51 per cent of all UK adults  with 2,132,551 people having had second jabs.

Britain's reliance on imports is also set to be reduced as an Oxford factory able to produce up to 70 million doses in under six months is ready to open a year ahead of schedule.

The dire situation in Europe has put the summer holiday hopes of millions of Britons into doubt.

Government scientists fear travellers could bring the mutant South African strain into the UK while Health Secretary Matt Hancock has privately confided his growing pessimism about foreign trips resuming after May 17, the earliest date on the Prime Minister's roadmap out of lockdown.

In other developments yesterday:

lPositive Covid tests fell 7.5 per cent over the past seven days to 5,587 a day; hospital admissions fell 23 per cent to 496 and deaths dropped by 36.9 per cent to 96, the first Saturday with under 100 fatalities since October;

lPlans for 'Alfresco April' gathered pace with Marston's brewery saying 700 of its pubs would open on April 12.

lExperts predicted a 11.5 billion wedding bonanza once restrictions eased, while some hairdressers reporting full appointment books until early summer;

lJapan announced that in a 'great sacrifice', international fans would be barred from attending the Tokyo Olympics later this year;

lA Mail on Sunday investigation has named super-rich tycoons  including heirs to the Gucci fashion and Graff diamond fortunes  whose firms have used the taxpayer-funded furlough scheme to pay staff;

lThousands of anti-lockdown protesters marched through London with police making at least 13 arrests.

The renewed threat from Ms von der Leyen came in an interview with the German media group Funke. She admitted discussing the 'option of banning a planned export', adding: 'That's the message to AstraZeneca: you fulfil your contract with Europe first before you start supplying to other countries.

'We have received nothing from the British, while we are supplying them with vaccines.'

Her hardline approach won support from France's European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune, who said: 'We need a principle of reciprocity: supply others if they supply us in accordance with signed contracts.' The position is also backed by Italy and Denmark, but opposed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Sweden and Ireland who fear the wider impact of a vaccine trade war.

Klaus Hinterding, deputy head of AstraZeneca Germany, said that the shortages were 'due to the complexity of the production process'. The active ingredient in the vaccine is made in Belgium and the Netherlands and placed into vials in Italy.

Brussels claims AstraZeneca has delivered only a third of the 90 million vaccine doses that it promised to the EU during the first quarter of this year, but has met its contract to supply the UK in full. Pictured: French President Emmanuel Macron

The EU's disastrous vaccine rollout means barely 12 per cent of adults in France, Germany and Italy have so far had jabs. Pictured: German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Pfizer warned the EU not to seek to block the movement of its supplies. A spokesman said: 'We have been clear with all stakeholders that the free movement of goods and supply across borders is absolutely critical to Pfizer and the patients we serve.'

The threat comes after several EU countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to fears that it might cause blood clots. The European Medical Agency regulator declared it 'safe and effective' on Thursday but France is still refusing to administer it to people under 55  having previously claimed it was not suitable for over-65s.

Professor Sir John Bell, the scientist who led work on the vaccine at Oxford, yesterday described France's decision as 'completely crackers'.

He and Kate Bingham, the UK vaccine tsar, also branded European leaders 'irresponsible' for 'undermining' public faith in the AstraZeneca vaccine.

NHS England figures show 79 per cent of over-55s in the country had at least one dose of the vaccine by March 14, but London is significantly lagging behind in uptake

Some 26.2million Britons have now received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, the equivalent of half the adult population in Britain, and 2million have received both injections

There are fears that European scare stories may dissuade people in Britain from getting vaccinated.

A Government source said No 10 was willing to sacrifice holidays abroad to protect domestic reopening. There had been hope that a roadmap for holidays, due to be released on April 12, would allow trips from May 17, but sources said Ministers were 'increasingly sceptical' about restrictions ending that month, with even early summer looking unlikely.

There are particular concerns about the spread of the South African variant in France, now estimated to account for about 5 per cent of cases. One Tory MP said: 'If it's got a hold in France, you can guarantee it will have a hold in the UK. The big question is, 'Could this new variant kill foreign holidays?' It's not about the variant coming from South Africa itself  it's the French connection.'

Downing Street is understood to be concerned about a repeat of last summer when tourists returning from Greece, Croatia and Spain are believed to have brought back a Covid variant.

Government adviser Dr Mike Tildesley told Radio 4's Today programme that the prospect of Britons taking foreign holidays this summer seemed 'extremely unlikely'.

Super-factory to make 70m Oxford jab doses in Britain The prospect of an EU blockade that may stop 19 million doses reaching the UK  on top of disruptions to vaccine supplies from India  comes as Britain prepares to become self-sufficient in vaccine supplies. Oxfords Vaccine Manufacturing Innovation Centre  set up in 2018 to promote, develop and accelerate the growth of the UK vaccine industry  is a super-factory on the brink of starting the production of more 70 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine over a four to six-month period. The pandemic triggered a huge boost in funding to the VMIC  up by 131 million to 196 million  in return for developing a plan to increase the amount of vaccine they could produce at their new factory from millions of doses to tens of millions and bringing the plants opening forward by a year. Dr Matthew Duchars, chief executive of the VMIC, based at Harwell Science & Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, said that it was equipped to modify the vaccines to take account of mutant variants. Dr Duchars said: New Covid variants are absolutely part of the thinking. We probably will need to make seasonal vaccine variants because there may well be mutations in the virus, as well as vaccines for other diseases. You never know whats coming next. Advertisement

EU pays price of jabs fiasco: Millions wake up to draconian new lockdowns as Kent variant sweeps across the continent

Almost three-quarters of EU countries are experiencing spiralling Covid infection rates, forcing vast swathes of the continent back into lockdown.

As a third wave sweeps across Europe, Britons were yesterday warned that foreign summer holidays are 'extremely unlikely'.

In France alone, 21 million people awoke yesterday to a fresh draconian lockdown. Millions more in Italy, Germany, Poland and Greece face severe restrictions.

Of the 27 EU member states, 20 have seen a surge in Covid cases in recent weeks. Fifteen have warned of a dramatic rise in intensive care admissions due to the virus.

Despite a ban on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine being largely lifted, there are fears that the suspension has slowed the EU's already snail-paced rollout

A government scientist has warned foreign trips are 'extremely unlikely' this summer as Europe struggles to control a surge in coronavirus cases. Pictured: Benidorm today

France recorded 35,000 new cases on Thursday, with intensive care occupancy up to 4,246  higher than in November. A quarter of those are in Paris where streets were eerily quiet this weekend, with non-essential shops forced to close for at least a month.

In Poland, most shops will be shut for the next three weeks along with hotels and cinemas. Similar measures have been introduced in Ukraine's capital Kiev.

Streets in Rome and Milan, where shops, restaurants and schools have been forced to close, were empty but roads in cities in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands were crammed with anti-lockdown protests, some of which became violent.

In Yerres, a town just outside the French capital, the mayor said he had instructed businesses to remain open, defying the 'totally incomprehensible' restrictions.

Despite a ban on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine being largely lifted, there are fears that the suspension has slowed the EU's already snail-paced rollout.

The European Commission has urged countries to step up vaccinations, with figures showing governments sitting on a stockpile of millions of unused doses.

Europe has 9.7 per cent of the global population, but last week accounted for 39.5 per cent of Covid cases. Estonia is currently the worst-hit country in the world with 1,130.12 cases per million people. By comparison, the UK has 79.55 per million.

New infections jumped 24 per cent across the bloc last week, with the Kent variant accounting for 75 per cent of new cases. There are also concerns over pockets of the South African strain, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against it.

Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new variants which are less susceptible to vaccines (pictured: A cyclist passes on the empty Grand Place of Lille, northern France today)

The surge in cases has dampened hopes of British holidaymakers jetting to the continent this summer. Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Spi-M modelling group which advises the Government, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday: 'I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.'

In Italy, where the R  or reproduction  rate has soared to 1.6, the target of vaccinating all over-80s by the end of the month looks likely to be missed.

New rules mean people in more than half of the country can only leave home for work, health or other essential reasons. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is now threatening that the country will adopt its own vaccine strategy, including assessing the Russian Sputnik jab, if the EU response does not improve.

In Spain, figures show tourist numbers fell 80 per cent to 19 million last year, the lowest since 1969. The country was one of those pushing hard for an EU vaccination certificate in a bid to stop a second lost holiday season.

In Greece, a fifth of the workforce have livelihoods linked to tourism. They had also been desperate to welcome back Britons over the summer, but the country has a rate of 220.1 daily cases per million.

UK scientists' fury at EU AstraZeneca scaremongering as Brussels stockpiles seven million doses of the Oxford jab amid fears it will cost British lives

A backlash against European scare stories about the AstraZeneca vaccine was gathering pace last night, with one Government expert describing the French Government's stance as 'crackers'.

Amid concern that Britons might be dissuaded from getting the jab following the reaction of EU leaders to exaggerated fears that it could cause blood clots in a tiny number of recipients, scientists and experts accused French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel of being 'completely irresponsible'.

France was among several EU countries that suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Despite the European Medicines Agency reiterating its confidence in the jab, its Government is still banning its use for those under 55.

Asked about France's approach, Sir John Bell, a member of the UK Government's vaccine taskforce, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It doesn't make any sense  the whole thing looks completely crackers. They are changing the rules almost every week.

Sir John Bell, a member of the UK Government's vaccine taskforce described France's approach as 'crackers'

'They are really damaging people's confidence in vaccines generally  not just the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'And they are sitting on a massive stockpile of vaccines that they haven't deployed yet and yet at the same time, they have got a massive wave of the new variant coming across the country. I mean, you couldn't make it up, could you?'

Prof Bell also played down 'very anecdotal' reports from Norway about blood clots and AstraZeneca, saying: 'If you want to die of a clot, you get Covid. That's the best way I can think of doing it.'

He also backed as 'bang on' the comments by former vaccines tsar Kate Bingham that the failure of Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel to back the vaccine had been 'completely irresponsible'.

Ms Bingham told The Daily Telegraph: 'If I was sitting in those countries, I would not be happy to have leaders that are undermining a vaccine that could actually protect... If you've got leaders basically saying, 'I'm not taking that vaccine', it's completely irresponsible.'

Dr Michael Head, senior lecturer in global public health at Southampton University, said the European suspensions had been 'a mistake' that needlessly compounded people's fears of vaccination. 'If you are stopping the rollout during a pandemic, you need a really, really good reason to do so,' he added.

'You can investigate without withdrawing the product altogether. It will have cost lives  through the sheer numbers of people left unprotected [by the stoppages] and the added impact of hesitancy.'

Experts have accused French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel of being 'completely irresponsible'

Johnny Heald, from the polling firm ORB International, which works on the Vaccine Confidence Project with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warned the scare's impact would not be limited to Europe.

'It will play right in the hands of those spreading disinformation about Western vaccines, right into the hands of the Russians and Chinese,' he said.

NHS bosses hope the scare will not significantly dent public confidence in Britain, but it does appear to have given waverers cause to think again. The Mail on Sunday found evidence that mixed messages from Europe were having an effect on some people in low take-up areas.

One woman in Newcastle, who declined to be named, said she would not be having the jab. 'It's a bit odd that all these countries in Europe suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine because they had concerns over side effects and deaths and then within a matter of a few days the vaccine is declared safe.'

Another woman in Hackney, East London, said: 'I'm supposed to be having my jab next week, but am still not 100 per cent sure. There's got to be a reason why other countries aren't happy about this jab.'

The scare began earlier this month when Austrian authorities raised concerns. A series of countries then suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite the EMA and WHO continuing to back the jab. Most countries did a U-turn on Friday after an EMA review concluded the vaccine 'is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thrombotic events or blood clots'.

Why does Ursula von Der Leyen seem to DISLIKE Britain so much? As a student she sought sanctuary in London from the Baader-Meinhof Gang. Now, 40 years on, a lot has changed...

It was the early hours and a young woman student had forgotten to shut her front door after returning to her West London flat.

Her clumsiness was such a regular occurrence that her landlady had attached a string of cowbells to the door as a reminder to close it.

What was much more noteworthy about this young German was that, back then in 1978, she was studying in London under an alias because of a kidnap threat from the Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang.

As the daughter of a wealthy German politician, she was a target of the notorious far-Left guerrilla group. Today, four decades on, the world is familiar with her clumsiness in a very different guise.

For the girl who loved the British punk band the Buzzcocks is none other than Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and today the face of a bid to sabotage Britain's vaccine supply.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, studied in London under an alias because of a kidnap threat from the Red Army Faction

In her London student days, according to a friend, she wore scruffy jeans and sweaters.

Now, the 62-year-old mother-of-seven has been described as having hair 'regally coiffed into a style reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher with a hint of Princess Diana'.

Considering her youthful enjoyment of the London scene, her aggressive tactics in the face of Britain's vaccine rollout success seem strange.

London was Ursula's sanctuary as the Red Army Faction, which had killed more than 30 people, made her and her aristocratic family a target.

The young Ursula was sent to England to lie low, with the alias Rose Ladson (a combination of her nickname as a child, 'Roschen', or 'Little rose', and her American great-grandmother's surname, Ladson).

Considering her youthful enjoyment of the London scene, her aggressive tactics in the face of Britain's vaccine rollout success seem strange

While studying at the London School of Economics, she mixed in the capital's punk scene and frequented Camden record shops and Soho bars.

'I lived more than I studied,' she once said. She was also 'a little bit lovesick', say friends, having left her boyfriend behind in Germany.

On a visit to the LSE last year, she said her time there had 'opened her eyes', adding: 'I got to know a warm, vibrant, colourful, multi-cultural society  the likes of which I'd never experienced before.'

In comparison, she said, Germany was 'rather monotonous'.

Ursula's ancestors made their fortune in the cotton trade.

Born in Belgium  where she attended the same school as Boris Johnson (although the pair never met), whose father was working in Brussels  her family moved to Germany when she was 13.

She and her five siblings performed songs written by their mother, Heidi, and were likened to a German von Trapp family. They released a single, Welcome To God's Beautiful World, in the year she took refuge in London.

Her father, the governor of the German state of Lower Saxony, was among the politicians targeted by the terrorists.

Ursula enrolled at the LSE when she was 20 with life in London being in stark contrast to the strict, Lutheran atmosphere of her childhood.

Britain, too, was undergoing political turmoil. Right-wing extremists from the National Front clashed with the Anti-Nazi League and the Winter of Discontent resulted in industrial unrest.

For her part, Ursula was able to live freely, despite the threat of kidnap. She stayed on the second floor of a house in Earl's Court with her maternal uncle, Erich Stromeyer.

The property was owned by a Polish woman whose son, Jacek Rostowski, went on to become the deputy prime minister of Poland.

'She would come back around 1am and 2am quite often. But she had the exasperating habit of leaving the door open,' Mr Rostowski told The Mail on Sunday.

'It seemed slightly incautious behaviour for someone being chased by the Baader-Meinhof Gang. The Greek cowbells were to remind her to close the door.'

Another contemporary said she often went to punk concerts and was 'fond of the Buzzcocks'.

At the time, the LSE was a hotbed of revolutionary Marxism. Just a few months before she enrolled, the student newspaper carried an editorial praising the actions of Baader-Meinhof.

BBC broadcaster Robert Elms, who wrote of LSE life in the late 1970s in The Way We Wore, recalled running a gauntlet of Maoists,

Trots and 'various far-Left lunatics proffering tracts and prophesying the imminent collapse of capitalism'.

Elms said he has no recollection of meeting the young Ursula. Another contemporary, the actor Ralph Brown who played drug-dealer Danny in the film Withnail And I, said he could not be certain if they had met, but joked: 'I'm fairly sure we didn't have sex.'

Born in Belgium  where she attended the same school as Boris Johnson (although the pair never met), whose father was working in Brussels  her family moved to Germany when she was 13

He added: 'Back then, LSE was full of unreformed hippies, beatniks, groovers and fresh new student punks.'

It was in this heady atmosphere that Ursula spent a year discarding the shackles of her youth.

Last year, delivering a lecture entitled Old Friends, New Beginnings: Building Another Future For The EU-UK Partnership, she said her time in London had turned her into a lifelong Anglophile.

That seems hard to believe after she ramped up the rhetoric over blocking supplies of the AstraZeneca jab for Britain.

But amid irritation in Downing Street, she may soon have cause to think about London Calling by The Clash.

Proof the EU's AstraZeneca scare stories are already endangering British lives, in the words of one London GP: 'People are walking out if they can't get the Pzifer jab. We're struggling to fill slots'

The matter is settled  at least for now.

After 13 European countries halted use of the AztraZeneca Covid vaccine amid claims it caused a rare type of fatal blood clot, EU regulators have investigated and declared it 'safe and effective'.

According to the overwhelming majority of medical experts commenting publicly over the past week, there was never any doubt.

By Friday, many countries had lifted their ban, and more will follow this week.

German health officials insisted the suspension was a bid to 'uphold public confidence'. But their own doctors hit back, warning it would likely have the opposite effect, echoing the concerns of experts in the UK and across the continent.

Other EU countries, including Italy and France, have now been plunged back into lockdowns, hit by a third wave.

People wait to receive their injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at the mass vaccination hub at Robertson House in Stevenage, north of London, on January 11

The crisis makes foreign ministers' decisions to slow their vaccination programmes, even momentarily, seem inexplicable.

Britain's infection rate continues to fall, and the Prime Minister took to the airwaves on Thursday to assure the nation we are still on course to ease restrictions early next month.

Boris Johnson, who had the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine himself on Friday, added: 'It's so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes  the Oxford jab is safe, the Pfizer jab is safe, what isn't safe is catching Covid.'

But has the furore dented trust in the vaccine here? Worryingly, the answer may be yes.

Doctors and pharmacists have told this newspaper they had seen a flurry of jab cancellations due to patients' fears over blood clots.

Dr Nisa Aslam, a GP in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, says worries were having a 'huge impact' on the borough's vaccination programme.

She said: 'People are walking out of their appointment if they can't get the Pfizer jab. We're at the point now where we're struggling to fill slots.'

Tower Hamlets has one of the lowest vaccine uptake rates of any area in the country, with only 70 per cent of over-75s having come forward for their jab, compared with the national rate of 95 per cent.

Black, Asian and other ethnic-minority groups in the area have been particularly hard to reach.

A retired man standing with a cardboard sign of the shape of a Covid vaccine in front of the leaning tower in Pisa, Italy, on March 18

Dr Aslam said: 'We've worked incredibly hard to fight vaccine hesitancy in the community. We've worked with local leaders to try to get the message out that these vaccines are safe.

'Now, because of things leaders from other countries have been saying, people are more worried than ever. It's like we've taken so many steps back.'

Jignesh Mehta, of the Woolwich Late Night Pharmacy, said over the past week they'd had up to 20 patients a day calling to cancel, while other simply haven't shown up.

'Many people have been asking to have the Pfizer vaccine instead of the AstraZeneca one,' he added, saying worries over blood clots was the reason. 'We try to reassure people there is no direct link.'

Azim Ashraf at Woodside Pharmacy in Telford, Shropshire, said: 'We've seen lots of cancellations since the news broke, One woman told us she didn't trust the UK health regulators, but that she did trust Norway.'

Acklam Pharmacy in Middlesbrough has seen no-shows rise from one per cent to five per cent over the past week. But The Mail on Sunday's GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon, who has been working at her local North London hub, said the picture there was more stable.

'We had a couple cancel last Friday,' she said, 'but it's been business as usual otherwise. My big worry isn't cancellations.

'It's that people who won't make an appointment in the first place because of this unnecessary drama, and that it could lead to deaths.'

Ravi Sharma, a director at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said they hadn't had reports of mass cancellations but that 'people are definitely worried' and asking questions about safety.

Boris Johnson, who had the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine himself on Friday, added: 'It's so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes  the Oxford jab is safe, the Pfizer jab is safe, what isn't safe is catching Covid'

He added: 'This hasn't helped our ethnic communities, where many people are already hesitant about vaccines.'

And what of the initial claim  was there anything to worry about, regarding blood clots, in the first place?

After assessing all the available data, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that the vaccine 'may' be associated with 'very rare blood clots associated with low levels of blood platelets'.

Both the EMA's safety committee and the UK's drugs watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), are conducting reviews into five UK cases.

But all medical authorities emphasise that, so far, there appears to be no evidence of a direct link to the jab.

In Norway, one of the first countries to note blood clot cases and raise concerns, doctors floated the idea that a faulty immune reaction might be to blame.

Others suggested the problem may lie with the way in which the vaccine was administered  as jabbing the wrong part of the arm could, in rare cases, cause a clot.

Leading scientists, however, say this is 'entirely speculative'.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday's Medical Minefield podcast, Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics at Bristol University and a member of the Government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said: 'At this point, nobody knows why these people are falling sick, and what the mechanism might be. So it's just that there's been a cluster of unusual cases being reported.

'It is also equally possible that these unusual cases are not in any way related to the vaccination, or that these problems have been caused by Covid infection.'

Experts say ultra-rare side effects are theoretically possible with any jab, but it's often hard to know in these one-in-a-million cases whether they'd have happened anyway.

University of Cambridge statistics expert Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter said the risks were clearly outweighed by the benefits of vaccination: 'The MRHA are investigating these five serious events that happened after 11 million AstraZeneca vaccines.

'Let's suppose the link is causal, although this is unproven. So assume there is around one in two-million chance of this severe event. But suppose two-million people did not get their vaccine.

'At current UK rates, [in a week] we might expect 2,000 to catch the virus, 20 to 30 to be hospitalised and around five to die. That's just one week. These unvaccinated people continue to have that risk for every subsequent week their vaccination is delayed.'

Crucially, for those who contract Covid, the risk of suffering a dangerous blood clot is one in three, according to recent studies. And one in ten patients  even those with a mild initial illness  may be hit by months of ongoing symptoms.

Such statistics show starkly why UK health chiefs chose to press on confidently with the AstraZeneca jab, unlike our European neighbours.

'The vaccine is the thing that will reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying, because your risk of getting Covid is still substantial,' says Prof Finn. '[For Europe] to withhold the vaccine is costing people's health, and causing unnecessary death.'

Given the weight of medical opinion on the issue, why did European leaders decided to scupper their own chances?

Experts in France and Norway say decisions were not only unscientific but undoubtedly 'political'.

In both nations, vaccine hesitancy is rife  France, in particular, has one of the highest levels of distrust in the world, with up to 41 per cent of the population believing vaccination is not safe, according to one study. Just nine per cent of Britons express similar misgivings.

The blood clot saga began to unfurl on March 7, when Austrian medical authorities reported two women had suffered a reaction within two weeks of receiving the jab. One, aged 49, was reported to have suffered multiple thrombosis  clots within blood vessels  and died.

The other, aged 35, had received hospital treatment for a clot within the lungs, also known as a pulmonary embolism.

Both women had received doses from the same batch of AstraZeneca vaccinations, which had been distributed across 17 EU countries.

Two days later, Danish authorities announced the death of a 60-year-old woman linked to blood clots  shortly after she received a dose from that batch.

A health worker prepares a dose of AstraZeneca vaccine today in Ede, Netherlands

This initially led to a theory of a 'bad batch' in circulation.

In the following days, Norway reported three patients, all under 50, with what doctors described as 'an unusual combination' of blood pathologies, including clots, following injection with a completely different batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine  disproving the 'bad batch' theory. One, in her 40s, later died.

On March 12, Norwegian officials announced another death  a health worker in her 30s who suffered a burst artery in the brain soon after her AstraZeneca jab. No blood clot was involved.

But one by one, European countries began to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Dr Gunnveig Grodeland, an expert in immunology at Oslo University, said her government was forced to act as there was already 'a lot of anxiety' about vaccination there.

She points to the 2009 swine flu vaccine controversy, in which the rapidly developed jab called Pandemrix was linked to a handful of cases of the sleep disorder narcolepsy among children.

Although extremely rare  occurring in roughly one in every 55,000 who'd had the vaccine  later studies showed the complication was more common in Scandinavians.

Dr Grodeland agreed the suspension of the AstraZeneca jab was 'largely political' and that 'nobody' in the scientific community that she knew believed that blood clots were a side-effect of the vaccine.

But she still felt it was the right move: 'If the authorities had not [addressed] the anxiety then we would have a bigger problem with trust in the future.'

However she also worried that their actions 'may be interpreted differently, internationally' and feared it may have undermined confidence in other countries.

Meanwhile, French immunologist Dr Francoise Salvadori, from Burgundy University, admitted: 'Anti-vaccine sentiment has been very strong in France for maybe 15 or 20 years. The French have a distrust of [politicians] in general and health policies in particular.'

Germany, she added, has its own issues. Last summer saw a surge of anti-lockdown protests and, in a poll in December, a third of Germans said they'd refuse a Covid vaccine. Authorities already have difficulties persuading over-65s to have a flu shot.

Figures from 2019 show just 35 per cent of them had a jab, compared with 72 per cent of the British.

Germany has a long history of mandatory vaccination  in the 19th Century, citizens were legally obliged to have a smallpox vaccine, and in the 1960s, East Germany required vaccination for diphtheria, tuberculosis and polio. This was enforced with fines.

Historians say that these events have played into a view held by some Germans that having a vaccination  or not having one  is a political statement.

A larger issue, claims Dr Salvadori, may be the ongoing row over the supply of vaccines between the UK and European states.

The EU has approved four vaccines so far  the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson jabs

The EU has approved four vaccines so far  the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson jabs  but manufacturing problems have slowed the bloc's programme.

The EU has also accused AstraZeneca of breaking its contract by not supplying enough doses. The company blames production delays.

Last week, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen admitted they were facing 'the crisis of this century'  and have threatened to halt further vaccine exports from the bloc.

Italy's deputy health minister Pierpaolo Sileri admitted: 'We have fewer than 50 per cent of the expected doses. But I think the same happened everywhere in Europe.'

At present, just under nine per cent of Europeans have received a dose of a Covid vaccine, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, compared with half of all British adults.

Dr Salvadori says: 'The French are very disappointed not to have a vaccine [of their own], and so France will make political choices. The moves [to suspend use of the AstraZeneca jab] I think, are mostly political because, scientifically speaking, it doesn't hold water.'

Indeed, on Tuesday Italian scientists had already declared that both of the deaths they had initially reported were not likely to have been caused by the Covid jab.

In one case, no blood clots were detected and, in the other, the cause of death was a heart attack. Sad, unexpected, but coincidental events.

Dr Salvadori believes the posturing will have done nothing to help improve Europe's spiralling antivax problem.

She added: 'It's very delicate. In France, people would have been suspicious if we hadn't acted in the same way as other European countries, but by stopping, it can also add to doubts.

'People will think, there's no smoke without fire.'

Clashes with police as thousands, including Laurence Fox, protest against lockdown in London amid calls for protests to be ALLOWED after Sarah Everard vigil - and anti-restriction demos sweep Europe

Anti-lockdown protesters ran riot in central London today, pelting bottles and cans at police who were forced to retreat to their vans.

The thuggery in Hyde Park saw members of the public get up and leave, with parents hurriedly carrying their small children away from the clashes.

Officers wielding batons were seen steadily backing off while projectiles rained down on them - before gathering in number and charging back at the hooligans.

The ugly scenes came after thousands of lockdown-sceptics, including the actor Laurence Fox and the activist Piers Corbyn, rallied in the heart of the capital to rail against the Government's Covid restrictions.

It coincided with similar protests in European states such as Germany, Italy and Austria, which are bracing for a third wave of the virus.

Protesters waving placards reading 'stop destroying our kids' lives' marched down Oxford Street and blocked off Park Lane.

Riot police were still out in force on the streets of the capital tonight as pockets of protesters continued to gather.

Although the march was largely believed to be peaceful - albeit brazenly breaking lockdown, which bans large gatherings - police confirmed they have so far made 33 arrests.

Britain's police has been thrust into the spotlight recently in the wake of the controversial handling of Sarah Everard's vigil, where women were pinned down and arrested at Clapham Common.

The Government's Policing Bill, which passed its first vote in the Commons this week and would hand officers more powers to deal with demonstrations, has also caused anger.

Demonstrations in London, Manchester and Brighton saw activists hold banners urging the ministers to 'kill the bill'.

Today politicians of all stripes have called for Priti Patel to change coronavirus legislation to allow protests.

Hundreds of protesters waving signs marched through central London today after meeting earlier in the afternoon in Hyde Park

Police officers detain a demonstrator in Hyde Park, London, during a protest against lockdown today

Laurence Fox is seen attending a rally in Hyde Park London. The actor is fighting to become the next mayor of London

Riot police were still out in force on the streets of the capital tonight as pockets of protesters continued to gather

The thuggery in Hyde Park saw members of the public get up and leave, with parents hurriedly carrying their small children away from the clashes

Police in Hyde Park this afternoon as clashes with anti-lockdown protesters turned violent

A police officer raising his baton as people film him in Hyde Park, central London this afternoon

Police officers stand around a statue to Britain's greatest Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill during a protest against the lockdown today

A man is restrained by five police officers as others hold back demonstrators filming the arrest

A demonstrator is pushed to the ground by police after outrage at Metropolitan Police's handling of the Sarah Everard vigil last week

An anti-lockdown protesters is arrested and taken away by officers in Hyde Park, London, today

Conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn - the old brother of Jeremy - stands in front of police as he attends yet another illegal gathering

Thousands of protesters holding flares and signs reading 'fear Westmonster not the virus' march through Hyde Park

MANCHESTER: Activists in Manchester rail against the Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill going through the Commons

CORNWALL: A demonstration in Cornwall demanding the Policing Bill, which would hand the police more powers to deal with protests, be scrapped

BRIGHTON: Similar protests happened in Brighton today. Britain's police has been thrust into the spotlight recently

GERMANY: Protests against coronavirus restrictions also broke across Europe. In Kassel, a man holds a giant puppet depicting a devil with a vaccine

London Metropolitan Police said: 'As of 3.45pm, 13 people have been arrested by officers policing the protests in central London. Most of the arrests have been for breaching Covid regulations.

'Our officers are continuing to engage with people attending the ongoing protests in Central London. Those gathering in crowds are being encouraged to disperse and go home.

'Officers will take enforcement action where necessary. This could be a fixed penalty notice, or arrest.'

Police officers pulled protesters down to the ground and cuffed them while other demonstrators shouted 'shame on you'. One man  wearing a hazmat suit and gas mask  was removed from the demo by police.

Thousands marched through the popular Hyde Park setting off flares and waving signs that read: 'Fear Westminster not the virus.'

Another woman at the protest held up a placard which said: 'Yes sex is great, but have you ever been f***ed by the Government?'

A witness said: 'Flares being set off on Oxford Street in front on the police, approx 4,000 unite for freedom march protesters marching across London.'

They continued through the centre of London, with police following the illegal gathering closely. One of the groups in park today, Jam For Freedom, said on its Twitter followers should meet at 12.45pm.

The group said there would be an organised flash-mob, told people to 'look for the smoke flares' and said there would be a 'vigil march' at 1pm.

It told its members: 'You may want to link arms as we march, especially if police are close or trying to take someone.' It added: 'Stay tight, stay aware, stay peaceful and polite.'

There were also expected to be protests against plans to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Those convicted under proposed legislation contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill could face a fine or jail.

People opposed to the legislation were urged on social media to take to the streets over the weekend, using the hashtag #KillTheBill.

The Met said on Friday it was aware of several protests planned for Saturday in breach of lockdown rules banning gatherings of more than two people from different households.

The force said a 'significant policing operation' would be in place in central London throughout the day.

'Those gathering will be encouraged to return home, if they do not, they face necessary and proportionate enforcement action. This could be a fixed penalty notice, or arrest.

Protests in London continued into the night and were seen being confronted by riot police

Police clash with protesters in central London this afternoon amid demonstrations across Europe

Demonstrators holding a banner saying 'stop destroying our kids' lives' march through Hyde Park this afternoon

A woman holding a sign and a man are confronted by police in central London today as the protests picked up the pace

A person holds a sign during a protest against the lockdown, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease in London

Demonstrators holding flares gather in Hyde Park in London during a protest against the coronavirus lockdown today

Police officers haul a demonstrator to the ground before cuffing him in Hyde Park during a protest against the coronavirus lockdown today

Protesters holding a banner saying 'stop destroying our kids' lives' and not wearing face masks march through the streets of London this afternoon

Referring to the protests planned for this weekend, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: 'The Met is committed to working with groups who wish to assemble to protest or for other purposes'

A man lies on the ground as he is cuffed by officers during the protests which has seen hundreds flock to central London today

Thousands walk past busses in central London and hold up signs on their way through the capital during the protests today

Police line up during the anti-lockdown demonstration in London. Protests within the scope of anti-vaccine anti-coronavirus restrictions 'World Wide Rally for Freedom and Democracy' rallies are taking place around the world today

A man wears a coronavirus face mask over his eyes during the anti-lockdown protest in central London this afternoon

ITALY: In Turin, Italy, demonstrators attend an anti-lockdown protest holding signs that say 'freedom' and 'truth'

The masses block up roads as they wander through the streets of central London during the widespread protesting on Saturday

A protester holds a sign reading: 'The emperor has no clothes! Lockdowns and masks don't work. 99.7% survival from Covid. Let's get back to normal'

Demonstrators holding flares and filming with their phones surround police officers at the anti-coronavirus lockdown protest in London today

Some carried large Union Flags as they descended on the streets and clogged up roads during the maskless protest on Saturday

Two women hold up their signs as they make their way through the city centre during the illegal protests on Saturday afternoon

Protesters march through St James's Park up to Buckingham Palace during the anti-coronavirus lockdown demonstration in London today

A protester sits in the middle of the road blocking traffic amid the demonstrations in London

Police officers stand by protesters marching during a 'World Wide Rally For Freedom' protest on Saturday afternoon in London

Referring to the protests planned for this weekend, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: 'The Met is committed to working with groups who wish to assemble to protest or for other purposes.

'But these are not normal times.' He added: 'People who gather as part of the protest risk the health of Londoners.

'That is why we have a policing plan in place to disperse crowds and where necessary, take proportionate enforcement action.

'This will not just be organisers of the protests but participants too - by now everyone knows their part to play in stopping the spread of the virus and thousands have sacrificed much over the last 12 months to do so.'

The protest in London today occurred at the same time as hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Manchester and marched to the Police Headquarters after branding the lockdown a 'crime against humanity'.

Anti-lockdown protests were scheduled today around the country as the UK approaches the anniversary of the first lockdown due to Covid.

Protesters marched three miles from the National Football Museum to the Greater Manchester Police Headquarters in Newton Heath.

They carried with them police reports outlining the 'crimes the government are committing' and expect the force to process each report individually.

Around 500 protesters who rallied together could heard chanting 'freedom' and 'take off your masks'.

One of the protesters, Luke Scott, said he lost his source of income this year due to the lockdown and lambasted the government's decision-making which had 'no basis in science'.

Mr Scott, who runs an events company, said that the lockdown was a 'crime against humanity' which has caused people to suffer financially, physically and emotionally.

Protesters also took to the streets of Manchester and marched to the Police Headquarters after branding the lockdown a 'crime against humanity' today

Hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters march through Manchester City Centre to Greater Manchester Police HQ to hand in crime reports

A demonstrator in Manchester wearing a wig, ski mask and face covering holds a sign reading: 'Mask wearing zombies wake up or comply and die'

Protesters swarm around Greater Manchester Police HQ this afternoon. They carried with them police reports outlining the 'crimes the government are committing' and expect the force to process each report individually

BELGRADE: People take part in a protest against coronavirus restrictions in the Serbian capital of Belgrade

The 33-year-old said: 'Today we are urging the government to change their regulations around the lockdown.

'We are handing in crime reports at the headquarters to report the crimes the government are committing.

'We are marching against the dangerous language they are using which are causing mental health issues, physical issues, closing businesses.

'No scientific evidence, we don't know if this virus is the threat they say it is.

'My business was destroyed by the lockdown. I lost my income, I have an eight month old child, I have a wife. I've made no money this year.

'These are crimes against humanity.'

And anti-lockdown protesters also took to the streets of Newcastle today, prompting a huge police response in the city centre.

Close to a hundred officers lined a guard surrounding Grey's Monument to prevent any groups from gathering during ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The response comes after Northumbria Police issued a statement earlier urging people not to meet in groups over the weekend.

A spokesperson said: 'We have become aware that a range of groups plan to gather to protest in the centre of Newcastle this weekend.

'We are taking this opportunity to remind people that protests are not exempt from the current Covid legislation. Such public gatherings remain unlawful due to the risk they pose to public safety.

'We recognise the right to protest is extremely important but this right has always had to be balanced against the rights of the wider community.

'We would therefore urge people to take heed of the regulations and Public Health advice. Anyone thinking of visiting the city centre to take part in protest activity should reconsider.

'The safety of everyone, including those participating in protests, other members of the public and our officers will always be our upmost priority.

'People can expect to see an increased presence from officers and we will deliver a proportionate policing response to any activity taking place.'

The Met has come under fire this week for its heavy-handed policing of a vigil on Clapham Common on Saturday in memory of Ms Everard, with Commissioner Cressida Dick facing calls to resign.

The event had been planned by protest group Reclaim These Streets, but it switched to an online event after being warned it would breach Covid-19 rules.

But crowds still gathered to express their anger and grief at the death of the 33-year-old. While largely peaceful, it was marred by scuffles with police and images of some women being bundled to the ground and handcuffed.

Elsewhere today police in Norfolk warned people gathering for a Sarah Everard vigil in a small town tonight risk breaking the Covid laws on gatherings.

Organisers of the vigil - planned for the Market Place in King's Lynn - say local police have been 'consulted and are aware'.

A Norfolk police spokesman said 'We understand the strength of feeling and people's desire to come together to mourn the death of Sarah Everard and make a statement on the issues of women's safety.

'However, large gatherings are not currently permitted under the COVID-19 regulations to prevent the spread of the virus.

'Many people have made sacrifices during lockdown and we must take a consistent approach to policing the regulations and cannot wave the regulations for any one type of gathering.

'We will continue to follow the four Es...to engage, explain and encourage, using enforcement where there are breaches of the law.' The vigil is planned at 6pm tonight.

Thousands of protesters met at the park to listen to speakers before marching through the centre of London this afternoon

Demonstrators march during a protest against the coronavirus lockdown in Hyde Park, London, today. London Metropolitan Police said it would arrest protesters at the illegal event

Police wearing face masks arrest and hold down a protester in near Oxford Street in central London today

Co-organisers Councillor Jo Rust said: 'There is a great strength and depth of feelings and it's important that the women of King's Lynn and West Norfolk are able to peacefully pay their respects and remember the lives of women who have been... while doing nothing more than walking home.

'We will make sure the event is Covid safe and will only allow four people at a time to come and pay their respects. Supporters have been advised to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines.'

Sarah, 33, went missing on March 3 as she walked home from a friend's house in London. Her remains were found in woods in Kent on March 10 and police officer Wayne Couzens has been charged kidnap and killing her.

Another organiser of the King's Lynn vigil, known only as Rosie, said it was to highlight concerns over women's safety.

She said: 'We're all mindful of safety during the pandemic, and will be acting with the utmost respect for Covid guidelines, but Sarah's [death] has brought it home to many of us, that whatever we do, we're not safe.'

Another woman, called Cissy, said: 'Women should be able to walk home without fear of attack, but for most women this isn't the case.

'This vigil is to give us all the opportunity to pay our respects to a young woman who was [killed] while walking home.'

A woman called Jo added: 'There is a great strength and depth of feelings and it's important that the women of King's Lynn and West Norfolk are able to peacefully pay their respects and remember the lives of women who have been [killed] while doing nothing more than walking home.'

They said supporters are advised to attend wearing masks and observe social distancing.

More than 60 MPs joined campaign groups Big Brother Watch and Liberty in writing to the Home Secretary yesterday to say it is a human right to demonstrate.

Tories Steve Baker and Sir Christopher Chope as well as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler signed the letter.

They are calling on Ms Patel to tell police to 'facilitate' protests and avoid forcing them to 'decipher precisely what is required'.

More than 60 MPs joined campaign groups Big Brother Watch and Liberty in writing to the Home Secretary (pictured on Monday) to say it is a human right to demonstrate

Police detain a woman as people gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand, following the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, in London, on March 13

Which MPs and Peers signed Liberty and Big Brother Watch's letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel? Diane Abbott MP Steve Baker MP Paula Barker MP Apsana Begum MP Lord Beith Baroness Natalie Bennett Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Lord Bradshaw Baroness Brinton Richard Burgon MP Dawn Butler MP Dan Carden MP Alistair Carmichael MP Baroness Shami Chakrabarti Sir Christopher Chope MP Wendy Chamberlain MP Daisy Cooper MP Sir Edward Davey MP Geraint Davies MP Tim Farron MP Baroness Featherstone Richard Fuller MP Lord Greaves Chris Green MP Baroness Hamwee Baroness Harris of Richmond Wera Hobhouse MP Rachel Hopkins MP Christine Jardine MP Baroness Jenny Jones Baroness Jolly Mary Kelly Foy MP Ian Lavery MP Clive Lewis MP Tony Lloyd MP Caroline Lucas MP Baroness Ludford Lord McNally Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer Andrew Mitchell MP Layla Moran MP Lord Oates Sarah Olney MP Kate Osborne MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP Virendra Sharma MP Baroness Sheehan Jamie Stone MP Lord Strasburger Zarah Sultana MP Sir Desmond Swayne Lord Taylor of Goss Moor Baroness Thornhill Lord Tyler Sir Charles Walker MP Lord Wallace of Saltaire Baroness Walmsley Claudia Webbe MP Mick Whitley MP Munira Wilson MP Nadia Whittome MP Advertisement

The letter said: 'The absence of clear guidance on these issues has created an entirely unsatisfactory situation, which has persisted to varying degrees for almost a year now.

'The police have no legal certainty as to their duties and powers, protestors have no legal certainty as to their rights, and there is inconsistent application of the Regulations across the country. This cannot continue.'

But the Home Office doubled down on its position that it is still illegal to leave home without and exemption until March 29.

A spokesman said: 'While we are still in a pandemic we continue to urge people to avoid mass gatherings, in line with wider coronavirus restrictions.'

There have been constant anti-lockdown protests throughout the pandemic, often attended by conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn.

But over the last week demonstrations were sparked after the police's handling of a vigil to Sarah Everard. A policeman is facing a charge of murder and abduction.

Organisers cancelled the service at Clapham Common, London, last weekend, but hundreds still attended and clashed with officers.

The day before they had failed to persuade the High Court to overrule the Met in allowing the event to be held.

The judge ruled he would not intervene but hinted human rights of expression and gathering could be considered acceptable excuses.

On Sunday and Monday people took to the streets of Westminister and gathered outside Downing Street and in Parliament Square in protest.

Director of Big Brother Watch Silkie Carlo said: 'The harrowing scenes of police officers using force against women at Clapham Common recently were avoidable and wrong.

'Over the past week, many more demonstrators and even legal observers have been arrested or fined.

'This stain on our democracy is a direct consequence of this government's disrespect for the most basic of British democratic freedoms.'

Sam Grant from Liberty added: 'Last week, the police conceded protest is not banned under the lockdown regulations, but used them to threaten then arrest demonstrators anyway.

'The home secretary must immediately issue guidance to all police forces to ensure socially distanced protests can go ahead and create an explicit exemption for protest in the current regulations.'

Ms Patel has asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to 'conduct a lessons-learned review into the policing of the event' at Clapham Common.

More protests are expected this weekend but the Met said a 'significant policing operation' will be underway to 'engage' with lockdown flouters.

It added: 'Those gathering will be encouraged to return home. If they do not they face necessary and proportionate enforcement action. This could be a fixed penalty notice or arrest.'

A number of demonstrations are expected to take place in the capital, including a rally at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park to support Piers Corbyn's mayoral bid.

The brother of the former Labour leader has been at the forefront of the anti-lockdown movement since restrictions were imposed a year ago.

There are also expected to be protests against plans to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance.

Dame Cressida Dick's tenure as chief of the Metropolitan Police is reportedly 'unlikely' to be renewed following the anger over her officers' handling of Sarah Everard's vigil.

Ms Patel is not expected to extend her contract at Scotland Yard when it expires in April next year, government sources told the Times last night.

Britain's most senior officer has been under fire after widespread condemnation of how the Clapham Common memorial was policed last weekend.

Officers arrested and pinned down women attending the event in honour of the 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard.
Dhaka, Mar 20 (UNI) Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa met with Foreign Minister A. K. Abdul Momen as a courtesy call held at Sonargaon Hotel here on Saturday.

At the time, Sri Lanka's active cooperation in the repatriation of the displaced Rohingya people in Myanmar was very necessary and the Sri Lankan Prime Minister assured full cooperation in this regard.

Earlier, for the implementation of some agreements and memorandum of understanding were signed with Sri Lanka. Momen requested the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and said that he would try to implement it.

The two sides also discussed issues related to enhanced communication between the two countries, the launch of coastal waterways, the Preferential Trade Agreement, the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, and the export of Bangladeshi medicines to Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka lauded the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the economic development of Bangladesh and in tackling the Corona. The Foreign Minister thanked the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for accepting the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and for visiting Bangladesh during the celebrations of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and golden jubilee of independence. He mentioned that the visit to Bangladesh at this historic moment has made us proud.

In response to a question, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister said that Muslim women are not banned from wearing Borkha in that country.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present during the meeting.

UNI MAZ ASN 1204
New Delhi: The United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday (March 20, 2021) got the first shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Johnson took to his official Twitter account to share the news.

The United Kingdom PM wrote, "I've just received my first Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine dose. Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS staff and volunteers who helped make this happen."

He added, "Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much. Let's get the jab done."

I've just received my first Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine dose. Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS staff and volunteers who helped make this happen. Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much. Let's get the jab done. pic.twitter.com/mQCTMAkB8d  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 19, 2021

Ive just had my first AstraZeneca vaccine. Get your jab when youre asked to do so. Its good for you, its good for your family and its a great thing for the whole country. pic.twitter.com/pc5tnY9PGK  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 19, 2021

The development comes amid several countries pausing the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine after reports of people being admitted to hospitals with clotting issues and bleeding after being inoculated.

However, the countries have now started resuming the use of the vaccine after the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the benefits outweighed the risks following investigations into reports of blood clots.

Johnson had earlier said that the AstraZeneca jab and the Pfizer vaccines are safe.

"The thing that isnt safe is catching COVID," he said.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is safe and the Pfizer jab is safe - the thing that isnt safe is catching COVID. Which is why its so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes. pic.twitter.com/WREOjG4FIX  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 18, 2021

As per the latest reports, more than 25 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

"95% of people aged 65 and over have been vaccinated with first dose. 9 in 10 of those clinically extremely vulnerable have received first jab," said the Department of Health and Social Care.

This is to be noted that more than 15 countries in Europe had suspended or delayed the use of the vaccine.

The United Kingdom has so far reported 42,99,200 coronavirus cases along with 27,00,128 COVID-19-related deaths, according to the data by Johns Hopkins University, on Saturday at 6:55 AM.

AstraZeneca and the EMA have said concerns about coagulation disorders did not emerge in human trials.

The WHO informed that over 20 million doses of the vaccine had been given to people in Europe, with over 27 million doses of Covishield, the vaccine by AstraZeneca partner Serum Institute, administered in India.

Meanwhile, the world has witnessed a total of 12,22,33,417, of which, 27,00,128 have succumbed to the virus, whereas 6,92,16,133 have recovered.

(With inputs from agencies)
When Will Children Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19?

Interview by Stephanie Desmon | MARCH 19, 2021



Public Health On Call This Q&A is excerpted from the March 4 episode of the Public Health On Call Podcast. Subscribe to Podcast

COVID-19 vaccinations for adults are already rolling out, but when can we expect vaccines to become available for children?

In this Q&A adapted from the March 4 episode of the Public Health On Call podcast, Stephanie Desmon turns to Kawsar Talaat, MD, who led one of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine trials, to discuss when vaccines will become available for children, why vaccinating adolescents is important to population level immunity, and more.

I know that you have been involved in Pfizer vaccine trials for adults. I want to talk about children. Why are children not eligible for the vaccine at this time?

The people who are most vulnerable to severe disease from COVID have been adults, especially older adults and adults with preexisting conditions. So it was really important to get vaccines out as quickly as possible for that population.

Although kids can get and can transmit COVID, kids very rarely have severe disease, either with COVID or the post-COVID inammatory disease called Multisystem Inammatory Syndrome in Children, or MISC. It would be good to prevent disease in them as well, but when we make vaccines for children, we want to go a little bit slower, make sure that the vaccines are safe in adults, then go down in age to make sure that theyre safe and likely to be effective in younger and younger children.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are now in clinical trials for adolescents ages 12 and older, and we should have some of those data in the next few months. Once these studies are completed, [there will be trials] with younger children. Hopefully over the next year or so well have that safety data.

How soon could we see vaccines for adolescents?

I would think that in the next couple of months well see some of the early data in that population. Hopefully by late spring or early summer we might have a vaccine authorized for adolescents, but [vaccines] may not be available for that age population until theres a lot more vaccine available.

Do trials with children look different than they do in adults?

Yes. Children are a vulnerable population because theyre not yet at the age where they can provide informed consent on their own behalf, so they are protected by ethics codes in the Code of Federal Regulations. And our IRB [internal review board] is much more careful than [with studies on] adults, so we have dierent rules for trials in children. If you do a vaccine trial in an adult, you just get the informed consent from that individual for their participation in the trial. But because children cant provide that informed consent we have to get it from their parents.

If the child is old enough, we actually ask that they agree to participate in the trial. We make sure that they understand what the trial is for, that they understand all the processes and procedures that will occur in the trial, that they know that theres going to be blood draws, for example. Because they cant provide the consent, there are more safeguards to protect [them].

My 14-year-old is the size and shape of an adult. How come theyre not just little adults in this situation?

While they may be approximately the same size as an adult, their immune system is a little bit more robust than the immune system of an older person.

They may not need as high of a dose, depending on the vaccine.

Is it possible that an adolescent might need only one dose?

While they may have a robust response to the rst vaccine, it may not last as long and may not be as broad as the response they would have with two doses. If you look at the data from the vaccine studies that have been released so far, one dose is pretty protective, even in adults, but the second dose does a little bit better. Well probably see the same thing in children and adolescents, toothat one dose is pretty protective, but youll get a boosted response with the second dose.

My understanding is that kids need to be vaccinated going forward because without kids in the mix, we cant reach herd immunity. Is that the case?

Right. If a virus enters a population where people dont have immunity to it, the virus can easily transmit from person to person and make people sick, as weve seen with this new coronavirus. As more and more people are infected and develop immunity, the virus has a harder time nding people it can infect, so transmission will go down. And once you get to a high enough percentage of people who have immunity to that virus, then the virus cant really transmit anymore. You can do this with natural infection, but in order to reach that level, wed have to have so many more people get sick, so many more people end up in the hospital. Weve lost more than 500,000 Americans to this virus and many, many more people all over the world, and thats just too high of a cost.

So the best way to get that level of immunity is to vaccinate. You need a pretty high level of people who are vaccinated, somewhere upwards of 70% to 85%, and in order to reach that we need to vaccinate children and adolescents. It is possible for children and adolescentseven though the disease is relatively mild in themto become infected and spread the virus to other people. And like I said, there are some children who get really, severely ill with this virus and some have even died. According to the CDCs data, over 300 kids have died in the United States from COVID-19 infection, and thats way too many children to lose.

Im hearing a lot of talk of schools reopening. Obviously most of those children will not be vaccinated.

I think it is absolutely possible to send kids back to school without vaccinating them. You can do it safely if you adhere to very strict public health measures and if the circulation of the virus in the community is sufficiently low.

My kids are going back to school and they cant wait. I cant wait. Vaccinating kids gives us just one extra layer of protection. Again, they are not a priority group for severe illness, but as soon as we have enough vaccines available, we should absolutely vaccinate our kids so that the schools are safer and so theyre safer in school.

Kawsar Talaat, MD, is an assistant professor in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and works on clinical trials in the Schools Center for Immunization Research.

Stephanie Desmon is the co-host of the Public Health On Call podcast. She is the director of public relations and marketing for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, the largest center at the Bloomberg School.
Kathmandu: Nepal's drug regulatory body on Saturday, March 20, approved India's Covaxin jab against Covid-19 for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Nepal's EUA approval for Covaxin, produced by Bharat Biotech International, came on Friday, making it the third country to do so. Prior to this, Nepal had given the Emergency Use Authorization approval to Covishield, a vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India (SSI), as well as China's Sinopharm. Immunization against Covid-19 started in Nepal after it received one million doses of the Covid vaccines in a grant from India in January produced by Serum Institute.

Covaxin was shown to be 81 percent effective in an interim analysis of late-stage trial data on some 26,000 people in India, according to a media report.

The Himalayan nation also procured another one million Covishield jabs at a discounted price. The Health Ministry said that it is waiting to receive an additional one million doses of the Covishield but was not sure when it will arrive.

Until Nepal gets the third consignment from the Serum Institute, it has paused Covid vaccination, health officials said.

Nepal so far has received 2,348,000 doses of vaccines -- 1,000,000 doses under grant assistance from India; 1,000,000 doses of the 2,000,000 doses that the government has bought from the Serum Institute of India; and 348,000 doses under the COVAX facility.

British PM Boris Johnson takes first dose of AstraZeneca

Finland: AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines Suspended Despite EMA Approval

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister thanks China for providing COVID-19 vaccines
Members of the community gathered Friday in remembrance of the eight people who were killed Tuesday in Atlanta. Candlelight vigils were held in front of City Hall and in Speaker's Circle on the MU Campus. Community members at City Hall held eight minutes of silence to honor the victims and their families.

The shootings took place in three Atlanta-area spas, and six of the eight people were women of Asian descent, according to the Associated Press. On Wednesday, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office identified the victims of the attack at Young's Asian Massage as Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan and Daoyou Feng. Elcias Hernandez Ortiz, survived the shooting and is hospitalized in intensive care. The Associated Press reported that the victims from the other spas were named Friday: Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim and Yong Ae Yue.

Stop AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Hate conducted a study tracking anti-Asian hate across the nation. They received 2,583 reports of anti-Asian hate during the twenty-week report. Women reported 69.5% of the incidents. The study took place between March 19, 2020 to Aug. 5, 2020.

Missouri sophomore computer science major Dzuy Nguyen Signs with the names of the eight victims of the March 16 shootings in Atlanta Attendees listen to others share their experiences Missouri freshmen Amy Schaffer, left, and Kevin Duong address other Missouri students Monica Lee speaks about her experiences Missouri freshman Jessica Zhang places a candle in Speaker's Circle during a vigil for the 8 victims of the Atlanta shootings. Missouri students stand with lit candles

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Last September, Project Veritas released a video that suggested there has been substantial voter fraud in Minnesota elections, particularly in the Somali community, and linked that fraud to Ilhan Omars machine. The New York Times then published a series of articles that smeared Veritas and its video as a coordinated disinformation campaign, alleging that the video was deceptive and false. Project Veritas sued the Times in state court in New York, and the Times moved to dismiss the lawsuit for failure to state a claim.

On Thursday, the presiding judge denied the Timess motion to dismiss in an opinion you can read here. Denial of the motion to dismiss does not mean that Veritas will ultimately win the case, obviously, but it means that Veritas will be able to proceed with discovery and try to prove that the newspapers reporters and editors acted with actual malice. That means they knew their stories were false, or realized they were likely false, and printed them anyway.

The courts opinion is notable in part for what it tells us about the Timess defenses. The Times now argues that when it said the Veritas video was deceptive, false, and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign, those were mere statements of opinion, not fact, even though they appeared in news reports. Judge Wood comments:

Defendants argue that their statements describing Veritas Video as deceptive, false, and without evidence were mere opinion incapable of being judged true or false. However, if a writer interjects an opinion in a news article (and will seek to claim legal protections as opinion) it stands to reason that the writer should have an obligation to alert the reader, including a court that may need to determine whether it is fact or opinion, that it is opinion.

***

Stating that the video is deceptive and stating without verifiable evidence in a factual way in a news article certainly presents the statement as fact, not opinion.

I also find it ironic that the Times, whose news section consists largely of narratives based on leaks by anonymous sources, now criticizes Project Veritas because its video allegedly relies on unidentified sources.

Finally, the Times argued that its disparagement of Veritass video was true as a matter of law because its assertions had been echoed by other fact checkers. In other words, if liberal news outlets all gang up on a conservative source, none of them can be sued. Judge Wood rejected this novel theory:

While this is a lengthy media list, polling does not decide truth nor speak to evidence, and Defendants have not met their burden to prove that the reporting by Veritas in the Video is deceptive.

Thus, Judge Wood concluded that Plaintiff is entitled to try to establish whether NYTs writers were purposely and/or recklessly inaccurate, or whether they were inaccurate, sloppy, or something less.

Discovery should prove interesting. Veritass lawyers will be able to inquire into the process whereby the reporters smears made it into print. This reference to facts laid out by Veritas in response to the motion to dismiss is intriguing:

Notably, Veritas documented in its complaint metadata and screen shots that demonstrate the unlikelihood that Ms. Astor read and digested the EIP report/blog post, reviewed news reports on Minnesota ballot issues, viewed the Video online, obtained comment from Alex Stamos, wrote her own Article, submitted it to her editors, and had it posted online, all within 63 minutes (Complaint, at paragraphs 83-92, Astor Aff.).

The New York Times is a disgrace to journalism. While current defamation law makes it almost impossible for a plaintiff who is a public figure to winhence the impunity with which organizations like the Times feel free to lie about their political enemiesit will be interesting to see what facts emerge from this lawsuit.
Jack Mitchell/Getty Images.

Famed Italian jewelry designer Elsa Peretti, who created timeless collaborations with Tiffany & Co. for decades, has died. She was 80.

Peretti died on Thursday at her home in Spain, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation announced in a statement shared on social media on Friday.

"A woman of extraordinary generosity, philanthropist and world famous designer," the statement read. "A free, strong, courageous visionary. Her example will be remembered forever."

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Born and raised in Italy, Peretti began her career as a model during the 1960s after moving to Barcelona, a move that prompted her family to cut her off financially, according to an August profile by the Wall Street Journal Magazine.

There in Spain, she was embraced by an artistic community that included Salvador Dali.

She began creating jewelry to accessorize her sartorial looks following another move to New York City, where she modeled for designers Halston and Giorgio di Sant'Angelo.

Halston, who became a close friend of Peretti's, introduced her to executives at Tiffany & Co.  where she would go on to design exclusively for most of her career, according to the Associated Press.

On Friday, Tiffany & Co. shared a statement in the wake of the designer's death, writing that the company is "deeply saddened" by the news.

"A masterful artisan, #ElsaPeretti revolutionized the world of design and forever changed the way women wore jewelry. Elsa's legacy will remain a constant inspiration for generations to come," the statement read.

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"Our hearts go out to her family, friends and the artisans and craftspeople who realized her fantasies," the brand said in a follow-up tweet. "She will be deeply missed by all of us at Tiffany & Co."

Since joining Tiffany in 1974, Peretti created a number of iconic pieces for the luxury jewelry retailer, many of which were inspired by bone fragments and other natural elements.

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Peretti was also known for her desire to make sure her designs were accessible at lower price points. Her passion prompted her to create her Diamonds by the Yard collection for Tiffany & Co., a line that includes pieces ranging from $325 to $75,000.

PL Gould/Images/Getty Images

"You need to be able to go out on the street with your jewelry," she told WSJ Magazine in August. "Women can't go around wearing $1 million."

Over time, her pieces would come to account for about 10 percent of the company's sales. She was paid a one-time fee of $47 million for her continued collaboration in 2012, according to Vogue.

In her obituary by fashion magazine, Peretti is described as "arguably the most successful female ever to work in the jewelry field" and her work is "carved, pureirresistibly touchableit has been called jewelry as sculpture, sculpture as jewelry, and the most sensuous jewelry in the world."
The curious case of Yanam: Congress quits race against Rangasamy

India

oi-Deepika S

Puducherry, Mar 20: Smarting from the fall of its government here last month, Congress may be keen to put up a good show in the April 6 Assembly polls here, but it certainly seems to be in some dilemma over contesting from Yanam as it has not fielded anyone, with nominations drawing to a close.

A stronghold of ex-Congress leader and former minister Malladi Krishna Rao, Yanam, an enclave of Puducherry in Andhra Pradesh and 900 km away from the small city, will see former chief minister and AINRC founder N Rangasamy testing his fortunes from here this time, besides Thattanchavady.

Puducherry elections 2021: CPI(M) announces candidate for one seat

Congress leaders are tight-lipped over skipping the segment, but it is widely believed that the party did not want to risk a candidate from the turf of Rao, who has thrown his weight behind Rangasamy. Earlier, the Congresswas earmarked 15 of the total 30 assembly segments to field its candidates from, while 13 seats had been set apart for the DMK, its alliance partner.

The remaining two seats had been allotted to allies VCK and the CPI. However, the Congress fielded candidates from 14 segments and left Yanam out.

With no big names in the fray, it could be a virtual walk over for Rangasamy. Rao had even assured Rangasamy that the latter need not visit the Constituency as he would take care of campaign and other poll relative activities.

Rao has been representing Yanam since 1996 and was the Health Minister in the V Narayansasamy government which fell on February 22 ahead of a trust vote while being reduced to a minority. Though Rao did not seek re-election from Yanam, his home constituency, he has extended support to Rangasamy.

He had quit as MLA and Minister in February and shifted his allegiance to the AINRC. Rao started wooing voters in Yanam even before Rangasamy filed nomination and had unequivocally told the people at a meeting recently that the AINRC leader, heading the NDA here, would be chief minister of Puducherry.

NDA''s other constituents here are the BJP and AIADMK. Rao was recently felicitated for his long, unbroken stint as a member of the legislative assembly. However, his shifting allegiance to AINRC during the run up to the elections and skipping the electoral battle came as a surprise to many. Rangasamy had in 2011 contested from Indira Nagar and Kadirkamam segments in Puducherry and retained the latter though he emerged victorious from both seats.

His nephew Tamilselvane successfully contested the by election in IndiraNagar the same year. With the exit of a good number of Congress legislators and a couple of Ministers, including A Namassivayam, the party is virtually divested of key persons to face the electoral battle.

The party facing the elections from 15 seats also has not gone down well with the rank and file as it fielded nominees from 21 constituencies in the 2016 polls. On the other hand, the DMK, which contested from nine segments in the previous poll, has been given 13 seats.

Puducherry has been considered by and large a pocket borough for Congress, but the party this time cannot take the situation for granted, political observers say. The present election is thus crucial and a litmus test for the grand old party in this former French colony.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 15:54 [IST]
According to government scientists, a possible COVID-19 third wave threatens Europe and will likely cancel the summer holidays, following an increase in COVID-19 cases across the country. Outbreaks of the South African strain in countries across Africa raise the alarm, prompting calls for stricter travel restrictions.

COVID-19 third wave looms in Europe

As a result, some experts believe that the European summer holidays in May and possibly in the months ahead, which were previously expected by millions of Britons, are now in danger of being canceled. While the vaccine plan in Europe has been a big success, with a record 660,276 shots administered yesterday and a drop in cases and deaths, the continent's situation appears to be very different. According to Daily Mail, the EU has watched over a failed vaccine delivery scheme, with the number of positive tests increasing in countries like France, Spain, Germany, and Italy.

British scientists are worried because similar scenes earlier in the pandemic have often foreshadowed a similar UK situation. "It's a fact that when waves one and two hit Europe, they hit us later," a government source told The Times.

This weekend, a new month-long shutdown was enforced in Paris and other regions around the Channel. Scientists are worrying that one in ten of the 35,000 daily cases reported in the capital might be the South African strain. The COVID-19 strain, officially known as B.1.351, is what the scientists are more worried about because it makes the new crop of vaccines marginally less effective.

Pfizer, AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines Effective Against Brazilian Variant, Weaker to South African Variant

Although vaccination provides some protection in the United Kingdom, millions of young people are already on the waiting list and are at risk of contracting the virus. While experts are not advising the Prime Minister to change his current strategy to relax controls, a spike could provoke a shift in thinking about the reopening of shops and outdoor hospitality in the coming weeks.

Professor Neil Ferguson said yesterday that Britain would hold out the South African variant, suggesting that international summer plans would have to be canceled.

A SAGE adviser called 'Professor Lockdown' after his pessimistic forecasting of the first wave scared ministers into a spring shutdown, said the alarming COVID-19 strain was responsible for a 'significant number of new cases on the continent. He did not ask for an immediate travel ban, but he did suggest that strict supervision and quarantining at airports and borders would need to be maintained.

Up to 344 cases of the South African variant have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, prompting surge testing in thousands of postcodes in an urgent effort to find every single infection. It came after a report released yesterday by Oxford University discovered that its COVID-19 vaccine induces seven times fewer antibodies against the South African variant than the initial strain. Pfizer's vaccine yielded nine times less results.

However, antibodies are just one component of the immune response to COVID-19; white blood cells, for example, play an important role. Last month, the head of Oxford's vaccine trials said that catching the South African strain following vaccination would not cause significant illness but would give people the sniffles.

Joe Biden Eyes Mid-May to Start Relaxing COVID-19 Travel Restrictions, Sources Claim

The surge in COVID-19 cases in Europe risk another summer travel

Europe's airlines and travel industry are bracing for a second lost season, as the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is delayed, Reuters reported. On Friday, airline and travel supplies dropped after Paris, and most of northern France shut down for a month, just days after Italy imposed severe business and travel restrictions throughout the world, including Rome and Milan.

The setbacks have affected recovery hopes for the critical peak season, whose earnings help airlines get through the winter months, where most airlines lose money even in good times. Increasing infections in Greece and elsewhere have also harmed the summer outlook, as has several European countries' suspension of AstraZeneca's vaccine due to safety concerns.

This week, some countries reported that they would resume using the AstraZeneca shot after the European Medicines Agency determined that the benefits clearly outweighed the dangers. Airlines that have already accumulated billions in debt face even more pressure, and others will not survive without additional financing. IAG, the British Airways owner, received $1.43 billion in a bond offering on Thursday, claiming that the funds would shield the business from a prolonged downturn.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Receive AstraZeneca Vaccine Shot

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YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. A stable operational situation with no incidents has been maintained along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact of the Armenian state border overnight March 19-20, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress.

According to the information provided by the Armenian National Security Service, the situation has also not changed in Vorotan-Davit Bek section of the Goris-Kapan inter-state road which is under the responsibility of the NSS border troops.

The Armed Forces of Armenia and the NSS border troops control the border situation along the entire length of the border zone and fulfill their tasks.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
By Karolina Tagaris

ATHENS (Reuters) - Mediterranean countries on the frontline of Europe's migration crisis called for more solidarity from EU governments on Saturday and said a proposed overhaul of migration rules did not go far enough.

The EU has fought bitterly since 2015, when over 1 million people, most of them Syrian, Iraqi or Afghan refugees, arrived on its shores, the majority through Greece.

A new pact to tackle the issue was put forward by the European Commission last September but a final deal has yet to be reached.

"In its current format, the pact does not provide sufficient reassurances to the frontline member states," the interior and migration ministers of Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus and Malta said in a joint statement after a summit of the so-called MED5 in Athens.

Arrivals have dropped significantly to about 95,000 people last year, according to United Nations data, most to Italy, Spain and Greece.

The ministers called for more cooperation with origin or transit countries, a centrally-managed European returns mechanism, and relocation of asylum seekers among all member states.

"We cannot have the five Mediterranean member states taking all of the pressure from the rest of the European Union," Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told Reuters.

"We need the solidarity to be mandatory."

The EU's top migration official, Margaritis Schinas, said Mediterranean countries were "forced, by geography, to carry a disproportionately large burden of the refugee crisis".

"Mandatory solidarity" is the most sensitive part of the pact, obliging each country to host some migrants by either accepting migrants, sponsoring their return to countries of origin or offering material assistance on the ground to arrival countries.

The right-wing nationalist governments of Poland and Hungary oppose the plan, even though under the Commission proposal the EU would pay a country 10,000 euros per adult taken in.

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Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said "a lot still needs to be done."

"We'll be asking in Europe for compulsory relocation, even if it's in limited numbers. We've been absolutely in agreement on this," she told Reuters.

(Editing by Christina Fincher)
A Tuscaloosa woman died Friday following a two-vehicle accident that occurred just outside the Tuscaloosa city limits, Alabama state troopers said.

Troopers on Saturday identified the victim as 37-year-old Serrita Monte Turner. The incident occurred about 12:50 p.m. Friday on Joe Mallisham Parkway about two miles west of the Tuscaloosa city limits.

According to troopers, Turner was killed when the 2019 Nissan Versa she was driving was struck by a 2012 GMC Acadia driven by a Tuscaloosa teenager. Turner was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.

The teen and a passenger in the GMC were transported to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa for treatment. Their conditions were not released.

Troopers said the accident remains under investigation.
Sarah Tang, 31, lays flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the Gold Spa following the deadly shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 19, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Randy Park is the son of Hyun Jung Grant, one of the eight victims in the Atlanta spa shootings.

Park set up a GoFundMe to raise $20,000 for him and his brother's financial needs after losing their mother.

Within 24 hours, support flooded in and Park raised more than $1.5 million dollars.

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Randy Park, the son of Hyun Jung Grant, one of the eight victims in the Atlanta spa shootings, said that to him and his brother, his mother was one of their best friends and "the strongest influence on who we are today."

Park, 23, set up a GoFundMe on Thursday to cover his and his brother's needs after Grant, who worked at Gold Spa, was killed by a gunman who targeted three Asian-owned spas on Tuesday.

In under 24 hours, Park raised $1.5 million, blowing past his targeted goal of $20,000, with the donations steadily rising on Friday.

On his GoFundMe page, Park said that his brother and he are currently on their own following their mother's death. His "biggest priority right now is to put my mother to rest and plan out the funeral but due to some legal complications, I am unable to obtain my mother's body," Park wrote.

Grant was one of four of the victims identified on Friday by the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office.

"Any donation will be used as funds for basic living necessities for my brother and I such as food, bills, and other expenses," Park said on GoFundMe.

He also described being in a precarious housing situation, because his mother was the family's primary breadwinner.

"As much as I want to grieve and process the reality that she is gone, I have a younger brother to take care of and matters to resolve as a result of this tragedy," Park said in his call for donations.

People online responded to that call, and Park exceeded the donation goal.

In an interview with NBC News on Friday, Park said that his mother, "spent her whole life just existing for my brother and I."

Story continues

Park described having a tight-knit bond with his mother as the family of three lived in Seattle and then moved to Atlanta.

Grant was "a big kid," Park told NBC News, who had a playful soul and enjoyed listening to disco music.

After the surge in donations, Park thanked those who chipped in on GoFundMe.

"I don't know how any word I write here will ever convey how grateful and blessed I am to receive this much support," Park wrote.

"Thank you everyone and please share whatever care and kindness you have shown here to anyone you know that feels scared or unsure about the world we live in." Park said, "My mother can rest easy knowing I have the support of the world with me."

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The scene at a residential property in Derrycoole Way, Newtownabbey, after police launched a murder investigation (PA)

General view of the scene at Glenville Road, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Stephen Hamilton / Press Eye. 20th March 2021)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

20 Mar 2021 - Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening (Fri 19 March). (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

Scene at a corner property Derrycoole Way and Enniskeen Ave where the PSNI launched a double murder investigation following the report of an incident in Newtownabbey yesterday evening. (Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX)

Police have launched an investigation after the deaths of two women and a man in an apparent murder-suicide in Newtownabbey, north of Belfast.

It is understood that a man stabbed his mother and girlfriend during an incident on Friday night.

The three bodies were found at separate properties in Newtownabbey.

Detectives investigating the double murder say they are linked and they are not looking for anyone else.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell said police received a report of a stabbing incident at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area shortly before 11pm.

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents

Police and the ambulance service were called to the scene where a woman was found dead.

As officers carried out further inquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area, DCI Caldwell added.

An unconscious man was located in the property.

Despite the provision of first aid, the man was pronounced dead.

On searching the property, another deceased woman was located.

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Whatsapp The scene at a residential property in Derrycoole Way, Newtownabbey, after police launched a murder investigation (PA)

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

Police have appealed for people with information to contact 101.

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the community is in shock following the double murder.

The north Belfast MP said: My first thoughts are with the family and friends of the women who were brutally killed last night.

Its important to bear in mind that at the heart of this tragedy are grieving families.

The local community are absolutely shocked and stunned by these killings.

These brutal killings highlight once again the need to oppose all violence against women and the need for a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in the north.

SDLP councillor for Glengormley Noreen McClelland tweeted: Such dreadful news from Newtownabbey this morning. Totally shocked and distressed to hear. Thoughts with the families.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The IRS has made some important changes to the 2020 tax season, less than a month before the deadline.

The IRS has pushed the deadline back for filing federal taxes.

The IRS also determined that the first $10,000 of unemployment a person received will be tax-free.

These changes still need to be approved by Indiana officials before it takes affect.

The Indiana General Assembly will not meet until after the current tax due date has passed.

"If they don't conform to the IRS' law that they passed, there's going to be a lot of amended returns.

We need to get our leaders together and they need to call an emergency session to sort this out," said Michael Perkins, Owner of Larrison Tax Service.
The Kentucky Meat Shower might sound like something you'd find on Urban Dictionary, but it's so much weirder than whatever that 12-year-old who's vaguely heard of sex might come up with. Basically, in 1876, one Mrs. Crouch in Olympia Springs, Kentucky, was just minding her own business, making soap in her yard, when it started raining meat. A lot of it. Enough chunks ranging from snowflake-size to three or four inches wide covered an entire 100-by-50-yard rectangle of land on the family's farm. Mrs. Crouch reported that it had been a cloudless and dry evening, and although it's not clear why (did someone really ask her about that, thinking normal rain clouds just decided to shake things up?), it would turn out to be a good thing she did.

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We're going to attribute what happened next to people's general credulousness in this more innocent time and not any stereotypes associated with the regional community because people ate it. They ate the meat rain. Specifically, the Crouches apparently called two of their friends over, who declared that the meat, which looked like fresh beef, tasted more like venison or mutton.

manfredrichter/Pixabay The family cat helped itself as well.

It was only then that anyone apparently thought to call in any experts on this, and samples of the meat were sent off for analysis with increasingly alarming results. First, the "meat" was identified as a type of harmless cyanobacteria that swells up and turns into a fleshy, gooey mass when it gets wet, and everyone (most of all those family friends) breathed a huge sigh of relief until they remembered that Mrs. Crouch had said it was a dry night and it only appeared on her farm. A local hunter insisted it was bear meat, but everyone just kind of looked at him funny, and after the most credible guy yet, the president of the Newark Scientific Association, took a look at it, we all learned why we don't just pick up chunks of meat off the ground and eat them: He identified it as either horse or human infant. Apparently, the lung tissue of both is indistinguishable.
Officials talk on the phone in front of Gold Spa after a shooting on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Hyun Jung Grant worked "almost every day" to support her two kids, her oldest son told the Associated Press.

Grant's son set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to support him and his younger brother.

There, he described his late mother as "one of my best friends."

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Hyun Jung Grant, one of the eight victims of the Atlanta-area shootings from earlier this week, was a dedicated mother who "worked her ass off" for her kids, her oldest son said.

In an interview with The Daily Beast, Grant's son Randy Park said she had been an elementary school teacher in Korea but had begun working at a spa for "regular immigrant reasons" when she arrived in the US.

"And here in America, she did what she had to do," Park said. "She was a single mother of two kids who dedicated her whole life to raising them."

Grant worked at Gold Spa, one of three destinations hit in a string of deadly shootings Tuesday night.

Speaking with the Associated Press, Park said his mom worked "almost every day" to support him and younger brother.

Park set up a tribute to his mother on GoFundMe to cover living expenses for the two siblings, as well as funeral and legal fees for her mother.

Park in the GoFundMe wrote that his mother was "one of my best friends," adding that she had "dedicated her whole life to providing for my brother and I."

The GoFundMe has so far raised $2.4 million.

Robert Aaron Long Long, a 21-year-old from Woodstock, Georgia, was arrested in connection to the string of deadly shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors. In conversations with the police, Long said the attacks were due to a sex addiction and were not racially motivated.

Six out of eight of the victims were Asian women. Each attack had taken place at three separate Asian-owned massage parlors within an hour of one another on Tuesday.

Police caught Long after a short car chase around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Story continues

Long on Wednesday was charged with eight murder counts and one count of aggravated assault in connection to the three attacks. He was charged with four counts of murder in Cherokee County, where he is from, and four more counts of homicide in Atlanta, where he traveled after the first attack.

So far, the determination is that the crime may not have been racially motivated, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said earlier this week.

"It may be targets of opportunity," Reynolds added. "Again, we believe that he frequented these places in the past and may have been lashing out."

A local Korean news outlet, however, reported that Long shouted, "I want to kill all Asians" as he fired at the victims.

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Britney Spears has recently been the subject of a widely-followed legal battle, as fans rally around her.

And the Grammy Award winner is finding solace in thoughts of simpler times, when she was a beloved budding pop star of the '90s.

She sang her heart out in a throwback video she posted Friday to Instagram, as her mother Lynne encouraged her to get back into singing, amid her 'indefinite work hiatus.'

Good old days: Britney Spears sang her heart out in a throwback video she posted Friday to Instagram, as her mother Lynne encouraged her to get back into singing, amid her 'indefinite work hiatus'

Conservatorship battle: The Grammy Award winner has recently been the subject of a widely-followed legal battle, as fans rally around her (pictured in July, 2019)

The 39-year-old wrote: 'Geez  My mom sent this to me and reminded me that I can sing !!!! She said "You never sing anymore  you need to again !!!!"

'I've actually never watched this performance  it's definitely from a while ago !!!! It's from one of the first trips I took alone ... mostly I just remember saying "WOW Singapore" !!!!!'

She wore a black satin slip dress in the clip, as she sang her cover of The Jets' You Got It All, which appeared on some international versions of her second studio album Oops!... I Did It Again.

It comes amid her ongoing conservatorship battle, after father Jamie Spears, 68, was reinstated last month as her co-conservator, given equal power with wealth management firm Bessemer Trust Company.

Supportive mom: The 39-year-old wrote: 'Geez  My mom sent this to me and reminded me that I can sing !!!! She said "You never sing anymore  you need to again !!!!"'

Solo adventure: She added: 'I've actually never watched this performance  it's definitely from a while ago !!!! It's from one of the first trips I took alone ... mostly I just remember saying "WOW Singapore" !!!!!'

Little black dress: She wore a black satin slip dress in the clip, as she sang her cover of The Jets' You Got It All, which appeared on some international versions of her second studio album Oops!... I Did It Again

. A source recently told ET Online that Britney's attorney Samuel Ingham is expected to file a petition and ask the court during their next hearing on April 27 to name Jodi Montgomery as his client's permanent conservator

Jamie was named his daughter's co-conservator in 2008, giving him medical and financial control of her estate, and back in December, the conservatorship was extended to September 3, 2021.

Jodi served as Britney's temporary conservator back in 2019, when Jamie stepped down after suffering a near-fatal colon rupture.

At the time, she cancelled her planned second Las Vegas residency Britney: Domination, and she announced an 'indefinite work hiatus.'

Britney's conservatorship was recently explored in the explosive Hulu documentary The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears.

Legal woes: It comes amid her ongoing conservatorship battle, after father Jamie Spears, 68, was reinstated last month as her co-conservator, given equal power with wealth management firm Bessemer Trust Company (pictured in November, 2017)

New conservator: A source recently told ET Online that Britney's attorney Samuel Ingham is expected to file a petition and ask the court during their next hearing on April 27 to name Jodi Montgomery as his client's permanent conservator

Health complications: Jodi served as Britney's temporary conservator back in 2019, when Jamie stepped down after suffering a near-fatal colon rupture (pictured in April, 2018)

Explosive doc: Britney's conservatorship was recently explored in the explosive Hulu documentary The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears

It will also be the subject of a BBC Two documentary from BAFTA-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar, which premieres later this spring, as well as a Netflix true crime documentary from Erin Lee Carr.

The Toxic artist has reportedly considered telling her own side of the story, following Oprah Winfrey's groundbreaking interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

A source told ET Online: 'Britney has considered speaking out about her past, mostly because she doesn't feel others should tell her story. She's always hated doing interviews but if she ever takes that step, Oprah would most likely be her first choice.

'At this point, there is no plan in the works for her to do an interview but when she does, there will be steps Britney would need to take before speaking out.'

In her words: The Toxic artist has reportedly considered telling her own side of the story, following Oprah Winfrey's groundbreaking interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

So in love: Not long after her post on Friday, Spears' boyfriend Sam Asghari shared a video of them celebrating Parsi New year
COVID-19 Vaccine: Nepal gives emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin

International

oi-Deepika S

Kathmandu, Mar 20: Nepal''s national drug regulatory authority on Saturday granted emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech''s Covaxin, becoming the third country to approve India''s indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine.

A meeting of the drug advisory committee of the Department of Drug Administration decided to issue a conditional emergency use authorisation to India''s homegrown government-backed vaccine Covaxin, the third COVID-19 vaccine authorised in the country,The Kathmandu Post reported.

COVAXIN, which demonstrated an interim vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent in the Phase 3 clinical trials India, was approved for emergency use in India in January and Zimbabwe cleared it early this month.

China says will study mandatory Covid-19 vaccine rule to Indian students

Bharat Biotech had applied for emergency use authorisation for its vaccine in Nepal on January 13. Of the three applications filed on January 13, the department had first granted emergency use authorisation to Oxford-AstraZeneca on January 15.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under the name of Covishiled, was then accordingly brought to the country.

Nepal granted emergency use authorisation to BBIBP-CorV vaccine, developed by China's Sinopharm on February 17.

Emergency use authorisation (EUA) is granted for some drugs and vaccines by authorities during a declared emergency when officials can make a judgment that the drug is worth releasing, even without all the evidence that would fully establish its eectiveness and safety.

Such a decision is taken when there's enough evidence to suggest that patients have benetted from the drug/vaccine.

Nepal has used one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by India in January under grant assistance in sync with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. It is now also awaiting another consignment of 2 million AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The latest approval comes as authorities in Nepal said they were suspending their vaccination campaign because of a lack of supply.

Nepal has reported 275,750 cases and 3,016 deaths so far, according to government data.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 13:31 [IST]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Another Manhattan school received a suspicious envelope filled with a white powder, the NYPD announced Friday night.

Starting March 10, six schools in Manhattan have received similar-looking white envelope containing a white powder, and after testing the substance was found to be non-hazardous, according to police.

All the envelopes have had a U.S. flag stamp and a handwritten address in block letters  one of which police released a photo of on Friday.

Police have not made clear which schools were targeted, and no information on any potential suspects has been released.

The NYPD provided materials to help identify suspicious packages.

The NYPD provided materials to help identify suspicious packages. (NYPD bulletin)

Leave the mail or package where it was found. Do not disturb. Do not try to clean the substance, the department wrote. Immediately call 911.

Cordon off the immediate area, the guidelines said. Isolate exposed persons to a designated area away from the substance and await further instructions.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the NYC Terrorism Hot-Line: 888-NYC-SAFE. Anyone receiving a suspicious should call 911.
State authorities on Thursday charged four more officers with assaulting inmates during a violent incident at New Jerseys womens prison in January, bringing the total number of officers criminally prosecuted over the beatings to eight.

The charges are the latest development in a widening scandal at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, which was singled out for violence, sexual abuse and exploitation of inmates by staff in a scathing report from the U.S. Justice Department last year.

The four senior correctional police officers were alleged accomplices to the other officers previously charged over the Jan. 12 incident, in which teams donning riot gear marched into the prisons restorative housing unit and began forcibly removing prisoners, authorities said.

More charges may be coming, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Thursday.

I promised to hold everyone accountable who played a role in this horrific incident, at any level of the prisons hierarchy, and were working hard to meet that promise, Grewal said in a statement.

The officers charged Thursday were part of extraction teams sent to conduct prisoner removals from cells to search for contraband. They each face counts of aggravated assault and official misconduct because the force used against the inmates was excessive and the officers had a duty to stop it, Grewal said.

The charges stem from the beating of two prisoners. Authorities have not named the women, but NJ Advance Media has identified them as Desiree Dasilva and Emmalee Dent after speaking with the prisoners and their families.

Other inmates have come forward with complaints of sexual assault and severe injuries. Grewals office said it is still investigating those claims.

Authorities allege Officer Jose Irizarry, 37, of Paterson, rushed into Emmalee Dents cell, hit her with his shield and then did nothing as another criminally charged officer punched her 28 times.

He faces two counts of official misconduct because he was involved in both cell extractions, according to court documents. Official misconduct charges carry a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence.

Irizarrys attorney, Peter Till, said Thursday he would vigorously defend against what we regard as baseless charges.

The three others  Courey James, 31, of East Piscataway; Gustavo Sarmiento Jr., 27, of Maywood and Tara Wallace, 35, of Somerset  are all accused of using excessive force and failing to stop or report the violence committed by their fellow officers.

An attorney for Sarmiento declined to comment. Attorneys for James and Wallace could not immediately be reached.

Wallace allegedly cuffed Desiree Dasilva and then aided and abetted other officers who beat her as the restrained inmate begged them to stop. She suffered a broken orbital bone in her skull from the attack.

Desiree Dasilva was needlessly struck in the face by corrections officers, breaking her orbital bone, state prosecutors said.

The January incident has led to demands for the ouster of state Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks from state lawmakers. Gov. Phil Murphy has said he was sickened by the allegations and commissioned an outside investigation into what happened but has said not addressed potential reforms.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Blake Nelson contributed to this report.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com.

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Still Small Voices: The South Bay Childrens Choir

Anthropologists and linguists argue about whether people sang before they spoke, or spoke before they sang. We will probably never know, nor do we need to. We are certain, however, that the alliance between words and music, and its profound effect on the human heart, is proven every day in countless homes, schools, churches, and concert halls.

Singing isnt just an ornament of a refined civilization. It isnt tinsel on the Christmas tree, but an element of the tree itself. Martin Luther said that he wouldnt hire a schoolmaster who couldnt sing. Classes in his school began with a song, not to entertain the children, but to unify them in communal celebration of humankinds highest ideals.

Goethe believed that singing was the first stage of education: The simplest pleasure, as well as the simplest teaching is made alive and imprinted on us through song; even what we communicate about faith and moral belief is expressed through song, as stated in Thomas Manns essay Tolstoy and Goethe.

Today our young sing very little. They tap a screen and have others sing to them. They are passive and solitary. Our present society, with its so-called communication technology, is in fact a society blighted by the technology of isolation.

Children live in an artificial screen world. They talk to people in a different location on FaceTime, or watch something on a video screen, oblivious to the moon that might be rising over the trees above them, or the people they pass on the street. They listen to recorded music and dont know how to make music themselves. They have at their fingertips the arrogant commercial music of ugliness, violence, and sexual indulgence.

A Good and Kind Feeling

What a wonderful thing it is, therefore, that in 1996 Diane Simons and her colleague, the late Jane Hardester, decided to create the South Bay Childrens Choir so that children could do what is most necessary for them to do: join with their peers, dedicate themselves to a strict discipline, and create something beautiful.

The choristers are given a world-class musical education, promoting the highest standard of excellence. The quality of sound they produce, their intonation, blend, and phrasing, are every bit as fine as the celebrated Vienna Boys Choir or the Kings College Choir.

The performance below of Brahmss Die Meere (The Sea) is as exquisite and pristine, as heartfelt and profound, as any performance by any ensemble in the world: All winds are asleep upon the mirror of the waters; cool shadows of the evening shelter the weary 

Based at El Camino College, the choir is composed of children from various communities in the Los Angeles area and has become one of the premier vocal ensembles on the West Coast. It has performed at the Los Angeles Music Center and New Yorks Carnegie Hall, and appeared at equally prestigious venues in Europe at major choral festivals. It also enriches its own community by visiting retirement homes and participating in fundraising events for religious and arts groups.

Through this musical experience, children come to see and celebrate what is traditionally called the pure, the bright, the beautiful. This brings to mind the last pages of The Brothers Karamazov, when Alyosha speaks to the schoolboys: Even if we are occupied with important things, if we attain to honor or meet with great misfortunestill let us remember how good it was once here, when we were all together, united by a good and kind feeling.

In her directorship of the South Bay Choir and her many years as a choral director in schools, Diane Simons has united countless young souls in a good and kind feeling, giving them something they will never forget, a view of higher things, a moral compass. Great music doesnt fade. It plants itself in the mind, it takes root.

Simons, who retired at the end of 2020, has spent her life developing her gifts, studying voice, attending concerts, visiting museums, reading, and asking for help from experts in related fields. She had her battles to fightraising funds was difficult, dealing with the red tape of school and government policies even more so.

Diana Simons, the director of the South Bay Childrens Choir until her retirement in 2020. (Gordon Dressler/Courtesy of South Bay Childrens Choir)

There are also personal issues to be considered. She overcame cancer, she lost loved ones, but nothing affected her quiet and persistent work of more than six decades, the kind of work that holds societies together.

He who sows with many a tear, shall reap with many a song, writes the American poet George Burgess. The songs Diane Simons brought into the hearts of so many youngand the many who are no longer youngwill have their harvest as well.

Raymond Beegle has performed as a collaborative pianist in the major concert halls of the United States, Europe, and South America; has written for The Opera Quarterly, Classical Voice, Fanfare Magazine, Classic Record Collector (UK), and the New York Observer. Beegle has served on the faculty of The State University of New YorkStony Brook, The Music Academy of the West, and The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. He has taught in the chamber music division of The Manhattan School of Music for the past 28 years.
Having spent the day rushing around to prepare the house for visits from her four godchildren, and enjoying her twice daily countryside walks, Jennifer Kinnis found a quiet five minutes to log on to her GP's website, intending to book a routine asthma check-up.

As the 74-year-old from Margate, Kent, scanned her medical records, under the heading of 'medical conditions', she came across two words, in bold, that made her pause for breath: MODERATELY FRAIL.

Her initial reaction was shock  she had no idea how this diagnosis had been made. There had been no recent check-up or conversation. Shock was quickly replaced by anger.

Indeed, Jennifer, who is a keen skier, says she was 'absolutely furious'.

To most of us, the word frail conjures up images of a hunched old figure, bent double with a walking stick. To Jennifer, the label wasn't simply inexplicable  it felt like a slap in the face.

Pam James, 75, from Somerset, was understandably 'horrified' to learn that, according to the NHS, she had been branded 'moderately frail'

She says: 'I cannot see how it is acceptable to rate me as frail.

'My asthma is very mild  I am on the lowest dose of medication. I use my pump so infrequently that I recently had to get it replaced because it had gone out of date.

'I have never smoked, drink alcohol only in moderation and have always been the correct weight, with healthy blood pressure.'

Yet, there it was, in black and white. Somehow it had been decided that she was frail. And Jennifer's case, as bizarre as it sounds, is far from unique.

Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday's resident GP, Dr Ellie Cannon, responded to a letter detailing a similar story, explaining the reason for this classification.

Since 2017, medical records of all patients over the age of 65 have been automatically scanned by a computer program called the Electronic Frailty Index.

A rating  fit, mildly frail, moderately frail or severely frail  is then written into each patient's medical notes.

The calculation is based on a host of factors including age, weight, health conditions and medication.

The idea is that by spotting frailty, GPs will be better able to help those patients at risk of suffering certain problems in future, such as falls at home, fractures and even side effects of certain medicines.

But scores of angry readers who have written to this newspaper have said the label, which they'd discovered only when logging on to their online medical records, came as an unwelcome shock.

And, many have argued, one that's also completely unwarranted.

Part of the problem may stem from Covid restrictions placed on general practice.

A true diagnosis of frailty should be made, according to the guidelines, only after a detailed face-to-face assessment has been done.

This can be done at the surgery, during a routine check-up or by a specialist team who can visit patients at home.

But with GP services increasingly forced to prioritise urgent cases and adopt online services, it seems this key step may not have been happening as it should.

Many readers, like Jennifer, say they were never seen. And in nearly all cases the rating was given without their knowledge.

Pam James, 75, from Somerset, says she loves nothing more than pounding a treadmill  she owns one  and playing hide-and-seek with her five-year-old grandson Luke.

Last year, during the first lockdown, she raised hundreds of pounds for the cancer charity Penny Brohn UK  for which she is a volunteer  by hula-hooping for five to ten minutes every day for 26 days in a row.

Since 2017, medical records of all patients over the age of 65 have been automatically scanned by a computer program called the Electronic Frailty Index. Pictured: Stock image

A rating  fit, mildly frail, moderately frail or severely frail  is then written into each patient's medical notes. Pictured: Stock image

And, pre-pandemic, she would travel to San Francisco up to four times a year  on her own  to see her son and other two grandchildren.

So young-at-heart Pam was understandably 'horrified' to learn that, according to the NHS, she had been branded 'moderately frail'.

Pam spied the words on her GP's computer screen, while attending her regular asthma check-up in 2019. Prior to that, she hadn't actually seen her doctor for years.

By the definition used by the health service, moderately frail means she is likely to 'have difficulties doing outdoor activities, problems with mobility and need help with tasks like washing and dressing'.

Meanwhile, it says that someone with severe frailty will have 'weak muscles' and 'walk slowly, get exhausted easily and struggle to get out of a chair or climb stairs. Typically they are housebound, or only able to leave their home with help.'

None of these things are true of Pam. She says: 'I questioned the doctor as soon as I saw it on the screen, and he said I shouldn't worry, that it was 'just a classification'.

'But I went home and looked up frailty online  there were pictures of elderly people with Zimmer frames. That's not me.

'Apparently, it's helpful to find out who is frail as those people might need help with shopping. If anything, I need help to stop me shopping.'

Although she has mild asthma, takes blood pressure tablets and has osteopenia  a mild type of bone thinning that affects three million Britons  she says: 'At the moment I feel healthier than ever. I lead a very active life. It would be laughable if it wasn't so insulting.'

Retired health visitor Jean Eaton, 76, tells a similar tale. 'I was accidentally given a copy of my frailty score form.

Covid Q&A: Will vaccine shortage lead to lockdown, and are Brazil cases rising? I've heard there will be a shortage of vaccines next month. Does this mean lockdown will be extended? A: On Thursday it was announced that the under-50s may have to wait until May for a Covid vaccine. NHS bosses stated the age group must not be given an appointment for their first dose of the jab due to a 'significant reduction' in supplies 'commencing 29 March'. The shortage is understood to be partly due to delays in the delivery of five million Oxford-AstraZeneca doses, coming from India. It sparked worries as the easing of lockdown depends on the vaccine rollout continuing successfully, according to Boris Johnson's action plan. However, the Prime Minister assured there would be 'no change to the next step of the roadmap'. He said: 'There will be slightly fewer doses in April than in March but still more than were received in February. This still enables us to hit the targets that we have set.' He added that all adults over 50 and the clinically at-risk would still be offered a vaccination by April 15, while all adults will be offered a first dose by the end of July. What is happening with the Brazil variant? Is it spreading? A: Two weeks ago, a manhunt was launched to find a mystery person who was infected with the Brazil Covid variant, which is thought to be less responsive to the vaccine. The unidentified case was eventually located in Croydon, South London. At the time, there were six cases of the Brazil variant in the UK. Since then the number has risen to 12, with two identified last week  in the West Midlands and North London. The West Midlands case was quarantined on arrival at Birmingham Airport, while the Haringey case was picked up during local mass testing and ordered to isolate, with their contacts traced. This would suggest that, so far, the Government's containment strategy is working to keep the variant in check. But experts say it is important not to be complacent about the danger. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, said: 'This is a highly infectious variant which is fuelling the surge of infections in Brazil where daily deaths have now exceeded 2,000. 'That's why it is even more important to do everything to stop the spread of this variant by ensuring strict border control measures and efficient surge testing to trace and isolate infected individuals and their contacts.' Advertisement

I was shocked,' she says. 'The doctor who completed it was a junior GP and had only seen me once when he treated me for an infected horsefly bite.

'I was in the surgery less than five minutes and wasn't asked any questions about my health and capabilities.'

She adds: 'The form stated I currently needed help with shopping and walking. Perhaps I had limped in because of the infection in my leg, but I was  and still am  very fit with no serious health problems. I walk, shop, drive, go on holiday, write books, volunteer at an HIV centre.

'I understand the importance of a frailty score. But for a doctor to categorise patients without discussion, when the patient is perfectly capable of answering all questions sensibly and honestly, is not only unfair but denies the patient the opportunity to discuss their own concerns for the future.

'I feel very strongly that it's wrong to make an assumption about my state of health and file that as an accurate document. The whole thing was made up.'

Helen Knock, 71, from Derbyshire, recently noticed her mild frailty rating when logging on to view blood test results on her NHS app.

'I can assure you that it is rubbish,' she says. 'I can walk further than a younger person and I look after and run around after two grandchildren, aged nine and 12.

'I am perfectly capable of cleaning, cooking and doing all the laundry and ironing.

'This rather smacks of Big Brother and needs bringing into the open before someone is denied treatment on these grounds.'

Shockingly, some readers say their frailty rating has been used to inform clinical decisions.

Susan Bullen writes: 'My husband and I received a letter last March informing us that we were both 'mildly frail'.

'The letter then asked if we would like to sign a Do Not Resuscitate form (declining medical treatment in an emergency) in case we were hospitalised. It made us both feel sad and worthless  we refused to sign.'

Another reader says she found the label insulting. She adds: 'My 75-year-old husband discovered he had been classed as frail when he tried to book an appointment online. Yet he's in good health and can walk some distance without even getting out of breath.'

She was told by the GP surgery her husband was automatically classed as moderately frail once he turned 75.

Few would argue true frailty isn't a cause for concern.

Older people with multiple health problems are more likely to be taking many different drugs a day  increasing the risk of side effects that can lead to injury due to falls or confusion.

The cost to the NHS of treating people with frailty-related issues  including fractures and mental health problems including dementia  is thought to be a staggering 6 billion a year. With an ageing population, that figure is likely to grow.

The NHS was actually the first health system in the world to adopt the bold strategy of actively looking for signs of frailty before it becomes a problem. But something has clearly gone awry, if our readers' letters are anything to go by.

What has puzzled many is how they qualified as frail when they are living healthy, independent lives.

Even prior to the pandemic, practices were discovered to have been using the Electronic Frailty Index program to come up with a frailty diagnosis, then claiming Government funding for a full diagnostic check.

The computer assessment would be expected to score roughly one in ten over-65s as moderately frail, and three per cent as severely frail. As a result of the faulty assessments, NHS England issued a warning to all surgeries that using the computer program alone was 'a breach of contract'.

They warned: 'The [Electronic Frailty Index] is a risk-stratification tool and not intended to be used for diagnoses. Confirmation of frailty should be undertaken with a gait speed test (a measure of walking speed) or a timed get-up-and -go test (the time it takes to get up from a chair, walk three metres and walk back).'

Have you been unfairly branded frail? Write to us at: health@mailonsunday.co.uk Advertisement

Even Professor Martin Vernon, former national clinical director for older people at NHS England  who helped set up the frailty-screening programme, says: 'The Electronic Frailty Index is not a diagnostic tool and no diagnosis should be attached to a patient until they have been directly assessed.

'But we know some GPs do use it to make a diagnosis, and that's wrong. The software has not been validated for diagnosing patients so it is inappropriate. You have to see the patient in person if possible.

'It's absolutely crucial to get this right because wrong diagnosis of frailty could lead to wrong decisions being made.'

A faulty diagnosis of frailty could mean patients put at risk of ill-heath through, for example, unnecessary changes to their medication regimes.

Dr Tom Yerburgh, a member of the British Medical Association's GP committee, says that the vast majority of family doctors use the frailty screening system appropriately.

'This isn't GPs cutting corners,' he says. 'In most cases it will simply be that the software has automatically added the frailty risk to the patient's records, so that doctors can then help them.

'But I can well understand that patients may get upset at seeing it there when they had no idea. For many people, being called frail is almost an affront, implying that they have somehow failed to age well. It's a highly emotive word.'

Hula-hooping Pam James clearly feels so. She says: 'I think they need a new system, if what happened to me is anything to go by. I don't look 75, I don't feel 75 and I am certainly not frail.'
I have read an article published on peacefmonline entitled We Have A Tradition: Alan Is Next! in which the author sought to promote Mr. Alan Kyerematen by making incoherent propositions based on erroneous inferences.



Even though it is nearly impossible for someone to factually prove how Mr. Kyerematen is a better choice to lead the NPP than H. E. Dr. Bawumia, I still find it very necessary to make commentary on some erroneous concepts introduced by the author of the above article.



Reading through the text, it will be realized the author spent over two-thirds of his write up basically narrating how Mr. Kyerematen, as alleged, founded the Young Executive Forum (YEF) in the 90s to help the party win power in 2000.



He concluded by drawing a very weak inference from Mr. Kyerematens role above that Truly, truly I say unto you, in a crucial election like that of 2024, unless a man knows the roots of NPP he cannot carry it into victory.



Whatever he meant by ...knowing the roots of the NPP.. only him can tell but it is obvious that H. E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who is considered the favorite to the lead NPP In 2024 cannot be accused of being ignorant of the roots of the NPP. In fact, it will be laughable and actually ignorant for someone to make such an assertion. The reality is that, an important consideration that has always been key for choosing leaders in the NPP is someone who identifies with the tradition of the party, committed to serving the party and most importantly stands the greatest chance of winning the ultimate for the party.



The case of Chairman Freddie Blay who for sometime identified as an Nkrumaist but was elected to lead the party as vice chairman and later chairman is one that readily comes to mind. He has since his election from Vice Chairman and then to Chairman proven to be very instrumental to the victory the party secured in the 2016 and 2020 elections.



Furthermore, the population of Ghana is largely a youthful population mostly abreast with post 2000 political trends in the country. It is this same youthful population that are always at the forefront in defending party and Government policies. During the period after the year 2000, political trends became more complicated than it was because of advancements in technology.



The world became more of a global village particularly with the proliferation of the internet and advanced media techniques. Thus, the impact of personalities on the party and country post 2000 is what is considered very crucial to the future.



To this end, H. E. Dr. Bawumia has with admiration proven to be an indispensable asset for the NPP and Ghana post 2000. He has been the focal point of a majority of the youth of the party and a major source of inspiration for them that there is hope for the future. Due to his industrious and impeccable economic prowess, he was made a Deputy Governor for the central bank under the regime of President Kufour.



On this score, it is an undeniable fact that one of the success points of the Kufour Government was the Economy and the Bank of Ghana which is an important arm in the management of the Economy contributed significantly to this success.



Furthermore, the ingenuity brought to fore by H. E. Dr. Bawumia ever since he was chosen by H. E. President Akufo-Addo as a running mate in 2008 is something not denied even by the enemy from the NDC. Prior to his nomination, the NPP always performed poorly in the then 3 Northern regions. But a careful look at the trajectory of the votes following subsequent elections from 2008 shows how the nomination and hard work of Dr. Bawumia proved to be the magic that gradually transformed the North into a battleground for both parties.



This singular advantage is something that should not be lost since a mistake in this direction is likely to take us several years back into the days the NDC could literally go to sleep and yet comfortably win the now 5 regions in the North.



In 2012 when the party had to go to court over the election results, H. E. Dr. Bawumia was someone who put his credibility on the line to mount the witness box presenting the case of the party. This case which was the first of its kind saw the brilliance of Dr. Bawumia and impeccable credibility as a witness win the opinion of 4 Justices of the Supreme Court.



To appreciate how the credibility of H. E. Dr. Bawumia is unmatched, read the comments of the SC Justices on the 3 witnesses presented by the NDC in the 2020 election petition.



Yet again prior to the 2016 elections, H. E. Dr. Bawumia became a household name in Ghana following how he literally forced the campaigns to be one based on issues particularly the economy. His beautiful and factual lecture series was one of the biggest arsenal used against the Mahama administration. To the surprise of many, he earned accolades from top NDC people who were expected by the NDC foot soldiers to challenge him.



Again his hardwork saw the NPP improve massively in the North. And truly truly, many people who claimed neutrality actually voted the NPP because of the potential the Akufo-Addo Government had with Dr. Bawumia being the head of the Economic Management.



His efforts in Government since we won power in 2016 is something that is not hidden. Most progressive policies and digitization of the economy/institutions were spearheaded by him. In fact it will take us volumes of articles to enumerate the achievements of Dr. Bawumia as Vice President and head of the economic management team.



The author surprisingly and in a self contradictory statement said he previously campaigned against Alan Kyerematen on the basis that it was not time for him and that this is now the time for him.



I shudder to ask, who decides what time is for individuals of the party? And has he forgotten President Kufour was not the second in the primaries of 1992 but emerged flag-bearer in 1996?. Or he has forgotten the roots of the party he claims favors Alan Kyeremanten? Furthermore, what time will we say will be for the likes of Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku? Or the author is using two different scales to weigh his favorite and other people?



As a committed member of the party, I believe it will be in the interest of the future of the party to avoid the incoherent and self-contradictory path taken by the author of the article which is the subject of this rejoinder. This great party has a huge potential to break the 8 year chain which has somehow characterized our democracy since 1992. H. E. Dr. Bawumia is someone who even the opposition NDC acknowledge within themselves that he has a huge potential of breaking the 8.



As a member of the party, ask yourself why the attacks of the NDC is always directed at the personality of H. E. Dr. Bawumia and not any other person. In fact, most of their serial callers and social media commentators occasional campaign for Mr. Alan Kyerematen. The NPP should make hay whiles the sun shines by using Dr. Bawumia to break the 8 in 2024 In Shaa Allah. It is possible to break the 8 and I am very confident the NPP will give H. E. Dr. Bawumia the chance to achieve this important goal for party and country.



Thank you







Written by:

Dr. Issah Imoro

([email protected])

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A Drogheda designer has been responsible for a splash of colour in Kells, Co Meath, commemorating 1,500 years since the birth of St Colmcille and his association with the monastery at Kells. Inspired by the vibrant colours of the Book of Kells, the Colmcille 1500 light-scape was unveiled last week, to celebrate World Book Day, and was the handiwork of graphic designer Stephen Dullaghan, owner of Spudgun.

The colourful projection of St. Colmcille the Scribe can be seen on the front wall of the Kells Municipal office and will continue throughout March.

'I got involved with this through Mark Smith, Art Director and Coordinator of the Kells TypeTrail,' expains Stephen. 'Kells TypeTrail is an annual festival celebrating typography and lettering as a modern art form. Each year one word is translated into a variety of languages reflecting the diversity of Kells community. The word for 2020 was 'Journey' and this year's word for 2021 is 'Identity'.'

Works are created through a series of collaborations and workshops with students from Kells Primary Schools, St Killian's Primary School, Mullagh, local, national and international artists and poets. The TypeTrail is essentially art installations dotted around Kells forming a trail which may be followed on a map.

'Meath County Council's Arts Office commission me on an annual basis to brand and promote it through posters, brochures, online media and a website,' adds Stephen. 'This will be its 12th year of which I have been involved with the last seven years'.

Stephen says the design is based on a mix of woodcut style graphics and stained glass where you have a ripple etched effect, which he felt was an appropriate way to visualise the Saint in a setting where he is scribing or illuminating a book or manuscript.

'The motifs such as the doves, harp, thistles, shamrock and Gaelic designs represent where he is from, where he is, as in this depicted location and his associations, as with the dove, he adds. 'Also as with tradition from the period you have the fish representing a throwback to the time where depictions of animals hunting and being hunted were common in such books like and similar to that time.'
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The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lucky Irabor, has solicited the support and trust of the National Assembly for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies in their task of defending the nation against adversaries.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Onyema Nwachukwu, a brigadier general, in a statement on Friday, said that Mr Irabor made the appeal when the House Committee on Defence paid an oversight visit to the Defence Headquarters on Thursday.

Mr Irabor urged members of the House of Representatives, particularly, the House Committee on Defence to continue to show understanding and trust to the armed forces and other security agencies, who are burdened with the responsibility of keeping the country safe.

He commended the committee members for their zeal towards ensuring the AFN executes its operational mandates and other engagements.

The CDS assured the legislators of the commitment of the military in actualising the directive of the Commander-in-Chief towards ensuring the country is safe and secured for its citizens.

He pledged to continue to work tirelessly in ensuring the needed security was provided for Nigerians.

According to him, in recent times, the troops have been recording tremendous successes in the various theatres across the country.

The AFN under my watch, will continue to build the combat readiness of its personnel to optimally perform their constitutional role as professional men and women, the general said.

The Chairman, House Committee, Babajimi Benson, pledged the readiness of the committee to provide the requisite support for the AFN to succeed in tackling the security challenges bedeviling the nation.

Mr Benson expressed hope that the visit would yield the desired goal of improving security of lives and property, as well as service delivery in the military.

(NAN)
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In 2013, Aniqua Wilkerson quit her job as a teacher in search of a more creative occupation. She found her niche as a crochet doll artist, creating dolls of color for her brand, My Kinda Thing.

But she said she soon learned there wasnt much diversity in the world of fiber arts.

As a doll maker, Wilkerson said she wanted to create models that celebrated the many shades of brown that can be found in the diversity of African-American skin tones. However, her search for brown yarn often hit a few roadblocks. It was hard to find the colors she was looking for. Many of the products sold by yarn companies didnt seem like they were marketed to creators of color and companies began to discontinue selling their brown products, the Bronx-based maker said.

Specifically with handmade dolls, they were overwhelmingly white, not Black at all, Wilkerson said. So you wouldnt see cornrows or Afro puffs, or Afros or dreadlocks, any of those things.

What people started doing was making a Black doll, just finding some brown yarn. (They) didnt care what shade of brown. There was no particular focus on what the hairstyle looked like. It was pretty much the same doll that was white, but with brown yarn.

After years of attending fiber arts conferences, sharing her concerns and pitching solutions, it seemed as though the larger community was not all too concerned about representation and inclusivity, she said.

That is until Wilkerson came in contact with the Carlstadt-based Lion Brand Yarn Company, sharing her thoughts on the state of the industry with company ambassador and fifth-generation family member Shira Blumenthal.

It got emotional explaining how it feels to kind of be invisible, Wilkerson said.

That 2020 conversation led to changes at Lion Brand. Last week, the company announced the launch of its new line of brown yarns, called Skein Tones  a play on the term that means loosely coiled yarn. It comes in 12 different shades of brown, from light to dark.

Lion Brand Yarn Company, based in Carlstadt, launched "Skein Tones"  a new brand of yarn that comes in 12 shades of brown.

It was a conversation that Lion Brand was already having, Blumenthal told NJ Advance Media. We wanted to bring awareness to this. We wanted to fill this gap that was missing.

Its empowering for (Wilkerson). Its empowering for other makers. Everyone benefits.

For Wilkerson, its a dream come true and the payoff for years of campaigning for change.

(My) mission statement has been...to promote pride and confidence in children of color, particularly girls, or even more specifically, Black and brown girls, in efforts to combat self hate, Wilkerson said.

Lion Brand is a family-owned yarn and knitting distribution company that has been in operation since 1878. The company sells its products on its website and to other retailers.

It has a history of community-based outreach.

In 2020, in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, it launched #StitchAroundTheWorld  a virtual gathering of knitters, crocheters and fiber crafters that encouraged togetherness, as the pandemic affected people around the globe. In January, the company highlighted the mental health benefits of knitting on its Facebook video series The Shi Show, hosted by Blumenthal.

You can learn more about the company and the new line of yarn here.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Tennyson Donyea may be reached at staffbyline@njadvancemedia.com.
The militia wing of the Biafra Nations League (BNL) has issued a quit notice to companies operating under Nigeria in the Bakassi peninsula. ...





The militia wing of the Biafra Nations League (BNL) has issued a quit notice to companies operating under Nigeria in the Bakassi peninsula.

The group alleged that Nigeria gets 60 percent of the oil in the region and uses the money to sponsor the Nigerian military against secessionist.

A BNL commander alias Aso Rock accused the federal government of killing armless pro-Biafra supporters in Imo State and Rivers State.

The native of Bakassi stated that Nigeria no longer had rights over the area since its territorial ownership was ceded to Cameroon.

We have asked the oil companies paying tax to the Nigerian government to evacuate, no deadline was given as we can chase them away anytime.

They cannot be drilling our oil to be developing the north and sponsoring military operations against us.

Not even Cameroon can stop us otherwise we will engage in full-blown militancy. Boko Haram is fighting four countries without being defeated.

BNL further warned groups in the Niger Delta rejecting Biafra not to be an obstacle to the freedom of the South-East people.
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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced China's "lack of transparency" Friday following the brief trial of Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians detained by Beijing for more than two years.

A police vehicle arrives at a court building in Dandong, a city in northeastern China's Liaoning Province, Friday, March 19, 2021. China was expected to open the first trial Friday for Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians who have been held for more than two years in apparent retaliation for Canada's arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ken Moritsugu

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced China's "lack of transparency" Friday following the brief trial of Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians detained by Beijing for more than two years.

Analysts keeping a close eye on the events also sharply criticized the closed-door proceeding for Spavor, as Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, faces his own court hearing Monday.

Canada said its consular officials were refused permission to attend the trial of Spavor, an entrepreneur with North Korea-related business, who is accused by China of stealing state secrets.

Jim Nickel, the Canadian Embassys deputy chief of mission, said he was told by Spavors lawyer that the hearing in Dandong ended at noon Friday after two hours. No verdict was announced.

Nickel declined to give other details, citing rules on protecting Spavors privacy.

Kovrig, also accused of espionage, served as a diplomat in China until 2016 and had been working for the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental agency.

China's actions against Spavor and Kovrig are widely seen in the West as retaliation for the late 2018 arrest by Canadian authorities of Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive with Chinese firm Huawei Technologies, so she can be extradited to the U.S. to face fraud charges.

At a news briefing in Ottawa, Trudeau said Friday the arbitrary imprisonment of Spavor and Kovrig was completely unacceptable, "as is the lack of transparency around these court proceedings."

The secretive nature of the Spavor hearing means "it becomes extremely difficult to make judgments around whether or not the trial was fair," Trudeau added.

"I can certainly say that in Canada we are a country of an independent justice system that values transparency as part of the process in terms of ensuring that justice is fair and done properly.

"China needs to understand that it is not just about two Canadians, it is about the respect for the rule of law and relationships with a broad range of Western countries that is at play with the arbitrary detention and the coercive diplomacy they have engaged in."

The lack of a verdict in the Spavor case is essentially a signal that Chinese officials are waiting for instructions from the political level to decide what to do, said Ben Rowswell, a former diplomat and current president of the Canadian International Council, a non-partisan think tank.

"So it's terrible news for Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig," he said. "But it's a terrible day for China as well."

Ultimately, the cases will be about how China is perceived by the rest of the world, Rowswell said. "And they do seem to be digging themselves an ever-deeper hole."

China's actions toward the Canadians are intended to send a message that Beijing is no longer the little kid at the global table and "it's not going to be treated that way," said Bessma Momani, a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo.

"I think there's a lot of showmanship in what we're seeing coming out of China today," she said. "And unfortunately the two Michaels got very much caught in the middle of a larger global puzzle for show of power."

Canada's top priority remains securing release of the two men, Trudeau said. "We will continue to work tirelessly to bring them home as soon as possible."

In a statement posted on its website, the Intermediate Peoples Court of Dandong in the northeastern province of Liaoning Province said it had held a closed-door hearing against Spavor on charges of spying and illegally sending state secrets abroad.

It said Spavor and his defence lawyers were present for the proceedings and the court would pronounce a sentence at a date "determined in accordance with law."

Outside the courthouse, Nickel said Canada still held hope that Spavor and Kovrig could be released through joint efforts with the U.S., whose Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan were holding their first face-to-face talks with China's top diplomats in Alaska.

So we're hopeful that, in some measure, this trial may too lead to their immediate release," Nickel said.

China's Foreign Ministry denied any wrongdoing in the handling of Kovrig and Spavor's cases, attributing the timing of their trials to little more than coincidence.

Global Affairs Canada learned only Wednesday that Spavor's court hearing would proceed Friday, one day after the meetings began in Alaska.

"It is not linked to China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing Thursday.

He insisted Friday the men's cases have been handled appropriately, adding that since Spavor's case purportedly involves state secrets, "it is not heard in open court and no one is allowed to sit in on the trial."

For more than two years, Canada has been caught in a trilateral tug of war with the U.S. and China.

Meng is facing fraud and conspiracy charges linked to what prosecutors say was an elaborate effort to evade American sanctions against Iran.

Justice Department officials have refused to say much about the case beyond the fact that they continue to seek her extradition to the U.S.

Critics and allies alike have described the detention of Kovrig and Spavor as retribution for Canada's role in detaining Meng, and experts see little hope for their release so long as she continues to face charges.

In a statement Thursday, charge daffaires Katherine Brucker of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa said Washington was "deeply alarmed" by the prospect of trials for Spavor and Kovrig.

"We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Canada in calling for their immediate release and continue to condemn the lack of minimum procedural protections during their two-year arbitrary detention."

State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said Friday the U.S. was concerned by China's decision to hold a closed court hearing.

Trudeau expressed thanks to "our many, many international partners, friends and allies for their solidarity and support."

Canadian officials will continue to be in close contact with the men's families "during this difficult time," he added.

"To their loved ones, know that today and every day Canadians are with you and thinking of both Michaels."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2021.

 With files from The Associated Press
New Delhi: The standoff at the Line of Actual Control involving the Chinese troops at eastern Ladakh was discussed during the meeting of India's Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in New Delhi on Saturday.

The press statements released by both the sides after the hour-long meeting was over stated that the dialogue was on "free and open Indo-Pacific", a term which is being used increasingly amid China's aggressive actions in the region.

US Defence Secretary General Lloyd Austin said, "As the world faces a global pandemic and growing challenges to an open and stable international system, the U.S.-India relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region."

India's defence minister Rajnath Singh highlighted that both sides "discussed steps to be taken to realise full potential" of foundational agreements--LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA for mutual benefit and agreed to pursue "enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command."

LEMOA or Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement and COMCASA or the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement are foundational agreements which Washington has signed with its close allies with an aim to increase military interoperability and transfer of equipment. Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) provides for sharing unclassified geospatial information.

The India-China standoff witnessed a booldy skirmish at the Galwan valley which resulted in the loss of 20 Indian soldiers. In February 2021, disengagement at the Pangong lake was initiated by both the countries but there is no clarity on disengagement at Gogra, Depsang, and hot spring yet.

During the meeting, cross border terrorism from Pakistan and the recent joint statement of Indian and Pakistani militaries on observance of Ceasefire pact of 2003 was mentioned by the Indian side during the discussion with the American side.

Last month, India and Pakistan issued a rare joint statement after DG MO talks to cease hostilities at the line of control(LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Last year was the worst year in terms of ceasefire violation at LOC.

The ongoing situation in Afghanistan also came up for talks, with India reiterating that the peace and reconciliation efforts in the country should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

At the press statement, Secretary Austin said, "India... is an increasingly important partner amid todays rapidly shifting international dynamics."

Other areas which were mentioned and discussed during the talks include, information-sharing, logistics cooperation, artificial intelligence, and cooperation in new domains such as space and cyber, military to military cooperation.

US Defense secretary Lloyd Austin is the first high profile official of Joe Biden administration to visit India since the change of guard in Washington around two months ago. India was the last leg of his visit to the Indo-Pacific region which included a visit to Japan and South Korea.
UPDATE: PATH has resumed normal service from the Hoboken station into the city.

Riders were asked to take NJ Transit into Manhattan early Saturday after PATH service was suspended, according to the Port Authority.

PATHs Hoboken to 33rd Street line was suspended about 7 a.m. due to police activity at 23rd Street in the city, the Port Authority said in an alert.

NJ Transit was cross-honoring PATH tickets in Hoboken and at Penn Station in New York, officials said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
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Imagine that youre a physician in the middle of the global pandemic. The life-saving vaccine has just come out, and your job includes administration of the vaccine. At the end of your day, you have 10 extra vaccine doses in an opened vial that will need to be discarded if not used. You know there are not enough vaccines available yet to vaccinate everyone who needs this vaccine as soon as possible, and COVID-19 cases are surging. You go out of your way to spend hours after work seeking patients who meet vaccination criteria and driving around town administering the remaining doses before the doses expire.

In most circles, you would be praised for going above and beyond the call of duty to do something life-saving for someone else. As a physician myself, my gut response is that this action embodies the physician spirit. Ethically, it feels like it was the right thing to do. In December 2020, when cases were surging and when so many of us were desperate for vaccines, it was an atrocity that there were unused doses that needed to be discarded.

However, in this story, the story of Dr. Hasan Gokal, the dialogue was quite different. A few days later, this physician was fired from his public health job, and was subsequently faced with criminal charges for stealing a vial of the vaccine. His case was also brought to the Texas Medical Board.

Health care is complicated. We exist in a sea of regulations and protocols, which we hope are well-intentioned and in the best interest of patient care and safety. That said, most physicians will tell you that the practice of medicine is both a science and an art. In our day to day practice, there is a lot of grey and white, because ultimately, were dealing with peoples lives, and every case is different. Our training emphasizes always prioritizing patient care, even when it comes at our own personal sacrifice.

Medicine is a calling. Over the past year, we have heard so many stories of health care heroes putting themselves at risk to care for patients and providing care in suboptimal situations. Policies and protocols take time, understandably, but in the interim, the immediate needs of patients have needed to be addressed. Until March of last year, it would have been grossly against protocol to ever reuse a mask or perform a procedure without adequate personal protective equipment, and yet, we were encouraged to do so by both our institutions and our government because patient care necessitated it. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the loss of the lives of many health care workers. Despite this, weve continued to show up to work every day with a commitment to serve our patients.

On the day that Dr. Gokal administered the shots, there were no written protocols for what to do with the unused vaccine doses, nor was there a waiting list for vaccine doses. He called a public health official in charge of operations to inform them of his plans to find 10 people to receive the remaining doses, and was given an OK.

After reviewing the unique aspects of the case, the Texas Medical Board dismissed the investigation, and a Harris County judge dismissed the original criminal charge, pointing out in his statement that he rejected the imposition of criminal law to a doctors administration of a vaccine during a public health emergency.

However, the Harris County District Attorneys office continues to explore criminal charges. They anticipate presenting this case to a grand jury, who would determine whether a criminal charge is appropriate. As Dr. Gokal faces pending criminal charges, his job options are limited.

This story has shook the physician community, who has rallied behind Dr. Gokal and expressed widespread support for the spirit of his actions. It is hard not to perceive the decision to pursue prosecution as a lack of recognition for the good faith efforts the health care community has made to do its best throughout a year of extraordinary circumstances and uncharted territories. When one of our own governing bodies, the Texas Medical Board, an institution that is familiar with the intricacies of health care delivery over the past year, has chosen to drop the investigation, continuing to pursue a criminal case for an attempt to serve patients sends a very clear message to physicians. Unfortunately, the message is that we are not safe from threats to our careers and personal lives when making well-intentioned efforts to serve our patients in these extraordinary circumstances.

On one hand, there has been a rush to laud health care workers for their sacrifices during the pandemic, and the coining of the term health care hero, and yet on the other end, we have failed to protect health care workers. Over the past year, health care workers have faced retaliation for asking for adequate personal protective equipment and for informing the public about what they were seeing in hospitals, despite doing so in order to educate the public about the seriousness of the disease. Many health care workers have lost their lives. Burnout and mental health concerns have been exacerbated in a population where burnout was already a very real threat to the workforce, and many are considering leaving the field. Physicians have been furloughed, fired, or asked to work for less pay. Requests to bolster and support the physician workforce through expansion of residency programs and granting of visas have not made significant progress. We have not provided support to the families of essential workers who have lost their lives in this fight. When the medical community asked for liability protections to cover deviations from normal protocols and requests to perform duties outside of their normal scope of practice, they were not offered liability protections on a national level.

It is no wonder that each member of the physician community can see a little of their own story in Dr. Gokals story.

To be clear, nobody was hurt. In fact, 10 patients received life-saving vaccines that would have otherwise been discarded. This happened in the midst of a global pandemic where these vaccines were widely sought and not readily available.

If we as a nation dont stand behind Dr. Gokal, and in fact present him with criminal charges, which physician will go above and beyond the next time they have the opportunity to help?

Nisha Mehta is a radiologist and founder, Physician Side Gigs and the Physician Side Gigs Facebook group. She can be reached at her self-titled site, Nisha Mehta, MD, and on Twitter @nishamehtamd.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Wexford County Council has listed some 172 projects it hopes to complete by 2023 as part of its annual Three-Year Capital Programme.

Details of the plan were revealed at last week's County Council meeting and include the development of Trinity Wharf (28,156,238), the Enniscorthy Flood Relief and New Bridge (50,700,000), the Oilgate to Rosslare motorway (390,000,000), and the proposed Rosslare Harbour to Waterford Greenway (30,000,000).

Of the 172 projects, 108 require local funding with 62 of those having already confirmed funding. A further 46 projects within the programme await a decision.

Cllr George Lawlor queried when construction would begin on the extension of Wexford Arts Centre, a project estimated to cost in the region of 3,012,000.

Acting Director of Services, Amanda Byrne had some good news for the Labour councillor.

'We received confirmation of funding for the Arts Centre today so as soon as we have the green light on that we're ready to go,' she said. Responding to Cllr Lawlor's other questions regarding the dredging of Wexford Quay and the Rosslare to Waterford Greenway, Ms Byrne said, 'The Crescent Quay is at the design phase at the moment, the tender has gone out and there's a query on that tender. We've been preparing an application to An Bord Pleanana (ABP) for the Greenway and we're about 4-6 weeks away from lodging that.

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'The councillors in Waterford took a motion on it a few weeks back, so we just need to see lie on the land on that. The 30 million is an estimated figure, we're a long way off having a start date.'

Cllr John Hegarty meanwhile questioned how many of the projects included on the list were likely to come to fruition.

'Is this our wish-list or our reasonably realistic idea of projects we're going to get funding for?' he asked.

'This programme is realistic as we can make it,' replied Head of Finance Annette O'Neill. 'It does contain projects that are progressing and already moving forward. These are on our to-do list and will be done if funding becomes available to us.'

Given the parlous state of the local economy, Cllr Michael Sheehan said it might be better to wait until life had resumed some form of normality before the council committed to any plans.

'The opportune time is coming to us in the autumn, when we're back in session, back in the chamber,' he said. 'We need to do sit down then and work out what our economic priorities are for the next few years because this Three-Year Plan, I won't go as far to say it's a wish-list, but it's all reliant on money becoming available.

'If anything happens, a relapse of the pandemic, the whole plan goes out the window. We need to look at our economic priorities so we are in a position to move on in the next couple of years.'

Councillor Joe Sullivan was alarmed to see that the projected estimate for the new Gorey District Park had almost doubled since first mooted.

'Every time I see a figure it's going up and up and up, if it continues to go up we'll be up to 3 million,' he said. 'It started at 1.5-1.8 million and it's almost up to 2.8 million now, that is concerning, it is public money.'

Ms Byrne informed him that the council were 'probably 85-90 per cent complete' with that project and said the important thing was that they 'deliver the best possible project'.

One of the most expensive projects on the programme is the Enniscorthy Flood Relief and New Bridge, however, for Cllr Jackser Owens, its lack of progress was a source of huge frustration.

'This is becoming a joke now, it's 33 years on the table in the council. It must be the longest project on the council,' he said. 'There was 3.1 metres of water going down the River Slaney last week, I would like the County Manager to ring Minister Micheal McGrath and see would he sign off this for our people.'

However, Cathaoirleach Cllr Ger Carthy felt council officials had done all they could on that project.

'It says the Enniscorthy Flood Relief and New Bridge is getting 50.7 million funding allocation, so I think that's moving in the right direction, our officials have done trojan work on that,' he said.

'If there's issues around the sign off in Dublin our staff here can't be crucified for the sins of others.'

But Cllr Owens argued he himself had signed the contract on that project with the OPW '10 years ago', noting, pointedly, that 'a lot of water' had gone under the bridge since then.

Observing that the proposed greenway from Wexford town to Curracloe had been removed from the list, Cllr Gary Laffan asked why the council weren't attempting to link the county's biggest town with the 'jewel in our tourism crown'.

'The view we took there was to concentrate on the Wexford to Rosslare one first,' explained Ms Byrne. 'The Curracloe Greenway is not off the table but at the moment the priority is the other one.'

Continuing the greenway theme, Cllr Pat Barden asked why the council was doing a feasibility study on a Rosslare to Waterford greenway when it was currently waiting on a decision regarding the return of the railway from Rosslare to Waterford.

'Feasibility studies cost a lot of money, could we not put it hold until we get a decision on the railway?' he asked.

'We have permission from CIE to apply for planning (for the greenway) but that's as much as we have,' replied Ms Byrne. 'We can only work with the information we have. What we're doing at the moment is preparing the planning application because that was the decision that was taken over two years ago. But the reopening of the rail-line itself has gained a lot of momentum over the last few months.

Lastly, Cllr Fionntan O Suilleabhain questioned whether the council could source funding for the EU towards the coastal protection of Courtown Beach.

'Getting the beach back is the number one priority there, I'm sure there must be funding streams from Europe available for that type of work,' he said.
pediatrics

Providing Intensive Care for Children in Nigeria

by Morgan Leafe, MD, MHA

When Dr. Odiraa Nwankwor embarked on a career as a pediatrician, he never imagined the ripple effect his career choice would later have in his home country of Nigeria. Little did he know that he would eventually improve the health of countless Nigerian children in a lasting and substantial way: by creating, funding, and training the staff at Nigeria's first Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Dr. Odiraa Nwankwor

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa, with just over 200 million residents. But surprisingly, there are no PICUs in the country. Realizing that children weren't getting the care they so desperately needed, Dr. Nwankwor knew he had to help. "This is a very big moral burden," he said. He wanted to "change the trajectory" of pediatric healthcare in Nigeria.

Nigeria does not have the same healthcare resources as the U.S. Instead, children with severe injuries or illnesses are cared for in the same setting and with the same resources as less critically ill children. However, due to Dr. Nwankwor's persistence, dedication, and creative grassroots efforts, this model of care may become a thing of the past, as one Nigerian hospital prepares to open its first PICU.

How It Began

Dr. Nwankwor has had a passion for global health throughout his career. He attended medical school at the University of Nigeria - Enugu Campus and then completed his Masters in Public Health (MPH) at the University of Lagos and worked as a general practitioner in Nigeria.

The new PICU: before and after

Following this, he moved to Dublin, Ireland, to work as a Senior House Office in Emergency Medicine. He then completed his pediatric residency at the Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn, NY, a program of New York University. It was after this that he began working at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Deleware.

In 2011, he received a second MPH from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. While there, he met a number of students with similar interets in humanitarian care, and these connections would play an important part in his future work.

After receiving permanent residency status (a "green card") in the U.S. in 2012, Dr. Nwankwor went on to complete a Pediatric Critical Care fellowship at the University of Maryland before returning to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, where he is now a member of the teaching faculty.

As he settled into his new career and reconsidered his dream of bringing pediatric critical care to Nigeria, Dr. Nwankwor knew that he had the ideas, passion, training, and understanding of his country's medical system to get a program off the ground. But what he didn't have was the equipment, money, or team of trained professionals. After careful consideration, he used his knowledge of the local healthcare system and culture in Nigeria to dictate the next steps in making his dream a reality.

Why Critical Care Is Critical

The infrastructure and funding of Nigeria's healthcare system differ in many ways from the U.S., where Dr. Nwankwor has been practicing for the last 16 years. Nigeria spends about 3.8% of its GDP on healthcare, compared to 17.7% in the U.S. Despite signing on to the Abuja Declaration with other African nations in 2001 and committing to increasing healthcare allocations to at least 15% of the annual budget, Nigeria, as with most of the signing countries, has not reached this target.

To date, much of the humanitarian effort related to child health in Nigeria has focused on primary prevention. This makes sense, as initiatives like mass vaccination campaigns can have a considerable effect on decreasing childhood mortality. These primary prevention efforts are vital, but they do not address all child healthcare needs and should be viewed more as a starting point than a finish line. Even children who receive ideal primary preventive care in the form of vaccines, well-child care, and nutrition can still require critical care later in childhood as a result of unpreventable asthma, diabetes, or trauma.

Supply, Personnel, Support, Space (SPSS)

The long road to project completion began with an interesting first step. Before even having space or personnel in Nigeria, Dr. Nwankwor began asking his colleagues in the U.S. how to obtain the necessary PICU equipment. He spoke with his department chair, Dr. Meg Frizzola, and Nemours Global Health Services Medical Director Dr. Chris Raab. Through them he learned of a grant offered by Nemours, which he applied for and was awarded. The $27,050 eventually funded travel costs for U.S. healthcare workers to travel to Nigeria to set up the unit and train local staff.

Dr. Obinna Onodugo and Dr. Nwankwor.

Next, he connected with Joel Brown of respiratory services at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children and asked if there was any unused equipment in storage the hospital would be willing to give him. With that request, Dr. Nwankwor gained a reputation everywhere he went as a "treasurer hunter" for gently-used medical equipment. This task would come to occupy much of his free time over the next 3 years.

Dr. Mike Goodman at Cooper University Hospital, where Dr. Nwankwor is also on staff, connected him with employees who were also able to donate supplies. Dr. Nick Slamon led him to PromptCare, a respiratory care company, that donated LTV ventilators, blood pressure measuring equipment, and feeding tubes -- donations worth more than $40,000. Eventually a connection was made with the General Electric company, which donated four cardiac monitors. Suddenly, the Health Place for Children Initiative was on its way.

It may seem unusual that Dr. Nwankwor set about collecting equipment before he even had a place to house his PICU or a staff to run it, but he knew from the beginning this was the best way to approach the project. He understood that people would need to see that a PICU could be a reality in Nigeria before he could get any local buy-in.

Dr. Nwankwor explained that the classic approach for these types of projects in resource-constrained areas is to first enlist staff, but his variation from this widely-accepted mantra proves that one size does not fit all. Instead, he advocates for a model he has since termed SPSS (supply, personnel, support, space). These are the four elements that are essential for this type of project and he believes that project leaders should pursue them in the order that best suits the individual needs of a community and its organizers.

Next Steps

As generous donations began flowing in throughout 2016, Dr. Nwankwor had to rent a storage locker in Cherry Hill, New Jersey to house them all. Volunteers came to box up the supplies, and he used crowd-sourced funding to pay for shipping to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nwankwor reached out to a medical school classmate in Nigeria who is now the chief medical director of the hospital where they trained. Because of their personal connection and trusting relationship, Dr. Obinna Onodugo was more than happy to support all aspects of the project. "He knew if I said I was going to do something that I was going to do it," Dr. Nwankwor said. Down to the smallest details, Dr. Onodugo and his colleague, Professor Tagbo Oguonu, came through. "I told him I wanted the windows changed so that dust would not be coming in. I also told him I wanted to pipe in oxygen, air, and suction through the wall. He did every single thing that I asked him to do."

Perhaps the most important part of building this partnership in Nigeria is Dr. Nwankwor's philosophy that "we are doing this with them and not for them." Every step he takes toward the finished project is designed to empower the local community to take charge of the project and prepare to lead it themselves.

Bringing It All Together

In 2019, after years of planning and fundraising, Dr. Nwankwor was finally ready to take a team from the U.S. to Nigeria to set up the PICU space and train the local staff. His team consisted of one surgeon, three pediatric intensivists, two respiratory therapists, and four nurses. They transformed the space and provided education on the use of new equipment for monitoring and care.

The team at the University of Nigeria

There is a crucial concept about the nature of pediatric critical care that Dr. Nwankwor wants to instill in both the staff at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and those in other resource-constrained areas currently lacking a PICU: pediatric critical care often does not require substantial equipment and intervention. He wants to create a "paradigm shift" in how pediatric critical care is viewed. For instance, he has pointed out that up to 80% of pediatric patients in an ICU setting do not require a breathing tube and ventilator. More often, patients require more intensive monitoring and clinical vigilance than is typically provided on a standard pediatric unit.

Unfortunately, shortly after Dr. Nwankwor and his team visited the new PICU and brought it one step closer to opening its doors, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world and created an unanticipated delay in their ability to finally provide patient care. Now that the pandemic is showing signs of subsiding and the worry that their equipment might be needed to provide care to COVID-19 patients is passing, they have decided to start admitting their first patients in the near future.

Becoming A Local Model

Although it may seem that Dr. Nwankwor's work is done now that the local staff are prepared to begin providing care to critically ill children, he instead views this as the completion of the first step in a much longer journey. Nigeria has six geopolitical regions, and his dream for the country is to have a PICU in each of these regions by 2025. By starting with the region and hospital with which he is most familiar, Dr. Nwankwor aimed to create the most successful model possible to inspire other regions and healthcare workers. This provides the "proof of concept" that he knows is essential to build interest and enthusiasm for a new program.

With the dream of growing bigger and better comes the need to continue to train personnel and keep them up to date in the specialty of pediatric critical care medicine. There are currently two programs in Africa that train pediatricians to be pediatric intensivists, located in South Africa and Kenya. By arranging for Nigerian physicians to train at these programs, Dr. Nwankwor has created a pipeline for continued professional development and staffing for current and future Nigerian PICUs.

The growing opportunities for telemedicine and remote learning for staff further enhance future capabilities and learning capacity for the new PICU. Additionally, native Nigerian colleagues in the U.S. who practice other pediatric specialties that do not currently have a presence in the region have approached Dr. Nwankwor with an interest in following his lead to establish their specialties in the area. This may lead to far-reaching consequences that improve the health of Nigerian children in unexpected ways.

Inspiring Ongoing Dedication

In addition to the planned expansion to other regions of Nigeria, Dr. Nwankwor also hopes to encourage continued involvement in the project by Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children and Cooper University Hospital, which have been instrumental in the success to date. "It is still perceived as my project, but I want it to be an institutional project," states Dr. Nwankwor. He would like to see the support shift from that of personal support of him to support of the program as a whole.

Many U.S. children's hospitals, including Duke University, Seattle Children's Hospital, and Boston Children's Hospital, sponsor and support global child health projects, including PICUs. This provides invaluable opportunities for staff and trainees on both sides to exchange ideas, teaching, and resources. Partnering with a U.S. hospital provides the infrastructure to maintain these units well into the future and continues to achieve Dr. Nwankwor's meaningful initial goal "to see kids who would have otherwise died live because of this system."

Ripple Effect

"I tell people that you need to do something that is much more than yourself," Dr. Nwankwor said. Without realizing it, his actions have motivated many others. Dr. Nwankwor describes how his mother recently became acutely ill in Nigeria with what seemed to be seizures, but there was no EEG machine at the local hospital for diagnosis.

When a fellow physician who lived far away learned of his mother's situation, he gladly packed up his own EEG machine and took it to the hospital where Dr. Nwankwor's mother was located. He told Dr. Nwankwor that he wasn't doing it because they were friends, but because he had seen the effect of Dr. Nwankwor's local efforts and felt inspired to do the same to help someone in need. Although he remains humble about his efforts, this sense of inspiration Dr. Nwankwor offers to those in his orbit will undoubtedly continue to motivate positive change in the healthcare world and beyond.

About the Author

Dr. Morgan Leafe is a physician, medical writer, and medical editor living in Santa Barbara, CA. She can be reached at morgan@morganleafemd.com or through her LinkedIn page.

About Angels in Medicine

Angels in Medicine is a volunteer site dedicated to the humanitarians, heroes, angels, and bodhisattvas of medicine. The site features physicians, nurses, physician assistants and other healthcare workers and volunteers who reach people without the resources or opportunities for quality care, such as teens, the poor, the incarcerated, the elderly, or those living in poor or war-torn regions. Read their stories at www.medangel.org.

Interested in writing for Angels in Medicine? Know about an Angel we should interview? Drop me a note at harryllama@yahoo.com.

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As a parent, of course, you probably know well the personality of your children. From their weaknesses to their strength down to the things they are capable of and not. If you choose to be the better advocates for students, your children would be more courageous knowing they have someone who got their back. Let's take a walk on our tips for parents to become effective and better advocates for students.

READ: Down Syndrome Advocate Mom Shares How to Find Joy Amid Uncertainty

Tips parents may find helpful to become effective advocates for students

Understand what it means to advocate

As a parent, when you think that you know your child well, it will give you the confidence to believe that being their voice comes very quickly. Being an advocate will become simply speaking up for your concerns and questions for your child's sake. Because as a parent, you know what they need.

In being better advocates for students, you must express yourself to what best suits you and how the recipient understands you better. Better advocates don't need to be noisy or need to speak in front of a large audience. Being a voice depends on how well you can relay your concerns. You can lobby peacefully or with a single or few people, such as your child's instructor or co-parent.

Know the people you are dealing with

To become better advocates for students, one of the tips is to connect with educators and administrators. As a parent and advocate, it is essential that you regularly communicate with your child's instructor, so you will know what's going on with your child's studies. Be a volunteer inside the classroom and assist with school activities if necessary just to be updated.

ALSO READ: Mom Says Schools Should Let Children Retake Tests Especially Amid Pandemic

Be educated

Be educated, especially in learning how school meetings, for example, are being handled. Schools often keep records of their arrangement on the school webpage, visit it and study the person you will deal with. Then, be knowledgeable about the school's meeting activities, especially with the public meetings, so that you can become active and aware.

Be prepared; make sure to make your speech or script ready in advance.

It will help if you are prepared before the event. Make sure to make a list of things you want to remember and the most important things you need to voice out. Sometimes nervousness can take away all that's in your mind, so a small note goes a long way. Those advocates with a lot of public speaking experience also need an outline to keep them on track while they're in the spotlight.

Never feel ashamed to speak up for your child.

You might be hesitant to participate in your child's education, but when your child has their concern, they can't voice out, then be the voice for them. It might even seem going too far for you, but it is never overstepping in speaking for rights.

It is always acceptable and never impolite to express yourself or the concern of others. Teachers want their students to succeed too. Teachers will recognize that families have a wealth of knowledge to share that can be of assistance.

READ MORE: Parents Warned to Be "Vigilant" as Schools Begin to Reopen
Mr Pious Vincent Abakah, a renowned philanthropist has donated 15 packets of roofing sheets and 20 boxes of roofing nails to persons who were affected by a rainstorm at Sefwi-Asafo in the Wiawso Municipality of the Western North Region.



The incident which occurred a couple of weeks ago has rendered over 700 residents of the Sefwi-Asafo community homeless as the storm-ravaged their buildings.



Considering how disturbing the situation, the Queen mother of Asafo, Nana Ataa Adwoa Ampomah II, who also doubles as the Ankobeahemaa for Wiawso Traditional Area made a call to well-meaning individuals and corporate organizations to come to their aid.



In response to the call, Mr Pious Vincent Abakah has donated packets of roofing sheets and nails to the victims to enable them to have a place for shelter.



The Queen mother upon receipt of the items could not hide her gratitude from the rapt response. In her speech, Nana Ataa Adwoa Ampomah II narrated her amusement as to how Mr Pious Vincent Abakah quickly responded.



As part of his contribution to the victims, Mr Pious Vincent Abakah who is the Board Chairman of Sefwi-Asawinso Senior High School also donated an amount of GH2,000 to the school to be used on some maintenance works.



Additionally, Mr Pious Vincent Abakah called upon all natives and well-wishers to come to the aid of these victims, adding that, the government cannot do it all and that the collective efforts of individuals will go a long way to bring relief to the victims.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified the man who died in a Painesville house fire earlier this week.

Timothy Allen Dagnan, 63, died in the fire that happened about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday at a two-story apartment building on Mentor Avenue near Hayes Street, the fire department previously said.

Dagnans cause of death is asphyxia caused by carbon monoxide (soot inhalation), according to the medical examiner.

Officials are still working to determine the cause of the fire which destroyed the building. The property is valued at more than $98,000, officials determined.

The Painesville Fire Department received a call about the fire and got to the building four minutes later.

Firefighters got word that one man was in one of the apartments and began to search the building, but were severely hampered by hoarding conditions and a partial roof collapse, the release says.

The department got the fire under control about 4 a.m.

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A widow who a year ago lost her husband when he was poisoned with dry ice at her 29th birthday party has married her new lover in the Maldives.

Popular Instagram influencer Ekaterina Didenko showed the beach ceremony to her 1.7 million followers.

Her husband Valentin Didenko, 32, was killed alongside two others from acute carbon dioxide poisoning after he threw 25 kilograms of dry ice into a sauna pool to create a dramatic steam show at her party in Moscow.

Instagram influencer Ekaterina Didenko, left, was left devastated when her husband Valentin, right died at her 29th birthday party after he threw 25kg of dry ice into a pool at a spa killing himself and three others

After Valentin's death, Ekaterina, left, started a relationship with 22-year-old actor Vlad Chernykh, right, and the couple appear to have got married in the Maldives

Within three months of the IT specialist's death, mother-of-two Ekaterina underwent a boob job and started a relationship with younger Vlad Chernykh, then 22, an actor.

Her latest pictures show the couple appearing to wed on a pandemic getaway trip to the Maldives.

She wore a bridal dress and he wore a white shirt and shorts.

A video shows them frolicking in the tropical ocean.

The influencer won congratulations but also expressions of surprise and shock from her fans - but she was ambiguous about whether the pair actually tied the knot.

Her followers were divided on whether she had wed Vlad, now 23, or posed in a photo shoot with her lover.

'While I am enjoying life on a beautiful island, people who are not interested in their own personal lives try to marry me off, say I am pregnant, and probably name our unborn child,' she said.

She denied forgetting about her tragic husband while at the same time admitting she is in love with her new man.

'During this year, there was not a single day when I did not think or was not reminded of what happened with my husband and the others who died,' she said.

'It's impossible to forget.

'Today will forever be the day of memories of that life, which, unfortunately, cannot be returned.

In the aftermath of her husband's death, she tried to console herself by undergoing breast augmentation surgery

'My birthday is now a really sad holiday.

'Yes, nothing can be returned.

'Yes, you need to live on.

'And thank God, I have someone to live for.

'But these thoughts don't make it any easier.'

As he lay dying, she live posted from a nearby room at the hospital, leading to a wave of criticism.

Afterwards, a Moscow psychologist who examined her said she 'is so immersed in the virtual world that it is difficult for her to realise where reality is - and where not'.

She later denied her breast surgery was intended to attract a new man.

'Some people think I am enlarging my breasts for someone,' she said.

'I am doing it for myself.

'I want to look in the mirror, and to like the reflection.'

Ekaterina has had a 'complex' about her breasts since childhood, she said, and had agreed with her husband to do the surgery after their hoped-for third child.

With her life in 'smithereens' she decided to go ahead.

She posted: 'I totally do not regret that I decided on surgery.

'The pain will go away in a few days, but the beautiful breasts will remain.'

The social media star is a trained pharmacist who gives advice on medicines and life
A cowboy hat is left inside an empty ballroom at the Conservative national convention in Halifax on Aug. 25, 2018. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)

OToole Pledges Conservatives Would Restore One Million Jobs Within a Year If Elected

OTTAWAConservative Leader Erin OToole unveiled elements of his election pitch to Canadians Friday, seeking to ease his partys jitters that theyre without an offering solid enough to woo voters away from the Trudeau Liberals.

His marquee speech to the partys policy convention contained what he billed as a recovery plan that would within one year restore one million jobs lost to the COVID19 pandemic.

At the same time, a Conservative government would tackle some of the other weaknesses the pandemic has exposed or created in society, OToole promised.

The Tories would increase mental health funding to the provinces and beef up domestic production of pharmaceuticals and vaccines, all while winding down existing stimulus programs and getting the country set on a course to eliminate the deficit within a decade.

Together, we will give Justin Trudeau the fight of his life, OToole said, according to a prepared text of his remarks.

Because there is one thing the Liberals fear more than anything else: a Conservative party with the courage to grow, to be bold, and to change. And thats the Conservative party that many Canadians are waiting for.

OTooles one million jobs plan mimics a similar promise made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last fall, when the Liberals pledged to create that same number of jobs.

The Liberals have since been rolling out program spending they say is designed to do it.

OToole suggested his plan would be spurred on by incentives for small business and by assisting the hardesthit sectors of the economy, as well as the women and young people who have suffered the most.

OToole, who was elected leader last August on the strength of a promise to stay close to the partys conservative roots, sought again Friday to reach out beyond that faction.

He reiterated his campaign victory speech that his party will be one where all Canadians can find a home, and especially union members disenchanted by the New Democrats.

The NDP scoffed at the idea, pointing out that the previous Conservative government, which included OToole, was no friend of the unions, having voted for bills that made it harder for people to join unions and protected corporations, and was opposed to raising minimum wages.

When it comes to having the backs of working people, just like Justin Trudeau, Mr. OToole says a lot of nice things, but he has fought against the needs of working people every step of the way, the party said in a statement.

OToole also made a direct play to potential voters in Quebec, reiterating that only the Conservative party can advance their interests in Ottawa, not the Bloc Quebecois.

Its also time for the party to get serious on climate change, OToole said.

We have now fought and lost two elections against a carbon tax because voters did not think we were serious about addressing climate change, he said.

And I will not allow 338 candidates to defend against the lie from the Liberals that we are a party of climate change deniers.

With most research saying some element of carbon pricing is essential to help Canada hit its emissionsreductions targetswithout spending a small fortune to do itthere have been questions about how or whether the Conservatives would stick by their promise to axe it.

On Friday, OToole reiterated his party would scrap part of it, but not the whole thing.

We will scrap Justin Trudeaus carbon tax on working Canadians, he said.

What will replace it is in the works. Party members did debate several resolutions Friday on the issue, including one that would enshrine the fact their party believes that climate change is real.

The Liberals suggested not much will change for the Tories.

As the Conservative convention debated whether climate change is real, Mr. OToole himself confirmed in his speech that hell do nothing and continues to oppose putting a price on pollution, said MP Pam Damoff in a statement.

While Mr. OToole has no plan to invest in the middle class and wants to take Canada back, Liberals are focused on helping Canadians through this global pandemic and doing everything it takes to keep Canadians safe, healthy, and supported.

The convention gathering is held roughly every two years, meaning the next one is likely to come well after the next election.

If OToole fails to win a majority government, hed face a leadership review by the membership, which could end up launching a race to replace him.

On Friday, the party made a major change to how that contest would run.

Previously, all 338 ridings in the country were allocated 100 points, and how many points a leadership candidate receives is based on what percentage share of the overall vote they received in the riding.

But thats been tweaked in favour of a system that will see each riding allocated 100 points or one point per vote cast, whichever is less. So, if there are only 40 votes cast from a riding, there would only be 40 points up for grabs.

MP Garnett Genuis, who had proposed the change, said ridings with small memberships cant be allowed to have an outsized influence on the race.

The goal of the change, he said, was to ensure leadership candidates get out and hustle to grow the party.

The point system was an issue of contention when the Conservative party was formed in a merger of the Progressive Conservatives and Canadian Alliance, and has been fought over at nearly every convention.

It was implemented instead of a onemember, onevote approach as a way to ensure leadership candidates didnt just focus on areas with strong membership numbers but got support across the country.

Leading the charge on the points approach was the leader of the PC party at the time, Peter MacKay.

He ran against OToole last year and lost.

By Stephanie Levitz
Popular actress, Biodun Okeowo has warned fans to stop comparing her daughter with that of her colleagues in any way. The curvy actress caut...





Popular actress, Biodun Okeowo has warned fans to stop comparing her daughter with that of her colleagues in any way.

The curvy actress cautioned one of her followers on Instagram, who commented on her post.

The follower had said that other celebrities do not train their kids in the right way, thereby allowing them to expose their bodies.

Im super proud of you, thanks for rightfully training her, not exposing her body like other celebrities daughters do. Its a sign of giving her good home training. You will surely reap the fruit of your labor on her in Jesus name the Instagram follower wrote.

Responding, Okeowo said, Thanks for your comment my darling sis but I will appreciate you commend her and leave it at that. I sincerely dont appreciate it when my colleagues children are compared to my kids or talked about in a derogatory manner.

The fact that she dresses this way does not make her a super child; it is the mind that matters and relationship with God.
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A young boy was shown no mercy in a savage attack by a schoolgirl as he tried to protect himself under a tree.

The Year 8 student at a troubled school in central Queensland was repeatedly whacked in the head and kicked in the face on Tuesday.

Disturbing footage shot in an alley shows the defenceless boy sitting down with his cap pulled over his head.

Suddenly the girl kicks him square in the head before leaning in to punch him in the side of his face under the hat.

Disturbing footage has emerged of a schoolgirl cruelly bashing a boy

Another video shows him cornered under a bush cowering in fear with a black bag pushed up to protect part of his head.

The girl again leans in and pushes aside the bag to hit him three times in the side of his face.

Outraged parents claimed the girl was expelled from the school on Tuesday and may be charged with assault.

Sources have told Daily Mail Australia the fight started after the male student broke up with one of the girl's friends.

The schoolgirl then allegedly confronted the boy, who responded by calling her a b***h. She then allegedly reacted by physically beating him.

Daily Mail Australia understands the incident was not reported to police.

Another girl who filmed the initial altercation was allegedly bashed a few days later by other pupils in retaliation for not stepping in to help the male student, sources say.

The footage has sparked widespread outrage online as parents and members of the community make renewed call for local schools to take hard action against bullying.

The boy cowers in a patch of grass, shielding his face, before the girl leans in and hits him again

In October, paramedics were called to the same school after a 16-year-old boy suffered a head injury after a schoolyard assault.

Frustrated parents reignited pleas for the Department of Education to step in and address the school's bullying problem the following month after their children continued to be subjected to physical assaults by peers.

One mother claimed school officials had ignored her concerns, and instead requested she keep her daughter home to ensure her safety.

The school again entered the spotlight this year after a student allegedly assaulted a school-based officer in February.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the incident on Tuesday has been dealt with in accordance with the schools Student Code of Conduct.

'(The) school is committed to providing a safe, respectful and disciplined learning environment,' they said.

'Any situation that threatens the safety and wellbeing of students or staff is treated extremely seriously, and dealt with as a matter of priority. Violence in any form is not tolerated in Queensland state schools.'

The spokesperson said the school has implemented a range of programs and initiatives across all year levels and participates in the annual National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.

'Students and caregivers with concerns are strongly encouraged to report cases of bullying or misconduct to their school principal or their closest Department of Education regional office.'
The Philippine human rights commission is investigating anti-communist insurgency operations by police that killed nine people in four provinces on March 7  including members of the Dumagat tribe, an indigenous community in the Sierra Madre mountains near Manila.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 19, 2021 / Clean Group, a commercial and residential cleaning services company, is offering its services in Sydney.

Sydney is an important global commercial hub that houses multitudes of international companies. It is important to give the discerning corporate workers, guests, and travelers the best possible service in order to make a positive impression. A poor first impression can mean a loss of business. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to pay attention to the upkeep of the office buildings and other similar commercial spaces from both the inside and the outside.

Sydney witnesses the occasional dust storm. Though they are not as extreme as the one in 2009 that produced a red sky and reduced visibility, the movement of particulate matter in the air from western New South Wales and rural regions like Gospers Mountain can be enough to create a blanket heavy enough to cover most open spaces. Dust makes the work environment unappealing and can even cause medical problems in those suffering from respiratory diseases such as asthma.

The importance of Sydney as a professional melting pot and its tendency to be a dust magnet due to its geographical location make it necessary to have a clear and efficient office cleaning plan at hand for every commercial and office space owner in the city. Clean Group offers a turnkey solution that takes away the hassle of micromanaging a cleaning crew. The property owner just has to call up the professional team at Clean Group who use their years of experience and strict, battle-tested processes to finish the job on time and to complete satisfaction.

Clean Group offers services such as commercial cleaning services, office cleaning services, strata cleaning services, carpet cleaning services, medical cleaning services, gym cleaning services, school cleaning services, and childcare cleaning services. They have a team of over 50 people who meticulously go through every office environment and leave no stone unturned to have it cleaned as if it was brand new.

The company's quotes are tailor-made for each individual customer as each customer is unique and has different requirements. They insist on an onsite visit from their technicians to gauge the scope of work. Costs can include mopping, vacuuming, cleaning desks, window washing, pressure washing, upholstery cleaning, bathroom and toilet cleaning, rubbish removal, and much more. The costs also depend on the area, the type of equipment and chemicals needed as well as the number of people required.

The company says that it makes sure to itemize every task performed so that its customers have a granular look at the service they are receiving. This insight allows customers to save costs on cleaning in the long run. The company also says that it goes all the way to maximize its clients' safety and minimize risks. Full background (including police) checks are performed on all employees and they are also fully insured to protect clients against theft and damage.

The company prides itself on punctuality and thoroughness. The company has trained its employees to cover all the bases when on a cleaning job, even targeting those hard-to-reach places that are often overlooked by other, less scrupulous cleaning crews. The company also maintains a strict schedule for all its jobs, wasting neither the customer's time nor its own. The confidence in its service is evident in the 100% guarantee of quality where they promise to fix any mistake they've made within 24 hours.

A review of the company's office cleaning Sydney services from Terry M. says, "I have been changing cleaners after cleaners. I lost faith in commercial cleaning and what it can do until I met Clean Group. Clean Group gave the rebirth in me. It was all well handled from the first meeting to the actual cleaning. They have exceptional cleaners that work very hard to maintain consistency with their job. Now, I never worry about how my small office will look like the following morning. I can sleep soundly knowing that Clean Group has my back and they keep my office pretty and neat."

For more information about Clean Group, contact the company here:

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SOURCE: Clean Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636635/Clean-Group-Is-Offering-Office-Cleaning-Services-In-Sydney
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 14:34:08|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Cuba and China have strengthened scientific exchange and collaboration amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior Cuban official has said.

"In this regard, some laboratories set up across the island for testing COVID-19 samples are equipped with Chinese technologies," Francisco Duran, national director of hygiene and epidemiology at the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, told Xinhua in an interview.

In addition, the two countries have sent medical teams abroad to help combat the virus under the World Health Organization guidelines, said Duran days after the island marked the first anniversary of detecting its first COVID-19 case.

Since Cuba's COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, the Chinese government, people and social organizations have been helping the Caribbean nation in its fight against the pandemic.

He said that China has provided Cuba with medical supplies and resources, meeting the high demand caused by the coronavirus crisis.

"China has the capacity to keep the pandemic at bay," he said, noting that Chinese people have abided by their quarantine measures.

Duran said that Cuban and Chinese peoples are united by "strong cultural and historical links" forged in a bilateral relationship that has stood the test of time. Enditem
Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Alto Valle del Rio Negro, Argentina, presented by Monsignor Marcelo Alejandro Cuenca Revuelta.

Monsignor Cuenca had been harshly criticized in recent years for providing protection in the diocese of the Upper Valley to the priest Luis Alberto Bergliaffa who had been condemned by the Church for sexual abuse.

He also received harsh criticism - reports the Argentine press - when he hid the details of the transfer of a priest who was later sentenced to eight years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor.

(Unioneonline / F)
Tran Van Hien and Nguyen Thi Kim Hong, a couple from Vinh Long Province in the Mekong Delta, have spent several years providing shelter and covering medical bills for chronic kidney disease patients undergoing dialysis.

Hien, 47, and Hong, 43, used their life savings to build a home where they offer free care to underprivileged kidney disease patients and their caretaking relatives from around all over Vinh Long Province.

As part of their mission, the couple offers free meals to their guests, many of whom depend on the friendship, family, and solace of living together for strength in battling their physical pain and financial hardships.

Reaching out

Hien and Hongs 200-square-meter prefabricated house sits just one kilometer from Can Tho General Hospital in Can Tho City, giving their guests an easy access to the life-saving renal dialysis they depend on.

Dialysis is the process of artificially removing waste and excess water from blood in people with failing kidneys.

A dialysis session in Vietnam costs between VND150,000 (US$6.5) and VND1 million ($43) and must be done about three times per week. Given that Hien and Hongs guests are all from extremely low-income families, the bills add up quick.

To make ends meet, Hien spends his day operating a crane while Hong runs a grocery store out of their home.

Each morning, Hong heads to the local market to pick up food for the patients at her home.

Of course, with 40 beds at her home, there is a lot of food shopping to do. Fortunately, the food traders, many of whom were surprised when she first began picking up such large quantities, are sympathetic with the couple and do their best to help out.

Theyve been lending us a hand ever since they found out what weve been up to, Hong shared.

Apart from kidney patients, Hien and Hong also welcome homeless people into their house, hoping their kind deeds will help improve their community and the world.

A home for the needy

The idea of building a boarding house for kidney patients first came to Hien during a visit to Can Tho General Hospital.

During the visit, Hien was struck by the sight of a kidney patient painfully resting in one of the hospitals corridors.

Aware that many of the patients in local hospitals are unable to find a place where they can sleep uninterrupted and without feeling the subconscious need to check on their belongings, Hien and his wife decided to build a space where they can get a good night sleep.

Renal patients share food at a home built by Nguyen Thi Kim Hong and her husband in Binh Minh Town, Vinh Long Province, Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nhon / Tuoi Tre

We provide them with free accommodation and meals. We also check on them whenever we have a free moment, Hien shared.

As words of their free boarding house spread throughout the province, kidney patients began showing up in greater numbers.

Were now no different than a family. We all enjoy talking and sharing about what is going on in our lives, Hien explained.

Hiens sentiment is shared by those who depend on his boarding house.

Were just like a family. Hien and his wife provide us with a proper place to stay and meals. They also cover our dialysis bills, said Pham Van Vang, an 83-year-old who has been on dialysis for the past 12 years.

Sometimes they even give us money. Im not sure how Ill ever repay them for their kindness.

Vang is one of the 20 patients on renal dialysis currently staying in Hiens home, and the community he and the other patients have built has been a major pillar in their struggle for survival.

70-year-old Nguyen Thi Be, Vangs wife, is equally thankful for the support Hien and Hong have given her husband. With dialysis needing to be done every two days, coupled with several surgeries over the years, the couple had been forced to sell their paddy field in Mang Thit District, Vinh Long Province, to cover hospital bills.

Be had been bringing in a meager income of VND50,000 ($2.1) a day by washing dishes, but her poor eyesight eventually put her out of work. The couples children are also quite poor and unable to provide support.

We dont know how we would have made it this far without support from Hien, his wife, and other philanthropists, Be shared.

Bes gratitude to the philanthropic couple is echoed by Pham Van Hoa.

For the past six years, this young man, has been undergoing dialysis at Can Tho General Hospital three times per week, with each session lasting between three and a half and four hours.

I hold dear every moment Im still alive, Hoa shared.

According to Hoa, the emotional connections hes built with the other guests and Hong and Hiens home has been his saving grace. One of those connections is with Nguyen Thi Kieu Bay, a 50-year-old woman from the Provinces Tra On District who moved into the home six months ago.

With no relatives to care for her, Bay had nowhere else to turn other than Hien and Hong.

There are times my energy is completely drained, but I refused to give up. Im so blessed to be here and to be cared for by Hien and Hong that I have to keep going, Bay said.

Such thankfulness is the only reimbursement Hien and Hong need for their good deeds.

We dont pay attention to gossip about us. All we really care about is that the patients are happy, Hong adding how thankful they themselves are for the love and support they receive from their community.

A man of mission In addition to running the nursing home, Tran Van Hien is also an active member of the rescue squad on the Hau (Back) River. He has been involved in a number of situations related to covering the transport and funeral fees for the deceased victims. Hien also takes great pride in holding funerals for the renal patients who pass away without a family to take care of their burial rites. Theyre not my own flesh and blood, but my heart aches every time a person breathes their last breath with no relatives by their side, Hien shared. Ill continue to do this for as long as possible.

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On January 25, 2021, many Hausa traders in a market in Orlu, Imo State, barely had a moment to process what they were seeing as vehicles stopped with a screech, masked gunmen jumped off and started shooting directly at them. The gunmen later set the market on fire.

We just saw about four vehicles with correct, correct guns, driving wrong-way towards where we were, said Ahmadu Ali, a leader in the market situated just behind the towns stadium.

They just opened fire pa-pa-pa-pa; there was no stop.

Mr Ali said three people were shot dead and one Salisu Sala was burnt. He said other traders escaped through the stadium road, many of them with gunshot injuries.

He named those killed in the unprovoked attack as Usman Ali, Mohammed Rabiu and Nura Muhammadu.

Except for Nura, who was from Nigerias northwestern Sokoto State, the other dead victims were from Niger Republic, although of Hausa ethnic stock.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained horrific photographs showing the victims, lifeless and drenched in blood, and their cleaned remains, prepared for burial.

Also, we received still and motion pictures of the razed market. Mr Ali explained that the market was razed as the fire from Mr Salas body caught inflammable materials in his shop and quickly spread to other shops in the market.

They were quite a number, said Golden Marvin, who said he witnessed the attack. Mr Marvin identified the gunmen as members of a militia group, Eastern Security Network (ESN), because of the inscriptions on their vehicles and their clothing.

His claim was corroborated by the police who said some arrested members of the group confessed to the attack.

Several residents interviewed for this report said they witnessed the killings of the Hausa traders and how their shops were looted and destroyed.

Survivors said there was no help from the police as the attack on the market went on. The police did not deny this claim.

Hausa traders are now unable to trade at the market, leaving many of them in hardship, Mr Ali said.

In February, when PREMIUM TIMES interviewed him, he said he had just arrived from the neighbouring Anambra State to find something from my brother for survival.

That was not the first time we would be attacked, he said But we dont have a problem with anybody and those that died have passed. We just want to live in peace now. The government should protect us and support us to continue our trade.

Since the attack on the market, at least 10 persons, including four soldiers and two women who were hit by stray bullets, have been killed in related violence in the town.

ESN is a new armed formation of the proscribed separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu, seeking an independent state for the Igbo ethnic group from Nigeria. The separatists were initially unarmed and had been victims of massive extrajudicial killings by the armed forces and police between 2015 and 2016, a PREMIUM TIMES Global Shinning Light Award-winning investigation had uncovered.

IPOBs lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told PREMIUM TIMES that ESN was formed to protect rural Igbo communities against violent herders in the face of the governments alleged abdication of its duties. But ESN is doing much more than that, state government, residents, and security officials said, accusing the formation of criminal activities, including armed robbery, the murder of unarmed civilians, fatal assaults on the police and theft of weapons.

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What I fear is one of the effects of insurgency, which is instability that affects business and leads to a rise in criminality, said Cheta Nwanze of Lagos-based SBM Intelligence. Essentially, the so-called protectors, in this case the ESN, turning on the very people that they claim to be protecting.

How soldiers were killed

Before the attack on the Hausa market, the gunmen, who had emerged from the Okporo-Umutanze axis of the town, first attacked a local police station but were repelled.

But as the gunmen left the market, apparently driving off to disappear into the bush, which had been their fortress, they came in contact with a passing military vehicle. Soldiers told PREMIUM TIMES that the vehicle was not on a combat mission.

The soldiers were ambushed and four of them were killed, a military source briefed on the attack told PREMIUM TIMES.

Among the four fallen soldiers was Olaoluwa Adedeji, a band personnel, whose family in Ibadan, South-western Nigeria, was contacted by PREMIUM TIMES.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, immediately declared a curfew and, based on his invitation, the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army sent reinforcements.

A storm of gunfire followed.

After the joint operation kicked off, reports were rife, especially on social media, that the military was also targeting civilians in the area.

Asked if he saw the army targeting unarmed people, Mr Marvin said, No, and added, But there were cases of stray bullets hitting people. Asked to comment if the stray bullets hitting people were from the army or the suspected ESN operatives, he said, Not surewouldnt want to lie.

Abraham, a commercial motorcyclist in the town, who said he witnessed the incident, said he saw two women killed by stray bullets.

A soldier with knowledge of the military intervention in Orlu said, It was an ambush, an attack and four soldiers, out of others in the vehicle, died. Theres no way something like that would happen without the Nigerian Army sending out soldiers to rescue their remaining men and when it happens like that anything could be done, you know.

The joint military operation that followed the killing of the soldiers has left some with fears Nigeria now has another armed group to engage, apart from terrorists and bandits tearing the countrys north. But analysts and security sources say the eastern threat is unlikely to be as disastrous as those in the North.

How hell was let loose

Although largely unknown to the public; that late January violence, as well as the immediate background to it, offered the largest measure of the increased radicalisation of the separatists, who state security and intelligence community believe are behind the rising cases of fatal assaults on the police in the south-eastern region.

The army and the police on one hand, and the ESN on the other, had had confrontations on a number of occasions but the closest before the January 25 violence was a military operation against the separatists at the end of the previous week.

Officials directly briefed about the operation said the army had gone to the bush where ESN operatives were camping, to dislodge them.

So, the following Monday (January 25), they came out for reprisal, said one of the officials, asking not to be named for lack of authority to speak to the press. They had wanted to attack the police station but they were repelled before they went to attack the Hausa traders, killed four of them and set their market ablaze.

But before the army took the operation to dislodge them, police had lost officers and weapons in attacks by the suspected ESN operatives, according to security sources.

According to a police record reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, the police had suffered losses at least three times between December 24, 2020 (less than two weeks after ESN was inaugurated) and January 5. The polices own record shows how weak the force had been in responding to ESN threats, resulting in yielding the ground to the army to lead.

One, the attack of December 24, 2020, left two police officers at a checkpoint dead from gunshots by suspected ESN operatives chasing a man, who was said to be driving a Lexus car and had gone to withdraw money from the bank, according to the record. The man was also killed by the suspected ESN operatives, who were alleged to have also taken away the rifles of the cops, according to the record.

Two, on December 27, 2020, two other police officers were shot dead and their rifles stolen at a checkpoint allegedly by ESN operatives, who were also accused of killing a civilian and stealing his car.

The third incident was on January 5 when Mobile Police personnel, who had chased suspected ESN operatives after they collected a car from another man and moved to Okporo/Umutanze area, were killed and their rifles stolen.

While all these were going, the police were gathering intelligence based on which two men were arrested, a senior police officer told PREMIUM TIMES, speaking to the record also reviewed by our reporter. The two persons confessed to being IPOB and ESN members and they led the command operation to their camp somewhere around Okporo and Umutanze.

A gun duel ensued and police retreated. But they killed a policeman and seized two rifles and two vehicles, one of which they burnt.

Then, soldiers intervened to lead, while the police withdrew from the front to focus on intelligence, the police source said. That was the reason the army took that operation to dislodge them before their (ESN) reprisal of Monday, January 25.

Whats fueling IPOB-ESN?

The renewed separatist struggle comes decades after the late Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu led the Igbo to pursue secession from Nigeria. The secession failed after a humanitarian disaster and millions of lives lost in a 30-month fratricidal war (1967-1970).

However, with Biafran sentiments undying among many Igbo, Mr Kanu formed IPOB in 2012 but gained significant prominence after the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Barely two years after his inauguration, Mr Buhari was speaking at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington DC, where he infamously said the part of the country that gave me 97 per cent cannot be treated, in all honesty, the same way with the constituencies that gave me only five per cent. The president was making an apparent reference to the outcome of the 2015 presidential election in which the South-east and the South-south massively supported his opponent and then incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan.

Seemingly divisive statements such as that made in the U.S. and perceived nepotism in filling political and security command offices may have provided Mr Kanu with some points to inflame intense secessionist passions, observers say.

Other factors, according to observers, such as the Buhari administrations perceived bias in handling the troubles associated with herders  mostly of the same Fulani ethnicity as Mr Buhari  contesting for space with farmers, and deepening socio-economic hardship may have also helped Mr Kanu, known for his fiery commentaries and conspiracy theories.

Mr Kanu, a British-Nigerian, fled Nigeria after he was released on bail, in September 2017 amid a major standoff between the separatists and the army in his home state of Abia. It was then IPOB was proscribed and pronounced a terrorist organisation. His trial for treason remains open. But it appears the separatists are getting more radicalised and Mr Kanu remains popular among a significant number of Igbo youth.

The main problem with the ESN, from my point of view, is a combination of frustration at governance and high unemployment, which has created a fertile ground for a demagogue to take root, said Mr Nwanze.

Unfortunately, the high-handedness of the federal response coupled with its one-sidedness in dealing with the various issues facing the country have effectively silenced voices in the South-east that would hitherto have provided a counterweight to the narrative pushed by IPOB, thus giving them more latitude than theyd have had a decade ago.

During ground reporting in Imo State, while residents expressed concerns with the activities of the ESN, affirming they were involved in violence and criminal activities, some said they were self-conflicted, accusing the government of political marginalisation and failure to check herders aggression.

We perceive their violent activities, said Aloysius, an Orlu resident, who asked for his full name not to be used in this report over concern of being attacked by IPOB loyalists, referring to IPOB-ESN and highlighting their strikes targeting police and civilians. But our people are crying over the menace of the Fulani herdsmen and the South-east has been politically marginalised.

Stating further, Mr Nwanze said, The data available to SBM shows that the South-east is still the least violent of Nigerias six geopolitical zones, but the armys reaction in the region has always been overbearing, essentially feeding a vicious cycle. The region is ill-equipped for a battle of attrition, and if this situation deteriorates even further, Ndi Igbo will be the loser.

Asked if he fears an insurgency could be emerging in the South-east, he said, No, I do not fear an insurgency in the South-east because I dont think it will happen.

However what I fear is one of the effects of insurgency, which is instability that affects business and leads to a rise in criminality. Essentially, the so-called protectors, in this case the ESN, turning on the very people that they claim to be protecting.

As has happened with Amotekun in the South-west and the various Hisbah forces in the North, the ESN in the little time they have been around have shown that they are badly trained and have no idea of what due process and rule of law mean.

The difference between them on one hand, and Amotekun/Hisbah on the other, is that they are non-state actors, so no one can put pressure on any state government officials if theres a need to check them. It is only the FG that can act, and the current FGs kind of reaction is always going to risk escalating the situation.

With strong response

Since the January 25 violence, soldiers and police officers have continued to occupy the streets of Orlu and the military has conducted aerial operations to target the ESN operatives in Imo and neighbouring Anambra State.

Army spokesperson, Mohammed Yerima, did not categorically affirm there is an ongoing military operation targeting the ESN but he said, If any group or subversive element is threatening the peace of the country and killing people, certainly the security will not fold their arms and look away. We must act.

But the police spokesperson for Imo State, Ikeokwu Orlando, said, it is a national issue. A not-so-full operation is ongoing and the army is leading.

He said at least 15 members of the ESN had been arrested, with stolen rifles recovered.

IPOBs lawyer, Mr Ejiofor, denied allegations that ESN had been involved in criminalities and said the military operation was in response to the ability of the ESN to check the herders.

The federal government and the willing hand they have in Imo State dont want that to happen, they dont want herders to be stopped from killing our people, he said. The military should rather be deployed to where bandits have overrun in the north.

But officials in the countrys security and intelligence community said the ESN had only emerged under the guise of protecting the people against herders.

Whats the significance of the herdsmens violence in the South-east? ESN say they are protecting the people but they mask themselves, stay in the bush and only come out to attack people and the police and steal police rifles, one official, an intelligence agent working on ESN matter, said.

They are kept in the bush with weapons. Of course, their material needs would press them to go use the weapons to satisfy their needs. Who is feeding them, who is paying them and how are they getting their weapons, apart from those stolen from the police?

However, the countrys security and intelligence community believes that with a strong response by the government, IPOB-ESN cannot present a significant threat compared to Boko Haram in the North-east or armed bandits in the North-west, the agent said, giving four reasons.

One, the South-east does not have the kind of large forests that can aid guerilla warfare. Two, an Igbo does not have endurance like the Fulani and does not want to die. They easily confess and give out their own comrades and reveal their camps, with minimal force.

Three, the South-east does not lie on land borders; so, that makes arms importation difficult for them and we think that is why they are attacking the police to steal weapons. Four, the neighbouring ethnic groups that have international borders like in Cross River State may not cooperate with them, the agent said.

But Mr Nwanze canvassed job creation for the youth, not only in the South-east but nationwide, to deny drivers of trouble easy recruits as foot soldiers.

Nnamdi Obasi of the International Crisis Centre said the evolution of the threats from the South-east would depend on the governments handling.

He advised against a high-handed indiscriminate military operation but stressed that attacks on the police must be totally stopped with targeted response to actual people behind the attacks, not indiscriminate operation.
New Delhi, March 20 : A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court challenging a PIL against a law fixing August 15, 1947 as the cut-off date to maintain the character of a place of worship.

The application moved by a Lucknow-based co-manager of a mosque said the PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay is "mischievous", which aims at isolating the Muslim community as a separate category from the other major religious communities in India.

On March 12, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL challenging the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which barred litigation on any place of worship for change of its character as it existed in 1947.

The matter assumes significance in the backdrop of demands to resume litigation on Kashi-Mathura related to temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna, respectively. The Act did not include the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case, which was decided by the top court in 2019.

The application argued that the country has been progressing unitedly but certain individuals, including the petitioner, was making attempts to divide people on the basis of religion.

"The language of the petition is shocking. The petitioner has sought to set up an allegedly factual case of fundamentalist barbarians coming to India and destroying places of worship without providing any facts, sources or setting up a case that any such places of worship have indeed been destroyed," said the application.

It further argued that disputes, which have not existed for centuries, are sought to be ignited by the petition.

"The Places of Worship Act imposes a non-derogable obligation towards enforcing our commitment to secularism under the Indian Constitution," said the application by Wasim Hasan, a co-Mutawalli of the Teelaywali Masjid.

Hasan contended that the top court in a verdict has observed that the Places of Worship Act, which was enacted in 1991 by the Parliament, protects and secures the fundamental values of the Constitution.

The plea added that the applicant has been defending a suit pending before a Lucknow court through which the Masjid has been assailed on the grounds that the same was once allegedly the site of a temple.

"The instant petition is also mischievous as it seeks to reopen the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute by attacking the exception caved out for it under the 1991 Act," added the application.
Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, March, 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Protesters in a central German city have clashed with police over coronavirus measures, with officers using pepper spray and batons against people trying to break through barriers, according to reports.

Several thousand people participated in the protests in Kassel, and in addition to clashes with police there were also several scuffles with counter-protesters, the dpa news agency said.

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Whatsapp Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Several groups, most of them far-right opponents of governments regulations to tackle the pandemic, had called for protests on Saturday in cities across the country.

In Berlin, some 1,800 police officers were on stand-by for possible riots, but only a few dozen protesters assembled at the citys landmark Brandenburg Gate.

Expand Close Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen / Facebook

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Whatsapp Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Kassel, Germany March 20, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Meanwhile, around 300 citizens came together on Berlins Unter den Linden boulevard to protest against the far-right demonstration.

Police had to intervene when some far-right protesters tried to attack press photographers, but in general, a police spokeswoman told dpa: Theres not much going on here.
Workers at Vietnam Post loading up parcels at a distribution centre in HCM City. - VNA Photo

Dong said his ministry's focus during 2020 was to support business activities and firms. The ministry has also been working on some 17 proposals, which aimed to improve ease of doing business in Viet Nam with a number of policy breakthroughs.

The deputy-minister said MPI will continue to review the 2020 Law on Investment to further remove additional conditions for businesses that specialise in work safety equipment, postal offices, publishing and pay television.

Meanwhile, MPI has been at the forefront of administrative reform with concerted efforts across all of its departments to simplify and shorten the required time to process business applications and procedures.

The ministry has introduced a portal allowing businesses to submit forms and applications online to save time and expenses. The portal also helps the MPI to shorten its processing time and improve accountability and transparency across its departments.

Dong said the MPI has been pushing for faster digitalisation with the establishment of a national business register, a key component in a future e-government system. The register has been well-received and widely accessed by the business community (with nearly 220 million searches performed in 2020 alone, more than 12 times the number of searches recorded in 2015). It has helped thousands of businesses connect with each other and proved to be a valuable management tool for the MPI.

He said the ministry's key objectives in 2021 include extensive reviews on current policies and legal frameworks on investment and global integration. The MPI will also launch a number of initiatives with a focus on helping localities and businesses improve productivity, quality of products and services as well as business competitiveness.
The World Health Organization's vaccine safety panel said on Friday that available data from AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot do not point to any overall increase in clotting conditions but it would continue to monitor for any adverse effects.

"The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (including Covishield) continues to have a positive benefit-risk profile, with tremendous potential to prevent infections and reduce deaths across the world," the WHO's global advisory committee on vaccine safety said in a statement.

Covishield refers to AstraZeneca vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India.

The WHO panel of 12 independent experts, who met virtually on Tuesday and on Thursday, reviewed safety data from Europe, the United Kingdom, India, and WHO's global database.

"While very rare and unique thromboembolic events in combination with thrombocytopenia, such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), have also been reported following vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Europe, it is not certain that they have been caused by vaccination," it said.

Europe was pushing to get its vaccination drive back on track on Friday after European and British regulators had also said the benefits of AstraZeneca's shot outweighed risks.

Also read: Germany, France, others resume AstraZeneca shots after green signal from EU, UK regulators
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New Delhi, March 20 : A Delhi Court has taken cognisance of a supplementary charge sheet filed against the wife of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah in a money laundering case relating to terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir.

After taking cognisance, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana issued summons to Bilqees Shah. The Enforcement Directorate had filed the charge sheet against Bilqees in September 2020 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Bilqees has been made accused for her role in the commission of offence of money laundering for carrying out illegal activities. Earlier, the agency had attached properties of Shabir Shah, his wife and daughters in Srinagar's upscale Effandi Bagh.

According to ED, Shabir Shah has been found to be carrying out illicit activities along with his accomplice Mohammad Aslam Wani, who is an activist of banned militant organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

The official said that Shah was using Wani as a carrier for collecting hawala money sent by his Pakistan based outfits through hawala operators to deliver the same to him and his wife for carrying illegal activities.

During investigation, it was revealed that Shabir, without having any legitimate sources of income, had received money for carrying out separatist activities in J&K and had acquired various properties through a maze of dubious transactions, the official said.

Bilqees also received illegitimate money from Wani on various occasions, the official said. The ED case is based on the FIR and charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police Special Cell against Wani.

According to the Special Cell charge sheet, Wani was apprehended with 5 kg of explosives, one pistol with 15 live cartridges and Rs 62.96 lakh in cash.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Actor Daniel Dae Kim. Photo: Mat Hayward/Getty Images for The Latinx Hous

Actor Daniel Dae Kim spoke before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties on Thursday, urging lawmakers to pass bills condemning anti-Asian sentiment. The Good Doctor producer and actor spoke alongside prominent Asian American lawmakers, scholars, and advocates, including Representatives Grace Meng and Judy Chu, Democrats from New York and California, respectively. In his speech, he called out conservatives for voting against such a resolution last year. I was disheartened to find that for a bill that required no money or resources, just a simple condemnation of acts of hate against people of Asian descent, 164 members of Congress, all Republican voted against it, he said. And now here I am again, because as every witness in this hearing has pointed out, the situation has gotten worse, much worse.

Daniel Dae Kim on House bill condemning anti-Asian sentiment: "I was disheartened to find that for a bill that required no money or resources, just a simple condemnation of acts of hate ...164 members of Congressall Republicanvoted against it." https://t.co/Apq0AYUMdR pic.twitter.com/B2ZY10Rwlo  ABC News (@ABC) March 18, 2021

Kim honored the lives of Asian Americans who have been murdered or violently attacked, including the six Asian women who were killed in Georgia yesterday. The shooting rampage at three spas in the Atlanta area left eight dead in total: Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Daoyou Feng, Julie Park, Park Hyeon Jeong, and two others whose names are unreleased. There are several moments in a countrys history that chart its course indelibly for the future. For Asian Americans, that moment is now. What happens right now and over the course of the coming months will send a message for generations to come as to whether we matter, whether the country we call home chooses to erase us or include us, dismiss us or respect us, invisibilize us or see us. Because you may consider us statistically insignificant now, but one more fact that has no alternative is that we are the fastest-growing racial demographic in the country. We are 23 million strong. We are united, and we are waking up.
Riverdale star Charles Melton says he will no longer 'remain silent' on his experiences as a Korean American after admitting to 'suppressing' his racial identity for years.

The 30-year-old actor, known for playing Reggie Mantle on the hit CW teen drama, opened up on 're-examining' his roots in an emotional essay for Variety in the wake of the Atlanta spa shootings.

'With the continued rise in horrific hate crimes towards my community, I have been in deep introspection by recalling my own experiences, unpacking my past, and trying to understand it all,' Melton wrote.

'Through it, I've realized that I never stood up for my Korean heritage. I've willfully ignored the racism and microaggressions directed towards me and my people. I failed to defend my heritage in fear of retribution.'

Melton described coming to terms with both sides of his racial identity after being often told he is not 'white' or 'Asian enough'.

Charles Melton, 30, revealed he has 're-examined' his roots after ignoring his Asian identity for years

This weekend, Charles took his dog Neya for a walk in Vancouver as he said he would embrace his Korean roots. 'I will no longer remain silent about my lived experience,' he wrote in an essay

With a cigarette and a cup of coffee in Vancouver on Friday, Charles walks his rescue pup as a timely essay of his ran that said he would now stand up for his Asian identity

Charles's dog Neya, a rescue, always sticks with him, as he's labeled the dog 'man's best friend'

The actor was born in Juneau, Alaska to a white American father and Korean immigrant mother who met while his dad was stationed at a US Army base in Korea.

Melton admitted to ignoring his Asian background for years growing up by instead trying to identify as a 'proud American citizen.'

He recalled feeling 'shame' when friends made comments about his house 'smelling funny' because of his mother's home-cooked Korean meals and kimchi.

'At school, I never learned about my Korean American history  or Asian American history at all. If you never learn about your own history, how can you really exist?

'Trying to fit in at school, I chased the American dream by being a star athlete, all the while suppressing my Asian identity,' he continued.

'I remember even beating everyone to the punch by making Asian jokes before anyone else would.'

The actor is known for his role as Reggie Mantle in the hit CW series Riverdale. Above he is pictured with co-stars KJ Apa (left), Casey Cott (second from right) and Cole Sprouse (far right) in 2018

Melton described coming to terms with his Korean heritage after trying to suppress his roots growing up. He is pictured above with his mother from a 2017 Instagram post

Melton (pictured with co-stars Camila Mendes and KJ Apa) shared his struggle to reconcile both sides of his racial identity, having often been told he is not 'white' or 'Asian enough'.

Charles Melton, third from the left, is known for playing Reggie on the hit show Riverdale

Charles, in a scene from Riverdale, says he'll now embrace his Asian heritage. 'What was I afraid of?' he asked in a recent essay that came in the wake of anti-Asian violence in the US

Melton said his reckoning amid the recent violent acts against the Asian American community has led him to wonder if he helped contribute to such crimes.

'Could I have done more for my community? Could I have spoken out more? What was I afraid of?

'Today, that all changes,' he wrote. 'I will no longer remain silent about my lived experience. The hate crimes that have swept the country have forced me to realize how important the platform I have is and the responsibility that comes with it.

He continued: 'I want to reconcile my identity and come to terms with who I am, despite the pain. I want to uplift the AAPI experience through storytelling, caring, understanding, and kindness that I can share with the world.'

Charles Melton, who has an Instagram following, where he posted a recent hiking excursion, said: 'The hate crimes that have swept the country have forced me to realize how important the platform I have.' He said he'd use it for good, including standing up for other Asians
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen threatened Saturday to halt exports of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccines if the bloc did not receive its promised deliveries first, escalating a row that has fanned international tensions.

"We have the option of banning a planned export. That's the message to AstraZeneca: you fulfil your contract with Europe first before you start delivering to other countries," von der Leyen told Germany's Funke media group.

The warning comes as the European Union struggles to speed up its inoculation campaign, just as many member states face a third coronavirus wave and renewed curbs on public life.

Von der Leyen said Anglo-Swedish pharma giant AstraZeneca had delivered only 30 percent of the 90 million vaccine doses it had promised for the first quarter of the year.

The company has blamed production delays at its EU plants, but European officials are furious that AstraZeneca has been able to deliver its UK contract while falling short on the continent.

European Commission president von der Leyen had on Wednesday already threatened to invoke emergency powers to block European exports of Covid-19 vaccines to ensure "reciprocity" with other suppliers.

Call for reciprocity

In the interview with German newspapers, von der Leyen reiterated that the EU's contract with AstraZeneca states that vaccines destined for the bloc would be produced in both EU and UK plants.

"But we haven't received anything from the Brits, although we are delivering to them," she said, adding that the European Commission had sent a "formal letter" to the company to complain.

EU-based manufacturers have shipped 41 million vaccine doses to 33 countries since early February, von der Leyen said, making the bloc one of the world's biggest export regions for Covid-19 vaccines.

"I can't explain to European citizens why we are exporting millions of vaccine doses to countries that are producing vaccines themselves and aren't sending us anything back," von der Leyen said.

France's European Affairs minister Clement Beaune welcomed the tougher tone coming from Brussels.

"We need a principle of reciprocity: supply others if they supply us in accordance with signed contracts," he told AFP. Europe must "defend its interests", he added.

Italian example

The EU has already set up special oversight of vaccine exports in which manufacturers contracted to supply Europe must declare if they intend to export doses outside the bloc.

Most of the EU's worry is over Britain, where the inoculation campaign has progressed at a much faster pace.

Brussels has accused London of operating a de facto export ban to achieve its vaccine success, a claim furiously denied by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government.

The EU's export ban mechanism must first be triggered in an individual member state and then be approved by the European Commission before it can be enforced.

The mechanism has so far only been applied once, with Italy blocking the export of a 250,000 dose shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia, citing "persistent shortage" and "delays in supply".

Not all EU members support export bans, which could upset global supply chains. Belgium and the Netherlands have urged caution.

The EU's troubled relationship with AstraZeneca was dealt another blow earlier this month when several countries suspended use of its vaccine over fears it may cause blood clots.

The European Medicines' Agency (EMA) on Thursday however declared the jab "safe and effective" and vaccinations have since resumed in some countries.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex received his first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, as did British premier Johnson.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have said they would take the AstraZeneca vaccine if offered, in a bid to shore up confidence in the jab.





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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A number of hospitals will resume giving the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to health staff and some very high risk patients today following the official decision to clear it for use again.

The HSE said a relatively modest number of vaccinations will take place today but postponed vaccination clinics, which led to 30,000 cancellations this week, are being reorganised.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said people in the very high risk category due to underlying illness are urged to attend for the vaccine as soon as it is offered.

It follows the decision of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn to lift the temporary suspension on its use, which was introduced during an investigation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) into reports of blood clots in Norway in a number of people who received it.

Dr Glynn said the conclusion was that the benefit of the vaccine outweighed risks and the vaccine is not associated with an increase in blood-clotting events.

It is safe and we are lucky to have it, he said.

New information will be added to the patient information leaflet pointing to potential symptoms to look out for. Prof Karina Butler chair of NIAC added: The safety of vaccines is paramount. The public should be reassured by the swift and thorough investigations into a very small number of serious but very rare adverse events.

Because Covid-19 can be so serious and is so widespread, the EMA found that the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the risks of these very rare events.

Problems with clotting are commonly seen in those with severe Covid-19 disease. They can also occur by chance in the general population. The EMA found no evidence that the vaccine caused these reported events and are continuing investigation into a possible association.

These events have predominantly occurred in women under 55 years of age.

"However, as this may reflect targeted vaccination of healthcare workers to date, NIAC recommends that appropriate guidance be made available to all vaccine recipients and healthcare providers.

The public should be reassured by the fact that over 20 million doses of this vaccine have been given in the EEA and the UK providing protection to those who have received it. We are seeing that the rate of infections and hospitalisations are beginning to reduce amongst those who are vaccinated.

"The best vaccine that anyone can receive is the one that they can get soonest.

Read More

The new information leaflet advice with the vaccine will advise people to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain within weeks of vaccination.

Additionally, anyone with neurological symptoms including severe or persistent headaches  particularly three days after vaccination  or blurred vision, or who develops skin bruising beyond the site of the jab, should seek prompt medical attention.

The leaflet also says these rare events have usually occurred within 14 days of a recipient being given the AstraZeneca vaccine, particularly three days or more after the inoculation.

Around 117,000 people have received the vaccine here so far and no unusual clotting events have been reported.

Asked about the risk of vaccine hesitancy after the decision to pause its use here the medics said it should be seen as a sign of reassurance that there is surveillance and vigilance around the jab.

The conclusion of the EMA should act as a support that the vaccine is safe and effective, they added.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Almost as soon as Oprah Winfreys sit-down with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, aired last week, the vitriol came roaring like a hurricane. Criticism has, of course, closely followed the couple since stepping down as senior royals last year, and while there has been much public support over the tell-all interview  in which Meghan, 39, said she had felt suicidal while pregnant but was denied mental health support, and that a senior member of the royal family had expressed concerns over the colour of her unborn babys skin  the visceral hatred has been difficult to miss. More specifically, the visceral hatred of Meghan. Conservative commentators predictably led the charge. After Meghan admitted she didnt want to be alive any more, Piers Morgan shot back on Good Morning Britain: I dont believe a word she said. (Hes since left the breakfast show and is digging his heels in, repeatedly referring to Meghans bullshit.) Shortly after, US journalist Megyn Kelly said: You can become a princess. You can live in a palace. You can [have] access to the crown jewels and still somehow find yourself a victim. And there have been the memes: a fake image of Queen Elizabeth brandishing a gun in an apparent desire for revenge over Meghans bitching; Meghan and Harrys faces photoshopped onto each others bodies to indicate the prince isnt wearing the pants. Time and again, the words calculated, pathetic, deceitful, outspoken are cropping up beside Meghans name. These sentiments are echoing far and wide  on social media, in group messages, in comments and letters received by this publication. So how does this one woman draw such intense loathing from people who do not know her personally? Its been quite dramatic, says Jayashri Kulkarni, a Monash University professor of psychiatry. Meghan embodies privilege, wealth, power, fame, shes a celebrity, shes the antithetical to the conservative look of a princess  so shes already othered in that sense.

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Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne, a University of Melbourne sociologist, adds: Shes a woman, shes an outsider to the royal institution, shes a person of colour, shes smart, and shes American. So she hits a number of factors that stir judgment and in this case thats manifesting in a disproportionate amount of hatred. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The Age and Sydney Morning Heralds reader editor Orietta Guerrera says comment moderators found that while several readers expressed sympathy for Meghan, she received far more criticism than any other royal, and at levels similar to figures such as Donald Trump. Guerrera adds that comments containing racist attacks were rejected. There were many comments questioning her honesty ... She was commonly depicted as an attention seeker, drama queen and manipulator, she says. First off, Kulkarni says, it is much easier to hate a famous person than someone within your social sphere. And celebrities like Meghan are seen as fair game because they put themselves in the public eye, she says. More crucially, Rosewarne says for three years people have, perhaps indirectly, absorbed a negative image of Meghan that has been tirelessly pushed by the tabloid press; from the comparisons to her dutiful sister-in-law to the insinuations she is trying to be Diana 2.0 and the use of the term Megxit. Rosewarne says this creates an audience that is ready to tear someone down. The downfall of Britney Spears, recently recounted in a New York Times documentary, shows how the tabloids can destroy a person.

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The uncomfortable truth, Rosewarne says, is that this means much of the public disdain levelled at Meghan is grounded in racism and sexism. [Because] the input for the hatred has likely been stoked by an absolutely sexist and racist tabloid press, she says. Comments can be racist or sexist even if a person doesnt see themselves that way: this isnt about self-perception. Take, for example, the anger over Meghan being apparently manipulative. Theres this idea that Harry is so hapless in this and has been bamboozled by this woman, Rosewarne says. Even if the worst things people say about [Meghan] are true, lets say she has engineered this entire thing, if it was a man we wouldnt actually be judging the way we are  this is an age-old stereotype of women with their innate witchiness. Prince Harry and Meghan during their interview with Oprah Winfrey. Credit:Harpo Productions Australian National University sociology professor Mary Lou Rasmussen says when the white man  Prince Harry  is completely off the hook (despite long expressing his unhappiness as a royal), race and gender are unquestionably at play in the irrational loathing of Meghan. [It] speaks to things [people] cant say but feel really deeply  whether they are aware of it or not, Rasmussen says, explaining ingrained prejudices are often unconscious and influenced by social structures. And due to discomfort around racism, Rasmussen says many viewers didnt give Meghans claims credibility. They see her as someone who is shrill instead of someone who is giving a valuable account. Rosewarne says unless people have lived experience of discrimination, they struggle to see it. They come up with other reasons as to why this woman is a problem, she says, but points out labelling Meghan calculating and gold digger are gendered. Or calling her a mouthy American falls into the racist trope of the angry black woman. Much divide has been on generational lines. A British YouGov poll found that in the wake of the Oprah interview, those under age 25 were mostly siding with the Sussexes, while those 50 and older were firmly backing the royal family.

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Rosewarne says some older people view the interview as a crude betrayal of the Queen, who is deeply private, and the institution she heads. Most people in Australia have never known another monarch, Rosewarne says, adding there is a great sense of respect for her legacy, even among those who dont consider themselves royalists. Comments can be racist or sexist even if a person doesnt see themselves that way: this isnt about self-perception. Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne Also, Kulkarni says, older generations have typically been raised to deal with problems with a stiff upper lip. So this [interview] is seen as washing your dirty linen in public. Rosewarne says younger people are often considered oversensitive or snowflakes for their oversharing and woke politics  and this is what Meghan represents. Rasmussen adds: [The interview is] attacking values of the older generation  saying their silence around issues [such as racism and mental health] is a problem. Rosewarne stresses not everyone has to like Meghan. She is likely flawed ... Were never going to know a true story, we dont have a surround sound view of everything that went on. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, with the Queen in 2018. Credit:PA And its OK to eye-roll at some of the antics of the Sussexes as a couple  for example much has been made of their financial motives or their decision to do a tell-all with Oprah rather than continue trying to find a resolution privately. This is not automatically racist or sexist, says Rasmussen.

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Kulkarni warns that the problem with much of the hostility to Meghan is the ripple effect disdainful commentary has on others in the community who are made to feel hurt, further stigmatised and afraid to speak out  whether it be over racial, gender or mental health issues. Critical evaluation and balanced discussion is not a bad thing, Kulkarni says. [But] hateful language and hateful behaviour really lead to all sorts of unwanted effects ... If the language is inflammatory then its not just Meghan in the firing line, its all women of colour, or its all women, or all people with mental illness, it becomes this bigger group. Unfortunately the general public got caught up in the is this real or not real  thats really dangerous and unhelpful. If the language is inflammatory then its not just Meghan in the firing line, its all women of colour, or its all women, or its all people with mental illness. Professor Jayashri Kulkarni Kulkarni says that the gut response of disbelief and looking for an agenda feeds a troubling narrative: Meghan was called a liar for saying she felt suicidal and experienced racism in the same week it emerged Brittany Higgins  the former Liberal staffer who was allegedly sexually assaulted at Federal Parliament  was called a lying cow by her ex-boss. Whats coming through is this thread of invalidation of women in crisis situations, Kulkarni says. Its important  and healthy  for people to interrogate themselves to understand why they are feeling anger, says Kulkarni. She explains that hating a celebrity involves well-known psychological mechanisms to deal with internal conflict at a distance. What people are actually doing is displacing events, views or feelings they may harbour for something or somebody and projecting onto somebody else, Kulkarni says. Its like when youve had a dreadful time at work but you cant deal with it there, so you get home and pick a fight with your spouse. Its the displacement of the problem.

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Staff members Elaine Herlihy and Donal Hannon pictured at Hannons service station in Newmarket following news that their store sold a winning EuroMillions Match 5 + 1 Lucky Star ticket worth 123,876 in Friday nights (March 12th) draw

The two lucky EuroMillions players from Cork who won 123,876 each in Friday night's draw (March 12) have both come forward to claim their prizes - including one player who purchased their ticket right here in Newmarket.

The two ticket holders came close to splitting the 60,764,885 jackpot on offer in Friday night's March 12 EuroMillions draw after they both matched five numbers and one lucky star. Arrangements are now being made for both players to claim their prizes via the National Lottery's approved postal process.

The two winning tickets were both Quick Pick selections and were purchased at Hannon's service station in Newmarket and at the Bandon Books store at the Riverview Shopping Centre in Bandon.

Geraldine Hannon and her husband Gerard have run Hannon's service station on Church Street in Newmarket for the past 22 years. It is a family-run store at the heart of the community, and the owner told of the huge excitement that took over the community following the news of the win.

"It has been an absolutely magical weekend for us and of course one of our very lucky customer," she said. "After we got the all-important call from the National Lottery on Friday night, news of the massive win spread like wildfire in the local community, and we are all absolutely thrilled for the local winner.

"As a family-run business, this win means the world to us as it is our first big lottery win, and it's a bit of good news that everybody needed locally.

"While they may have been just one number short of the 60 million jackpot, 123,876 is still a life-altering win, and I hope that they enjoy every penny of it," she said.
Photo: The Canadian Press Jesus Estrella stands outside Youngs Asian Massage on Wednesday in Acworth, Ga.

President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris offered solace to Asian Americans and denounced the scourge of racism at times hidden in plain sight as they visited Atlanta, just days after a white gunman killed eight people, most of them Asian American women.

Addressing the nation after a roughly 80-minute meeting with Asian American state legislators and other leaders Friday, Biden said it was heart-wrenching to listen to their stories of the fear among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders amid what he called a skyrocketing spike of harassment and violence against them.

We have to change our hearts," he said. "Hate can have no safe harbour in America.

Biden called on all Americans to stand up to bigotry when they see it, adding: Our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit.

Theyve been attacked, blamed, scapegoated and harassed; theyve been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed," Biden said of Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

The president also called the shootings an example of a public health crisis of gun violence in this country, as his administration has come under scrutiny from some in his own party for not moving as swiftly as promised on reforming the nation's gun laws.

Harris, the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office, said that while the motive of the shooter remains under investigation, these facts are clear: Six of the eight killed were of Asian descent and seven of them were women.

Racism is real in America. And it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America, and always has been. Sexism, too, she said. The president and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs.

She added that everyone has the right to be recognized as an American. Not as the other, not as them. But as us.

Before leaving Washington, Biden declared his support for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill that would strengthen the governments reporting and response to hate crimes and provide resources to Asian American communities.

Georgia state Rep. Marvin Lim, who was among a group of Asian American leaders who met with Biden and Harris in Atlanta, said the group "didnt really talk about hate crime sentencing and all of these things theres been a lot of discussion around.

We really talked about the grief people are feeling, the fear people are feeling, the possible responses to that, Lim said. The discussion felt very affirming."

State Sen. Michelle Au, a Chinese American Democrat who represents parts of Atlantas northern suburbs, was moved by the presence of Harris, saying: Not only that she was there listening to us, but that she also understood these issues in a very intimate way, that in some ways you cant teach, that you cant teach that sort of lived experience. So we felt that she was going to be an incredible advocate on our behalf in the White House.

Their trip was planned before the shooting, as part of a victory lap aimed at selling the benefits of pandemic relief legislation. But Biden and Harris instead spent much of their visit consoling a community whose growing voting power helped secure their victory in Georgia and beyond.

Activists have seen a rise of racist attacks. Nearly 3,800 incidents have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based reporting centre for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and its partner advocacy groups, since March 2020.

Biden and Harris both implicitly criticized former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the China virus.

For the last year weve had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans, said Harris, people with the biggest pulpits, spreading this kind of hate.

"Weve always known words have consequences," Biden said. "It is the coronavirus. Full stop.

In his first primetime address to the nation as president last Thursday  five days before the Atlanta killings at three metro-area massage businesses  Biden called attacks on Asian Americans un-American.

Biden also used the visit to tour the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he received a briefing on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered a pep talk to the agencys scientists.

We owe you a gigantic debt of gratitude and we will for a long, long, long time, Biden said, adding that under his administration "science is back driving policy to combat the virus.

Though the originally planned political event to tout the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill has been delayed, Biden still met with Georgia voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, Democrats likely 2022 candidate for governor, as Republicans in the state legislature push several proposals to make it harder to vote in the state.

The battle for the right to vote is never, ever over, Biden said. Its not over here in this state of Georgia. So were gonna fight again."

He also met with newly minted Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

As the fastest-growing racial demographic in the U.S. electorate, Asian Americans are gaining political influence across the country. In California, two Korean American Republican women made history with their congressional victories. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, typically dominated by Democrats, has its largest roster ever, including Asian American and Pacific Islander members and others who represent significant numbers of Asian Americans.

Were becoming increasingly more visible and active in the political ecosystem, said Au, a Democrat who represents part of the growing, diversifying suburbs north of Atlanta. Yet, Au said, What Ive heard personally, and what I have felt, is that people sometimes dont tend to listen to us.

Au said a White House spotlight, especially amid tragedy, is welcomed by a community often overshadowed in national conversations about diversity. She noted Trump and other Republicans merely brushed off charges of racism when they dubbed the coronavirus the China virus because of its origins.

To have them talk about it in this way, so publicly, and to say AAPI, or to note that our communities are going through difficult times, is huge, Au said.

As he boarded Air Force One on Friday morning, Biden, who was wearing a mask, stumbled several times up the stairs to the aircraft, before saluting the military officer who greeted him on the tarmac. White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden was doing 100% fine.
Bhopal: The bond between a man and the dog is an old affair. The dog is often regarded as man's best friend. In a recent incident, the dispute between two parties over the ownership of a dog has been resolved with the help of DNA testing.

The incident is from Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh. A dog of Labrador breed named Coco went missing and that is when Shadab Khan, a local journalist came forward and claimed him to be his own pet. Shadab was not alone to do so, Krutik Shivhare, a local ABVP leader also claimed the ownership of the dog. Hoshangabad police station in-charge Anoon Singh Nain said.

A constable was sent to Shivhare's address and the dog was handed over to Khan as he produced a purchase certificate along with vaccination records. The very next day, Shivhare appeared in the police station and claimed that he purchased the dog from Itarasi in August 2020 and has named him "Tiger".

Shadab Khan filed a complaint at Dehat Police station on November 18. He claimed that his dog Coco, that went missing in August 2020, had been detained by Shivhare. Shadab Khan asked for the DNA test in order to get this matter solved and also paid Rs. 30,000 for the test.

The samples for the DNA test was sent in December 2020 and the test was conducted in Hyderabad, Telangana. The reports arrived on Thursday (March 18) and made it clear that the dog belongs to the Shadab Khan. The police handed over Coco to Shadab Khan.

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How to Choose the Best Airline Seat

While some seats are genuinely horrible, there is no such thing as a perfect seat for everybody. When choosing a plane seat, there are two main issues one might be interested in: what is the best seat for you and how to get it?

Talking about seats to avoid, no one wants to be squashed between two different people in a middle seat.

When you consider your travel options, the focus of attention is usually on cost and timing. For example, when choosing the best deals to London, you choose the date and the airport of arrival to compare prices and schedule. Nevertheless, the comfort of travel and the cost of additional services an airline provides are to be considered too and preferably before the purchase of a ticket.

What Are Your Priorities When It Comes to Choosing a Seat on a Plane?

During a flight, everybody wants more space for themselves and less interference.

As far as space is concerned, air vessels have different seat peach lengths, which means the interval between two rows of seats. The seat pitch is normally smaller on economy airlines, typically about 30-31 inches. Some airlines like JetBlue offer more generous 32-33 inches even in economy class.

The leg space is especially important for tall people. An aisle seat could be preferable because even with limited space in front of you, you can stretch your limbs in the passageway periodically.

Exit row seats give serious extra legroom. However, there are some disadvantages to taking these seats. A passenger occupying such a seat is expected to place all his or her personal belongings in the overhead compartment during take-off and landing. If you want to read a book, you will have to either ask a flight attendant to fetch it to you when the plane reaches cruising height or disturb passengers seating next to you and get it yourself. There is no screen and folding table attached to a seat in front of you. You will probably get an extendable table, but it might be less handy. Since the travelers occupying exit row seats are supposed to open the door in case of emergency, they are not allowed to drink alcohol during the flight. For the same reason, children can't occupy the exit row seats.

The leg space might be not your priority, though. If you don't flight often, you might go for thrilling views and prefer a window seat. For example, when arriving in Venice on a sunny afternoon, you want to admire San Marco square from above. You wish for a window seat that is not situated on a wing since it will spoil the view.

At the same time, if you hate flying and want to feel less turbulence, your priority is to be seated over the wing since it's there where you feel the shaking less.

Personal priorities might vary depending on circumstances. If you hope to sleep on an overnight flight, you might opt for a window seat not to be disturbed by fellow travelers on their way to a toilet. If you have a short connection between two flights or you are in a hurry to attend a meeting upon arrival, you might prefer an aisle seat next to the entrance to be among the first to leave the aircraft.

When traveling with small kids, you want all seats in one row and not far away from a lavatory. On the other hand, if you travel on your own, you will probably prefer to stay away from the busy, noisy, and smelly area.

How to Get a Particular Seat?

A lot depends on the company you are traveling with. Some airlines let their customers choose a seat when purchasing a ticket. Often, they charge additionally for it. The seat selection option might be offered as a package. You pay for an extra item of cabin baggage plus seat selection and priority boarding, for example. Other airlines give an extra option of seat selection to members of frequent flyer programs.

You get another opportunity to choose a seat you want upon check-in. If the airline operates an online check-in, the best strategy is to try to get a seat as soon as the check-in opens. Normally, it does 24-48 hours before the flight. Some airlines that charge for seat selection let choose a seat for free at check-in. Unfortunately, the pool of seats is smaller since some of them are already occupied.

With an airline that does airport check-in, you can turn up early and ask land personnel responsible for check-in to give you a seat you want.

To discover all airline conditions, you need to study its website before booking your flight. You can also consult the SeatGuru website to investigate the seat map and learn what seats are favorable on the particular aircraft. Some travel agencies keep an eye on the timing of the check-in opening and airlines' policy and check their customers in themselves to provide them with a greater service.

If everything else fails, you can ask somebody on the plane to exchange seats with you.

There is always some randomness with appointed seats. The carrier might change the airplane last minute because of operational reasons. You even might find yourself changing the route on the way to your destination because of the weather conditions. However, such cases are rare, and to get maximum comfort for your journey, you'd better decide on your priorities and try to book a seat in advance.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Were not trying to save the world with Slow Cabins. Its not something youd prescribe in the future for being extremely stressed or burnt out. Were trying to change peoples mindset to take a moment out and sort of get to know each other.

So says Matthew Parkinson, the man responsible for bringing Slow Cabins to Ireland this summer.

The concept, which began in Belgium, sees guests book blind, receiving the secret locations of their boltholes two weeks before travel. The cosy cabins are less than 40 sq m in size, hidden away in nature, eco-friendly and inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian design  from log-burning stoves to picture windows and uncluttered interiors.

Oh, and theres a conscious lack of Wi-Fi, with guests encouraged to leave their phones in a detox box inside as they arrive.

Were addicted to checking our phones, as Parkinson says. There are so many studies out there linking habit-checking your phone to the disruption of a special moment you could have had.

Guests should read up on what to expect before booking, he adds. The cabins are minimal and chic, rather than luxury layovers. They come with a queen-size bed, stove, loo, shower, small cooker and fridge. There are towels, cookware, fuel and utensils, but youll need to bring meals or cook food on the small gas burner or barbecue. A solar-charged battery is provided for power, and rainwater is harvested, in keeping with the sustainable approach.

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Rooted in slow travel, a philosophy favouring a mindful and sustainable approach over mass tourism, the companys earnest, all-in language may raise a cynical eyebrow or two. The short-stays are places that allow time off for the always on, where guests can sense emotional minimalism or choose Slowify over Spotify, it says.

Personally, Id sleep in a cowshed if it was beyond my 5k right now, and I can take or leave being encouraged to relearn how to live according to the rhythms of nature, but its not hard to see why the concept chimes in this moment.

Parkinson calls the cabins pandemic-ready, and the lifestyle sits easily within several travel trends many expect to take off as we emerge from lockdown this summer  from staycations to social distancing and renewed focuses on sustainability, reconnecting with nature and outdoors living.

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Whatsapp The interior of a Slow Cabin in Belgium

Insta-friendly cabin porn was a thing well before Covid, of course, and Ireland is not alone in having witnessed an explosion of quirky Airbnbs, rustic self-catering and glamping options in recent years (it sometimes feels like there are more pods than people out there). Forest retreats like Center Parcs Longford Forest and Co Cavans Cabu by the Lakes have brought a wow factor back to Irish woodland holidays, and the smart, modern construction of Slow Cabins should help offset any weather concerns. Theyre almost fully booked throughout Belgium for summer, the company says, and it hopes to expand in the Netherlands and France as well as Ireland in the months ahead.

The start-up was founded by entrepreneur Xavier Leclair in 2017, in response to his own struggles with work/life balance. He had a brainwave, Parkinson says. He saw we need to give people space and time to recharge and get back in touch with one another. He paints a picture of a small, tight-knit operation whose employees share the same slow tourism and environmental values.

Subject to final planning permission, the first Slow Cabins should be on the ground in Ireland towards the end of summer, Parkinson says, priced from 390 for two people sharing a two-night minimum stay. While we agreed not to reveal the exact location, I can say that the first mini-cluster of cabins will be set on farmland by the shore of Lough Derg, in Irelands Hidden Heartlands. Covid-permitting, the company hopes to go on to install cabins in several other locations here in the years to come.

The off-grid, sustainable aspect suits us well, the Lough Derg host says. Visitors staying in Slow Cabins will see how a beautiful landscape can be both food-producing and friendly to nature and biodiversity. Its all about the diversity here  from hills to woods, hedgerows, sloping fields down to the gorgeous, untouched lakeshore. The topography is beautiful and adds to the sense of privacy for people staying, with a vista and a surprise around every corner.

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Whatsapp Inside a Slow Cabin in Belgium

The settings are idyllic, but are these remote stays secure? Were making people feel secluded, but in a safe environment, Parkinson replies. Check-in is remote, properties are fenced off, there is secure parking, a point of contact by phone and access for emergency services, he adds. There are health and safety checklists, too.

After booking blind, he says, guests will receive directions two weeks before travel, along with general information and a gentle encouragement not to spoil the secret location on social media.

We want people to trust us, trust that we will send you somewhere within a certain distance and time of where you live, and somewhere you probably wouldnt previously have thought of. We want you to trust us to deliver that and be comfortable with it.

We are a fast-paced species, he adds. As travel resumes, the hope is that more of us will want to slow down.

How to slow down...

Slow Cabins aims to have several sites live in Ireland, starting with its first location in late summer. Prices will start from 390 for two nights, in cabins sleeping up to two people. To register your interest as a future guest, or enquire about becoming a host, visit slowcabins.ie.
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The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website:

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A Bulgarian waves a national flag - Shutterstock

Britain has said it will back Bulgaria against malign activity after Sofia dismantled its first Russian spy ring since the end of WWII.

Bulgaria said the group of spies, which used its leader's wife to pass secrets to the Russian embassy, posed a serious threat to NATO and the European Union.

We fully support Bulgarias efforts in disrupting an alleged spy ring and taking steps to tackle Russias hostile actions in its territory, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Saturday.

Senior officials were among six Bulgarians charged with spying for Russia on Friday, including employees of the defence ministry and military intelligence.

It is the first such spy ring discovered in Bulgaria since the end of WWII, according to chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev.

The group is accused of using a former senior official from Bulgarian military intelligence to devise a network of people with access to secret information on the EU, NATO and Bulgaria.

Intelligence was covertly divulged to an "employee of the Russian embassy" via the ring leaders wife in return for money, the prosecutors office said.

They claim to have incriminating video tapes of the suspects.

One suspect attempted to escape as officials moved to arrest the group following a large-scale investigation that remains ongoing.

It is not the first time Bulgaria has seen activities from foreign embassies which aren't compatible with the Vienna convention" according to the foreign ministry.

The US State Department said they strongly support Bulgarias sovereignty and is watching the case closely.

The US strongly supports Bulgarias sovereignty and stands with Bulgarians against these malign activities on their territory.

Russia condemned efforts to "demonise" the Kremlin and sever bilateral ties.

"We expect that speculation about Russia's alleged involvement in intelligence work against Bulgaria's interests will be halted until there is a court ruling," a statement from the embassy on Friday.

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"We proceed from the fact that legal proceedings will be depoliticised, unbiased and objective.

Diplomatic relations between Russia and Bulgaria have been strained in recent years after a slew of spying scandals.

Six people from the Russian embassy, including five ambassadors, were expelled from Bulgaria between October 2019 and the end of 2020.
Sofia: Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told Russia to stop spying in his country, a day after prosecutors said they had charged six people on charges of working as spies for Moscow.

Prosecutors said on Saturday (AEDT) that members of the alleged spying ring, who included former and current military intelligence officers, had passed classified information about Bulgaria, NATO and the EU to an official at the Russian embassy in Sofia.

Bulgarias Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. Credit:AP

During the past 18 months, Bulgaria has expelled six Russian diplomats, including a military attache, over suspected spying  straining historically close diplomatic ties between the NATO and EU member and Moscow.

Once again it could be necessary to declare Russian diplomats as unwanted. And with regards the operation yesterday, I again address their superiors to stop spying in Bulgaria, Borissov said during a trip to the north-eastern city of Silistra.
Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev met Chinese Ambassador Du Dewen on Friday and expressed appreciation to China for its offer of free COVID-19 vaccines.



During the meeting, the Chinese Ambassador noted that China and Kyrgyzstan are good neighbors and all-around strategic partners, the Chinese embassy said in a press release. She expressed the hope and confidence that the vaccines will help Kyrgyzstan counter the epidemic and play a positive role in ensuring the health and safety of its people.



Kazakbaev expressed gratitude to China for its plan to provide COVID-19 vaccines. He said the decision is a testament to its enormous support for Kyrgyzstan and the strong fraternal friendship between the peoples of the two countries. The Kyrgyz side says it is ready to maintain close contact with the Chinese on technical issues in the provision of vaccines for the early benefit of the Kyrgyz people.

"China is ready to continue to fight the epidemic side by side with Kyrgyzstan, to help build a Chinese-Kyrgyz health community and deepen cooperation in various fields in the joint construction of Belt and Road in order to benefit the peoples of the two countries," the Chinese diplomat said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan reported that the first stage of vaccination in the country will begin in late March or early April.

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While the accused owns one acre and 15 guntas in adjoining Survey No. 333, he also encroached on land in Survey No. 332.  DC file photo

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday asked counsel for D. Narendra Babu, who encroached upon a part of the government land in Survey No. 332 in Nizampet, to make clear how much time he would take to vacate the plot and remove all the structures and machinery he had illegally erected there.

The land was part of 32 acres allotted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Mutually Aided Journalists Cooperative Housing Society.

Considering a petition filed by Narendra Babu challenging the eviction notice issued by revenue authorities, Justice P. Naveen Rao noted that the petitioner was an encroacher of government land and he had admitted this himself. The government followed due procedure by serving an eviction notice, the court said.

You get word from your client as to how much time he would require to vacate the land, Justice Rao asked petitioners counsel.

The court posted the matter to Tuesday and directed revenue authorities to not remove structures as adequate time should be given to the encroacher to remove them.

Bachupally tahsildar N.R. Saritha issued the eviction notice, giving in detail the illegal steps taken by Narendra Babu and also the misrepresentation of facts thereof.

Representing the journalists housing society, advocate R.N. Hemendranath Reddy brought to the courts notice the repeated attempts of the accused to hold on to the land by filing a series of cases. In all these cases, the encroacher was misleading the court. While the accused owns one acre and 15 guntas in adjoining Survey No. 333, he also encroached on land in Survey No. 332, Hemendranath Reddy said.

On an earlier occasion, when revenue authorities tried to demolish illegal structures, the accused misled the court that the authorities demolished structures in his private land. He also misinterpreted facts by saying the AP State Finance Corporation had sold land in both survey numbers but the records showed that the corporation had sold an acre and 15 guntas in Survey No. 333.

Reddy also brought to the courts notice that the Supreme Court had given an order to the government to hand over possession of the land to the society and not allow any more encroachment there. After all, an open government land is an orphan, he pointed out.
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Mar. 20Artist William Young unveiled "Coyote Road" his new artwork for the 83 Annual Dogwood Trails Festival during a VIP champagne reception Thursday, March 18 at the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce office.

The special event was hosted by members Linda Dickens and Charles Smith on behalf of the chamber.

At the suggestion of his daughter, Young said he recreated the Beatles Abbey Road album cover with a band of coyotes crossing a street that looks much like downtown Palestine, carrying the same guitars as their British counterparts.

Two years ago, the Chamber shifted the focus of the festival towards music and art, moving away from the status quo festival of "get your funnel cake around the corner," to an upscale arts and music festival with art shows, buskers performing for tips, concerts in the Old Town Hollow, and an art competition that will include local youth.

At that time, Young agreed to create an artistic poster as the event's main keepsake, like the "Blue Dog" posters used for the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He agreed to provide art for the festival for five years.

The art can be used to make posters people can purchase. A limited amount will be numbered and signed by Young each year.

For the first installation, he painted a raccoon playing the bass and an armadillo playing the accordion in front of a building that resembles the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce office on Main Street.

Last year, the Dogwood Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Young stayed true to his word and unveiled a second installation, an elephant one-man-band in front of a building that resembles the Texas Theater in downtown Palestine.

The Palestine Chamber of Commerce is set to host the 83rd Dogwood Festival Saturday, March 20, Kicking off the three week celebration of Dogwood Trails, featuring live music, art, specialty products, food vendors, kids activities and more.

An Art Show, featuring the works of area artist with live music and catered delights was held Friday, March 19 in a tent at The Redlands Parking lot, located across the street from the hotel at 302 to 306 W. Oak Street.

Story continues

The Palestine Dogwood Festival is the longest running Dogwood Festival in the state of Texas and is held in the historic downtown and Old Town district. The Festival kicks off the first of three weekends of the Dogwood Trails celebration with locals and guests celebrating the season of beautiful Dogwood blooms of East Texas.

Copies of Young's festival artwork can be purchased from the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 903-729-6066 or log onto www.palestinechamber.org.

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Britain saw a record number of jabs handed out yesterday with over 700,000 administered in a huge milestone in its fight against the coronavirus as the number of adults to have been given a vaccine passed the halfway point.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock hailed the 'national success story' and reiterated that it was 'our way out of this pandemic'.

Government data up to March 18 shows 49.9 per cent of adults had a first dose of the vaccine, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark. Those figures are expected to be updated later today.

Yesterday the vaccine drive hit a record high after 711,156 doses were dished out across the country in the previous 24 hours.

It comes as a top British scientist who is leading Covid-19 vaccine research warned the Government faces a 'challenge' to deliver all second jabs within 12 weeks due to supply issues.

Meanwhile Ursula von der Leyen threatened to halt exports of AstraZeneca vaccines if the EU does not receive its deliveries first, in a worsening row over delayed shipments that has caused international tensions.

And a government scientist warned foreign trips are 'extremely unlikely' for Britons this summer as Europe struggles to control a surge in coronavirus cases.

Elsewhere in the crisis:

Politicians across the House of Commons have called for Priti Patel to change coronavirus legislation to allow protests despite lockdown;

Billionaire tax exiles, an oil-rich nation and Saudi royals have claimed millions of pounds under the furlough scheme, an investigation reveals;

Boris Johnson yesterday joined the millions of vaccinated Britons after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab;

Angela Merkel said she will have the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after lifting her government's ban in a stunning U-turn;

Britain yesterday saw Covid cases fall again, dropping by a quarter from last week to 4,802 positive tests in a day while deaths also dropped by 42 per cent to 101.

Some 26.2million Britons have now received their first dose, the equivalent of half the adult population in Britain, and 2m have received both injections

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured yesterday) hailed the 'national success story' and reiterated that it was 'our way out of this pandemic'

The Prime Minister, 56, gave a triumphant thumbs up after having his inoculation at St Thomas' in central London yesterday - the same hospital he was admitted to when struck down with Covid in April last year

Mr Hancock said today: 'I'm absolutely delighted to tell you that we have now vaccinated half of all adults in the united kingdom.

'It's a huge success and I want to say many, many thanks to all those involved, including the half of all adults who have come forward.'

He added: 'The UK vaccination programme is a big success story. It's down to the hard work of many, many people.'

The vaccine programme had been steadily gaining pace this week, after 529,119 total doses were given out on Tuesday and 581,855 on Wednesday.

Denmark reports two cases of serious illness, including one death, after AstraZeneca shot Denmark said on Saturday that one person had died and another fell seriously ill with blood clots and cerebral haemorrhage after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination. The two, both hospital staff members, had both received the AstraZeneca vaccine less than 14 days before getting ill, the authority that runs public hospitals in Copenhagen said. The Danish Medicines Agency confirmed it had received two 'serious reports', without giving further details. There were no details of when the hospital staff got ill. Denmark, which halted using the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 11, was among more than a dozen countries that temporarily paused use of the vaccine after a small number of reports of cases of rare brain blood clots sent scientists and governments scrambling to determine any link. Some countries including Germany and France this week reversed their decision to suspend use of the vaccine following an investigation into the reports of blood clots by the European Union's drug watchdog, which said on Thursday it is still convinced the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. Advertisement

Some 26.2million Britons have now received their first dose, the equivalent of half the adult population in Britain, and two million have received both injections.

Despite the promising week, the NHS is gearing up for a significant shortage of vaccine doses next month due to supply issues in India.

A shipment of five million Oxford shots has been delayed, for reasons have not been made clear, with No10 holding talks with New Delhi to get the roll-out back on track.

It means Britons over 40 who were expecting to be called for their appointments next month will need to wait until at least May. Ministers are instead prioritising current stock for over-50s and for people due their second doses.

Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome, welcomed the vaccine milestone.

He said: 'To have vaccinated half of the UK's adult population in under 3 months is remarkable. Soon we'll have covered 99 per cent of those at high risk of dying from Covid-19. The UK should be proud of this achievement and the scientists, healthcare workers and volunteers who got us here.

'But we need to start thinking beyond our borders. The UK has access to 100 million surplus vaccine doses. Almost enough to vaccinate every citizen twice. These doses won't be of use in the UK. It's time we begin sharing doses with those most in need globally.

'This is more than a question of ethics  it is a scientific and economic imperative. If left to spread unchecked in large parts of the world, the virus risks mutating to an extent where our vaccines and treatments no longer work  leaving us all exposed. Science has given us the exit strategy, but it will only work if its benefits can reach the maximum number of people around the world.

'It is not enough to champion the importance of equitable access  we urgently need confirmed timetables for sharing doses through Covax. The UK should lead the way on this.'

Conservative MPs were also quick to congratulate Health Secretary Mr Hancock after the monumental vaccination figure was reached.

Baroness Morgan tweeted: 'A remarkable achievement - thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. For the first & last time ever I'm sorry not to be over 50!'

Conservative Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton, said: 'Half of all adults vaccinated - what a Herculean achievement!'

Tory Rob Butler posted: ''Vaccinating half of all adults in the UK is an astonishing achievement.' The MP for Aylesbury added: 'Thank you to everyone in & around Aylesbury for your contribution.'

MP for Bury St Edmunds Jo Churchill said: 'An incredible milestone - we have now vaccinated half of all adults in the UK. When you receive your invitation please #getthejab!'

And Conservative MP for BurySouth Christian Wakeford put: 'Might be waiting a bit for mine but this is a massive achievement. To everyone who has helped get us this far - Thank you.'

NHS England figures show 79 per cent of over-55s in the country had at least one dose of the vaccine by March 14, but London is significantly lagging behind in uptake

Statistics from the MHRA show that while 78 per cent of all first doses were Pfizer jabs between December 8 and January 24, this split reversed between February 7 and March 7 so that it only accounted for 34 per cent. Just nine per cent of all first doses in the week to March 7 (200,000) were supplied by Pfizer

Pfizer warns EU NOT to block vaccine exports Pfizer has urged the EU to back down on its threat to block vaccine exports to the UK, claiming Britain could hit back by impounding crucial UK-manufactured ingredients for vaccines produced in Europe. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen issued the warning this week amid the shambolic distribution of jabs on the continent. She threatened to block exports of vaccines to Britain while complaining that the EU was 'still waiting' for Astazeneca doses to be delivered from the UK, where the vaccine drive is far outpacing efforts on the continent. It comes amid criticism of European leaders for suspending the Astrazeneca jab over blood clot fears despite there being no evidence that the injection increases the risk. Both European and British regulators have insisted the vaccine is safe and that the tiny handful of clotting cases - out of millions of jab recipients - is not linked to the injections. It is thought there are currently 7.5million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine sitting un-used in Europe as a result of the bans. However, von der Leyen's threat has sparked a response from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and partner BioNTech. The firms have told Brussels of the potential power held by the UK, which could see officials preventing raw materials needed for the jab being shipped from northern England if the row continues. Advertisement

Professor Robin Shattock of Imperial College London, who is leading Covid-19 vaccine research, warned the Government faces a 'challenge' to deliver all second jabs within 12 weeks.

He told BBC Breakfast the Government needed to make sure as many people as possible receive both doses of the vaccine to 'not lose the advantage we are already gaining'.

He said: 'We need to get people vaccinated as soon as possible, and get those second doses delivered within that 12-week period, which is going to be a challenge to do that and deliver vaccine to people who haven't had their first dose.'

Asked about new variants, Professor Shattock added: 'Something we have to be careful about is the potential for new variants to arise and the vaccine may have a selective pressure.

'It emphasises again we can't unlock too quickly. We need to make sure that as many people have both doses of the vaccine so we can get on top of it and not lose the advantage we are already gaining.'

And asked how well the vaccine was working in terms of reducing transmission, he said: 'I think it's really difficult to say at this stage.

'We are seeing a reduction in hospitalisation and in some parts of the country, a reduction in transmission, that's a good thing. The vaccine may be contributing to that.

'But we are seeing in other parts of the world, it's going down in the US for example and they're not as far ahead with their vaccine campaign, so we can't be complacent.'

Meanwhile Ms von der Leyen threatened to halt exports of AstraZeneca vaccines if the EU does not receive its deliveries first, in a worsening row over delayed shipments that has heightened tensions.

The EU chief told the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company it has to come through on deliveries to the bloc or it would block exports of jabs made on its turf.

Professor Robin Shattock of Imperial College London, who is leading Covid-19 vaccine research, warned the Government faces a 'challenge' to deliver all second jabs within 12 weeks

Super-wealthy subsidised by the taxpayer Billionaire tax exiles, an oil-rich nation and Saudi royals have claimed millions of pounds under the furlough scheme, an investigation reveals. The super-rich owners made the 'obscene' claims for taxpayers' cash for staff who were sent home after their businesses, which include the Ritz Hotel and Harrods department stores, were closed under coronavirus restrictions. The cost of the scheme is set to hit 66bn when it comes to an end in September, helping push the UK's national debt well over 2trillion. The recipients include the Qatari owners of Harrods and the Ritz, who claimed 3million in December alone, and members of the Saudi royal family received up to 55,000, according to the Guardian. Tax exiles Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of chemicals company Ineos, and private equity tycoon Guy Hands also own companies that claimed under the scheme, as did billionaires Evgeny Lebedev, Len Blavatnik and Mohamed Al Fayed. Dubai's government and its ruler Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum have also claimed for a 'six-star' concierge service for VIPs. The list, drawn from Government disclosures on the 750,000 businesses using the scheme in December 2020, has sparked fury amongst MPs who accused ministers of scattering public money 'like confetti'. Others argued the extremely wealthy could afford to pay their own staff, rather than turn to the coronavirus jobs retention scheme (CJRS). It comes after Tony and Cherie Blair were found to be claiming under the scheme, alongside golf courses owned by Donald Trump, model Cara Delevingne, Jamie Oliver Group and Samantha Cameron's fashion brand Cefinn. Advertisement

She told Germany's Funke media group: 'We have the option of banning a planned export. That's the message to AstraZeneca: you fulfil your contract with Europe first before you start delivering to other countries.'

The warning comes as the European Union struggles to speed up its Covid inoculation campaign, just as many member states are battling rising infection rates that have forced renewed restrictions.

Ms Von der Leyen said AstraZeneca had delivered only 30 per cent of the 90million vaccine doses it had promised for the first quarter of the year.

The firm blamed production delays at its EU plants in Belgium and the Netherlands, but European officials are furious that AstraZeneca has been able to deliver its UK contract in full while falling short on the continent.

European Commission president Ms von der Leyen had on Wednesday already threatened to invoke emergency powers to block European exports of Covid-19 vaccines to ensure 'reciprocity' with other suppliers.

'All options are on the table,' the former German defence minister said, adding that the vaccine situation would be addressed among EU leaders at talks next week.

The EU has already set up special oversight of vaccine exports in which manufacturers contracted to supply Europe must declare if they intend to export doses outside the bloc.

Most of the EU's worry is over Britain, where the inoculation campaign has progressed at a much faster pace than in continental Europe.

Brussels has accused London of operating a de facto export ban to achieve its vaccine success, a claim furiously denied by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government.

The EU's export ban mechanism must first be triggered in an individual member state and then be approved by the European Commission before it can be enforced.

The mechanism has so far only been applied once, with Italy blocking the export of a 250,000 dose shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia, citing 'persistent shortage' and 'delays in supply'.

Not all EU members support export bans, which could upset global supply chains, and countries like Belgium and the Netherlands have urged caution.

Ursula von der Leyen threatened to halt exports of AstraZeneca vaccines if the EU did not receive its deliveries first, in a worsening row over delayed shipments that has caused international tensions

The UK deal with Serum in India was announced on March 2 but Mr Poonawalla had warned ten days earlier that supplies were not running smoothly. Pictured: A map of vaccine manufacturing sites across Europe and India

Supply figures for the vaccines were always expected to dip in April and May, according to projections published by the Scottish Government in January  before the UK had struck a deal for 10million doses from India. Therefore, the India delivery delay is believed to be separate from these figures

Britain's daily Covid cases drop by a quarter in a week to 4,802 while deaths fall by 42% to 101 Britain yesterday saw Covid cases fall again, dropping by a quarter from last week to 4,802 positive tests in a day while deaths also dropped by 42 per cent to 101. Two other weekly studies, by the Office for National Statistics and the Covid Symptom Study, showed cases are still coming down significantly, and the country had its best ever performance in the vaccination drive on Thursday when it administered a massive 660,276 jabs including 528,260 people getting their first. But SAGE has warned that a resurgence of Covid in Europe could soon lead to a rise in infections in Britain, saying the country is at a 'more fragile point' than it was a few weeks ago. Cases are on the rise again in countries including France, Germany and Belgium and one of No10's top scientific advisers has warned that spikes on the continent tend to lead to a spike in Britain two to three weeks later without any obvious link to travel. What ties the two together isn't clear, they said, but ministers and officials in the UK must watch closely in the coming weeks to make sure infections don't take off again. SAGE yesterday upgraded its estimate of the R rate - how fast the virus is spreading - in Britain, pushing it closer to one to a possible 0.9, meaning the outbreak is not shrinking as quickly as it was in February and late January. Advertisement

If the European Union blocked all exports of coronavirus vaccines made on its turf, Britain could remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population.

The majority of the 100million AstraZeneca jabs ordered by the UK are made at home in England and Wales, with a small 10million order from Pune, India, partially delayed this week.

In a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using the company's jab alone.

However, it could come under pressure on second dose supply, with around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which is made in Puurs, Belgium.

This means Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected.

And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered.

AstraZeneca does have manufacturing sites in Europe, with the active ingredient behind the vaccine made in Belgium and the Netherlands and 'fill and finish' site in Italy, where the vaccine is put into vials.

In an unexpected blow for sun-starved Brits earlier today, Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new Covid variants which are less susceptible to vaccines.

The Warwick University professor, who is a member of the Spi-M modelling group, warned it means overseas jaunts for the average holidaymaker are in doubt.

Dr Tildesley told the Today programme: 'I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.

'I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country.

'What is really dangerous is if we jeopardise our vaccination campaign by having these variants where the vaccines don't work as effectively spreading more rapidly.'

Left: Dr Mike Tildesley said there was a danger travellers could bring back new variants which are less susceptible to vaccines. Right: Kate Bingham hit out at Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel after they suggested the vaccines were not effective on the elderly

While Covid deaths in France have been steadily falling since last year, there are fears the trend could reverse as cases continue to rise

PM gets jab almost a year after fighting for life with Covid Boris Johnson's Covid jab tonight comes almost a year after he was severely struck down with the disease. After testing positive on March 27, 2020, the Prime Minister was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital with 'persistent symptoms' on April 5. On April 6, he was moved into intensive care and was unable to carry out his prime ministerial duties, forcing Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise. Mr Johnson later said 'it could have gone either way' and paid tribute to the medics who saved him. Pinning the blame for his vulnerability on his weight, he subsequently resolved to get fitter and started early morning runs in the grounds of Buckingham Palace as well as cutting back on his penchant for cheese and wine. The Prime Minister has since declared he is 'bursting with antibodies'. Advertisement

Outbreaks of the South African variant in countries throughout the Continent is causing particular concern, sparking calls for tougher travel restrictions.

Some experts fear European getaways in May and potentially in the summer months - much anticipated by millions of Britons - are now a doubt.

Britain's vaccination roll-out has been a huge success - with a record 660,276 jabs administered yesterday - but the picture in the Bloc looks different.

The EU has overseen a shambolic vaccine distribution programme and the number of positive tests is on the up in countries such as France, Spain, Germany and Italy.

The worry for British experts is that such scenes earlier in the pandemic have often foreshadowed a similar scenario in the UK.

The warning came as Britain's vaccine tsar blasted 'irresponsible' European leaders for encouraging anti-vaxxers by casting doubt over AstraZeneca's jabs.

Kate Bingham hit out at Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel after they suggested the vaccines were not effective on the elderly.

The 55-year-old former head of the Government's vaccine task force said she 'would not be happy to have leaders undermining a vaccine'.

Vaccine Tsar Ms Bingham told the Telegraph: 'If I was sitting in those countries, I would not be happy to have leaders that are undermining a vaccine that could actually protect.

'The data are coming through every day showing how effective it is in the elder people. The UK's done really well because we've had astonishingly high take-up.

'Whereas if you've got leaders basically saying ''I'm not taking that vaccine'' it's completely irresponsible. There's no other word for it, actually.'

A deserted street in the French city of Nice yesterday as several areas of the country go into a new month-long lockdown

People walk over a deserted bridge in a cloudy Paris this week, where people will once again have to fill out a form to justify their movements to authorities

Oxford and Pfizer jabs are more effective against Brazilian variant than initially feared The coronavirus vaccines being rolled out in Britain work better against the Brazilian variant than first feared, research suggests. An Oxford University study found its vaccine and the jab made by Pfizer perform just as well against the P.1 strain that first emerged in Manaus as they do against the Kent variant. The vaccines, already in the arms of 25million Britons, have shown to be highly effective against the UK dominant Kent strain, reducing deaths and hospital rates by more than 85 per cent. Scientists initially feared the P.1 variant would be resistant to vaccines because it has a number of worrying mutations on top of the ones it shares with the Kent strain. There have so far been 12 cases of the Brazilian variant in the UK  nine in England and three in Scotland. All of the patients had either direct or indirect travel links to Brazil. Advertisement

A new month-long lockdown was imposed in Paris and other regions across the Channel this weekend. Scientists fearing as many as one in ten of the 35,000 daily cases reported in the French capital are the South African variant.

Officially known as B.1.351, it is the Covid strain concerning scientists most because it makes the current crop of jabs slightly less effective.

While vaccination offers some protection to Britain, there are still millions of young people who are well down the waiting list and most likely to spread the virus.

Experts are not urging the PM to change the current plan to ease restrictions but caution is being exercised and a surge could prompt a change of thought.

Meanwhile Professor Sir John Bell - part of the vaccine taskforce - slammed France for not giving the Oxford jab to under-55s after saying it was not for the elderly.

The Oxford University immunologist warned the changing advice was undermining confidence in the whole vaccination programme.

Oxford University's Sir John warned the changing advice in France was undermining confidence in the whole vaccination programme.

He told the Today programme:'It doesn't make any sense. The whole thing looks completely crackers. They are changing the rules almost every week.

'They are really damaging people's confidence in vaccines generally - not just the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'They are sitting on a massive stockpile of vaccines that they haven't deployed yet and at the same time they have got a massive wave of the new variants coming across the country. You couldn't make it up.'

The Covid variants circulating in the UK: PHE has six variants 'under investigation' - including strains from the Philippines and Antigua and several which spawned in the UK. It has four more which it describes as 'variants of concern'

Kate Bingham hit out at Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel (pictured with Ursula Von der Leyen a in 2019) after they suggested the vaccines were not effective on the elderly

Ministers scramble to diffuse stand-off with India by insisting it isn't blocking shipments Ministers were yesterday scrambling to defuse the standoff with India over 5million missing doses of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine, with No10 holding secret talks with New Delhi to get the roll-out back on track. Matt Hancock yesterday admitted a delayed shipment from the Serum Institute of India was a key factor in shortages that will slow the campaign down next month, meaning millions of over-40s will have to wait until May to get their first dose. But in front of the entire nation last night, Boris Johnson  who is due to travel to India in the coming months to secure a lucrative post-Brexit trade deal  claimed Narenda Modi's government had 'not stopped any exports'. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden waded into the confusion and repeated the claims of the Prime Minister, saying India was not 'withholding vaccines' and that the SII had 'some supply issues'. Asked if Mr Modi's administration was blocking exports, Mr Dowden told LBC: 'No. India is not withholding vaccines, and I pay tribute to the work of the Serum Institute. They have had some supply issues with 5million doses.' It comes as one of the Government's top scientific advisers insisted Britain's vaccine in shortage in April won't hamper the UK's inoculation drive. 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, an Imperial College London epidemiologist whose grim modelling spooked ministers into the first blanket shutdown last March, dismissed fears that the hold-up could threaten plans to ease lockdown. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the delay was 'slightly disappointing' but insisted it shouldn't have an 'enormous effect'. And he added that No10 still has 'enough' supply to continue with the programme  which has already vaccinated almost 26million Britons. Another Imperial scientist said it was 'unrealistic to imagine the first dose roll-out will be as fast'. Professor Robin Shattock, who is involved in vaccine research, said the delay was 'manageable', however. Advertisement

He added: 'If there are clotting problems associated with the vaccines - I am not saying there are, but if there were - they are at a very tiny level compared with the problems you get if you get the disease. If you want to die of a clot, get Covid.'

Mr Macron was slammed when earlier this year he claimed the Oxford jab was 'quasi-ineffective' for the elderly.

Mrs Merkel also came in for criticism when she said she would not take that vaccine and said it was not to be used on over-65s.

Her claims came despite the European Medicines Agency saying they were fine for all age groups. Mrs Merkel yesterday backed down and said she would have it.

Pfizer yesterday urged the EU to back down on its threat to block vaccine exports to the UK, claiming Britain could hit back by impounding crucial UK-manufactured ingredients for vaccines produced in Europe.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen issued the warning this week amid the shambolic distribution of jabs on the continent.

She threatened to block exports of vaccines to Britain while complaining that the EU was 'still waiting' for Astazeneca doses to be delivered from the UK, where the vaccine drive is far outpacing efforts on the continent.

Both European and British regulators have insisted the vaccine is safe and that the tiny handful of clotting cases - out of millions of jab recipients - is not linked to the injections.

It is thought there are currently 7.5million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine sitting un-used in Europe as a result of the bans.

But Ms von der Leyen's threat has sparked a response from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and partner BioNTech.

The firms have told Brussels of the potential power held by the UK, which could see officials preventing raw materials needed for the jab being shipped from northern England if the row continues.

A chemicals firm in the small town of Snaith, North Yorkshire, signed a five-year contract with the EU before Christmas and has since delivered 'fatty molecules' to Pfizer factories in the bloc, according to the Telegraph.

If Boris Johnson and his top team move to stop deliveries flowing across the Channel, it could see production at its main site in Belgium halted completely within weeks.

A senior Government source distanced themselves from the suggestion, but Pfizer and BioNTech are believed to have issued a private warning over the ramifications if Downing Street is provoked further.

Lipid nanoparticles - specialised fatty molecules used to encase the vaccine and make sure it is safely administered to human cells - are in short supply globally, and the drugmaker is said to be 'heavily dependent' on supplies from the UK.

Croda International is one of only a handful of companies in the world which can supply the substance and has quadrupled its factory capacity to meet demand, which it predict will generate more than 90m in sales.

A Pfizer spokesman told the Telegraph: 'We have been clear with all stakeholders that the free movement of goods and supply across borders is absolutely critical to Pfizer and the patients we serve.'

Mr Johnson yesterday joined the millions of vaccinated Britons after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

Boris Johnson yesterday joined the millions of Britons to be vaccinated after receiving his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab

No10's vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi got his first dose of a coronavirus vaccination this morning in Lewisham. He was jabbed by NHS England's director of primary care Dr Nikki Kanani

Britain has already identified up to 351 cases of the variant, sparking surge-testing to root out other cases of the variant. This week two areas of London saw surge-testing ordered after cases of the South African variant were identified there

The PM, 56, gave a thumbs up after having his inoculation at St Thomas' in London - the same hospital he was admitted when struck down with Covid in April last year.

Encouraging others to also get jabbed, he said he 'literally couldn't feel a thing' when his nurse, Lily, injected him in his left arm.

By receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine himself, Mr Johnson is sending the strongest possible signal he believes it to be safe following hesitancy from European leaders.

Countries including France, Germany and Italy had suspended use of the jab after a handful of recipients - out of millions - experienced blot clotting.

Faced with comparably sluggish rollouts and low take-up, their action was widely condemned as a political calculation - which has now been reversed.

HOW BADLY WOULD UK'S VACCINE DRIVE SUFFER IF THE EU BLOCKED VACCINE EXPORTS? If the European Union blocked all exports of coronavirus vaccines made on its turf, Britain could remain self-sufficient and still get jabs to the entire population. However, it could come under pressure on second dose supply. EU president Ursula von der Leyen suggested this week that the bloc could start an export ban on vaccines  the second time that threat has been made  because the continent's rollout is going so badly. WHICH VACCINES ARE MADE IN THE EU? The Pfizer/BioNTech jab is currently the only vaccine used in the UK but manufactured in the EU, at the company's plant in Puurs, Belgium. AstraZeneca's jab is made at home in England and Wales. Moderna's  which will become available in about two weeks' time at the start of April  is produced in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and so not under von der Leyen's jurisdiction. The Janssen vaccine, which has not yet been approved by Britain but is likely to be next, will be made in various factories around the world, including in France, Belgium, the US and Japan. Britain's supply is likely to come from the EU but is not expected until the second half of this year in any case. CAN WE RELY ON ASTRAZENECA? The good news is that the UK has ordered so many doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab  100million  that in a worst-case scenario it could immunise the entire adult population (around 50million people) using that one alone. And supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in April and May will be around three to four times larger than of Pfizer and over 20 times as large as those from Moderna  at around three to four million available per week, according to a delivery schedule leaked by the Scottish Government in January  meaning the country will be able to rely on those for the vast majority of its vaccinations. WHAT ABOUT PFIZER SECOND DOSES? The bad news is that around 13million people have already had at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the majority of them are still waiting for a second jab, which are likely only to come from within the EU. This means that Britain has to have another 13million doses at least, in order to make sure those people are fully protected. And it also hopes for another 14million so it can immunise the total 20million for whom doses were ordered. Pfizer and the UK Government have both refused to comment on the supply chain but deliveries are expected to be smaller in April. The Department of Health may have to stop using Pfizer supplies for first-time vaccinations within weeks if the spectre of export issues remains, MailOnline understands, because it must begin to stockpile supplies to cope with the huge demand for second doses that will come in April, three months after the rollout exploded in January. The delivery projections accidentally published by the Scottish Government suggest its supplies of Pfizer will tumble from 130,000 per week throughout March to just 78,000 per week in April and May. This could equate to approximately 1.5million per week for the whole UK dropping to 950,000 per week, according to the distribution formula used by the Government. The UK vaccinated more than 2.5million people per week throughout most of January and February and around half of all doses used were Pfizer, meaning the demand for second doses could exceed one million per week in April and May. If this is the case the Government will have to use all of the projected 950,000 per week suggested in the Scottish delivery schedule while also hoping it has enough left over to meet this rolling demand  leaving little to no capacity for people to receive the Pfizer jab for the first time. Pfizer declined to comment on its supply chain but said: 'In the UK, we are continuing to liaise closely with the Government to deliver the 40million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that we have committed to supply before the end of the year and can confirm that overall projected supply remains the same for quarter one (January to March).' Advertisement

Italian PM Mario Draghi on Friday night said that he will have the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Mr Johnson added: 'Listen to the scientists, listen to what the European Medicines Agency had to say, to what the MHRA [the British regulator] has said. 'The risk is Covid - this is a great thing to do.'

Britain has now vaccinated over half of its adult population and the rollout yesterday hit a record pace after 660,276 doses were dished out.

Mr Johnson tweeted: 'I've just received my first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine dose. Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS staff and volunteers who helped make this happen.

'Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much. Let's get the jab done.'

Latest Department of Health data shows 528,260 first doses were administered on Thursday, on top of another 132,016 second shots.

Fellow cabinet ministers including Grant Shapps, Therese Coffey and Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi have also been jabbed.

The PM's jab will put him among the thousands of Britons expected to receive their vaccine.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a 'mammoth team effort' had led to Britain hitting record pace, while health minister Lord Bethell pointed out it meant nearly one per cent of the country had been jabbed in a single day.

The programme had been steadily gaining pace this week, after 529,119 total doses were given out on Tuesday and 581,855 on Wednesday.

Some 26.2million Britons have now received their first dose, the equivalent of half the adult population in Britain, and 2m have received both injections.

Despite the promising week, the NHS is gearing up for a significant shortage of vaccine doses next month due to supply issues in India.

A shipment of four million AstraZeneca shots from has been delayed, for reasons that aren't totally clear, with No10 holding secret talks with New Delhi to get the roll-out back on track.

It means Britons aged over 40 who were expecting to be called for their appointments next month will need to wait until at least May while ministers prioritise current stock for over-50s and for people due their second doses.

Meanwhile, MailOnline yesterday revealed Britain has almost stopped giving out the Pfizer Covid vaccine to new patients so it can save supplies for second doses.

The NHS in England appears to now be rationing the jab, which was used to kick off the rollout in December, and only used it for one in 10 new patients in the first week of March.

It comes after NHS figures revealed how vaccine uptake rates differed across the country, with only 60 per cent of over-55s in parts of London receiving their first doses compared to almost 90 per cent in parts of Worcestershire.

There are 21 areas of the country that have yet to hit more than 70 per cent of this age group, and 17 of them are in London.

For comparison, the Isles of Scilly has vaccinated 822 of its 876 over-55s  giving it an uptake of 93.8 per cent  and Stafford, Mid Suffolk and the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire have all jabbed more than 89 per cent.

Uptake figures are based on the latest population estimates by Public Health England's National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS).

Officials insist vaccines are divvied out evenly across the country, suggesting poor uptake is to blame. Health chiefs are concerned about high levels of vaccine hesitancy among black and ethnic minorities, fuelled by anti-vaxx messages on social media.

England's vaccine roll-out was widened to over-50s this week but a shortfall in the vaccine supply next month is expected to mean millions of over-40s won't be inoculated until May.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock this week revealed supplies would be used to mop up the over-50s who haven't already been jabbed, while ensuring Britons don't miss out on crucial top-ups. Diverting supplies to inner-city neighbourhoods with low uptake rates will stop areas leading the way from moving down the priority list.

MailOnline's analysis of the latest vaccine statistics shows most parts of the country are well on their way to achieving the target of offering first doses to all over-50s by April 15.

But most of the capital is seriously lagging behind in the roll-out to over-55s, with more than half a million in the age group yet to receive a jab in London.

Uptake was worst in Hackney (59.2 per cent), Newham (60.2 per cent), Kensington and Chelsea (61.1 per cent), Southwark (61.3 per cent) and Westminster (61.4 per cent). Nearly 90,000 over-55s still have to come forward for a jab in those boroughs alone.

On the other end of the spectrum, 35 areas of the country have vaccinated more than 85 per cent of people in that age group.

The Isles of Scilly, Stafford, Mid Suffolk and Wyre Forest had jabbed more than 89 per cent, followed by the Isle of Wight (88.7 per cent), Wyre (88.3 per cent), Babergh (87.9 per cent), Malvern Hills (87.4 per cent) and Harborough (87.2 per cent).

East Suffolk has vaccinated 88.5 per cent of its over-55s despite being one of the very few local authorities in the country to have more than 100,000 people in the age group.

The data also showed just 64 per cent of carers working in people's homes have taken up the offer of the vaccine.

Uptake among the group  who work with the most vulnerable people in society  is lowest in Barnet in north London (28.5 per cent), Barnsley in south Yorkshire (29.3 per cent) and Bath and North East Somerset (29.3 per cent).

Meanwhile, official data suggests Britain has almost stopped giving out the Pfizer Covid vaccine to new patients so it can save supplies for second doses.

The NHS appears to now be rationing the jab, which was used to kick off the rollout in December, and only used it for one in 10 new patients in the first week of March.

In January, when AstraZeneca's vaccine first got approved, Pfizer's still accounted for three quarters of all first doses but this fell to just nine per cent in the first week of March, when only 200,000 new patients were given it.

MailOnline understands deliveries of the Belgian-made jab will be smaller from April because of a planned reduction and there is also a risk the EU will try to rescue its shambolic roll-out and try to block shipments from reaching the UK.

Ministers must be careful with the supply they do get because they're already over halfway through supplies planned up to June - and they owe around 10m people a second dose.

The Department of Health said everyone will get their second doses within 12 weeks as planned. Both the Department and Pfizer declined to comment on the delivery schedule but insist there is no problem with supplies, amid reports on social media of Britons being told there is a shortage.

AstraZeneca's vaccine, which is available in much larger quantities, is now taking over as the country's staple vaccine as medics rattle through the priority lists.

But a hiccup in supplies of that because of a blocked shipment of 5million doses from India - combined with a need to reserve Pfizer stocks - means the number of people getting first doses will be 'significantly constrained' in April, the NHS has warned.

This means millions of people in their 40s will likely have to wait until at least May to get their first doses. But Whitehall insiders are still hopeful that some will get jabs ahead of schedule, amid claims under-50s would be invited by Easter.

Figures in the MHRA's Yellow Card reports, which record people's reactions to the vaccines, show that the proportion of first jabs that are Pfizer's has tumbled.

While 78 per cent of all first doses were Pfizer jabs between December 8 and January 24, this split reversed between February 7 and March 7 so that it only accounted for 34 per cent.

The vaccine was used for 1.2million first doses between December 8 and January 4 before Oxford's got approval.

AstraZeneca's came into use on January 4 but by January 24, Pfizer's still accounted for 78 per cent of all first doses - 5.4m out of a total 6.9m.

Come February, when AstraZeneca's was being churned out at a rate of 2million per week, the proportion of new patients who were getting Pfizer's jab started to come down but it remained a mainstay of the rollout.

It had accounted for 60 per cent by February 7, when AstraZeneca started to gain ground.

Weekly data available from early February shows the proportion of weekly first-dose vaccines that were Pfizer ranged between 30 and 50 per cent in February.

But it then plummeted to just nine per cent in the first week of March, when only 200,000 people out of 2.2million were given the Pfizer jab.

In that most recent week the number of second doses was about equal to the number of first doses, suggesting a pivot in the way the jab is being used.

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'Vaccines will save thousands of lives and reduce hospitalisations and any vaccine approved by the MHRA is proven to be both safe, and effective.
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Every week our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you dont have to. This week: Walking holidays in the UK.

Luxury will be in the (fresh) air on Britains best walking tours this summer as travel firms sweep away the old giant-rucksack-and-youth-hostel image.

The latest trips promise stays in grand country house hotels and beautiful historic inns. And while you follow a route through some amazing countryside, your luggage is delivered to your next stop so there are no concerns about having to pack light.

The seven-night Ales And Dales Trail includes nights at the oak-beamed White Lion Inn, set next to the stepping stones that cross the River Wharfe in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales (pictured)

Some holidays are for small groups, where about a dozen guests are led by experts or historians, while others are self-guided trips where you head off at your own pace each day following detailed directions from a tour company.

With plenty of availability, pick from short breaks, long-distance walks or even themed trips.

The seven-night Ales And Dales Trail is one of the top-selling self-guided trips at Macs Adventure and has weekly departures until October.

Accommodation includes nights at The Devonshire hotel in Grassington  its cosy bar is in the new TV series of All Creatures Great And Small  and the oak-beamed White Lion Inn, set next to the stepping stones that cross the River Wharfe in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Each day, walkers clock up about 12 miles. The route includes recommendations for pub lunches (including at Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in the country) and attractions such as the Wensleydale Creamery.

Holidays cost from 710pp (macsadventure.com).

On the Ales And Dales Trail you might like to stop for a pub lunch at the Tan Hill Inn (pictured), which stands as the UK's highest pub at 1,732ft above sea level

If you prefer books to beer then the six-night Literary Walking Holiday (headwater.com) in the Lake District may tempt you.

As well as incredible scenery, the route takes in Coniston, the inspiration for Arthur Ransomes childrens classic Swallows And Amazons, and Hill Top farmhouse, the favourite retreat of Beatrix Potter.

Most daily walks are less than eight miles and accommodation includes a stay amid classic Laura Ashley designs at The Belsfield hotel overlooking Windermere. Breaks cost from 859pp.

Take in Coniston, the inspiration for Arthur Ransomes childrens classic Swallows And Amazons, on the Literary Walking Holiday

Stunning: Pictured is the lounge at The Belsfield in the Lake District with its elegant Laura Ashley furnishings

Walkers who would rather stay at the same hotel each night can choose from four new tours with Explore (explore.co.uk). The base for Walk Northumberland is a charming pub in Alnwick where youll join a group of up to 16 people.

Each morning a guide drives the guests to a starting point for a different walk, including across the causeway to Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle, to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, along a section of Hadrians Wall and to Cragside, a Victorian country house that was the first in the world to use hydro-electric power for its lights. Other one-hotel trips explore the South Downs, the Lake District and Snowdonia, and cost from 690pp.

If you fear getting lost on a walking holiday, technology can help.

Family-run travel firm Walk Awhile (walkawhile.co.uk) has always given its holidaymakers marked-up route maps and guidebooks  now it has added GPS links so you can keep track of your ramble by phone.

A five-night favourite follows the Pilgrims Way from Rochester to Canterbury in Kent, passing Leeds Castle and Godmersham Park, said to be the inspiration for Jane Austens novel Mansfield Park. It costs from 649pp.

Alternatively, head to Northern Ireland where a six-night trip with Ramblers Holidays (ramblersholidays.co.uk) takes in the Giants Causeway, ruined Dunluce Castle and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Holidays cost from 850pp.
The United States saw the rise of one businessman as president, but could one of daytime televisions fictional businessmen be president? According to Eric Braeden, who plays Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless, the Genoa City tycoon has the chops!

Eric Braeden in 2013 | Francois Durand/Getty Images

Eric Braeden wasnt always keen on daytime television

The actor started playing Victor in 1980 and has been in the role ever since he was first introduced. His role as Victor was actually supposed to be a short-term one but Braeden ended up signing a contract and staying for years after, arguably becoming the shows most important character.

The has spoken often about not being too keen on daytime television when he first started, including in his 2017 memoir, Ill Be Damned: How My Young and Restless Life Led Me to Americas #1 Daytime Drama.

I hated it, he said in a special video posted on the shows social media channels last year. I couldnt stand it. Because I played a bad guy, and I had burned out playing bad guys. Ive played bad guys on over 120 television shows, and I was sick and tired of it.

However, Bill Bell, the shows creator, worked to give Victor more depth. I asked Bill Bell to imbue this character with a background that explains why he became who he was, said Braeden. Bell made this happen, and the rest is history.

Eric Braeden talks about what a Victor Newman presidency would look like

In an interview with Gay Guide Network around the release of his memoir, Braeden was asked if he thought Victor could be president.

RELATED: Why the Young and the Restless Star Eric Braeden Almost Turned Down an Iconic Movie Role

That is a very good question, he said. Look, campaigns, unfortunately, lead to an oversimplification of very difficult problems, and they lead to promises they simply cant keep. When you come for example here in America into the White House you suddenly realize and say Holy Shit there is congress, there the judiciary, there is public opinion and there is the free press, etcand they simply will not go along with you as those who voted for you. And its a shocking realization most Presidents face. Would I want that? No.

However, the veteran actor says that he does think that he (and his character, assuming that the Newman patriarchs thoughts lines up with his fictional characters) this that he would make a good president.

On the other hand there are moments when I say, Yeah, Id be a pretty d**n fair person, I think,' he said. My leanings basically I would say are liberal, and I would obviously maintain the social system. And by that I mean social security, Medicare, [and] Medicaid. I certainly would spend a lot of money rebuilding Americas infrastructure which would go back into the economy.

Eric Braeden on the trickle-down mindset

In the interview, Braeden made it clear that he did not align with a lot of politicians policies that are more conservative.

I have never really understood the Republican notion that public money spent is misspent and should be stopped, he explained. Why? That money goes right back into the economy. The poorer, the poorer amongst us will spend that money on consumption, immediately. This trickle-down bulls**t, it doesnt trickle down, it goes to bank accounts in Panama and the Caymen Islands, do you understand? Its nonsense. You can only buy so many goodies and that is how much goes back into the economy. Whereas welfare and all that, that goes right back into the economy.

The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS.
Workers across the globe employed by the GFG Alliance business empire of billionaire Sanjeev Gupta face job losses and plant closures following the collapse of the companys main financial backer, Greensill Capital. GFG has exposure of around about $5 billion to Greensill.

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Business, Energy & Tourism is pictured with Sanjeev Gupta of Liberty House Group outside the Dalzell steel plant in Motherwell in 2016 (credit: Scottish Government-FlickR)

Liberty Steel employs 35,000 workers at around 200 locations globally in Gupta family-owned operations. The majority are in Europe, with the firm employing 6,500 across several Australian states and 1,500 across 16 sites in the US.

In the UK, Gupta owns Liberty Steel which operates 12 plants employing 3,000 and is the third largest steelmaker in the country. Its plants are in Rotherham, Stocksbridge, Hartlepool, Teesside, Dalzell and Clydebridge, West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Motherwell, Tredegar and Newport. GFG also runs an aluminium smelter in Scotland and an energy supply business. A further 2,000 GFG staff are employed by engineering firms whose work depends on the steel plants.

The administrators appointed to Greensill said in a court filing that Guptas operations were in financial difficulty and defaulting on debt. Yet less than a month ago, Gupta was attempting to buy Thyssenkrupps steel plant in Duisburg, Germany. He was partially thwarted because he could not raise the capital.

According to the BBC, Conservative Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng held an emergency meeting the day before the collapse of Greensill with the chief executive of Liberty Steel UK, John Ferriman. The two reportedly discussed contingency plans in the event that Greensill went bust. These options, said the BBC, did not include deliberations about any potential nationalisation of Liberty. Kwarteng also chaired a meeting of UK steel executives on the same day at which the future of Liberty was raised, but the BBC revealed, it was not discussed in any detail with this wider group, which included union bosses.

Much of Guptas UK operations are already being underpinned by the government through the coronavirus furlough scheme and massive business guarantees. Under the scheme, 80 percent of workers wages in private firms are paid by the state, up to a maximum of 2,500 a month. The Financial Times pointed out how Guptas efforts to reassure unions came as government data showed that CFGs core industrial businesses, some of which are owned by Gupta and others by his father, are drawing hundreds of thousands of pounds a month under the governments furlough scheme.

The FT reported that UK taxpayers are already exposed to a sum exceeding one billion pounds of debt from Guptas business via three government guarantees. By using a state supported Covid-19 scheme, Greensill advanced hundreds of millions of pounds to Guptas businesses. The Scottish National Party government also provided Gupta with guarantees worth around $575 million to CFG in 2016 when he bought an aluminium smelter at Lochaber and two hydropower plants.

The newspaper reported that firms run by Gupta have failed to transfer monies owed to HM Revenue & Customs under the pay as you earn (PAYE) system for staff workers as well as VAT

At their meeting, Gupta told the assembled union bureaucrats, We have adequate funding for our current needs while we bridge the gap to refinancing the business. He said GFG was "operationally strong and benefiting from a 13-year high in steel prices, but warned, While the group as a whole is performing well operationally, there are some exceptions and Im sorry to say that includes some of our UK steel businesses. The BBC reported, Putting staff on furlough and tightening cost controls were among the measures being taken, he said.

Gupta blamed energy costs and the severe downturn in the aerospace sector due to Covid-19. He suggested possible partnership opportunities to address the loss-making parts of the business. This is especially concerning for workers in South Yorkshire where aerospace specialist steels are made at the Stocksbridge, Rotherham and Brinsworth plants.

On March 12, the first bitter fruits of the cost control operation were revealed as Liberty Steel paused production at several sites. Hundreds of workers at the Stocksbridge plant and Speciality Steels Steel & Bars site in nearby Rotherham were put on furlough. Some staff have been told that they will not go back to work until mid-April at the earliest.

In his discussions with Britains trade union bureaucracy at Liberty Steel, Gupta was speaking to partners. The three trade unions with members employed by GuptaCommunity, Unite and GMBdescribed their meeting with him in a March 9 joint statement as positive and constructive as they fawned, We recognise Mr Guptas desire to see Liberty Steel succeed and recognise also his personal contribution in giving distressed UK steel assets a new lease of life.

The reality is that all Gupta saw in the UK steel industry was his latest profit-making opportunity. He has spent years buying potentially valuable industrial assets at knockdown prices with money borrowed against the prospective worth of the assets once purchased. He paid Tata Steel just 100 million in 2017 for three loss-making steel plants in South Yorkshire and at Wednesbury in the West Midlands.

The corporatist and pro-business line of the trade unions was articulated by a Community union rep at the Rotherham plant, Chris Williamson, who, in the face of potential job losses and cuts to wages and terms and conditions, told the Guardian, We have got scope for a profitable business, subject to getting the cash. This should be a thriving plant and I dont think some of the reports have helped our plight. Speaking in the manner of a Liberty Steel board member, he continued, We have got markets, and were trying to build better relationships with our suppliers and customers. And as long as that remains, we should be here for a long time.

The unions are opposed to mobilising workers on the basis of a fight to defend all jobs in a joint offensive against the private steel operators. In their corporatist joint statement, the unions advanced a nationalist agenda, reassuring, Mr Gupta our priority is to secure the future of all Liberty Steels UK assets, and to this end all options should be considered. Liberty Steel is a strategic business for the UK, producing high quality steels for sectors of the economy including defence, energy, aerospace and engineering. The statement called on the Tory government to join with the union and company and take an active role in safeguarding future UK steel production.

On March 18, Labour Party shadow business secretary and former party leader Ed Miliband said the situation at Liberty Steel was so urgent that no measures should be off the table, even public ownership, since it was a matter of maintaining the defence industry supply chain. Miliband said the remaining steel plants are a crucial part of our strategic infrastructure, and are crucial from the aerospace sector to automotive. When Miliband speaks of public ownership, this is conceived of as a holding operation in which the state bears the costs of whatever losses are accrued by Liberty, until such a time as an inevitable cost-cutting operation ensures that what remains of the assets of the company are viable for another corporation to take on.

Milibands intervention was made during the same week that the Johnson government launched its Integrated Review pledging stepped up military aggression against Russia, China and other rivals, and a massive expansion of the number of nuclear warheads carried by the British military. Last month, Labours Shadow Secretary of State for Defence John Healey spoke at Britains premier military think-tank, the Royal United Services Institute, to advance Labour as an unwavering advocate for the NATO alliance and nuclear weapons. The steel industry was cited by Healey as an asset that must be maintained as a vital cog in the military machine. He posed the question to the government, does the Integrated Review strengthen our defence industrial resilience by growing our sovereign capacity to regenerate equipment and platforms if they are degraded in conflict? Does it set out a long-term plan to boost Britains foundation industries in steel, shipbuilding, aerospace and cyber security as national assets?

Liberty Steel workers cannot entrust their jobs and livelihoods to the pro-capitalist and nationalist Labour and trade union bureaucracy. They must build their own organisations of struggle, independent of the unions, and based on a political programme which places their needs above the profits of the corporations and the interests of British imperialism. This requires the formation of a network of rank-and-file committees unifying steel workers with other workers in the industry and supply chains in Britain and internationally on a common socialist programme.
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Khadi 'Mujeeb Jackets' to add sheen during Modi's Bangladesh visit

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 20: Khadi "Mujeeb Jackets" will be the centre of attraction during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Bangladesh. This will be his first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

As Bangladesh celebrates "Mujib Borsho", the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, had placed an order for 100 Mujib Jackets, ahead of the Hon'ble PM's visit.

"Mujib Jacket" is famed as the signature garment worn by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is called Bangladesh's Father of the Nation.

Modi's visit to the neighbouring country following an invitation from Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"This visit is in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events -- Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's war of liberation," it said.

Modi had last visited Bangladesh in 2015.

During his visit, the prime minister will attend the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26 as the guest of honour.

"The visit of the prime minister to Bangladesh will be the first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. This highlights the priority India attaches to Bangladesh," the MEA said in a statement.

Modi's programme, apart from holding bilateral consultations with Hasina, also includes a call on the President of Bangladesh, Md Abdul Hamid, the MEA said.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh A K Abdul Momen will call on Modi.

The two prime ministers held a virtual summit on December 17 last year, during which Modi said Bangladesh is a key pillar of New Delhi's "Neighbourhood First" policy.

On her part, Hasina described India as a "true friend" and said both countries could play a significant role in the global and regional value chains by further integrating their economies and boosting connectivity.

In a reflection of their rapidly growing ties, the two countries inked seven agreements in the summit to further broadbase cooperation in a plethora of sectors and restored a cross-border rail link snapped by the 1965 war with Pakistan.
A 5million 'landmark' mosque which was proposed by the billionaire Issa brothers has been approved.

The ambitious project by siblings Zuber and Mohsin Issa had been faced with objections over the height of the building as well as potential noise.

There were also concerns regarding road safety and possible damage to trees in the area of Blackburn, Lancs., where the mosque was to be built.

But Blackburn with Darwen Council approved the plans on Thursday after the Issa Foundation agreed to address 21 issues.

Mohsin Issa, 49, (left) and his brother Zuber, 48, have been granted permission for the 'landmark' mosque

The siblings, who recently bought supermarket giant Asda, said the mosque hopes to promote 'respect, diversity and a better understanding of different cultures'.

A spokesman for the Issa Foundation said: 'The Issa Foundation is delighted to have submitted plans for a new place of worship and community centre for the people of Blackburn with Darwen.

'Communities play an even more important role during challenging times such as these, and we are very pleased to be able to do our part to ensure the wider local community will have much needed new facilities to meet their religious and social needs.'

The foundation agreed to pay 30,000 to improve safety at the junction near the site, and employ parking marshals to reduce road safety risks.

While concerns were raised about the proposed 95ft towers, planning manager Gavin Prescott argued they were 'typical of Islamic architecture'.

Mr Prescott also said noise would be limited with no amplified calls to prayer and nearby trees on Preston New Road road would be protected.

5million 'landmark' mosque, which will also include a community centre offering services to local people, proposed by the billionaire Issa brothers has been approved

It will have a prayer hall, but will also include a community centre offering services to local people of all backgrounds including parent and child care, bereavement counselling and funeral services.

The billionaire tycoons and their private equity backers completed their 6.8billion acquisition of Asda last month, returning the supermarket giant to British ownership after more than 20 years.

The EG Group, owned by Mohsin and Zuber Issa, previously reached an agreement to acquire the chain from Walmart.

The deal, which is being backed by investment funds managed by TDR Capital, will also include its chain of petrol forecourts.
The coronavirus outbreak made its way across the globe due to a 'perfect storm' of conditions and almost didn't happen, a new study has found.

Scientists at the University of Arizona have discovered that the virus quickly spread within China due to the cramped conditions of the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan and a 'lucky break or two'.

The team, who set out to find how long SARS-CoV-2 could have been circulating across China before it was found, also discovered the virus did not infect the first human until October 2019.

It comes after the theory that Covid-19 was leaked from a Wuhan lab was abandoned by WHO experts investigating the origins of the pandemic this week.

The study found that the coronavirus spread within China due to the cramped conditions of the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan and a 'perfect storm' of conditions

Michael Worobey, professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, told CNN: 'It was a perfect storm - we know now that it had to catch a lucky break or two to actually firmly become established.

'If things had been just a tiny bit different, if that first person who brought that into the Huanan market had decided to not go that day, or even was too ill to go and just stayed at home, that or other early super-spreading events might not have occurred.

'We may never have even known about it.'

Mr Worobey said the market in Wuhan was the place where virus began to spread and most probably amplified rather than the birth place of Covid-19.

He added: 'What may have happened here was that the virus was sputtering along in a very low number of people in October, November, into December and then it got into this Huanan seafood market.'

During their study, researchers analysed how the virus first began transmitting among humans across China, reports of the earliest cases of the outbreak and also examined the genetic make-up of the virus.

They also analysed the evolutionary dynamics of the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in China.

Scientists discovered that the virus could not have been circulating in the country before October 2019 and that only about a dozen people were infected between October and December.

Researchers also added that if the virus had emerged in a rural community it would have needed to migrate to an urban environment to establish itself.

Medical staff members wear personal protective equipment as patients arrive at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital

Members of staff prepare to transfer Covid-19 patients in central China's Hubei province

In their report the team wrote: 'Even though all of the earliest documented cases of COVID-19 were found in Hubei province, we cannot discount the possibility that the index case initially acquired the virus elsewhere.

'Nonetheless, our dating inference is insensitive to geography. Further, our results suggest that if the virus first emerged in a rural community, it would have needed to migrate to an urban setting to avoid extinction.

'The lack of reports of COVID-19 elsewhere in China in November and early-December suggest Hubei province is the location where human-to-human transmission chains were first established.'

The findings come after Chinese scientist Liang Wannian told state media that the theory that the virus was leaked from a Wuhan lab had been deemed 'extremely unlikely' and would not be investigated further by WHO.

The WHO says the report is not yet finished, but Mr Wannian, the head of the Chinese wing of the panel, said the findings were the 'consensus' of WHO and Chinese scientists.

'Future virus origins-tracing missions will no longer be focused on this area, unless there is new evidence,' said Liang.

Mr Liang asserted in his interview that 'the virus is of natural origin', saying 'it is extremely unlikely that the outbreak was caused by a laboratory leak.'

He said the experts had visited the virology institute at the centre of the lab-leak theory and claimed they had 'candid, deep communication' with experts there.

'After their field visits and study, the experts team agreed unanimously that it is extremely unlikely that the virus leaked from the lab,' Mr Liang said.

'So future virus origins-tracing missions will no longer be focused on this area, unless there is new evidence.'

Liang Wannian, the head of the Chinese wing of the expert panel, said experts had agreed that it is 'extremely unlikely' that the coronavirus was leaked from a Wuhan lab

The Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured) has come under scrutiny after the virus emerged

The highly-anticipated report is due to examine a range of theories about how the virus first jumped from animals to humans - with bats among the prime suspects.

But Washington and others have touted theories that the outbreak was not caused by nature but by a leak or accident at a secretive Wuhan virology lab.

The Trump administration claimed in its final days in office that some researchers at the lab had become sick in autumn 2019, before the first cases were confirmed.

But China has always denied these suggestions, and has sought to sow doubt about whether the virus originated in Wuhan at all.
Dame Cressida Dick's tenure as chief of the Metropolitan Police is 'unlikely' to be renewed following the anger over her officers' handling of Sarah Everard's vigil.

Priti Patel is not expected to extend her contract at Scotland Yard when it expires in April next year, government sources claimed last night.

Britain's most senior officer has been put on notice after widespread condemnation of how the Clapham Common memorial was policed last weekend.

Officers arrested and pinned down women attending the event in honour of the 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard.

Priti Patel (left) is not expected to extend Dame Cressida Dick's (right) contract at Scotland Yard when it expires in April next year, government sources claimed last night

Britain's most senior officer has been put on notice after widespread condemnation of how the Clapham Common memorial was policed last weekend

Dame Cressida faced calls to quit from across the political spectrum and was criticised by both the Home Secretary and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Ms Patel said she was 'shocked at the way in which Saturday night's vigil was policed', while Mr Khan was 'not satisfied' with Dame Cressida's explanation.

Yet she refused to bow to pressure and lambasted 'armchair' critics who she said failed to grasp the complexities of policing during the pandemic.

However insiders believe last week's saga was the final straw in what is being viewed in government as a mounting catalogue of blunders.

Dame Cressida came under fire last year for her handling of London's Black Lives Matter protests, which spiralled into chaos and saw violence.

A source told The Times: 'Cressida is not seen as having done a great job... The general expectation is that her contract won't be extended.'

Patsy Stevenson, who was pictured being held on the floor by police at the vigil, said she was arrested 'for standing there, I wasn't doing anything'. Ms Stevenson has said she intends to protest at another demonstration on Monday

Ms Patel said she retained 'full confidence' in the Met comissioner and the source stressed the pair have a strong working relationship.

In the wake of the protests Mr Khan, who is up for reelection in May, said he did not believe the capital's streets were safe for young women.

He told LBC: 'No, they aren't  or for girls  and it's really important that people of my gender understand that.

'If you're a woman or a girl, your experiences of our city, in any public space, whether it's in the workplace on the streets, on public transport is very different to if you are a man or a boy, and it's really important that people like me in positions of power and influence understand that and take steps to address that.'

After last week's protests Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Commissioner to 'consider' her leadership of the force, adding: 'Cressida Dick has lost the confidence of the millions of women in London and should resign.'

Women's Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer said her position was 'untenable'.
WASHINGTON  The CIA and the Czech diplomats serving as the US protecting power in Syria declined to comment Friday on a report that a US official had gone to Damascus, Syria, this week to talk with Syrian security chief Ali Mamlouk about security concerns, including American citizens believed detained in Syria.

The conspicuous lack of denials suggests that the United States might be pursuing discreet, back-channel talks with Damascus with the purpose of gaining the release of American citizens. Such talks could also be useful to directly communicate US security concerns as advances against the so-called Islamic State (IS) put US-backed forces in close proximity to Russian- and Iranian-backed Syrian forces on the ground, and as the United States tries to ensure that Iran does not set up a presence on Syrian territory close to Israel, analysts said.

There are a range of issues that are outstanding between the US and the Syrian governments, including the fate of US prisoners the United States believes are being held under Damascus authority, Nicholas Heras, a military analyst with the Center for a New American Security, told Al-Monitor after stressing that he has no direct knowledge if the reported US official visit to Damascus took place.

Direct talks would also be useful to get a sense directly from the lions den itself what are the intentions of the [Bashar al-] Assad government toward the future of eastern Syria as the counter-IS campaign winds down and US-backed forces and Assad-backed forces come directly face to face, staring at each other, Heras said. And also potential future regime moves into areas of Syria such as in the southwest that are of high concern to key US allies such as Israel and Jordan.

A senior US official met Syrias national security chief in Damascus this week in the highest-ranking visit to Syria by a US official since the start of the war in 2011, Reuters reported it was told by a senior regional official close to Damascus Nov. 3, after Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar first reported on the alleged visit.

Feel free to say we declined to comment, a CIA press officer told Al-Monitor the same day.

We cant comment on this matter, a Czech diplomat also told Al-Monitor Nov. 3.

A State Department official told Al-Monitor that the department had no information on the reported visit.

During the meeting, Mamlouk protested to the US official that US forces 'are on Syrian land and this is considered occupation, Reuters reported the regional official said. The US official responded that our presence is advisory and we are fighting Daesh, the regional official added, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

The regional security official did not name the US official who allegedly met with Mamlouk, but said he had traveled to Damascus from Lebanon, Reuters reported.

CIA director Mike Pompeo was previously reported to have started a back channel with Mamlouk shortly after taking office last January with the alleged purpose of seeking the release of American journalist Austin Tice. Tice, a former Marine, was abducted while working as a freelance reporter in Syria in August 2012 and is believed to be held by forces loyal to Assad.

Syrian officials have repeatedly denied that Tice is being held in Syria.

Austin Tice is not in the hands of Syrian authorities, and we dont have any information about him at all, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told the Associated Press in an April 2016 interview.

The Reuters report Friday said that there are other US citizens detained in Syria, including CIA operatives. Diplomatic sources have previously told Al-Monitor there are other cases of Americans being held in Syria, beyond Tice, but did not share their names.

One former senior US official expressed caution about some of the details in the report. I'm not sure why you would do this meeting in Damascus, the former senior US official, speaking not for attribution, said. Too risky. Would only happen on the third or fourth meeting if I had to guess, and even then there would be little reason to do it there and lots of reasons not to. He suggested it would make more sense for such a meeting to take place in Beirut.

If the United States did send an official to Damascus, it was not with a message of rapprochement, although Syria may try to suggest that is the case, analysts said.

This type of communication is intended to be episodic, Heras said. What it really does that is useful for the US side is it cuts out the middleman, such as Russia, and allows the United States to communicate directly with relevant Syrian government agencies that have an ability to tap into the highest levels of decision-making in Damascus.

This also allows the United States to directly say to the face of the regime that it wont accept aggressive actions toward US partners like Israel, which is a major source of concern in Washington, Heras said. And it also sends a signal to Tehran and Moscow that, when it needs to, the United States does not have to rely on them to say what it needs to say to Assad.

The United States and the [Donald] Trump administration continue to say they are not actively looking to overthrow Assad by force, but they do not see a future Syria with Assad in power, Heras said. It also is not a sign of rapprochement, because the United States is trying very hard to create the conditions for the war over the aftermath of the war, which is to prevent Assad and his partners from having access to reconstruction funds and the international organizations it needs to underwrite the future reconstruction of the areas it controls.

The United States wants a whole and unified Syria with no role for Bashar al-Assad in the government, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told journalists in Geneva after meeting with UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva last week. The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end. The only issue is how that should be brought about.

De Mistura has called for the next round of Syrian political talks between the regime and opposition to be held in Geneva on Nov. 28.

Ahead of that, the Syrian opposition is expected to meet in Riyadh to try to come up with a united platform, an adviser to the Syrian oppositions High Negotiating Committee told Al-Monitor.

The United States and European allies have been cool to a Russian proposal to host a Congress of Syrian National Dialogue in the Black Sea city of Sochi on Nov. 18, and Syrian opposition groups have said they will not attend.

With respect to the conference the Russians are pushing, the United States continues to support efforts by the UN and the Geneva process  to undertake a political process with international legitimacy that can end the Syrian conflict, a State Department official told Al-Monitor Nov. 3.

"The road to peace lies through Geneva," British Ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft said Thursday.

"Now we are told that the road, which has already taken a significant detour into Astana, now needs another detour into Sochi, Rycroft said. I'm relatively skeptical about that.
In a truly remarkable story, Strokestown native, Brigid Kavanagh, aged 95, has just published her first book, a collection of short stories and poems, written over a 40 year period.

'In My Minds Eye  Walking Amongst Ghosts' paints a vivid picture of both harsh and happy times  folklore, customs, social and local history - all in Brigid's own vivid and often humourous style.

Brigid was born on February 17, 1926, in the townland of Bunnamuca, near Strokestown in Co Roscommon.

She was reared on a small farm by her parents, John Shiel, a carpenter, and Mai (Gilleran), a housewife and farmer and was one of 10 surviving children.

She left home for England in late 1944 where she commenced nursing training in St Albans, London. It was there that she met her husband, Michael Kavanagh, a Galway native. They married on July 30, 1947 and returned home in December 1948, settling in Dublin.

The young couple lived in Baggot Street for four years before buying a house in Ranelagh in 1953. Twenty years later they moved house to Windy Arbour, Dundrum, where Brigid still lives today.

They had six children and after 56 years of marriage, Michael passed away in 2003.

It was Michael who was the inspiration behind Brigid's first foray into the publishing world. The first story Brigid had published was in praise of her husband, and appeared in the Evening Press newspaper in 1978. He wasnt aware of the piece and she signed it BK so as not to embarrass him.

However this was not her first piece of writing . Aged 12, as part of the 1938 Folklore Collection in schools, she wrote a story, given to her by her father, about the Mahon landlords who ruled Strokestown from their Demesne in the town.

She started writing regularly in the early 1980s on the now redundant typewriter. Ironically, this was while she was recovering from breaking both wrists after an accident.

Brigid Kavanagh



She attended writers classes courtesy of DATE (Dundrum Adult Training & Education) from 1984, and continued to write over the next decade.

It was in the early 1990s that she submitted insightful recollections of her rural childhood to the Irelands Eye magazine. This was followed by contributions to Irelands Own and many of her stories have since been published in both magazines.

These stories form the basis of her book, intermingled with biographical and historical accounts of people and events mainly connected to her native Roscommon.

She has also written some fiction, both serious and humorous, and her poems are usually linked to a story in each of the books 19 segments.

Brigid is a long-time member of the Roscommon Association in Dublin and had one of her first articles published in the Roscommon Association Yearbook of 1993. She has made regular contributions to this and to its successor, Roscommon Life.

This collection puts most of Brigids work, published and unpublished, under the one roof, so to speak  95 stories and poems, one for every year of her life so far.

Her success is a lesson for all of us to never give up, to persevere until we achieve our goals in life.

Brigid recently appeared on RTE news where her positive story helped to cheer the whole nation.



'In My Minds Eye  Walking Amongst Ghosts' by Brigid Kavanagh is available in selected newsagents or by contacting Declan at 087 2484530.
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2020 Results: ALTANA\-\-s sales down only slightly, EBITDA exceeds previous year\-\-s level

Posted by Publisher Internet

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? Sales of 2,178 million euros, 3 percent below the previous year?s level

? ACTEGA division grows by 9 percent

? EBITDA increases by 2 percent to 426 million euros

? Research and development spending remains at a high level

? CO2 footprint reduced by 50 percent

? Forecast for 2021: growth in the course of economic recovery

Despite the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic, the specialty chemicals group ALTANA recorded only a slight decline in sales in the 2020 fiscal year and was able to increase EBITDA in a year to year comparison. Sales reached 2,178 million euros, just 3 percent below the 2019 level. Adjusted for acquisition and exchange-rate effects, the sales decrease was 4 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose to 426 million euros, exceeding the previous year?s level by 2 percent. Favorable raw material costs, active cost management, and pandemic-related one-time effects including savings due to the absence of travel and trade shows contributed to this development. At 19.6 percent, the EBITDA margin was at the upper end of the long-term target range of 18 to 20 percent, despite continued high spending in key areas such as research and development and digitalization.

?Our top priority in the 2020 fiscal year was to protect our more than 6,500 colleagues worldwide. On this basis, we once again succeeded in demonstrating ALTANA?s characteristic customer proximity in spite of physical distance,? said Martin Babilas, CEO of ALTANA AG. ?The business results also show how deeply ALTANA?s innovative solutions are anchored in the lives of many people.? While demand in some segments, for example in the automotive sector, declined significantly due to the pandemic, consumer-oriented and sustainable solutions on the part of ALTANA increased in importance.

Divisions: ACTEGA on growth course due to acquisition and higher demand

Sales of the largest division, BYK, declined by 3 percent to 1,009 million euros. Adjusted for currency and acquisition effects, sales were 4 percent below the previous year?s level. Following a significant decline in sales volume as a result of the lockdown in the second quarter, sales recovered rapidly, particularly in the field of paint and coating additives. This development was driven, among other things, by strong demand in the DIY sector.

The effect pigments specialist ECKART achieved sales of 315 million euros, corresponding to a decline of 11 percent. The main reason was the pandemicrelated weak demand in the automotive sector as well as other industries, such as the cosmetics sector. The discontinuation of the white pigments trading business in China in mid-2019 also contributed to this development. The acquisition of the business of TLS Technik GmbH & Co. Spezialpulver KG to expand the ECKART portfolio in industrial, metal-based 3D printing will not be included in earnings until 2021.

ELANTAS, the supplier of electrical insulation materials, recorded sales of 463 million euros, 6 percent below the 2019 figure (5 percent in operating terms). The positive acquisition effects could not offset the pandemic-related decrease in demand and negative exchange-rate effects.

ACTEGA achieved significant growth in the 2020 fiscal year compared to 2019, increasing its sales by 9 percent to 391 million euros. Even adjusted for the acquisition of the Swiss Schmid Rhyner AG and negative exchange-rate effects, ACTEGA posted operating growth of 3 percent, significantly above the previous year\-\-s level. The division particularly benefitted from a shift in consumer behavior toward even more sustainable solutions, including PVC-free sealants for food packaging.

Stable sales distribution, rapid recovery in China

The ALTANA Group?s sales continue to be evenly distributed worldwide, though there were regional differences in the 2020 fiscal year. Europe, which continues to be the Group?s strongest sales region, achieved sales of 842 million euros and remained stable overall with a slight decline of 2 percent. Adjusted for positive acquisition effects, the sales decrease was 5 percent. Sales in the Americas fell by 6 percent to 586 million euros. Adjusted for acquisition and exchange-rate effects, the sales drop was 5 percent. Sales in Asia reached 712 million euros, only 3 percent down on the previous year?s figure in both nominal and operating terms due to the rapid and sustained recovery in China.

As of December 31, 2020, ALTANA had 6,529 employees worldwide, 53 more than at the end of 2019. One in five employees works in research and development.

High investment in innovation and sustainable success

ALTANA continued to invest expressly in innovation in 2020, including in the future market of digital printing. For example, ALTANA\-\-s internal startup ACTEGA Metal Print succeeded in deploying a novel technology to enable decorative metallic effects with considerably less material, costs, and production time than with previously common processes. The first beta customers and a sales partner were acquired for this purpose. Overall, research and development expenditure in the ALTANA Group remained at a high level, 163 million euros, accounting for about 8 percent of sales.

At the same time, ALTANA continues to drive forward digitalization. Following BYK and ACTEGA in the previous year, ECKART?s e-commerce platform went online in 2020. In all, ALTANA invested around 10 million euros in digitalization projects in the past fiscal year.

In addition, ALTANA is on track to achieve climate neutrality in its direct sphere of influence by 2025. Already in March 2020, the Group switched its entire electricity procurement worldwide to renewable energies, thereby reducing its carbon footprint by around 50 percent. In the summer, the independent rating company EcoVadis awarded the ALTANA Group gold status for its commitment to sustainability for the second time.

Outlook

ALTANA expects the coronavirus pandemic to be further contained in the current year and the global economy to recover as a result. In this environment, the company forecasts operating sales growth in the low to mid single-digit percentage range with a lower EBITDA margin compared to 2020. Acquisitions will lead to additional sales growth.

?

ALTANA is a global leader in true specialty chemicals. The Group offers innovative, environmentally compatible solutions for coating manufacturers, paint and plastics processors, the printing and packaging industries, the cosmetics sector and the electrical and electronics industry. The product range includes additives, special coatings and adhesives, effect pigments, sealants and compounds, impregnating resins and varnishes, and testing and measuring instruments. ALTANA\-\-s four divisions, BYK, ECKART, ELANTAS, and ACTEGA, all occupy a leading position in their target markets with respect to quality, product solution expertise, innovation and service.

Headquartered in Wesel, Germany, the ALTANA Group has 48 production facilities and 65 service and research laboratories worldwide. Throughout the Group more than 6,500 people work to ensure the worldwide success of ALTANA. In 2020, ALTANA achieved sales of about ? 2.2 billion. About 7 percent of sales is invested in research and development every year. Its high earning power and high growth rate make ALTANA one of the most innovative, fastest growing, and profitable chemical companies in the world.

www.altana.com
If one were to believe the Liberal-National governments rhetoric, and the corporate media headlines, the Australian economy experienced a stunning recovery in February from the COVID-19 pandemic recession, suddenly cutting the official unemployment rate from 6.3 to 5.8 percent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison seized on the headline figure as an added justification for the governments decision to end its JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme on March 28. Morrison said the $90 billion program had done its job, even though around a million workers remain dependent on the scheme and could therefore face being thrown onto the dole queues.

This is just the latest pretext for terminating JobKeeper payments, which already have been cut to just $500 a week, and simultaneously cutting JobSeeker unemployment benefitson which another 1.6 million workers dependto the sub-poverty level of $44 a day for a single adult. Previously, Morrison more bluntly declared that these social supports had to be slashed to end disincentives to employment, that is, to force jobless workers into lower-paid and less secure forms of work.

Workers queuing outside an inner-western Sydney Centrelink office [Credit: WSWS]

A closer examination of the joblessness data points to a very different picture than that trumpeted in the media: the use of the mass unemployment caused by the global pandemic, and the catastrophic profit-driven official responses to it, as a battering ram against the working class. By selectively reporting the figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week, the government and the media are covering up the full extent of the financial stress and social misery being inflicted on workers.

In the first instance, even if the 5.8 percent figure represented an accurate estimation of joblessness, that would still mean 805,200 workers unemployed and actively seeking workup by 109,500 over the year since February 2020.

Secondly, Februarys fall in the official unemployment rate was offset by a rise in the underemployment rate, up from 8.1 to 8.5 percent of the labour force. That rate measures those who are classified as employed, yet are seeking more hours. In total, the underutilisation rateadding the unemployment and underemployment figuresdecreased by just 0.1 points to 14.4 percent, or around 1.9 million workers.

Thirdly, the number of people counted as employed but working zero hours for economic reasons increased in February to 127,000. That was well below the peak of 767,000 in April 2020, but more than double the February 2020 level of 60,000.

Fourthly, according to the ABS data, in February employment overall returned to the same level as a year earlier, and yet between March 2020 and February 2021 payroll jobs decreased by 0.2 percent. That indicates the continuation of an offensive that began last July. The reported rebound in employment consists largely of an increase in the number of self-employed people. That is, workers retrenched during the pandemic are being pushed into seeking to operate their own small businesses to survive.

Fifthly, the monthly estimates produced by the Roy Morgan survey company show how much the narrow ABS definition of unemploymentwhich excludes anyone working more than an hour a weekunder-estimates the true level of the social crisis.

By the Roy Morgan calculations, the number of unemployed workers rose by 250,000 from January to February, to a total of 1.93 million workers, although underemployment dropped 300,000 to 1.14 million. In all, 3.07 million workers, or 21 percent of the workforce, were either unemployed or underemployed. Compared to early March 2020, before the pandemic hit, over 900,000 more workers were unemployed or underemployed at the end of February 2021.

Finally, this toll is about to worsen when JobKeeper payments end in eight days time. The latest figures released by Treasury, for the December quarter of 2020, showed there were still around 1.6 million workers receiving JobKeeper payments. That total may have since dropped to around a million, according to the government, although no official data has been made public.

Among the latest job cuts unveiled in the lead up to the JobKeeper cut-off are 230 by electricity provider Ausgrid. That adds to its plan to shed 500 workers by 2024, on top of the 5,000 jobs axed since it was privatised in 2015. Hydro Tasmania will cull 50 workers and Heinemann Australia will eliminate an as-yet unannounced number at its retail shops.

At the end of this month, any remaining moratoriums on mortgage and rent payments will cease as well, along with any assistance to small businesses trading while insolvent. As a result of this fiscal cliff, millions of wage workers and self-employed people confront potential financial ruin.

As far as the government and the corporate elite are concerned, that is a welcome pressure on working class people to accept employment on whatever terms and conditions that employers dictate. At the same time, they are counting on the Labor Party and trade union apparatuses to suppress the rising discontent, as they have done since the pandemic began.

Labor and the unions bear the central responsibility for the deepening assault on workers jobs, wages and conditions. Over the past year, they have collaborated with the Morrison government and big business via the bipartisan National Cabinet and months of tripartite backroom talks between the government, employer groups and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

Those talks began by allowing employers to gut wages and conditions as part of the JobKeeper scheme and led to this weeks industrial relations bill that will accelerate the exploitation of casual workers. Throughout the year, unions worked might and main to isolate and sell out every workers struggle that erupted, including the more than three-month stand taken by Coles warehouse workers at Smeaton Grange in Sydney against the supermarket giants lockout.

While workers receiving JobKeeper payments will suddenly lose them, many of the companies that took the lions share of the near $400 billion in JobKeeper and other business stimulus packages have reported increased profits as a result.

Analysis released this week by corporate consultants Ownership Matters showed that 95 of the countrys top 300 share market-listed companies received $3.8 billion in subsidies in the second half of 2020. Of that, $2.5 billion was JobKeeper, which went to 75 companies that also collected another $1 billion in other subsidies. At the top of the list, $511 million went to Qantas, the airline corporation, as well as $726 million in JobKeeper. As another example, $160 million in childcare support went to G8 Education, which also received $102 million in JobKeeper payments, while the public universities, which were denied access to JobKeeper, shed an estimated 90,000 jobs.

These corporate handouts are just a small part of a staggering further transfer of wealth to the super-rich at the expense of the working class during the pandemic, far surpassing what occurred following the 200809 global financial crisis. Todays Australian published its annual list of Australias Richest 250. Total wealth on the List reached $470.07 billion, up from $377.77 billion a year ago, taking the average wealth of the 250 members to $1.88 billion, and the number of billionaires up by six to 122.

Heading the list were two iron ore magnatesGina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest. Both more than doubled their fortunes in just 12 months, to $36.28 billion and $29.61 billion respectively, almost exclusively on the back of soaring exports to China and the resulting surges in share market values.

This acceleration of social inequality through the pandemic will further fuel widespread social and political disaffection, setting the scene for explosive class battles in which working people will come into confrontation not just with the corporate elite and the government but with their Labor and trade union servants.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City mayor Bill de Blasio at a news conference confirming the first case of Covid-19 in the city on 2 March 2020 (Getty Images)

One of the women who accused Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment says the governor had a dartboard with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios face on it at the executive mansion.

Former aide Lindsey Boylan recalled the detail in an interview published by The New Yorker on Thursday in which she described her experiences of the workplace environment as toxic.

Ms Boylan said she saw the dartboard while attending a pool party at the governors mansion, telling journalist Ronan Farrow: I couldnt believe how brazen that was.

The governor of New York state and the mayor of New York City have been longtime political rivals, representing different factions within the Democratic Party.

In the early months of the coronavirus pandemic when New York City became the global epicentre of cases of the virus, the two politicians managed to at times present a united front, with the governor taking the lead.

This soon gave way to squabbles over issues such as school reopenings and closures, with the state capitol in Albany and City Hall in Manhattan at odds, leading to confused messaging at times.

Most recently the pair were at odds over the announced reopening of indoor fitness classes in the five boroughs of New York City.

On Wednesday, Mr Cuomo overruled the mayor saying that classes can resume on Monday, just a day after Mr de Blasio said they would remain closed due to the continuing threat of Covid-19.

In a City Hall press briefing on Thursday, the mayor responded: I want to ask a question  is this being done because of what the data and science is telling us, or is this being done for political reasons?

Cause it sure as hell looks like a lot of these decisions are being made by the governor because of his political needs, said Mr de Blasio.

Story continues

Following seven allegations of sexual harassment, Mr Cuomo is at the centre of a political maelstrom, with senior Democrats both in Albany and Washington DC calling for his resignation.

Mayor de Blasio said on 11 March: It is disgusting to me, and he can no longer serve as governor. Its as simple as that.

Mr Cuomo is under investigation by the New York State attorney general, Letitia James, and the state assemblys Judiciary Committee.

Ms Boylan is cooperating with the attorney generals investigation, calling the assemblys probe a sham. There are allegations of a conflict of interest involving connections between law firm Davis Polk and Wardell, the chief judge on the appeals court, and the governor, New York magazine reports.

In addition to the sexual harassment allegations, the governor is also under investigation about how his administration handled Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes and the alleged cover-up that followed.
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Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case regarding leaving sacs of servicemen's bodies/remains in basement

Peskov: Putin and Biden to discuss cybersecurity issues

Armenia's Pashinyan meets with Belgian PM Alexander De Croo

Armenia acting MOD receives Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia Police: 3 citizens apprehended during protest demanding acting health minister's resignation

NATO warns Minsk about further consequences of Ryanair incident

Armenia economic competition protection commission: Experts forecast inflation of butter prices

Armenia citizens' protest against acting health minister is over

Pashinyan visits France, judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku, Jun. 2 digest

Armenian Ambassador, FMO representatives consider opportunities for expansion of cooperation in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General is on working visit to Russia

Armenia acting PM meets with European Council President in Brussels

Armenia citizens throw polyethylene bags at Health Ministry building, police apprehend protesters

Acting deputy minister: Armenia authorities plan to build 46km section of North-South highway in 2021

Dollar is stable in Armenia

Armenia official: Large number of projects being prepared in construction sector

Identity of man killed Wednesday morning in downtown Yerevan is found out

Armenian lawyer: Azerbaijan poses a threat to security in Europe

Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Missing Armenian soldiers' relatives hand letter to Russia Embassy with request to solve captives' issue

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory
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China-Europe freight trains act as carrier for BRI, boost trade exchanges

Xinhua) 09:12, March 20, 2021

Aerial photo taken on March 19, 2021 shows a Yuxin'ou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) China-Europe freight train setting out from the Tuanjie Village Station of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. With a loud train whistle echoing through the air, a freight train bound for Duisburg, Germany, slowly pulled out of the Tuanjie Village Station of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Friday morning. "Exactly a decade ago, I signaled for China's first China-Europe freight train, the Yuxin'ou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe), to depart here," Zhang Xin recalled while seeing the train disappearing in the distance. Zhang has dedicated himself to 12 years as head of the station. For the past decade, the rumbling trains have not only put the once-obscure and dilapidated station on the map but also acted as a carrier for the Belt and Road Initiative, boosting trade exchanges between inland Chinese regions and Europe. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)
You are here: China

Three people were killed and another remains missing after a civilian helicopter crashed into the sea in east China's Fujian province on Friday afternoon.

The Bell 206 helicopter was carrying two crew members and two passengers when it went down east of the city of Xiamen, according to sources with the city government.

Rescuers from the city's emergency department, police and marine safety administration are at scene, with a search-and-rescue operation still underway.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was hospitalised last year with a severe bout of Covid-19, has received his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the virus.

Taking to Twitter on Friday evening, Johnson said: "I've just received my first Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine dose.

"Thank you to all of the incredible scientists, NHS (National Health Service) staff and volunteers who helped make this happen.

"Getting the jab is the best thing we can do to get back to the lives we miss so much. Let's get the jab done."

He also attached a photo of him getting the shot.

Johnson, 56, is trying to reassure the public that the AstraZeneca jab is safe after a number of countries in Europe and around the world suspended the use of it earlier this week due to blood clot fears, dpa news agency reported.

The European Union's medicines regulator issued a fresh assessment on Thursday, finding the vaccine is "safe and effective" and not associated with an increase in the overall risk of clots.

That prompted countries such as France and Germany to resume administering the jab.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex also received the AstraZeneca shot on Friday.

--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.)
Meet Taya Day, a luxury real estate broker in Toronto, Canada's largest city.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 20, 2021 / Taya Day is an experienced broker in the Toronto luxury market working with Harvey Kalles Real Estate.

Starting her real estate career in 2012, Taya Day has completed an impressive amount of successful transactions. Among them includes a record-breaking sale for $9 million on lake Simcoe; and most recently setting a new record per square foot for sale in the four seasons residences (not including the PH).

Taya Day also represented Prologis Canada in a multimillion-dollar land assembly in Halton Hills. Among other impressive sales transactions, Taya has proven her ability to represent a wide array of clientele and close deals across the industry.

Toronto is one of the fastest-growing cities in North America. Population growth indicates a bright future for a city and usually includes high employment opportunities and general livability. Such factors as access to public transit, top-rated schools, healthcare, bike lanes and walking paths, as well as access to housing, all point to the region's bright future.

In addition, Taya Day agrees that Toronto home values will continue to appreciate, given the lack of supply and ever-growing demand, making the city continuously a great place to invest in real estate.

Economic growth, fueled by immigration and global investment has poised Toronto for big things powered by diversity and education. According to Resonance Consultancy's "World Best Cities 2021 Report," Toronto's long-term opportunity makes it one of the fastest-growing cities in North America.

Toronto continuously has the most amount of cranes up out of any other city in North America. All of this new construction indicates a continuous robust demand on the real estate market.

With so much demand, the key to finding the right property is to have an experienced broker find you the right deal. For luxury real estate in Toronto, the search ends with Taya Day. Taya was born and raised in Toronto and is highly knowledgeable of the city and surrounding areas.

Taya has 18.7K followers on Instagram, and you can also follow her on Instagram. You can also contact her by visiting her Website.

Contact Name: Taya Day

Organization/Business name: HARVEY KALLES REAL ESTATE INC., BROKERAGE

Address: 113 Davenport Road , Toronto, Ontario

Email: info@tayaday.com

Phone: 647.222.0400

Website: https://www.tayaday.com/

SOURCE: HARVEY KALLES REAL ESTATE INC., BROKERAGE

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635991/Taya-Day-taking-over-the-Toronto-Real-Estate-Market
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On March 14, the day that Kevin McCarthy and 12 House Republicans went to Texas to visit the southern border, the El Paso Central Processing Center for migrants reached capacity. The Republicans heard heartbreaking stories of unaccompanied children, some less than six years old, crossing the border while holding hands. Border agents informed the congressmen that fentanyl traffickers are exploiting the surge in illegal immigration. One agent told John Katko, ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, that a few of the apprehended migrants appear on the terrorist watch list.
Jody Hice, who may be upset at being overshadowed by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

Normally, when a veteran congressman in a very safe seat thinks about running for secretary of State back home  never the most powerful position in the hierarchy of statewide offices  you figure she or he is tired of Washington or wants to downshift into lighter duty. But when the state in question is Georgia, the cockpit of a nationwide battle over voting rights, that may not be the case. And when the congressman in question is the very-right-wing Trump loyalist Jody Hice, and the incumbent secretary of State he may challenge in a 2022 Republican primary is Brad Raffensperger, it makes even more sense. If Hice decides to run (which he is publicly mulling, and which my friends in Georgia tell me he will soon announce), it will be transparently part of an effort by Team MAGA to purge the man who refused to validate the 45th presidents efforts to overturn his electoral defeat in Georgia. On a more fundamental level, it will be an attempted revenge hit by the Trump-family political syndicate.

In discussing the potential campaign, Hice has confirmed that Trump is supportive of a bid. The four-term congressman from east-central Georgia is an appropriate vehicle for the punishment of Raffensperger. Hice, once known simply as an especially shrill Christian Right pol (he is an ordained Southern Baptist minister) who thought Muslims should not be protected by the First Amendment, has been a staunch Trump ally in the generally Trumpy ranks of the House Freedom Caucus. He backed the former presidents postelection fraud claims to the hilt and called Raffensperger irresponsible for certifying the results anyway. And he also blamed the secretary of State for the Republican losses in Georgias January 5 Senate runoffs.

On January 6, Hice backed challenges to the certified electoral votes from Pennsylvania and Georgia (which did not get a vote because Senator Kelly Loeffler backed out of giving it the required endorsement after the MAGA mob assaulted the Capitol to stop the steal). Yes, he backpedaled a bit after his Instagram post that day got attention for calling it our 1776 moment, but his condemnations of the violence were mostly excuses for trying to change the subject:

As a Christian conservative, I have always supported law enforcement and the rule of law. For months, I have been shocked and angered by the radical Lefts rampage through our nations cities  looting, rioting, burning businesses, targeting police, and attacking innocent civilians, often with the support of liberal media figures and elected Democrats. I have consistently spoken out against this wildly irresponsible and dangerous behavior. I feel no differently about the events of January 6 than I do about the unrest during the summer.

If Hice is to become Trumps instrument for smiting Raffensperger, he needs to get a move on and preempt potential rivals. Former Alpharetta (an Atlanta suburb) mayor David Belle Isle, who lost to Raffensperger in a 2018 runoff, is talking about a rematch. Another name being heard is that of Vernon Jones, the Black former Democratic state legislator and DeKalb County CEO who got priceless exposure at the Republican National Convention in 2020. Its not easy to stand out clearly among Georgias feuding and very noisy Republicans right now.

Whoevers running against Raffensperger, it could be the undercard battle in 2022 if another pro-Trump challenger  possibly fire-eating former congressman Doug Collins  takes on incumbent governor Brian Kemp, another object of the former presidents wrath, who in turn was Raffys predecessor. Georgia Democrats are already popping popcorn and laying plans.
The classic fairy tale career path for chefs usually starts in a dingy pub kitchen scrubbing pots. It reaches second gear five years later where, as head chef in a city centre or wild coastal location restaurant, a Michelin Bib Gourmand or star plaque is secured.

Ten years after that a bank loan and some friendly investors allow for the opening of their first restaurant and twenty years on, it all ends in a blizzard of cocaine, an addiction to online poker sites and sciatica.

Of course, this is a laughable cliche and far from the truth. Most chefs finish their careers very comfortably, with happy family lives and time for church worship. Or, because they love the job so much, they just keep on cooking until they can no longer stand unaided.

What is for certain is that that career path, imagined or otherwise, through a set of new circumstances including Covid, a deeper sense of destiny and a degree of self-awareness, is in reverse. Simon McCance of Ginger Bistro, a slick, tried and tested Belfast operation with a huge reputation, is now doing takeaway prawn cocktails and chips (come back next week for review). Danni Barry who brought the star to Eipic is happily making lasagnes and fish pies for Stranmillis-based deli Ward & Co. Many top chefs I speak to yearn for a simple life of steaming crabs in a shack on the beach. Far too young to be contemplating any such existential crisis, is chef Thomas Wightman. In his teens, he was placed on a Prince's Trust course with Michael Deane where, he says, he came to realise he could cook. Some time later he worked for the exacting Marty Murphy formerly of the much loved Potted Hen and now owner of Howard Street Restaurant and Ora. And now, circumstances mean that instead of opening his own restaurant as is the progressive norm of most ambitious chefs, Chef Wightman has opened a takeaway fried chicken counter. In the heart of east Belfast, Hatch & Wolf has been a runaway success since it opened five months ago. The extensive menu is staggering considering it's just chicken. Chicken burgers, chargrilled chicken fillet, half rotisserie chicken, chicken wings, chicken tenders, and crispy buttermilk chicken are all presented in various guises. You can have a rotisserie piri piri chicken coated both sides, or a chicken BLT burger with cheese, baby gem, tomato, relish and mayo in a toasted bun. The Bhaji Smuggler - crispy buttermilk chicken, spiced onion bhaji, pickled cabbage and curried mayo in a bun - competes with the Korean Gangster (lime, kimslaw, soy, chilli, coriander gochujang) for attention in a beauty contest which will surely be won by the burger called Murdering the Caesar (the crispy buttermilk chicken with parmesan crust, bacon, black olive jam, fried egg and Caesar dressing). Expand Close / Facebook

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Whatsapp It's the CBLT which provides the clearest evidence that the chicken Wightman uses has all the moist and delicate texture as well as the taste and flavour of fresh, quality Irish meat. The rotisserie piri piri half chicken coated both sides is a standard to which Nando's fans will nod approvingly. The buffalo wings which come with blue cheese sauce and the chips are grand but the standout is the side order of crushed mint peas. Generous in volume, deep in flavour and finely ground, the head-filling taste of this side will stay with me for a long time. Other sides including stir-fried greens, baby baked potatoes and spiced rice talk up Wightman's game, just in case you thought that criss-cross fries and coleslaw positioned this takeaway further down the food chain. Hatch and Wolf is where fast food done by a chef cuts the difference in Belfast's never-ending battle for street food supremacy. The bill CBLT 6.50 Fries 3 Chicken gravy 1.50 Korean Gangster 6.50 Wings (12) 7.50 Half chicken piri piri 7.50 Total 32.50
The Pakistani farmer association, Kissan Ittehad, on Friday took to the streets on their tractors to protest the hike in prices of electricity, fertilisers, agricultural products, and diesel.

The have also announced to stage a dharna on March 31 to continue their protest, Geo News reported.

During the tractor rally, the protesting stopped at various points during the rally to chant slogans, while many of them also held placards.

According to the protesters, the Imran Khan-led Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has bought agricultural commodities at very low prices, so much so that could not even attain a breakeven.

Despite losses, farmers were compelled to pay hiked prices for diesel, electricity, and fertilisers, they argued.

"Everything is so expensive, the agricultural community is on the verge of collapse," the protesting farmers said, according to Geo News.

The farmers have demanded a waiver of the electricity bills for running tube wells as well as subsidy on electricity, fertilisers, and diesel.

(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, March 20 : After China, India is the next smartphone capital of the world, estimated to have 820 million users in the next two years. In such a promising scenario, manufacturing of an entire mobile ecosystem -- from handsets to accessories, R&D as well as chip design/building -- is what will put the country on the global production map along with generating more jobs in the near future.

While convincing tech giants to shift manufacturing of an entire mobile ecosystem from China to India is an uphill task, but the government has woken up to the reality with the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

Despite the Covid-related delays, by October last year, the country had cleared 16 proposals from global and domestic companies, involving an investment of Rs 11,000 crore to manufacture mobile handsets worth Rs 10.5 lakh crore over the next five years.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT approved the applications of Samsung, Foxconn Hon Hai, Pegatron, Rising Star and Wistron from among the international applicants for manufacturing of mobile phones in India under the PLI scheme.

The domestic companies approved for mobile phone manufacturing under the scheme are Lava, Bhagwati (Micromax), Padget Electronics, UTL Neolyncs and Optiemus Electronics.

According to industry experts, the next step is to create and develop technical know-how in India by bringing the complete knowledge of hardware designing skills in the country.

According to Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), the Indian engineers are at the helm of power in the technology domain of the world and smartphone companies must take full responsibility to create and develop a platform that can unlock the potential of Indian engineering.

"They are changing the world, but it is being done from outside of India," Mohindroo said.

Giving an example of local firm Lava that last year announced to shift its entire mobile R&D, design and manufacturing for the export market from China to India and invest nearly Rs 800 crore, he said: "Having a potential to upgrade a phone just by paying an incremental cost is of immense value to the consumers. It will make the phones last long for the consumers and above all, save the environment from e-waste. Given a chance, Indian engineers can surprise the world".

The PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing extends an incentive of 4-6 per cent on incremental sales (over base year) of goods under target segments that are manufactured in India to eligible companies, for a period of five years subsequent to the base year (FY2019-20).

In yet another fillip to the Make in India and domestic manufacturing dream of the Indian government, Apple told IANS earlier this month that its flagship and environment-friendly iPhone 12 smartphone will soon be produced in India for the local customers.

Apple started manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 with iPhone SE. Today, Apple manufactures some of its most advanced iPhones in India including XR, iPhone 11, and now iPhone 12.

According to Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, with the likes of Foxconn and Pegatron already on board, the scheme will play a key role to position India strategically on global supply chain, especially in a post-pandemic world.

"This is so because the scheme not only seeks to boost sectors of strength but also sectors of potential opportunities (PLI sunrise sectors)," Pathak told IANS.

This can significantly help as in doing so, the PLI scheme will not only help in addressing fiscal disabilities but will also help the sectors achieve both size and scale.

"With India now becoming one of the fastest growing smartphone markets in the world and with government push towards concepts like 'Make in India', 'Vocal for Local' and 'Think Electronics Think India, the growth story is now gaining tremendous traction," he noted.

The PLI scheme for mobile phones already envisages an incentive of $5 billion for the next five years and Out of which, 60 per cent is set to go for exports to overseas markets -- a step that is directly proportional to an increase in domestic production.

"The scheme gives India the opportunity to not only play on its strength by supporting its indigenous companies but at the same time compete with global companies thereby making the local talent/players competitive and at par with global standards," Pathak noted.

The government has realised that India cannot be 'self-reliant' or 'Aatmanirbhar' by operating in isolation alone and it must partner with global players if it truly wants to become a global manufacturing hub and take Indian electronics forward.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)
Mills College students and alumnae say they will not go down without a fight.

The 169-year-old womens school, which said Wednesday it will stop offering degrees in two years, has a history of activism. Its students have battled administrators before and won.

But this time could be different. Mills has endured years of falling enrollment and declining revenue, and the problems only worsened during the pandemic.

As the rare private college with more than half of undergraduates identifying as people of color, and half LGBTQ, Mills holds a unique place in the Bay Area and in higher education, one that its supporters say is irreplaceable.

Mills is believed to be the only single-sex college in the country ever to get its board of trustees to reverse a decision to go coed. Student protesters occupied the campus for 13 days in 1990, triggering a reversal and cheers that echo to this day.

Now, as word travels among students and 25,000 Mills alumnae that the stately college in Oakland will no longer enroll new students after the fall, and will close in 2023 to become an institute, their anger and sorrow has turned to action. They have begun a movement to propel the trustees to reverse their decision.

Among the prominent voices protesting the closure is Lateefah Simon, a BART board director and president of the racial justice Akonadi Foundation in Oakland.

I, along with hundreds of alumni, will work to save Mills, said Simon, who spent 12 years working part time for her degree, earned in 2018. I went to Mills as a single mother, and my daughter often sat at my side on the floor while I was in lectures. Theres not another place like Mills in the world.

Amy Osborne / Special to The Chronicle

After learning of the boards decision, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, and Mills class of 72, announced that she is urging the trustees to reconsider and to explore all available funding options to meet its financial challenges.

Lee also was a single mother 50 years ago when she, too, brought her children to class at Mills. Lee led the Black Student Union and credits Mills with inspiring her passion for politics. She called the school a bastion of diversity in higher education. The school must be able to continue in that important role.

Katie Sanborn, chair of Mills board of trustees, told The Chronicle that she appreciated Lees passion for the college they both graduated from. But she gave no indication that the trustees would reverse their decision.

Aggressive fundraising is not a solution to ongoing strategic operating deficits, Sanborn said. Nor is admitting men.

We believe the best long-term solution is to transition from being a four-year, degree-granting college and instead focus on building the Mills Institute, she said. At the same time, we will continue to seek collaborations with other academic institutions.

Officials have said the college will become an institute  with details pending  to carry on the mission of the college to promote racial justice and the voices of women and people of color.

The private school is one of just 37 womens campuses left in the country, according to the 2021 Collegewise Guide to Womens Colleges.

Regional small colleges are deeply struggling, and it just so happens that some womens colleges fall into that boat, said Casey Near, author of the womens college guide and a former admissions counselor at Mills. Its not a correct read to say this is happening to Mills because its a womens college, she said, noting that larger, more selective womens schools like Smith, Wellesley and Scripps are doing well.

Those schools have a mixture of students, with a large number able to pay full freight, Near said. Mills does not.

Mills tuition is $29,340, a dramatic reduction from the nearly $45,000 basic price of just four years ago. Back then, nearly everyone got financial aid, so in 2017 the college reduced tuition by 36% to match what students actually paid, in hopes it would be a more appealing number.

But 95% still dont pay full price, and the tuition reset failed to bring more students to the 135-acre campus. Enrollment has dropped by more than 20% since 2018, to 609 undergraduates. Graduate enrollment fell by 28%, to 352 students.

Students and alumnae are mobilizing across social media, including on the Save Mills Facebook page, on Twitter @save_mills, and on Instagram at #savemills. The groups are also finalizing plans for a rally next week.

Mills has a social responsibility to remain open, said Heidy Gutierrez, a 2008 graduate who noted that Mills was educating women before they even had the right to vote. We are not going down without a fight.

Lila Goehring, an English major graduating in May, said, Definitely were fighting it. I mean, its completely heartbreaking. I came to Mills because womens education is so important right now. I came because its a place where people fight for social justice.

People still talk about the 1990 strike at Mills, when hundreds of students, cheered on by faculty, occupied the Oakland campus and forced the trustees to reverse their decision to admit male undergraduates as a way to increase revenue.

A less dramatic confrontation led to the rescue of the colleges much-loved book arts program in 2017, but did not prevent layoffs  including the rare severing of tenured professors that year.

Also boosting hope among supporters is the story of Sweet Briar in Virginia, which in 2015 announced its pending demise  only to be resurrected by donations and lawsuits.

Now, organizers are quickly surveying students and alumnae to find out what they can do to help. The private Save Mills Facebook group has more than 700 members who have been sharing their shock, opinions  and ideas.

Veep (Kamala) Harris is from the bay! What if we flooded her with letters asking her to help save Mills? If there is anyone with the juice and heart to do something, it HAS to be her, one woman posted.

Another wrote: Each class could start a stimulus check donation fund. Another suggested a concert fundraiser. Goehring posted a draft of a poster for a rally to be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the front gate to Mills, at 5000 MacArthur Blvd.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Simon added her voice: Im super here. Sigh...this is going to be a fight. So honored to be in the crew.

Amy Osborne / Special to The Chronicle

Sanborn, the board chair, did not respond when asked the size of Mills fiscal hole. In 2015, Mills reported an endowment of $189 million. But Moodys withdrew its rating for Mills debt that year, already having downgraded it due to deficit spending and enrollment loss.

Mills hasnt released details of what the new Mills Institute will look like. But an expanded collaboration with UC Berkeley, still in discussions, could play a role.

Douglass College in New Jersey calls itself a womens college without walls. The private school exists within the public Rutgers University.

If UC Berkeley could absorb Mills, that might be one solution for Mills, said Near, the former admissions counselor.

None of these potential solutions will help Kendall Bobo because Mills will award its last degrees in 2023  and Bobo is in the class of 2024.

The first-year student from the Central Valley called her year amazing.

Its kind of irritating that its happening now, said Bobo, who missed out on the joys of her last semester in high school because of the pandemic. And now this. Its my introduction to adulthood, she said wryly.

Sanborn said the school is doing everything we can to help students who will need to transfer to other schools.

Still, many students arent persuaded that Mills is doing all that it can, or all that it could have done.

The fact that they did this announcement right before spring break  thats strategic. They didnt want as much interaction with us, said senior Priyadarshini Rizal, an international relations major.

We all just feel very devastated. There have been 169 years of hard work to make Mills a safe space for Black, indigenous and (other) people of color, she said. Students and faculty work so well together, listening and hearing each other, to make this environment for people who need it.

Its all gone down the drain.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
Gardai are investigating after 11 people were arrested during an anti-lockdown protest in Dublin city centre today.

Ten people are due to appear before a special sitting of Dublin District Court this evening in the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Several people are set to be charged in relation to events that took place in Dublin City Centre earlier today.

Hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters gathered at the Wellington monument in Dublins Phoenix Park this afternoon.

The crowd, holding banners and flags, gathered in the park area and proceeded to walk out the main Phoenix Park gates and make their way down the quays towards O'Connell Street.

The group gathered at the GPO and then marched back along the South Quays, where the arrests were made.

Gardai in Dublin said they were aware of an event organised on social media by disparate groups and implemented a policing plan around the events.

Officers engaged with protesters present at the Wellington Monument, and also families who were availing of the Phoenix Park area for physical exercise in accordance with current Public Health Regulations.

However, following persistent and ongoing non-compliance with Public Health Regulations, uniformed members of An Garda Siochana intervened in a graduated response at Victoria Quay.

Gardai arrested 11 people at the scene and issued a number of Fixed Payment Notices (FPNs) to those in breach of Public Health Regulations.

A garda spokesperson said An Garda Siochana will now carry out an investigation into the organisers of this event.

Approximately 300 uniform and plain clothes members of An Garda Siochana were involved in monitoring the event, including Public Order Units, Peaceful Crowd Management Unit, Mounted Unit and Dog Unit.

The protest today had a smaller turn out than that at Herbert Park in the south of the city on St Patricks Day, which saw hundreds gather in bright sunshine for a family-friendly Le Cheile event.
A new breed of drugs that reduces the number of deaths from bladder cancer could also replace chemotherapy treatment for other types of cancers.

The medicines, which are known as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), carry out chemotherapy-like attacks on cancer cells but don't cause side effects such as hair loss, fatigue and nausea.

The treatment is highly accurate, targeting tumours without harming healthy tissue, so doctors are able to give high doses.

Early research with the ADC drug enfortumab vedotin on bladder cancer has already shown it to cut deaths by a third  and trials are under way to test the effectiveness of the experimental therapy on breast and prostate cancer.

Professor Thomas Powles, oncologist, director of the Barts Cancer Centre and lead UK researcher for the trial, says ADCs mark 'a new chapter' in cancer treatment and could even lead to a cure.

The medicines, which are known as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), carry out chemotherapy-like attacks on cancer cells but don't cause side effects such as hair loss, fatigue and nausea

He says: 'Chemotherapy is something of a blunt tool. When chemotherapy drugs enter your body, they damage cancer cells but they also damage your healthy cells.

'This causes side effects such as hair loss and nausea.

'ADCs are able to transport cancer-killing drugs directly to the cancer cells with limited effect on the rest of the body. This treatment will allow more patients to live a relatively normal life for longer.

'We're still in the early days but this could eventually replace chemotherapy completely.'

ADCs are artificial antibodies  similar to those naturally produced by the immune system but designed to hunt for a particular protein found in cancer cells. They are also made to carry a 'payload' of chemotherapy medicine.

When they find their target, they attach themselves, delivering the dose directly into the tumour.

The technology means doctors are able to hit the cancer with larger amounts of medication without fear of seriously damaging the body.

Prof Powles says: 'Different cancers create different proteins and ADCs can be adapted depending on the cancer. What's more, the payload can be whatever type of cancer-killing drug you need.'

Weird science: Woman who cried tears of blood Tears of blood may sound like something from macabre fiction but, in fact, it's a rare medical condition. The British Medical Journal this month carried a report of one such bizarre case  a 25-year-old Indian woman who had attended a hospital in Chandigarh, northern India, complaining that blood was coming out of her eyes. Doctors diagnosed vicarious menstruation. Experts say this isn't actual menstruation, instead it's thought that hormonal changes in the body could weaken already thin blood vessels, causing a bleed in the vessels connected to the eye. Doctors stopped the woman's bleeding by prescribing the contraceptive pill. Advertisement

Data published last month from Prof Powles' trial with ADC enfortumab vedotin showed encouraging results. The trial included patients with advanced bladder cancer which had spread to other organs.

Typically, these patients would on average be likely to live no more than six months. For those on enfortumab vedotin, survival more than doubled to an average of 13 months.

The therapy is not without downsides  patients suffer skin rashes, and pins and needles are common, but this can be managed.

Every year, more than 10,000 Britons are diagnosed with bladder cancer. If the disease spreads to other organs, as is often the case, then it becomes near-on incurable  and every year, more than 5,000 Britons die from it.

Many patients undergo radical surgery to remove the bladder and other surrounding organs, before going on to a course of chemo. They may also be offered radiotherapy or immunotherapy.

But, over time, all treatments become ineffective against bladder cancer.

Patients on the ADC trial were given enfortumab vedotin after all other treatments had been exhausted. They visit hospital once a week for three out of four weeks in a month, where the drug is administered via a drip.

The treatment takes an hour. They will often stay on the treatment for as long as a year, depending on how responsive their cancer is to the drug.

One patient to undergo the treatment was Peter Smith, 74, a retired plumber from London. He was diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer four years ago after noticing blood in his urine, and it had spread through his pelvis and into his lungs.

He says: 'I wasn't sure how much longer I had.'

Peter was enrolled to the ADC trial and began taking enfortumab vedotin 18 months ago  and his cancer stopped growing. He says: 'I felt a massive weight off my shoulders, knowing the cancer was under control.'

After 12 months, Peter came off the treatment and now undergoes scans every six weeks to keep an eye on the cancer.

Upcoming trials will investigate the effects of a combination of ADCs and immunotherapy.

Prof Powles says: 'If we could use ADC to keep the cancer in check, while immunotherapy trains the body to fight the cancer on its own, we may soon be talking about a cure for this horrible cancer, and others, too.'
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: Video of President Joe Biden was digitally altered to make it appear that he spoke to the press on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on March 16, and a blurry microphone in the shot proves the video was manipulated.

THE FACTS: The interaction between Biden and reporters was documented by multiple cameras, including an Associated Press photographer, and the video in question was not altered.

False claims circulated on Twitter and TikTok stating that a video of Biden talking to reporters before boarding Marine One had been doctored to make it appear that he took questions from the press. The bogus claim is the latest to be spread by conspiracy theorists who say Biden is not the president or that he is incapable of speaking to the press.

Biden was on his way to Chester, Pennsylvania, to argue that his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package can help boost small businesses, when he stopped briefly to answer reporters questions.

In the uploaded video, a boom mic appears blurry, and multiple Twitter users claimed that the mic had been digitally edited into the video because of how Bidens hand appeared to reach over the mic. Some social media posts, including a TikTok post with 2.4 million views, claimed Biden was standing in front of a green screen.

Look at Bidens hands and the reporters fuzzy microphones in the foreground at 0:10. This footage has been digitally altered, one Twitter post falsely stated. Biden Fakes Interview, Green Screen Fails, a YouTube video with more than 370,000 views falsely claimed.

But the interaction captured in the video was real and both the scene and the microphone in question were documented by multiple media outlets, including an AP photo.

The video discussed online is a lower resolution version of the original video shot by a White House pool videographer. The same video at higher resolution shows the microphone in the foreground was much clearer than it appeared in social media uploads.

There is no sign of manipulation or green-screening, said Hany Farid, a professor who focuses on digital forensics at the University of California, Berkeley. In this higher resolution version, I see where the strange movement of the one mic comes from, but I think all that is happening is the mic is coming from below and President Biden reaches over it.
WASHINGTON--An industry-supported study of an oral testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), testosterone undecanoate (TU, brand name Jatenzo) finds it is an effective, long-term treatment for men with low testosterone levels, with no evidence of liver toxicity. The findings are being presented virtually at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting.

TST is currently available in multiple modes of administration, including implantable pellets, transdermal gels and intramuscular injections.

"For many men with low testosterone levels, an oral option is preferred to avoid issues associated with other modes of administration, such as injection site pain or transference to partners and children," said lead researcher Ronald S. Swerdloff, M.D., of the Lundquist Research Institute in Torrance, California. "Before TU was approved, the only orally approved TST in the United States was methyl-testosterone, which was known to be associated with significant chemical-driven liver damage."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved TU in March 2019, and the medication was made commercially available in February 2020.

Swerdloff conducted a safety and efficacy analysis following two years of TU oral capsule administration in men with low testosterone levels. There were two parts of the study. The first study included men ages 18 to 75 with low testosterone levels who were followed for 12 months. After the first year, 86 men enrolled in the second study, which lasted for another year.

Over two years, TU kept total testosterone levels in the normal range, with a safety profile relatively consistent with other approved testosterone products. There was no evidence of liver toxicity. There were small but statistically significant increases in prostate specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate, and hematocrit (HCT), which measures red blood cell levels. Swerdloff noted these increases are observed with other forms of TST, regardless of modes of administration. The drug had minimal effects on LDL "bad" cholesterol, while lowering HDL "good" cholesterol, as is common with other TRT formulations.

"Our study finds TU is an effective oral therapy for men with low testosterone levels and has a safety profile consistent with other approved testosterone products, without the drawbacks of non-oral modes of administration," Swerdloff said.

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Clarus Therapeutics supported the research.

Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.
As communist China holds human rights lawyer Wang Yu captive, her son Bao was detained at an LA ICE facility upon reaching the United States.

Renowned human rights lawyer Wang Yu was recently honored as one of the International Women of Courage Awardees this year, but her absence from the online ceremony sparked concern for her wellbeing. The lawyer, whose run-ins with Chinese law enforcers dated back to 2016, was once again captured by the police earlier this month in Tianjin. She has not been heard from since then.

Described as a "fearless human rights lawyer," Wang is known as one who advocates for "defying political threats to defend abused schoolchildren, jailed feminists and persecuted minorities," ChinaAid reported. Her resilience against the abusive Chinese Communist Party made her a target.

The only thing that could make her comply with their wishes was the safety of her son. Five years ago, Wang was one of over 200 activists who were captured during a crackdown on human rights lawyers and activists in China. She was subjected to interrogations, isolation, sleep deprivation, and other abuses until she made a forced confession, which was televised across China.

In it, the award-winning human rights lawyer denounced "ideas like Western universal values, democracy and human rights, to attack and smear the government...I am Chinese. I can only accept the Chinese government's leadership." In exchange for the confession, Wang's then teenage son Bao Zhuoxuan would be allowed to travel abroad.

Bao was able to leave for Australia in 2018 as a free individual, but after suspicious monitoring, he sought asylum in the U.S. in 2020. Upon arrival, Bao found himself in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Los Angeles where he was detained for about a month, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Bao recently spoke out about his experiences and the values his parents had instilled in him. He told Radio Free Asia Wang and her husband never "indoctrinated" him to oppose communist China rule. They did however share their stories about the cases they had to take on as human rights lawyers, speaking of homes that had been "forcibly demolished" and "people who had been beaten up by the authorities just for filing a petition."

"The education the CCP instilled in me, and the reports in their media, their newspapers, was all very biased," Bao admitted. "Some people may be very rich, but the evidence of oppression is everywhere. People are suffering; people we don't know about."

As Bao continues to wait to hear from his mother Wang, he remains in Los Angeles, where his passport is in the hands of ICE and waiting for the immigration court's decision on whether he could stay or be deported to China, where he will most likely be captured by Chinese police.

"The law is only made for showing the outside world that the Chinese legal system is great. If you try to use the law for real, it harms [the authorities'] interests," Wang said as per the Los Angeles Times in talking about her hopes to continue to fight for the oppressed as a human rights lawyer.
New Delhi, March 20 : Despite losing the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) as an alliance partner, the BJP is still confident of sweeping the Bodoland region in the Assam Assembly polls with its new ally United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.

The saffron leader asserted that the new alliance with UPPL will be a chance for the BJP to recover the lost bastion.

"Electorally nothing is going to change on the ground. The UPPL and BJP is a choice to the Bodo people. The new coalition is garnering huge support and the Bodoland region will be swept by the ties," he said.

Announcing snapping of ties with BJP, BPF Chief Hagrama Mohilary tweeted: "To work for peace, unity and development the BPF has decided to join hands with 'Mahajath' in the forthcoming Assam Assembly elections. We shall no longer maintain friendship or alliance with BJP." After snapping ties with the BJP, the BPF has joined Congress-led 'grand alliance' to contest the ensuing Assam Assembly polls.

Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held in three phases on March 27, April1 and 6, and the counting will take place on May 2.

The BJP is contesting on 92 and its alliance partner AGP is contesting on 26 seats, while the UPPL has got eight seats.

Cracks appeared to have developed in the allaince between BJP and BPF after the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls in December last year.

Of the 40 elected seats in BTC, the BPF had won 17, while the BJP won 9. The UPPL, on the other hand, won 12 seats, Congress one and Gana Suraksha Party(GSP) won one.

Despite having an alliance with the BPF, the BJP joined hands with the UPPL and GSP in the BTC.

In the 2016 Assam Assembly polls, the BJP has successfully contested the elections in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BPF.

For ensuing Assam polls, the BJP has kept AGP as it's one of alliance partner and joined hands with the UPPL by snapping ties with the BPF in the Bodoland region.

About 12 Assembly constituencies fall in the region and in 2016 Assam Assembly polls, the BPF won all the seats. Earlier this month, Assam BJP Chief Ranjeet Dass said that together BJP and the UPPL are going strong in the Bodoland region.

"With our alliance partner, the BJP is going to win over 100 seats in the Assam Assembly polls," Dass had said.

Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Almost as soon as Oprah Winfreys sit-down with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, aired last week, the vitriol came roaring like a hurricane. Criticism has, of course, closely followed the couple since stepping down as senior royals last year, and while there has been much public support over the tell-all interview  in which Meghan, 39, said she had felt suicidal while pregnant but was denied mental health support, and that a senior member of the royal family had expressed concerns over the colour of her unborn babys skin  the visceral hatred has been difficult to miss. More specifically, the visceral hatred of Meghan. Conservative commentators predictably led the charge. After Meghan admitted she didnt want to be alive any more, Piers Morgan shot back on Good Morning Britain: I dont believe a word she said. (Hes since left the breakfast show and is digging his heels in, repeatedly referring to Meghans bullshit.) Shortly after, US journalist Megyn Kelly said: You can become a princess. You can live in a palace. You can [have] access to the crown jewels and still somehow find yourself a victim. And there have been the memes: a fake image of Queen Elizabeth brandishing a gun in an apparent desire for revenge over Meghans bitching; Meghan and Harrys faces photoshopped onto each others bodies to indicate the prince isnt wearing the pants. Time and again, the words calculated, pathetic, deceitful, outspoken are cropping up beside Meghans name. These sentiments are echoing far and wide  on social media, in group messages, in comments and letters received by this publication. So how does this one woman draw such intense loathing from people who do not know her personally? Its been quite dramatic, says Jayashri Kulkarni, a Monash University professor of psychiatry. Meghan embodies privilege, wealth, power, fame, shes a celebrity, shes the antithetical to the conservative look of a princess  so shes already othered in that sense.

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Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne, a University of Melbourne sociologist, adds: Shes a woman, shes an outsider to the royal institution, shes a person of colour, shes smart, and shes American. So she hits a number of factors that stir judgment and in this case thats manifesting in a disproportionate amount of hatred. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The Age and Sydney Morning Heralds reader editor Orietta Guerrera says comment moderators found that while several readers expressed sympathy for Meghan, she received far more criticism than any other royal, and at levels similar to figures such as Donald Trump. Guerrera adds that comments containing racist attacks were rejected. There were many comments questioning her honesty ... She was commonly depicted as an attention seeker, drama queen and manipulator, she says. First off, Kulkarni says, it is much easier to hate a famous person than someone within your social sphere. And celebrities like Meghan are seen as fair game because they put themselves in the public eye, she says. More crucially, Rosewarne says for three years people have, perhaps indirectly, absorbed a negative image of Meghan that has been tirelessly pushed by the tabloid press; from the comparisons to her dutiful sister-in-law to the insinuations she is trying to be Diana 2.0 and the use of the term Megxit. Rosewarne says this creates an audience that is ready to tear someone down. The downfall of Britney Spears, recently recounted in a New York Times documentary, shows how the tabloids can destroy a person.

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The uncomfortable truth, Rosewarne says, is that this means much of the public disdain levelled at Meghan is grounded in racism and sexism. [Because] the input for the hatred has likely been stoked by an absolutely sexist and racist tabloid press, she says. Comments can be racist or sexist even if a person doesnt see themselves that way: this isnt about self-perception. Take, for example, the anger over Meghan being apparently manipulative. Theres this idea that Harry is so hapless in this and has been bamboozled by this woman, Rosewarne says. Even if the worst things people say about [Meghan] are true, lets say she has engineered this entire thing, if it was a man we wouldnt actually be judging the way we are  this is an age-old stereotype of women with their innate witchiness. Prince Harry and Meghan during their interview with Oprah Winfrey. Credit:Harpo Productions Australian National University sociology professor Mary Lou Rasmussen says when the white man  Prince Harry  is completely off the hook (despite long expressing his unhappiness as a royal), race and gender are unquestionably at play in the irrational loathing of Meghan. [It] speaks to things [people] cant say but feel really deeply  whether they are aware of it or not, Rasmussen says, explaining ingrained prejudices are often unconscious and influenced by social structures. And due to discomfort around racism, Rasmussen says many viewers didnt give Meghans claims credibility. They see her as someone who is shrill instead of someone who is giving a valuable account. Rosewarne says unless people have lived experience of discrimination, they struggle to see it. They come up with other reasons as to why this woman is a problem, she says, but points out labelling Meghan calculating and gold digger are gendered. Or calling her a mouthy American falls into the racist trope of the angry black woman. Much divide has been on generational lines. A British YouGov poll found that in the wake of the Oprah interview, those under age 25 were mostly siding with the Sussexes, while those 50 and older were firmly backing the royal family.

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Rosewarne says some older people view the interview as a crude betrayal of the Queen, who is deeply private, and the institution she heads. Most people in Australia have never known another monarch, Rosewarne says, adding there is a great sense of respect for her legacy, even among those who dont consider themselves royalists. Comments can be racist or sexist even if a person doesnt see themselves that way: this isnt about self-perception. Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne Also, Kulkarni says, older generations have typically been raised to deal with problems with a stiff upper lip. So this [interview] is seen as washing your dirty linen in public. Rosewarne says younger people are often considered oversensitive or snowflakes for their oversharing and woke politics  and this is what Meghan represents. Rasmussen adds: [The interview is] attacking values of the older generation  saying their silence around issues [such as racism and mental health] is a problem. Rosewarne stresses not everyone has to like Meghan. She is likely flawed ... Were never going to know a true story, we dont have a surround sound view of everything that went on. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, with the Queen in 2018. Credit:PA And its OK to eye-roll at some of the antics of the Sussexes as a couple  for example much has been made of their financial motives or their decision to do a tell-all with Oprah rather than continue trying to find a resolution privately. This is not automatically racist or sexist, says Rasmussen.

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Kulkarni warns that the problem with much of the hostility to Meghan is the ripple effect disdainful commentary has on others in the community who are made to feel hurt, further stigmatised and afraid to speak out  whether it be over racial, gender or mental health issues. Critical evaluation and balanced discussion is not a bad thing, Kulkarni says. [But] hateful language and hateful behaviour really lead to all sorts of unwanted effects ... If the language is inflammatory then its not just Meghan in the firing line, its all women of colour, or its all women, or all people with mental illness, it becomes this bigger group. Unfortunately the general public got caught up in the is this real or not real  thats really dangerous and unhelpful. If the language is inflammatory then its not just Meghan in the firing line, its all women of colour, or its all women, or its all people with mental illness. Professor Jayashri Kulkarni Kulkarni says that the gut response of disbelief and looking for an agenda feeds a troubling narrative: Meghan was called a liar for saying she felt suicidal and experienced racism in the same week it emerged Brittany Higgins  the former Liberal staffer who was allegedly sexually assaulted at Federal Parliament  was called a lying cow by her ex-boss. Whats coming through is this thread of invalidation of women in crisis situations, Kulkarni says. Its important  and healthy  for people to interrogate themselves to understand why they are feeling anger, says Kulkarni. She explains that hating a celebrity involves well-known psychological mechanisms to deal with internal conflict at a distance. What people are actually doing is displacing events, views or feelings they may harbour for something or somebody and projecting onto somebody else, Kulkarni says. Its like when youve had a dreadful time at work but you cant deal with it there, so you get home and pick a fight with your spouse. Its the displacement of the problem.

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Tokyo, Japan - Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have devised and implemented a simplified algorithm for turning freely drawn lines into holograms on a standard desktop CPU. They dramatically cut down the computational cost and power consumption of algorithms that require dedicated hardware. It is fast enough to convert writing into lines in real-time, and makes crisp, clear images that meet industry standards. Potential applications include hand-written remote instructions superimposed on landscapes and workbenches.

Flying cars, robots, spaceships...whatever sci-fi future you can imagine, there is always a common feature: holograms. But holography isn't just about aesthetics. Its potential applications include important enhancements to vital, practical tasks, like remote instructions for surgical procedures, electronic assembly on circuit boards, or directions projected on landscapes for navigation. Making holograms available in a wide range of settings is vital to bringing this technology out of the lab and into our daily lives.

One of the major drawbacks of this state-of-the-art technology is the computational load of hologram generation. The kind of quality we've come to expect in our 2D displays is prohibitive in 3D, requiring supercomputing levels of number crunching to achieve. There is also the issue of power consumption. More widely available hardware like GPUs in gaming rigs might be able to overcome some of these issues with raw power, but the amount of electricity they use is a major impediment to mobile applications. Despite improvements to available hardware, the solution is not something we can expect from brute-force.

A key solution is to limit the kind of images that are projected. Now, a team led by Assistant Professor Takashi Nishitsuji have proposed and implemented a solution with unprecedented performance. They specifically chose to exclusively draw lines in 3D space. Though this may sound drastic at first, the number of things you can do is still impressive. In a particularly elegant implementation, they connected a tablet to a PC and conventional hologram generation hardware i.e. a laser and a spatial light modulator. Their algorithm is fast enough that handwriting on the tablet could be converted to images in the air in real-time. The PC they used was a standard desktop with no GPU, significantly expanding where it might be implemented. Though the images were slightly inferior in quality to other, more computationally intensive methods, the sharpness of the writing comfortably met industry standards.

All this means that holograms might soon be arriving in our homes or workplaces. The team is especially focused on implementations in heads-up displays (HUDs) in helmets and cars, where navigation instructions might be displayed on the landscape instead of voice instructions or distracting screens. The light computational load of the algorithm significantly expands the horizons for this promising technology; that sci-fi "future" might not be the future for much longer.

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This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (20K19810, 19H01097), the Inoue Foundation for Science, the Takayanagi Kenjiro Foundation and Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (12ZQ220N, VS07820N).
Mumbai: In a sensational twist to the SUV case, former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh on Saturday hit out at Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh by virtually alleging that the minister wanted his team member, arrested cop Sachin Vaze, to 'collect Rs 100 crore per month from bars and hookah parlours'.

Taking strong umbrage at Deshmukh's remarks that Singh's transfer as Commandant-General of Maharashtra Home Guards was not for administrative purposes, but for "unpardonable lapses" by his team, the ex-Mumbai top cop shot off an eight-page missive to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, making shocking revelations.

Hitting back at Singh, Deshmukh tweeted that the ex-Mumbai police chief was leveling false allegations against him to save himself from action in the SUV case and the case related to the death of Mansukh Hiren.

But even as the issue threatens to shake the foundation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, top leaders remained incommunicado.

The SUV case refers to the explosives-laden Scorpio that was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai last month. Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiren, who was in possession of the Scorpio, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on March 5.
Top US and Chinese officials were set to meet again yesterday after offering sharply contrasting world views in their first face-to-face talks since US President Joe Biden took office.

After the opening on Thursday, the two sides traded barbs, with the US accusing the Chinese delegation of grandstanding for domestic consumption in China and Beijing firing back by saying there was a strong smell of gunpowder and drama in the room that was entirely the fault of the Americans.

In unusually pointed remarks for a staid diplomatic meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi took aim at each others policies.

The contentious tone of their public comments suggested the private discussions would be even more rocky. The meetings in Anchorage, which continued with a closing session yesterday, were a new test in increasingly troubled relations .

They are at odds over a range of issues from trade to human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong and Chinas western Xinjiang region, as well as over Taiwan, Chinas assertiveness in the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Blinken said the Biden administration is united with its allies in pushing back against Chinas increasing authoritarianism and assertiveness at home and abroad. Mr Yang then unloaded a list of Chinese complaints about the US and accused Washington of hypocrisy for criticising Beijing on human rights and other issues.

Each of these actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability, Mr Blinken said of Chinas actions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and of cyber attacks on the United States and economic coercion against US allies.

Thats why theyre not merely internal matters, and why we feel an obligation to raise these issues here today.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan amplified the criticism, saying China has undertaken an assault on basic values.

We do not seek conflict but we welcome stiff competition, he said.

Mr Yang responded angrily by demanding the US stop pushing its own version of democracy at a time when the United States itself has been roiled by domestic discontent. He also accused the US of failing to deal with its own human rights problem s and took issue with what he said was condescension from Mr Blinken, Mr Sullivan and other US officials.

We believe that it is important for the United States to change its own image and to stop advancing its own democracy in the rest of the world, he said. Many people within the United States actually have little confidence in the democracy of the United States.

China will not accept unwarranted accusations from the US side. There is no way to strangle China, he said.

Mr Blinken appeared to be annoyed by the tenor and length of the comments, which went on for more than 15 minutes. He said his impressions from speaking with world leaders and on his just-concluded trip to Japan and South Korea were entirely different from the Chinese position.

Im hearing deep satisfaction that the United States is back, that were reengaged, Mr Blinken retorted. Im also hearing deep concern about some of the actions your government is taking.
The NPP Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer, Hon. Moses Abor engaged all Constituency youth organizers within the region at the Accra Mayor's residence to discuss pertinent matters ahead of the 2024 elections on March 17, 2021.



Hon. Moses Abor is of the view that the victory that lies ahead in "breaking the 8-year Jinx" for the upcoming 2024 elections will essentially be based on the fact that the party starts to work assiduously now at the Grassroot level. It is therefore important we move away from just repeating our zeal of 'breaking the 8' just by word of mouth with no action or work done to back our quest.



Hence, Hon. Moses Abor has admonished all Constituency youth organizers in the region not to rest until 2023 but rather start the work now ahead of the 2024 elections to maximize our efforts at securing more seats in Greater Accra Region.



Together with his team, The Regional Youth Organizer will be hitting the grounds soon as the work starts now in mobilizing the Grassroots to break the 8-year jinx for victory 2024 agenda.

Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The pandemic caused a lot of us to try our hand at baking. Whether it was sourdough, beer bread, or banana bread, Americans sold out yeast in the early days of COVID-19. Another tasty side effect? The boom of cottage bakeries.

One such outfit has moved into its brick-and-mortar home and will celebrate its grand opening this weekend. Alebrije, created by husband and wife Claudio Navarro and Cris Mendez, first launched at the onset of the pandemic delivering "Pan-demia" boxes and speciality desserts throughout San Antonio.

Mendez, a trained chef, was initially baking out of her home kitchen, which is allowed by Texas' cottage law. But as demand grew for her ornate and tasty desserts, the pair sought out a larger kitchen space and worked out of Cafe Azteca, for several months creating their wholesale conchas and more.

READ ALSO: Local butcher Swine House finds new home at Pearl Farmers Market

You'll find Alebrije's buttery take on conchas at Cafe Cotidiano on St. Mary's, Early Bird in the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center, Cultura on S. Flores and Southbound on Carle Ave. With wholesale poppin' off, the duo looked for another location in which to spread their wings.

They reached out to San Antonio native Martin Garcia, and things snowballed fast.

"We said why don't we unite and put the two bakeries in the same space and work something out to open the location," Navarro said.

The result is two bakeries in one and they'll both open this Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6734 S. Flores St. The space will hold several tables and chairs for indoor and outdoor seating areas. They'll open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

Republic dabbles in a little bit of everything, while Alebrije takes on pan dulce favorites and adds a twist.

READ ALSO: Two weeks of vandalism at Burgerteca adds to the 'heartbreak' the San Antonio restaurant has endured

Mendez and Navarro, a video producer, tackle production with Mendez taking the lead in adding some that extra bit of oomph to the lineup. The Michoacan natives  they hail from Urapan, the same city where most avocados come from, by the way  are introducing San Antonio to pan dulces they might not have had otherwise. There's the beso (a sandwich cookie), and pay de queso (Mexican cheesecake) along with the fluffy pan de elote. Mendez's delicate and colorful plating also sets the treats apart.

Then there's tweaks to classics like Lenten capirotada and the two-in-one combo of the molasses-infused cochinito topped with concha crumble that becomes a puer-conchito. This isn't your abuela's panaderia.

Though the pair teased new items, they kept tight-lipped on what's to come.

"Cris is full of surprises," Navarro said.
The Navy has had a tough time selling its plan to invest billions in a fleet of drone ships that can support the force while keeping the enemy guessing, and members of Congress don't yet appear sold on the strategy.

Top Navy and Marine leaders appeared before members of Congress two days after a new "campaign plan" was released on the sea services' ambitions for unmanned platforms. The plan was meant to make "unmanned systems trusted in integral parts of our force," Vice Adm. Jim Kilby, deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities, told reporters this week.

But a retired Navy officer in Congress said she was disappointed by the lack of substance in the plan.

Read Next: Marine Who Risked His Life in Korean War Awarded Silver Star on His 89th Birthday

"I thought it was full of buzzwords and platitude, but really short on details," said Rep. Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat who sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

Kilby; Marine Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, head of Marine Corps Combat Development Command; and Jay Stefany, acting assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, testified before the subcommittee on seapower and projection forces Thursday.

Luria was one of several lawmakers to point out a number ofl Navy programs that have been delayed and over budget, including the Ford-class aircraft carrier, Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, and littoral combat ship.

"With the recent acquisition program failures that we've had on the last several ship classes, rightly, those of us on this committee are skeptical of the Navy's ability to shepherd this new technology into employable assets that contribute to the lethality of our forces," she said.

Rep. Rob Wittman, a Virginia Republican, was quick to respond to the Navy and Marine Corps' push in the campaign plan to invest in capabilities rather than a specific platform. Wittman echoed that during Thursday's hearing, citing the $700 million the Navy invested in a mine-hunting drone for the LCS.

The program was scrapped after 16 years because the drone couldn't spot explosives.

"I will not support a misguided acquisition program that wastes taxpayers' resources in an effort to deliver this vision," Wittman said. "... We need to be realistic in our technology assessments, resolute in our desired end state, and adaptable to delivering key attributes of this vision."

Stefany said the services are working to have sailors and Marines test one or two prototypes, so they quickly get feedback about whether the systems are worth bigger investments.

"We're going to put that into our practices ... to make sure we're reviewing that kind of information before we make program decisions to go forward," he said.

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

Related: Why You Should Trust Drone Ships and Unmanned Tech, According to the Navy
(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 19 - Italy's COVID-19 Rt reproduction number was steady at 1.16 in the latest weekly coronavirus monitoring report of the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS), the same as in last week's report, sources said on Friday ahead of the report's release.

An Rt number over 1 indicates that the epidemic is expanding.

The average nationwide Rt had been on an upward trend for many weeks, with infection rising with the spread of more contagious variants of COVID-19, above all the British one.

The latest monitoring report said that pressure on the health service has increased sharply.

It said that proportion of intensive-care beds occupied by COVID-19 patients rose to 36% in the period from March 12 to 18, up from 31% the previous week and well above the critical threshold of 30%.

It said 13 of Italy's regions/autonomous provinces were above the 30% mark, up from 11 in the last report.

Furthermore, the incidence of cases in a week has risen to 264 for every 100,000 inhabitants from 225.64 the previous week.

As a result, the report said to impose the "maximum level of mitigation" in terms of restrictions aimed at prevention contagion.

The government has tightened restrictions, with about half of the country currently classed as a high-contagion risk red zone and in lockdown.

Tuscany looks likely to be classed as red next week given its latest contagion data.

Calabria and Val d'Aosta risk being bumped up to red too.

(ANSA).


Mumbai, March 20 : A domestic airline has honoured Sonu Soods social activism with special livery on its planes.

As a mark of acknowledgement to the social service that the actor has been committed to, SpiceJet Boeing 737 aircraft recently wrapped a number of its aircraft in special livery, which includes an image of the actor along with a line that reads: "A salute to the saviour Sonu Sood".

The actor got to know through pictures he received on social media from fans.

Talking to IANS, an emotional Sonu said: "I felt really honoured when I saw those images. The aircraft was parked at different airports and people were sending me different images from Leh, Hyderabad, Punjab and Delhi. I feel blessed. I miss my parents more, I wish they could see this." The actor, contributed immensely during lockdown when he arranged transportation for migrants stuck in the cities, to go back to their home towns.

Looking back at his journey in the film industry, Sonu, who made his Bollywood debut with the 2002 film "Shaheed-E-Azam", says:"I remember I came to Mumbai from Punjab on an unreserved ticket with lots of dreams in my eyes and I always thought I want to make it big. Aasman pe naam likhne aaye the Mumbai mein. Aaj bhi mere paas woh unreserved ticket hai train ka (Came to Mumbai with dreams of flying high. I still have that unreserved ticket). When SpiceJet honoured me, I felt really humbled and I will continue to do work jisse aasman mein naam barkarar rahe. (I will continue to do work that lets me touch the skies)." The airline, too, contributed to bringing people back home during lockdown when they repatriated more than 2.5 lakh Indians last year.

On the work front, Sonu will soon be seen in the Telugu film "Acharya" and the Hindi film "Prithviraj".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Atlanta: President Joe Biden has called on Americans to unite to fight discrimination and attacks against Asian Americans, delivering a message of solidarity after killings at three massage parlours in Georgias capital city.

Our silence is complicity, he said. We cannot be complicit. We have to speak out.

Eight people were killed on Tuesday night - six of them women of Asian descent - and a 21-year-old white man, Robert Aaron Long, was arrested. Neither police nor the FBI has described the shootings as a hate crime, and authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Biden avoided the legally freighted phrase but he left no doubt that he believed racial bias played a role.

President Joe Biden speaks after meeting with leaders from Georgias Asian-American and Pacific Islander community. Credit:AP

We must change our hearts, Biden said. Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop. Its on all of us together to make us stop.
For the first time, a current aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo has gone on record and accused her boss of sexual harassment. Alyssa McGrath, 33, told the New York Times that the governor ogled her body, made comments about her looks, and engaged in other kinds of flirtatious and inappropriate behavior while she worked for him. It marks the latest accusation of sexual harassment and other kinds of inappropriate behavior against the Democrat who is holding on to his office despite facing bipartisan calls to resign.

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McGrath recounted one instance in which the harassment seemed particularly egregious when she was called into his office to take dictation. I put my head down waiting for him to start speaking, and he didnt start speaking, she said. So I looked up to see what was going on. And he was blatantly looking down my shirt. She said Cuomo then asked her, Whats on your necklace? Which was in my shirt. McGrath said she started having uncomfortable interactions with Cuomo pretty much since she was hired in mid-2018. He has a way of making you feel very comfortable around him, almost like youre his friend, McGrath said. But then you walk away from the encounter or conversation, in your head going, I cant believe I just had that interaction with the governor of New York.

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McGrath said that her feeling that these interactions with the governor were inappropriate only grew after other women started speaking up about their own experiences. Over the last few weeks, she was in disbelief at how Cuomo reacted to the numerous women who have come forward with allegations of harassment and inappropriate behavior. It makes me really upset to hear him speak about this and completely deny all allegations, she said. And I have no doubt in my mind that all of these accusers are telling the truth.

McGrath spoke up shortly after a report that another current aide accused Cuomo of groping her breast in the governors mansion, but she has not been publicly identified. McGrath says the aide told her about the incident after it was made public and claims the governor told her not to talk about it. He told her specifically not to tell me, McGrath said.

Cuomos lawyer, Rita Glavin, dismissed McGraths claims with the same kind of defense that the governor has used to brush away the numerous allegations against him. The governor has greeted men and women with hugs and a kiss on the cheek, forehead, or hand. Yes, he has posed for photographs with his arm around them. Yes, he uses Italian phrases like ciao bella, she said. None of this is remarkable, although it may be old-fashioned. He has made clear that he has never made inappropriate advances or inappropriately touched anyone.
Congress leader is scheduled to interact with employees at the Refinery in Assam's Tinsukia on Saturday.

The leader will also address two public meetings -- one in Jorhat at 1 pm and the other in Gohpur at 2.30 pm.

Rahul Gandhi, who is on his two-day visit to will also release the party's manifesto for the poll-bound today at 4.45 pm at Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office.

Speaking to ANI Congress Spokesperson AICC in-charge of Media for Polls Gourav Vallabh has said, "We are giving 'five guarantees' to the people of Assam which are the key points of our manifesto and is agreed by the alliance partners too as a part of Common Minimum Program.

He also mentioned that the manifesto will promise no implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Assam.

Other than this, the manifesto of Congress will also mention Rs 365 for tea workers, 200 units of free electricity and Rs 2000 for housewives a month.

Assembly elections in Assam for 126 seats will be held in three phases starting on March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

(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.)
March 20th of each year is recognized as International Day of Happiness or, as some would call it, World Happiness Day.

by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne in Montreal

Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. ~ Aristotle

March 20th of each year is recognized as International Day of Happiness or, as some would call it, World Happiness Day. What this actually means is anyones guess. Are the 193 States members of the United Nations expected to ensure that their people are happy on that day? Or are we, the people of the world expected, come what may on that day, to convince ourselves that we are happy? To feel happy. As in everything else with a global flavour, this curious phenomenon has its genesis in a Resolution of the United Nations. The General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012 proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness, in the words of the UN to recognize the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives. It gets curiouser and curiouser, to quote Alice in Lewis Carols famous work, when the words happiness and wellbeing are used together. Why didnt the General Assembly call this day the International Day of Happiness and Well-Being?

In an effort to clarify the meaning and purpose of the World Happiness Day, the Resolution invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day of Happiness in an appropriate manner, including through education and public awareness-raising activities. It boggles the mind what the populists, demagogues and the illiberal ideologues round the world would do in their countries.

Arguably (and it may be difficult to disagree) happiness is a state of mind while wellbeing is life satisfaction, pleasure, or a positive emotional condition as rather well put by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

The United Nations seemingly has a different perspective. This becomes evident from a World Happiness Report released annually by the United Nations. The latest version that is available (April 2020) ranks the top ten States (from the happiest people at 1 on a scale of 1-10) as Finland. For the third year in a row, Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, Austria, and Luxemburg. Every year, the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network publishes its World Happiness Reporta study that examines the connections between happiness and development - all the while encouraging policymakers to place more of an emphasis on the former: around 1,000 people in each U.N. member state rate their quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10, while researchers cull data from six areas: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, trust and corruption, perceived freedom to make life decisions, and generosity.

Another curious factor seems to be that it was Bhutan that proposed the idea for Resolution 66/281, and needless to say, the proposal was based on the term Gross National Happiness first introduced in 1972 by King Jigme Singye Wangchuck  4th King of Bhutan - who famously said that Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product suggesting clearly that human progress should be inextricably linked to non-economic aspects of wellbeing. Accordingly, Bhutans version of happiness of a nation is measured in the Gross National Happiness Index under four pillars : good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation, which are in turn expanded into the following criteria: psychological wellbeing; health; education; time use; cultural diversity and resilience; good governance; community vitality; ecological diversity and resilience; and living standards. When these criteria are compared with the factors used for the compilation of the UNs World Happiness Report, one notices the disparity between the two in both general and specific terms. As happiness is a state of mind, one of the key drivers of happiness would be health which, as perceptively defined by the World Health Organization is not just the absence of disease or infirmity but complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

Both epistemically and philosophically, the problem seems to be semantic, shrouded by the word happiness and its link to GDP and the like. In this context it makes more sense to agree with Aristotle - that ones happiness lies entirely within oneself and within ones control through what he called the mean to connote a balance or, as the Buddha called it the middle path. Happiness is intrinsically linked to how one lives ones life rather than how external factors such as GDP and the corruption or absence thereof in a system of governance would affect a nation. In other words, happiness is the cultivation of virtue, pursued by a sense of duty rather than inclination; autonomy rather than heteronomy; and categorical, rather than hypothetical imperative  qualities expounded by the 18th Century German philosopher Emanuel Kant. Plato, Aristotles teacher, thought along similar lines where he professed that a happy person is one who has principles and sticks to them, and the pursuit of happiness lay in the rigorous embracing of these principles.

There is a common thread woven into the fabric of the ancient philosophy of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates (who thought that rational control over ones desires, or inclinations as Kant put it, and its harmonization with the soul would produce a divine-like state of inner tranquility that the external world could not effect) and the relatively recent philosophy of the categorical imperative of Kant. Many have posited that it was this divine state of inner tranquility of Socrates that made him drink Hemlock cheerfully, with no hint of complaint or grief. To Socrates, happiness was not the seeking of more but developing the capacity to enjoy less.

As a state of mind, which happiness incontrovertibly is, the World Happiness Index or Report criteria used by the United Nations should be considered the exact opposite of what Plato said  that one who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily".

The problem does not seem to lie with the intent or purpose of the United Nations, nor with the ten exemplary nations on the UN list but in trying to decipher what happiness really is. One could not be blamed for thinking that what the United Nations intended with Resolution 66/281 was to promote a good life for the people of the world. Perhaps World Happiness Day should have been called International Day of Good Living. The various aspects of state of mind and body could come under this broad title. This would solve the problem for an impoverished farmer who barely ekes out a living but spends all he got on educating a son or daughter who later turns out to be an ingrate. When the offspring attains a high position and does well while neglecting the father, the latter could still be happy that his child is doing well materially. Regretfully, this would do nothing for the physical wellbeing of the old man. As Meriam Webster puts it, a good life is a happy and enjoyable life. This definition covers both the physical and mental aspects of living. In this sense it is difficult to envision how World Happiness Day would contribute to the attainment of a good life if the criteria remain what they are.
Virtual platforms like Netflix and Zoom have emerged as lifelines for a pandemic-hit world forced indoors, but in sanctioned Syria where both websites are blocked, Mohammad Habash feels increasingly disconnected.

"We are living in a bubble isolated from the outside world," the 35-year-old tech expert says from an electronics repair shop in Damascus. "This isolation has meant that an entire generation of young Syrians are technologically disadvantaged compared to their global peers".

Even before the war started in 2011, tech giants like Amazon, Apple and Google couldn't freely operate in Syria because of US sanctions forbidding the export, sale or supply of goods, software, technology and services without US government authorisation.

Also See | Then and now: Syrians recount a decade of war in pictures

The tight restrictions, although rare, are not unique to the war-torn country. They also apply to other US-sanctioned states such as North Korea, while Iran benefits from certain exemptions.

While they were intended to weaken the Syrian government, the controls have also restricted access to an online universe that helped many cope with coronavirus confinement.

"Syrians can't access any Western platform on the internet -- not for education, online shopping, work or leisure" says Habash.

"This became even clearer to us last year with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic".

Syria is among only four countries without access to Netflix, the world's top movie streaming platform. Syria is also only one of five countries barred from Zoom -- the new leader in video conferencing applications.

Also Read | After 10 years of war Syria still a 'living nightmare', says UN chief

To bypass some of the restrictions, Syrians like Habash are increasingly resorting to VPN proxy servers, although they are not effective on all platforms, including Netflix. And even when VPNs manage to facilitate access, some applications require an activation code sent via text message. Such codes can't be sent to numbers registered in Syria, effectively blocking Syrian users, unless they rely on numbers of friends abroad.

To compensate for Netflix, Syrians in Damascus resort to pirated movies and television series sold on discs and hard drives. As an alternative to Zoom, many opt for WhatsApp or Skype, both of which offer a video call option.

But not all internet service providers can be replaced so easily. Online marketplace Amazon, for example, is a tough one to match. "It's mission impossible," Habash says, referring to Amazon orders to Syria.

The technician recently bought a projector from the site. He had to ask a friend in Lebanon to make the order, because he can't access it himself. It took three months before the package arrived in Syria, as it had to be first shipped to Lebanon before he could arrange for delivery. "The VPN in this case is useless," Habash says.

Since coronavirus restrictions forced people around the world to stay indoors, seminars, workshops and meetings have all moved online.

Read | Everything you need to know about the Syrian civil war

But Zeina Shahla, a journalist, has had to turn down dozens of conferences over the past year because they were all being held on Zoom. She says organisers have been reluctant to choose an alternative platform to meet her needs because it would be inconvenient for other participants. "Zoom is the most popular and the easiest to use" for everybody except Syrians, she says.

This has made her feel even more isolated.

"I feel like Syria's technological clock stopped ticking years ago," she tells AFP from a Damascus cafe. If anything, "it's now moving backwards day by day because of all the technical obstacles".

One silver lining though, according to Shahla, is that Syrians can watch Youtube without interruptions because Google Ads are blocked.

And despite sanctions, a market for Apple and Android products exists in Syria, largely due to unofficial suppliers who import them from abroad. The iPhone 12 in Damascus sells for at least six million Syrian pounds (more than $1,400 at the black market rate, and more than $4,700 at the official rate). That is around one hundred times the average civil service salary of 60,000 pounds.

But the steep price is not the only reason Omar chooses not to buy the latest model. With Android and Apple services blocked because of sanctions, the 26-year-old student at Damascus University just doesn't see the point. "Any application I want to download requires electronic payment and most of the new programmes don't even work here," he tells AFP in a popular mobile phone store.

"This means that smart phones lose most of their unique features, even if they are brand new, just because we are in Syria."
Just last month, she shared a rare selfie with her artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo and gushed about him to her thousands of followers online.

And on Friday, Offspring star Asher Keddie looked nothing but loved-up as she and Vincent caught a flight out of Melbourne.

Asher, 46, cut a casual figure and packed on the PDA with her man, 44, as they jetted to their next destination.

Loved-up: On Friday, Offspring star Asher Keddie cut a casual figure and packed on the PDA with artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo as they jetted out of Melbourne

The actress looked casual but chic in black leather-look trousers, which she teamed with a black T-shirt and blazer.

She completed her look with white sneakers, a black bag over her shoulder and her blonde locks pulled off her face into a high bun.

Vincent also wore a blazer with a T-shirt and jeans.

Close: As they walked through the airport, the couple sweetly held hands. They even shared a hug as they waited to board their flight

Chic: The actress looked casual but chic in black leather-look trousers, which she teamed with a black T-shirt and blazer

Going strong: The couple married in a barefoot ceremony in Fiji in April 2014

Couple's dressing! Vincent also wore a blazer with a T-shirt and jeans

The couple, who married in a barefoot ceremony in Fiji in April 2014, both wore face masks through the terminal to protect themselves amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As they walked through the airport, the couple sweetly held hands.

They even shared a hug as they waited to board their flight.

Safety first: They both wore face masks through the terminal to protect themselves amid the coronavirus pandemic

Sweet: Last month, Asher penned a sweet and gushing tribute to Vincent, in a post shared with her 74,000 Instagram followers

'Best husband, best dad, best friend #forevervalentine @vincent_fantauzzo,' she captioned a selfie of the pair posing by a river in matching Akubra hats

Last month, Asher penned a sweet and gushing tribute to Vincent, in a post shared with her 74,000 Instagram followers.

'Best husband, best dad, best friend #forevervalentine @vincent_fantauzzo,' she captioned a selfie of the pair posing by a river in matching Akubra hats.

In April last year, Asher posted another heartfelt tribute to Vincent as they celebrated their anniversary.

Milestone: In April last year, Asher posted another heartfelt tribute to Vincent as they celebrated their anniversary

Happy: She uploaded several images from their wedding day on Instagram, along with the caption: 'Love you more today than I ever have'

She uploaded several images from their wedding day on Instagram, along with the caption: 'Love you more today than I ever have.'

The pair tied the knot in a private beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island, with just one guest in attendance: Vincent's 10 year-old son, Luca, from a previous marriage.

The couple went on to welcome a son of their own, Valentino, in March 2015.

Low-key: The pair tied the knot in a private beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island, with just one guest in attendance: Vincent's 10 year-old son, Luca, from a previous marriage

Meant to be! They first met at Vincent's art studio in Melbourne in 2012, but he was running late and she was close to leaving

They first met at Vincent's art studio in Melbourne in 2012, but he was running late and she was close to leaving.

She told InStyle magazine: 'I saw this incredibly gorgeous but chaotic man come outside the building looking all around him frantically - I hadn't ever met him before but I recognised him from photos - and I thought, "Oh, my God, that's him!"

'Look, this is going to sound absolutely like a ridiculous movie scene but there's no point in playing it down.

'It was one of those very special moments in life where we walked towards each other and both felt exactly the same thing, and that was, "Oh, right, I'm going to be with this person [forever]," before any words were even spoken.'
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has asked the Minister for Justice to appoint two additional Data Protection Commissioners (DPC) and says an independent review of the commissions operations is needed to strengthen the embattled regulatory authority.

The ICCL said its call follows sustained criticism of DPC Helen Dixon in Europe, including a high-profile and highly critical intervention from her German opposite number this week.

In his letter to Justice Minister Helen McEntee, ICCL executive director Liam Herrick cited significant conflict between the Irish DPC and the European Parliament as a reason for seeking action from the minister.

A spokesperson for the minister said the Data Protection Commission is completely independent in the performance of its tasks and the exercise of its powers", but added that since 2015 the authority had seen a five-fold increase in budget allocation to tackle a growing workload.

On Thursday, the European Parliament will vote on resolution proposed by the Parliaments civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, known as the LIBE Committee, that is expected to call for the EU Commission to take infringement procedures against Ireland over alleged failures to enforce the general data protection regulations (GDPR). Its thought to also include criticism of how the Irish authority has dealt with privacy activist Max Schrems actions against Facebook.

In an unusually forthright exchange this week, letters from Ms Dixon revealed that she refused to attend a LIBE sub-committee meeting if it meant answering questions alongside Mr Schrems.

Such a session would be wholly inappropriate pending the outcome of a legal action involving both the DPC and Max Schrems, Ms Dixon said.

However, LIBE chair Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar said the proposed meeting would not to involve a direct exchange between the speakers, and Mr Schrems said he did not believe there was a legal reason the two could not attend a single session.

In her blistering letter sent on March 16, the head of Irelands privacy watchdog also accused members of the committee of making up their minds against her agency in advance a scheduled meeting.

The letter has been published on the DPC website alongside other correspondence. Ms Dixon, citing media reports, said the LIBE committees so-called Shadow Rapporteurs  members drawn from the main political groupings who tend to do the heavy lifting on such committees  had already drafted a criticism of her agency before hearing from her.

The Irish data chief had asked for a chance to speak to the LIBE Committee, to respond to criticism.

But she declined when the committee proposed the Thursday, March 18 session, which included Andrea Jelinek, chair of the European Data Protection Board, alongside Mr Schrems.

Max Schrems is an Austrian data privacy campaigner whose long-running complaints in relation to Facebook have forced wide-ranging changes to the EUs data-protection regime. He is also an outspoken critic of Irelands data protection enforcement and is involved in a legal action with the DPC, which Ms Dixon said means she should not enter what was likely to be a debate.
Leading luxury hospitality group Kempinski has appointed Mohammed Al Harrasi, an Omani national as the new finance director for its key Omani property - Kempinski Hotel Muscat.

Nestled within Al Mouj Muscats community and encompassing over 6 km of stunning coastline, Kempinski Hotel Muscat is an unparalleled luxury destination in the capital of Oman.

With 310 rooms and suites, meeting facilities, 11 authentic restaurants and lounges, a fully equipped fitness centre and a luxury spa experience, guests can immerse themselves in the finer things in life.

The move comes in line with its strategy and continuous vision to develop and promote Omani talents to occupy important executive positions, said the statement from the hospitality group.

As the first Omani director of finance in Muscat and an experienced professional hotelier, Al Harrasi brings with him over 25 years experience in hotel operations to his new role. He joined Kempinski Hotel Muscat as director of purchasing in 2017.

Prior to this, Al Harrasi served as logistics manager at the hotel Crowne Plaza Muscat, where he developed new strategies to streamline processes and reduce costs and ensured that quality, quantity, customer satisfaction and financial commitments were met.

He also served as purchasing manager at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa in 2015.

Since November last year, Al Harrasi has been assisting the finance and operational departments in monitoring, reporting and controlling cost of sales at the hotel, including audit and control, financial analysis and reporting, budgeting and forecasting.

Lauding the appointment, General Manager Carsten Wiegandt said: "This confirms the keenness and commitment of the hotel management towards its vision and goal of contributing to the promotion of Omani talents."

"At the hotel, we are constantly working to achieve our goal of training and refining national competencies," he stated.

Wiegandt said: "We have seen a remarkable development in the professional capabilities of the Omanis at the hotel, and we are looking forward to promoting other employees with the development of their practical competencies and experience," he added.

On his new role, Al Harrasi said: "The Kempinski Hotel Muscat has a prominent position in the sultanate through the services and products it provides. Therefore, I am proud to join the management team. This hotel has given me opportunities."

"It is wonderful to develop my skills and experience, and this upgrade is only a translation of their confidence in me and in my ability to assume this responsibility. This position is very important, as it reflects the desire and commitment of Kempinski Hotel Muscat to recruit, train and develop Omani cadres," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
(Newser)  A man has been arrested on suspicion of antiquities smuggling for trying to sell an ancient marble statue of "exceptional artwork" that once likely adorned a temple on Athens' famed Acropolis or the slopes around it, Greek authorities said Friday. Police said the fifth-century BC statue was recovered following a monthslong police operation that involved an investigation by the Cultural Heritage and Antiquities Department, per the AP. Measuring only about 14.5 inches high, the statue depicts a seated young man who reclines slightly to the right. The head, arms, and most of both legs are missing, and two small holes are visible behind the left shoulder, from which rods would likely have attached the statue to a pedimentthe triangular gable-end above the short sides of an ancient temple. "It is an exceptional work of art, of the kind not easily found, not even in systematic excavations," archaeologist Dimitris Sourlas said during a presentation Friday at police headquarters in Athens.

story continues below

The statue, Sourlas said, could have been part of a larger composition, but more research was needed. Authorities didn't say why they linked it with the Acropolis area, and what made them suspect it came from a templewhich would narrow down the search for its provenance. The work was found in the possession of a man in the southern town of Corinth, who was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of seeking a buyer for the statue for a price close to $120,000, police said. An investigation is underway into how the piece came into his hands, and whether he'd managed to contact potential buyers for it. Photos released by the police showed the statue seemed to have been buried for a long time and bore signs of damage from digging tools. It's illegal to own, buy, sell, or excavate antiquities in Greece without a permit.

(Read more Greece stories.)
German Shepherd Alerts Owner to Save Biker From Frozen Pond: Hes the Hero

The quick actions of a German shepherd and his owner saved a Massachusetts man from drowning in a nearby frozen pond.

Thomas Walsh was out walking his pet dog, Diesel, near Quarter Mile Pond on the Stoneham and Medford town line when a man called for help after falling through the ice.

Diesel heard the distressed mans cries and alerted Walsh, according to a statement from the Stoneham Fire Department.

Thomas Walsh and his 5-year-old German shepherd, Diesel, helped rescue a man struggling in Quarter Mile Pond on the Stoneham and Medford town line. (Courtesy of Stoneham Fire Department)

Walsh immediately called 911 and then attempted to calm the man, who was panicking. He was able to instruct the man to crawl on the ice toward shore.

Before long, another man who was walking nearby helped Walsh to pull the freezing man off to the shore using a tree branch.

The Stoneham Fire Department responded at the scene, where they found the 22-year-old Malden man had made it out of the ice with the help of Walsh, Diesel, and the other passerby.

It was rewarding, Walsh said in a statement. Its just good to know that you can help someone in need.

The man was able to crawl toward the shore so that Thomas Walsh and another passerby could use a branch to help pull him to shore. (Courtesy of Stoneham Fire Department)

Walsh, who had his earbuds in while walking his dog, would not have heard the man crying for help without Diesel, reported Boston25 News.

Hes the hero today, because without him, seeing or hearing him I would have just kept walking, Walsh told the outlet. The dog alerted me that there was something going on in that water.

Walsh told the outlet that the distressed man had ridden his bike right into the water. He added that he had to fight the urge to plunge into the water to help the biker.

My instinct was to go in and help him, Im a great swimmer but you cant do that in the wintertime, Walsh said.

The man was taken to a local hospital by Action Ambulance and was treated for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, according to the fire department.

The Stoneham Fire Department thanked Walsh and his German shepherd for their quick actions.

We are grateful for this outcome and for Diesel alerting his owner that something was wrong, said Chief Matthew Grafton in a statement.

The two men who helped the patient get to shore did the right thing by calling 911 immediately and using a branch to help pull him in rather than trying to get in the water themselves. These actions helped to save a mans life this afternoon and are nothing short of heroic, the chief added.

However, the proud dog owner attributed the credit to Diesel.

Hes the hero today, nobody else, Walsh told Boston25.

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Around the world, the second or third wave of COVID-19 pandemic has been deadlier than the previous one, and India too, it appears, is heading in that direction.

In the past 24 hours, India recorded 40,953 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 111 days.

With this the nationwide Covid-19 tally has gone up to 1,15,55,284, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.

While the death toll increased to 1,59,558 with 188 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. On November 29, 41,810 new infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,11,07,332, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.38 per cent, the data stated.

BCCL

The rise in cases across the country is causing fears of a second wave of infection, nearly a year after the country went into a lockdown.

Earlier this week, Nomura said in a research note that the risk of a second wave in India has risen materially.

Nomura said that India is potentially entering its second wave of Covid-19. The first wave peaked in the third week of September with daily cases at 92,000, with cases declining to a low of 11,000 in mid-February.

BCCL

While the initial pick-up was mainly led by Maharashtra, cases have now risen in other states as well, such as Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh among others, in varying paces, Nomura said.

India is likely to witness higher infection cases in the coming months, the research said.

India's Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

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On Wednesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for "quick and decisive" steps to stop the emerging "second peak" of COVID-19.

Expressing concern over the rise in COVID-19 cases in parts of the country, Modi warned chief ministers during a video interaction that a "nationwide outbreak" may emerge again, and asked them to seriously follow the "Test, Track and Treat" approach.

The prime minister also made a vigorous push for use of the RT-PCR method so that it accounts for more than 70 per cent of the overall testing.
Sergeant Geraint Jones, pictured yesterday outside Plymouth Magistrates' Court admitted sending a meme featuring George Floyd to eight people on WhatsApp but denied intending to cause offence

A police officer sent a 'grossly offensive' meme depicting the arrest of George Floyd to a WhatsApp group of colleagues, days after his death, a court heard.

Sergeant Geraint Jones, 47, admits sending the image to the group on May 30 last year but said he did not mean to cause offence by doing so.

Plymouth Magistrates' Court heard the officer forwarded the meme to a group of eight others, including six serving police officers, after being sent it by a friend.

The meme featured Mr Floyd's arrest in Minneapolis in the US on May 25, with an image of American man Wardy Joubert III naked superimposed on it.

Two members of the WhatsApp group replied with laughing emojis but one member complained about the image, causing the matter to be referred to Devon and Cornwall Police's professional standards department.

Jones, a custody sergeant in Torquay who had served with the police for 23 years, deleted the image and apologised for sending it.

He was charged with sending a grossly offensive image, contrary to the Communications Act 2003, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The officer denies the charge and stood trial at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Giving evidence, Jones said memes - such as the image of Bernie Sanders wearing mittens during the inauguration of US President Joe Biden - were designed to be 'humorous'.

He described how the image of Mr Joubert had featured in many other memes, including scenes showing former US president Donald Trump and the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.

'I knew that meme was going viral at the time and they had seen it in various shapes and forms,' Jones told the court.

'I saw the comedy of it because I found the character amusing and where he turns up.

'Maybe I was after a cheap laugh or trying to raise a smile. I didn't think about it deeply and I didn't look at the image in detail.'

Jones, a custody sergeant, sent the meme which featured Mr Floyd's arrest in Minneapolis in the US on May 25, 2020, with an image of American man Wardy Joubert III naked superimposed on it

Jones said the issue of whether the image had a racial angle 'never even entered my mind'.

He told the court 'hundreds of thousands' of people had sent similar messages on WhatsApp and could face being investigated for a criminal offence for sharing something they believed to be humorous.

'I never envisioned that I would end up in court,' Jones said.

'When I've told people that I know about why I'm going to court, they instinctively reach for their phone.

'What is humorous to one can be offensive to another. I think that is part and parcel of humour, and part and parcel of WhatsApp.

George Floyd, 46, pictured, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota while being arrested by a police officer who knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes

'We would end up with the law prescribing what is funny. It would be the ministry of humour.

'I know that there must be tens of thousands of people who have shared it thinking it's humorous, probably hundreds of thousands.

'We don't want to run the risk of criminalising all those people.'

Jones told the court the bar for breaking the law in such circumstances was set 'pretty high' so it did not infringe on a person's right to freedom of expression.

'I think if I get convicted then the bar will be moved down,' he said.

Jones said he had apologised for sending the image and no longer used WhatsApp.

'It was foolish and I regret my actions and I wouldn't have wanted to upset anyone,' he told the court.

Prosecuting, Lee Bainbridge highlighted that Jones had sent the image less than a week after Mr Floyd's death.

'The prosecution case is that such an image, sent at the time that it was, was liable to cause gross offence, namely to those in the black and ethnic minority community,' Mr Bainbridge said.

Representing Jones, Jamas Hodivala QC provided 54 pages of character references for his client.

He described the defendant as a 'caring family man' and a 'diligent' and professional police officer.

District Judge Joanna Matson adjourned the case until April 21, when she will give her decision.

She told Jones: 'There are a lot of things I need to consider before I can deliver my judgment.'

Jones, of Torquay, denies the charge against him.
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Two months after Attorney General Jeff Landry filed a lawsuit to prevent records about sexual harassment accusations against one of his top em
Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names?
First Minister Arlene Foster said Harry Maguire should still be in prison (PA)

Arlene Foster has said convicted killer Harry Maguire should be in jail rather than on Zoom meetings with Northern Irelands police chief.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne tweeted a picture of a video meeting he held with Community Restorative Justice Ireland (CRJI) and the Department of Justice.

Mr Maguire, who leads the CRJI, was among those who attended the meeting on Thursday.

He was sentenced to 79 years in prison for his involvement in one of the most high-profile double killings.

Thanks for the chance to talk about visible, accessible, local policing supported by problem solving and good community engagement @PoliceServiceNI https://t.co/BAkalLDhb5  Simon Byrne (@ChiefConPSNI) March 18, 2021

British Army corporals Derek Wood and David Howes were beaten and shot dead by a mob after they inadvertently drove into an IRA funeral.

The two soldiers were surrounded by the crowd when they drove into the funeral cortege of Kevin Brady, an IRA man killed in Milltown Cemetery by the loyalist Michael Stone while attending the funerals of the three IRA volunteers shot dead by the SAS at Gibraltar in March 1988.

Mr Maguire and Alex Murphy were both jailed for the 1988 attack but were both later released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Following the online meeting, Mr Byrne said: Thanks for the chance to talk about visible, accessible, local policing supported by problem solving and good community engagement.

At the trial of Alex Murphy & Harry Maguire, Sir Brian Hutton, when sentencing, said: aAll murders are brutal, but the murders of Corporal Howes and Corporal Wood were particularly savage and vicious.a Harry Maguire should be in jail rather than on zoom meetings. pic.twitter.com/gvAoJG4r0L  Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) March 20, 2021

On Saturday, Northern Ireland First Minister Mrs Foster tweeted her opposition to Mr Maguires attendance at the meeting.

She posted: At the trial of Alex Murphy and Harry Maguire, Sir Brian Hutton, when sentencing, said: All murders are brutal, but the murders of Corporal Howes and Corporal Wood were particularly savage and vicious.

Harry Maguire should be in jail rather than on Zoom meetings.

In a statement a spokeswoman for the PSNI said: Community Restorative Justice Ireland are an accredited criminal justice organisation.

The Chief Constable regularly meets with people representing all sections of our community.

Officers from the Police Service of Northern will continue to engage with groups who represent the needs of victims.
KTLKs Jon Justice and Drew Lee have deputized me to act as their Chauvin case correspondent with regular appearances at the top of the shows third hour at 8:00 a.m. (Central). We had a lot to talk about yesterday, including my preview of Judge Cahills rulings at 8:15. I thought some readers might find it of interest.

During the segment I took up this AP story conveying an allegation of racism in the striking of juror 76. I find fault with the AP story for omitting Judge Cahills express finding that the striking of the juror by the defense was made in good faith for a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason. (The AP reporter whom I referred to in my comments is not one of the storys two authors.)

Judge Cahill took the bench promptly at 8:15 as promised to announce his rulings on pending motions. Consistent with my previews on Justice & Drew and in my daily updates here, he denied Chauvins motions for change of venue and continuance. He shut down the prosecutions effort to introduce expert testimony from Dr. Vincent on George Floyds state of mind during his arrest on May 25, 2020 and granted Chauvins motion to admit some of the evidence deriving from Floyds arrest in May 2019. The video below includes Judge Cahills announcement of his rulings followed by comments from KARE 11s Lou Raguse.

In his denial of the change of venue motion, Judge Cahill conceded his surprise at the effect of the citys $27 million settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit brought in federal court on behalf Floyds family. Via Zoom Judge Cahill himself examined each of the seven jurors seated before announcement of the settlement by city officials at the end of last week. Based on his voir dire regarding their awareness of the settlement and its impact on them, Judge Cahill dismissed two of the seven previously seated jurors for cause.

He took this as illustrative of the problem of publicity that permeates the case and threatens Chauvins right to a fair trial, but deems the problem irremediable by change of venue. He counts on the process of voir dire to filter out jurors who have been unduly affected by the publicity and on the jurors avoidance of news on the case during their service to protect Chauvins fair trial right.

The law on venue addresses pretrial publicity. Late Thursday afternoon defense counsel Eric Nelson filed a memorandum of law along with three related exhibits (here, here, and here) supporting his new trial/change of venue motion. They go into some detail on the pervasive pretrial publicity in the Twin Cities.

Pretrial publicity obviously raises a serious fair trial problem. It may render a fair trial impossible. It has nevertheless been dealt with in voir dire and is a problem that is usually within the capacity of the judicial system to cope. Moreover, it raises the question of an alternative venue within Minnesota that is not susceptible of an obvious answer.

The deepest fair trial problem in this case, however, may be manifest in the closure of the courthouse and the martial security that now protects it. Voir dire has explored this problem to a limited extent as well, but I wonder if the judicial system is capable of dealing with it. I doubt it.

Following a break juror number 96 was called for voir dire. She learned of the settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit via a scrolling headline on television but said it had no impact on her. She described herself as a lover of dogs with a passion for the homeless and the issue of affordable housing. She takes nature walks to relax. She finds the courts security arrangements reassuring.

She has seen clips of the video on the news two or three times. In her juror questionnaire she imputed the cause of Floyds death to his restraint by the police, but said she could set her opinions aside in this case, She described her opinion of Chauvin as somewhat negative. At this point in my notes I wrote that I would want to strike her but shes going to be the thirteenth juror, and thats what she is.

She expressed sadness that a person lost his life over a $20 bill, but freely conceded that she didnt know what happened prior. She thought maybe there could have been a different outcome.

She strongly agrees with the proposition that the police make her feel safe and strongly trusts the police. We need law enforcement, she said, citing the damage her place of employment sustained during the riots following following Floyds death and its subsequent closure for a week. This case has touched an incredible number of us. Fearing riots and destruction all over again, to my point above, she expressed nervousness about the consequences of the verdict in this case.

She feels the magnitude of the responsibility to take in the evidence and render a verdict in this case. She expressed the view that there are strong opinions on both sides. Despite my doubts about her above, taking all her remarks together, I thought she sounded perceptive and fair. Nelson passed her for cause. After further voir dire that added a bit more of interest  she doesnt buy the racial critique of the police and the justice system  Steven Schleicher passed her for cause on behalf of the prosecution. When she was seated as the thirteenth juror in the case, the court advised us she is a white woman in her 50s.

The rest of the day was devoted to voir dire of jurors 99, 103, 109, 110, 111, and 113. We came away empty-handed. All but jurors 109 and 111 were excused for cause.

Juror 109 was subject to a peremptory strike by the prosecution and number 111 by the defense. Juror 111 is a St. Johns college student who works in a bar in St. Joseph, Minnesota. He is an intelligent all-American young man who is woke to the nth degree. He added to my doubts about the future of the United States. I thought the defense had to strike him and Nelson did.

Juror 113 sounded like another young man. He was carjacked in St. Paul on February 11 next to Macalester College, a beautiful neighborhood I have reason to visit every week. He expressed reservations about his ability to credit police testimony equally with that of other witnesses. Examined by Schleicher on this point, he could only get 95 percent of the way there. He was excused for cause on Nelsons motion.

Judge Cahill announced that jurors 101, 106, and 107 have been excused by agreement of the parties while juror 102 was excused as no longer qualifying for jury service in the case.

At the end of the day Judge Cahill caused some confusion among the reporters including me when he stated that they would be looking to add two more jurors next week to the 13 now seated. Judge Cahill had initially given the number as 16, then as 14. Following our expression of confusion the court advised us that in accordance with its November 4, 2020, order, the Court will [seat] up to 16 jurors for the trial in the case State of Minnesota v Derek Chauvin.
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On March 16, 2021, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long had a bad day, in the words of Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Department, and went to three different spas or massage parlors to kill eight people, including six Asian-American women, before being stopped. Had he not been stopped, he may have intended to continue on to Florida to murder more people.

While some officials say the murders were not racially motivated based on the words of the shooter, for those of us from Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) backgrounds, the events feel very raw and emotional. About 20 percent of medical students and active physicians are AAPI, and far more than have AAPI individuals they care about in their lives. This attack occurred in the midst of a massive spike in anti-Asian violence and hate crimes. Many of us (myself included) have been victims of racially-motivated attacks, even in progressive areas, and we know that our loved ones or ourselves could have easily been targeted in a similar mass shooting. Delaina Ashley Yaun was in her early 30s like me, and she was shot and killed while treating herself to a spa day. I have family who have worked in acupressure, in what a layperson may refer to as a massage parlor.

Yet, because were in medicine, most of us cant just hit pause and decompress. Many fourth-year medical students and residency applicants still had to maintain their composure in order to participate in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, a grueling and time-sensitive process. As essential workers, residents and fellows still have to continue with our workdays and continue providing high-quality care for patients, even though some of them may empathize or agree with the shooter. We often dont have enough time to even sleep, eat, hydrate, or see our families, and adding acute racial trauma on top of that can be incredibly stressful.

Since our medical system and medical institutions may not be the most supportive of us during this trying time, I am asking for our allies to step up. Take initiative and educate yourselves on the history of anti-Asian racism, listen (and genuinely listen) to us, be there for your colleagues if they need support, speak out when people make racist jokes, intervene when you see individuals being harassed because of their race or ethnicity, and if you are able, work to promote anti-racist institutional or legislative policies to support minoritized individuals. If you are in a position of power, consider providing your staff with time away from work or resources to heal. We can all play a part in fighting injustice.

Yuemei (Amy) Zhang is an anesthesiologist and can be reached on Twitter @yzhangmd1.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, long one of the Senates staunchest supporters of the filibuster rule that allows a minority of members to block legislation, reversed course Friday and said she would be open to reforms if needed to pass bills on Democratic priorities such as gun control and voting rights.

The California Democrat said she had softened her stance in reaction to a suggestion by President Biden, another longtime opponent of filibuster reform dating back to his four decades in the Senate. Biden said he would be open to requiring a talking filibuster, in which a senator actually has to talk for hours to prevent a vote on legislation.

That is an idea worth discussing, Feinstein said Friday night in a statement. I dont want to turn away from Senate traditions, but I also dont believe one party should be able to prevent votes on important bills by abusing the filibuster.

The filibuster allows a minority of 40 senators in the 100-member chamber to block a vote on many bills. In recent years the Senate has abolished it for judicial nominations and some budget legislation, such as the recently passed coronavirus stimulus package.

Feinstein said the shooting deaths of eight people, including six women of Asian descent, this week in Atlanta was a reminder that there are many significant issues Congress needs to address, including gun violence, violence against women and hate crimes.

Ideally the Senate can reach bipartisan agreement on those issues, as well as on a voting rights bill, Feinstein said. But if that proves impossible and Republicans continue to abuse the filibuster by requiring cloture votes, Im open to changing the way the Senate filibuster rules are used.

The House has passed a sprawling voting rights bill, HR1, which would require states to allow ample early voting and mail balloting. It has also passed bills to expand background checks for gun buyers and to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which grants legal protections to women who are victims of domestic violence.

None has substantial Republican backing, and all face potential filibusters that would block them in the evenly divided Senate.

The Chronicle reported Sunday that major left-leaning organizations including Indivisible, Courage California and MoveOn were pressuring Feinstein to endorse filibuster changes.

Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin told The Chronicle on Friday that its great to hear that Sen. Feinstein is unwilling to accept failure as an option. We look forward to working with her to overcome the Jim Crow filibuster and save our democracy.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., has already said he would do away with the filibuster for bills on climate change, health care and voting rights.

Feinstein was not that definitive. But any movement toward reform from one of the longest-serving Democratic senators  Feinstein was first elected in 1992  would be highly influential.

However, she is not the only Democrat to express reluctance to change the filibuster. Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona are among those who have all but ruled out reforms.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
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Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy early with thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 76F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his 'governing from Nagpur remark'. Sarma said that the grand old party should 'at least' change its headquarters from Italy to New Delhi after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed that BJP "will run Assam from Nagpur".

Sarma said, "Congress rules from Italy, Rahul Gandhi should change his headquarters from Italy to Delhi at least."

Rahul Gandhi while addressing a public meeting in the Tinsukia district ahead of the assembly elections in Assam had said on Friday that the BJP wants to govern Assam from Nagpur while allowing outsiders to take over the state. The Congress leader said, "BJP wants to run Assam from Nagpur (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's Headquarters). They want outsiders to come and (take over) take what is yours as they took your airport. We want to run Assam from Assam only. Our Chief Minister will work after listening to the people of Assam and would have nothing to do with Nagpur."

Assam Assembly Polls

The 15-year tenure of late Tarun Gogoi as the Chief Minister of Assam came to an end in the 2016 Assembly polls with BJP winning 86 seats as against 26 seats won by Congress, and swearing-in of the current Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal. Now that the tenure of Sonowal is coming to an end, Assam will go to the polls on March 27, April 1, and April 6 respectively. While the polling time has been increased by one hour, there will be 33,530 polling stations. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

Assam (3-phase election)
Bahrain-based Al Salam Bank has launched a virtual kiosk at the kingdom's leading integrated city, Diyar Al Muharraq, to serve those looking to own their dream home in the Deerat Al Oyoun housing project, under the Mazaya scheme.

The announcement coincides with the launch of Phase Two of Deerat Al Oyoun and the banks exclusive financing offer.

In addition to a grace period of up to 12 months for all applications submitted before May 15, the offer provides customers with a number of value-adding financing features including swift approvals for financing, zero down payment and administrative fees, alongside extremely competitive rates and a chance to win a cash prize worth six installments.

This comes in line with Al Salam Banks ongoing commitment to limit in-person interactions to curb the spread of Covid -19 in the kingdom as part of the Government directives, and as part of the Banks strategy to offer innovative digital banking solutions to its customers.

Al Salam Bank said those visiting the virtual kiosk set up at Diyar Al Muharraq will get to experience exceptional customer service, where agents will answer all inquiries regarding the Mazaya social housing programme, and the Deerat Al Oyoun project remotely, enabling any necessary documentation to be shared through a virtual interface.

In addition to its strategic location in close proximity to Dragon City and other tourism and commercial destinations, the residential villas within Phase Two, which spans a total built-up area of 227 sq m and land area of 205 sqm, are distinguished by four prominent categories, boasting Bahraini, Modern, Spanish and Mediterranean architectural designs.

All the villas boast comprehensive features designed to meet the needs of a modern family, comprising 4 bedrooms and equipped with the latest facilities.

Minister of Housing Engineer Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar said: "We are incredibly pleased to witness the broad participation of the private sector in implementing the government's strategies of providing adequate housing for the Kingdoms citizens."

"The Mazaya social housing scheme is one of the truly unique and distinguished programs offered by the Ministry of Housing, which is being rolled out in collaboration with various key partners."

Group CEO Rafik Nayed said: "Al Salam Bank was the first bank to hand-over the inaugural villa within Phase One of Deerat Al Oyoun. Today, as we witness the successful launch of the second phase of this acclaimed project, we look forward to continuing our joint initiatives and active collaboration with the housing ministry and Eskan Bank."

Dr Khalid Abdulla, the General Manager of Eskan Bank, said: "We are honoured to continue our journey on this esteemed partnership with Al Salam Bank as part of the Mazaya social housing scheme, which resulted in multiple success stories, characterized by the ease and swiftness of the bank providing appropriate financing solutions to citizens seeking to benefit from the social housing scheme and financing services offered by the Ministry of Housing."

Deputy Group CEO Anwar Murad said: "This exclusive financing offer was launched in order to enable our customers under the Mazaya scheme to own their dream homes with ease, given they can receive financing up to BD120,000 ($316,338) with a payment period of up to 25 years, in addition to enjoying a myriad of exclusive benefits."

"Furthermore, we are providing our customers with the opportunity to redeem an equivalent of 6 Installments, along with the option of obtaining free points in the loyalty rewards program in exchange for the funding they will receive. This offer is a reflection of the Banks continuous commitment to meet the needs of our valued customers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Chicago police officer Kevin Bunge was charged this week with shooting two innocent bystanders while off-duty last December. The entire incident, in which two innocent men were fired upon after posing not the slightest threat, is part of the continuous wave of violence that is endemic to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and police agencies across the United States.

Kevin Bunge and a CPD bodycam image of the victims vehicle(Credit: CPD, COPA)

Bunge has eight years as a Chicago police officer, and also teaches use of force at the Chicago police academy. That an officer who teaches use of force is being accused of excessive force speaks directly to the nature of the police.

CPD bodycam footage released in December revealed the brutal and illegal night-time police raid on the home of social worker Anjanette Young in February 2019. In January, footage was released showing 32-year-old Martina Standley on November 14, 2019, as she lay bleeding and unconscious for over eight minutes with her leg crushed and trapped under a Chicago polices SUV tire after being run over.

According to prosecutor Mary McDonnell, Bunge was sitting in his car after coming home from completing his shift as an instructor at the police academy. While he sat, a red car with two men parked behind him. Some minutes later, Bunge got out of his car, walked towards the red car and fired two shots at the men. A bullet hit the hand of Jomner Orozco Carreto, one of the two men in the car, while the other man, Carlos Ramirez, was injured by pieces of glass that shattered from the bullet.

For his defense, Bunge is relying on the most used excuse for excessive force by police. In this case, Bunge told police he heard gunshots, saw a person get into the red car parked behind him and when he approached the car someone pointed a gun at him.

Bunges defense attorney Tim Grace said Bunge, a former Marine, was sitting in his car before the shooting listening to an audiobook about the battle of Fallujah. No doubt Bunge found some inspiration listening to an audiobook about a horrific US war crime before meting out his own personal violence.

Grace alleges that Bunge, who had previously been carjacked, was paranoid about being carjacked again after a recent wave of carjackings in Chicago in December. Grace commented, He noticed the vehicle behind him, and the thoughts that were going through his mind were, Why is the victim parked so close to me? What are they doing?

Perhaps revealing more than intended, Grace claimed Bunge was simply acting like a police officer, that is, he was acting like the many before him who are part of a force which kills over a thousand people every year with near impunity, when he fired at the two men.

While no weapon was ever found on the victims or in their car, Grace alleges the victims had an opportunity to dispose of the weapon after the shooting.

Ramirez, one of the victims, said he was using his GPS to help Orozco, who was driving, get to their destination. Orozco thought the GPS was giving them the wrong directions, so he pulled over to check it and parked behind Bunges car. Some moments later, Bunge appeared standing in front of their car and opened fire.

Video footage released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) confirms this. The footage shows only Ramirez and Orozco parking behind Bunges car. It does not, as Bunge alleged, show anyone walking outside or getting into their car. It does, however, show Bunge firing upon the two men and Orozco driving away backwards in attempt to avoid the bullets.

Bunge is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm and has been stripped of police powers.

Represented by the Peoples Law Office, the victims filed a lawsuit which states Bunge, without cause or justification, discharged his firearm at the victims in violation of their constitutional right to be free from excessive force and unlawful seizures guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit also accuses Bunge of making false statements in police reports to cover up his wrongdoing. Moreover, it says, Adding insult to injury, Chicago police officers placed both men under arrest, despite the fact that they were victims of this unprovoked shooting.

In a press release from the law office, Orozco said, I hope no one else ever has to experience what happened to us. The police department needs to control its officers. This should never have happened, and we will fight for justice. Ramirez said of Bunge, He should be fired. He is too dangerous to be a law enforcement officer. I thought we were going to die. I dont want this to ever happen to anyone else. That really helps me fight for justice.

As of Wednesday, Bunge was out of jail after paying a $1,000 bond as he awaits trial. A judge will determine later this month if Bunge must surrender all of his firearms.

There is a logic to Bunges assault, one which spurs continuous brutalization of the American working class. One might conclude that Bunge was acting overly paranoid. Perhaps he did believe that he was going to be carjacked. But this does not explain his actions, that he got out of his car and confronted the two men and fired at them. For the typical person, driving away from the alleged danger would have been the most obvious choice.

Bunges reaction expresses the violent and ruthless training of police officers across the country. That is, Bunge was acting on his training, to shoot and kill immediately anything considered a threat.

Bunges actions also reflect something deeper about his training and the political situation in the United States. Whether conscious of it or not when he fired his gun, police are granted almost blanket immunity from their crimes and therefore feel free to mete out extreme violence on a regular basis.

According to research from Philip Matthew Stinson, a criminal justice expert at Bowling Green State University, while some 1,000 people are killed each year by police, since 2005, under both Democratic and Republican presidents, only126 police officers have been arrested for murder or manslaughter for on-duty shooting. In other words, less than eigh prosecutions a year. Moreover, only 44 of the 126 were convicted.

Ultimately, the police, their training and the legal protections they receive are an imperative of the capitalist system. The police serve the interest of the ruling class, they serve and protect the wealthiest layers of American society. They are trained to violently suppress any sign of opposition, which was on full display during the protests against the killing of George Floyd.
On Friday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Atlanta to confront the racial hatred that is forcing millions of people of Asian descent to live in daily fear. The trip comes on the heels of Tuesday's carnage -- in which a White man in Atlanta killed eight people, including six Asian women. Though the motive has not yet been established, this shooting spree follows a pattern of increasing violence against Asian Americans, particularly women and elders.

Harris herself is of South Asian descent and has long been a champion of racial justice. Meanwhile, Biden has continually reinforced his commitment to racial justice through his speeches, interviews and statements. And earlier this month, both the White House and Department of Justice hosted listening sessions with leaders in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

As the new Democratic administration acts, it fortunately will have the strong support of the Democratic Party's base -- especially a growing number of African American leaders who are forcefully stepping up in solidarity with the AAPI community.

Black talk show hosts, civil rights icons, faith leaders, recording artists, athletes, directors, writers, entertainers, producers, fashion designers, academics and even a Black former President are taking a stand against anti-Asian hate.

This massive display of solidarity is no surprise to those who know the long history of America's struggle for racial equality. Today's actions build on a centuries-long tradition of Black and Asian American solidarity when it has mattered the most.

Frederick Douglass advocated for Chinese and Japanese immigration (1869): Legendary civil rights icon Frederick Douglass gave a speech about immigration in 1869 at a moment when restricting Chinese and Japanese migration to the United States was central to the political debate. Douglass took a strong stand for a "composite nation" with free migration as a fundamental human right. He declared, "It is this great right that I assert for the Chinese and Japanese, and for all other varieties of men equally with yourselves, now and forever. I know of no rights of race superior to the rights of humanity, and when there is a supposed conflict between human and national rights, it is safe to go to the side of humanity."

During the Philippine-American War, Black leaders and soldiers opposed US colonization (1899-1902): When Filipinos decided to fight for their country's independence instead of accepting US colonial rule, the US launched a war against them. That war created a crisis of conscience for some African American soldiers. Many rejected the idea of subjugating another group of non-White people on behalf of the same country that oppressed and exploited them. In addition, prominent African American figures like Henry M. Turner and Ida B. Wells empathized with the Filipino freedom fighters and spoke out on their behalf.

African Americans protested against the Vietnam War (1965-1975): African American opposition to the Vietnam War was widespread. Leaders like Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out. Protesters carried signs reading "Black men should fight white racism, not Vietnamese freedom fighters." That response was driven by racial injustices showing up at every turn -- from Black people getting drafted at vastly disproportionate rates, to White soldiers mistreating Black soldiers on the battleground, to the White supremacist assumptions at the heart of the war itself.

The Emergency Detention Act was repealed due to joint Black and Japanese American activism (1967-1971): In the late 1960s -- 20 years after Japanese Americans were released from the World War II internment camps -- rumors began circulating about a government-led roundup of African American radicals. Their fear was driven by the Emergency Detention Act of 1950, a law that gave the federal government power to incarcerate anyone suspected of engaging in espionage or sabotage if the President declared an "internal security emergency." When African American activists were unsuccessful in having the law repealed, the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) leaned in and helped coordinate a campaign that focused on their experiences in the internment camps. The combined effort succeeded in getting former President Richard Nixon to repeal the law.

The unlikely bond between Malcolm X and Yuri Kochiyama changed both their perspectives (1963-1965): Near the end of his life, an embattled Malcolm X was isolated from his original base of support in the Nation of Islam. As he struggled to forge a new path for himself, Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese American human rights activist, stood by his side. The two became friends and helped each other develop global perspectives on human rights. When assassins gunned Malcolm X down, it was Kochiyama who famously cradled his head as he lay dying on the floor of the Audubon Ballroom.

Grace Lee Boggs dedicated seven decades of her 100 year-long life to revolutionary justice and civil rights (1915-2015): Grace Lee Boggs was a Chinese American activist who focused much of her work on labor and tenants' rights. She was married to the deeply-respected Black leader, James Boggs; the two made a powerful, iconic pair. Long after his death, she worked on the front lines of the struggles for justice in Detroit, Michigan -- mentoring generations of young leaders, especially African American ones.

After Vincent Chin's murder, Jesse Jackson joined forces with Asian American activists to demand justice (1982): Vincent Chin was a Chinese American man who was beaten to death in Detroit by two White autoworkers who mistook him for Japanese and blamed Japan for the decline of the US automotive market. The year after the racist murder, Black civil rights champions like Rev. Jesse Jackson and leaders of the NAACP played a critical role in bringing attention to his case. The multicultural coalition that came together in that fight helped form the basis of the "Rainbow Coalition," which was central to Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign.

Asian Americans support Black Lives Matter (2020): Many AAPI organizations (including prominent ones like the Asian Pacific Environmental Network and CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities) have long histories of working in multi-racial solidarity with African Americans. During the summer of 2020, many Asian Americans made deep commitments to standing up for Black lives. While some Asian Americans made it a point to support Black Lives Matter in protest, some of the most impactful work has been behind the scenes -- within their own families and communities. For example, Letters for Black Lives provides multilingual resources to help Asian Americans talk about BLM with their families. And more than a dozen AAPI organizations came together recently to produce a toolkit that includes ways to support the Movement for Black Lives. Now, the Black community is coming together to support their Asian American neighbors.

It goes without saying that there also have often been tensions between Black and Asian communities; there are examples of intolerance in both directions. But those low moments do not erase the fact that -- at our best -- both communities have come together repeatedly to advance the cause of justice. And today's crisis is no exception.

Of course, all Americans (not just African Americans) should support AAPI organizations, learn about the issues and get active. Major Asian American organizations and leaders are justly calling for more funding for their work, physical protection, inclusion, justice and care. Their demands should be met.

Collectively, our choices today will define what our great great grandkids will learn in history class. By continuing our noblest traditions of coming together against hatred, all Americans can leave a legacy that all of our progeny will be proud of.
Ofcom?s ?BT fixation? could delay gigabit broadband roll out

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

London, UK, 19 March ? Deployment of ?full-fibre? broadband could be delayed if independent providers and their investors believe that the regulator is not willing to listen to their concerns, the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) declared today.

In the same week that Ofcom announced the results of its 5-year market review of the telecoms sector, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) announced the first phase of Project Gigabit: a ?5bn fund for rural connectivity. According to INCA, Ofcom and government have very different views on the growing sector of independent digital infrastructure providers.

INCA CEO Malcolm Corbett said, ?While government recognises the importance of the competitive market, Ofcom seems fixated only on incentivising BT to invest, dismissing the majority of altnets as bit players, recognising few of their concerns in the market review statement. If operators and their investors believe that the regulator is not willing to listen to their concerns and act on them it risks delaying deployment and undermining the government targets, particularly in more challenging rural areas?.

Under plans to cover the hardest to reach areas, government fully expects a range of ?altnets? to bid for contracts in the BDUK programme, alongside BT Openreach and increasingly substantial independent players like CityFibre. On the other hand, Ofcom, whilst recognising ?that smaller altnets play an important role in providing fibre to rural areas? serving ?rural communities at a time when Openreach has not been willing to extend its network,? does not view the same altnets as capable of providing significant competition to BT  in the same hard to reach areas?, Mr Corbett said.

Many of these companies have raised tens and in some cases hundreds of millions of pounds to serve communities throughout the UK in towns, cities and rural areas. INCA estimates that the aggregate total of investment announced is ?9bn. The overall cost of renewing the UK?s digital infrastructure is ?30bn, so the altnet investment is desperately needed alongside BT?s ?12bn, up to ?10bn from Virgin Media and Government investment of ?5bn.

For more information about their work or of INCA in general, please visit: https://www.inca.coop/.
Ratnagiri : , March 20 (IANS) At least four workers were killed and one other person was injured in a fire that broke out at a chemical factory in Maharashtra, a police official said.

The blaze, the cause of which is not clear, was reported at around 9.15 a.m. at the Gharda Chemicals Ltd. factory in Lote-Parshuram MIDC complex.

At least four fire-tenders and firemen rushed to the spot to battle the conflagration and rescue the labourers working there.

"The five persons were trapped inside, and the firemen managed to rescue one. The charred bodies of four others were later found in the operation," an official of the Khed Police Station told IANS.

The injured worker was rushed to a nearby government hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the four deceased were sent to a morgue for autopsy and other formalities, the official added.
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The church attended by the white man charged with killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, most of them women of Asian descent, condemned the shootings Friday and said they run contrary to the gospel and the churchs teachings.

Crabapple First Baptist Church in Milton, Georgia, also announced in a statement that it plans to remove 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long from its membership because it can no longer affirm that he is truly a regenerate believer in Jesus Christ.

Previously the church had only issued a brief statement expressing condolences, without mentioning Long. It also shut down its social media accounts and made its website private.

On Friday it said those measures were taken to protect the safety of its congregants.

Congregants were distraught when they learned the alleged shooter was a member of the community, the statement said. His family has belonged to the church for many years.

We watched Aaron grow up and accepted him into church membership when he made his own profession of faith in Jesus Christ, it said.

These unthinkable and egregious murders directly contradict his own confession of faith in Jesus and the gospel.

Investigators are still trying to discover what compelled Long to commit the worst mass killing in the United States in almost two years.

Police say he told them he was not racially motivated and claimed to have a sex addiction, and he apparently lashed out at what he saw as sources of temptation.

Those statements caused widespread uproar and skepticism given the locations and that six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent.

Crabapple First Baptist said it would continue to grieve, mourn and pray for the families of the victims and that it deeply regrets, the fear and pain Asian-Americans are experiencing as a result of Aarons inexcusable actions.

No blame can be placed upon the victims, Crabapple First Baptist said. He alone is responsible for his evil actions and desires.

The church also said it does not teach that acts of violence are acceptable against certain ethnicities or against women or that women are responsible for mens sexual sin against them.

Murder, especially, is a heinous evil and grievous sin. We also explicitly denounce any and all forms of hatred or violence against Asians or Asian-Americans.

Assaults against Asian Americans have risen across the country during the coronavirus pandemic. The virus was first identified in China, and former President Donald Trump and others have used racially charged terms to describe it.

The church said it is cooperating with law enforcement and praying for both earthly justice and divine justice.

Tyler Bayless, who lived along with Long at an addiction recovery facility in Roswell, Georgia, for at least six months through early 2020, described him as a little bit socially awkward but not standoffish or quiet. Long asked that he pray for him at least a couple of times, Bayless said, but never imposed his beliefs on others.

He had some interesting religious beliefs, Im sure, but he was never very overtly pushy about that sort of thing. Like he was never like, Ive got to save your soul, Bayless said.

Bayless recalled several occasions when Long said he lapsed and went to a massage business, prompting extreme self-loathing, guilt and public confession that he feared he might harm himself. Long once asked him to hold on to a hunting knife, Bayless added.

He said, You know, I went to one of these places. I feel like Im falling out of Gods grace, Bayless said.

I mean, this was the kind of pain that he was in because of what his religious beliefs led him to think about the acts that he was engaging in.

Bayless also said Long tried to limit his social media use to avoid what he saw as sources of temptation to sin.

Joshua Grubbs, a professor of clinical psychology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio who has researched the intersection of sexual behaviors, religion and morality, said that especially in the United States, men from conservative religious backgrounds may be prone to interpreting just a little bit of sexual behavior that violates their morals as an addiction.

But theres no evidence that those sexual behaviors would predispose someone to violence against others, he said.

The notion that I have a sex addiction, I feel so bad about it, I am going to go out and kill eight people, I just dont buy it, said Grubbs, who has also treated people with the problem. Its not true to my experience as a researcher or a clinical psychologist.

Grubbs counsels religious leaders on how to discuss sex, pornography and out-of-control sexual behaviors and advises against using language that can cause or worsen feelings of depression and shame.

I have never once encountered a religious leader that suggested that a cure for the behavior is to go murder the people who make it possible. I have never heard that. Its an absurd premise.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Millions of California workers whose health and lives have been impacted by the pandemic could again see their emergency sick time expanded this year after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law late Friday requiring many companies to give them emergency leave.

SB95, sponsored by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, passed the Senate 29-8 Thursday and required employers with more than 25 workers to create a separate pool of sick days for workers, retroactive to the beginning of the year.

Companies will receive payroll tax breaks for providing two weeks of paid sick leave, although those may not cover some time taken since January.

The law significantly expands the companies that would be required to provide the leave. A state law passed last year that expired in December required companies with more than 500 employees in the U.S. to provide the leave. Companies with more than 500 employees who provided that leave last year will be required to do so again. The law takes effect 10 days after it was signed.

SB95 provides COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to more than 10.4 million California workers through Sept. 30 of this year. Skinner said in an emailed statement.

This is great news as it enables Californians who have COVID-19 or have to quarantine because of exposure to take time off rather than working and infecting others. And employers will have their costs covered by the federally allowed payroll tax cut that credits sick leave payments. SB95 will save lives, and help us limit the spread of this deadly disease, Skinner said.

More than 100 business groups led by the California Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill this month, saying it placed heavy financial burdens on still-struggling businesses.

One year after Californias stay-at-home order was put in place, too many businesses remain in a fight for economic survival. Implementing this new costly mandate could sink them, Jennifer Barrera, CalChamber executive vice president, said in a previous statement.

One compromise was to exempt the smallest businesses  those with less than 25 employees  from the financial burden of the law, according to Ben Ebbink, a Fisher & Phillips attorney in Sacramento

Under federal law some employers who voluntarily provide COVID sick leave can get a tax break starting April 1. Because SB95 is retroactive to January, its not clear if leave taken during that time will be eligible for a refund, Ebbink said.

The law differs from previous sick leave efforts in other key ways.

SB95 applies to all workers, not just people who have to leave their home to work as the state law passed last year did. The law also applies to anyone subject to an isolation or quarantine period because of the virus, defined as an order or guidelines from state, federal or local public health authorities.

Companies can get up to $511 per day back in payroll taxes for employees who take time off under those provisions. If a worker takes time off to care for a family member their employer can only get up to $200 per day back in tax credits.

An employee who is told to isolate themselves because of concerns about the virus would also fall under the new law. Receiving the vaccine or experiencing its side effects are also covered under the law. People experiencing symptoms and getting medical help as well as caring for a family member dealing with the disease or a child whose school is closed could also take the time off.

Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice
Consider two hypothetical criminal law defendants. Defendant A, a White, is accused of murdering six Asian sex workers. Defendant B, also White, is accused of murdering six White sex workers. Both sets of murders occurred in the same jurisdiction and were carried out in exactly the same manner.

Should Defendant A be treated differently than Defendant B?

Any unindoctrinated, fair-minded person would say that, of course, the two defendants should be treated the same. They should be charged with the same crimes, prosecuted by same office, permitted the same defenses, and if convicted, receive the same punishment.

Any other result would imply that the lives of Asians and the lives of Whites are valued differently.

Due to hate crime laws, however, Defendants A and B might well be treated differently. Defendant A might well be treated more harshly than Defendant B because he killed Asians, not Whites.

Georgia foolishly adopted a hate crime statute last year. Thus, it must consider whether the guy who killed six Asian sex workers in Atlanta should be prosecuted for committing hate crimes. If the answer is yes, he likely will be treated differently  more harshly  than if he had killed six Whites.

Applying the hate crime statute entails figuring out whether the killing spree was motivated, not by hatred, but by hatred of Asians. On the face of things, it looks like the killer was motivated by the fact that the women were prostitutes, not the fact that they were Asian. However, authorities reportedly will scour his writings and utterances in search of evidence of anti-Asian animus.

No doubt, any musings about race, broadly viewed, will be scrutinized the way a Talmudic scholar analyzes the Torah. Or, to provide a better analogy, the way a modern literature professor analyzes Shakespeare, looking for racial overtones and/or LGBT characters.

What a waste of time. There is no crime more heinous than premeditated murder. It doesnt matter whether the Atlanta shooter killed six women because he hated prostitutes, because he hated Asians, or because he hated both.

Chuck Efstration, a Republican state legislator who helped enact Georgias hate crime law, defended the absurdity of disparate, racially-based outcomes for the same criminal acts on the theory that crimes motivated by racism are attacks not only on the victims but on all of society. But all crimes are attacks on society. Thats one reason why society punishes them. It is always The State (or some variant formulation) v. The Defendant.

There is no rational, non-racist sense in which the assault committed by Defendant B in the hypothetical I presented above was less of an assault on society than that committed by Defendant A  the White guy who killed Asians. This is true regardless of how Defendant A felt about Asians.

In my hypothetical, the number of society members killed is the same. The danger posed by the killer to other members of society, both while committing his shooting spree and in the future, is the same. The need to deter senseless killings and the heinousness of the offenses are the same, unless situations exist in which some lives matter more than others due to race.

We are one society, or should be. Hate crime laws, like so many other aspects of wokeness, negate this noble aspiration.
New Delhi:

The Indian Air Force inching closer to inducting Russian S-400 air defense missile systems as the trials have been completed.



The Russian missiles, at par with stealth fifth-generation fighters like the American F-35 jets, can shoot down fighter and surveillance aircraft, cruise missiles and drones at the range of 400 kms over enemy airspace itself.



According to reports, the trials were conducted on two separate occasions and it performed to the satisfaction of the users, air forces sources have said.



The sources qouted in an English daily claim that defense ministry is soon likely to start the process of initiating contractual negotiations with Rosoboronexport, the Russian agency which handles defence deals with foreign countries, including the fixation of price.

Read | IAFs Jaguar with AESA radar flies for first time



The field valuation trials of the Russian air defence system were conducted by Indian Air Force in Russia.



India and Russia have been longstanding defence trade partners. The two nations signed an inter-governmental agreement on the sale of five S-400 in October 2016 at the 17 India-Russia summit for $5.8 billion.



In October 2015, India had decided to purchase the S-400 systems, which primarily have three kinds of missiles, with different capabilities. The missiles can fly at supersonic and hypersonic speeds to intercept all kinds of targets at ranges from 120 to 400-km.



The S-400 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system can "radar lock and shoot down" stealth fifth-generation fighters like the American F-35 jets.



The Russian missile system would be used by the IAF, along with the other new air defence systems coming up in the country including the India-Israel joint venture Medium range-Surface to Air Missile system and the SPYDER systems that India recently acquired from Israel.



Despite the high price tag attached with the five S-400 systems India is planning to acquire, the Indian Air Force is extremely happy to get the weapon system as it will give them an edge over Pakistan and bring them on par with the Chinese who have already installed this system, the sources told Mail Today.

Read | DRDO-IAI to deliver medium range missile MRSAM system to Indian Army by 2020

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The Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the case of the SUV with 20 gelatin sticks found outside the residence of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, will also investigate the death of Thane based businessman Mansukh Hiren, who was found dead on March 5.

An officer in Delhi told IANS: "The agency has received a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the case of death of Hiren. And we will soon register a case."

The official said that they are collecting all the documents related to Hiren's death from the Mumbai Police and ATS.

IANS had reported on March 17 that the case of the death of the Mumbai businessman will be transferred to the anti-terror probe agency.

The body of Hiren was found in a creek in Thane on March 5. Earlier Maharashtra's ATS was probing Hiren's death.

On March 3, the had taken over the probe of the explosive laden SUV found outside Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia in Mumbai on February 25. There was also a threat note in the vehicle.

The anti-terror probe agency arrested Mumbai police official Sachin Vaze on March 13. He was sent to custody till March 25.
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Chennai, March 20 : With the election season in progress, the political parties are on a promise spree, some realistic but a mostly "unrealistic and non-feasible".

The DMK, the main opposition party of Tamil Nadu that is expected to retirn to power, if poll surveys are to be believed, has in its election manifesto promised 75 per cent reservation for Tamils in private jobs.

This seems far fetched as there could be lack in skills among the locals and this would deprive a high-skilled and talented workforce. Also there are other states like Karnataka, Telangana and even Kerala who can provide jobs to these skilled workers.

Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai has conducted a study among professionals and entrepreneurs on the impact of such a reservation and found that this would lead to lesser number of talented workforce, migration of companies thus leading to a slump in economy.

C. Rajeev, Director of Centre for Policy and Development Studies who led the study told IANS: "Freebies have been a culture of Tamil Nadu politics and people have accepted it as rampant industrialization has led to the state meeting the finances of these freebies but if you restrict even private sector jobs to Tamil populace, that will lead to a migration of companies from this state directly leading to a slump in economy." The industry is also worried about such an announcement by a prominent political party for the sake of votes.

M. Velmurugan of the Tamil Nadu Small and Medium Industries Association based out of Guindy industrial estate told IANS: "Reservation for Tamils is good but it has to be restricted to non-skilled people but extending this to 75 per cent reservation of jobs in private sector for Tamils, will doom the industrial situation of the state.

"Even now there is a huge deficit of skilled blue collar workers and if this is put in practice, then it will be difficult for industries to survive." There are already provisions in the Tamil Nadu industrial act to provide reservation to Tamils in companies which are setting up shop in the state and using government facilities or rather subsidies.

R.K. Doraiswamy of Tamil Nadu Industries association said, "The companies which use government facilities and subsidies are bound to provide reservation for Tamils, but for large companies who don't have anything to do with the state rather than helping it become more and more industrialised, this will lead to chaos and moving away to other more industrial friendly states. Even in the heydays of M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa they have brought in such a manifesto. This will doom the industry." The study also revealed that there is a clear failure on the part of the government to impart skilled training to youths and if the youths are properly trained and adaptable to industry, then it's different.

K.M. Shajahan Khan who is running a software company in Chennai while speaking to IANS said, "It will be better if political parties stress on skilling youths and Central government is providing all facilities for that. If youths have enough skills, getting jobs is not at all an issue." The Centre for Policy and Development Studies is planning to present the DMK, AIADMK and other mainstream political parties with a memorandum for increasing the skills of the youths rather than providing them jobs on a platter.

Rajeev said, "Jobs should not be given in a platter, instead Youths must be made industry friendly and make them trained in proper skills. Jobs will come to them and thereby the state will also be benefited. Gimmicks will not develop the state industrially as in a highly competitive industrial atmosphere investors will choose the state's that have better investor friendly policies."
New Delhi:

An Indian-origin scientist worked along with a team at UK university to develop a medical camera that can see through the human body.

Kev Dhaliwal who is Professor of Molecular Imaging and Healthcare Technology at the University of Edinburgh believes that with this newly developed camera, doctors will no longer be required to rely on expensive scans and X-rays.

It has immense potential for diverse applications, such as the one described in this work. The ability to see a devices location is crucial for many applications in healthcare, as we move forwards with minimally invasive approaches to treating disease, said Dhaliwal, the Project Lead of Proteus, which is part of a larger research collaboration developing a range of new technologies.

The camera is designed to enable doctors track medical tools such as endoscopes, that mostly used investigate a range of internal conditions. This new device is able to detect sources of light inside the body, such as the illuminated tip of the endoscopes long flexible tube.

Until now, it was not possible to track where an endoscope is located inside the body in order to guide it to the right place without using X-rays or other methods.

Light from the endoscope can pass through the body, but it usually scatters or bounces off tissues and organs rather than travelling straight through. This makes it nearly impossible to get a clear picture of where the endoscope is.

According to a team member, the new camera with advanced technology can detect individual particles of light, called photons. Experts have integrated thousands of single photon detectors onto a silicon chip, similar to that found in a digital camera.







For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Former France fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc is leaving Racing 92 in the summer to join Bordeaux-Begles

Former France fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, who has been playing at Racing 92 for the last two seasons, will join Bordeaux-Begles on a one-year contract in the summer, the Top 14 side announced on Friday.

The 34-year-old won 66 caps for Les Bleus, playing in the last Grand Slam-winning team of 2010 and in the 2011 World Cup final against New Zealand.

Trinh-Duc began his career at Montpellier, spending 11 years at the club before moving to Toulon in 2016 and then Racing three years later.

He played and lost two Top 14 finals, one in 2011 with Montpellier and then in 2017 with Toulon.

Trinh-Duc's time at Racing has been limited by injury and the emergence of the young Antoine Gibert as understudy to Scotland's Finn Russell.

At Stade Chaban Delmas, he will back up current France fly-half Matthieu Jalibert.

rap/smr/bsp/iwd
Yang Jiechi (R), director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office for China, and Wang Yi (L), China's Foreign Minister, arrive for a meeting with U.S. counterparts at the opening session of U.S.China talks at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 18, 2021. (Fredrick J. Brown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

US Falls Into 4 Traps Set by the CCP in USChina Talks

Commentary

Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, recorded a temperature as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit in the early morning on March 20. A two-day high-level talk between the United States and China has just ended in this frigid place. The high pitch of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) wolf warriors howl and the weak U.S. response, in contrast, are really worrying.

In short, the U.S. side fell into four traps set ingeniously by the CCP during the talks.

First, the holding of high-level talks between the United States and China is itself a CCP trap.

After President Joe Bidens inauguration on Jan. 20, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with Yang Jiechi, a member of the CCPs Politburo, and Biden spoke with CCP leader Xi Jinping. Judging from their public statements, each side took a different tone. In fact, as far as the current state of U.S.China relations is concerned, its the CCP that has begged the United States to stop the decoupling and sanction. Without substantial proposals (or concessions) from the communist regime, there would be no need for the United States to hold the meeting at all. Before the U.S. administration had any clear policy toward the CCP, it actually invited the CCP to come to the talks, falling into the dialogue trap set up by the CCP.

In a press conference afterward, Yang said the U.S.China talks were candid, constructive, and beneficial. But, of course, there are still differences between the two sides.

We came to the meeting with the hope that the two sides could enhance communication and dialogue on different fronts. The two sides should follow the policy of no conflict to guide our path toward a healthy and stable trajectory moving forward, he said.

Secondly, Yang broke diplomatic protocol by speaking for 16 minutes, which was eight times longer than usual, and his speech was obviously scripted. In particular, Yang said in his speech, I dont think the overwhelming majority of countries in the world would recognize the universal values advocated by the United States or that the viewpoint of the United States could represent international public opinion. This is a clear indication that in the future the CCP will no longer abide by the rules set by the United States.

This is a very serious provocation. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told The Epoch Times in an email, Just as the Chinese delegation refused to comply with the agreed-upon rules of the meeting, Beijing refuses to comply with the rules-based international order.

The U.S. side, however, sat there obediently and listened to the end. American conservative commentator Jack Posobiec wrote on Twitter: The obvious move would be for Blinken and Sullivan to stand up for the U.S. and kick out the CCP delegation after being disrespected. But they arent. Theyre going back tomorrow to lose even more face. Hard to say how they could be any worse at this.

Thirdly, Yang drew a red line for the U.S. side, not the other way around.

According to a report from Nikkei Asia, Yang said, first of all, that the United States does not have the qualification to say that it wants to speak to China from a position of strength.

Yang added that the CCPs leadership and Chinas political system are supported wholeheartedly by the Chinese people, and any attempt to change Chinas social system will be futile, according to a March 19 press release on the website of the Chinese Embassy in the United States.

Another point Yang made in his long speech was a series of security and human rights issues the United States had raised with the Chinese side, including the CCPs persecution of Uyghurs, its suppression in Hong Kong, its economic coercion of allies, its cyberattacks on the United States, and its acts of aggression against Taiwan. Yang declared these are all Chinas internal affairs and that the communist regime firmly opposes U.S. interference.

According to Yang, What the United States should do is to  mind its own business  rather than making irresponsible remarks about Chinas human rights and democracy.

To sum up Yangs meaning in a sentence, its what he said in his opening remarks that there is no way to strangle China. This implies that the CCP isnt afraid to confront the United States and uses the confrontation as a means to deter the U.S. side from retreating without a fight.

The fourth trap lies in the U.S. sides intention to seek cooperation with the CCP, even when facing such fierce confrontation. After the talks, Blinken spoke at a press conference about very specific areas where the United States and China could cooperate.

We were also able to have a very candid conversation over these many hours on an expansive agenda. On Iran, on North Korea, on Afghanistan, on climate, our interests intersect, he said.

In addition, Biden administration officials said they were open to easing some of the visa restrictions imposed on Chinese citizens under the Trump administration. By doing so, the U.S. side swapped its offensive position with the CCP and willingly gave up its advantage.

In short, the Chinese Communist Party is more cunning and evil than most people can imagine. This round of talks was the CCPs way of testing the waters, and now it has a clear picture of the United States intentions. Its expected to execute tougher and stronger tactics, step by step, targeting Taiwan after it has finished with Hong Kong.

Of course, there are also discerning people in the United States, such as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He was seemingly the first to review the meeting between the United States and China in Alaska, writing on Twitter, Strength deters bad guys, weakness only invites war.

The U.S. side has a good hand, but it cant play it effectively. What is the problem? The U.S. policymakers must first recognize the evil nature of the Chinese communist regime and know themselves and their opponents in order to win.

Author and China expert Gordon Chang wrote on Twitter: Yang Jiechi, in his opening remarks in Alaska, said, there is no way to strangle China. Well, actually there is, and Beijing, with its increasingly dangerous conduct, will leave the world no choice but to do so.

Hopefully, Changs voice will be heard at the U.S. policy-making level.

Wang He has masters degrees in law and history and has studied the international communist movement. He was a university lecturer and an executive of a large private firm in China. Wang now lives in North America and has published commentaries on Chinas current affairs and politics since 2017.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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New Delhi:

In a tragic incident in C block of Noida Sector 44, three dacoits shot dead a guard as he tried to stop them from entering peoples houses. The guard also caught one of the criminals who had attacked two women. A car was also recovered after the incident.

The guard's name is Bhanu Kishore Sharma and his son said that he was indoors when his father was shot. He said thta his father was shot in the chest.

Although the guard was taken to the hospital, the doctors were unable to save him.

Superintendent of police (city), Noida said that three dacoits had entered the society as plumbers with the aim of committing robbery. The police further said that they will act with rapid speed and these criminals will be caught pretty soon.

The crime rate in Noida NCR has jumped to extreme limits and recently there was quite a ruckus outside Mahagun Moderne Society at Sector 78.A mob of domestic helps and neighbours of a maid who was allegedly beaten up by one of the residents of the society had attacked the society.
They're both huge shows, boasting a dedicated fan following and millions of views.

And Normal People joined forces with Fleabag on Friday night in a crossover for Comic Relief, leaving dozens of viewers in awe at Paul Mescal's singing voice.

As well as showcasing his vocal talents, the hilarious sketch also saw his character Connell's now infamous chain make an appearance during a very unconventional confession with the Hot Priest [Andrew Scott, 44].

Impressive: Paul Mescal stunned viewers with his vocal talents as Normal People joined forces with Fleabag on Friday night in a crossover for Comic Relief

Paul, 25, playing the role of Connell, was first seen chatting to Andrew's Priest in a confessional about his communication troubles with Daisy Edgar-Jones character Marianne.

Sounding afflicted by his woes, Paul confesses: 'I'm in love but it's complicated.'

His declaration sparks an unexpected response from the Hot Priest who sighs and replies: 'Tell me about it'.

While still bewildered at the unusual situation, Paul is in for another surprise as his co-star Daisy's voice can then be heart.

She's got it! Daisy Edgar-Jones, 22, who played Marianne in Normal People, was also seen confessing that she'd 'stolen' Connell's chain during the hilarious sketch

Daisy, 22, playing her role of Marianne, also starts a confession, admitting shes stolen something - before hilariously producing Connells chain.

Surprised Paul can be hilariously be heard telling Hot Priest: 'That's mine!'

And in another twist, the trio then all start singing Boyzones tune Words.

Twitter users were blown away by Pauls vocal talents, with the actor easily nailing each note and performing for the camera.

To finish the impressive sketch, Andrews Hot Priest was seen walking away from the church with Connells chain, which has become quite the cult item, in his hand.

In the middle: Fleabag's Hot Priest mediated the two lovers in the unconventional confession and joined in the singing

Surprise: In a hilarious twist the trio all start singing Boyzones tune Words

Keeping that? Hot Priest was handed the chain and seen leaving the church with it

Dozens of viewers gushed over the incredible sketch on Twitter, with one writing: 'There is nothing you could want more than a Hot Priest Collab with Paul Mescal'

Another penned: 'That sketch with Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Andrew Scott on #ComicRelief2021 just now? Completely perfect.'

While someone else wrote: 'This Fleabag/Normal People sketch is making me fall in love with Paul Mescal all over again. #ComicRelief'

'I dont think I can cope with the revelation that both Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal can really, really sing #ComicRelief,' added a fourth.

Reaction: Dozens of viewers took to Twitter to gush over Paul's incredible singing voice

Others were also entertained by the mashup, tweeting: 'Didn't know i needed to see paul mescal, daisy edgar jones and andrew scott singing in a confession stand but i'm glad i have'.

Paul, Daisy and Andrew joined a very star-studded line-up on the night which also included stars such as David Walliams, Paddy McGuinness and Daniel Craig.

Another sketch saw viewers treated to parody film 2020 The Movie, which included celebs such as Russell Brand and Dr Whos Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill.

Matt Lucas was seen playing Gary Barlow. Meanwhile, looking as glamorous as ever, Joan made a special appearance as the the first woman to be vaccinated.

The chain! Others commented on the now infamous chain being kept by Hot Priest

The hilarious trailer saw the celebrities star as everyday heroes, with Keira Knightley starring as 'The Woman Who Cant Take It Anymore! while Carey Mulligan portrayed a stay-at-home mum at the end of her tether after months of lockdown.

While Anna Friel had nightmare as the first woman to cut her own hair in lockdown - with disastrous results.

The movie trailer started with a booming voiceover which said: 'With the world locked up, the heroes stepped up.'

While another stand-out moment from the night saw Strictly's Oti Mabuse join a slew of stars including Ant and Dec and Sophie Ellis-Bextor in recreating Bridget Jones' heartbreak scene in a hilarious spoof video.

Look who it is: It was a star-studded night on Friday's Comic Relief 2021 as the likes of Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Joan Collins joined forces to star in a spoof parody of 2020

Special appearance: Dr Whos Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill also appeared as NHS doctors, joking that they had to rush around the ward to catch The Great British Bake Off on TV

In scenes aired on Friday night, the star, 30, sat on a mountain of clothes as she sang her heart out to All By Myself. Oti imitated guzzling a bottle of wine as she held up a water bottle while lip-syncing to the track.

Meanwhile, Mel Giedroyc, 52, looked the spitting image of Renee Zellwegger's character as she sat on her sofa in Christmas pyjamas with a tissue stuffed up her nose.

Comic Relief has managed to raise an impressive 52,025,485 so far.
But since the COVID-19 pandemic began, theyve left Chicagos city limits only once. As soon as she learned when she would get her first COVID-19 vaccine shot, she counted the days until her second dose would be effective and started planning a trip to Key West, Florida, for later this month.
POTTSVILLE  The new lawyer for convicted murderer Joshua M. Lukach said Friday that alleged improper conduct by jurors might have affected the verdict that put his client in prison for life.

Robert E. Reedy, Schuylkill Haven, told Judge Jacqueline L. Russell that there is a possibility jurors discussed Lukachs guilt or innocence before starting their official deliberations, which they are not supposed to do.

However, the lawyer for one of the alternate jurors said Reedy has offered no facts to support his claim.

What attorney Reedy has done ... is a fishing expedition, Douglas J. Taglieri, Pottsville, said.

Russell gave Reedy one week to file an amended petition that lists all possible witnesses, what they will say and any supporting documents.

The other side has to know what that information is, as does the court, Russell said.

Russell gave Deputy Attorney General William R. Stoycos one week after Reedy files his brief to respond. She said she will schedule another hearing that in coordination with State Correctional Institution/Coal Township in Northumberland County, where Lukach is serving his sentence.

She also asked Reedy to provide legal support for second-guessing what jurors did.

Whats the authority to impeach the jurors verdict? Russell asked.

She also expressed surprise that the attorney generals office is requiring employees to work from home.

Weve had jury trials in Schuylkill County since June of last year. Weve been open every day, Russell said. I guess its the Coal Region work ethic.

After a four-day trial, a jury of seven men and five women deliberated about four hours before finding Lukach guilty on March 7, 2019, of second-degree murder, burglary, criminal trespass and access device fraud. Jurors found him not guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, robbery and possessing instrument of crime.

On March 27, 2019, Russell sentenced Lukach to life in prison, which in Pennsylvania carries no chance of parole. The life sentence is mandatory for second-degree murder.

Pottsville police alleged Lukach, 24, of New Philadelphia, along with Shavinskin N. Thomas, 27, of Pottsville, murdered John Brock in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, 2015, while burglarizing his 14 S. 12th St. home. Police said the pair cut, slashed and stabbed Brock in his bedroom before leaving with keys and cards.

Thomas, who testified against Lukach, earlier pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and related crimes. He is serving his sentence of 27 to 60 years at SCI/Houtzdale in Clearfield County.

Since Lukach already is an inmate at SCI/Coal Township, Russell conducted Fridays hearing by videoconference.
(Natural News) A surveillance firm is spying on people using technology that tracks the real-time location of cars in almost every country. A document obtained by Motherboard shows that the Ulysses Group tracks peoples cars by looking at the data collected and sent by their components.

Ulysses can provide our clients with the ability to remotely geolocate vehicles in nearly every country except for North Korea and Cuba on a near real-time basis, the document, which was authored by Ulysses, reads. Currently, we can access over 15 billion vehicle locations around the world every month.

The South Carolina-based company previously sold its services to Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the branch of the U.S. military tasked with counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and special reconnaissance. But the firm stated that it is not selling its geolocation services to the U.S. government at the moment.

Modern cars equipped with surveillance devices

According to its website, Ulysses offers cellular interception and jamming technology, hidden video recorders, and military training. The company can track car locations via telematics systems, which are navigation, safety, security and communications systems rolled into one convenient piece of technology.

Automakers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) often equip car dashboards with a telematics system to collect information, such as airbag and seatbelt status, engine temperature and current location. The system transmits this information either back to carmakers, OEMs or third parties, such as aggregator companies. The latter purchase or obtain this data, repackage it and then sell the processed data to their own clients.

Andrea Amico, the founder of Privacy4Cars, which sells tools that remove personal data from vehicles, revealed that cars usually transmit telematics data to several companies.

The OEM will have first dibs to the data, because they made the car and have access to the telematics, she said. But the company that provides the map itself, for instance, would have access to it; the company that provides the infotainment system may have access to it, and so on.

While smartphone users can see what data an app is requesting, this feature is not yet readily available in telematics systems. We have not entered that era yet with cars, Amico said. (Related: Your car is a double agent: Internet connectivity allows it to monitor and report your location and driving habits.)

The document did not indicate whether Ulysses obtains its data from automakers, OEMs or aggregators. But one company being linked to Ulysses is Otonomo. According to a presentation made for investors, the Israeli company has partnerships with 16 OEMs and oversees more than 40 million vehicles from various brands, such as BMW and General Motors. The firms clients number thousands, who all have access to Otonomos car data.

When Motherboard asked if Ulysses is an Otonomo client, the latters head of content and communications Jodie Joseph Asiag said: It is our policy not to comment on the status of any commercial relationship unless there has been a public announcement to the fact.

Selling data to the military

The document suggested that Ulysses is interested in selling to the military. It advertised that Ulysses has access to the bulk of commercial telematics data, which allows clients to access real-time data on moving targets without getting into harms way. Clients can further geolocate one vehicle or track 25 million at the same time.

We believe that this one attribute will dramatically enhance military intelligence and operational capabilities, as well as reduce the costs and risk footprint of ISR [intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance] assets currently used to search for and acquire mobile targets of interest, the document read.

Ulysses has signed many deals with the military before. U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr Timothy Hawkins told Motherboard that the company entered a one-year contract with SOCOM in 2016 to analyze how competitor countries were making financial investments in Africa, as well as Central and South America. It also worked on four contracts with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which is under the Department of Defense.

The firm is currently not under any government contract related to telematics, according to Ulysses president Andrew Lewis.

We do not have any contracts with the government or any of its agencies related to our work in the field and we have never received any funding whatsoever from the government related to telematics, Lewis said.

The companys LinkedIn page indicates that it recently participated in the Navys Joint Interagency Field Experimentation. Held from March 1 to 5, the quarterly event provides opportunities for combatant commands such as SOCOM to experiment with new technology in the field.

The Navy acknowledged requests for comment but declined to answer specific questions on whether Ulysses demoed its telematics data services to the Navy, or what the purpose of the firms attendance was.

Learn more about the various ways companies and the government has been spying on people at Surveillance.news.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

Telematics.com
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Friday led 37 of his Senate colleagues in requesting the Biden administration join the U.S. Congress in officially recognizing the Ottoman Empire's genocide against the Armenian people, the aforesaid committee noted in a statement.

To date, no U.S. president has made it U.S. policy to affirm the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide, which lasted from 1915 to 1923 and resulted in the forced deportation of around 2 million Armenians, 1.5 million of whom were brutally killed.

We join the Armenian community in the United States and around the world in honoring the memory of these victims, and we stand firmly against attempts to pretend that this intentional, organized effort to destroy the Armenian people was anything other than a genocide, the Senators wrote in a letter to President Biden. You have correctly stated that American diplomacy and foreign policy must be rooted in our values, including respect for universal rights. Those values require us to acknowledge the truth and do what we can to prevent future genocides and other crimes against humanity.

Beyond recognizing the facts of the Ottoman Empires systematic extermination of Armenians, the Senators stressed that the move would rectify the executive branchs position regarding the Genocide by aligning it with congressional consensus as well as President Bidens previous remarks.

Administrations of both parties have been silent on the truth of the Armenian Genocide. We urge you to break this pattern of complicity by officially recognizing that the Armenian Genocide was a genocide, added the Senators.

On December 12, 2019, the Senate unanimously passed Menendezs Senate Resolution affirming the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide, making clear that U.S. policy must reject efforts to deny the truth of this tragedy.

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/chair/release/menendez-leads-37-colleagues-in-calling-on-president-biden-to-become-first-us-president-to-officially-recognize-the-armenian-genocide
The control tower at the Regina International Airport is shown on Feb. 18, 2021. (Michael Bell/The Canadian Press)

Regina, Saskatoon Airports Lose International Designation, Must Reapply

The Regina and Saskatoon airports no longer have their international airport designation, according to a Transport Canada advisory. They will need to reapply to have it restored

On Jan. 26, Transport Canada published an advisory on its website, titled Designation of International Airports in Canada, to provide guidance for airports seeking to receive official Canadian designation as International, in accordance with all applicable domestic and international requirements.

A list of 13 airports across Canada were designated as international as of the publication date of the advisory, but the airports in Saskatoon and Regina were not included.

Airports are responsible for providing the necessary documentation in order to correctly reflect their status in aeronautical publications, Transport Canada said in an email to The Epoch Times.

The airports listed in the advisory meet the requirements to be designated as international airports, in accordance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organization, the federal agency said.

Other airports that seek to be designated as International should make a request for approval to Transport Canada Civil Aviation before June 30, 2021, it said.

James Bogusz, Regina Airport Authoritys president and CEO, told Global News that while losing international status may not be worrisome in the short term, its impact after the pandemic is over is still unclear.

Having an international designation is critical when it comes to recovering in the future, Bogusz said. In the short term, we dont have any international flights anyways so there are no immediate impacts here at the airport.

The fact that the province right now has no international designated airports is certainly a concern when it comes to us attracting future airlines or other forms of investment, he said.

He told Global that flights to destinations outside of the United States are the ones most likely to be affected, specifically the sun destinations such as Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean.

Transport Canada said in its email said that not having the official designation does not prevent the airport from receiving international flights, nor from using International in their corporate name.

CJ Dushinski, Saskatoon Airport Authoritys vice-president of business development and service quality, told The Epoch Times that there wont be any changes to the airports designation.

In reviewing the criteria, the Saskatoon Airport Authority does not anticipate any change in the International designation as the main requirements are already met, such as Airport Certification, Security program, Airport Rescue Firefighting, and on site Customs, Dushinski said.

He said he doesnt foresee any impact to transborder or international service to Saskatoon.
Iran received a large shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Cuba on Thursday.

A total of 100,000 Soberana 02 doses from the Latin American country were delivered to Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

The first dose of the vaccine will be administered to 100,000 people in Iran as part of the third phase of its trial. Iran and Cuba are also working to develop a vaccine together that could be ready by April, according to the outlet.

Iran has been one of the hardest hit countries in the region by the coronavirus and has been registering several thousand infections per day for several months. The Islamic Republic began administering vaccine doses in February. Some Iranian media outlets have accused the government of giving out the vaccine based on personal connections as opposed to health considerations.

Iran and Cuba enjoy friendly relations in part because both states are adversaries of the United States. Iran is also close with Venezuela in the Western Hemisphere for similar reasons.


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The Daily Beast

ABCLate-night host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of former President Donald Trump after he decided to put an end to his own blog, even after one of his advisers just a few months ago promised that it would be the hottest ticket in social media.I know, its a real punch in the gut for me too, Kimmel said sarcastically. He was very excited about this blog for the first month after he was banned on Twitter, and now hes just abandoning it. Its a move he calls, The Eric.Kimmel pointed out that the
MEDFORD, Ore.  On Friday, the CDC delivered news that many school districts have been eagerly awaiting  a recommendation that spacing between students in classrooms can be safely cut in half in many classroom settings. In practice, the change would allow most districts to ditch hybrid learning and return to full-time schedules on school campuses.

However, the CDC update does not spell any immediate change for local districts. The implementation, if it happens before the end of the school year, will come only after receiving the green light from state officials at the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education.

In a press conference on Friday, not long after the CDC change was announced, Governor Kate Brown briefly addressed the news  saying that ODE officials are now reviewing the guidance and will consider making changes to the state's existing playbook.

"Nothing changes for us until they make that commitment and decision," said Kirk Kolb, superintendent of the Grants Pass School District. "I would just echo [that we're] committed to bringing all students back every day, to the maximum extent possible."

Administrators at multiple districts across southern Oregon were already advocating for the reduced spacing requirement. The Klamath County School Board resolved to write Governor Brown two weeks ago, and the Grants Pass School Board followed suit last week. On Friday, Medford School District superintendent Dr. Bret Champion revealed that his district has done the same, along with a request for more "local control" in implementing the new guidance.

"Moving from six-feet to three-feet isn't the ultimate goal," Champion said. "The ultimate goal is to safely get all of our students back into our classrooms, so that's what we're hoping to be able to do."

Champion expressed the belief that ODE would change Oregon's guidance to align with the CDC's update in the near future, but admitted that he's been "a bit more wrong than right" in predicting the agency's decisions in the past.

Even once new guidance does come from state education officials, a transition back to full-time learning on campus might not be immediate. Champion said that MSD's facilities staff would be spending spring break bringing extra desks and other furniture back into school buildings  much of it having been removed in the run-up to the school year  although desks won't be placed back into classrooms until ODE delivers its guidance.

The transition to full-time classes with smaller spacing will be relatively easy in Medford's elementary schools, Champion said, and could be accomplished within a matter of days or a single week. But the process will be more difficult and time-consuming at the middle and high school level.

Transportation will also pose a logistical challenge. The Medford School District is down about one-third of its normal bus drivers on the payroll, Champion admitted, and the District is working to recruit more as quickly as possible.

Regardless, preparations for reduced spacing at this stage amount to a guessing game. If updated ODE guidance comes accompanied by metrics attached to county case counts  made "advisory" by Governor Brown at the beginning of 2021  it's possible that schools in both Jackson and Josephine counties will struggle to reach full-time classroom learning based on current trends.

"This is an example of how we need our community to pull together to get those county numbers down," said Kolb. "Right now, the number of cases that we've had from individuals who may be a student or staff member from our schools are not getting the virus because they're coming to school, they're getting the virus because of activity outside of our schools  so again, this needs to be a community effort to get us where we need to be."
Two people died and three others were injured Friday night in a wrong-way crash on a highway in Camden County, authorities said.

The crash occurred shortly before 10:50 p.m. on Interstate 676 North at milepost 0.4 near Exit 1B in Camden, according to New Jersey State Police.

Amir Kearney, 24, of Clayton, was driving south in the northbound lanes when he collided head-on with a car driven by Cassandra Sackie, 23, of Woodbury, according to Sgt. Philip Curry of the state police.

Kearny and Sackie were both killed. Two passengers in Sackies car  ages 24 and 25  suffered serious injuries. A third passenger, age 24, suffered moderate injuries, Curry said.

All lanes of I-676 northbound were closed for approximately five hours, Curry said in an email. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
As with life itself, travel is often more about the journey than the actual destination. Ive been on countless road-trips  from journeying towards the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka in an over-laden, whining tuc-tuc, to a rickety bus breaking down while crossing a dry riverbed in rural Malawi  where the highlights often occur en route. Nowhere, however, stands out more than one trip to Norway...

Ten years ago, I was spending my Sundays as a judge on The All-Ireland Talent Show. Having already filmed a number of travel reports for No Frontiers, I was intrigued when they asked me to travel to the Arctic Ocean  and back  in the six days between the two editions of the talent show. So, with the all-clear from RTE, I hopped in a taxi for Dublin Airport to meet the film crew. We were all new to each other, but within a week we were family.

Norway has the second-longest coastline in the world, just behind Canada. Its not a huge country, but just look at that map with its squiggly coastline and all those inny-and-outty bits  between fjords, islands and bays it boasts more than 25,000km of places to catch a fish. Getting to the top of Norway can be complicated. A two-hour flight to Oslo was followed by another two-hour flight to the small city of Troms, 350km north of the Arctic Circle  with a temperature of -16C outside and a comfortable -2C inside our pick-up jeep. Our driver warned us of the dangers of frostbite  advising us to tap the tips of each others noses at regular intervals. Tapping your own nose is no good, you see, as you may confuse the feeling in your fingertip with your nose. But if someone touches your nose and you cant feel it, youre in trouble. I mentioned that my eye balls felt gooey as if the my tears are freezing. They are, he replied. Thats your Arctic make-up." I checked in the wing mirror of the jeep, and sure enough, there was Ernest Shackleton looking back at me with an icy stare.

We drove for another few hours to our base camp where our expedition leader, Belinda, was awaiting with my XXXL survival suit and her team of dogs. Sez I, Belinda, I might squeeze into the suit, but them five creaturs havent a hope of pulling me for miles across the frozen tundra. She assured me they would and showed me the ropes. The first thing you need to know about the ropes is that you wont be using them, she explained. "Hold the reins, but you can only influence the direction by shifting your weight from one footboard to the other. To slow down, you simply apply this claw brake here, by standing down on it. Whatever you do, dont fall off, or the dog team will keep going and youll be stranded until we find you. More importantly, we may never find the dogs again. Remember, theyre Alaskan huskies, not homing pigeons!.

I fell off. However, I managed to hang on to the reins while being dragged on my belly through brush and briars. I hadnt the upper-body strength to pull myself back on board a flying sled but I did muster up the strength to do the next best thing: BE-LIN-DA! BE-LIN-DA!!! I shouted. Fortunately, my absence had been noted and she was back to unravel two teams of yelping huskies, while I caught my breath and took in the actual meaning of survival suit.

Eventually, I found my balance and my dignity and relaxed into the landscape. Apart from the panting of the dogs and the sluwhooosh of the sleds runners, there was an uncanny silence. Im talking about that implosion of silence you encounter in a sound-proofed studio. No breeze, just one low-glow yellow moon illuminating hundreds of miles of empty stillness to the North.

Lodgings for the night were provided by Ruar, a member of the Sami people who have been sprinkled across the northern reaches of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia long before these national borders were drawn. Ruars lavvu yurt had an open fire right in the middle and as we warmed up, he removed his fur hat to reveal a head of red hair. I told him that rua was an Irish word for red. Is same in Sami language. I am called Ruar because I have red hair when I am baby, he replied.

Early the next day, we boarded the MS Nordkapp, a Hurtigruten ship which travels from Bergen to Kirkenes. Its less of a luxury liner and more like a top-class, modern ferry, carrying freight and up to 700 passengers. We ploughed northwards through ice floes. Every few hours the vast whiteness was punctuated by the twinkle of a tiny coastal community, their window panes reflecting the low sun into our eyes as if to say "Over here! Were over here".

That evening, shattered, I was rocked to sleep by the ships slow, heavy heave, my snoring matched by the rhythmic creaking of a million nuts, bolts and rivets. However, I leapt up suddenly in the middle of the night as the captain sounded the siren and killed the engines. No, not an iceberg, but the Northern Lights! To say it was a hugely dramatic display would be an exaggeration, but to stand on the deck amid the silent Arctic Ocean and witness this ever-changing, glowing green phenomenon against an ink-black sky sprinkled with stars was awe-inspiring. I genuinely had a lump in my throat as I considered the majesty of this cosmos against our petty arguments and international disputes. It was probably the most romantic moment Ive ever shared with three other unshaven men.

Our journey continued, finally rounding the North Cape, once regarded as the last view of Europe by Arctic explorers of old. Early the next morning, bleary-eyed, we disembarked at the small town of Kirkenes on the Russian border. We were now 400km inside the Arctic Circle, where twas actually Baltic (a record low of -41C was recorded here in 1999).

Huskies in Northern Europe

The year of my visit, the winter of total darkness ended on January 15, when the sun peered over the horizon at 10.50am  setting just 38 minutes later. Locals coming out of winter must have blinked like kids coming out of a cinema matinee. But here we were a few weeks later with the luxury of three hours' filming time per day. We revved our way on snowmobiles across the whiteness to the edge of Barents Sea, where a rib whizzed us out to where the ice floes bob in the freezing black water. This was going to be my test  I was going to swim with the fishes.

I had a survival suit, but Anders, our diver and team leader sported a wet suit and oxygen tanks.

Polar bears arent common in these parts, but they have been sighted, so we wont hang about, he said.

How am I gonna get in? I asked Anders.

Sit on the edge of the rib and lean back, he replied.

The ice is wafer-thin at the edge but Ill whip you backwards onto the floe.

And so he did as I lay there like an upturned beetle. It wasnt a case of getting up and diving in either. With one push, I was slip-sliding along the ice into the freezing blackness of the Barents Sea!

John Creedon: King crab was 'the whitest meal'

They say your past often flashes before your eyes at the moment of death. I hadnt time to be thinking about it. Every now and then bubbles would break the surface beside me. No, not a case of nervous flatulence on my part, nor a walrus, but diving sea-birds. Once our cameraman Mark was satisfied that he had his shots, I was hauled aboard while Anders joined the diving birds underwater to return with the deadliest catch, king crab. Within a few hours we were back in his house with the crab in his pot. Flatbreads, garlic mayonnaise and crab meat were washed down with Chablis. It was probably the whitest meal Ive ever had!

Homeward bound and despite the frigid temperatures at the airport, the propeller plane with 40 passengers on board, was up and away from Kirkenes to Troms. Arriving in Oslo, we were informed that Dublin Airport was closed due to heavy snowfall and -5C temperatures (positively balmy compared to Kirkenes). As a result, our flight was diverted to Heathrow where on arrival, we were told that all Irish airports had now closed  with my All-Ireland Talent Show date less than 24hrs away! Belfast City Airport thankfully re-opened and I was ordered to get to Stanstead, which I reached by fare-dodging on a bus from one airport to the other. What could I do? London was never on my itinerary and I had no sterling coins, just Kroner and Euro and no time for the Bureau de Change. Luckily, the production office had left train tickets in Belfast for me and soon I was pulling in to Dublins Connolly Station, where a limo was waiting to ferry this filthy fish-scented survivor out to Ardmore Studios in Bray. Just in time for a shower, a shave, and a show. Yes, sometimes its the journey more than the destination.

* The final episode of Creedon's Atlas of Ireland airs on Sunday, 6.30pm on RTE One, while Johns book That Place We Call Home, published by Gill Books, is out now.
Amid complaints of interference, Republic of Congos President Denis Sassou NGuesso appears poised to extend his tenure as one of Africas longest-serving leaders in the elections to be held on Sunday. According to AP, Guesso has been in power for 36 years. The 77-year-old came to power back in 1979 and served until the 1992 election when he finished third. He then took hold of the country again as a militia leader after a four-month civil war in 1997 and has been at the helm ever since, winning three elections.

Five months before the 2016 vote, a constitutional referendum removed term and age limits the would have barred Guesso from running again. Now, the front-runner among the six remaining challengers is Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, who finished second during the 2016 election but lacks significant support outside the countrys two largest cities. Kolelas has complained about being blocked from boarding a plane to make a campaign stop in the north.

He said, Congo has become a police state. I want to give back some fundamental freedoms to the Congolese people. I want to give hope to the Congolese people.

Govt. denies interference allegations

As per reports, some civil society groups have also voiced concerns in the lead-up to the vote. As the countrys military was allowed to vote early on Wednesday, a few opposition figures accused Guessos party of stuffing ballot boxes. The government, however, denied the allegations and said preparations had been made for a free and credible election.

Henri Bouka, head of the national independent electoral commission, said, We have done everything possible to ensure that the distribution of the cards takes place without hindrance throughout the country so that each Congolese can fulfill his civic duty.

But still, some opposition candidates cried foul publicly, accusing the ruling party of interference. Human rights group have also stepped up their criticism of the government since the 2016 vote, which Guesso won with 60 per cent of ballots cast. It is worth mentioning that two opposition candidates have been convicted of undermining the internal security of the state. A third candidate also served a jail sentence for inciting public disorder and insurrection.

(Image: AP)
The European Unions executive arm has said AstraZeneca could face export bans to countries outside the bloc if it does not speed up its delivery of the promised amount of vaccines.

The move comes as the European Commission increases the pressure on pharmaceutical companies to speed up their vaccine delivery to the continent as virus cases increase in many member countries.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: We have the possibility to ban planned exports.

This is a message to AstraZeneca: You fulfil your part of the deal toward Europe before you start to deliver to other countries.

Speaking to German media group Funke, Ms von der Leyen said the contract between the EU and AstraZeneca clearly regulates how much vaccines the EU receives from AstraZenecas plants inside the EU and in the UK.

However, Ms von der Leyen added, we didnt get anything from the Brits while we are delivering vaccines to them.

She said the commission had sent a formal reminder to AstraZeneca regarding this issue.

Europe is a powerhouse in science.



But while we're good at making science with money, we need to get better at making money out of science.



Today, we launch the European Innovation Council to support researchers and turn their ideas into products on the market. #EUeic  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 18, 2021

AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine is one of three approved for use in the EU.

However, its usage has been overshadowed by several problems, including a slow start, recurring delivery problems and a temporary ban for several days earlier this week in many EU member countries after reports of blood clots in some recipients of the vaccine.

Most countries in the EU have resumed giving AstraZeneca jabs again on Friday as infection numbers spike across the continent.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is cheaper and easier to store than others, is seen as critical to ending the coronavirus pandemic.
With paintbrushes and posters, roller skates, skateboards and shoe-leather marching, the Bay Area came out over the weekend for several rallies to support Asian communities increasingly victimized by hate crimes.

At a march from the Castro to Chinatown in San Francisco on Sunday, members of the LGBTQ community came out in solidarity, carrying signs that read, Stop Asian Hate and Stop Asian Violence.

In the LGBTQ community theres always been a vast overlap in diversity. We do our best to take care of each other and show our unified strength, said Gary McCoy, co-chair of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, a host of the march. The bigorty is not new, he said, but, its certainly been amplified over the last four years with the rhetoric coming out of the former administration. Its frightening for a lot of people, especially our AAPI brothers and sisters in San Francisco. Its important for us to show our support.

Assembly Member David Chiu, D-San Francisco, told the group that Asian Americans are being disparaged and told they carry the coronavirus. My LGBTQ brothers and sisters know what its like to be told You carry the virus, he said.

Mike Kai Chen / Special to The Chronicle

Activists also held a large rally Sunday at San Jose City Hall to protest the violence that includes several recent violent attacks on older Asian Americans in the Bay Area.

Saturday saw several hundred people gathered in S.F. Chinatowns Portsmouth Square for a community art event and rally designed to give Asian Americans and supporters a safe place to express their grief and anger. They carried handmade signs: Respect everyones grandma, Hate is a virus and Asians belong.

Others grabbed pots of bright watercolor paint and brushes and painted butterflies and messages of peace, concern and resistance on the plaza to counteract the ugly violence that has surged across the nation and the Bay Area.

Corri Uyeda, 29, of San Francisco, who recently joined a Chinatown safety patrol and neighborhood watch. painted a bright blue Hapa Pride, using the word for a person of mixed Asian heritage.

Im just sick of seeing people like our grandparents being beaten in the streets, Uyeda said. As someone who had been taught growing up to keep our heads down, dont make noise, I am tired of doing that. We need to start showing up for our people.

Atop a raised planter in a corner of the park, speakers urged the community to lean on, and look out for, each other.

Sasanna Yee, one of the organizers, spoke of the pain she has suffered since her 89-year-old grandmother, Yik Oi Huang, was beaten in 2019 in Visitacion Valley Playground. She died in 2020 from her injuries, her family said.

I show up time and again to be with community for healing, she said. I know I cannot handle this pain by myself.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Yee, who has formed a group called Asians Belong, has also begun a campaign to rename the park where her grandmother was attacked the Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park. A petition is at www.change.org/yikoihuang.

Mike Kai Chen/Special to The Chronicle

On Jan. 28 in San Franciscos Anza Vista neighborhood, an 84-year-old Thai man, Vicha Ratanapakdee, was out for a morning walk when someone shoved him and he fell and struck his head on the sidewalk. He died two days later.

In Oaklands Chinatown, about 80 people rolled into Madison Square Park later Saturday afternoon for a solidarity skate against anti-Asian violence. A candlelight vigil was also planned for Pak Ho, 75, of Hong Kong, who died last week after being robbed and assaulted in Adams Point, north of Lake Merritt.

Similar rallies were scheduled around the nation and in other Bay Area cities, including El Cerrito, Daly City and Brisbane.

In Oakland, the racially diverse crowd set off on their rolling protest through the streets, saluted by honking drivers and pedestrians shouting support. Some wore T-shirts reading Sk8 against hate or carried signs naming Ho, Ratanapakdee and the eight Atlanta victims shot to death on March 16. Six were of Asian descent.

Anti-Asian violence has been on the rise, encouraged by former President Donald Trump blaming the pandemic on the China virus and using other racist epithets.

Hos killing was preceded by a series of robberies and assaults in Oaklands Chinatown since the start of the year. In San Francisco, three older Asian Americans were brutally assaulted recently. Danny Yu Chang, a 59-year-old travel agent from Vallejo, was walking at Market and Montgomery streets Monday when he was struck from behind, knocking him unconscious and leaving him unable to see out of his left eye. A day later, an Asian American man, 83, was attacked at Seventh and Market streets. As the attacker fled, he assaulted a 75-year-old Asian American woman, who fought back.

Vanessa Arredondo contributed to this story.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
Atlanta: President Joe Biden has called on Americans to unite to fight discrimination and attacks against Asian Americans, delivering a message of solidarity after killings at three massage parlours in Georgias capital city.

Our silence is complicity, he said. We cannot be complicit. We have to speak out.

Eight people were killed on Tuesday night - six of them women of Asian descent - and a 21-year-old white man, Robert Aaron Long, was arrested. Neither police nor the FBI has described the shootings as a hate crime, and authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Biden avoided the legally freighted phrase but he left no doubt that he believed racial bias played a role.

President Joe Biden speaks after meeting with leaders from Georgias Asian-American and Pacific Islander community. Credit:AP

We must change our hearts, Biden said. Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop. Its on all of us together to make us stop.
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
Friday has rolled around once more - here's your guide to the best movies on TV this weekend.

Friday

The Mountain Between Us (2017) - RTE One @9.35pm

A London neurosurgeon desperate to attend an operation crosses paths with an American bride determined to get to her wedding. When their chartered flight crashes, they attempt to survive in the wilderness, while fighting their attraction to each other. Romantic adventure, starring Idris Elba, Kate Winslet and Beau Bridges.

Sing Street (2016) - RTE 2 @10pm

Conor, a quiet and sensitive teenager in 1980s Dublin suffers a troubled life, having to contend with money troubles, his parents' strained marriage, his drop-out older brother and to top it all off, he has to deal with the hostile environment at his tough new public school. He decides to form a band in the hopes of finding an escape route, and also winning the heart of Raphina, a mysterious, aspiring model he has taken a shine to at school. Coming-of-age comedy drama, starring Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillen, Jack Reynor and Kelly Thornton.

Central Intelligence (2016) - Virgin Media One @9.30pm

Action comedy, starring Dwayne Johnson as a one-time geek who suffered constant humiliation at high school but grew up to be a lethal CIA agent. But when he is targeted by his own organisation, he comes home for a high school reunion, where he enlists the help of the former campus tough guy - now a meek accountant - who very quickly wonders what he has got himself into. Co-starring Kevin Hart and Amy Ryan.

Saturday

The Matchmaker (1997) - TG4 @9.30pm

A ruthless American political aide sets out on a mission to find her boss's relatives in the rural Irish hamlet of Ballinagra. She arrives in the middle of a local matchmaking festival, where a wily old Cupid senses the sparks between her and an equally cynical local boy, who has recently returned to the village to write a novel. Romantic comedy, with Janeane Garofalo, David O'Hara, Milo O'Shea and Denis Leary.

Daddy's Home (2015) - RTE 2 @9.45pm

A mild-mannered man hopes for his wife's two children to view him as their father. His dreams of perfect family life are threatened by the return of their biological father, a charismatic, motorcycle-riding tough guy, and he pulls out all the stops to prove to his stepchildren that he can be just as cool. Comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) - Film 4 @9pm

A former soldier injured in the line of duty takes up a new career as a financial analyst for the CIA. However, his deskbound position changes to a dangerous undercover assignment when he discovers a plot to destroy the US economy. Spy thriller inspired by Tom Clancy's novels, starring Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner and Kenneth Branagh, who also directed

Sunday

Manchester by the Sea (2016) - RTE 2 @9pm

An irritable loner is forced to return to the coastal town where he grew up following the sudden death of his brother. He is appointed guardian of his teenage nephew, and as he struggles to cope with his newfound responsibilities, he also finds himself confronted with a past tragedy. Drama, starring an Oscar-winning Casey Affleck, with Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) - Film 4 @1.40pm

An ordinary man seeks solace from his mundane life by drifting into daydreams where he is a heroic figure. When he and a friend are faced with unemployment, he is propelled into a globetrotting adventure in real life. Comedy drama based on James Thurber's short story, directed by and starring Ben Stiller. With Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott and Shirley MacLaine.
Content warning: This article contains multiple references to sexual assault and abuse that some readers may find upsetting.

As multiple rumors and now full-blown allegations of sexual misconduct have unfolded against Armie Hammer, more and more women have publicly spoken out against the Call Me By Your Name actor, accusing him of abusive behaviour.

The allegations came to a head on Thursday (18 March) when the LAPD confirmed to The Independent that Hammer is the named suspect in an alleged sexual assault investigation, initiated on 3 February 2021.

The woman who has reported the alleged assault, identified as Effie, spoke out on Thursday during a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred.

On 24 April 2017, Armie Hammer violently raped me for over four hours in Los Angeles, during which he repeatedly slammed my head against a wall, bruising my face, Effie alleged in a statement sent to The Independent, which she read during Thursdays press conference. He also committed other acts of violence against me to which I did not consent.

How did we get here?

Given the swarm of news surrounding the actor, who was recently dropped by his talent agency and personal publicist, The Independent has assembled a full timeline of events leading up to this moment.

11 July 2020: Armie Hammer and his wife of 10 years, Elizabeth Chambers, announce they are seeking a divorce

Via Instagram, the pair announce that they have separated after 13 years as best friends, soulmates, partners and then parents.

It has been an incredible journey, but together, weve decided to turn the page and move on from our marriage, Hammer captioned a photo of the couple from when they were younger. As we enter into this next chapter, our children and relationship as co-parents and dear friends will remain our priority.

We understand this news lends itself to public dialogue, but in the interest of our children and our family, were asking for privacy, compassion and love during this time.

January 2021: DMs surface from anonymous Instagram account @houseofeffie

Early in the year, screenshots begin making the rounds on social media, showing messages from what appears to be the actors official account.The messages, dating back to 2016, describe graphic sexual fantasies, and included references to rape, violence, and cannibalism.

Hammer and his team did not acknowledge the messages at first.

14 January 2021: Ex Courtney Vucekovich says in an interview that the actor wanted to break my rib and barbecue and eat it

Speaking toPage Six, the app founder says Hammer wanted to break my rib and barbecue and eat it.

Vucekovich also calls Hammer is a chameleon who transforms into exactly who you need him to be.

He sucks out all the goodness you have left, she said.Thats what he did to me. I gave and gave and gave until it hurt.

I wasnt safe, she said. He kind of makes it like, Im going to teach you things. Im smarter than that, but where was I during that?I knew the whole time. I had this gut feeling the whole time that this was not right. Hes not well.

14 January 2021: Hammer steps away from his role oppositeJennifer Lopez in the feature Shotgun Wedding

Given the imminent start date ofShotgun Wedding, Armie has requested to step away from the film and we support him in his decision, a spokesperson confirmed to Variety.

Im not responding to these bulls**t claims, but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for four months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic. Lionsgate is supporting me in this and Im grateful to them for that, Hammer said in a statement at the time.

21 January 2021: Reports surface that Hammer had spoken to the police about a stolen video from his private Instagram account.

In the leaked video, the actor could be seen with an unidentified woman  referred to as Miss Cayman  positioned on all-fours on a bed.

In the clip, which the actor said was stolen from his account, Hammer could be heard saying that he had to travel to the Cayman Islands.

Which sucks, he said, before adding: Except there are a few silver linings. Like f***ing Miss Cayman again while Im down there.

The Grand Cayman police confirmed to Page Six that they had spoken to Hammer last Friday (15 January) about the footage.

On January 15, 2021, the RCIPS received an allegation of misuse of ICT in relation to a suggestive video which had been posted on social media, police told the publication.

Officers investigated the matter and spoke to the suspect, who was warned about his conduct, in accordance with the wishes of the complainant.

25 January 2021: Model Paige Lorenze accuses Hammer of sexual violence

Lorenze speaks to Page Six, where she accuses Hammer of sexual violence, at one point allegedly carving a letter A near her genitals.

These assertions about Mr. Hammer are patently untrue, a lawyer for the actor said in a statement responding to Lorenzes claims.

Any interactions with this person, or any partner of his, were completely consensual in that they were fully discussed, agreed upon, and mutually participatory. The stories being perpetuated in the media are a misguided attempt to present a one-sided narrative with the goal of tarnishing Mr.Hammers reputation, and communications from the individuals involved prove that.

29 January 2021: Hammer exits Paramount+ series The Offer

In late January, news surfaced that Hammer would no longer star in the upcoming Paramount+ series The Offer, which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of The Godfather.

Hammers team continued to deny all allegations of sexual misconduct.

1 February 2021: Elizabeth Chambers makes a statement, offers support to any victim of assault or abuse.

Posting a note to Instagram on 1 February, Chambers expressed support for "any victim of assault or abuse" and said she would not be commenting further on this matter.

"For weeks, Ive been trying to process everything that has transpired. I am shocked, heartbroken, and devastated. Heartbreak aside, I am listening, and will continue to listen and educate myself on these delicate matters. I didnt realise how much I didnt know.

"I support any victim of assault or abuse and urge anyone who has experienced this pain to seek the help she or he needs to heal.

"At this time, I will not be commenting further on this matter.

"My sole focus and attention will continue to be on our children, on my work, and on healing during this incredibly difficult time.

Thank you for all of the love and support, and thank you in advance for your continued kindness, respect, and consideration for our children and me as we find ways to move forward.

5 February 2021: Hammer is dropped by talent reps and publicist

In early February, Hammer lost the support of his talent agency William Morris Endeavour.

Variety also reported that the actors personal publicist has dropped The Social Network actor.

There was no comment from either party around the news.

11 March 2021: A lengthy report in Vanity Fair details Hammers disturbing family history and further allegations made by Paige Lorenze

In the report, Hammers former girlfriend says that she feltreally unsafe during her relationship with the scary actor.

He started making rules for me of things I could and couldnt do, who I could have over, who I couldnt, Lorenze said. He told me that I couldnt have anyone else in my bed. And then I just started to feel really unsafe and really sick to my stomach about things.

Hammers lawyer told Vanity Fair: All interactions betweenMr Hammer and his former partners were consensual. They were fully discussed, agreed upon in advance with his partners, and mutually participatory.

The stories perpetuated on social media were designed to be salacious in an effort to harm Mr Hammer, but that does not make them true.

18 March 2021: A woman identified only as Effie accuses Hammer of raping and abusing her, as the Los Angeles Police Department confirms it is investigating the actor as part of a probe into alleged sexual assault.

From day one, Mr Hammer has maintained that all of his interactions with [the woman]  and every other sexual partner of his for that matter  have been completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory, Hammers lawyer told The Independent in part in a statement.

In his statement to The Independent, Hammers attorney Andrew Brettler said that Effies own correspondence with Mr Hammer undermines and refutes her outrageous allegations.

It was never Mr Hammers intention to embarrass or expose [the woman]s fetishes or kinky sexual desires, but she has now escalated this matter to another level by hiring a civil lawyer to host a public press conference, Brettler added. With the truth on his side, Mr Hammer welcomes the opportunity to set the record straight.

Effie said in her statement that she hopes Hammer will be held accountable and that her testimony will help others.

In a statement of her own, Effies lawyer Gloria Allred said it is important to emphasise that even if a sexual partner agrees to certain sexual activity, she still has a right at any point to withdraw her consent.

If she does withdraw her consent and asks her partner to stop for any reason, he is legally and morally obligated to stop. If he does not stop, he is then at risk of committing a crime against her, Allred added.

In addition, a sexual partner needs to be aware of the nature and the scope of the consent that is given. Even if a partner consents to some sexual acts, that does not mean that there is consent to any and all sexual conduct with her.

29 March: Hammer is dropped from Amma Asantes thriller Billion Dollar Spy

Hammer is dropped from the upcoming Cold War thriller The Billion Dollar Spy.

Based on a real-life story, The Billion Dollar Spy was going to star Hammer as Brad Reid, a new arrival at the Moscow station of the CIA, where hes approached by Soviet engineer Adolf Tolkachev, played by Mads Mikkelsen.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 19:48:04|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- At least five people died and several injured in a blast at a chemical factory in India's southwestern state of Maharashtra on Saturday, confirmed a local police officer.

The incident took place at the Gharda Chemicals factory in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district.

According to the local media reports, around 40-50 people who were stuck inside the company were rescued by the team of fire brigade personnel.

Those injured were rushed to a nearby government hospital. Severe patients are likely to be shifted to Mumbai.

The reason behind the fire is not known yet, though an explosion of a boiler is being suspected to be the cause of the accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of human lives.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to an explosion at a factory in Ratnagiri district. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon," tweeted Modi. Enditem
Agartala, March 20 : A Bangladeshi man was killed by BSF troopers in a Tripura village along the India-Bangladesh border on Saturday when he and others attacked them, official sources said.

A Border Security Force (BSF) official said that Bappa Miyan, 32, a Bangladeshi cattle lifter, was killed by the BSF troopers in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday at Yakubnagar border village in northern Tripura.

He said the troopers fired in self defence from a Pump Action Gun (PAG), a non-lethal weapon, as Bappa Miyan accompanied by around 20 other smugglers attacked them with a sharp-edged weapon. A BSF release said that around 20 cattle smugglers of India and Bangladesh were challenged by the troopers when they tried to lift cattle from Yakubnagar village.

"The BSF jawans fired a few rounds from the non-lethal Pump Action Gun after the smugglers on both sides started pelting stones on the BSF party while a few of them started cutting the wires of the border fence from the Bangladesh side," the release said.

It said that Bangladeshi smuggler Bappa Miyan got hit by the PAG pellets and fell on the ground while the remaining smugglers on both sides fled taking advantage of the darkness.

Subsequently, the body of the slain miscreant, a resident of Batoli in Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh, was recovered and would soon be handed over to the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB). Senior BSF and police officials have rushed to the spot and are investigating the incident.

In recent years the BSF has been using non-lethal weapons instead of traditional arms and fired rubber bullets or rubber buckshot or soft polymer rounds or plastic bullets in dealing with border crimes.

BSF officials said that out of the 856 km Tripura's international border with Bangladesh, over 95 per cent has already been fenced and due to the objections raised by the BGB, the remaining portion is yet to be fenced.

"However, we are trying to complete the fencing work within the next few months," the official added.
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The first merit list for Delhi nursey admission 2021 is released today (March 20, 2021). Parents can check the official website of the schools they have applied to for admission to their wards.

Steps on how to check the Merit List-

Step1: Visit the official website of the education department of Delhi. Next, select the admission link

Step2: Fill in your credentials to log in

Step3:Click on submit

Step4:Download and take a printout for further references

Parents should submit relevant documents to the school like Aadhar Card, Address proof, Child's Birth Certificate, etc.

Engage in the admission process conducted by the school. After all the formalities they have to submit the admission fee.

The minimum age for nursery admissions is three years and for KG admissions are four years.

The second list will be released on March 25. The process of Delhi nursery admission will conclude on March 31. The schools will also release the waiting list soon, in which they will mention the name of the students who can be considered for admission if any vacancy will be available.

A child has to be four years old to take admission in Nursery class, while for KG and Class 1, the age limit is five and six years, respectively.

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Even now, a week later, nobody seems quite sure how a dignified vigil with Royal approval came to represent something altogether different. One thing can be said with certainty though. Thousands of women were drawn to a bandstand in the middle of a London park last Saturday with a single shared resolve  to pay respectful tribute to murdered Sarah Everard.

With hushed reverence they laid flowers, lit tea lights, bowed their heads and reflected. Many spoke of solidarity, of a sense of unity. And it was with this in mind that, without fanfare, a dressed-down Duchess of Cambridge clutching daffodils made her way to Clapham Common to lend her support.

Yet by evening, images of handcuffed women beside the bandstand unleashed a juggernaut of Twitter fury. And before the days end, with politicians now piling in, there were calls for the resignation of Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey led the way, saying the Met had acted terribly and caused great harm and hurt, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan called the scenes completely unacceptable.

People gather during an unofficial vigil at the bandstand on Clapham Common for murder victim Sarah Everard.

Undated handout issued by the Metropolitan Police showing missing woman Sarah Everard, 33,

Rarely in London these days does any large public gathering, however sombre, escape the attention of protesters less keen on quiet reflection than confrontation. And so it was last Saturday at the bandstand, chosen as a temporary memorial because of its proximity to where the 33-year-old marketing executive disappeared on March 3. As Ms Everards old university friend Helena Edwards remarked in the days that followed: My friends tragic death has been hijacked.

A Mail on Sunday investigation has discovered that, by nightfall, the vigil was overwhelmed by supporters of groups with an alarming appetite for public disorder.

But while media attention focused on women being led away heavy-handedly, little, if any attention, was given to what one senior officer described as the abuse, resistance and violence, including a hail of plastic bottles, that his colleagues received.

Few could have foreseen how this tumultuous week would end. Three days earlier, Ms Everards body was discovered in Kent woodland after she went missing while walking home from visiting a friend. And perhaps adding extra intensity to the already febrile mood, on the morning of the vigil itself, Wayne Couzens, a 48-year-old Met officer, appeared in court charged with her kidnap and murder.

By mid-afternoon, bouquets of flowers had piled up in such quantities that they covered the ornate green fence surrounding the bandstand. At 4pm, around 200 people had gathered, watched over by six mainly female officers. One woman told The Mail on Sunday that the atmosphere was peaceful, beautiful, touching adding: I felt empowered as a woman.

An entourage with anti-lockdown protester Piers Corbyn  the London mayoral candidate and older brother of former Labour leader Jeremy  arrived on the scene at around 5.30pm.

One of his associates, Dr Heiko Khoo, climbed on to the platform 15 minutes later and shouted angrily about both Ms Everards death and coronavirus restrictions.

His intervention, witnessed by Mail on Sunday reporters, prompted some sections of the crowd to start booing and chanting: Not your place. It was at this juncture that Dr Khoo  now apparently enraged  issued a barrage of invective: Why are you not talking about your officers arresting people in the name of Covid? They are all lying. They are trying to make us all into liars. Every one of us has broken the rules.

Then he displayed astonishing insensitivity by trying to claim Sarah for his cause on this of all days. In what must have infuriated her family, he said: Sarah was breaking the rules that day.

F*** off. People are waking up. This is not about men and women, its about these people brutalising everyone. Despite continuing to behave in an aggressive manner, Dr Khoo was gently escorted from the bandstand by police officers. He was later seen holding a megaphone, which he used to lead a chant of End the dictatorship.

Those gathered around the bandstand, some bearing candles, had swelled in number to more than 500 when a minutes silence was held for Ms Everard at 6pm.

Police scuffle with people gathering at the band-stand where a planned vigil in honour of murder victim Sarah Everard, which was officially cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions

Police attempt to break up the Clapham vigil. The Met was sharply criticised for what was deemed a heavy handed response to a peaceful demonstration

Then came a short address by local Labour councillor Joanna Reynolds, who thanked those who had come to pay their respects. She says she told the crowd to disperse peacefully at the end of the evening. The makeshift stage was then taken over by Sisters Uncut, an organisation originally set up to fight cuts to services for women suffering domestic abuse.

This was a group whose members supported the disruption of an anti-rape rally in Manchester on the grounds that it wasnt trans-inclusive.

Last Saturday, they chanted slogans such as Sisters united will never be defeated and, when one supporter appeared on the bandstand, she declared that a sound system was being set up so the proceedings could continue. Meanwhile, two men started banging on bongo drums.

When police liaison officers asked them to leave the stage, at least one woman started screaming and jabbing her fingers towards them in a confrontational manner. Helicopters could be heard overhead by then and, at around 6.30pm, more officers arrived to be met with taunts and jeers of Shame on you.

Police sources have told this newspaper that spotters, equipped with cameras and specially trained to identify well-known protesters and agitators, began seeing individuals linked to other movements  including Extinction Rebellion  among the crowd.

Other protesters carried placards emblazoned with slogans including ACAB [All Cops Are B******s], BLM [Black Lives Matter] and No Killers, No Cops.

Around this time, a group of ten officers approached the bandstand, one of them telling a prominent agitator: You need to encourage people to go home This is no longer a vigil, its an unlawful gathering. Were in the middle of a pandemic.

Perhaps unsurprisingly by now, this prompted a further round of jeers and catcalls as members of BLM started to chant: No justice, no peace, f*** the police. Just after 7pm, Patsy Stevenson  a part-time actress who was later photographed being pinned to the ground by officers  addressed the remaining crowd through a loudhailer and said: The police should go home. Im done with being bullied by the police.

According to officers, the great majority had left by that point and only a hardcore element of a couple of hundred remained. But there was a fresh wave of trouble  described by one bystander as really scary  when police began issuing Covid fines and arresting people.

Shortly before 8pm, protesters started banging on the side of a van in which one of those detained was being held. The letters ACAB were sprayed on the side of the vehicle and one of its wing mirrors was broken off.

By the time the Met regained control of the situation, images from the previous hour had been widely shared across social media platforms, including the pictures of Ms Stevensons arrest.

But it would be unfair to suggest that the ragtag mob of malcontents behind the skirmishes are the only ones to emerge from all this in a less than glorious light. There were the bandwagon-jumping politicians who barely paused to draw breath before unleashing the most stinging attacks on the men and women of the Met.

Sadiq Khan was quick to condemn the police action as neither appropriate nor proportionate. Mr Khan, who has ultimate responsibility for day-to-day policing in the capital, omitted to mention that his chief of staff David Bellamy had held discussions with Met chiefs the previous Thursday on how the vigil should be policed.

His office says no further conversations on the matter took place in the immediate run-up to last Saturdays gathering. In a series of phone calls after the chaos on Saturday night involving him, Ms Dick and their respective deputies, he is understood to have expressed serious reservations about the handling of the vigil. By Friday, he was giving his backing to Ms Dick  after previously saying he was urgently seeking an explanation from her over the unacceptable scenes.

Ms Dick spoke to both Boris Johnson and Priti Patel by phone last Sunday, as well as meeting Mr Khan at City Hall. Reports yesterday suggested that the controversy makes it unlikely that her contract will be renewed when it expires in April 2022.

It is understood, however, that she has won widespread respect in the ranks for resisting political pressure. She stood by the officers on the ground and thats all we can ask for, said one Met employee.

Cress has had her problems, but everyone backs her on this  its the politicians who should be ashamed.

One day theyre calling for protesters to go home and supporting the police who are enforcing the law, the next theyre calling for their heads  nobody knows whether theyre coming or going.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith was among the senior figures to give a more measured response when he said that it ill behoves politicians to get up and pass judgment on what happened without having all the evidence. He also told the House of Commons that a female officer informed him that she had been threatened at the event and warned that she should have been murdered rather than Ms Everard.

Meanwhile, senior sources at Scotland Yard have also expressed their shock at the political fallout over the past week, with one saying: Never has the polices independence been more valued than when you see politicians blowing this way and that.

Others pointed out that police are working hard to reduce sexual harassment and violence against women. Thames Valley Polices scheme, Project Vigilant, for instance, which saw plain-clothes officers based on streets outside bars and clubs to help reduce rape by 50 per cent and sexual assaults by 30 per cent, is set to be adopted by forces across the country.

As for the root cause of last Saturdays unseemly turn of events, there are few doubts among those who saw it all unfold.

It was the usual professional activists who turn up to almost every protest, associates of XR and anti-lockdowners, one officer told the MoS.
A man who murdered his mother and partner on yesterday evening before taking his own life was well known to police and was recently released from prison, the Sunday World can reveal.

The killings have left the Newtownabbey area of County Antrim in shock and disbelief.

Today the murder scenes in Derrycoole in the Rathcoole estate and in nearby Glenville Road, close to Monkstown, were still being investigated by forensics officers.

Just before 11pm last night officers were called to the Derrycoole Way property where they found the body of the killers mother, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

As they continued their enquiries, police went to a large farm-style house on the Glenville Road where they found a young woman dead and a man in a state of unconsciousness.

First responders performed first aid on the man, however he died at the scene.

It is understood the man was the perpetrator of both murders and that he is well-known to police.

Sunday World sources say the man had been involved in a car chase in recent months which resulted in him spending a period of time in prison.

After his release, he resumed his relationship with the young woman who he murdered at the Glenville address.

Residents in Glenville said the large house the body of the young woman was found in was well-known in the area and is connected to the family of the killer.

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At the Glenville murder scene, DUP MLA Paula Bradley said: This was horrendous news to waken up to this morning. To hear the lives of two women have been lost, and also the man as well.

Violence against women and girls is prevalent throughout all of our society, not just in the UK, but across the world.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Just after 10.55pm on Friday evening, police received a report of a stabbing at a residential property in the Derrycoole Way area. Officers attended, along with colleagues from NIAS. Sadly, a woman has been pronounced dead.

As officers carried out further enquiries, they attended a residential property in the Glenville Road area. An unconscious male was located in the property. Despite the provision of first aid, the male was pronounced dead. On searching the property, another deceased female was located.

Read More

While we have launched a murder investigation, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with these incidents which we believe are connected.

"We would urge anyone with any information which may assist our investigation to contact 101 and quote reference number 2441 of 19/03/21. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

Read the full story in tomorrow's Sunday World.
Death and Arrest After Adelaide House Fire

A man in South Australia has died in hospital and another has been arrested interstate three days after a house fire in Adelaide that police believe was deliberately lit.

The Woodville West blaze was quickly brought under control and damage confined to the lounge room after two fire crews were called to the Calendar Place home shortly before 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

A 31-year-old man and two women, aged 27 and 28, inside were taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious burns.

Police said in a statement on Saturday the man died overnight in hospital.

Meanwhile, a man wanted for questioning over the fire was arrested after he was spotted driving in country NSW.

The 32-year-old from Woodville West was taken to a Sydney Hospital, where he remains in custody under police guard on a South Australian warrant for attempted murder.

Those charges are now expected to be upgraded to murder.

SA Police are in talks with their NSW counterparts to extradite the man back to South Australia.

Police say all parties are known to each other with the incident not considered a random attack.
A court in Pakistan has sentenced two men to death for the gang rape of a woman last year on the side of a highway in the eastern city of Lahore, an attack that triggered nationwide protests and calls for tougher laws.

The men, Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali, were convicted of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism offenses, according a statement issued by Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta.

The judge also sentenced the men to 14 years in prison, which must be served before any executions can take place, prosecutor Hafiz Asghar said.

The woman was raped at the side of a highway after her car ran out of fuel.

According to the prosecution, she was inside the locked car with her two children when Malhi and Ali broke a window, dragged her outside, and raped her at gunpoint in front of the children. The men also stole money, jewelry, and bank cards before fleeing.

They were tracked down with the help of mobile phone data, Asghar said. The woman identified the two men during judicial proceedings, and DNA samples taken from the crime scene matched theirs, he said, adding that Ali confessed to the crime before a magistrate.

Malhi and Ali did not hire lawyers, and their state-appointed attorneys were not available for comment following the verdict, according to the Associated Press.

The crime drew widespread condemnation in Pakistan, including street protests calling for legal reforms. Human rights activists also have urged the government to introduce harsh new penalties for rapists.

Victims of sex crimes find it hard to get justice in conservative Pakistan, where such crimes carry social stigma. Faulty investigations and flawed laws also mean that rape cases often drag on for years and make it difficult for victims to come forward.

Pakistans president in December issued a new law requiring the establishment of special courts to speedily conclude trials in rape cases.

The new law requires courts to conclude the trials within four months. It also creates a nationwide registry of rape offenders and prohibits the identification of rape victims.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
Three East Glendalough School students have created a mini company called 'Simple Signposts' which aims to spread awareness about autism.

Transition year students Hillary Oughton Hollingsworth, Nadia Finnan and Heidi Zieg decided to create a resource which would help primary school children who are on the autism spectrum.

All three have links to the autism spectrum through friends or family members and the book they created is based on supporting social skills that occur daily in a school environment.

The book is composed of easy to read sentences and pictures that explain social situations.

Hilary said, 'The reason I wanted to make the book 'Simple Signposts' is because I wanted to help children on the autism spectrum. The book helps children with social skills.

'This is one of the biggest struggles children on the spectrum have in their daily life which I have noticed. I wanted to help make children that struggle with their school lives easier. I hope our book can assist children and make social skills easier to understand.'

A donation from the sales of our book will be made to AsIAM, an Irish autism charity.

Nadia said, 'I've noticed over the years the stigmatism and lack of awareness and understanding of autism. I thought that by creating a resource for children in a school environment more understanding could be brought to their condition.

'My hopes in creating a book for children on the autism spectrum is that I create more awareness about the condition.'

The aim is to sell the book to libraries, primary schools, special schools and to parents with children on the autism spectrum.

Heidi said, 'I was excited to be part of a group and involved in the book and produce something positive and helpful that may assist a child with autism. Having looked further into what's available in the market, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of material out there.

'I've really enjoyed learning about autism. As someone with learning difficulties, I feel it's important to help everyone understand their way of learning and to be able to take information on board.

'I believe our book will support a parent in talking their child through what to expect and how to behave in school.'

The trio also created a website called www.simplesignpost.com, with the help of Hillary's older sister Amanda.

Their instagram account and Facebook page are both named simplesignposts, while emails can be sent to simplesignposts123@gmail.com.

The students would also love for anyone who purchases the book to write a review and post it up on their social media pages or tell Hillary, Nadia and Heidi how they could improve their product.

'Since day one, we've been working tirelessly in order to create this book for children on the autism spectrum.

'We're extremely proud of how far we've come, yet remain committed to preforming even better. Our stories are carefully selected and relate to different scenarios children face everyday while they are in school,' added Hillary.
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Top United States and Chinese officials traded accusations Thursday in their first face-to-face talks since President Joe Biden took office.

The U.S. accused the Chinese delegation of grandstanding to look strong in front of Chinese media. China answered by saying there was a strong smell of gunpowder in the room that was caused by the Americans.

They will talk again later Friday for the final meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

The opening comments from both sides were unusually strong for what is considered little more than a normal diplomatic meeting.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi denounced each others countrys policies. The angry words in their public comments suggested the private discussions would be even more difficult.

The meetings in Anchorage came as the two world powers disagreed over issues of human rights, trade and the coronavirus pandemic.

Blinken said the Biden administration is united with its allies in pushing back against Chinas increasing authoritarianism and aggression at home and in other countries.

He said Chinas actions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan threaten the rules-based order that maintains international stability. The American diplomat also complained about Chinas cyber-attacks on the United States and economic threats against U.S. allies.

Yang accused the U.S. of hypocrisy for criticizing Beijing on human rights and other issues. He criticized the U.S. for its own struggling democracy, poor treatment of minorities, and its own foreign and trade policies.

The Chinese diplomat said, China will not accept unwarranted accusations from the U.S. side. He noted that relations between the two countries were difficult and that it has damaged the interests of our two peoples.

Blinken appeared to be angry about Yangs comments, which went on for more than 15 minutes. The U.S. State Department criticized Chinese officials for violating an agreed upon two-minute time limit for opening statements. It accused the Chinese of grandstanding.

Having just ended a trip to Japan and South Korea, Blinken said other world leaders agreed with him. Im also hearing deep concern about some of the actions your government is taking, Blinken told the Chinese officials.

A senior Biden administration official said private discussions had been substantive, serious and direct and lasted far longer than the two hours that been planned.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

grandstand  v. to behave or speak in a way that is intended to impress people and to get public approval

authoritarian - adj. not allowing personal freedom

hypocrisy - n. behavior that does not agree with what someone claims to believe or feel

unwarranted  adj. not necessary or appropriate

substantive  adj. important or meaningful

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A GoFundMe page for the two sons of an Atlanta spa shooting victim has raised nearly $2.5million in one day after going viral.

Randy Park, 22, launched the fundraising campaign Friday, three days after his mother, Hyun Jung Grant, and seven others were killed in a shooting spree across three Asian massage parlors.

Park wrote that he was seeking donations, with a goal of $20,000, for 'basic living necessities' such as food, bills, and other expenses for him and his younger brother, who are now the only two members of his family living in the US.

'This is something that should never happen to anyone. She [Grant] was a single mother who dedicated her whole life to providing for my brother and I.

'It is only my brother and I in the United States. The rest of my family is in South Korea and are unable to come.'

Randy Park, 22, launched the fundraising campaign Friday, three days after his mother, Hyun Jung Grant, and seven others were killed in a shooting spree across three Asian massage parlors

Shooting victim Hyun Grant (left) came from South Korea with her two sons (pictured) and was raising them on her own

By Saturday, the campaign had been shared over 66,000 times, with more than 64,300 people donating over $2,471,210.

The outpouring of donations prompted Park to write a lengthy update expressing his gratitude to his many well-wishers.

'I don't know how any word I write here will ever convey how grateful and blessed I am to receive this much support,' he wrote. 'To put it bluntly, I can't believe you guys exist.'

He described the 51-year-old Grant as a 'single mother who dedicated her whole life to providing for my brother and I.'

'She was one of my best friends and the strongest influence on who we are today,' he wrote movingly. 'Losing her has put a new lens on my eyes on the amount of hate that exists in our world.'

Grant's son Randy Park, 22, talks on Friday about his loss. He said his mother was one of his best friends

By Saturday, the campaign had been shared over 66,000 times, with more than 64,300 people donating over $2,471,210.

Park said that he has no time to grieve because he has to plan his mother's funeral and look after his brother while dealing with problems related to the family's housing situation and financial woes.

Grant loved disco and club music, often strutting or moonwalking while doing household chores and jamming with her sons to tunes blasting over the car stereo.

The single mother found ways to enjoy herself despite working 'almost every day' to support sons, Park said.

'I learned how to moonwalk because, like, I saw her moonwalking while vacuuming when I was a kid,' Park said.

On Tuesday night, Park was at home playing video games when he heard a gunman had opened fire at the Gold Spa in Atlanta where his mother worked.

Grant, 51, was killed at Gold Spa, where she worked on Tuesday when gunman Robert Aaron Long opened fire

He rushed to the scene and then to a police station to find out more information. But it was through word of mouth that he learned his mother was dead.

Authorities have said Long told them he wasn't motivated by race.

Park dismissed the idea that the shootings weren't fueled by anti-Asian sentiment. Still, he said that his mother raised him to believe that people are fundamentally good, though 'sometimes, things go horribly wrong.'

Her job was a sensitive subject, Park said, noting the stigma often associated with massage businesses. She told her sons that they should tell others she worked doing makeup with her friends.

Ultimately, Park said, he didn't care what she did for work.

'She loved me and my brother enough to work for us, to dedicate her whole life,' he said. 'That's enough.'

Meanwhile, more information has been coming out about the suspected shooter, who was described by those who knew him as a devout Christian and the son of a youth minister who had been in rehabilitation for his sex addiction.

Robert Aaron Long, 21, has been charged with murdering four people at two spas in Atlanta and four more in a spa in Cherokee County on Tuesday.

Long, who was said to be a customer at two out of the three targeted spas, told police on Wednesday that the attacks were not racially motivated, but had to do with his sex and pornography addiction, and his purported desire to eliminate the sources of his temptation.

All eight deceased victims have been formally identified as: Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; Soon C. Park, 44; Hyun J. Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69, and 63-year-old Yong Yue.
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ATTENDING each others events, learning about each others experiences, standing up for each other  these are some of the things Muslim and Indigenous women in Manitoba can do to support each other.

ATTENDING each others events, learning about each others experiences, standing up for each other  these are some of the things Muslim and Indigenous women in Manitoba can do to support each other.

That was the message from a webinar titled "Muslim and Indigenous Women Leaders: In Spirit of Reconciliation" on Thursday.

The webinar, sponsored by the Islamic Social Services Association, featured panellists from the Muslim and Indigenous communities, who talked about how they can work together to deal with common issues faced by both groups.

Panellist Rabia Khedr, who directs a non-profit that serves Muslims with disabilities in the Toronto area, noted how much women from the two communities have in common.

Both Muslim and Indigenous women "face marginalization," she said, adding many Muslim women in Canada have come from countries where they experienced oppression and trauma, and were forced from their homes or lost their culture.

In Canada, women from both communities have also faced discrimination, she said.

"There are lots of conversations we can have to create a country where everyone feels they belong," she said.

Diane Redsky, executive director of Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata, a Winnipeg organization that serves Indigenous families, agreed Muslim and Indigenous women have "unique perspectives and common experiences" to share.

This includes how they "understand colonization from a practical level in our communities in the past and today."

Problems can "look super big, and we dont know where to start," she said, but if Muslim and Indigenous women "reach out and start a conversation" then "powerful things can happen."

Nahanni Fontaine, NDP MLA for St. Johns, said women are the "anchors" of Muslim and Indigenous communities, despite having experienced gender-based violence.

"We are intimately bound on that issue," she said, adding when she sees Muslim women at vigils for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, "it touches my spirit, it makes me so happy."

Noting that no Muslim woman has been elected to the Manitoba legislature, she stressed the importance of Muslim women running for government office.

"I hope one day we can see Muslim women elected to the legislature," she said.

Iqra Khalid, a Liberal member of Parliament in Ontario, said if Muslim and Indigenous women work together they can be "very powerful."

"There is a huge role for partnership to address the issues facing us," she said, adding "we should be allies in each others causes."

Shahina Siddiqui of the Islamic association hosted the panel. She recalled how, as she grew up in Pakistan, her parents sent her to a Roman Catholic convent school where she was not allowed to speak her own language.

Before she came to Canada, she only knew about Indigenous people from movies, she said.

Once, when asked by an Indigenous man why she was so interested in reconciliation since Muslims werent responsible for the historical oppression of Indigenous people, she told him, "When I took an oath of citizenship to Canada I inherited the good, the bad and the ugly," she said.

Today, she added, "I cant sleep knowing my Indigenous family is suffering."

Muslim and Indigenous women have much traditional wisdom to share, she added. "We need to reach out, person to person, to break the barriers and biases inside of us."

faith@freepress.mb.ca
ALEPPO, Syria  The Syrian regime's decision to reduce the readiness of its army and armed forces has raised a panoply of questions related to the motivation and timing behind the decision on the military and economic conditions in Syria and raised the question as to whether the regime is seeking to convey specific messages to parties influencing Syrian affairs.

On Jan. 10, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a circular ordering a rollback of army mobilization to regular level, meaning the level maintained nine years ago before the start of the conflict.

According to the Enab Baladi opposition website, the decision stipulated scaling down the combat readiness of the Syrian military departments by the order of 66% to 33% for administrative departments, 80% to 50% for military units affiliated thereto and 100% to 80% for ground forces and the navy. In hospitals, however, readiness was maintained at 80%.

Mohammed Adeeb, a political science researcher who lives in the countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, To maintain the same level of combat readiness, the regime requires a continued flow of support and funding. The regime has been garnering support from Iran ever since it joined its ally, the Assad regime, in the war against the Syrian revolution. However, it seems that Iranian funding for the regimes army has stopped due to the economic conditions and international sanctions imposed on the Iranian regime.

Adeeb said the regime, through its decision to reduce the combat readiness of its forces, "is seeking to calm the anger of its Syrian supporters who started to long for their sons recruited in the army. The decision has been seemingly taken to allow soldiers and officers to visit their families.

Ahmad Hasan Abdel Qader, a political activist based in the countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, The decision to reduce the readiness of the regime army was [seemingly] based on a Russian order, as Russia wants to convey a message to the influential countries in Syrian affairs that the war has ended. Also, the regime is preparing itself for the upcoming phase, and the decision comes in the framework of Russian efforts to entrench Assad's rule and preserve his regime.

Hisham Eskif, deputy head of the political bureau of the opposition Al-Salam Brigade, told Al-Monitor, The direct reason behind the Syrian regimes decision to scale down the readiness of its forces is its inability to bear the high costs that the permanent state of alert requires due to the deteriorating economic situation in Syria. Consequently, we might witness a rollback in the financial allocations to the army, meaning a reduction in food, fuel and other daily expenses.

The brigade is affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Eskif said, The decision will not have a noticeable effect on the Idlib fronts in northwestern Syria, for example, because it does not apply to the militias supported by Russia nor the militias supported by Iran, and we have thus far not monitored any significant changes in the military situation of the regime forces in Idlib and its surroundings.

Abdulslam Abdulrzak, a researcher in military affairs living in Idlib, told Al-Monitor, The decision to scale down the readiness of the regimes army is a pro-forma decision that will remain ineffective. It is merely intended to convey messages to the allied forces, primarily Iran, in order for them to resume their financial and military support for the regimes army in the fight against the Islamic State [IS] in the Syrian desert, which is a vital land route for the Iranian forces and their affiliated militias to reach their areas of influence. The timing of the decision was not coincidental but coincided with the battles taking place in the desert. It is as if Assad wants to tell the Iranians, If you want us to seriously participate in fighting IS in the desert, then you should continue to support us.

Abdulrzak said, The readiness of the regimes army will not be affected by the de-escalation, as it can mobilize its forces in record time in case there is a need to involve the forces in a battle against the FSA or the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF].

Younes al-Karim, an economic researcher and analyst who lives in France, told Al-Monitor, The decision that Assad made to scale down the readiness of his army seems to be inevitable in light of the large deficit in the armys budget, as Assads soldiers do not have enough food in their military barracks, and the state of resentment in the ranks of the army is increasing by day. The Assad regime is trying, through this decision, to absorb the anger of its soldiers.

Karim said, The decision conveys several messages to many parties. It conveys a message to Turkey whereby the regime will not launch a battle against the FSA  Turkeys ally in Idlib. It also conveys a message to the United States where it [Syria] will not launch a battle against the SDF in northeast Syria and a message to Israel whereby the Assad regime is not disturbed by the airstrikes directed at the Iranian forces in Syria.

Karim added, Through its messages to the three influential countries in Syrian affairs, the regime is trying to get them to sympathize with it to mitigate the effects of the Caesar Act, and is preparing itself for the presidential elections scheduled for mid-2021.

The Syrian regime never takes its decisions randomly. It rather plans them and tries to achieve the largest possible gains out of them both at the internal and external levels.

Mahmood Talha, a journalist who works with the oppositions Thiqa News Agency, told Al-Monitor, The military readiness rollback decision will seemingly lead to cooling off the fighting fronts and strengthening the state of de-escalation in northwestern and northeastern Syria, meaning with the FSA and the SDF. The Syrians who live in areas outside the control of the regime will be prompted to call on the local forces in control to improve their living and security conditions because the regime army no longer poses a threat on the battle fronts, and the time is ripe to claim the basics that people need. This will leave the FSA and the SDF in a predicament as they do not have organized institutions capable of carrying out the required duties toward the millions of Syrians living in areas under their control, and this would serve the Assad regime in the lead up to the upcoming presidential elections.
Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore fireworks dismissed

U.S. District Court Judge Roberto Lange in a ruling Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought against President Joe Biden's administration by Gov. Kristi Noem after the NFS a fireworks display there next month.
None of the principal investigators of any of the experiments manifested on the mission wanted Nelson anywhere near their equipment, former NASA astronaut Mike Mullane wrote in his book Riding Rockets. They were getting one chance to fly their experiments, had been working with the astronauts for months on how to best operate the equipment, and had no desire to have a nontechnical politician step in at the last moment and screw things up.
New Delhi: US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin met with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday (March 20) during his three-day visit to India. Afghanistan and the situation in the Indo Pacific region were the key topics of discussions during the talks.

The one-hour long talks included discussions around the current strategic situation in the Indo Pacific region and the EAMs briefing about India's "current security challenges and our long term strategic outlook", sources said.

US Defense Secretary Llyod Austin also briefed Jaishankar about his visit to Japan and South Korea. Austin is on his maiden visit as Defence Secretary to Asia, with India being the final stop during it. His visit comes in light of the quad-India, Australia, Japan and US leadership virtual meet and increased New Delhi-Washington engagement.

While talking about Afghanistan, the ongoing peace process was discussed including an assessment of the situation on the ground. EAM Jaishankar appreciated the Biden Administrations engagement with India on this issue.

Earlier, the US had proposed to hold talks with the Afghan government. Six countries, including India, will participate in the talks to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. The visit of the US Defence Secretary will be followed by the visit of the Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar to India.

During the meet, highlighting the commonalities and convergence, EAM Jaishankar said that the India-US relationship was unique for the breadth and intensity of cooperation that covered so many domains.

While defence engagement has increased with Washington authorizing over 20 billion dollars in defence sales to India, people to people relations form the bedrock of this partnership.

The issue of human rights also came up during the meeting. The US Defence Secretary said the two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values, are important to us and we will lead with these values."

Jaishankar agreed and emphasised that a strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world.

Ahead of the visit, chairman of the US Senate foreign relations committee Senator Robert Menendez called for the US defence secretary to raise the issue of human rights.
In the coming weeks, NAFCU is offering several webinars on key industry issues ranging from using secondary capital to drive growth and what credit union professionals need to know when preparing for the NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert (NCVE) exam.

Here is a snapshot of the online training opportunities available for credit unions in the coming weeks:
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Ukraine has signed preliminary supply agreements with six global manufacturers of vaccines against COVID-19, three vaccines are registered in the country, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said in an interview with the German publication Bild.

"Ukraine is negotiating with all world vaccine manufacturers. Today, preliminary agreements have been signed with six of them and three vaccines are registered in Ukraine. These are AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac. In the near future, we expect the delivery of the first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines at the initiative of COVAX, where Germany is one of the world's major donors and initiator of such an international platform. We are grateful to Germany for participating in this global initiative," the prime minister said in an interview, according to the press service of the Ukrainian government.

At the same time, answering a question regarding the use of the Russian vaccine in Ukraine, Shmyhal said that it is impossible today for a number of reasons.

"We really do not see today the possibility of using Sputnik V in Ukraine for several reasons. It has not passed the necessary stages of clinical research. And the second reason is that, of course, we cannot use the vaccine of the country with which we have an ongoing military conflict," he said.
A surge in Covid cases across Europe could see summer holidays cancelled and threatens a potential third wave in Britain, government scientists have warned.

Outbreaks of the South African variant in countries throughout the continent is causing particular concern, sparking calls for tougher travel restrictions.

As a result, some experts fear European getaways in May, and potentially in the subsequent months, much anticipated by millions of Britons, are now a doubt.

While Britain's vaccination roll-out has been a huge success, with a record 660,276 jabs administered yesterday, amid falling cases and deaths, the picture on the continent looks different.

The EU has overseen a shambolic vaccine distribution programme and the number of positive tests is on the up in countries such as France, Spain, Germany and Italy.

The worry for British experts is that such scenes earlier in the pandemic have often foreshadowed a similar scenario in the UK.

A government source told the Times: 'It's a fact that when waves one and two hit Europe they hit us afterwards.'

A deserted street in the French city of Nice as several areas of the country go into a new month-long lockdown

A new month-long lockdown was imposed in Paris and other regions across the Channel this weekend, with scientists fearing as many as one in ten of the 35,000 daily cases reported in the capital being the South African variant.

Officially known as B.1.351, it is the Covid strain concerning scientists most because it makes the current crop of jabs slightly less effective.

While vaccination offers some protection to Britain, there are still millions of young people who are well down the waiting list and most likely to spread the virus.

While experts are not urging the Prime Minister to change the current plan to ease restrictions, caution is being exercised and a surge could prompt a change of thought over the reopening of shops and outdoor hospitality over the coming weeks.

The reports echo comments made by Professor Neil Ferguson yesterday who said that Britain must keep out the South African variant, suggesting foreign holiday plans may have to be shelved.

The SAGE adviser - dubbed 'Professor Lockdown' because his gloomy modelling of the first wave spooked ministers into the spring shutdown - said the troubling Covid strain was accounting for a 'significant' amount of new cases on the continent.

He stopped short of calling for an outright travel ban but hinted that tough surveillance and quarantining at airports and borders would need to remain in place.

Professor Ferguson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Perhaps of more concern for the UK though is that some countries are notably seeing a significant fraction, five to 10 per cent of cases, of the South African variant.

'When infection levels go up in France, to 30,000 cases a day, that implies there's at least 1,500 to 2,000 cases a day of the South African variant. That is the variant we really do want to keep out of the UK.'

He added that 'important decisions' were coming up, including whether or not No10 can relax international travel restrictions to Europe.

Britain has already identified up to 344 cases of the South African variant, sparking surge-testing in dozens of postcodes in a desperate attempt to root out every single infection.

It came after a study by Oxford University yesterday found its jab produces seven times fewer antibodies against the South African variant compared to the original strain. Pfizer's vaccine produced nine times less.

But antibodies make up just one part of the immune response to Covid - for example white blood cells also play a critical role. In an effort to calm fears about the strain, the chief of Oxford's vaccine trials claimed last month that catching the South African strain after vaccination was unlikely to cause serious illness but may leave people with the sniffles.

Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, said around five to 10 per cent of cases in Europe were being triggered by the South African strain

The Covid variants circulating in the UK: PHE has six variants 'under investigation' - including strains from the Philippines and Antigua and several which spawned in the UK. It has four more which it describes as 'variants of concern'

Britain has already identified up to 351 cases of the variant, sparking surge-testing to root out other cases of the variant. This week two areas of London saw surge-testing ordered after cases of the South African variant were identified there

Professor Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, stood down from SAGE in the spring after it emerged he had flouted stay at home rules to have secret trysts with his married mistress.

But the top expert still holds a key role as a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), which feeds into SAGE.

OXFORD AND PFIZER JABS MORE EFFECTIVE AGAINST BRAZILIAN VARIANT THAN INITIALLY FEARED The coronavirus vaccines being rolled out in Britain work better against the Brazilian variant than first feared, research suggests. An Oxford University study found its vaccine and the jab made by Pfizer perform just as well against the P.1 strain that first emerged in Manaus as they do against the Kent variant. The vaccines, already in the arms of 25million Britons, have shown to be highly effective against the UK dominant Kent strain, reducing deaths and hospital rates by more than 85 per cent. Scientists initially feared the P.1 variant would be resistant to vaccines because it has a number of worrying mutations on top of the ones it shares with the Kent strain. There have so far been 12 cases of the Brazilian variant in the UK  nine in England and three in Scotland. All of the patients had either direct or indirect travel links to Brazil. The study exposed blood samples from vaccinated people to various Covid variants and monitored their antibody responses. It found the vaccines produced nearly three times less antibodies against the Kent and Brazil variants when compared with the original strain. The researchers said this was still more than enough to neutralise the viruses. However, the jabs stimulated up to nine times less antibodies when exposed to the South African variant, which has been detected in hundreds of people in the UK. Advertisement

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 this morning he warned ministers would need to make key decisions about how the UK would trade with France as the country faces its third lockdown.

'I think there are important decisions coming up, and it's always a balancing act,' he said.

'How much we relax the current ban on international travel except for essential services (for example).

'As a lot of essential travel between ourselves and France for business, commerce and trade, how can we reduce the risks associated with that travel.

'Those are policy decisions, I'm just raising the issue that we are doing so well with the vaccination campaign, we are driving down deaths at a faster rate than I ever thought was possible and that will allow us to open up.'

When asked whether he thought France - which placed 16 areas under a four-week lockdown - should be added to the red list, he said: 'I don't think that's necessarily a practical issue given the amount of trade.'

Britain is carrying out surge-testing in postcodes where the South African variant has been picked up. Officials in those areas are carrying out door-to-door testing and mobile swabbing units have been set up.

Two postcode areas of London - in Camberwell and Harrow - were added to the list this week after the strain was spotted in these areas.

And ministers have also launched testing for the Brazilian P.1 variant, which shares key mutations with the South African strain. Twelve cases of that version have been detected in Britain so far.

With more variants cropping up in the UK and around the world, the Government has also imposed a travel red list - requiring arrivals from more than 30 nations to quarantine in hotels at their own expense.

They have been criticised for not expanding the list further, but experts warn even with a larger list it would 'only be a matter of time' before these strains arrive.

It comes after a third of France was plunged into lockdown last night amid a surge in Covid cases and a shambolic vaccine roll-out after use of the AstraZeneca jab was suspended based on unproven blood-clot fears.

French Covid infections have surged by almost 30 per cent in a week after 34,998 new cases of the virus were announced yesterday alone.

For comparison, Britain recorded 6,303 new infections with the virus yesterday.

Paris, the northern Hauts-de-France region, and 15 other departments were plunged into a month-long shutdown yesterday in a desperate attempt to curb rising cases.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said the tougher measures followed a 'clear acceleration' of the spread of the virus, and that the country was in the grips of a third wave.

'The moment has come to go further, with more demanding restrictions where things are most critical,' he told reporters.

SEveral EU members were forced into a humiliating U-turn yesterday after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said the AstraZeneca jab was safe and effective to use - despite several members pausing their roll-out over unproven fears.

A series of countries including Germany, France and Italy have already said they will start using the jab again, after EU experts said there was no raised risk of blood clots.

But Professor Peter Openshaw, an experimental medicines expert at Imperial College London, said the temporary stoppage in more than a dozen EU countries was likely to translate into 'many, many deaths' due to the virus.

'Because of this delay, and because of the uncertainty now of the vaccine in some people's minds...I think it will probably run to thousands of lives that have been lost,' he told Times Radio.

While Covid deaths in France have been steadily falling since last year, there are fears the trend could reverse as cases continue to rise
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[March 20, 2021] Assistive Technology Market to grow by Nearly $ 8 Billion during 2021-2025 | Insights on COVID-19 Impact Analysis, Key Drivers, Trends, and Products Offered by Major Vendors | Technavio

NEW YORK, March 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global assistive technology market is expected to grow by USD 7.93 Billion, exhibiting a CAGR of over 7% during 2021-2025, according to Technavio's latest market report. Based on our research, the healthcare technology sector witnessed a positive impact due to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also throws light on the pre- and post-impact of COVID-19 on businesses. Download a Free Sample Report The sensory aids segment will generate maximum revenue in the assistive technology market, owing to the rising prevalence of bilateral hearing loss and expanding geriatric population. In terms of geography, North America will present significant opportunities for market vendors due to the factors such as the growth of advanced healthcare facilities, rising healthcare spending, and the presence of government organizations such as Medicaid, which provide medical aid to people with limited income and financial resources. Assistive Technology Market: Major Growth Drivers The following factors are expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period: Increasing number of orthopaedic and neurological disorders

Growing demand for rehabilitation centers

Growing focus on compliance with industrial standards In addition, the report identifies the rising adoption of hearing aids with rechargeable batteries as a major trend in the assistive technology market. Rechargeable batteries made of Lithium-ion and zinc offer enhanced power compared with traditional rechargeable batteries. They are non-toxic and non-flammable and can serve a lifetime for hearing aid machines. Besides, several market vendors are focusing on the development of silver-zinc rechargeable batteries that are safe for users and are environmentally friendly. The report helps businesses create strategies to make the most of future growth opportunities. Grab a Free Sample Report Now! Assistive Technology Market: Key Vendor Offerings



Demant AS: The company is involved in the development, manufacturing, and sales of products and equipment that help people with hearing loss connect and communicate with other people. Some of the hearing aid devices offered by the company are Oticon, Bernafon, and Sonic. Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare: The company manufactures and offers electrically operated patient lifts such as Samsoft 175 V2 Lifter.

GF Health Products Inc.: The company offers a wide range of assistive technology products such as folding walkers, non-folding walkers, healthcare seating. GN Store Nord AS: The company is involved in the development, manufacturing, and sales of innovative audio devices across the world. Invacare Corp.: The company is involved in the development, manufacturing, and sales of powered mobility products such as Invacare TDXSP2 with LiNX Technology. Reasons to Buy Assistive Technology Market Report: CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist assistive technology market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the assistive technology market size and its contribution to the parent market

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The growth of the assistive technology market across North America , Europe , Asia , and ROW

, , , and ROW Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of assistive technology market vendors This report can be personalized according to your business needs.

Enquire Before Purchasing Related Reports on Healthcare Include: Global Cochlear Implants Market  Global cochlear implants market is segmented by product (unilateral and bilateral) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW). Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Wearable Medical Devices Market  Global wearable medical devices market is segmented by application (therapeutic medical devices, and diagnostic and monitoring medical devices) and geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and ROW). Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact

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To be honest all the major airlines are the same at the end of the day. One person will swear that one airline is the best while someone else will swear they are just awful. All of them have their good flights and bad fights but the basic seat and meal service don't vary too much between any of them.

Unless there are major price reasons for doing otherwise I would choose whichever airline has the best schedule for you with the least stops and lay over time, that will make more of a difference than what airline you pick. If you can, pick a flight that has the transatlantic portion that ends in your destination, and at your home airport.

For example most direct transatlantic flights to Edinburgh will start from the East coast, so connect there and get straight into Edinburgh from the US rather than connecting in London, Dublin or some other European city. Conversely, on the way back (assuming you live in California) you might want to fly to connect in London or Dublin or some other European city. That way you can get the long flight back to the West coast and be home as soon as that is over, The reason is that after a long transatlantic journey it is tough to have to connect onto a short haul flight you are best to get that out if the way at the start of the day. Also, look out for the aircraft type. A wide body airplane is going to be a lot more comfortable than a narrow body (757) which is what some airlines fly from the US into Edinburgh,
Mariposa County Health Dept. offering walk-in shots at today's clinic View Photo

Mariposa County, CA  Mariposa Health officials are putting out an urgent call to those residents 60 and older in Mariposa County who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine that they can get a shot for the next couple of hours with no appointment.

Walk-ins are being accepted at the clinic until 4 p.m., which is located at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds in Building B. Public health officials relay this clinic is using the Moderna vaccine with the second shots being administered on Friday, April 16th.

Those coming to get a shot are asked to bring identification showing proof of age and residence, and wear loose-fitting or short-sleeved tops. Health officials also advise that there will be a 1530-minute observation time after getting the vaccine. They also urge, If you are not 60 years or older, please share this information with someone who is.

For more information or questions regarding the vaccine or procedure for getting a shot, call or text at 209-259-1332.
US President Joe Biden stumbled upon a staircase thrice while he was boarding his Air Force One plane on Friday. The incident happened as Biden headed to meet Asian-American community leaders after a major shooting at a parlour this week. The US President can be seen holding on the side railings of the staircase and heading up to board the plane when he fell once, and then again two times before he could gain balance.

The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. After composing himself, the US President later gave a customary salute from the top of the staircase as he entered the plane.

WATCH: Biden falls three times trying to climb the stairs to board Air Force One pic.twitter.com/IfDUjLPQB4 a Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 19, 2021

Joe Biden, 78, is the oldest president in the history of the United States. He was able to defeat Donald Trump in a bitter contest during the 2020 elections. Meanwhile, the White House has said Biden was "doing fine". Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told White House pool reporters Biden was "100 per cent" fine.

"It was very windy. I almost fell coming up the steps myself. He is doing 100 per cent," she said, reported The Independent, adding that "he's preparing for the trip just fine".

Notably, concerns have been raised regarding Biden's health. He had last year suffered a hairline fracture in his right foot while playing with his dog Major. Trump's campaign also attacked him over his fitness and Trump even coined the term "sleepy Joe", which is used more often during poll campaigning.

Also read: Joe Biden twists foot while playing with dog Major
POST-secondary professors are raising concerns about the legislative direction of the Manitoba government  which they believe is mimicking trends seen across U.S. red states.

POST-secondary professors are raising concerns about the legislative direction of the Manitoba government  which they believe is mimicking trends seen across U.S. red states.

Scott Forbes, president of the Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations, says alarm bells were ringing when the provincial government recently tabled Bill 57 (Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act).

The legislation would prohibit protests that interfere with the operation of "critical infrastructure," which ranges from feedlots to courthouses to hospitals to pipelines.

Similar legislation was passed in Alberta in 2020, following nationwide protests in solidarity with Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs who were blocking construction of a gas pipeline through the B.C. First Nations traditional territory and unceded lands.

However, the framework for such legislation didnt originate in Alberta  it can be traced to laws passed in Oklahoma in 2017, Forbes said.

"There were two bills introduced into the state legislature in response to the Standing Rock Sioux protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota in 2016. And the Oklahoma legislators wrote legislation to prevent similar Indigenous protests in Oklahoma," Forbes said.

From there, the Oklahoma legislation was repackaged by a think tank called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has been connected to large corporations and conservative U.S. players such as the Koch brothers.

In the time since the Oklahoma legislation was written, similar bills were introduced by Republicans in 17 state legislatures, before the trend jumped across the border to Alberta.

"Its part of a much larger legislative agenda," Forbes said, raising similar concerns as they relate to post-secondary education.

In fall 2020, CBC News found Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister had begun having conversations with school administrators about new possible funding models for universities, specifically referencing the Tennessee model, which pins funding to the performance of students.

Similar plans have rolled out in Ontario and Alberta in recent years.

Ultimately, the concern is provinces are modelling policy after U.S. jurisdictions that have poor outcomes in health care, environmental policy and education, Forbes said.

The co-ordination of political agendas across so-called red states in the U.S. has been under the microscope for nearly a decade. A 2012 article in the Atlantic explored the role ALEC plays.

"To itself, ALEC is an organization dedicated to the advancement of free-market and limited government principles through a unique public-private partnership between state legislators and the corporate sector. To its critics, its a shadowy backroom arrangement where corporations pay good money to get friendly legislators to introduce pre-packaged bills in statehouses across the country," the article reads.

University of Manitoba Prof. Robert Chernomas agrees the guise of libertarian values and the small-government approach is used to rationalize such legislative agendas, while it is more often legislation is targeted to remove barriers for corporations.

"And so theyre not so much withdrawing the state, theyre using the state actively in a very narrow, small, parochial way to meet short-term business interests," Chernomas said. "Its clear, theyre reading for the same playbook."

A statement from a government spokesman for legislative affairs, Jamie Hofing, denied any such co-ordination of political agendas is occurring in Manitoba. In a statement, Hofing said representatives for the faculty associations were "spouting nonsensical conspiracy theories and engaging in toxic partisan politics."

"Legislation in Manitoba is drafted by Manitobans, including a team of non-partisan legal experts who work in Manitobas Department of Justice. These public servants ensure bills are written in a manner that can be presented in our assembly. Any similarity between our bill and this American group is, at best, coincidental and, at worst, an inaccurate and inflated claim," the statement said.

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca
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The divorce deal is supposed to be up and running  but neither party can make a clean break. And so they are in each others hair, provoking ever more suspicion, bad temper, and all round aggravation.

Things will get worse before they get better between the EU and the UK; there is now scarcely concealed hostility as one jibe follows another. Both sides have yet to fully accept the ending of their 47-year partnership, allowing an undercurrent of grievance gather pace.

This week Ursula von der Leyen could hardly contain herself as mainland Europe remains on the back foot in its fight against Covid. She had no desire to cloak her anger in diplomatic speak. Facing accusations she botched EU plans to have a steady supply of vaccine, she once again turned her ire on the Boris Johnson government. Essentially she accused Downing Street of not playing fair. The thrust of her argument is that the British are operating a kind of sleight of hand when it comes to the roll-out of the AstraZeneca dosage.

For their part, UK ministers once again argued this is all sour grapes by Von der Leyen and the EU. Their government insisted it has a legally watertight deal guaranteeing agreed levels of vaccine supplies.

The tone of the language used by both sides is further evidence the London and Brussels divorce deal  concluded less than three months ago  has left a sour taste.

The unremitting battle against Covid is, of course, putting fierce pressure on all European governments to herald a return to normal life. What is dubbed vaccine nationalism is gathering pace worldwide.

As a consequence the UK supply chain, which has been working so well, could come under serious pressure. For example, India, which has the worlds largest production plant, is having second thoughts about exporting vaccines to the UK. The rethink has been forced on the Delhi government because it has vaccinated only about 3pc of its 1.3 billion population.

If other crisis-hit countries similarly put their own interests before vaccine export agreements with the UK, the lockdown exit plans of the Johnson government could be in disarray.

Read More

UK tensions with Brussels are exacerbated by a Downing Street determination to be seen as now totally independent of any diktat from Brussels. As often happens in the immediate aftermath of a divorce, one party, or both, is hyper determined to show they can make a go of things on their own. This may account for unnecessary belligerence from some of Johnsons ministers.

From an Irish perspective, this post-divorce chasm puts our Government and diplomats in a somewhat awkward position. Its no secret a more amicable parting of the ways between Brussels and London would much better serve our interests.

We must side with the EU club on a range of crunch issues  but our multitudinous links with Britain means keeping the best possible relations with London is an ongoing reality.

A particular problem are tit-for-tat arguments over the movement of goods from Britain to Northern Ireland. Sniping on all sides is adding a sourness to the whole post-Brexit process. Yesterday a senior EU official accused the British government of advising Northern Ireland businesses to break international law.

All the while, a hardcore minority in British life harbours a visceral antipathy to the EU, which has endured despite the break-up wrought by Brexit. A revamping of the countrys nuclear arsenal is music to their ears. They see such flexing of military power, in tandem with the search for new trading markets in Asia and elsewhere, as signalling a new golden age for Britain.

Luckily they are counteracted by equally vociferous British voices, who insist the UKs destiny cannot be separated from its European neighbours. They insist geography, even more than history, will in the years ahead tie much of Europe to a common purpose.

But as the weeks go by it is clear some old bonds have been irretrievably broken by Brexit.

As with many a divorce, wounds are still raw, following the decision to break with a partner of nearly five decades.

Time will be a balm of sorts  but there can be no going back to the way things used to be.
"Our posture's gonna be that we're posted outside of DC, awaiting the president's orders. We hope he will give us the orders. We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia."

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, in November, looking ahead to Jan. 6
With one foot in the Financial District and the other in the Union Square shopping area, Sutter Street between Montgomery and Kearny is a typical busy downtown San Francisco block, in pre-pandemic days filled with workers, shoppers and tourists.

But theres nothing typical about the glass-fronted seven-story building at 130 Sutter on the north side of the block, across from the Crocker Galleria. Willis Polks Hallidie Building is one of the most revolutionary  and strangest  buildings in the city.

The Hallidie Building, built in 1917, was the first American skyscraper to feature a glass curtain wall. A curtain wall is essentially an enormous window that forms a buildings front wall. Since it fulfills no structural function and needs only to support its own weight, it can be made of light materials like glass.

So many modern skyscrapers feature glass curtain walls that at first glance, the Hallidie Building may appear nothing special. But a closer look reveals it to be a unique creation.

Polks building is a weird and wonderful combination of austere modernism and Victorian confectionary. The glass curtain wall, hung a foot outside the reinforced concrete of the building, with its vast (for the time) reflecting surface mirroring the street and sky, has the simple, unadorned, form-driven power of modern architecture.

But that soaring modernist wall is adorned with elaborate gold-painted cast-iron ornamentation, including an oversized cantilevered Gothic roof cornice, ornate friezes, rounded balconies and Gothic fire escapes, an overlay that architectural historians Sally and John Woodbridge compare in their guidebook San Francisco Architecture to a Victorian window valance.

Its one of the stranger design juxtapositions found in any building in the city  as if Picasso had painted a tutu on one of his demoiselles dAvignon  and makes the Hallidie Building a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

The Woodbridges write that the facade of this building is more curtainlike than almost anything since and that the ornate decoration contributes to the impression that the glass grid is a curtain. In Splendid Survivors, Michael Corbett writes that the buildings curtain wall is as beautifully and cleanly expressed as any glass curtain wall built since, and finds in its elaborate ornamentation both a gracious homage to an older style and a delicious joke at its own self-contradictions.

In a way, it makes sense that the Hallidie Building is at once audacious and conservative. For its architect, Willis Polk, displayed both traits himself.

Trivia time The previous trivia question: Where did San Francisco's first legal public execution take place? Answer: Near the summit of Russian Hill. This week's trivia question: What immigrant nobleman is known as the father of California wine? Dig deep into Chronicle Vault Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the Chronicle Vault newsletter and get classic archive stories in your inbox twice a week. Read hundreds of historical stories, see thousands of archive photos and sort through 153 years of classic Chronicle front pages at SFChronicle.com/vault. Editor's note Every corner in San Francisco has an astonishing story to tell. Gary Kamiya's Portals of the Past tells those lost stories, using a specific location to illuminate San Francisco's extraordinary history - from the days when giant mammoths wandered through what is now North Beach to the Gold Rush delirium, the dot-com madness and beyond. His column appears every other Saturday. See More Collapse

Born in 1867 in Illinois, Polk trained in his architect fathers office in Kansas City, Mo., before moving to New York, where he joined the firm of A. Page Brown and moved with it to San Francisco in 1889.

Brown soon became the leader of an architectural renaissance in the Bay Area. As Richard Longstreth writes in On the Edge of the World: Four Architects in San Francisco at the Turn of the Century, Brown, Polk and their young colleagues found the citys dominant Victorian style vulgar and commercial. Polk caustically called the Western Addition, site of many of the newest Victorians, an architectural nightmare conceived in a reign of terror and produced by artistic anarchists.

Brown, Polk, Maybeck, Julia Morgan and other young architects led the revolt against the Victorian style in houses. Eschewing gaudy details and frilly woodwork, they created elegant, eclectic homes inspired by California vernacular architectural traditions and by nature, a style now known as the First Bay Tradition.

Polks own duplex, a still-standing seven-story building at 1013-17 Vallejo St. constructed in 1892, is a wonderful example of his eclecticism. Russian Hill historian William Kostura describes it as a remarkable synthesis of the east coast shingle style, medieval Brittannic urbanism, Joseph Worcesters love of natural materials, hilltop Bohemianism, and Willis Polks creative genius.

Polks talent was quickly recognized, but his arrogance and often outrageous behavior did not advance his career. Polks eccentricities were legendary, and he handed out insults like party favors. When an East Coast industrialist who wanted Polk to design a building told the architect that he admired his work, Polk replied, I would feel complimented if I thought you knew anything about art. Polk did not get the commission.

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

But Polks penchant for offending people did not stop him from becoming one of the citys leading architects. His 1903 Merchants Exchange Building at California and Leidesdorff was one of the earliest big buildings of the pre-quake downtown building boom. After the quake, Polk went to work for City Beautiful proponent James Burnham, and redesigned more buildings than any other architect, including such dignified structures as the Mills Building, the Hobart Building and the de Young building.

Polks office buildings are formally correct, fit harmoniously into their surroundings, and their ornamentation is restrained and tasteful. But theyre far more conservative than his residential work, and theyre not as individualistic or memorable. According to Longstreth, Polks association with Burnham marked a turning point in his career. ... The individualism that he had articulated so defiantly in the 1890s was subsumed by his yearning for prestige and recognition.

But Polk had one last act of artistic rebellion in him: the Hallidie Building. The onetime enfant terrible, now a 50-year-old whose best work was behind him, reached inside to create his masterpiece.

How and why did he do it? One can only speculate that Polk momentarily sought to be his old self again, Longstreth writes. He notes that after Polk famously gave to Bernard Maybeck his own commission to design the Palace of Fine Arts, Maybeck wrote to Polk that you have put up a monument to your Ideals (through me) and made a sacrifice for them  there is in you a yearning for the highest Ideal ... and I believe some morning you will wake up to cut out that other side which you seem to consider important.

Polks career declined afterward, and he died just seven years later. But in the twilight of his life he had done what Maybeck appealed to him to do: He had expressed his artistic vision. And his last major architectural testament is not only decades ahead of its time, it serves as a kind of self-portrait.

Both sides of this Janus-faced creator, the revolutionary and the conservative, are not only visible, but engage in an ongoing dialogue  a witty and profound conversation between cast iron and shimmering glass that will amuse, instruct and inspire passers-by as long as the Hallidie Building stands on Sutter Street.

Gary Kamiya is the author of the bestselling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, awarded the Northern California Book Award in creative nonfiction. His new book, with drawings by Paul Madonna, is Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go to sfchronicle.com/portals. For more features from 150 years of The Chronicles archives, go to sfchronicle.com/vault. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com
A year has passed since we first went into lockdown and for the majority of people it has been a year unlike any other. Many people in the farming community have been busier than ever and some industrious farmers have begun new food businesses aiming to adapt to the changing marketplace.

This is the case for Monaghan farmers Mark Gillanders and Micheal Rafferty, two organic farmers who are just about to launch The Irish Organic Mill, a company that specialises in milling flour grown on their own organic farms.

The combination of Brexit and Covid-19 accelerated our plans to mill our own organic wheat, says Micheal.

The demand for Irish organic flour by both commercial and home bakers has been steadily growing and increased significantly during the pandemic.

We know that we grow excellent quality grains, and the traditional supply chains are challenging, so we felt we were ideally placed to provide Irelands bakers with an Irish organic alternative to imports. Brexit also offers opportunities for Irish food producers to supply the domestic market.

Expand Close Micheal Rafferty pictured above with his children Niamh, Liam and Ronan, on his organic farm in Co Monaghan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Micheal Rafferty pictured above with his children Niamh, Liam and Ronan, on his organic farm in Co Monaghan

While Monaghan is not a county that produces high volumes of cereals, its certainly possible to grow a wide range of crops there.

My father had an old saying: one cow, one sow, one acre under the plough says Micheal, so there was a tradition of growing cereals in Monaghan. However it was mainly oats as it was a staple food in the area one hundred years ago. Our aim with this business is to bring excellent quality flour to the retail market, a flour supply that is locally grown.

The business is one hundred percent owned by farmers so people can be assured that they are supporting farmers directly when purchasing our flours, he adds.

Organic credentials

Mark Gillanders farms approximately 60 hectares just outside of Monaghan town in Ballinagall, and has been farming organically since 2009. Micheal has been farming organically since 2015 in Carrickmacross.

Both farms and the Irish Organic Mill are certified by the Irish Organic Association.

Converting my farm to organic was the best farming decision I ever made, prior to that I could see no future in farming, says Mark.

When I went organic, I began to see opportunities and now I am embarking on running a food business. That just simply would not have been possible if I had remained a conventional farmer. I feel that if I had stayed doing what I was doing, I would not be farming the land today.

Both men were farming beef conventionally before they converted to organic. They still have organic beef suckler herds, but diversified into cereals to make their farms more productive.

A mixed farm with livestock and cereals is a really good model in organic production as you have animals that will supply farmyard manure for the arable land, says Mark.

It works very well from a sustainability perspective but also spreads your risk in economic terms. While the organic beef sector has remained stable, it is always good to diversify if your farm and resources permit it.

Also, I have to say I really love growing grain. Working so closely with the soil and managing the fertility and cropping system in tandem is very rewarding. I incorporate legumes such as clover to the grassland swards. Then when I am growing cereals, I like to under-sow with a cover crop to maintain fertility and extend rotations.

This year I am growing oats, wheat, beans, and possibly rye and I will also inter-crop with peas. All of these crops are for human consumption which makes the process even more enjoyable, adds Mark.

Organic milling

Micheal is just finishing a six-month training course with the UK Flour Millers Association which have been training flour millers for 160 years.

Obviously completing any training during Covid-19 presented its own challenges, but the fact that the course was available online was very useful to drive our business forward, he says.

While we still have lots to learn, it has set us up nicely to get the business off the ground and Ive learned a lot from other millers in other countries. We have received lots of support along this journey from original concept to becoming an operational business.

The Irish Organic Association and the National Organic Training Skillnet were very helpful. Locally we have had huge assistance from Monaghan County Council, Enterprising Monaghan and the Local Enterprise Office.

We were very fortunate to secure a location in the Ballybay Food Hub which is a fantastic local resource and an ideal location for a business like ours to evolve, grow and develop.

Our flour will be stoneground and we will initially offer a wholemeal and plain option, and semolina, says Micheal.

However, new product development is already taking place and we will in time add oat flour, rye flour, and other specialist grains to the offerings. The quality of our spring wheat last year exceeded all of our expectations with excellent protein and Hagberg falling number results which are critical in achieving market specifications for bread making.

This year we are growing three spring milling wheats varieties and plan to formulate the wheat grist to achieve maximum flavour and quality.

The Irish Organic Mill aims to produce a product with a very short supply chain.

This is a fully certified organic product  grown in Ireland, milled in Ireland and sold in Ireland. It has a very low carbon footprint compared with similar imported products, says Mark.

As the grain is grown organically it is farmed in an agrological ecosystem that enhances biodiversity, and, more importantly, a farming system that is aligned with nature rather than working against it.

Therefore, the flour is full of diverse flavours and taste and that is our unique selling point. We are aware that we are targeting the premium end of the retail market, but we feel that consumers are willing to support farmers who are producing food products in a truly environmentally friendly manner, he continues.

Micheal adds: At European level there is a big drive to increase and support organic farming, the concept of public money for public goods is widely held and European consumers value organic food production and certified organic produce. The clear signal coming from Europe is that organic has a big role to play in the future of food production. As organic farmers in Ireland we want to dive in and carve out our place in that future.

Cork farms organic Jersey cream is

flying off the shelves nationwide

The Ahern family farm in Ballysimon, Middleton Co. Cork and have been certified organic with the Irish Organic Association for over twenty years.

They operate a mixed farm with dairy cows and poultry. They also sell eggs directly to consumers via farmers markets in Cork.

The farm run by Dan, Anne and their son Seamus, is one of the very few organic farms in Ireland milking pure breed Jersey cows.

The Jersey are a lovely breed of milking cow as they are small, light on the land and relatively easy calvers so they work very well in an organic system, says Dan.

They are good grazers and thrive on grass and silage produced on farm which is very important when you are farming organically as you need to maximise conversion of grass into milk.

Overall, we find that the Jerseys are a fertile breed and are relatively easy to get back in calf. One of the things that we value them for is their productivity. When you combine their productivity and good fertility traits, it is a very suitable breed for our farm and the markets that we are supplying, says Dan.

Expand Close Seamus Ahern on the organic farm in Ballysimon, Cork where the Aherns milk a herd of pure breed Jersey cows whose milk is in much demand / Facebook

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Whatsapp Seamus Ahern on the organic farm in Ballysimon, Cork where the Aherns milk a herd of pure breed Jersey cows whose milk is in much demand

Milk from their herd is in big demand and the Aherns supply the Village Dairy based in Carlow.

Unique product

This is really a gorgeous product and we are delighted to supply it to Dunnes Stores, says Noel Barcoe from the Village Dairy.

They sell it under their Simply Better range and the organic Jersey milk is sold in all of their stores in the Republic of Ireland and six in Northern Ireland.

Jersey milk is well known for its creamy texture and that is because of the high butterfat content which also accounts for its characteristic yellowish colour. The milk is also high in protein and vitamins.

The fact that this is a single farm supply makes it a truly unique product and it is doing very well in shops around the country.

Grace Maher is development officer with the Irish Organic Association, grace.maher@irishoa.ie

For more information on The Irish Organic Mill, visit: www.irishorganicmill com email: sales@irishorganicmill.com




Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
You probably didnt realize how many words begin with the prefix pan- until we found ourselves living through a pan  demic. On social media, we are in a panorama, a pandemonium, a pandemi moore, a panini.

Over the past year, a new lexicon has emerged online: quarantinis to describe at-home cocktails in quarantine; stimmy for stimulus checks; doomscrolling for your inability to go offline. These humorous phrases make intimidatingly scientific and medical jargon more accessible, and shorter versions of words often become useful because they are easily and quickly verbalized. Most of all, humor can be an important tool for processing these trying times. (A 15-year follow-up study of 53,556 participants from Norway found that having a sense of humor is also associated with living longer.)

Were manipulating the structure of the word, said Adrienne R. Washington, a professor of sociocultural linguistics at Norfolk State University in Virginia. Were dropping syllables, like with Rona, or sometimes we make them into diminutives, which are words that are more familiar or maybe even endearing.
WASHINGTON  President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled on Friday to Atlanta to express grief for the victims of a mass shooting that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent, describing the tragedy as part of an increase in racially motivated violence and pledging to take action against hate and discrimination.

The gruesome shootings on Tuesday in Atlanta thrust Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris into the middle of a national struggle to confront the harassment and violence against Asian-Americans from people angry about the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than a half-million people.

Theyve been attacked, blamed, scapegoated and harassed. Theyve been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed, Mr. Biden lamented after a meeting with leaders of Atlantas Asian-American community that he described as heart-wrenching to be part of.

Its been a year of living in fear for their lives, the president said.

Mr. Biden expressed empathy for the victims families, who he said were left with broken hearts and unanswered questions. And he said Americans should take responsibility for failing to express enough outrage about the targeting of people of Asian descent during the pandemic that has gripped the country.
The Catholic Church has a Book of Blessings which contains a wide variety of ritual benedictions. From animals to farm tools to seeds, and from new homes to factories to sporting events  for almost every occasion and situation there appears to be a matching blessing.

There are blessings for birthday parties, public buildings, holy pictures, water supplies, vehicles, orchards, barns, foodstuffs, pets, machines and medicine. Theres even a blessing to ward off destructive insects. But a blessing for a same-sex union? Get thee behind me, Satan.

Just this week, the Reverend Higher-Ups  Pope Francis included  characterised such unions as a sin. A Vatican document has issued an instruction against blessing such alliances because God cannot bless sin. So, a benediction for cattle or horses or seeds about to be planted  thats absolutely fine. But no blessing for two human beings who love one another and make a public pledge to spend their lives together.

Linking same-sex love with sin sounds suspiciously like hate speech. No wonder the shockwaves at such uncompromising language have spidered out worldwide.

This latest pronouncement from Rome betrays its residual attachment to flint-hard regulations  rules as hard as a slap to the face. No wonder it continues to lose members, lose moral authority, lose relevance.

Imagine if Jesus returned to cast an eye over the religion which developed from his teaching. He wouldnt last half an hour in the Holy See.

The Catholic hierarchy has somehow managed to miss the point of Christianity: be kind, tolerant and inclusive. Time and time again, these princes of the Church behave like throwbacks in ceremonial robes. They act as if their mission is to destroy the institution, rather than attempt to restore its tarnished reputation.

In a world of war and want, a world grappling with a pandemic and vaccines shortages, youd imagine there might be other contenders for the sin label.

But no, its trotted out, in all its sanctimony, to describe love between two women or two men.

Isnt love meant to be divinely inspired? Isnt there a moral imperative on people to love one another? Or must love be parsed and prodded at, judged acceptable or unacceptable depending on who it is we love?

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Its mystifying how senior figures in an institution ostensibly dedicated to love can knowingly spread hurt and division, yet spread it they do.

Its high time the Catholic bishops in Ireland woke up and smelled the ashes. Belgian bishops have already expressed their dismay at the Vaticans tone-deaf insensitivity. German bishops have been pushing for reform for years.

Do Irelands Reverend Higher-Ups have the courage to distance themselves from that callous Vatican judgment? Some handwringing wont be sufficient. Such pronouncements cause pain and dismay. As does silence from those with an obligation to speak out.

The bishops arent silent about other matters, for example, the number of mourners at funerals  they want them increased, despite evidence funerals can spread infection. They are also lobbying hard for churches to reopen for services.

Dublins Archbishop Dermot Farrell advances the argument that lockdown unnecessarily restricts freedom of religion, and in his St Patricks Day homily he called for the restoration of peoples constitutional right to worship.

It is true that regular church-goers miss attending Mass, which can be a comfort, and fulfils a social as well as a spiritual function. But a great many liberties have been restricted to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Religious worship hasnt been singled out.

No doubt, churches will open again when its in the best interests of the population. Meanwhile, it seems odd to hear these senior clerics challenge public health advice which is based on science  but not dogma from Rome which is based on prejudice in the case of same-sex unions.

The Reverend Higher-Ups shouldnt imagine their pronouncement means the case is closed. Leadership has been shown by the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), but the bishops need to take a stand too.

A statement from the ACP says the document is unwise and describes the content as negative and condemnatory. It also highlights the inherent contradiction in the pronouncement which says gay people are loved and valued by the Church but their relationships are in opposition to Gods plan.

The Vatican position is that gay relationships are intrinsically disordered. It says gay unions were not part of Gods plan and that any recognition of them could be confused with marriage. How does that treat them with anything approaching respect?

Clearly, orthodox Catholic doctrine is tone deaf and at odds with the lived realities of present-day Catholics. If the Holy See continually digs into a centuries-old position, instead of advancing with its flock, it will continue to lose relevance.

But despite overwhelming evidence that the Catholic Church needs to reform, the institutional Church is not for changing.

However, the 1.2 billion people worldwide from whom it claims obedience are changing  without asking for permission from the Rome. No longer can blind loyalty to its authority be expected.

Former president Mary McAleese has been writing letters and taking to the airwaves about this latest broadside from the Vatican. In the past, she has criticised the Catholic Church for misogyny and homophobia, and said the practice of excluding women from the priesthood will fall under the dead weight of its own irrelevance. Yet she continues to insist people cannot walk away from the Church.

This week, she wrote to Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland, appealing to him to acknowledge the hurt caused by the latest pronouncement. And noting that bishops elsewhere have taken issue with the Vatican document, she has called on Irish bishops to challenge it: Is there any vestige of such episcopal courage here?

The language can only have brought more heartache to our gay children and their families, she says. Dr McAleese warns that it conduces to homophobia because it empowers homophobic bullies.

Pope Francis appears to be a more progressive pontiff but he has not reformed the Church. Famously, he said: Who am I to judge? But he is judging. This latest decision from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vaticans orthodoxy office, approved by him, is an act of judgment. Unenlightened judgment at that.

And so, in their narrow-mindedness, their power and authority continues to decline.

Of course, some Catholic clergy will ignore that ruling and bless couples privately. But it should not be left up to the individual priest.

Separation of Church and State needs to be stepped up. Its inconceivable that were into the third decade of the 21st century and yet religious organisations run schools and have an involvement in healthcare. Some 90pc of primary schools and 50pc of secondary schools in the State are run by the Catholic Church. Many of these Reverend Higher-Ups, or their successors, will be out of a job in a decade or two if this goes on.
The Nation Speaks (March 20): Hidden Costs of $15 Min. Wage; Unions vs. Amazon Culture; Exploring The Prison Within

Democrats hope to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an houra more than 100 percent increaseby 2025, a move being fought by Republicans. This week on The Nation Speaks, we look at how a $15-an-hour minimum wage would play out in different parts of the country, and for different types of businesses and workers.

To help break that down, we speak with Rachel Greszler, an economist at The Heritage Foundation; Nebraska small business owner Kevin Barnhill; New York business magnate John Catsimatidis; and Jacob Vigdor, who studied what happened in Seattle after a large minimum wage hike there in 2016.

We also ask Americans across the country what they think about raising the minimum wage, in our favorite recurring feature, America Q&A.

Then, we look at Amazons business culture and why it just doesnt jive with unions, according to Robin Gaster, who wrote the book on Amazon, Behemoth, Amazon Rising.

In our second America Q&A, we ask Americans what pandemic-related changes they think will be permanent.

Finally, we talk to two very special guests about the remarkable documentary, The Prison Within. Filmmaker Katherin Hervey and ex-felon and crime victim Troy Williams take us inside Californias infamous San Quentin maximum-security prison. There we learn about a program where felons and crime victims walk together on a powerful journey of mutual-healing.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Is this how Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio plan to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, by leaving Staten Island to basically fend for itself?

Three months into the American vaccination effort, and Staten Island remains on the short end of the stick when it comes to vaccine resources.

There is still no state-run vaccination site on Staten Island.

And no city vaccination site on the South Shore.

The Mid-Island is underserved, with the vax site at Staten Island Technical High School more on the East Shore than in the Mid-Island proper.

And there remains no 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week vaccination site in all of Staten Island. Sites that were supposed to be 24/7 have turned out to be less than that.

But, no, were not a forgotten borough. Where would Staten Islanders ever get that idea?

And its still a struggle to get an appointment for a shot. Slots arent available. Web sites crash and are tough to navigate.

Meanwhile, vast numbers of New Yorkers arent even eligible to be vaccinated yet under the rules handed down by Cuomo.

And the national chain pharmacies have been brought into the process only to a point, despite their expertise with distributing flu shots each winter.

GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis on Friday announced that shed partnered with Costco to arrange a temporary pop-up vaccination site at Angelinas restaurant in Tottenville.

Its good news.

But its also a reminder of the vaccination inequity that we suffer at the hands of Cuomo and de Blasio.

I thought this was supposed to be a recovery for all of us.

Cuomo and de Blasio have said repeatedly that as part of New Yorks overall vaccine efforts, there would also be a focus on those areas of the city that were hardest hit by COVID.

And Cuomo and de Blasio have been good to their word when it comes to communities of color across the five boroughs.

The two have amped up efforts to get vaccine supply and infrastructure into those neighborhoods. Theyve partnered with community groups and local clergy. Theyve made use of Housing Authority complexes.

And Cuomo and de Blasio have made it a point to try to overcome the historic mistrust that some in the African-American community feel about government vaccination programs.

No argument here with any of it. Were all in this together. All communities need to get the vaccine.

But Staten Island has been left behind.

We were hit hard by COVID as well. For a long time during the recent holiday surge, the Island had the highest test positivity percentage in the city. Tottenville remains one of the hardest-hit communities, with a 7-day positivity rate over 11 percent as of Friday.

Where are our resources? Where are the extra efforts on the part of the state and the city to make sure that the virus is crushed here?

It cant just be a matter of vaccine supply, because other boroughs have more vaccination resources than we do. There are 24/7 sites elsewhere.

The Island was the site of virulent protests against Cuomos coronavirus lockdowns, including at Macs Public House. Were the only Trump-voting borough in the city, the only borough with robust Republican representation in Congress, the state Legislature and the City Council.

Coincidence that were neglected by our Democratic leaders?

Were politically different than the other four boroughs, but we should be the same as everyone else when it comes to COVID.

We need the vaccine. We need the infrastructure.

Vaccination is purely a numbers game. The more people who get the vaccine, the better it is for everybody. Thats how well finally rid ourselves of COVID-19.

If Staten Islanders dont have the same ability to get the vaccine as other boroughs, that harms all of New York City.

Cuomo and de Blasio need to do better by Staten Islanders.
Though Montgomery County experienced interruptions in its operations due to closures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been mostly business as usual for felony and civil jury trials.

Jury proceedings in the county are now being finalized by Judge Tracey Gilbert, who presides over the 418th district court, following a recent statewide mandate. The March 5 order from the Supreme Court of Texas amends previously held requirements for juries during the pandemic.

Safeguards for jurors remain in place, read an email from Montgomery County First Assistant District Attorney Mike Holley.

Jury trials in the county have taken place since September upon orders by Gilbert. Approved by presiding Second Administrative Judicial Region of Texas Judge Olen Underwood, these same orders were submitted Sept. 21 by Gilbert after conferring with all trial court judges, County Judge Mark Keough and the Montgomery County Public Health District, according to Holley.

While every judge is concerned with each participants health and safety, there is a significant need for the courts to fulfill their Constitutional mandate to grant swift trials, especially to jailed defendants, read a county statement at the time.

The order came about after a Sept. 18 state supreme court mandate allowed in-person jury proceedings, Holley added.

In-person dockets resumed June 1, 2020 after about 10 weeks of being closed out after the pandemic hit the county.

Since March of last year, Holley affirmed grand juries have met to hear cases almost weekly with exceptions during short periods, noting grand jurors serve several months. Between March 3, 2020 and Thursday, there have been approximately 2,678 cases where grand jurors made indictments, according to Holley.

In a letter from Judge Gilbert, prospective jurors are informed of a face covering requirement during the selection process. The letter also states appropriate social distancing is required during selection and in the courtroom. Safeguards include immediate seating after check-in to prevent congregating among jurors.

I want to assure you that your wellbeing is extremely important. In anticipation of this trial, I have adopted protocols approved by the Public Health District for Montgomery County to ensure that all necessary precautions will be taken to protect the safety and health of all participants, reads the letter to prospectives.

The document instructs those with an underlying condition, sickness or matter related to COVID-19 to fill out an enclosed questionnaire which asks all prospective jurors about 12 symptoms they may have experienced within 10 days of jury duty. These symptoms include fever, loss of taste or smell, cough and shortness of breath.

Those who have experienced any of the listed symptoms are asked to contact the Montgomery County District Clerks Office. All others are prompted to certify they have not experienced listed symptoms.

Prospective jurors are also asked if they have had COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or if they or someone in their household has had close contact to an infected person in the last 14 days or if they are currently self-quarantining over possible exposure.

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A Traveller family has challenged the constitutionality of laws that a local authority says allows it to suspend them from its housing list after the father was convicted of two minor public order offences.

The family, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are challenging a 2019 decision by Wexford Co Council to suspend the family, which consists of a husband, wife, and two minor children.

Arising out of the father's minor convictions the council says that under provisions of the 1997 and 2009 Housing Acts they are permitted to refuse or defer letting a dwelling to a person who the council says has engaged in anti-social behaviour.

The council say that under the 2009 Act it has adopted a formal strategy that allows it to defer or refuse a letting where a Garda report confirms a conviction.

The family claims that the sections of the Acts challenged when properly construed do not provide a legal basis for the council's decision.

They have challenged the legality and the application of the council's strategy and says the local authority has discriminated against them.

They have also claimed in the proceedings that various sections of the acts are unconstitutional and incompatible with the state's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Their action is against both the council and Ireland and the Attorney General. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is a notice party to the action.

The family also claim that they were suspended after the council had decided to allocate them a specific house, but this is denied by the council.

In a pretrial motion the state respondents had asked the court for a modular or split trial. They asked that the constitution issue would be heard only after the determination of issues against the council.

The application was opposed by the family.

In a ruling dismissing the state's application, Ms Justice Niamh Hyland said that in her view a modular trial would not save on time and costs.

She held that it had the potential to prejudice the applicant family by exposing them to two trials rather than one.

The judge also said that the case involves interpretation of and challenges to the constitutionality of two different statutory provisions.

The judge said that it would be helpful to the court hearing the claim to have submissions from the State on the constitutional interpretations of these particular sections at the same time as submissions from other parties are being made on those points.

Having a modular trial, the judge said was more likely to make the court's task more difficult and time consuming. The judge awarded the applicants their costs of the motion, but placed a stay on that order pending the trial of the action.
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There is one week left for assembly elections in four states and one Union territory. On Saturday, PM Narendra Modi visited Assam on the mid-election campaign, where he addressed the BJP's election rally in Chabua. Prime Minister Modi said that there is tea in the name of Chabua. We all know where the planted tea plant is spreading its aroma in the world today. Prime Minister Modi has targeted Congress a lot. He said the Congress is with those who wipe out the identity of tea.

PM Modi said that the Congress is the oldest party in the country, which ruled India for 50-55 years, supporting individuals who are trying to wipe out India's image of tea. Can we pardon Congress for that? Do they not deserve to be punished? At the public meeting, Prime Minister Modi referred to the toolkit case. He said that a toolkit was made in which an attempt was made to defame Assam and our yoga. The Congress party supports these toolkits and still has the audacity to seek votes in Assam! Can we forgive a party like this?

Prime Minister Modi said the Congress has gone far away from the citizens of Assam. A few days ago, he (Congress) shared a photograph of Sri Lanka and said that it is Assam. A few days ago, he shared a photo of Taiwan and said it was Assam. It is an injustice and humiliation to our beautiful Assam. Prime Minister Modi said that Congress today has entered the fray with an alliance with the party which is a major crisis in itself for the dignity of Assam, the culture of Assam, which is a great threat.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-19 23:59:34|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Racing in the 2021 WRC Safari Rally scheduled for June 24-27 in Kenya will be a dream come true for Swedish-Norwegian teenager driver Oliver Solberg.

The 19-year-old was not yet born when his father Petter Solberg debuted at the event in 1999 in a Ford Focus.

Then aged 24 and one of the youngest in Ford's team at the time, the elder Solberg finished a credible fifth.

And having grown around racing machines, the younger Solberg is keen on emulating his father by making an impact at Africa's most prestigious rally as part of the expected international field that will take part in the 2021 Safari.

"It is one of my dream races to do. My father has a lot of memories and stories and I have seen a lot of adventures that are there. I think it will be an amazing experience so for sure my dream is to go to the Safari Rally," Oliver told the event's Facebook channel on Thursday.

Born on September 23, 2001, Oliver is one of the fastest rising WRC drivers and is expected to drive in the WRC2 competition in a Hyundai R5.

He earned his place in the Safari when his father met with retired Kenyan rally ace, Phineas Kimathi, in 2019.

Kimathi, who is now the president of Kenya Motorsport Federation and the CEO of WRC Safari Rally Limited asked Petter whether his son could come and race in Kenya and this was consented.

Oliver is happy to relive his father's tales and looking forward to making the journey to Kenya where the Safari Rally makes a return to the world circuit after - just like his age - 19 years out in the cold.

"He (my father) says it is one of the best places he has been. I have also heard some crazy stories, but we can't take them, and I think hopefully I can go there, and I can get the same experience he got 20 years ago," Oliver added.

Senior Solberg, the 2003 world champion, returned to Kenya in 2000 with Subaru World Rally Team and registered another fifth finish.

The 2000 Safari was held on open roads unlike the 2021 edition that will run on closed roads due to safety concerns.

Nonetheless, Oliver thinks the Safari has not been diluted.

"It will be very different now unlike in the past but still it is a great opportunity as my dad tells me of stages, fans, people everywhere, it is indeed incredible," he remarked.

Oliver and Kalle Rovenpera, 20, of Finland are listed as the youngest drivers.

Kalle is son of Harri Rovenpera, who finished second in the 2000 Safari driving a Peugeot 206 WRC behind Tommi Makinen in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO.

Both are on the verge of breaking a world record of the youngest WRC champions.

"In the near future now, it is going to be a big fight between Kalle and I. But we will see. It will be a very long way," the younger Solberg remarked.

"If you try to come into the WRC and give Kalle a challenge, I will for sure fight," he said.

"There also are many more young drivers coming up so, for sure, there will be a lot of new drivers in the WRC in the future giving everybody a huge fight."

Oliver aspires to be a world champion in the second tier WRC2 competition before mixing it up with the big boys in the WRC in the coming seasons. Enditem
A drone attack struck an oil installation in Saudi Arabia's capital of on Friday, the Saudi state-run news agency reported, igniting a blaze at the facility deep in the kingdom's territory.

The dawn attack caused no injuries or damage, and did not disrupt oil supplies, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

The kingdom is facing more frequent airborne assaults as Saudi-led coalition forces battle Iran-backed Houthi rebels across the southern border in Yemen. Most recently, drones struck Ras Tanura, the country's largest crude oil refinery with capacity of 550,000 barrels a day, raising concerns about the expanding capabilities of Saudi Arabia's regional foes.

Details about Friday's attack remained slim, and authorities did not name the facility. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., the kingdom's oil giant, operates a refinery just southeast of that produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products for consumption around the capital.

Satellite images from Planet Labs Inc., analysed by The Associated Press, showed no immediately visible damage at the refinery.

Saudi Aramco, which now has a sliver of its worth traded publicly on the stock market, did not respond to a request for comment. The crude benchmark, Brent, rose to over USD 62 a barrel. Aramco stock fell 0.85 per cent Friday on Riyadh's Tadawul stock exchange.

The Saudi statement did not blame the Houthis for Friday's attack. But a few hours earlier, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarie reported the group had fired six drones at an unnamed Aramco facility in Riyadh, without providing evidence for what he described as a high-accuracy hit." Riyadh lies some 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles) from Yemen's soil, but the rebels have fired drones and missiles at the Saudi capital before.

The Houthis later Friday said two more drones attacked the King Khalid air base in the southern province of Khamis Mushait, a frequent target of the rebels. The Saudi-led coalition did not acknowledge that strike. Flights coming into the nearby Abha airport briefly diverted or otherwise flew in circles without explanation Friday evening, according to tracking data from website FlightRadar24.com.

While Houthi-claimed attacks on rarely cause damage, strikes on major oil facilities in the kingdom, the world's largest oil exporter, raise the risk of a disruption in world oil supplies. In the fall of 2019, a drone and missile attack struck two key Saudi oil installations and halted about half of the country's oil supplies. Although the Houthis claimed responsibility, both Washington and Riyadh blamed Tehran for the attack. Iran denied involvement.

A Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Houthis since March 2015, months after the rebels swept into Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and seized much of the country's north. Now mired in stalemate, the war has killed about 130,000 people including more than 12,000 civilians and spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis in a country that was already the Arab world's most impoverished nation.

has faced criticism for its airstrikes that have killed civilians and hit non-military targets in Yemen.

From Yemen, where the rebels have been pushing aggressively to take the last government stronghold of Marib, Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi proposed a nationwide cease-fire conditional, however, on long-held rebel demands.

He appealed to the Saudi-led coalition to reopen Sanaa's airport to commercial flights and lift restrictions on cargo ships within 48 hours at the rebel-held port of Hodeida, which handles some 70 per cent of the country's imports. He did not say whether the Houthis would halt their weekslong offensive to capture Marib, which has sent thousands of people fleeing.

There was no immediate response to al-Houthi's proposal from the coalition or Yemen's internationally recognized government.

The Biden administration has cast a spotlight on Yemen's ruinous war in recent weeks, lifting a Trump-era designation against the Houthis, announcing the end of US support for the Saudi-led coalition and dispatching the US envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, to the region to negotiate a political settlement. Earlier this month, Lenderking urged the Houthis to accept his cease-fire proposal.

(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.)
EDITORIAL: Day by Day: Health district, volunteers did what they needed to do to guide community through difficult year
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A disagreement has arisen between Meanscoil Gharman, in Enniscorthy and the Department of Education over the site proposed for a new school building.

The Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, in response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Paul Kehoe, indicated in December that a building project for the school is included on the department's school building programme and that a site had been acquired for that purpose.

However, the school is not happy with the location of the site and Principal Norah Harpur has outlined the reasons why it wouldn't be suitable for the needs of the school.

Ms Harpur, on behalf of the Board of Management, also issued a letter to the Department of Education outlining those concerns.

Admitting that news of the site was both 'positive and negative', Ms Harpur said a new school site is badly needed as facilities at the existing school are not adequate for its needs.

'We need a proper site for the school but this site is not satisfactory,' she said.

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The proposed new site is in the Moyne area of the town and Mr Harpur said the entrance to the new school site would be from that area.

'The entrance would be in off a very narrow road and there is a large amount of houses in that area,' she said.

'We have 300 students, and that could grow, so to put a school in there with the added traffic that would cause as well doesn't make sense,' she added.

She highlighted the fact that a large number of people already travel from that area to local primary schools and that traffic congestion in Enniscorthy town centre is always a problem and that would be exacerbated by having another school in the area.

'It would also be a very narrow entrance and I don't know if that could be changed,' said Ms Harpur.

She said everyone loves the current school building but it's just lacking in facilities and space.

She said the owner of the current school building and site is amenable to expanding the facilities there but added that a new school site close to where the school already is would be the preference of the Board of Management in terms of having a new school developed.

'The gaelscoil is up near there and St Patrick's Special School new building is over there as well,' said Ms Harpur.

'A lot of parents with children in our school also have children in the gaelscoil and having a new school building across on the other side of the town would mean them having to make that journey across rather than having the two schools in close proximity to each other,' she added.

She also said that Meanscoil Gharman is different to other schools because while it's located in Enniscorthy, it's a school for the county.

That's reflected in the fact that 65 per cent of its pupils are from outside Enniscorthy, predominantly from the south Wexford area.

'What I wanted, and what the Board of Management want, is for a school on the east side of the town,' said Ms Harpur.

'We have been in the current building since 2007, and it's a great building, but we just haven't got the facilities we need,' she added.

'The owner would have been prepared to develop it but the department is not entertaining it.'

She said there are sites closer to the existing school that would suit the Meanscoil's needs: 'If we had the school at the back of St Senan's, there is land available.'

Ms Harpur also pointed out that it doesn't make sense to develop a school in the town where there already known issues with air pollution.

'It's just not a good idea,' she said.

Ms Harpur said that parents were also not happy about it.

She said she met with the department on two occasions along with representatives of the school's patronage, An Foras Patrunachta, and she asked the department to look at a site at the back of St Senan's.

Ms Harpur said she found out about the site in March, 2019, and contacted the department and she also contacted her local TDs about the matter.

The maximum the school could take in its current building is 300 pupils. Ms Harpur said that teachers are also not satisfied with the current facilities and that the Department of Education is fully aware of the particular needs of the school because it's contained in reports submitted to it.

'There are 40 acres available at the back of St Senan's,' she said, highlighting that's where the new Technology Park is being developed.

In her letter to the department, Ms Harpur pointed out that because Meanscoil Gharman is a school for the entire county, its location is crucial in terms of accessibility.

It was also noted that Enniscorthy is geographically divided by the river Slaney, with one bridge crossing each way.

'The proposed site in the north west of the town is not readily accessible for the county catchment nor for the existing feeder gaelscoil which is 3km away across the river in the south east of Enniscorthy,' wrote Ms Harpur in the letter.

She said, and noted in the letter, that the proposed site is inaccessible for students by public transport as it's '2km away for walkers and almost 3km uphill for cyclists from bus and train stations'.

In her response to Deputy Kehoe's parliamentary question in the Dail, the Minister for Education said her department is engaging with the school's patron in the context of the planning work associated with the project. Minister Norma Foley said her department published technical guidance documents on the identification and suitability assessment of sites for schools and that the factors included in assessing potential site suitability include: zoning; existing services; site orientation; topography; transport and access.

Speaking to this newspaper, Deputy Kehoe said acquisition of a site to build a new Meanscoil in the county 'has to be a good thing'.

While acknowledging the concerns of the Meanscoil, Deputy Kehoe said: 'It's not good to object to the proposed site because that could delay the building of a new school entirely and obviously that wouldn't be good.'

Deputy Kehoe said it's very important for the Meanscoil to be located in the centre of the county because it's a school for the county and the proposed location could present opportunities for potential students from Gorey, New Ross, Enniscorthy and Wexford to go to it.

However, Deputy Kehoe said he would be 'very opposed' to the entrance to the proposed school site being located in the Moyne.

'I would be totally against where the proposed entrance would be,' he said.

'The department needs to do a traffic feasibility study,' he added.

Having been a resident in the Moyne for over 18 years, Deputy Kehoe said he is 'fully aware of the amount of traffic that already travels through the area every day'.

'I have relayed that to the building section of the Department of Education,' he said.

Commenting that the current Brownswood site has suited the Meanscoil for the last number of years, Deputy Kehoe said the school has outgrown it and needs a new location.

'The Principal, the Board of Management, and parents have contacted me over the last number of years for a new school and I understand the Board of Management has issues with this site but I believe if we object to this site it will delay the building of a new school altogether,' he said.

'It's fantastic for the Meanscoil to be getting a new school,' he added.

Deputy Kehoe highlighted ongoing issues with 'over-subscription' to secondary schools in the county and said development of the new Meanscoil 'could help alleviate that'.

'A lot of other schools would love to be getting a new school like this,' he said.

Minister James Browne also welcomed the fact that a new secondary school site has been acquired for the town and said it was 'good news'.

'Most towns would give their right arm for something like this,' he said.

'The site was acquired last year with a view to the Meanscoil going into it,' he added.

Acknowledging that Ms Harpur and the Board of Management are not in favour of the site, Minister Browne said the matter needs 'to be brought to a head'.

Highlighting that the Meanscoil is a school for the county Minister Browne said: 'The site might not be the most accessible for Wexford but it would be more accessible for New Ross and Gorey.'

Minister Browne would have concerns about the proposed entrance to the new site.

'The entrance would have to be from the Blackstoops roundabout side and not from the Moyne,' he said.

'That would be unacceptable.'

With regard to the school's opposition to the proposed site Minister Browne said: 'I understand their concerns but a decision has to be made soon.'

'We saw how hard Gorey had to fight for a new school and trying to find a site and here the department will proceed to design and planning relatively quickly,' he said.

He said the decision regarding the site has been made and commenting that the proposed site would be serviced he said: 'This one could be moved on very quickly.'

'The town is also growing out that way with the new fire station and the Primary Care Centre,' he said.
The Abbey Theatres response to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes report is timely. It includes a number of extracts from the 2,865 page report, chosen to give a broad picture of the voices of survivors. The publication last January was greeted with dismay by many who felt their testimony was misrepresented. A number of pieces here are an opportunity for survivors to express disappointment at the reports conclusions.

Each testimony is read from the Abbey stage, mostly by actors, including Brenda Fricker and Fionnula Flanagan; some read by public personae including Olivia OLeary and Catherine Connolly TD; a number of the survivors themselves also feature, including Melissa Nolan and Susan Lohan. The decision to have only women performers, when some of the testimony they read is from male survivors, is an odd one, and seems antithetical to the projects inclusive spirit.

There are also a number of songs performed by Mary Coughlan, including her haunting Magdalen Laundry, with the echoing line Oh Lord, wont you let me wash away the stain. The show runs to three hours  way too long for a live presentation, but OK for home viewing when you can pause and come up for air when you wish.

The testimonies are fascinating and well-chosen. The presentation starts with material concentrating on the trauma of the mothers and moves towards greater emphasis on the plight of the babies, these babies now grown to adulthood. The lead creative on the project, Noelle Brown, best known as an actor herself, made an artful show in 2013, Postscript (co-written with Michele Forbes), about her experience of searching for her birth mother. Here, she facilitates a broad space for a multitude of survivors voices; the underlying sorrow and anger are palpable. This Abbey presentation is in stark contrast to the video dramatisation of individual stories on the government website, which is saccharine and white-washy. Here we get details on the murky world of vaccine trials on institutionalised babies; the idea of adoption consent gets close scrutiny. So plenty of meat here, but the impact is less than it should be. Documentary theatre needs a strong shaping hand, and the lack of a writer or director shows. The contributions, beautifully delivered in each case, are too numerous and too similar in presentation, and so they lose their individuality. Home: Part One fulfils the objective of providing a platform for survivors voices, but its artlessness is disappointing. The muscle and magic of theatre, so suited to excavating this kind of national story, are missing. The art and music lost to dementia UnRavelled, gbhi.org until March 31 Theatre is particularly well-suited as a narrative home for science and philosophy, its audience groomed to accept density of material and complexity of thought. This new play by the American writer Jake Broder carves an emotional entry into the subject of aphasia, a form of frontal lobe dementia. This production is hosted by the Global Brain Health Institute, a research partnership between Trinity College Dublin and the University of California, San Francisco. The play is based on the true story of a Canadian visual artist Anne Chambers, her husband Robert and the early 20th-century composer Ravel, who inspired her work. Both Chambers and Ravel were struck with aphasia in their fifties, the disease affecting their creative output, and the play deals with their connection across a century of scientific, creative and medical advance. The story is framed with fascinating material about how abstract art plays with our neurological make-up to create the aesthetic response. Lucy Davenport and Rob Nagle play the wife and husband with finesse, gracefully luring the audience into the tragic effect of this disease on their marriage. Director Nike Doukas whips the 90-minute show along on Zoom with skill. Broders script is cerebral in both form and subject matter, but it also has plenty of heart.


(Photo: 6 Best Spots to Visit in Asia in 2021)

Are you hoping for the world to reopen soon so you can enjoy unlimited flight changes with Cathay Pacific? 2021 is undoubtedly the best year to visit some of the best spots in Asia. It doesn't matter what your final destination is. There are numerous adventurous travel spots to visit in Asia.

Also, if you haven't decided on a holiday place yet for the coming summer, let us remind you about the best, ancient, historic, culturally-enriched, and essentially adventurous places in Asia that must be on your bucket list.

Without further ado, let us get straight into the list of six best spots to visit in Asia in 2021. Enjoy!

Jaipur

Also known as the Pink City, Jaipur is amongst the top spots to visit in Asia. Jaipur is specifically popular amongst women who love traditional Indian jewelry, cultural fabrics, and many handcrafted items that are the best souvenirs to take back home for your family and friends?

There are many amazing places to visit in Jaipur, such as the Jai Mahal Palace, the Rambagh Palace, and the Amber Fort. Trust us when we tell you that you won't be able to stop taking marvelous pictures of the Pink City due to its incredible architecture.

The greatest point of attraction and source of fame of Jaipur is the breath-taking Hawa Mahal that never ceases to mesmerize, no matter how many times you visit the place.

Taipei

If you are a die-hard fan of cultural and festival night markets, then Taipei is your go-to hot spot this summer. Popular for its historical and cultural attraction, Taiwan's capital is a must-visit site for anyone who loves everything related to Taiwanese culture and food, such as the National Palace Museum and the obnoxiously famous yet irresistible Stinky Tofu.

While roaming the night markets, you can enjoy live music, such as Taiwanese rock metal, pop, and even Chinese opera. All you need is to get a ticket, sit with the locals (and, of course, other tourists), and enjoy the traditional Taiwanese puppet drama along with the Chinese opera blending in the background.

Hong Kong

Despite being deeply influenced by the West, Hong Kong is the perfect blend of the East and the West due to the former British Imperialists. You will be mesmerized to see the ultra-modern vibe of the culture with its sky-touching buildings, an enormous variety of international cuisine, and colorful street markets.

Until now, you might have witnessed the glamor of Hong Kong on the television screens alone. Now is the perfect time to see the city's impressive skyline for yourself? Hong Kong's vibe is like no other, and you will be craving to get back to the city whenever you can.

You will find something interesting, unique, and flawlessly awesome to explore around every corner of the city's street. Besides the city, Hong Kong is engulfed in nature as well. You will love to hike on the snow-covered mountains, sun-bathe at the beautiful beaches, and go fishing in the traditional villages.

Bangkok

If you are a man of culture and fond of Indian tradition, ancient temples, and inspired by Buddhism, you will find many mesmerizing sites in Bangkok. Not to mention the irresistible Thai cuisine that you won't be able to get enough of during your stay in Bangkok.

Bangkok also hosts one of the world's biggest street markets that have so much to offer. Not to mention the delicious street food with so much variety that you won't be able to taste all of the dishes. Amongst the most popular sites in Bangkok is the Wat Arun, also known as the temple of Dawn.

You will have fun at the floating markets - an experience that you will have nowhere else in the world. Amongst the most popular floating markets in Bangkok are the Khlong Lat Mayom and the market of Damnoen Saduak.

Seoul

While touring all around Asia, it would be a disappointment if you were to visit Seoul, one of the most vibrant South Korean cities. Also known as the city of palaces (due to the placement of five palaces), Seoul is a tourist attraction due to its ultra-modern vibe.

If you want to have the perfect experience of an amazing blend of the ancient with the modern, you won't find a better place than Seoul. Between all the towering skyscrapers, amazing shopping malls, modern eateries, you will be mesmerized to find ancient temples and beautiful villages that will give you the utmost joy while you will explore them.

Lastly, don't forget to visit the green and vibrant Bukhansan National Park during your stay in Seoul. You will cherish your moments spent there.

Maldives

We just had to add this famous center of tourist attraction into our list of must-visit spots in Asia. The Maldives is a paradise on earth, best enjoyed with your significant other. The Maldives is located far away from city-dwellers, whereas the atmosphere of the islands will possibly make you extend your stay.

Just imagine the beautiful blue ocean and the backdrop of the beautiful sky, peace, a sense of calm as you sunbathe and relax, with no worries in the world. What else can you wish for but walking in the white beach sand barefooted and gazing into the crystal clear ocean?

We personally would be disappointed if you were to miss out on this beautiful getaway while you are holidaying this summer 2021.

Final Thoughts

If you think that you need to detox, there is no better way than going on a holiday. And when we talk about holidays, we mean booking your flight, making the much dreamed-about and talked-about, and pondering about a trip to the Asian continent.

Trust us when we tell you that the summer trip to the Asian continent will prove the most adventurous, healthy, and relaxing trip of your life. Make sure to book the best airlines, stay at affordable hotels, and buy souvenirs for your family and friends.

Lastly, stay hydrated, don't forget your sunshades, and keep your sunblock with you at all times.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
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It seems everyone in Bray knows Ken Doyle. Walking through the town with his dog - a Jack Russell called Rosco - he is greeted by friends and fans every few metres. And when the musician stops to speak to your reporter over the phone, the salutations continue.

As he sits on a public bench looking out across the seafront, the conversation with his interviewer is repeatedly interrupted by cheery passers-by. The target of all this casual affection is not in the least put out by all the attention. After all, Ken has been in the spotlight one way or another for more than four decades.

The band with which he made his name is not necessarily the most critically acclaimed act that Ireland has produced. Yet Bagatelle survived where others have fallen by the wayside and is fondly regarded by countless thousands. Songs such as 'Summer in Dublin' and 'Second Violin' are imprinted on the souls of a generation and the joy has been passed on to their offspring.

Now the time is approaching when major decisions will have to be taken about how the group's legacy is protected. The death of Bagatelle's hit writer Liam Reilly at the start of the year has cast a sad shadow over Ken's lockdown.

The keyboard player with the melodic touch was confined by virus restrictions to an apartment in his native Dundalk. His Bray friend wonders whether being unable to get out and about to play his music was part of the reason why the songsmith passed away unexpectedly in his sleep.

'Our last gig was a year ago - at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry. The pandemic hastened Liam's demise,' is Ken's gut feeling. 'He did not have Covid.'

Being restricted at home allows the bass guitarist the leisure to review his career to date, with special emphasis on the early days. Ken confirms that he is 67 years of age, one of four children born to George and Rosaleen Doyle, raised in St Michael's Avenue.

George Doyle spent most of his working life as a bus driver, serving behind the steering wheel for various private operators before piloting the Number 85 for CIE. Rosaleen, nee D'Arcy, hailed from Cavan and she came to Enniskerry when employed as a governess looking after children at the big house in Powerscourt.

The couple's first child was a girl, Rosemary, who lives these days in London. Then came the three boys, with Ken sandwiched between Martin and Gerry.

Martin has moved in recent years to Clare where his traditional wooden flutes are in great demand. Meanwhile, Gerry is a versatile player of fiddle, guitar and banjo, who has been a member of various bands.

Childhood was generally happy, though Ken hated (his word) the Christian Brothers responsible for his schooling: 'They were brutal. They could do what they wanted.' Sitting in class in fear that a blackboard duster would come hurtling his way was not conducive to education. 'When I left school, that was when I started to learn,' he reflects. 'I went to the University of Life! Now I still love learning.'

At home, he and the rest of the Doyle brood had a loving, selfless Irish mother who was always there for her children. And music was a constant, with young Ken a willing participant: 'Music was such a natural part of my life.'

One of his earliest memories is of an expedition to Enniskerry, sitting on his father's shoulder and singing. Mother sang ceaselessly, her repertoire stretching to embrace the work of Count John McCormack.

Then big brother Martin came home one day with a banjo and in no time he had the tunes flying from the instrument. Once old enough to be in pubs, Ken's innate desire to perform was unleashed. It seemed that every licensed premises had its regular session. The bars and lounges of Bray provided valuable tutorials for that University of Life, where the three brothers improvised, harmonised and socialised.

Having finished at the CBS, Ken found formal employment with CIE on the railways, patrolling the trains and the track between Dalkey and Greystones. The job gave him an income, but it was the music which offered passion and inspiration.

One day, he ventured into Dublin and chanced upon a wonderful discovery in Goodwin's pawnbrokers. Asked whether he had any instruments, the man behind the counter replied that there was a 'funny yoke' somewhere in the dark recesses at the back of the shop.

After a brief search, the yoke was found sitting in a dusty case: 'I had never seen a mandolin, but this was a beautiful, round-backed, Italian mandolin.' Ken still reckons that the 20 he spent on it was good value, even though he had to fit his new purchase with strings and then he ended up playing it very little. Instead, it was younger brother Gerry who proved to have a better touch, so he was allowed to use it while his sibling was back to square one.

'I said I'd get a guitar,' recalls Ken and, as it turned out, a suitable guitar was available as Bob Denton had one on the market. Bob was set to emigrate to the United States and he wanted 50 from the sale to help him on his way.

The only problem was that the prospective buyer had just 30 to hand. Never mind, Bob told him that his credit was good and the pair remain friends to this day.

With Gerry on fiddle and the acquisition of the guitar, all of a sudden the boys had a band - The Doyles, for want of a more elaborate name. The brotherly trio played to anyone who would listen in venues around Greystones and Bray, including Jim Doherty's Tavern and the Dunalawn Hotel.

However, Ken's horizons were about to widen in 1972 as he had a tax rebate burning a hole in his pocket. A friend who worked in a music shop persuaded him to invest 20 in a bass guitar. It seemed to be a bargain but without an amplifier it was next to useless - until Danny Tobin chanced to drop by.

Danny invited the 19-year-old amp-less would-be bass player to a jamming session in Corke Abbey, where there was sure to be an amp. Not only, as it turned out, did they have the necessary hardware, the jammers were also in urgent need of someone to play four-string.

They introduced their guest to 12-bar blues, with special emphasis on the songs of Joe Cocker, and then they asked him what he was doing the next day. Under the name Butch, they had been engaged to fill a slot in the Woodlands (now a housing estate). The Butch line-up featured Ned Teehan on vocals and the late Brian Baynes on guitar.

Around 120 paying customers turned up to witness Ken's first appearance and the band's last - they broke up that same night. But he now had his foot on the merry-go-round and further opportunities would not be long coming his way.

He was invited, along with Paul Fairclough, to be part of The Elastic Band, covering the hits of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, with a little more Joe Cocker: 'They lasted one or two years. They were not going anywhere though I enjoyed it.'

Not going anywhere? On reflection, they did venture once as far as Waterford, a trip that was not financially worthwhile. With Bray a hive of musical activity, there was scarcely any need to travel. The town was thrumming as bands played in The Mississippi Rooms, The Dug Inn, The Holyrood, The Grand, Jim Doherty's Tavern, The Dunalawn, The Esplanade, The Bray Head Hotel 

'Nowadays, if you see one guy in a corner with a machine you're lucky,' ponders Ken as he looks back on those dizzy days. The Elastic Band eventually snapped and he reverted to playing trad sessions with The Doyles, reckoning he was well shot of rock 'n roll.

It was John O'Brien, part-time chef and accomplished chord-smith, who changed his mind with an invite to practise at the Silver Pine studio. Meet the Boulder Band, in which John was joined by Paul Fairclough, with harmonies courtesy of Marian Byrne and Bree Harris. They represented a step up and Ken found he was ready to return to pop.

The Boulders - still fondly recalled as the Fleetwood Mac of the east coast - lasted the usual two years. But John O'Brien was keen to have another roll of the dice, with Marian and Ken also willing.

Wally McConville appeared from Dundalk to play drums, but the new combo was still short a keyboard player. Wally said he knew someone who might fit the bill, another Louthman who could also sing and compose songs as good as any by Leo Sayer.

An informal audition was arranged at John's home in Sugar Loaf Crescent.

It was August 1978. The keyboard player was Liam Reilly. He had 'Summer in Dublin' ready to play on the house's upright piano. Jaws dropped. The room fell silent in awe. Bagatelle was born 
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks during his weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 18, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

House GOP Leader McCarthy Had COVID-19 but Didnt Know at the Time

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) recently revealed that he had previously contracted COVID-19 and found out about it late last year when he tested positive for CCP virus antibodies.

McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday that he tested positive for antibodies against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, before he went in for a surgery on his elbow in December 2020.

The Republican leader said that a doctor informed him at the time that he had most likely contracted the disease within the last two months.

He said he took a COVID-19 vaccine during the interim period while waiting for his blood test results to return that showed he had CCP virus antibodies.

McCarthy said he never knew he had COVID-19.

Whats odd is, Ive probably been tested more than 50 times so it had to be in that short time plane probably right before the election or somewhere like that, he speculated.

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and may appear about 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Such symptoms may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste and or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and more.

A person can also be completely asymptomatic to the virus, like McCarthy.

I didnt know it  and nobody on my staff got it [COVID-19 symptoms] either, he told reporters.

The CDC said it doesnt recommend getting a vaccine if a person is currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. However, a previous positive antibody test, which shows past infection, is no reason to not get vaccinated, according to the agency.

You should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Thats because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possiblealthough rarethat you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again, the agency said on its website.

All lawmakers in the House and Senate are qualified to receive a vaccine and have had access to a vaccine since December 2020. More than 75 percent of House members have received a vaccine. Dozens of them have recovered from the virus.

Vaccine providers are required to report any serious adverse effects or vaccination administration errors to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccine manufacturers are immune from liability for any adverse reactions unless there is willful misconduct involved.

The federal government has a Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program that can pay compensation to eligible persons who suffer serious injury from approved vaccines. However, burden of proof has proven a challenging process.
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London, March 20 : Another 4,802 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,285,684, according to official figures released on Friday.

The country also reported another 101 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 126,026. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, the Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 26.2 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Britain also broke its record for the most coronavirus jabs given out in one day with a total of 660,276 doses being administered nationwide on Thursday, the government figures showed.

According to the British Department of Health and Social Care, almost 50 per cent of all British adults have received a jab.

The National Health Service (NHS) England has warned that Britain is going to face a "significant reduction" in vaccine supplies from March 29 onwards.

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The Bishop believes that the radicalisation of religious platforms is preceded by a chain of actions and a series of inactions of the political class. And once religious leaders take a radical position against the government and transmit their grievances into the sermons that the congregations would consume, no one can accurately predict the possible outcome.

The different stages of both social and political development are well documented in human history. Given their interconnectivity, they combine to serve as an anchor of every human society, moving them higher to their desired positions. The first phase of human social evolution recorded religion as a tool for social control, so that collective ideas and socially identified philosophies can be transmitted to the people through its agency. As such, religion became very useful in transmitting values and even ideas to the people, while it was simultaneously considered as the platform for social advocacy. This is precisely because early society was constructed in such a way that nearly all members of society, either willingly or otherwise, were conditioned to accept the existing religion as their collective creed, which did not only dictate their moral and ideological values but also enforced these principles using every means possible. However, the world began to gradually move away from the confines of religion, as more information was generated and discovery made in science and technology. Nevertheless, the sacredness of religion was unquestioned but its previous general control was losing its grip on the people. In the unfolding events, even when one expects that the influence and importance of religion would be emasculated by these developments, it became stronger and occupied its social position.

The two most popular and politically powerful religions in the country are Christianity and Islam, which boast of intimidating numerical strengths. Because of their numbers, they are well placed to make social decisions or inspire social movements capable of revolutionary actions. Even when some members have reservations about what their religious leaders say, they are mostly bound by religious injunctions to follow their prescription and take their advice strongly. Moreover, because some of these religious leaders are politically inclined and socially vibrant, they miss no opportunity to contribute to sociopolitical debates. By their mere participation in these social activities, they indirectly empower their members to follow a particular direction.

In essence, that religious platforms are used as veritable tools for social regeneration cannot be a strange thing to the human society. At each time in human history, religion has always capitalised on its social significance and popularity to enforce ideas, influence people to follow a particular direction, or inspire them to take a particular step, as long as it would add to them richly, including making them follow a specific political course of action. Religious influence keeps expanding, even in contemporary times. In a multicultural, multi-ethnic, multilingual, and multi-religious country like Nigeria, religious platforms often collide in their contradictory philosophies, and when this happens, social eruptions are not impossible in the long run. However, despite its capacity to influence peoples opinions, individuals who operate under a different religious identity would always demonstrate their sense of aversion to another religious groups position on the political, economic, and social situations of the country. This is exactly the case with Nigeria. In what follows, I explain how this holds bearing to the man, Kukah, and its overall relevance to the contemporary social conditions of Nigeria.

In Nigeria, Bishop Reverend Father Kukah falls into this category. Apart from being a religious head, Father Kukah functions well as a seasoned intellectual whose sense of social evaluation reveals the extent of his astute academic brilliance. If he had not been functioning in the domain of religious leadership, it is uncontentious that he would have comfortably been a seasoned academic, moulding and shaping peoples lives from the theatre of the classroom. But since he has already been recognised in the religious platform of Christianity, Kukah is seen as one of the most, if not the most, controversial religious leaders in the country in the 21st century, because of his sociopolitical stance and uncompromising criticism of underperforming government administrators. But because Nigeria is divided along the cleavages of religious pluralism, his constant evaluation of the government has been given an ethnic and religious tone by individuals committed to silence him. Rather than be bothered, the Bishop has shown an admirable level of confidence and zeal.

The most recent interview I had with Bishop Kukah was both educative and enlightening and, more importantly, reassuring and appealing. When asked if the religious platforms can be used for radicalisation, Kukah became elaborately analytical with his familiar logical reasoning. From his response, we got to know that some social experiences determine religions position on social events. In other words, context is important in determining the responses of religious organisations to the prevailing political challenges because of its sensitive position in the making and shaping of society. The Bishop believes that the radicalisation of religious platforms is preceded by a chain of actions and a series of inactions of the political class. And once religious leaders take a radical position against the government and transmit their grievances into the sermons that the congregations would consume, no one can accurately predict the possible outcome. The reason for this is clear. In many instances, followers of religion accept the words of their leaders as sacrosanct and would act on them to the letter. Since religious leaders have this significant influence on their members, people who are wary of what can be done using the pulpit are usually fast to raise alarms about what religious leaders say, arguing that their utterances are incisive. Obviously, having this social power has affected many things in Nigeria, and the choice of their political representatives is one of such consequences.

Even when Bishop Kukah is earnestly castigated by individuals who are hit by his very critically flagellating disposition to the government of the day, not many people can doubt his nationalist conviction. He remains a progressive Nigerian who believes that Nigeria can be great

Social conditions usually predispose people to radicalisation, and according to Bishop Kukah, people can be radicalised when they feel betrayed by their government or leaders. Even when the reasons for radicalisation are interminable, Kukah identifies these three factors as propellants of radicalisation  social conditions, the feeling of betrayal, and marginalisation. He conveniently educated us, his audience, about these recalcitrant issues that keep challenging the development of the people. For one, the social conditions are concrete proof of the state of health of a people generally. Comfortably, one can predict the political status of a country by merely looking at its social configurations and systems. In a society where people have lost their voices, the probability of their wellness cannot but be uncertain. A peoples voice is very important in their determination to entrench a beautiful democratic culture. This is because it is through this process that the government recognises their input and significance in the nation-building process. In essence, when they are suppressed or intimidated by the government elected to represent their interests, they would face various traumatic conditions that would be accumulating gradually. When this reaches its elastic limit, therefore, they would be emboldened by the assurance that their fight for recognition is just and natural in a social setting. Even if they were matched with superior force by the totalitarian regime in power, they would follow their dreams of freedom with actions that have consequences.

Political representation is usually a product of the ideological concession of peoples in the society, where the ones vying for political offices convince the electorates of their capacity to bring about the desired changes needed in the same society. Before the electorates concede to following a particular political platform or identity, there must have been a series of meetings that would guarantee mutual understanding. When viewed from this perspective, the relationship between the political representatives and electorates is synonymous with that of a contractor and the client, the seller and the buyer, and not the one existing between the master and the subordinate, or the superior to the inferior. In most cases, the poor understanding of this situation forces the occupants of a political office to misbehave. Individuals, the people, the electorates on whose sweat and shoulders the politicians ride to their offices, deserve accountability, transparency, and quality service delivery. However, whenever this is not given, the feeling of betrayal is imminent, and the corresponding outcomes can be devastating. Looking at the chain of unkept promises by the Nigerian government in recent years, the electorates have obviously been betrayed.

Also, marginalisation can be a valid reason for radicalisation. Colonial experience has mandated that peoples of varying cultural and religious philosophies are combined to function as an entity, and because of this condition, the responsibility of management has been unprecedentedly wider. More importantly, countries that are as diverse as Nigeria need a more inclusive system to make people have a sense of belonging. Nigeria is multicultural and is ethnically diverse too. Admittedly, the political philosophy needed for the management of the country must be socially appealing in orientation because managing diversity is sacrosanct to the successful driving of such a place. People are as diverse in political understanding, as they are in their cultural identities. They can be as diverse as their religious sentiments too. It is equally possible that people can maintain a different social understanding, according to the diversity of their ethnic affiliations. Therefore, an impassioned leader, or sets of leaders, are required for a successful running of a place like Nigeria. However, that has not been the case in its history. Nigeria is confronted with ethnic jingoism of unknown magnitude, religious sentiment of unusual height, ethnic bigotry of surprising standards and tribal politics of unimaginable proportion. All these are observable in the highest echelon of power. Hence, these conditions make radicalisation inevitable.

Even when Bishop Kukah is earnestly castigated by individuals who are hit by his very critically flagellating disposition to the government of the day, not many people can doubt his nationalist conviction. He remains a progressive Nigerian who believes that Nigeria can be great, and perhaps because the country is urgently on the trajectory to its deserved development, it experiences a sudden challenge after running into the hands of political jobbers who consider opportunities to serve as some grace to swallow the public fortune. Kukah believes that the dream country that many Nigerians have in their minds can be achieved through the continuous dedication of interest to the issues that are happening in the country. It is the observation of the social responses, reactions to these critical engagements, that would show if the country is on the right track. Since Father Kukah has enjoyed the goodwill of the people during his criticism of government policies and representatives, he has observed that he was speaking the minds of many repressed Nigerians who do not have the platform or effrontery to speak truth to the centre. It is on this social acceptance of his position that the hope with which he continues the said assignment is manufactured. He admits that even if other things have failed him about ascertaining Nigerias prospect to work as a beautiful nation, his hope continues to serve as the renewal of his strength to keep the good work going. As a result, hope has been useful in his journey.

Whereas the problems confronting the country are multifaceted, it is intellectually stimulating to know that someone like Reverend Kukah pinpoints the root of the challenges to something very logical that even the most basic individual can relate to. Among many other things, Kukah submits that one of the principal factors for Nigerias problems is globalisation, which has appeared in the world with many countries and civilisations unprepared for its management. People around the world are caught by surprise that something as fundamentally or experientially crucial to the development of the world generally can come this suddenly and with this intruding force. Part of the elements of globalisation is the Internet, which is forcefully changing the configuration of society through its monumental project of collapsing spaces and boundaries. Because humans now have access to happenings and developments of different democratic environments, they continuously improve their standards for measuring leadership or its attendant usefulness in human society. Someone in the corner of their village in Ibarapa, Oyo State, Nigeria, with active access to the Internet is aware of the democratic culture of the United States of America, put to the test when their recent out-of-office President became unconstitutionally imposing. For this, they instinctively raise their sense of global citizenship and want to replicate what Americans did in checking him, by protest or criticism, in Nigeria.

many other questions were asked about the possible continuation of the country as a single indivisible political identity and what could be done to prevent the country from imminent collapse Kukahresponds that the immediate facilitator of peace and enhancer of unity is the ability to manage diversity.

Meanwhile, the infancy of Nigerian democracy would always encourage politicians to negate this form of development. Leaders in a multicultural society like Nigeria are always suspicious of all and every comment against their leadership (pre)disposition. As such, any comment coming from a public space is first read with an ethnic mindset, religious sentiment, cultural bias, or other forms of identity indices, and would react inflammably, throwing objectivity and caution to the wind. Therefore, in this kind of environment, the attainment of peace and tranquility tends to be eternally difficult. The globalisation age has ensured that people have access to information in its immediacy, and because of such access, individuals have become more alive to their democratic duties and corresponding rights as citizens of the same country. The flow of information brings people to make a comparative judgment between the government of one country and the other; and on the occasion that they would be deprived of these fundamental human rights in their own country, they would always take the democratic means of calling out the government for others to be aware of their political situations. Kukah cites the recent successful campaign against the police brutality that the average Nigerian youth were facing. Tagged #EndSARS, the movements success was a credit to globalisation because through the Internet and the social media industry, the youth exposed the growing decadence enshrined in the countrys democratic culture and expressed their anger and frustration against a system that had hitherto discounted and disenfranchised them. In essence, the more they are aligned to the globalisation agenda, the more they would make appropriate modifications.

Another challenge that Bishop Kukah mentions as an impediment to Nigerians common progress is the problem of dysfunctional leadership perennially confronting the country. Blighted by leadership decadence, the country has continued to suffer immeasurable pains that are preventable, if it had purposeful leadership. Throughout the six decades that Nigeria has experienced freedom, less than one-third of the time witnessed the ascension of political leaders who are not a product of military culture. To consolidate his points, the current Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, falls within this category. He identifies that although these military officers usually cite the situation of stupendously proportional mismanagement of public resources as their reason for overthrowing successive democratic governments, this, however, still does still not change the fact that the military is not particularly trained or suitable for human management, much less diversity management. The military, continues Father Kukah, is only competent in forcefully handling transnational conflicts so that the territorial integrity of their country would not be disrespected or trampled upon. Thus, when these military officers take the position of leadership forcefully, the results would not be in any way different from what Nigeria currently experiences.

As a corollary to this assertion, the unpreparedness of successive Nigerian leaders has been a raging issue in their democratic identity. Citing presidents in their Fourth Republic, Kukah solidifies the argument that when leaders do not have the proper picture of their imminent national assignment, they would indiscriminately embark on actions that can be detrimental to the health of the fragile unity they keep as a people. Looking at General Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian president between 1999 and 2007, for example, he was a man who gave up on the hope of existence as he was condemned to death and was waiting for official execution by the government of Abacha. Months later, he found himself in the corridors of power. Nothing can prove more that he did not have the psychological preparation to lead a country as diverse as Nigeria. Fast-forward this to President Umar YarAdua, the man who was physically plagued by health challenges and yet succeeded Olusegun Obasanjo. His mind must have been consistently divided between finding lasting peace and stability for himself and catering to the welfare of the country. This could not but have consequences on the ways he led. The accidental ascension of his successor, President Goodluck Jonathan, is also public knowledge. After him, however, a man who made the public remark of not being ready to run further for public office, Muhammadu Buhari, found himself there. The rest is history, as they always say in public parlance.

During the interview, many other questions were asked about the possible continuation of the country as a single indivisible political identity and what could be done to prevent the country from imminent collapse, going by the heightened ethnic and religious sentiments that have pervaded society. Kukah, in his often logical and evidently tactical sense of evaluation, responds that the immediate facilitator of peace and enhancer of unity is the ability to manage diversity. However, this would not be achieved using a bottom-up approach; as different political analysts usually suggest, it would be a top-down thing this time around. The leaders at the echelon of power should understand that diversity is a part of the modern world, and its management is pivotal for the enhancement of collective development. Migrations and resettlements caused by factors that are not here to be explored have necessitated that people of different cultural and religious identities would be found under the same political system and would need to be well managed for the society to move further. Therefore, being nepotistic reflects ones insecurity than ones sense of control. Once they provide the space for divergent identities and make provisions for a friendly atmosphere where everyone can achieve their goals, there would be peace and stability for everyone, and Nigeria would move forward.

Toyin Falola is professor of History and University Distinguished Teaching Professor at The University of Texas at Austin.

This is the second report on the interview conducted with Bishop Hassan Kukah on March 7. For the entire recording, check HERE.
WASHINGTON  Joe Biden never had a seat at the cool kids table at the Obama White House.

Heading into 2016 and 2020, if you told the hotshots from Obamaworld that you thought Biden would be a good candidate, they would uniformly offer a look of infinite patience, tolerance and condescension and say something like, Well, I could understand how someone would think that.

The message was unmistakable: Biden was not part of the Obama entourage. He was sort of a goofball and windbag. He was a member of an older, outmoded generation. In other words, uncool.

The West Wing attitude was that Biden should simply be grateful that the Great Obama had handed him a ticket to ride. Biden was viewed as a past-his-sell-by-date pol who needed the presidents guiding hand to keep Uncle Joe from making a fool of himself as vice president.

In 2012, Biden faced friendly fire from the West Wing, as one outraged Biden family member put it to me back then. Obama aides were furious when Biden went on Meet the Press and made a glorious gaffe, blurting out support for gay marriage while his boss was still dragging his feet. They trashed him anonymously to reporters, froze him out of meetings and barred him from doing some national media.
I remember the day I was targeted just because I was Asian.

I was 7, maybe 8? It was sunny. I was outdoors, happy and carefree. A group of much bigger, older Caucasian boys started walking toward me. That alone scared me. When they then proceeded to poke fun at me, saying, Ching ching, chong chong, laughing hysterically as they walked off, that then scarred me.

I remember standing there stunned, thinking, Wait, whats happening? I dont talk like that  I speak English! But there I stood frozen  all 4 feet of me, speechless, indignant, wishing I could have said something back.

That was an inflection point. Fast forward to now, another inflection point.

For months, Ive watched the spike in anti-Asian sentiment and the escalation in violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

For months, I  and many others in the Asian American community  have been disappointed that the issue hasnt been getting more attention, although Ive been encouraged by the increased media coverage in recent weeks. Its also been heartening to see more and more companies, like mine, expressing they stand with the AAPI community.

For months, Ive been supporting from behind the scenes, too. Amplifying an article here. Joining a Clubhouse conversation there. And liking lots of relevant posts everywhere. But Ive stopped just short of expressing my own view.

Speaking up was counterintuitive to me growing up. Born in Illinois to immigrants from Taiwan, I was taught, like so many other second generation Asian Americans, to study hard, keep my head down, and stay on the straight and narrow. But I also wanted desperately to fit in.

That meant rather than bringing rice and dumplings to school, I much preferred getting those fried burritos (yes, they were a thing!) and Its-It ice cream sandwiches from the cafeteria. Over time, it often meant, rather than embracing distinctive aspects of my Asian heritage, I preferred to assimilate into the mainstream. That translated into my wanting to be a little less Asian, a little more white.

So when my Asian-ness was called out by that group of boys, it stung. What gnawed at me even more was that I froze at that time.

In that moment, I couldnt open my mouth to speak. But in many ways, that moment then propelled me to this moment now. Today, I have found the words, and heres what I want to say:

 I know I dont have to be frozen in my tracks anymore.

 I know that I, especially as an Asian American woman in the communications industry, can give voice to others in the AAPI community who may not have a voice. We do not have to be invisible.

 I know that I dont have to strive to be more white, but that I do need to bring to work my authentic self, as an Asian American woman, and share what that experience means as we work to create a more inclusive workplace.

 I know I can help raise awareness about the alarming uptick in anti-Asian violence and encourage people to check out resources, such as Stop AAPI Hate, on how to support the Asian American community.

 I know I can check in with my Asian American colleagues and friends to see how theyre doing and be vulnerable in sharing what Im experiencing, too.

 I know I want my children to understand whats happening around us. I want them to know that those people who have been subject to anti-Asian sentiment and violence arent other people  they could be us. They are us.

 And I know I want to add my voice to a crescendo of voices from other Asian Americans, allies, community and business leaders, and companies to say: This must stop. But lets not stop there. We also need to ask: What can we do to help?

An inflection point for me and, hopefully, many others.

Cynthia Lin Sugiyama is a senior vice president and head of HR communications for Wells Fargo, based in San Francisco.
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Update: Marlenas Bistro supporters see restaurant closure as latest fight for freedom in pandemic

HOLLAND, MI -- Supporters of a Holland woman have boarded up her restaurant, in hopes a judge will release her from jail after she defied state coronavirus orders that shut down dine-in services for months.

The supporters put boards over the entrances to Marlenas Bistro and Pizzeria, as well as a Complied sign on the business front, late Friday, March 19, on the advice of an attorney representing Marlena Pavlos-Hackney.

She was ordered to jail earlier Friday by Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina pending payment of a $7,500 fine and a determination from the state Attorney Generals office that her restaurant was closed.

Pavlos-Hackney has been at odds with the state for months over refusal to follow the states November prohibition on dine-in services. She also allegedly refused to enforce use of masks and social distancing.

Related: Michigan restaurant owner to remain in jail on charge of violating COVID-19 orders

Her food license was suspended earlier this year, but she continued to operate. She was arrested early Friday morning in a traffic stop.

Holly Shashaguay, a support of Pavlos-Hackney, said she helped board up the restaurant late Friday on the advice of attorney Robert Baker, who stepped in to represent Pavlos-Hackney on Friday.

The restaurant was open for business Friday when employees ran the restaurant, but not Saturday.

When I painted that Complied sign, I was crying the whole time, Shashaguay said. We didnt want to do it, but we did.

Baker, contacted Saturday, said he advised Pavlos-Hackney that the best course would be to get out of jail, then fight the bigger legal battle.

Theres no benefit to her sitting in jail, he said. She didnt really understand the ramifications of what was coming down the pike.

Baker said he was hopeful she might be released Saturday, but said it could be after the weekend.

Baker said one legal avenue he is exploring is whether the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has the proper jurisdiction of restaurants and coronavirus-related issues.

A rally in support of Pavlos-Hackney is planned for Saturday outside the restaurant.

More from MLive

They can arrest me: Holland restaurant owner defies state coronavirus order

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Guidelines slashing personal injury awards will make it unattractive for solicitors to bring cases in future, the outgoing director-general of the Law Society believes.

Of all the issues Ken Murphy has had to grapple with during his 26 years in charge of the representative, educational and now semi-regulatory body for solicitors, he readily admits none have received as much attention as personal injury litigation.

This, he believes, is because members of the public dont really identify themselves as potential victims of accidents but do identify as insurance premium payers.

As he cleared out his office earlier this week ahead of his retirement on Monday, when he turns 65, the recent decision by the Judicial Council to cut awards was still very much on his mind.

If something will bring down the cost of insurance, the public are pretty well inclined to support it, almost uncritically, he said.

But the real question is, the mere fact you may be reducing the levels of awards to victims of accidents caused by the negligence of others, does that mean insurance premiums will fall? I doubt it.

Insurance company shareholders rather than premium payers will be the ones to benefit, he predicted.

Time will tell if he is right.

The judiciary approved the guidelines after its own research showed awards were higher in Ireland than in neighbouring jurisdictions.

Mr Murphy said while solicitors accepted the will of the judges, in his view the guidelines were clearly decided under a lot of external pressure.

Mr Murphy has been the longest-serving chief executive of any law society in the world and his retirement represents the end of an era.

Given the debate over who is to blame for high insurance premiums was a recurring battleground during his tenure, it is unsurprising he has a few parting shots to fire.

The guidelines will push some cases previously taken in the Circuit Court down to the District Court, where lower payment rates apply.

Personal injury claims are bread-and-butter work for law firms around the country, but a move away from the area now seems likely.

I think it will become unattractive for solicitors to take cases, he said.

While many might think this is a good thing, Mr Murphy said his fear was that people with justifiable claims wont now bring cases or will accept inadequate awards.

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He had considered staying on as director-general beyond retirement age but the pandemic prompted a re-think. He missed the buzz of travel, of meeting visiting bar associations and 230 staff and hundreds of students around Blackhall Place. Zoom meetings proved a poor substitute. The fun has gone out of things, he said.

Whoever takes over will require a varied skill set.

Mr Murphys job has been as much about public relations and fire-fighting as it has been about education, discipline and acting in the interests of 12,000 members.

The toughest period he faced was in October 2005 when news broke that some solicitors had overcharged clients they represented at the Residential Institutions Redress Board.

The issue featured on 14 of RTEs Liveline programmes in a row and led to a flood of complaints.

We had to scramble to respond to it. First, in terms of ensuring people who had complaints about solicitors, that we were able to fairly and properly process those. But also to deal with the fallout in reputational terms, he said.

Two years later cases involving rogue solicitors emerged. These included Thomas Byrne, who was later jailed for theft and fraud.

The society had to move in quickly and shut down practices, while fears abounded as to how widespread the problem was.

Mr Murphy likened two particular cases to the Twin Towers. Other cases were like two-storey houses in comparison to those two cases, which were a product of the Celtic Tiger in many respects, he said.

Since October 2019 new complaints about the conduct of solicitors have been handled by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority.

The Law Society has, however, retained regulation of the management of client monies by solicitors.

Mr Murphy said he was quite happy with these modernising changes.

However, he rejected the perception that the society did not always give complainants a fair shake when it was responsible for examining allegations.

If people think solicitors thought it was in their interest to cover up and encourage bad practice by the profession, they had a false understanding. Nobody has a higher interest in exposing and suppressing bad practice in the profession than the profession itself, he said.

On the lobbying front Mr Murphy scored notable successes, including securing eligibility for the appointment of solicitors to superior courts and changes to the Legal Services Regulation Act.

In a recent Law Society Gazette article he wrote that CEOs of bar and law societies in other jurisdictions were often amazed when he would mention the ease with which he could make direct contact with a justice minister.

Asked about this, Mr Murphy said Ireland had a very open political system where politicians are always available. But he insisted he had no undue influence on any minister and that the approach taken was always to use argument and evidence to demonstrate that whatever the Law Society was seeking was in the public interest.

I have plenty of experience of things I would have urged on a minister that never happened, he said.

One example is the refusal of successive governments to reverse cuts to legal aid fees imposed in 2009 and 2010 following the financial crisis.

The issue will be top of the in-tray for whoever succeeds Mr Murphy.

We are seeing the criminal defence solicitor cohort is aging because new people are not coming into this area of work, said Mr Murphy.

It is seen as very tough work with long hours and an unattractive lifestyle.

Some solicitors were choosing to work for the DPP instead because of better wages and benefits, he said.

He predicted there would be a long-term impact on the quality of the justice system if these trends continued.

One key issue is that payment rates do not reflect the amount of work involved.

For example, a practitioner might have to review 20 hours of video evidence but does not get paid for this.

Mr Murphy said there was undoubtedly a risk that miscarriages of justice may occur as a result.

The very great majority of people are convicted. But the reality exists that some people who are innocent are charged. Do we care about that or not?
Sparks fly from the barrel of a gun used by riot police to disperse protesters (AP/Sakchai Lalit)

Police in Thailands capital have used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a rally by pro-democracy protesters.

The demonstrators are calling for the release of detained activists, constitutional changes and reform of the nations monarchy.

The rally held outside Bangkoks Grand Palace was a continuation of student-led protests that began last year and have rattled Thailands traditional establishment, which is fiercely opposed to change, especially with regard to the monarchy.

The rally organisers had said they planned to have demonstrators throw paper planes with messages over the palace walls.

Expand Close A riot policeman advances towards a protester in Bangkok (AP/Sakchai Lalit) / Facebook

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The demonstrators, who were close to 1,000-strong, managed to break through a barrier made of shipping containers outside the ceremonial palace. Police behind the containers responded first with warnings and then by shooting water cannons and rubber bullets.

Protesters threw smoke bombs and giant firecrackers at police and also splashed a royal portrait with paint, but failed in an attempt to set it on fire, though they did burn tyres and rubbish at several locations.

At least six police officers were injured and around five protesters detained. The citys Erawan emergency services said 11 people in total had been sent to hospitals.

Police had warned in advance that the rally was illegal, but the demonstrators proceeded anyway. The protesters also used slingshots to fire nuts and bolts at police and hit them with metal rods.

The rally was called by Redem, a faction of a broader protest movement last year that started with three core demands: that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government to step down; the constitution be amended to make it more democratic; and the monarchy to be reformed to make it more accountable.

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Redem, which stands for Restart Democracy, claims to have no leaders and holds online voting to decide on rally dates and activities.

The movement sharpened its campaign to focus on the monarchy, and Thailands lese majeste law, which makes criticising, insulting or defaming the king and some other senior royals punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The monarchy has long been treated as a sacred institution in Thailand and public criticism is not only illegal, but has long been considered socially unacceptable. Many people still revere the monarchy and the military, a major power in Thai society, considers defence of the monarchy a key priority.

As protesters last year stepped up criticism of the monarchy, the government responded by charging outspoken protesters under the lese majeste law, and over the last month, eight of them were jailed pending trial.

The movement was able to attract crowds of as many as 20,000-30,000 people in Bangkok in 2020 and had followings in major cities and universities. However, a new coronavirus outbreak late last year caused it to temporarily suspend activities, and it lost momentum.

Fireworks light up the sky in Santa Ana, Calif., on July 4, 2020. (John Fredricks, The Epoch Times)

Huntington Beachs Fourth of July Is a Go

The annual Huntington Beach Fourth of July celebration will continue this year, albeit without its parade, possibly no fireworks, and a modified festival and fun run.

Planning for the 2021 celebration has been heavily influenced by the CCP virus pandemic, elected officials said during a March 15 city council meeting.

The city plans on hosting its traditional fireworks show over the Huntington Beach pier, however, there are still uncertainties about whether it will be permitted during the pandemic.

The firework show is the most susceptible to COVID-related impacts, community services manager Chris Cole told the council.

The firework show would include a 25-minute firework display, choreographed to a custom soundtrack.

The 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run will be modified from the traditional main street route to a predesigned course at Huntington Central Park.

The run will take place during the Fourth of July weekend, with staggered start times of limited-sized groups.

A virtual race component will also be included, and will allow participants to race on their own time and location.

Use of existing park space for the course rather than public streets allows for costs to be kept to a minimum, and ensures a fiscally sustainable and authentic 5k experience, Cole said.

The Pier Plaza festival will include sponsor booths, food trucks, and vendors.

To adhere to social-distancing guidelines, booths and vendors on the pier will be spaced out.

Outdoor marketplaces are currently permissible under COVID restrictions, Cole said. Its a very safe bet.

There will also be a socially distanced block party in downtown Huntington Beach.

The 2021 activity would expand upon last years plan to create additional parade routes, and would include creative ways to engage potential sponsors, Cole said.

There will be a home decoration contest that will include residences and businesses citywide.

The home decorating contest provides an additional way to maintain the sense of hometown pride for the celebration, especially for residents who wish to celebrate from home, Cole said.

During last years Fourth of July, the beaches were closed due to the pandemic. There is no indication of beach closures during this years celebration.
The Manitoba government has created an advisory group to review Ottawa's recently proposed gun-control legislation.

The Manitoba government has created an advisory group to review Ottawa's recently proposed gun-control legislation.

The federal Liberal government's Bill C-21 would amend the rules around the use, transportation and storage of firearms.

The bill proposes a buyback of many recently banned firearms the government considers to be assault-style weapons. However, owners would be allowed to keep them under strict conditions.

Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen said the province is hearing concerns about Bill C-21 from hunters, trappers and sport shooters.

"Although there are some portions of the legislation that we support, we feel the proposed legislation unfairly targets legal firearm owners. The evidence is clear that hunters, trappers, sport shooters and rural landowners are not the issue when it comes to firearm related crimes," he said in a news release.

Justice Minister Cameron Friesen said the province is "committed to addressing the issue of gun crime and working effectively with law enforcement agencies to get illegal firearms off our streets."

He said the federal bill would result in "a patchwork of approaches across the country, which would be confusing, ineffective and unenforceable."

"If the federal government was really serious about cracking down on guns used in the commission of a crime, they would focus on preventing the illegal importation of weapons into Canada rather than targeting legal firearm owners," Friesen said.

Members of the provincial advisory group include:

 Paul Conchatre  Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association.

 Carly Deacon  Manitoba Wildlife Federation.

 Rob Andrushuk  Manitoba Trappers Association.

 Darrel Deslauriers  Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Manitoba.

 Archie McPherson  Reeve, RM of Pipestone.

 Matt Hipwell  president, Wolverine Supplies.

 Grant Boryskavich  Reeve, RM of Riding Mountain West.

 Dean Barteski  youth mentor and former farmer.

 Thomas Nepinak  First Nations elder.

Tory MLA Rick Wowchuk, Pedersen's legislative assistant, will lead the advisory group.

 Staff
A woman wearing a face mask in London. The UK is one of five countries which have been praised by the WHO for reducing transmission of the new COVID variant. (Reuters)

Five countries including the UK have been praised by the World Health Organization (WHO) for bringing the new coronavirus variant under control.

Dr Hans Kluge, regional director of WHO Europe, confirmed on Thursday that the B.1.1.7 variant  first identified in Kent late last year  has now spread to almost every country on the continent.

With the Kent variant being more transmissible, Dr Kluge also warned it will soon become the predominant strain of the virus on the continent.

However, using the examples of five European countries, he was also keen to point out it is still possible to reduce transmission of the virus.

Dr Kluge said: And yet, in the context of this faster spreading variant, several countries  including but not limited to Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the UK  have rapidly reduced transmission with public health and social measures to levels that can, and must, be kept low.

Those low case numbers, measured per one million people on Wednesday, are demonstrated on this chart by Oxford Universitys Our World in Data website.

(Our World in Data)

By comparison, a number of European countries are suffering huge spikes in cases. As this chart shows, eight of the 10 countries worldwide with the highest case rates on Wednesday were European.

(Our World in Data)

Throughout the pandemic, it has been rare for the UK to be praised for its handling of the virus  a subject brought further into the spotlight by the comments of Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnsons former chief adviser, at a House of Commons committee on Wednesday.

However, the UKs lockdowns, and successful rollout of the vaccine, have seen infections plummet since January, though it should be pointed out this decline slowed down in mid-February and has levelled off in March, as this government graph shows.

UK cases by specimen date since 1 December. (gov.uk)

Spains incredible progress

Spain, like the UK, was another country badly hit at the start of the pandemic one year ago.

As of Wednesday, Our World in Data said Spain had the world's 15th highest rate of COVID deaths per one million people: 1,557.

Story continues

But during Thursdays briefing, it was singled out by Dr Catherine Smallwood, WHO Europes senior emergency officer, for successfully reducing transmission this year.

Watch: WHO Europe says benefits of AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks

We do have to recognise Spain has made incredible progress in bringing down transmission since the early months of this year, where Spain was seeing at its peak around 42,000 new cases every day. Now thats gone down by about seven-fold.

Spain is under a curfew until May, with people only allowed out for purposes such as work, school or buying essentials.

Watch: How England is leaving lockdown
Hagar Elgendy celebrated Match Day by getting her top residency program pick.

She will be starting her residency at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, N.C., in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The fourth-year medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine celebrated with her husband, former Bengals player Cedric Peerman, and four kids  all born while she completed medical school.

She learned online, as did other students at UC and across the nation, where her family will spend the next three to seven years training in residency to become future physicians. Elgendy was one of 174 matched medical students at UC.

I couldnt have imagined this day any better, says Elgendy. It has been a tough journey and so many people have stood by me every step of the way. We are moving to North Carolina and I feel so much peace and excitement.

Elgendy dressed her little ones  Emmaus, 5, Ava, 3, Isabelle, 3, and Elias, nine months  in Carolina blue outfits for a live Facetime session, with family and friends.


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She hails from the Lone Star State.

And Selena Gomez proved she is still a Texas girl at heart in an outdoorsy new photo-shoot she posted to Instagram on Friday.

The 28-year-old was country chic in a jacket dripping with glittery fringe on top of a black bralette that showed off her cleavage.

She hails from the Lone Star State: And Selena Gomez proved she is still a Texas girl at heart in an outdoorsy new photo-shoot she posted to Instagram on Friday

Selena, who was born in the town of Grand Prairie, wore her hair in an elegantly wavy do and put on some scarlet lipstick.

She slipped into a pair of jeans and added a splash of dazzle to her ensemble with a pair of heart-shaped hoop earrings.

At one point she swapped out the hearts for simple round hoops and replaced the fringe wrap with a stylish denim jacket.

The pop star's roots are so intertwined with Texas history that she was named after the late Tejano singing legend Selena Quintanilla.

Looking fab: The 28-year-old was country chic in a jacket dripping with glittery fringe on top of a black bra-lette that showed off her cleavage

A few years ago she told Vogue during a 73 Questions interview that when she visits her home state her favorite pastime is 'eating my nana's food.'

Lately Selena has been seen in New York City filming her upcoming sitcom Only Murders In The Building starring her with Steve Martin and Martin Short.

She was recently spotted getting close with her co-star Aaron Dominguez which set off a flurry of dating rumors - until it emerged they had just been filming a scene.

Sizzling sensation: Selena, who was born in the town of Grand Prairie, wore her hair in an elegantly wavy do and put on some scarlet lipstick

'We had just started working together. I honestly thought: "No wonder guys don't want to date me!"' she quipped to the Los Angeles Times.

'I think people only care because I'm young, and the older I get the less they'll care. For now it's a part of the job that I don't really like. I'm actually grateful that I'm not involved with anyone right now,' Selena confessed.

Steve created the upcoming series with John Hoffman who has written on such shows as Grace And Frankie and Looking.

Terrific: At one point she swapped out the hearts for simple round hoops and replaced the fringe wrap with a stylish denim jacket

Selena, Steve and Martin all play people who all live in the same apartment building and are all very into true-crime, Variety reports.

When someone is murdered in their building the three lead characters wind up using their amateur sleuthing skills to try and get to the bottom of the crime.

On the music front Selena released her first Spanish-language EP Revelacion a week ago after dropping singles from it like De Una Vez.
New Delhi: Using its constitutional powers, the Election Commission on Saturday (March 20) restrained political appointees holding the office of administrators in municipal corporations in West Bengal on an appointment basis after the end of their elected term, from participating in functions of the board during the time poll code is in place.

In a statement, the poll panel said it has issued the order to avoid a situation that may give rise to legitimate apprehensions in the mind of voters about the fairness and impartiality of the election process.

The panel said a committee headed by state chief secretary and principal secretaries of urban development, and personnel as members should appoint government officials, keeping in view EC's instructions, to discharge the functions of the administrators or head of the board of administrators during the period the model code of conduct is in place in the poll-bound state.

"It is expected of the chief secretary to ensure a level playing field in all other municipal bodies in the state of West Bengal by rigorous reviews of their decisions which can disturb the level playing field," the statement citing the order said.

The state government has been asked to send compliance of the order by 10 am on Monday.

The statement said according to the order, there would be a temporarily restrain on "such political appointees, who are holding the office of administrators/ head of board of administrators in the municipal corporations of West Bengal on appointment basis after the end of their elected term, from participating in/exercising the functions of the board during the period the Model Code of Conduct is in force."

West Bengal goes to elections in eight phases beginning March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2 along with Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
News of the death of Tanzanias President John Pombe Magufuli, nicknamed "the bulldozer" drew mixed reactions and sorrow from many in the country and across the continent.



Magufuli, one of Africas most prominent COVID-19 sceptics, died of heart complications, Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced yesterday night on national television.



The 61-year-old leader died after weeks of speculation that he was infected with COVID-19. Many will remember him for his controversial handling of the pandemic in Tanzania.



His Vice Hassan is expected to be sworn in to succeed Magufuli and complete his second five-year term which he had just started after winning elections late last year. She will be Tanzanias first female head of state.



Fourteen days of national mourning have been declared in Tanzania to mark the death of the President while fellow African leaders have begun praising his leadership.



Kenyas President



Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is also the chairman of the East African Community, announced Kenya will observe seven days of national mourning in which the countrys flag will be flown at half-mast.



In the passing on President Magufuli, I have lost a friend, a colleague and a visionary ally whom I worked with closely, particularly on our commitment to forge lasting bonds between Kenya and Tanzania, Kenyatta said in a live broadcast yesterday.



South African President



South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness on the death of Tanzanias President John Magufuli.



In a statement, President Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Tanzanian Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan to express condolences in his personal capacity and on behalf of all South Africans.





South Africa is united in grief with the government and people of Tanzania as they go through this difficult moment, he said.



Zimbabwean President



Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa posted on Twitter, sending sympathy to the people of Tanzania: Africa mourns with you.



Burundi President



Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye has described Tanzania's leader John Magufuli, who has died aged 61, as a "great leader" and a "true pan-Africanist".



Malawi's President



"What a loss to Africa," Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has said in reaction to the death of Tanzania's leader John Magufuli at the age of 61.



"President Magufuli was a towering symbol of Africa's economic resurgence and his passing is an incalculable loss to the continent," Mr Chakwera added in a tweet.



Rwanda's President



Rwanda's President Paul Kagame says hes saddened by the loss of my brother and friend, President Magufuli. He said Mr Magufuli's contribution to the East African region "will not be forgotten".



Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has eulogised President John Magufuli as a "pragmatic leader who believed in and worked for the economic empowerment of East Africans".



"We join Tanzania in mourning the passing of a great son of Africa," he tweeted.



United States



Offering its condolences to Tanzanians, the United States issued a statement saying it remains committed to continuing to support Tanzanians as they advocate for respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that Tanzania can move forward on a democratic and prosperous path.



Tanzanias Opposition leader



As tributes come in from other African heads of state, Tanzanias opposition leader has been outspoken in his criticism of Magufuli.



Its poetic justice, Opposition Leader, Tundu Lissu said of Magufulis death, alleging that he succumbed to COVID-19.



President Magufuli defied the world on the struggle against COVID-19. He defied the East African community, he defied all our neighbours. He defied science. He refused to take the basic precautions that people all over the world are being told to take in the fight against COVID-19, said Lissu, on the Kenya Television Network.



He did not wear a face mask. He actually denigrated anyone who wore a face mask. He did not believe in vaccines. He did not believe in science. He placed his faith in faith healers and herbal concoctions of dubious medical value. said Lissu. And what has happened? He went down with COVID-19. And now they are telling us he had heart disease. It is Corona.



The late President



The late President was in his element on February 24, 2021 while unveiling a massive road project in Dar es Salaam - an accomplishment he boasted could only be achieved by the ruling CCM party.



"It was completed on time because no-one used corona as an excuse to delay it," he said, while applauding the contractors and also instructing government officials not to entertain anyone using the pandemic as an excuse to postpone the delivery of projects.



This one was no different to previous public functions - a choir serenaded him and he ended it with a characteristic speech extolling his mantra of Hapa Kazi Tu (Work is My Only Focus).



"Tanzania is a rich country, we have to use our wealth in order to develop," he said in his remarks, which also chastised tardiness and exhorted Tanzanians to pay their taxes. Three days later, Magufuli would be seen in public for the last time.



His first election



Since his first election in 2015, Magufuli cultivated the image of an rambunctious action man, a departure from his predecessors' demure and stately style.



His interventionist - supporters called it "hands-on" - leadership style won him fans beyond Tanzania, especially in the East African region, where he inspired the #WhatWouldMagufuliDo Twitter hashtag, praising his no-nonsense approach to fighting corruption and tirelessly following up infrastructure projects to ensure they are completed.



What most Tanzanians cared about, his fans argued, was service delivery and Magufuli's populist governing style was effective and a model for other African leaders.



Mr Magufuli's death has been blamed on "heart problems" but many will still suspect that he succumbed to COVID-19. It is an irony that the pandemic he strenuously denied has outlasted him, turning his once-heralded presidency into a cautionary tale for the region and the continent.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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Hyderabad: Reopen Schools and colleges across the State reopened for physical classes on Monday after an unprecedented 10 months gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic.(Photo: snapsindia snapsindia/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, March 20 : With Covid-19 cases on the rise in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to close schools for students of Classes IX, X and XI with effect from Monday.

However, classes will be conducted for the students in online or digital mode, an order issued by the state government said on Saturday.

The government order noted that hostels must also be closed and the students should return to their homes.

According to the order, schools are to remain open for Class XII students, strictly following all the safety protocols. The board exams will be conducted in accordance with the standard operating procedures for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, public examinations for students belonging to other boards will be allowed, along with special classes being held for them, and hostels will also will be kept open for these students.

On Friday, the number of new cases once again shot above the 1,000-mark in Tamil Nadu, with 1,087 fresh cases getting reported from across the state. The tally of active cases stood at 6,690 as against 4,009 cases on March 1.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Image via Getty/Joe Raedle

A former Florida state senator was arrested this week for allegedly violating election laws in a 2020 state senate race.

According to The Associated Press, GOP member Frank Artiles is accused of orchestrating a scheme to siphon votes from the Democratic incumbent Jose Javier Rodriguez, who ultimately lost the District 37 race by 32 votes to Republican challenger, Ileana Garcia. Authorities say Artiles had financed an independent candidate named Alex Rodriguez, giving him more than $44,000 to enter the race and potentially cause voter confusion by having two Rodriguez candidates on the same ballot.

Alex Rodriguez, who was also charged in the alleged scheme, never actively campaigned and has since admitted to being a shadow candidate. He and Artiles are facing three identical charges: making or receiving campaign contributions over or in excess of limits, conspiracy to make or receive two or more campaign contributions over or in excess of limits, and False swearing in connection with voting or electionsall of which are felonies.

Rodriguez would run as an independent with the same last name as the incumbent candidate (Jose Javier Rodriguez) in an attempt to confuse voters and siphon votes from the incumbent, a Miami Police Department investigators affidavit read.

Though Sen. Garcia is not implicated, many are demanding her to step down so that a special election can take place.

Her victory is clearly tainted and will forever cast a cloud on her service in the Senate, not to mention the entire Florida Senate, Manny Diaz, the Florida Democratic Party Chairman, said at a Friday press conference. In the interest of fairness and the sanctity of our Democratic electoral process, we call on Sen. Garcia to resign immediately and that a fair special election be held as soon as possible.

Artiles, who was released on bond Thursday afternoon, resigned from the Senate in 2017 after using racial slurs against Black Democratic senators.

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With much of the Oregon State University community against him, embattled President F. King Alexander has taken a new tone of contrition, apologizing for not doing enough to address sexual harassment and misconduct during his time at Louisiana State University.

I know that there was more I could have done at LSU given the power of my office, he said in a video released late Wednesday. As university president I should have sought every opportunity to hold others accountable.

Alexander had spent much of the day arguing that the accusations against him were bogus. He championed gender equity at Louisiana State, opening the universitys first Title IX compliance office, he pointed out repeatedly.

The Oregon State University Board of Trustees put Alexander on probation until June 1. In the meantime, the trustees will commission an independent review of Alexanders performance while in Baton Rouge.

Alexanders mea culpa video did little to alter the growing consensus at OSU that Alexander needs to go.

The next day, the OSU Faculty Senate issued a no-confidence vote in Alexander and called upon him to resign. The Senate joined the Associated Students of OSU, the Coalition of Graduate Students, the Survivor Advocacy and Resource Center and other groups in rejecting Alexander.

State lawmaker Sara Gelser, who represents the Corvallis area in the state Senate, called for Alexanders resignation. Gov. Kate Brown said Thursday she supports the trustees decision to launch the independent review of Alexanders time at LSU and OSU.

Campus leaders say theyre troubled by how Alexander has handled the controversy, which began early this month with the release of an independent review of sexual misconduct on the LSU campus that was highly critical of Alexander.

There were a lot of concerning findings in the report, but for many faculty, it wasnt about LSU, it was about his lack of leadership over the last 10 days at Oregon State, said Selina Heppell, president of the faculty senate.

The lack of specific culpability or plans for action came up again and again in the comments we received, as well as his inability to answer questions directly, said Heppell, a professor and head of the universitys department of fisheries and wildlife. This was a very difficult situation, for sure, but he was more defensive than apologetic or visionary.

On Wednesday, university trustees asked Alexander for a detailed plan for how he intended to address sexual misconduct on campus. In his video, which aired after the trustees evening meeting, Alexander said hes already got a plan.

I am immediately launching a review of the OSU survivors support programs, he said. I will evaluate levels of staffing and funding for existing programs, resources and services.

OSU is one of the countrys best land-grant universities he concluded. It can do better, I can do better.
A Missouri company has purchased the former Jasper Lions Club rodeo grounds and will build a new storage yard and deployment site there.

Kelly & Company, a manufacturer and distributor of portable structures, purchased the 11-acre-plus property last November with plans to use it as a storage and staging site for what the company calls portable cities used to house utility and emergency workers responding to disasters.

The property on Fletcher Street, just off of U.S. 96 in Jasper, was previously home to Jaspers annual rodeo for more than 70 years before the Jasper Lions Club sold the arena and grounds in 2017.

Remodeling and planning have been underway since the purchase a few months ago. Principal partner Steve Kelly said the company could be settled into the new facility by the end of April.

Weve been remodeling, removing the corrals and bleachers, but we should be able to move in within the next 40 or 45 days, he said. Well be doing some more preparation and work after that, but we have to get the site secure first.

Once the property is cleared, Kelly said, the site will be used to store the equipment and materials for portable living quarters with more than 1,000 beds, complete with support trailers, pressure units, laundry facilities and all the other things response workers need for an extended stay in a disaster-torn area.

No permanent jobs are currently forecast for the site, but Kelly said the company might consider adding a manufacturing component in the future.

Kelly & Company products have been used frequently in the region. A 4,000-bed structure was temporarily erected in Port Arthur last year for hurricane victims, according to the company.

Jaspers proximity to areas that have required disaster relief crews in recent years was a key factor in choosing the former rodeo grounds over three other locations, Kelly said.

It was located far enough from the Gulf that operations wouldnt necessarily get impacted during a hurricane, and it was on a good highway headed directly toward the Gulf, he said.

The property has exchanged hands a few times since the 2017 sale. Kelly & Company acquired it from Jessie Murillo of Murillo Ventures in Dallas.

Kelly declined to say how much the company paid for the property. It was appraised at $232,000 last year, Jasper County Appraisal District records show.

The Jasper Economic Development Corp. has detailed possible incentives for the companys investment as recently as November, offering to pay for certain infrastructure improvements and construction at the site up to $200,000.

Executive director Eddie Hopkins said an incentive deal hasnt been confirmed with the company yet, but the offer was still on the table.

Were poised and more than ready to offer our assistance, he said.

Kelly & Company currently has three facilities in the South and Midwest it uses to store and distribute portable structures.

It also has manufacturing facilities.

Along with amenities for utility and disaster relief workers, the company operates All Detainment Solutions, a firm that leases mobile detention units to relieve overcrowded jails or, during the pandemic, to assist in quarantine efforts.

Kelly said the company is also looking for sites to increase manufacturing for both sectors of its businesses. That, too, gave Jasper an advantage.

We saw a lot of potential for growth there in Jasper, he said. Were eager to see how we can work together with the community to make it happen.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
Mumbai, March 20 : Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has brought back special gifts for fans from his recent shooting stint in Assam. Ayushmann was shooting in the Northeast for his upcoming film "Anek".

The gifts are mementos from the state -- scarves and rhino figurines -- that comes in a special box and with a personal note from the actor. Ayushmann will send across the gifts to fans who are regularly in touch with him on social media.

"You have cheered the loudest for me, wished me abundantly and loved me unconditionally. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness and support. Your love means the world to me. I LOVE you too!" goes Ayushmann's special note.

He added: "You are always in my heart, no matter where I go. So, sending you a special token of love from Assam! Take care." The spy thriller "Anek" is directed by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha.

The actor's next release is Abhishek Kapoor's "Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui", co-starring Vaani Kapoor. He will also be seen in Anubhuti Kashyap's "Doctor G" featuring Rakul Preet Singh.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
TORONTO, March 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanzanian Gold Corporation (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (TanGold or the Company) operating through its wholly owned subsidiary in Tanzania (Tanzam2000) joins the United Republic of Tanzania in mourning the loss of H.E. President John P. Magufuli.



H.E. President Magufuli was a stalwart statesman who was globally recognized for his vision, ethical standards and innovative solutions for Tanzania. He was a renowned reformer of government institutions, business, industrial relations and political structures for the benefit of Tanzania. His anti-corruption platform attracted attention around the globe for his unyielding and high ethical standards. He was also known for his pragmatic approach towards resolving complex situations and achieving fair and tangible outcomes. In addition to his consummate abilities as a statesman and leader, he was well known for his love of the people of Tanzania. He will be truly missed.

We mourn the loss of President Magufuli and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and the people of Tanzania from our Company, our stakeholders, and our families. President Magufuli was a highly regarded and respected leader whose record of achievements and outstanding performance in government and industry is world renowned. He was from the region where our joint-venture in the Buckreef Gold Project is located. His loss is especially felt so close to home, said Stephen Mullowney, Chief Executive Officer.

The passing of President Magufuli is a great loss to Tanzania and the world. It is with deepest sympathy we share and express our sincerest condolences. He leaves a legacy of respect and admiration. He was admired for his accomplishments and achievements in service to Tanzania and humanity, said James E. Sinclair, Executive Chairman

For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor Relations, m.martin@tangoldcorp.com, 860-248-0999, or visit the Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com

The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com).

Although many people worldwide are disappointed with a high-level meeting between Chinese and American officials, and term it a failure. Yet, I believe there is a hope of positive outcomes soon. It was just a beginning, and both sides have reflected their positions clearly. I am sure. Both sides will relax and think wisely, and before the next meeting, they will complete their homework and explore the opportunities to narrow down the differences.

Having differences is natural and not something to be upset about. In our daily lives, we have differences with our bosses, our friends, colleagues. Even within a family, sometimes we differ with our siblings, parents, or life partner. Do we show our anger or harm each other? God has created everyone with unique characteristics; we all have different DNA, Thumb impressions, and different eye characteristics. In the same manner, we think differently, and differences are very much expected and rational phenomenon. What do we need? To understand others, respect others, observe tolerance and try to narrow down the differences. If possible, step down on certain occasions and compromise or accommodate others. The same practices need to be followed among nations, countries, and continents.

The Sino-US dialogue was the outcome of a long telephonic conversation between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attended the dialogue.

The dialogue was open, blunt, and rather hot. Diplomatic etiquettes and politeness were set-aside, which was an unusual phenomenon. Allegations and blames were made, and each one has clarified its position. I believe it was an excellent meeting, at least, each side understands each others concerns and point of view. This meeting will pave ways for further negotiations and trust, positive outcomes in the following discussions.

The rivalry between China and U.S. has a long history. At the time of the liberation of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, America recognizes Taiwan (Republic of China) as a legitimate China. America initiated a campaign against China as a communist threat and launched a cold-war. In the early 1950s, the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on China and applied an economic blockade to ultimately make China collapse. Following its approach to counter the communism threat in the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. has taken several measures to isolate China, harm China, and caused damages to China. But soon, the Americans realized that they could not succeed in their evil designs against China, and they changed their approach. Pakistan played the role of bridge to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries. Chinese still acknowledges the role of Pakistan and member with good words.

Initially, American was having eyes on the enormous Chinese market and wanted to capture it for their economic interests. But within a couple of decades, America became the Chinese market itself. Now the U.S. is blaming China for the trade surplus.

In fact, the U.S. was a unique superpower after the disintegration of the former USSR in 1991 and was exercising unlimited powers worldwide. Attack on Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Sudan, interference in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen (Arab Spring), etc., were matters of routine for America in the unipolar world. However, American faced resistance from Russia in the case of the Syrian war. America wanted to attack Iran and North Korea but faced tremendous challenges and opposition from China and Russia. Mentally, Americans are still living in a mindset of a unipolar world and are not willing to realize that geopolitics has been changed already. American has not accepted the revival of Russia and rise of China.

America has denied the history of rising and fall on nations in history. There was a time when the Roman Empire was at a peak, and no one has thought of the fall of the Roman Empire. The example of the Persian Empire, Greek Empire, British Empire, and many other strong empires all have to fall one day. It is a natural cycle that the rise and fall of nations are a routine matter. If wise, one can prolong their rise for a more extended period of time, if prod and, may fall soon.

China has also passed several rises and falls, which were part of history. During the last two centuries, China suffered heavily due to western colonialization. But the time has come when China is witnessing a rise. It is their legitimate right to rise. The rest of the world should recognize this right and should not think to counter China, contain China, or resist Chinas rise.

I leave it to my readers to decide if the U.S. thing wisely and comes forward to cooperate with China, be beneficiary of Chinese rise, or confront China and declare its fall soon. China has surpassed the threshold where it can be coerced by any other nation. The rise of China is a fact we must acknowledge.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 00:54:07|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Friday expressed confidence in the country's infrastructure and capability to manufacture vaccines.

This comes after members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 Vaccines visited Biovac, a bio-pharmaceutical company based in Cape Town, on Thursday.

"Part of implementing a successful COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan means we have to explore our capability of locally manufacturing vaccines in line with the industrial policy of the country," said Deputy President David Mabuza.

The committee visited the pharmaceutical site to get a briefing on the scientific capabilities and biotechnology infrastructure that could enable local vaccine manufacture.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande said they want the country to manufacture vaccines, starting with a vaccine for COVID-19 and then looking at other diseases.

He said Biovac would sign a partnership agreement with ImmunityBio, a US-based immunotherapy company, owned by South African-American Patrick Soon-Shiong. He said there would be a technology transfer to build capacity for active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacture. Enditem
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson got his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford on Friday, his office said in a statement, part of a push to reassure the public that the vaccine is safe and effective, CNBC reported.

Johnson, 56, has urged other people to get inoculated against Covid-19, citing data from the UKs independent drug regulator that shows the benefits far outweigh the risks.

A flurry of countries around the world suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following reports of blood clots in some vaccinated people.

Speaking at a Downing Street conference on Thursday, Johnson said the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was safe, but the thing that isnt safe is catching Covid, which is why it is so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes.

The UK leader was himself treated in hospital for Covid last April and spent days in an intensive care unit.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/19/astrazeneca-britains-boris-johnson-urges-others-to-get-covid-vaccine.html
Observing that has demonstrated increased military competence and a willingness to take risks, a top Pentagon official said Beijing has adopted a more coercive and aggressive approach to the region.

Beijing has demonstrated increased military competence and a willingness to take risks, and it has adopted a more coercive and aggressive approach to the region, Dr Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense, said in her address to the National War College faculty and students on Friday.

In 2020 alone, Beijing escalated tensions over a host of issues with a number of its neighbours, including Australia, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, she said.

It was involved in an armed confrontation with India along the Line of Actual Control which resulted in the loss of life on both sides and further tightened its grip on Hong Kong, including by instituting an oppressive national security law, Hicks added.

China's actions constitute a threat to regional peace and stability, and to the rules-based order on which the security and prosperity and those of American allies depend, she pointed out.

Against this backdrop, President Joe Biden recently released his interim National Security Strategic Guidance that highlights China's increasing assertiveness.

The interim guidance notes that Beijing is the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open system, she said.

To advance the interests of the American people and our democracy, the must be able to compete for the future of our way of life across all these dimensions. For the military, that will often mean serving as a supporting player to diplomatic, economic, and other soft power tools, Hicks said.

But it will also require the US to demonstrate the will and capability to credibly deter Chinese aggression. As Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier this week during his visit to Japan, the US military along with its allies and partners, must have the capability to outmatch the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

(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.)
We all know that celebrities have been trolled many times for not having enough knowledge about many political topics. While we cant expect the celebrities to know it all, but their political understanding is debatable.



Many Bollywood movie stars have made dumb political statements and people on the internet have trolled them in the nastiest and ruthless ways to school them.

Here is a list of five Bollywood celebrities who were trolled for their political acumen-

Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt was branded the dumbest actress in Bollywood at a certain point and this started with her appearance in Karan Johars chat show Koffee with Karan.



In the rapid-fire round, she along with her SOTY co-stars were asked, "Who is the President of India?"

To which she blurted the name of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. However, at that time President of India was Pranab Mukherjee.

Sunny Deol

Sunny Deol may have made us feel that he is a patriot when it comes to his films. However, he completely ignored the questions about national security while claiming to be in the business of politics.



He said in an interview during an election rally in 2020, "I don't know much about issues like Balakot (airstrike) or India's relations with Pakistan. However, the BJP candidate won the Gurdaspur seat but was trolled for his answer.

Hema Malini

Hema Malini was once asked about the work that she has done in her constituency and she said that she cant recollect it.



"So many things I've done which I just don't recognize right now, I don't remember much," she added in the 2019 general elections.

Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor has been trolled a lot in her Bollywood career as she makes statements that are extremely controversial.



Once, talking about the situation in Kashmir following the abrogation of the contentious Article 370, Kapoor had said, "For me now it's better to keep quiet and let this pass because even this too shall pass."

Bipasha Basu

Bipasha Basu had participated in the Olympic Torch Relay in Delhi and was asked, Who started the Olympics games? by a media person to which she responded saying, I think Adolf Hitler started it.
After Semi Fire, Trigg Co. I-24 Traffic Backing Up

By West Kentucky Star Staff

TRIGG COUNTY - A semi truck fire that had the westbound lanes of I-24 blocked in Trigg County this morning is still causing traffic issues.The accident happened about 7:30 am, near the 58 mile marker. Traffic is moving past the scene of the fire, but it's estimated that the westbound lanes will be restricted until about 7 pm for environmental clean-up work. The truck was hauling gear oil, so there is substantial clean-up involved.Because of the restriction and Spring Break travel on I-24, at just after 1 pm, traffic was a crawl and was backed up for about 4 miles.Eastbound lanes are not affected.The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recommends an alternate route for westbound drivers between Clarksville, Tennessee, and Paducah, Kentucky. They suggest getting off I-24 at the U.S. 68 Cadiz Exit 65 Interchange, following U.S. 68 West to Draffenville, then taking I-69 North to Calvert City Exit 25 interchange to get back onto I-24 West.
Proud Boys members Joseph Biggs, left, and Ethan Nordean, right, with megaphone, walk toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)

Proud Boys Conspired on Encrypted Channels to Breach US Capitol, Prosecutors Allege

Leaders in the Proud Boys group conspired to breach the Capitol on Jan. 6 to interrupt and obstruct Congresss certification of electoral votes, prosecutors allege, according to newly unsealed court documents.

Ethan Nordean, 30, is president of a Proud Boys Chapter in Washington state; Joseph Biggs, 37, of Florida, is a self-described Proud Boys organizer; Zachary Rehl, 35, is president of the Philadelphia chapter; and Charles Donohoe, 33, of Kernersville, North Carolina, heads the groups chapter there.

The men allegedly communicated for weeks about the upcoming event using social media, which they also used to post anticipation of the day, according to the newly unsealed documents.

For instance, Biggs in one Nov. 5, 2020, post said, Its time for [expletive] War if they steal this [expletive]. Rehl about three weeks later said, Hopefully the firing squads are for the traitors that are trying to steal the election from the American people.

The men also solicited donations for gear and communications.

After the arrest of Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio on Jan. 4, the group allegedly turned to encrypted Telegram channels to continue conspiring to obstruct the joint session of Congress set to meet two days later, according to court papers.

In total, 60 members participated in one channel dubbed Boots on the Ground, including the four men charged.

On Jan. 5, Biggs wrote that he was trying to get a handle on the groups numbers, adding, So we can plan accordingly for tonight and go over tomorrows plan. Later that evening, members were instructed not to wear colors when convening at the Washington Monument at 10 a.m. on Jan. 6. They later detailed what was said during a meeting they held.

Nordean, Biggs, and Rehl led the group, which included Donohue, that ended up gathering at the monument to the Capitol, and all three entered the building after clashing with law enforcement officers, according to court papers.

We stormed the capitol unarmed, and we took it over unarmed, Donohoe later wrote in a post.

All four men are charged with obstruction of law enforcement during an official proceeding, obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy, and other counts.

Proud Boys members Zachary Rehl, left, and Ethan Nordean, left, walk toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)

An attorney for Biggs declined to comment to The Epoch Times on March 20. An attorney for Nordean didnt immediately return a request for comment. Rehl and Donohoe didnt have lawyers listed on the court docket.

Nordean was freed earlier this month pending trial after he was arrested on Feb. 3. Biggs was taken into custody on Jan. 20 and was later released. Prosecutors asked the court on March 20 to order them detained until the trial, arguing the superseding indictment highlights the grave danger that they pose to others and the community.

It wasnt clear whether Rehl and Donohoe were being held.

According to the George Washington University Program on Extremism, at least 20 defendants have links to the Proud Boys, a fraternal all-male group that has said its mission is to defend Western civilization.

The number of conspiracy chargesalongside further evidence that Proud Boys affiliates planned their activities at the Capitol well in advance of January 6this likely to shape future prosecutions, the program wrote in a preliminary assessment (pdf) of the Capitol Hill breach participants.

Another set of participants were part of the Oath Keepers, a militia group whose members are typically current or former law enforcement officers or members of the military.
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Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19, the country's health minister said on March 20, two days after he received a vaccination, although the Health Ministry and other officials noted he had not been fully vaccinated.

Khan is "self-isolating at home," Faisal Sultan, a special health adviser to the prime minister, said in a tweet.

Sultan said on March 21 that Khan's wife had also tested positive for the virus along with two senior members of Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf (Justice) Party.

Khan was administered the vaccine on March 18. Sinopharm is the only coronavirus vaccine so far being used in Pakistan. Half a million doses were donated by China in February.

In a post on Twitter, the Pakistani Health Ministry said Khan had only been given one of the two required doses, and that it was too soon after the inoculation for it to provide full protection.

Asad Umar, Pakistan's minister of planning who is in charge of the country's response to COVID-19, also said on Twitter that Khan had likely been infected prior to his first dose of the vaccine.

The South Asian nation of 220 million is seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus infections.

According to data tabulated by Johns Hopkins University, Pakistan has more than 626,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and more than 13,800 people have died of COVID-19 .

Officials in Pakistan have blamed the surge in infections mainly on overcrowding and a reluctance to wear masks. Pakistan says the coronavirus variant first found in Britain may also be a factor.

Most of the new cases come from Pakistans largest and richest province, Punjab.

On March 18, Pakistani minister Asad Umar said hospital beds were filling fast and warned of stricter curbs if rules were not followed.

With reporting by Reuters

NOTE: This article has been amended to correct the number of coronavirus cases and COVID-19 fatalities in Pakistan.
Editor's note

This is the first part of a three-part series looking at what proposed legislation has been filed in Texas regarding the legalization and decriminalizing of marijuana and the possible impacts in Denton County, according to local experts, popular sentiment and the experience of states that have legalized pot.

COMING MONDAY: How weed pens  vaping devices that contain THC oil inside a cartridge  are changing the conversation in Texas regarding possession.

COMING TUESDAY: What advice can Denton take from cities in states that have legalized pot?
Australia's worst serial killer Martin Bryant slept next to a pig and would drive to crash scenes for fun in the years before he massacred 35 people at Port Arthur in 1996.

Bryant, then 28, murdered 35 people and injured 23 others in a senseless shooting spree at the Tasmanian tourist landmark that shocked the world.

He is serving 35 life sentences for each of the killings at Risdon Prison in Hobart.

Bryant's life unravelled after the death of his wealthy friend, heiress Helen Harvey, and his father Maurice.

Martin Bryant is locked up in a maximum security unit at Risdon Prison after he murdered 35 people and injured 23 others at Port Arthur in 1996. He is pictured here before the massacre

Even when Ms Harvey was alive he had allowed a pig to sleep in his bed which then soiled his bedroom, news.com.au reported.

A detailed examination of Bryant's life in the two years leading up to the massacres on April 28 and 29 paints a picture of a disturbed young man desperately trying to be liked but turning off everyone he met because of his sick tastes, unpredictable and sullen behaviour and childish personality.

He travelled extensively after Ms Harvey died and tried to dress in neat, expensive clothes - but found only rejection over his poor social skills and intense and boastful behaviour - often about how much money he had.

Living in the house Ms Harvey left, he had angry clashes with neighbours and grew a pornography collection which featured bestiality.

After she died Bryant continued inappropriate behaviour - like befriending local children and then having the friendship cut after showing them pornographic material.

Two years before the massacre he began a relationship with Jenetta Hoani, through church connections.

Bryant had reportedly allowed a pig to sleep in his bed, which then soiled his bedroom after moving in with the wealthy heiress Helen Harvey

Ms Hoani liked Bryant for the way he looked and dressed and for being 'rich' - but eventually ended the relationship because she found him too 'weird'.

His home was filled with teddy bears and she was aware of his fascination with pornography including bestiality and violent movies.

In the year leading up to the killings, the increasingly isolated Bryant was 'pissed off' according to Ian Joblin, a forensic psychologist who studied Bryant.

Ms Hoani said he seemed obsessed with the evil doll Chucky from the movie Child's Play.

She ended the relationship after a Gold Coast holiday where he began showing interest in men and after he had told her he owned a gun.

After she was told about the Ms Hoani said she 'wasn't surprised he'd done something. He's not right.'

Pictured: A rare new prison photo of a pudgy-faced mass murderer Martin Bryant as he serves 35 life sentences in Tasmania's Risdon Prison

The psychiatrists who studied Bryant believed he began to consider and plan a mass killing around a year before it happened.

In the months before the massacre Bryant became sick of his social isolation and slipped into a deep depression believing he had no future and initially became suicidal.

Two months before Bryant's shocked the world over a two-day killing spree he began dating a shy horticulture student, Petra Wilmott.

She remembered him as friendless and obsessed with finding excitement and violent videos.

He would make Ms Wilmott drive him to car crash scenes which he thought were fun.

Bryant's senseless shooting spree shocked Australia and prompted then Prime Minister John Howard to overhaul the nation's gun laws

Risdon Prison (pictured) is where Martin Bryant spends his days behind bars in a high-dependence, maximum-security cell

Bryant always 'looked for action' and would get 'bored' if he couldn't find it.

He began to think through revenge fantasies against family friends David and Sally Martin - who bought a property Bryant believed should have been his - and was also fixated to 'kill a lot of people' at Port Arthur'.

Three days before the massacre he went to historic Richmond on a date with Wilmott and asked a shopkeeper how busy the town was.

Recently images have meanwhile been published of the now 53-year-old Bryant's life in Ridson Prison along with details of his 'dim and pathetic' existence there.

A rare new prison photo of a pudgy-faced Bryant shows how the obese killer earned the nickname 'Porky Pig' by inmates.

One Risdon Prison officer said Bryant was 'ushered in' to the cataract clinic under the cover of darkness before the day's normal surgery starts to avoid any member of the public catching a glimpse of the killer.

Bryant is described by the prison officer as a 'huge man' who knocks back his hourly exercise and instead spends his days consuming two-minute noodles and chocolate, which he is known to exchange for sexual favours.

Bryant set fire to the Seascape Guesthouse (pictured) at the end of his stand off with police following his senseless shooting spree and suffered extensive burns

But the officer added despite his overweight appearance and propensity to sit at a table on the ground floor of the unit and stare at a chess board, he still has the ability to strike fear into prison guards.

In an interview for The Daily Telegraph's On Guard podcast in December last year, Mr Burley described Bryant as a 'big baby' who rarely speaks and is the laughing stock of the jail.

'In the unit he was last known to be housed in by himself, the Mersey unit, there may be prisoners in that unit that who wouldn't even know who he was,' Mr Burley said.

Since being incarcerated Bryant has been diagnosed with intellectual and social handicaps as well as Asperger's syndrome. Psychiatrists found Bryant to have an IQ of 66, which is classified as extremely low.

Mr Burley said Bryant has a sweet tooth and was known to perform sexual favours for other inmates in order to get his fix.
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A small newspaper serving North Jerseys Jewish community has apologized for a satirical article published in February that joked about shooting Palestinians.

The Jewish Link, a weekly publication based in Teaneck, has faced criticism in the wake of an article published on February 25 with the headline 100,000 Palestinians shot by Israeli soldiers.

The piece was written as a joke, with shot referring to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to NorthJersey.com. The article was included in a section dedicated to Purim Satire, as the paper marked the Jewish holiday.

The Jewish Link was criticized afterwards for making light of violence against Palestinians, with the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and American Muslims for Palestine of New Jersey both calling for the paper to apologize.

Suggesting the systematic murder of 100,000 people of an oppressed minority will never make for good comedy. Israeli soldiers shooting Palestinians is not a joke. It is reality. A reality I am afraid the Jewish Link is all too comfortable with, Selaedin Maksut, the excutive director of CAIR-NJ, said in a statement earlier this month.

Jokes about killing would never be entertained let alone published in an article had they been aimed at any other minority demographic.

A short statement published in the Jewish Links Letters to the Editor section of Thursdays issue addressed the controversy.

We apologize for our newsbrief in our February 25, 2021 Purim Satire section, entitled 100,000 Palestinians shot by Israeli soldiers, the statement reads. It was offensive, in poor taste, and we regret it.

On Friday, Maksut welcomed the apology as an important first step towards reconciliation.

We welcome the Jewish Links apology and hope this teachable moment be used to address internal bias and educate against the use of dehumanizing language, Maksut said.

Wassim Kanaan, the vice chairman of AMP-NJ, echoed that sentiment.

This step is the first step; however, in order to rectify this issue, there must be robust and honest conversations within the communities that Jewish Link serves about the reality of Palestinian day-to-day experiences and the colonization of Palestine as a whole, Kanaan said. AMP-NJ is committed to contributing to the conversation.

The Jewish Link was founded in 2013 to serve Bergen Countys Jewish community, according to the papers website. It has since expanded to cover Essex, Middlesex, Passaic and Union counties.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com.
Chip Roys nostalgic homage to lynching carried a lot of weird subtext.

Roy, the two-term Republican congressman whose district includes part of San Antonio, was speaking Thursday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing to examine discrimination against Asian Americans.

Over the past year, as weve grappled with a COVID-19 pandemic that originated in China, the United States has seen a 150 percent increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Last Tuesday, eight people  including six Asian American women  were killed at three Atlanta-area spas.

Any serious discussion of anti-Asian bigotry had to address the fact that former President Donald Trump routinely threw out nicknames such as kung flu and China virus for the pandemic.

Roy, in his Thursday statement, somehow found a way to include a fond remembrance of lynching: I think theres an old saying in Texas about  find all the rope in Texas and get a tall oak tree. You know, we take justice very seriously and we ought to do that, round up the bad guys.

When an elected official holds up lynching as a proud emblem of his state, its a profoundly weird moment.

It was weird in other ways as well. The line Roy cited comes from Beer For My Horses, a 2003 country song by Toby Keith.

Keith is from Oklahoma, not Texas.

The songs offending verse actually was sung by Keiths duet partner, Willie Nelson, a political progressive and civil rights advocate.

Its worth noting that Roys appropriation of the line was actually part of the congressmans (undeniably bungled) effort to express support for the Atlanta victims, to convey his belief that perpetrators of violence should be punished.

Ultimately, its easy to get so caught up in the tone-deaf offensiveness of Roys language that you lose the bigger problem with his message.

Roy entered that hearing resistant to any suggestion from Democrats that inflammatory anti-Asian rhetoric needed to be scrutinized.

My concern about this hearing, he said, is that it seems to want to venture into the policing of rhetoric in a free society, free speech, and away from the rule of law, taking out bad guys.

So now were talking about whether China  Chicoms, the Chinese Communist Party, whatever phrasing we want to use, and if some people are saying, Hey, we think those guys are the bad guys, for whatever reason.

Contrary to Roys protestations, the hearing  and the underlying issue  isnt about policing of rhetoric.

Its about accountability and responsibility. Its about acknowledging that when a president of the United States goes out of his way to slur Asian people  even in the face of rising incidents of violence against Asian Americans  the effect is corrosive.

While Roy wanted to frame Trumps slangy pandemic nicknames as righteous blows against communist repression, shouting out kung flu at a campaign rally doesnt quite meet that standard.

In fact, over the first two months of the pandemic, Trump repeatedly praised Chinas communist leader Xi Jinping (he once bragged about sharing a beautiful piece of chocolate cake with Xi at Mar-a-Lago).

I think President Xi is working very, very hard, Trump said on Feb. 23, 2020. I think hes doing a very good job.

Trump turned on China only when he started getting criticism for his own handling of the virus.

His anti-China nicknames for COVID-19  and baseless suggestions that the virus had been cooked up in a Wuhan lab  were obvious attempts to deflect attention from his own job performance. And Asian Americans suffered for it.

Roy knows enough to understand that holding people accountable for their words, demanding some degree of statesmanship from our leaders, is not the same as ripping up the First Amendment.

After all, one week after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Roy condemned Trump for falsely insisting that Congress could overturn his defeat in the November presidential election.

It was foreseeable and reckless to sow such a false belief that could lead to violence and rioting by loyal supporters whipped into a frenzy, Roy said on the House floor.

Roy also showed his sensitivity to the power of words when he blasted Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for alleging that Roys old mentor, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, put her in danger by backing Trumps bid to overturn the election.

It is my sincere hope that we all stop this heightened rhetoric and move forward to actually do the work the American people sent us here to do, Roy wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

So when Roy calls for an end to heightened rhetoric on the part of elected officials, its OK. When Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee do the same, apparently its censorship.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470






Position Objective: Contributes to the provision of high-quality, cost-effective healthcare as a provider of direct and indirect patient care and by effective of the health care team. Functions as a competent member of the health care team. Essential Job Duties: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 1. Clinical Decision Making/Judgment Demonstrates clinical nursing knowledge and skill in the specialization of the unit.

Demonstrates the ability to apply the nursing process effectively in the care of culturally diverse patients and families. Demonstrates the ability to utilize all applicable laws, policies, standards, guidelines and evidence-based practice in the provision of patient/family care.

Organizes and reprioritizes patient care activities based on subtle and overt and/or environmental changes.

Consistently and thoroughly assesses patients to collect data and identify learning needs according to established standards and policies.

Utilizes a systematic, continuous and complete analysis of assessment data to develop individualized problem lists for assigned patients.

Develops and individualizes a plan of care for each patient in accordance with established standards, appropriate prioritization of problems/needs, and mutually agreed upon goals.

Efficiently implements the patient's plan of care in accordance with applicable standards, policies, procedures and guidelines.

Demonstrates proficiency in medication administration, pain management and other unit or initiative specific skills.

Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of the plan(s) of care, making revisions and recommendations based on analysis of patient responses to interventions. 2. Nurse-Patient Family Relationships Demonstrates the ability to assess the patient's/family's learning needs, readiness to learn, learning style, and presence of barriers to learning.

Demonstrates the ability to develop, implement and evaluate teaching plans for patient populations in unit specialty in accordance with applicable standards.

Demonstrates the ability to apply knowledge of growth and development across the life span to the care of patients.

Provides direct patient care to patients and families in a culturally, developmentally and ethically appropriate manner.

Plans of care address the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and learning needs of the patient/family. 3. Clinical Scholarship Participates in QI, CPI and risk management activities at the unit, department or organizational level.

Demonstrates the ability to effectively perform and improve all processes in order to achieve excellence with regard to AAMC's quality standards and benchmarks.

Supports the use of evidence based guidelines and organizational policies and procedures to promote safe patient care and a safe practice environment. 4. Clinical Leadership Participates in unit shared governance according to departmental standards.

Participates in the education and orientation of new staff.

Delegates patient care activities as appropriate; evaluates delegated activities for expected patient care outcomes.

Employs real time computer documentation when completing patient record. Educational/Experience Requirements: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing

Adherence to the credentialing requirements of AAMC as stated in the nursing bylaws. Required License/Certifications: Current licensure as a registered nurse by the Maryland Board of Nursing.

CPR - American Heart Association Healthcare Provider certification

NRP- Required within one year of hire at AAMC Working Conditions, Equipment, Physical Demands: There is a reasonable expectation that employees in this position will be exposed to blood-borne pathogens. Physical Demands - Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The above job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; your supervisor may assign other duties as deemed necessary.


With just three weeks remaining for the massive release, makers of Vakeel Saab are leaving no stone unturned to garner the attention of the audience with the film's promotional activities. Let us tell you that the team has already kick-started promotions. Well, what has now deviated the attention of Pawan Kalyan fans is a rumour about the pre-release event of the film.

As per the latest grapevine, the grand event will be held on April 3 at Yosufguda Police Grounds in Hyderabad. Reportedly, the makers are spending Rs 1 crore for the pre-release event of the film.

Though the official guest list is not out, rumours are rife that Megastar Chiranjeevi and Mega Power Star Ram Charan might attend the pre-release event of Vakeel Saab. It is said that the two superstars have been personally invited to the event by Pawan Kalyan and one of the producers of the film Dil Raju. With the speculations doing the rounds on social media, fans are highly excited and are all ready to welcome their idol Pawan Kalyan after a long 3 years.

For the unversed, the actor is making a comeback in the Tollywood industry through Vakeel Saab after almost a 3-year long hiatus. Interestingly, the courtroom drama is going to be the first big film (starring a superstar) to release post the COVID-19 pandemic. Pawan Kalyan-starrer will hit the cinemas on April 9.

Vakeel Saab is the official Telugu remake of the Bollywood film Pink that featured Amitabh Bachchan in the leading role. Pawan Star will be reprising Big B's role in the Telugu version, which is directed by Venu Sriram. Also featuring Nivetha Thomas, Shruti Haasan, Prakash Raj, Naresh, Mukesh Rishi, Subbaraju, Vamsi Krishna, Anasuya Bharadwaj, the film is jointly produced by Dil Raju and Boney Kapoor under the Sri Venkateswara Creations banner.

Also Read: Sai Pallavi Breaks Allu Arjun and Pawan Kalyan's Massive Records

Also Read: Hari Hara Veera Mallu First Look Out: Pawan Kalyan To Play An Unapologetic Warrior In The Epic Drama
RTHK: Talks with Chinese 'tough and direct': US official

The first talks between President Joe Biden's administration and China were "tough and direct" but found some areas where the rival superpowers' interests coincide, US diplomats said on Friday after their meetings ended.

The broad-based talks opened with fireworks on Friday as the top diplomats from both sides castigated the other for aggressive actions that were disruptive to global stability.

After three sessions on Thursday and early Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the American side was candid about its concerns over Beijing's behaviour toward Hong Kong and Taiwan and its actions in cyberspace.

The Chinese side was defensive as expected, he said.

"But we were also able to have a very candid conversation over these many hours on an expansive agenda," said Blinken.

"On Iran, on North Korea. On Afghanistan on climate, our interests intersect."

The talks, two months into the administration of US President Joe Biden, were set up as an exchange of views, and no agreements or pacts were expected.

"We expected to have tough and direct talks on a wide range of issues, and that's exactly what he had," said White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

"We are clear-eyed coming out, and we will go back to Washington to take stock of where we are," he said.

"We'll continue to consult with allies and partners on the way forward."

Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi said the talks were 'candid, constructive, helpful' after the two-day meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, according to state media Xinhua. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
ZURICH (Reuters) - Three Austrian teachers who persistently refused to wear particle filtering masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus have been fired, the Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported on Saturday.

Meanwhile in Switzerland, a customer who refused to wear a mask has been banned for five years from the Migros supermarket chain.

Coronavirus fatigue is rising in both countries with protests taking place against restrictions which have seen shops and restaurants closed, and mandatory mask wearing introduced.

One teacher in each of the districts of Freistadt, Voecklabruck and in the city of Wels in upper Austria were dismissed after talks with the authorities failed to resolve the situation, the paper said.

"There were many efforts to convince him to comply with the applicable hygiene and preventive measures - but they were all in vain," the education directorate told the newspaper about the Freistadt teacher.

Three other teachers in Freistadt, Braunau and Steyr, were persuaded the wear the masks, and have kept their jobs, the newspaper said.

Since January 25, Austria has tightened its rules to require FFP2 masks - which filter particles - be worn where previously cotton masks were suitable.

In Switzerland, where mask wearing is compulsory indoors, a self-proclaimed 'coronavirus rebel' tried to enter a supermarket in Lucerne without wearing a mask.

He repeatedly refused to wear a mask, and was eventually arrested by the police. The man, who has not been named, has also been banned from Migros-owned shops like SportXX and Micasa furniture stores.

"If a customer shows himself unreasonable, becomes abusive, threatens and disrupts operations, Migros Lucerne reserves the right to issue a ban," a spokesperson told Swiss newspaper 20 Minutes.

(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Christina Fincher)
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Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh on Saturday claimed that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect at least Rs 100 crore from city bars and hotels every month, a charge which Deshmukh denied.

The senior IPS officer, who was transferred to the low-key Home Guards this week following the arrest of police officer Sachin Waze in the case related to the bomb scare near Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia, said he was made a scapegoat.

Responding to the "letter scare" which came days after the Antilia security scare, Deshmukh, NCP leader from Vidarbha region, said Singh was hurling false accusations "to save his skin" in the Waze case.

In an eight-page letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh alleged that Deshmukh used to call police officers to his official residence and give them a "collection target" from bars, restaurants and other establishments.

Singh claimed that Waze, who headed Mumbai police Crime Intelligence Unit, was called by Deshmukh many times in the last few months and repeatedly instructed to assist in collection of the funds.

The IPS officer claimed that the minister told Waze that he had set a target of collecting Rs 100 crore a month, half of it from nearly 1,750 bars, restaurants and similar establishments operating in the city.

Singh also claimed that Deshmukh "from day one" wanted a case of abutment of suicide to be registered in Mumbai after the death of Dadra and Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar in a Mumbai hotel last month.

"A collective appraisal of events that have transpired and what is being pointed out by me makes it clear that I have been made a scapegoat to divert attention from the actual wrongdoers," Singh's eight-page letter said.

The minister rejected Singh's allegations, claiming that the former Mumbai police chief was trhing to save himself from further action with false claims.

"In the Mukesh Ambani case and the Mansukh Hiran death case, Sachin Waze's involvement was established and the trail was to reach Param Bir Singh. It is due to this possibility that these allegations have been leveled," Deshmukh said.

On Thursday, a day after Param Bir Singh was shunted out, Deshmukh had said he was transferred after some of his colleagues committed "serious and unforgivable mistakes".

BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis sought Deshmukh's the resignation over the claims made by the IPS officer.

"We demand the home minister's resignation. If he doesn't, then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray must remove him. An impartial probe must be conducted. The letter also says the chief minister was informed about this earlier, so why didn't he act on it?" Fadnavis, Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, told reporters.

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said, "Param Bir Singhs letter has now exposed the extortionist in the MVA government. API Sachin Waze was working as Deshmukh's collection man. He should be sacked as home minister."



Sources in the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress state government said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are yet to take a call on replacing the home minister in the backdrop of the latest controversy.

Assistant police inspector Waze was recently arrested by the Investigation Agency (NIA) during its probe into the recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near Ambani's house on February 25.

Waze, an "encounter specialist", has also been facing heat in the murder case of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of that SUV. Hiran was found dead in a creek in Thane district on March 5. The NIA has taken over the HIran death case.

(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.)
Regional actors need to work together to make the most of the potential for greater trade connectivity between Europe and wider Central Asia via the Black Sea and the South Caucasus. The United States and European Union must support them. As Emerging Europe writes, the Black Sea is an important trade outlet for the Russian Federation. Russia is connected to Turkey with two undersea natural gas pipelines, Blue Stream and TurkStream, which are capable of carrying up to 47 billion cubic metres of natural gas  a quarter of Russias total exports. Novorossiysk is a major trade port for oil and oil products, grains, metals and other export items, essential for the viability of the Russian economy. All of this means stability in the Black Sea remains a major priority for Russias economic interests.

It is clear the Black Sea can play a larger role in Asia-Europe trade via the South Caucasus, if the hard and soft infrastructure elements are in place to support increased transit volumes while lowering the costs of transportation.

Chinas trade with Europe via land is growing but a great majority of EU-China trade still travels via maritime routes, with delivery terms exceeding 40 days. The need for relatively faster delivery options for goods with a shorter shelf life is growing. More than 12,000 trains shipped more than one million TEU between China and Europe in 2020, placing upward pressure on the cost of rail transportation via the Russian railway system.

The South Caucasus Corridor can attract part of this cargo from western China by offering competitive commercial terms. Test shipments from China to the Black Sea ports of Georgia have demonstrated that this corridor can be competitive in timing of delivery to European markets. There is also growing potential to link the region with the Indian sub-continent and Afghanistan for trade with Europe.

Three Seas

Trade through the Black Sea has received an additional boost with the EUs Three Seas Initiative (3SI), which is designed to facilitate infrastructure development linking the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Sea areas.

The 3SI aims to promote cooperation for the development of infrastructure in the energy, transport, and digital sectors for twelve EU member states around and between the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

The key idea of the 3SI is to promote sustainable, innovation-based, smart connectivity between countries and to break the decades-long legacy of the post-World War II era in Central and Eastern Europe, when almost all infrastructure development in the region was tied to Soviet infrastructure, ensuring energy and infrastructure dependency on Russia.

The initiative targets new investments, economic growth, and energy security, by supporting infrastructure, energy, and digital interconnectivity projects, with the ultimate goal of strengthening participating countries security and integration with the rest of Europe. While Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are not included in the 3SI, they will be beneficiaries of greater connectivity in Central and Eastern Europe.

There is a chain of infrastructure projects in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan which can enable greater connectivity between Central Asia, including western China and Afghanistan, and Europe, via the South Caucasus multimodal transportation system.

Railways and highways in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, can be linked by the eastern Caspian ports of Turkmenbashi, Aktau and Kuryk to the Baku International Sea Port. From there, connectivity can be made via railway and highway to the Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi and then onto to Ukrainian, Romanian, and Bulgarian ports, or via Turkey to the Mediterranean.

Eliminating bottlenecks

But significant public funding allocated to Caspian ports and other infrastructure projects in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan  as well as private investments in Georgian ports  can only be justified if international traders and freight forwarders are attracted by lower costs and efficient management. Greater efforts are needed for infrastructure development in order to eliminate the bottleneck in Caspian Sea connectivity. Another big issue is the harmonisation of tariffs and border crossing procedures for an entire range of cargos, with the common aim of increasing the competitiveness of the transit and transportation system.

As an additional incentive, a strategic vision of integration of trade and transit between Central Asia and Eastern Europe will allow the Black Sea-Caspian region to be involved in a realignment of the global supply chain.

Countries with open trade policies and free trade agreements with major global markets may benefit from this process through the establishment of processing hubs. Georgia, for example, which has free trade agreements with all major Eurasian actors, including the EU and China, could attract businesses with interest in tariff-free access to these markets.

But in order for these processes to succeed, all key regional actors of the transportation corridor must work together. And it is in the interest of the United States and the EU to strongly support them.
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Elsa Pataky returns to the film set in full force this year with her first superhero lead role in Interceptor (her husband, Chris Hemsworth, is an executive producer). The 44-year-old will also appear in the musical Carmen, based on Bizets opera. The mother of three, who has been raising her children in Byron Bay, says shes ready to embrace cinema again.

Youre about to film Interceptor. Was it important to you to play a female superhero?

The storyline is about a driven woman who has nothing to lose and gets what she wants. Its a role often given to men, but were seeing more going to women  showing we are capable of a lot more than we think. Its great that my daughter gets to see me as a woman who is strong and saves the world. Up until now, she has seen her father as a superhero, which is great, but now its my turn.

You and Chris have relocated from Byron Bay to shoot the film in Sydney.

Its a whole new experience. We are loving being in the city and the kids will go to school here. I cant dress down as much as I do in Byron Bay  we hope to get back there on the weekends. Byron has been beautiful. We made the right decision in 2014 to leave LA and come to Australia  its been great for the kids to be in nature, enjoy animals and go horse riding.

What sort of training have you been doing for Interceptor?

This movie requires a lot more movement and there are many fight scenes. Ive been training with Ross Edgeley, whos all about getting me strong. He works with weights and has me doing one-hand push-ups. I do four to five sessions a week and eat a bit more to get pumped.

Viktoria & Woods cardigan, Wandering shorts. Credit:Jesse Leigh-Elford

Youve been raising three children [daughter India Rose, 8, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, 6] with Chris. How has that affected work/life balance?

Its difficult. There comes a point where you also want to work, not just be at home with the kids. Doing both at the same speed isnt always possible. Finding balance is a process we all go through. I was lucky to stay home and be there for them every second of their younger years. I wrote a book, got into fitness and found other ways to work. It was also Chriss moment to shine and I was fine with that. I knew my time would come again. Doing what you love is important to your sanity as a mother. We should be so proud of being mums  its the most difficult job in the world.

How is Chris reacting to you having your cinema moment again?

Chris has always pushed me to keep working because he knows it makes me happy. He is always on my side. He tells me not to do things half-half but to commit all the way. He doesnt want me to have any regrets. He is very supportive.
Dunham Receives Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award for the Dunham Real Estate Stock Fund Winning this award signals to our clients the dedication to fairness and accountability that was envisioned by this firm 36 years ago.

Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel, Inc. (DAIC) received the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award for Best Real Estate Fund over the 3 year period. (Ending December 31, 2020.)

Winning this award signals to our clients the dedication to fairness and accountability that was envisioned by this firm 36 years ago, said Jeffrey Dunham, Chairman/CEO of DAIC. At Dunham, we believe that our fund managers should be paid fees based on their ability to outperform their benchmark. Our Analyst department, led by Ryan Dykmans for 16 years, is constantly monitoring and seeking fund managers that best represent Dunhams dedication to accountability. Refinitiv Lipper is well respected within our industry and it is an honor to receive such a prestigious award for the performance of our Dunham Real Estate Stock Fund.

The portfolio managers of the fund are Burland B. East III, CFA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, and Creede Murphy, Chief Operating Officer.

Burland and Creede shared their advice for maintaining portfolio performance in the volatile market of 2020. The depth of research we do on our investments gives us a rock to stand on in the storm, said Burland and Creede. Building a relationship with management, visiting the real estate assets, and knowing the real drivers of long-term value for our companies and tenants helps us be unfazed by noise and panic in the market and to trust our research. With this foundation, we can remain focused on the strategy implemented and keep watch for new developments.

Dunham congratulates Ryan Dykmans and the Dunham analyst team, AACA, and portfolio managers Burland B. East III and Creede Murphy on the award.

To learn more about this award-winning fund, call (858) 964-0500 or view the fund e-folder.

The Ticker symbol for the Dunham Real Estate Stock Fund is DNREX.

About Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel: Founded in 1985, Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel, Inc. (DAIC) is a Registered Investment Adviser and Broker/Dealer. DAIC offers mutual funds in which Sub-Advisers compensation is tied to performance as measured against an established benchmark. DAICs public funds launched in December 2004. DAIC has specialized in providing investment programs for institutions, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals for over two decades. DAIC has assets under management of approximately $1.8 billion and, together with its affiliates, has over $3 billion in total assets under administration. For more information about Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel, Inc. and its products and services, visit http://www.dunham.com or call (800) 442-4358.

About American Assets Capital Advisers, LLC: American Assets Capital Advisers, LLC (AACA) is an investment adviser specializing in publicly traded real estate securities, which include Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS), real estate operating companies, lodging and gaming, housing, land development, and real estate services. AACA manages separate accounts and mutual funds for institutions and individuals focusing on global real estate securities.

About Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award: For more than 30 years and in over 17 countries worldwide, the highly-respected Refinitiv Lipper Awards have honoured funds and fund management firms that have excelled in providing consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers and focus the investment world on top-funds. The merit of the winners is based on entirely objective, quantitative criteria. This coupled with the unmatched depth of fund data, results in a unique level of prestige and ensures the award has lasting value. Renowned fund data and proprietary methodology is the foundation of this prestigious award qualification, recognizing excellence in fund management. Find out more at http://www.lipperfundawards.com.

Disclosure: Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards go to individual mutual funds that excel in providing consistently strong, risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers. The awards recognize individual classifications of three-, five- and 10-year periods using objective, quantitative criteria.

The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards, granted annually, highlight funds and fund companies that have excelled in delivering consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers. The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards are based on the Lipper Leader for Consistent Return rating, which is a risk-adjusted performance measure calculated over 36, 60 and 120 months. The fund with the highest Lipper Leader for Consistent Return (Effective Return) value in each eligible classification wins the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award. For more information, see lipperfundawards.com. Although Refinitiv Lipper makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Refinitiv Lipper.

Disclosure:

US Mutual Fund Classification: Real Estate

Best Fund: 3 Years

Share Class: Class N

Ticker: DNREX

Funds in Category: 59

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses of the Dunham Funds carefully before investing. This and other important information is contained in the Dunham Funds summary prospectus and/or prospectus, which may be obtained by contacting your financial advisor, or by calling toll free (800) 4424358. Please read prospectus materials carefully before investing or sending money. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

Performance data quoted represents past performance which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment in a Fund will fluctuate so that investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. All investing involves risk.

Dunham Funds are distributed by Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser and Broker/Dealer. Member FINRA / SIPC.
Police have urged residents to meticulously check their backyards for a man missing in Brisbanes bayside, with investigators continuously searching for him and carrying out various leads.

Queensland police on Saturday called in a helicopter and the State Emergency Service to help find Cleveland man Anthony Roper, who has been missing in Brisbanes bayside since Thursday.

As of Tuesday morning, Mr Roper was still missing, with police releasing a statement on Monday afternoon urging property owners in the Cleveland and Thornlands area to check their backyards thoroughly.

Despite reports of 69-year-old Cleveland man Anthony Roper being located, NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, QPS said on Twitter.

Investigators have been continuously looking for him and carrying out various leads.
Five months after operatives of the Nigerian Army stormed the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos and opened fire on the peaceful #EndSARS protesters, ...

Five months after operatives of the Nigerian Army stormed the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos and opened fire on the peaceful #EndSARS protesters, Nigerians are demanding answers.

The protesters who were demanding an end to police brutality and good governance in the country had converged at the toll gate before being shot by armed security personnel on October 20, 2020.

Several are feared killed, while many others sustained gunshot wounds.

Following the incident, the National Economic Council (NEC) which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo chairs, had unanimously agreed to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to address the cases of victims of police brutality and compensate their families.

The panel was inaugurated by state governors across the country with members given a six-month period to function and forward its recommendations to the state governments.

However Nigerians seem not to be pleased that five months after the nation experienced what could be termed as a Black Tuesday, the authorities are yet to fish out the security operatives who shot at the innocent protesters.

In addition, they are demanding answers as to who ordered the shootings as well as the arraignment and prosecution of the military personnel.





On Saturday, using the hash tag #LekkiMassacre, the young Nigerians are asking why nobody has been prosecuted for the murder of innocent protesters whose only crime was seeking a livable country.

The person who ordered the #LekkiMassacre is a Nigerian like us. He still breathes oxygen like us. He still receives love from his family, yet he terminated the future of scores of Nigerian youths. It has been 5months and it will remain evergreen in our hearts, a Twitter user wrote.





The person who ordered the #LekkiMassacre is a Nigerian like us. He still breathes oxygen like us. He still receives love from his family yet he terminated the future of scores of Nigerian youths. It has been 5 months and it will remain evergreen in our hearts.Who is that person?  DR.PENKING (@drpenking) March 20, 2021

One of the social media users, SAMSON OF AFRICA, lamented that 150 days have gone by with the perpetrators of the Lekki massacre yet to be arrested.

150 days gone and yet the perpetrators of #LekkiMassacre has not been arrested. Who ordered the shootings of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020? he questioned.

5 months gone already and they are yet to tell us who ordered the shootings at lekki toll gate... Rip to our hero's.#LekkiMassacre #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/ixXYFeP1F2  Boss Lady (@Mhiz_Ahnney) March 20, 2021

The Lagos state government initially denied that anyone died in the October 20, 2020 shooting, only to admit two deaths later. An extensive investigation conducted by FIJ, however, revealed that well over 20 people atthe protest scene died after sustaining diverse degrees of bullet injury.

As more evidence confirming that the soldiers shot at protesters at Lekki Toll Gate resurfaced, the Nigerian Army pulled out of the investigative panel set up to look into the incident. The Lagos Judicial Panel Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Lekki Toll Gate Incident also suffered a credibility blow after Rinu Oduala, one of the youth representatives and arrow head in the protest, renounced her membership. Rinu cited undue intimidation of peaceful protesters and the panels decision to re-open the Toll Gate where the shooting took place.





In his reaction, Ayanfe Adeyemi, another Tweeter user, accused the government of orchestrating the murder to stop the new-found unity among Nigerian youth.

They got scared of our unity instead of being inspired by Nigerians creativity and tenacity. We said stop killing us, but their response was #LekkiMassacre. Its exactly 5months and no one is taking responsibility A day of reckoning is on the wa; we wont spare them, he said.

They got scared of our Unity instead of being inspired by Nigerians creativity and tenacity , we said stop killing us but their response was #LekkiMassacre it's exactly 5 months today and no one is taking responsibility.... A day of reckoning is on the way, we won't spare them pic.twitter.com/nOtzBw5IO2  Ayanfe Beloved Adeyemi (@ayfbeloved) March 20, 2021

See others reactions below:

150 days gone and yet the perpetrators of #LekkiMassacre has not been arrested. Who ordered the shootings of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020?



We demand for justice. pic.twitter.com/9fOXKaRFci  SAMSON OF AFRICA  #EndSARS  (@BlackSam_) March 20, 2021

Look at these pictures

Remember every single person in this picture- they are heroes and true patriots whose names we may never know but their memories and their bravery will live forever in our hearts.



Today is 5months of #LekkiMassacre



Pls lets honour them.

Lend your voice. pic.twitter.com/tfXTYOeT2x  #OurFavOnlineDoc  (@DrOlufunmilayo) March 20, 2021

We will never forget that the #EndSARS protest was a peaceful one, Never!



R.I.P to our heroes. #LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/wpKWVUJkgz  Peter Ogunsona (@pitharoy) March 20, 2021

5 months gone, the question remains..



Who ordered the shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020?



They denied #LekkiMassacre, asked for proofs forgetting that we are surrounded by cloud of witnesses in the sky beyond the cameras they removed. #EndSARS || 20:10:20 pic.twitter.com/mF0YLUWsBt  Gbemi Dennis (@GbemiDennis) March 20, 2021

Who ordered the shooting of these peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20.10.20?



We will continue to ask.

#LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/zwQgtaTuHR   (@omokehinde___) March 20, 2021

They got scared of our Unity instead of being inspired by Nigerians creativity and tenacity , we said stop killing us but their response was #LekkiMassacre it's exactly 5 months today and no one is taking responsibility.... A day of reckoning is on the way, we won't spare them pic.twitter.com/nOtzBw5IO2  Ayanfe Beloved Adeyemi (@ayfbeloved) March 20, 2021

Today, we remember the #LekkiMassacre of 20.10.20. Our heroes will forever be in our hearts and their labor will never be in vain. May their souls rest in peace.   Doris (@1nigeriangirl) March 20, 2021

20.10.2020 is the spirit of the fight for the survival of Nigeria. Patriots were made martyrs by their own government. We will never forget no matter how much twisted they make history. Light a  for the heroes resting in power. #EndSARS #LekkiMassacre pic.twitter.com/oA50xxhG0C  Secured Channel  (@royal_adejoh) March 20, 2021
(CNN)  China is making it easier for foreigners to enter the country. But there's one condition: they need to have received a China-made COVID-19 vaccine.

At least 23 Chinese embassies around the world issued new visa policies over the past week with this condition, including in the United States and United Kingdom  both places where Chinese vaccines aren't available.

China's foreign ministry says the move is about kick-starting international travel in an "orderly fashion," and vaccinated travelers will still face state-run quarantine on arrival.

But experts have raised concerns over China's decision to prioritize domestic vaccines over those approved by the World Health Organization, and with a higher efficacy rate.

They say it risks pressuring countries to approve Chinese vaccines and sets a dangerous precedent which, if adopted by other nations, could leave the world in vaccine-based silos.

It also raises practical issues  what options do people have if they live in countries which haven't approved China-made vaccines?

"It's very much at the sharp end of vaccine diplomacy," said Nicholas Thomas, an associate professor in health security at the City University of Hong Kong. "(It's) essentially saying if you want to visit us, you need to take our vaccine."

What's behind the move?

The timing of China's new visa rules is notable.

After the Quad  a partnership between the US, India, Japan and Australia  met last week, US President Joe Biden announced they would together finance, manufacture and distribute at least 1 billion vaccines for the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2022.

Those vaccines would be developed in the US and manufactured in India, which has been engaging in its own vaccine diplomacy around the region. Some saw that as a direct counter to China's own vaccine diplomacy efforts, which were recently criticized by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying Chinese vaccines comes with "strings attached."

China has been one of a number of countries at the forefront of vaccine development and, as of March 15, China had exported vaccines to 28 countries, according to the Chinese Mission to the UN. Mass public vaccination programs with Chinese vaccines are underway in Indonesia and Turkey. In China alone, 65 million people have been vaccinated with the country's five approved domestically produced vaccines.

But none of China's vaccines have yet been approved by the WHO or have released full Phase 3 trial data, leading to a lack of clarity over how effective the vaccines really are. The available data suggests China's vaccines may actually be less effective than other vaccines  Sinovac, for example, had an efficacy rate of 50.38% in late-stage trials in Brazil, lower than the 78% announced in China, and lower than the efficacy rate of other vaccines such as Pfizer, which has reported a 95% efficacy rate.

That means China can't claim its preference for homegrown vaccines is due to them being superior to other vaccines. Instead, Thomas sees China's new visa rules as a "power move," which will pressure people to take one of China's vaccines.

Sarah Chan, a reader in bioethics at the University of Edinburgh's College of Medicine, says if someone's livelihood depends on traveling to China for work, that could push them to take the vaccines, despite their lack of data. Scott Rosenstein, director of the global health programme at Eurasia Group, said it could also pressure countries to authorize the Chinese vaccines.

Some people may have health conditions that mean they are unable to take certain shots. "It is simply not justified to make so much of what we do depend on whether or not we have had a vaccine, let alone whether we have had one particular version of the vaccine," Chan said.

Despite China's new visa rules placing an incentive on travelers to take the Chinese vaccines, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejected the idea of "vaccine nationalism."

"Regardless of where a vaccine is made, it is a good vaccine so long as it is safe and effective," he said in a press conference Monday. "China stands ready to advance mutual recognition of vaccination with other countries."

What are the longer term effects?

China's move comes as countries around the world tackle the broader question of whether to roll out so-called "immunity passports" to open up international travel to people who have antibodies to coronavirus  either because they have recovered from it or through a vaccine.

But that leads to more questions  if an immunity passport gives special rights to people who have been vaccinated, which vaccines should be counted?

One option is to follow the WHO authorization. Currently, only four vaccines, including two versions of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, have been given emergency use listing by the WHO  and none are China-made.

Another option is to let the 194 member states of the World Health Organization vote  those vaccines approved and recognized by the most countries would set the standard, according to Thomas.

But a uniform vaccine passport for the world is a long way off. For now, countries are likely to simply recognize the vaccines they have approved for use  and already there's signs of that leading to silos.

The European Commission this week announced a Digital Green Certificate with a QR code to show whether a person has been vaccinated. But member states will only waive free movement restrictions for people vaccinated with shots that have received EU marketing authorization  those who've had the Chinese shots may be left in the cold.

"It is this brewing tit-for-tat challenge that I think will be interesting to watch," Rosenstein said. "It will create a certain amount of tension and will escalate this pre-existing vaccine diplomacy tension."

Rosenstein said people might even opt to take multiple vaccines so they can travel to other regions -- a step unlikely to have negative health effects, but which could stress vaccine supply.

What's the best way forward?

Even aside from the problems of deciding which vaccines are accepted, there are other issues with immunity passports  we don't know how long immunity to Covid-19 lasts, either from recovering from the virus or from vaccines. There are also ethical issues  while the WHO is working on a "smart digital certificate" that would include vaccination information, it is discouraging the use of vaccine passports for travel. "There is a global shortage of vaccines," WHO Europe director Hans Kluge said Thursday. "So this would increase the inequities."

Chan sees a raft of problems with immunity passports, especially high-tech digital ones that come with data privacy concerns. She also points out that once everyone has had a chance to be vaccinated, vaccine passports could become obsolete quickly  meaning money could be spent better elsewhere.

A better approach would be making sure vaccines are as widely available as possible, she said. Then, when much of the world's population has been vaccinated, immigration authorities can use simpler approaches, like asking the public to self-report if they've had any vaccine. If some people lied, the risk to the population overall would still be small, as most people had been vaccinated, she added.

Thomas also hopes for a best-case scenario where countries don't follow China's lead  instead, they treat all vaccinated people the same, regardless of the vaccine, so long as the vaccine has data to support its efficacy. He hopes countries can stop treating the vaccine rollout as a race, and instead treat it as a global health issue.

"The viruses don't care about borders, they don't care about nationalities or races or religions or ideologies or ethnicities or anything like that, they just want to replicate and mutate," he said.

"And I think unless we do take a truly global approach to vaccines, and recognize that we have to simply do the best on a global level, then we're going to be looking at latent pools of Covid cropping up again in the future and possibly like the second wave of the Spanish influenza, mutating in such a way that makes it worse than before."

This story was first published on CNN.com "China opens its borders to foreigners who take Chinese shots, as geopolitical vaccine silos emerge"
Vienna, March 20 : Austria has broken the record for daily coronavirus cases since the beginning of this year again with 3,515 new infections reported on Friday.

The death toll rose by 42 to 9,024, while 1,834 people are receiving hospital treatment, 397 of them in intensive care, according to the Interior Ministry.

The Alpine country has had a total of 508,096 infections so far, the Xinhua news agency reported.

"It is very clear that we, and all of Europe, are in the third coronavirus wave," Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told the constituent meeting of the newly elected Supreme Sanitary Council.

He called the current situation "alarming," explaining that 80 to 90 per cent of new infections in eastern Austria could be traced back to the much more aggressive and contagious variant first detected in Britain.

He also noted that there are increasing numbers of young people in intensive care units as a result of the advance of the variant.

The Austrian government welcomed the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) decision in favour of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine made on Thursday.

"It is important that the EMA made a clear decision today: the continuation of the vaccinations with the vaccine from AstraZeneca and corresponding adjustments to the technical information for the vaccine are the basic message," Anschober said in a statement to the Austrian Press Agency (APA) later on Thursday.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also said during his visit to Berlin on Thursday that he hoped this would bring some reassurance and ease the uncertainty among the population.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
HOUSTON, March 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys representing Texas winter storm blackout victims are asking Texas judges to fast-track lawsuit investigations and separately require utility company representatives to quickly make representatives available for questions under oath in advance of litigation.

The flurry of legal filings comes as additional wrongful death lawsuits have been filed in Harris and Dallas counties. In addition, a request for company representatives to submit to pre-litigation depositions has been filed in Bexar County by trial lawyers with Dallas-based Fears Nachawati Law Firm, San Antonio-based Watts Guerra LLP, and New York-based Parker Waichman LLP.

The law firms represent relatives of more than 30 individuals who died after the state's electricity grid manager ERCOT and electricity transmission companies failed to prepare for the predicted winter storm, which caused widespread and prolonged power outages as temperatures approached 0 degrees.

"Corporate defendants often benefit from stall tactics that make it harder to obtain information about who was responsible and exactly what happened," said Fears Nachawati trial lawyer Bryan Fears . "These victims deserve answers."

The lawsuits charge that the companies were negligent by failing to heed specific recommendations following similar winter storms in 1989 and 2011, including failing to winterize machinery and to properly manage the electricity supply during ensuing power disruptions. A motion filed in Harris County court seeks to expedite the discovery process to investigate business relationships between the defendants and other potential parties to the litigation. The request was filed in the lawsuit, Linda Brown, individually, as next kin of Doyle Aron Austin vs. Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc., and CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

The request for pre-litigation depositions was filed on behalf of the son of a San Antonio woman who died after her supplemental oxygen machine was disabled during the prolonged power outage. The request is filed under Rule 202 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and is designed for cases in which the timeliness of obtaining sworn testimony is deemed critical. It seeks testimony from defendants including CPS Energy, Calpine Corp., Luminant Generation Corp., Vistra Corp., Duke Energy, NRG Energy, Exelon Generation Co., Tenaska Gateway Partners, and Tenaska Inc.

"By allowing utility companies and providers to make a representative available to answer specific questions, relatives of these victims are able focus their pursuit of justice efficiently and precisely," said trial lawyer Mikal Watts of Watts Guerra LLP. "It's in everyone's interest to make this basic information available early so that our clients are not victimized all over again by a slow and inefficient path to justice."

"The most effective way to determine how this preventable tragedy occurred is for corporate representatives to provide some basic information early in this process," said Jerrold Parker of Parker Waichman LLP.

Watts Guerra, Fears Nachawati and Parker Waichman have represented clients in injury lawsuits for decades. If you or someone you know is interested in filing a Texas Power Outage lawsuit, please call 1-800-800-4499 or visit the firms' Texas Power Outage website at https://www.texaspowerfailure2021lawsuit.com .

Contact:

Robert Tharp

214-420-6011

SOURCE Fears Nachawati Law Firm

Related Links

https://www.texaspowerfailure2021lawsuit.com


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Market Reports on India Provides the Trending Market Research Report India Disposable Syringes Market, By Type (Conventional Syringes (Normal Slip Tip Syringe, Luer Lock Syringe, Catheter Tip Syringe, Eccentric Tip Syringe), Pre-filled Syringes (Needle-free pre-filled syringe and Needled pre-filled syringe), Safety Syringes ( Retractable safety syringe and Non-Retractable safety syringe)), By Application (General Surgery, Diagnostic, Therapeutic, Respiratory, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Dental, Others), By End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, Blood Banks, Pharmaceutical Industry, Vaccination, Veterinary Purposes, Others), By Material (Glass, Polymer), By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, FY2026 under Healthcare Category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and Market reports.



India Disposable Syringes market was valued at USD888.40 million in FY2020 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 13.28% in value terms to reach USD1,828.20 million by FY2026. India Disposable Syringes market is expected to witness rapid growth during the forecast period owing to the growing prevalence of various chronic diseases that require treatment using disposable syringes and increasing demand for vaccines around the world. Increasing cases of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are also creating a high demand for disposable syringes. In addition to this, various government organizations are providing funding to companies for manufacturing disposable syringes that can be used for the treatment of coronavirus patients. This is anticipated to drive the market growth significantly in the coming years. Moreover, increasing cases of needlestick injuries and growing demand for injectable drugs due to the lack of bioavailability in conventional drug delivery methods are some other key factors fueling the growth of India Disposable Syringes market.

Request a free sample copy of India Disposable Syringes Market Report

http://www.marketreportsonindia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2414864

India Disposable Syringes market can be segmented based on type, application, end user, material, and region. Based on application, the market can be segmented into general surgery, therapeutic, diagnostic, respiratory, orthopedics, cardiovascular, dental and others. Among them, the therapeutic segment is expected to undergo the fastest growth owing to the introduction of new injectable drugs and spikes in the prevalence of various chronic disorders that require the administering of therapeutic agents with the help of disposable syringes.

Regionally, North India is expected to dominate the India Disposable Syringes market during the forecast period owing to the easy availability of disposable syringes and high expenditure on healthcare in the region.

Major companies operating in India Disposable Syringes market include Becton Dickinson Private Limited, B.Braun Medical India Pvt. Ltd., Terumo India Private Limited, Teleflex Medical Private Limited, Nipro India Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Albert David Ltd, Cardinal Health India Pvt. Ltd., Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Ltd., Baxter Pharmaceuticals India Private Limited (BPIPL), and Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd. among others. Key market players are undergoing collaborations, new product launches, partnerships, and acquisitions as their growth strategies.

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: FY2016-FY2019

Base Year: FY2020

Estimated Year: FY2021

Forecast Period: FY2022FY2026

Objective of the Study:

To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the India Disposable Syringes market from FY2016 to FY2020.

To estimate and forecast the market size of the India Disposable Syringes market from FY2021 to FY2026 and growth rate until FY2026.

To classify and forecast India Disposable Syringes market based on by type, by company, by application, by material, by end users and region.

To identify dominant region or segment in the India Disposable Syringes market.

To identify drivers and challenges for India Disposable Syringes market.

To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers and acquisitions, etc., in India Disposable Syringes market.

To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in the India Disposable Syringes market.

To identify key sustainable strategies adopted by market players in the India Disposable Syringes market.

Our Research performed both primary as well as exhaustive secondary research for this study. Initially, Our Research sourced a list of manufacturers across the country. Subsequently, Our Research conducted primary research surveys with the identified companies. While interviewing, the respondents were also enquired about their competitors. Through this technique, Our Research could include the manufacturers which could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. Our Research analyzed the manufacturers, distribution channels and presence of all major players across the country.

Our Research calculated the market size of India Disposable Syringes Market market using a bottom-up approach, wherein data for various end-user segments was recorded and forecast for the future years. Our Research sourced these values from the industry experts and company representatives and externally validated them by analyzing historical data of these product types and applications for getting an appropriate, overall market size. Various secondary sources such as company websites, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, investor presentations and financial reports were also studied by Our Research.

Key Target Audience:

Manufacturers, Distributors, and End users

Market research and consulting firms

Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policy makers

Organizations, forums, and alliances related to Disposable Syringes

The study is useful in providing answers to several critical questions that are important for the industry stakeholders such as manufacturers, end users, etc., besides allowing them in strategizing investments and capitalizing on market opportunities.

Report Scope:

In this report, India Disposable Syringes market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

India Disposable Syringes Market, By Type:

oConventional Syringes

oPre-filled Syringes

oSafety Syringes

India Disposable Syringes Market, By Region:

oNorth

oEast

oWest

oSouth

India Conventional Syringes Market Outlook:

oBy Type (Luer Lock Syringes, Normal Slip Tip Syringes, Catheter Tip Syringes, Eccentric Tip Syringes)

oBy Material

oBy Application

oBy End User

India Pre-filled Syringes Market Outlook:

oBy Type (Needle-free pre-filled Syringes, Needled pre-filled Syringes)

oBy Material

oBy Application

oBy End User

India Safety Syringes Market Outlook:

oBy Type (Retractable Safety Syringes, Non-Retractable Safety Syringes)

oBy Material

oBy Application

oBy End User

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in India Disposable Syringes Market.

Available Customizations:

With the given market data, Our Research offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).



Browse our full report with Table of Content :

http://www.marketreportsonindia.com/marketreports/india-disposable-syringes-market-by-type-conventional-syringes-normal-slip-tip-syringe-luer-lock-syringe-catheter-t/2414864

About Market Reports on India:

Market Reports on India is an excellent source to obtain top quality market research reports that helps you to understand the business in the Indian market. We cover various industries, identifying and understanding key macro and micro-economic trends, insights and futuristic growth opportunities. To help achieve all this and more, Market Reports on India is the answer to all your business needs.



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From the Las Vegas Visitor Authority: January 2021 Las Vegas Visitor Statistics



Continued COVID impacts and the resulting absence of conventions and major tradeshows such as CES, World of Concrete, etc., translated to significant YoY declines in Jan visitation, occupancy and ADR. Las Vegas hosted roughly 1.3M visitors in Jan 2021, down -63.5% YoY.



Total occupancy for Jan improved MoM to 31.6% from 30.9% in Dec but was down from 85.9% in Jan 2020. While Weekend occupancy (48.3%) improved slightly MoM over Dec 2020, the temporarily dormant convention segment resulted in Midweek occupancy at 22.5%, down -61.3 pts YoY.



Average daily rates among open properties reached $90.71 (down -40.9% YoY) while RevPAR came in at approx. $28.66, down -78% vs. Jan 2020.

Click on graph for larger image.





There has been no convention traffic since March 2020.





I'll add a graph of convention traffic once conventions start to reopen.

The first graph shows visitor traffic for 2019 (blue), 2020 (orange) and 2021 (red).Visitor traffic was down 63.5% year-over-year.The casinos started to reopen on June 4th (it appears about 97% of rooms have now opened).Convention traffic was non-existent again in January, and was down 100% compared to January 2020.
Sunrise Worcester listed seven demands for the city of Worcester at the steps of City Hall during its No More Empty Promises climate rally Friday afternoon.

Those demands included:

Begin a transition towards 100% renewable energy citywide by ending all use of fossil fuels in the city by 2030. Develop and invest in green affordable housing to ensure everyone in Worcester has a healthy, safe place to live. Through intentional zoning and land use policy, transform our streets so walking, biking, and public transportation are a safe and convenient option for everyone. Establish annual, binding carbon budgets based on the best available science and one that aligns with the IPCCs warning to stay below 1.5C. Preserve and expand the Citys green and blue spaces to protect biodiversity and make Worcester a beautiful and enjoyable place to work, live and play. Put thousands of Worcester residents to work through good-paying, unionized green jobs. Establish an environmental justice advisory board that acts as a liaison between environmental justice communities and city council and oversees projects that have the potential to impact environmental justice communities.

A group of climate activists cheered on and applauded those goals, many with signs that read planet over profit, system change not climate change, and climate action now. The rally led by Sunrise Worcester, and co-sponsored by Mothers Out Front, 350 Central Mass, Worcester Congregations for Climate Action, was part of a global climate strike Friday led by the larger Sunrise Movement.

In Worcester, the rally was opened up with an honor song from Andre Strong Bear Heart Gaines Jr. of the Nipmuc Indian Tribe.

I want to give thanks for all of you coming out and continuing to fight that fight that weve been fighting for so many years, Gaines said. ...Were just now being recognized these days. And that flag is flying high now, but for our people, that just happened this past year. And for our people, some of our elders and ancestors have been fighting this fight for a long time for recognition and acknowledgment.

Sunrise Worcester member Rena Nurhussien addressed the crowd with concern for the growing climate crisis as a youth, immigrant and woman of color.

I can see this impacting me, minority groups, and all of you, Nurhussien said. I believe that we have an important role in speaking up and demanding for more ambitious plans and promises to be kept by our leaders whose choices will be impacting all of you.

Etel Haxhiaj, who is a candidate for the District 5 City Council seat and member of Mothers Out Front, thanked Sunrise Worcester for mobilizing climate action in the city and for reminding it that climate justice is also racial justice, economic justice and housing justice.

As a mother, Haxhiaj said she will continue fighting and advocating for aggressive climate justice policies that match the urgency and crisis of this moment.

What does this mean for my boys and all children, right here in our community, Haxhiaj asked the crowd. It means I, we, want to protect them from intense heatwaves during the summer and asthma attacks. It means that we want them to learn in school buildings that are climate resilient and powered by clean energy...It is about the families packed into our three deckers and in public housing that will benefit from us investing in green housing retrofits, and the underpaid and underemployed workers who will benefit from green union jobs and better wages, let me say that again, not poverty wages, living wages.

Justin Amevor, a resident of Worcester for 22 years, said hes watched the city grow and develop over his lifetime while engaging in progressive ideas, but that progress is not enough, he says.

The people in this building will hear our voices, he said, standing outside city hall. But if you take one thing away from my speech today, know that nobody is waiting. Change starts with us. It starts in Worcester...Support underrepresented communities. Start making sustainable choices in your life.

Amevor said he started the organization Doughboyz, a social justice and sustainability organization with the mission to improve food security in Worcester, because he realized change starts with me.

It starts with us and it starts in Worcester, he said. Learn about what we can do and help our community. Sustainability is community.

Several other speakers addressed the crowd before it began a march to St. Vincent Hospital to join striking nurses in solidarity.

Related Content:
I never imagined I couldnt travel and get home to my family for such a long time. We are fortunate that the situation is improving at a steady pace. That gives me hope I can get home in the next few months.

I am doing well as I have been able to work in a school setting since last August (Ruth works in a private Montessori school). Having daily work has helped give structure and purpose to eac day. I have focused on exercise and wellness to stay sane and patient! My children have been able to continue with their extra curricular activities and that has been wonderful. My daughter has done some ballet and violin lessons by Zoom but most have been in person. My sons have continued with their boy scouts meetings and activities and are volunteers at our local zoo.

As I said, I have been teaching in a private Montessori school since August. My daughter, Anelia (10) attends that school and we are so grateful that she has had school 5 days a week since then except for a 14 day quarantine due to a possible exposure to Covid. My twins, Oliver & Elliott (15) started off the school year with the hybrid model - 3 days at school, 2 days virtual and then went to all virtual from November to December.

They returned to school five days a week in January. The children wear masks all day at school and masks are required everywhere. My husband Jason normally does 20-40 business trips a year and flies all over the USA as a fundraising consultant. In the last year his business was all done virtually and it is just now returning to some in person meetings.

I got my first vaccine in February (Pfizer) and my second one in March. All educators here were eligible for the vaccine in the second phase of vaccination. My husband received the Moderna one as he put himself on a list at the local pharmacy if they had any left over at the end of an evening. There was a great energy around the vaccination centre and much delight all round. Yes, people here are embracing the protection that the vaccination will give them in regards to their health and the health of others. My twins will be vaccinated in June as they will be 16 then.

Ive definitely noticed a change in attitude and behaviour under President Biden, with great joy and relief when he won the election. It felt as if we now had some real guidance and strong leadership and a plan and strategy to tackle the virus and all it has affected. He has accelerated the vaccine process in a very organized way. His leadership gives me hope for the future.

I would love to get home this summer; I miss my family the most and just being on the farm in Beamore. I chat with my parents John and Ann McCullen every weekend. I do WhatsApp group texts with my siblings Peter, Grace, Lucy, Dermot and Colm. That really helps me stay connected to the family. FaceTiming is wonderful too.

Im loooking forward to doing so many things again, and when I am two weeks past receiving my second vaccination, I will go inside a restaurant for the first time in a year!

Then when travel restrictions are lifted, I plan to travel, and Drogheda is first on the list!

Weve got St. Patricks Day this week, but it will be just a normal work day. I do have some Irish dancers coming to our school to perform and all will be wearing the green! There is great excitement here around St. Patricks Day and lots of talk about leprechauns!
A Covid-19 situation at the National Insurance Board (NIB) led to late pension cheques this month, says Social Development Minister Donna Cox. And the ministry yesterday apologised for any inconvenience caused to pensioners and other recipients of social welfare as a result of the late payment of benefits.
A Roman Catholic priest who groped a teenage girl and sent her nude photos and a video of himself wasnt punished too harshly with a 1- to 2-year prison sentence, a Pennsylvania Superior Court panel has decided.

That ruling, outlined in an opinion Friday by Judge Megan King, comes little more than a year after Lehigh County Judge Maria Dantos told Father Kevin Lonergan, You have made families feel that church is no longer a safe place.

King rejected Lonergans contention that his punishment, the maximum jail term allowable on his guilty plea to an indecent assault charge, was manifestly excessive and unreasonable.

Lonergan, now 32, fondled the 17-year-old girls buttocks in February 2018 while serving at the Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Allentown. Before that, he sent the girl multiple inappropriate messages and nude photos of himself and a video that showed him masturbating in a shower, investigators said.

The girl told another priest about the incidents several months later and the diocese immediately suspended Lonergan from public ministry.

Kevin Lonergan as a state prison inmate.

When he pleaded guilty in the case, Lonergan had no deal with prosecutors concerning his punishment, King noted.

Lonergan argued on appeal that the sentence Dantos imposed was far greater than probation officials recommended. He claimed as well that the county judge considered improper factors, including that he had been transferred to Saint Francis after a report that he had molested another teen girl in another county.

The Allentown diocese said Lonergan was transferred in 2016 only after a children and youth services investigation of that other allegation determined the report was unfounded. Diocese officials said they had promptly reported the earlier allegation to authorities.

In backing the prison sentence Dantos imposed, King found the county judge appropriately focused on the fact that the victim was particularly vulnerable because she was a parishioner at the Allentown church and he was a priest, a figure who was supposed to represent religious authority.
Half of the UKs adult population has now received its first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, the Health Secretary has announced.

Matt Hancock said more people received the jab on Friday than on any other day and praised the vaccine programme as a national success story.

In a video posted on Twitter on Saturday morning, he said: Im absolutely delighted to tell you that we have now vaccinated half of all adults in the united kingdom.

Its a huge success and I want to say many, many thanks to all those involved, including the half of all adults who have come forward.

The UK vaccination programme is a big success story. Its down to the hard work of many, many people.

The latest Government data up to March 18 suggested that 49.9% of the UK population aged 18 and over had received a first dose of the vaccine, with an estimated 73,000 more jabs needed to pass the halfway mark.

Those figures are expected to be updated later today.

It comes as countries across Europe have had to impose tougher restrictions amid a rise in Covid-19 cases, with UK scientists warning overseas holidays this summer will be extremely unlikely.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Spi-M modelling group which advises the Government, said there was a danger that new variants could jeopardise the vaccination programme later in the year.

Other experts have warned there could be a third wave of Covid-19 infections in the UK and advised people not to consider overseas holidays when restrictions ease later this year.

Infectious disease expert Dr Tildesley told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think that international travel this summer is, for the average holidaymaker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.

I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country.

What is really dangerous is if we jeopardise our vaccination campaign by having these variants where the vaccines dont work as effectively spreading more rapidly.

Government sources said the UK needs to be wary of what is happening in Europe because in the past that has led to a rise here a few weeks later, although how things will pan out is uncertain.

European countries are seeing pockets of the South African variant, with studies suggesting vaccines work less well against this variant.

In the UK, hospital admissions and deaths are still coming down due to the effect of vaccines, but there are worries that cases could rise quickly once restrictions are eased.

Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said while another wave was likely in the UK, the impact could be less deadly than previous ones.

Yesterday we vaccinated more people than any day yet.



I'm delighted to be able to say that we've now vaccinated HALF of all adults in the UK 



The vaccine is a national success story & our way out of this pandemic.



When you get the call, get the jab. pic.twitter.com/hGX0nrRsYV  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 20, 2021

He told Times Radio: I think another wave is possible. Likely, even.

I guess the difference is that another wave will cause substantially fewer deaths and hospitalisations because of high levels of vaccination across the sorts of people who would have ended up in hospital or unfortunately dying if they havent been vaccinated.

So the consequences of another wave are less. I think the challenge is of course we dont know exactly how much less.

Experts believe there will be an increasing disconnect between cases and hospital admissions and deaths going forward, as vaccines work to keep people from dying.

Regarding foreign holidays this summer, Government scientists say it is still unclear what will happen, but the risk of importing cases and variants comes from countries with a higher prevalence than the UK.

Professor Dirk Brockmann, an epidemiologist at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, said British holidaymakers should not be considering European breaks when lockdown restrictions ease.

He told Times Radio: International travel is a means of new variants to distribute themselves across the globe.

Thats how we do it. Thats how it got everywhere in the world. As long as theres no massive immunity due to vaccination it is certainly not a factor that would help the situation especially when new variants are introduced and variants of concern in various regions in the world.

Asked if he was saying no to Brits travelling to Europe, Prof Brockmann replied: Im saying no, in a long way.

In Europe, the French government announced that new lockdown restrictions would be imposed on Paris from midnight on Friday due to an increase in cases.

Prime minister Jean Castex said France was facing a third wave of the pandemic, adding the new measures will last for four weeks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany may need to apply an emergency break on relaxing restrictions amid a rise in infections.

Poland begins a new three-week lockdown on Saturday, with shops, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities closed, while other countries including Italy and Spain have opted for curfews in a bid to reduce the rate of transmission.

Countries including France, Germany and Italy have begun restarting their vaccine programmes with the AstraZeneca jab  reversing earlier decisions to suspend them over blood clot concerns.

The rollout of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine will resume in Ireland on Saturday, the Health Service Executive announced.

On Friday, Boris Johnson gave a double thumbs-up to mark his vaccination as he was given the jab at Westminster Bridge Vaccination Centre at St Thomas Hospital in central London shortly after 6.30pm.

Leaving hospital he told reporters: I literally did not feel a thing and so it was very good, very quick and I cannot recommend it too highly.

Everybody, when you get your notification to go for a jab please go and get it. It is the best thing for you, best thing for your family and for everybody else.
On Friday, the US government unsealed a new indictment alleging that previously charged Proud Boy leaders Ethan Nordean, 30, and Joseph Biggs, 37, conspired with newly indicted fellow Proud Boys Zachary Rehl, 35, of Philadelphia and Charles Donohoe, 33, of Kenersville, North Carolina to obstruct congressional certification of Joe Bidens victory by overrunning the US Capitol on January 6.

The unsealing of the indictment was preceded on Thursday by the FBIs release of 10 videos of what it describes as the most violent, but still unidentified, participants in the siege of the Capitol. The videos show Trump supporters beating police with wooden clubs and police riot shields and dousing them with chemical agents as they seek to overrun the Capitol.

Also on Thursday, the FBI unsealed assault with a deadly weapon charges against 55-year-old Virginia man, Jeffery McKellop. McKellop, who was seen wearing a ballistic vest and helmet during the siege, is a former Army Special Forces soldier and a military contractor who, according to the Washington Post, has been in an overseas combat zone as recently as 2018. At a Thursday court appearance, McKellop did not enter a plea and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Monday.

In the new indictment against Nordean, Biggs, Rehl and Donohoe, the government alleges that the four used online crowdfunding sites to raise money in order to purchase protective military and encrypted communication equipment, which was used to coordinate their attack on the Capitol. The indictment charges Nordean, Biggs, Rehl and Donohoe each with six counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of law enforcement, destruction of government property and conspiracy.

According to the government, Nordean, Rehl and Donohoe are all presidents of their local Proud Boys chapters, while Biggs is the lead Proud Boy organizer in Florida. All of them, except Nordean, are US military veterans.

The affidavit contains several messages allegedly sent amongst the members of the group as they were planning their attack. The government alleges that after the arrest of Proud Boys Chairman and prolific FBI informant Henry Enrique Tarrio on January 4, Donohue thought that the groups communications channel was compromised. He created a new channel dubbed New MOSD,' which included Proud Boys members Nordean, Biggs, Rehl, Donohoe and additional unnamed members to continue planning their attack.

Listen to me real good!, wrote Donohoe on the new channel the evening of Tarrios arrest. Everything is compromised and we can be looking at Gang charges. Stop everything immediately! This comes from the top!

An unnamed co-conspirator posted on the channel afterwards: We had originally planned on breaking the guys into teams. Lets start divvying them up and getting baofeng (Chinese encrypted radio) channels picked up.

On January 5, a new encrypted messaging channel titled Boots on the Ground was created for Proud Boys members in Washington D.C. The indictment alleges that over 60 Proud Boys participated in the Boots on the Ground channel, including Nordean, Biggs, Rehl, Donohoe and the unnamed co-conspirator.

Biggs, whom members of the group commonly referred to as Sgt. Biggs, posted a message in the same chat on January 5 that read: We are trying to avoid getting into any sh*t tonight. Tomorrows the day. This was followed by, Im here with Rufio (Nordean) and a good group. Next came a message from Biggs, saying that he was Just trying to get our numbers. So we can plan accordingly for tonight and go over tomorrows plan.

The government alleges that Rehl arrived in DC the evening of January 5 and communicated to the group that he had brought several radios that needed to be programmed for the attack the following day. At 9:09 p.m., the affidavit alleges, the unnamed co-conspirator broadcast a message in the New MOSD and Boots on the Ground chats that read: Stand by for the shared baofeng channel and shared zello channel, no Colors, be decentralized and use good judgement until further orders.

The person added, Rufio (Nordean) is in charge, cops are the primary threat, dont get caught by them or BLM, dont get drunk until off the street.

Previous charging documents have stated that Nordean was nominated by the group to have war powers and take leadership of the Proud Boys activities on January 6.

At 9:17 p.m. on January 5, Biggs posted in the New MOSD chat, We just had a meeting [with] a lot of guys. Info should be coming out, followed by Just spoke with [Tarrio]. Three minutes later, Biggs posted, We have a plan. Im with rufio, to which Donoahue inquired, Whats the plan so I can pass it to the MOSD guys?

Biggs responded, I gave [Tarrio] a plan. The one I told the guys and he said he had one.

The following morning, January 6, Donohoe posted in the New MOSD chat, are we gonna do a commanders (sic) briefing before the 10 am? At 10 a.m., Nordean, Biggs, Rehl and Donohoe, along with about 100 other Proud Boys, all wearing orange knit caps, met at the Washington Monument to finalize their plans.

At 12:53 p.m., seven minutes before Congress was set to begin the Electoral College certification process, and as Trump was still speaking at the Ellipse in front of the White House, Nordean, Biggs, Rehl and Donohoe, all charged towards the Capitol and began overrunning metal barricades and pushing back against the police. The affidavit alleges the group exchanged messages throughout the assault, and alleges that Nordean, Biggs and Rehl entered the capitol.

The government alleges that following the mobs withdrawal from the Capitol, the group celebrated in public and private messages to one another, with Rehl posting on social media that he was proud as f*ck about what we accomplished yesterday, but we need to start planning and we are starting planning, for a Biden presidency?

Donohoe and Rehl were both arrested on Wednesday and have yet to enter a plea. Rehl, whose parents and grandfather were all Philadelphia police officers, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, was a non-commissioned officer in the Marine Corps from October 2008 to May 2012.

The fascist Proud Boys, whom former President Trump infamously told to stand back and stand by'' during last Septembers presidential debate with Biden, enjoy close relations with Republican politicians and law enforcement agencies across the country.

During a June event last year, the Philadelphia Proud Boys posted photos of themselves wearing their colors while inside a police station, as they were delivering snacks to the cops.

The next month, members of the Proud Boys were welcomed at a members-only Back the Blue party at the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 headquarters. At that event, then-Vice President Mike Pence gave an in-person speech.

After outrage grew within the community over Proud Boys being welcomed by the cops, FOP Lodge #5 President John McNesby tried to claim that he was unaware of the Proud Boys presence, and that had the police been aware, they would have immediately escorted them off our property.

Quoted at the time by WPVI, Rehl retorted, We always go to conservative rallies, Trump rallies and we see an event going on for the police and we wanted to go there and show our support for them.

Testifying to the deep ties between the fascist group and the police, the Daily Beast in a recent article reported that a review of Donohoes social media accounts revealed that his profile picture on the encrypted messaging app Telegram featured him wearing the distinctive black and yellow Proud Boys polo while shaking hands with current DC Metropolitan Police officer Collin Coles. Coles, like Donohoe, is a former Marine and the two are friends.

DC Metropolitan cop Colin Cole shakes hand with North Carolina Proud Boy chapter president Charles Donohoe [Telegram]

The Roanoke Times reported that Donohoe served in the Marine Corps and appeared on an online show called Leatherneck Reconnect in February 2019. In the interview, Donohoe claims that he has a top secret clearance and that the Marine Corps is in his blood. Later on, he says: I love America and Im always about America no matter what the (expletive) America is about. Even if a bunch of traitors take over. Because then I can kill the traitors.

The Daily Beast reported that the photo of Donohoe and Coles was taken during a July 2019 Proud Boys rally in DC. In a different post, Donohoe tagged Coles and the pair proceeded to talk about the 2019 rally. Youll see me, Im with the proud boys, Donohue told Coles. Dont publicly announce this please antifa is trying to ruin our weekend, he added.

Of course not! the DC cop wrote back. Ill keep an eye out.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 18, 2020. (Lynda M. Gonzalez/The Dallas Morning News Pool)

Texas Officials: COVID-19 Outbreak, Potentially Unsafe Water at Facilities Holding Illegal Aliens

Texas officials said potentially unsafe water has been found at a border facility holding illegal immigrant children, while a COVID-19 outbreak was seen at two facilities holding the youth.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a Do Not Use advisory to Cotton Logistics, which runs a holding camp in Midland, because of the unknown quality of the drinking water there, a spokesperson for the commission confirmed to The Epoch Times.

The Do Not Use advisory is being issued in an abundance of caution to protect against possible risks from water ingestion. The water may be used for flushing of toilets and clothes washing but should not be used for human consumption purposes such as drinking, cooking, bathing, or washing hands, the spokesperson said in an email.

Gov. Greg Abbott said that the federal facilitys water could contain arsenic or other contaminants.

There is no viable, usable running water at the location in Midland, the Republican said during an appearance on Fox News.

Cotton Logistics is preparing a plan, subject to approval from state authorities, to haul potable water to the site in the meanwhile. The company and the Biden administration didnt respond to requests for comment.

A Health and Human Services spokesperson told The Associated Press that the Midland facility, which it oversees, has water deemed potable thats tested regularly above standards.

We are in contact with our contractor to ensure clean water is accessible for kids and staff in the facility, the spokesperson said.

Authorities also discovered on Friday that more than 10 percent of the population at facilities in Midland and Carrizo Springs have tested positive for COVID-19.

Unaccompanied minors hold hands amid adult illegal immigrants from Central America as they await transport after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico on a raft in Penitas, Texas, on March 12, 2021. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)

The Biden administration has been an abject failure when it comes to ensuring the safety of unaccompanied minors who cross our border. The conditions unaccompanied minors face in these federally run facilities is unacceptable and inhumane. From a lack of safe drinking water in one location to a COVID-19 outbreak in another, the Biden administration has no excuse for subjecting these children to these kinds of conditions, Abbott, said in a statement.

President Bidens refusal to address the border crisis is not only enabling criminal actors like human traffickers and smugglers, but it is exposing innocent unaccompanied children to illness and potentially unsafe living conditions. The administration must act now to keep these children safe, secure our border, and end this humanitarian crisis.

Officials deployed Texas Department of State Health Services resources and personnel to Carrizo Springs to investigate, while the states Commission of Environmental Quality has contacted the other facility to inform them they need to deal with the water issues.

The U.S. has seen a surge in migrants since President Joe Biden took office in January. Statistics show that agents apprehended a total of 100,441 illegal aliens along the southwest bordera 28 percent increase compared to January.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on March 16 that the country is on pace to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years.

Since taking office, Biden has reversed a number of immigration and border policies from the Trump administration, including halting border wall construction and reinstating catch and release, a process where illegal aliens are allowed into the country while waiting for their asylum claims to be heard.

Biden also sent a radical proposal to Congress on his first day in office that seeks to provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. Last month, Democrats introduced a reform billthe U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021that closely models Bidens proposal.

Abbott warned Wednesday that the number of illegal crossings will only continue to surge.

Zachary Stieber and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
There are currently five vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elections for the two open seats in Louisiana are Saturday. These are in the form of a 'jungle primary', where all candidates from all parties appear on a single ballot. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, the top two - even if of the same party - will advance to an April 24 runoff.

Polls close at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. Live results will appear below after that time.

District 2: Former Rep. Cedric Richmond won a 5th term, with 64% of the vote, in this safely Democratic district that includes most of New Orleans. Richmond resigned January 15 to join the Biden administration. A field of 15 is vying to succeed him in Saturday's primary. Democratic State Sens. Troy Carter and Karen Peterson appear to be the frontrunners. Carter has scored most of the political and newspaper endorsements, while the more progressive Peterson has gotten the support of Stacey Abrams and Emily's List. Activist Gary Chambers, also a Democrat, is the only other candidate seeing notable support in limited polling. In a recent poll, Carter received 35% support, Peterson 24% and Chambers 11%.

An April 24 runoff is likely between two of these three candidates.

District 5: The largest by area, this district encompasses the northeast part of the state. It is safely GOP territory, represented for three terms by Ralph Abraham, who was first elected in 2014. Abraham did not run in 2020. Republican Luke Letlow won this seat in a December runoff against fellow Republican Lance Harris. Letlow died on December 29, just days before he would have been seated. Julia Letlow, Luke's widow, is the heavy favorite in this field of 12. The only real question is whether she wins the race outright on Saturday (by getting a majority of the vote) or whether she wins in an April 24 runoff.

House Composition and Vacancies

There are currently 219 Democrats and 211 Republicans in the House, with five vacancies. In addition to the two Louisiana seats discussed above:
Mar. 20After two days of diplomatic meetings between the United States and China at an Anchorage hotel, two top U.S. officials met with Alaska leaders who themselves have sought stronger ties with President Joe Biden's administration.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sat down with Alaska U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan in a Hotel Captain Cook conference room for more than an hour after the U.S. talks with China ended Friday.

Later in the day, Blinken had a phone conversation with Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Among other topics, the senators and Dunleavy touted Alaska oil and gas resources as an opportunity to enhance the nation's energy security, they said. They also said they reminded the U.S. leaders not to forget Alaska as the site of rare-earth minerals used in computers and other hi-tech devices.

"We reminded the secretary that Alaska is a solution to the problem of relying on foreign nations such as China for rare earth elements," Dunleavy said in an interview. "And there's no need to go oversees since here in Alaska we have a lot of the elements and strategic materials that are needed for lithium batteries and that will lessen our dependence on foreign actors that do not have our best interests at heart."

All three politicians have criticized Biden's new restrictions on oil and gas development.

Dunleavy, who has also criticized the Biden Administration's lack of communication, said he pressed Blinken on the need for future meetings with administration officials.

The senators, in an interview following their meeting with Blinken, said they pressed the U.S. officials for changes to Chinese tariffs that have hurt Alaska's seafood and timber industries. They said they also pushed for support to allow cruise ships to travel to Alaska, currently impossible in part because of Canada's ban on the ships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story continues

Sen. Sullivan said he agreed with the approach taken by Jake Sullivan to negotiate with China from a position of strength. Sen. Sullivan said that Alaska, with its military capabilities, energy potential and strategic perch near Asia, can help with that approach. He said China will be the biggest geo-strategic challenge the U.S. faces for decades to come.

"Alaska is not just for refueling or for conferences," Murkowski said. "There is a much bigger role we can play."

Murkowski said Blinken and Jake Sullivan didn't share details of the meetings with China. But they briefly touched on the topics discussed, including concerns with trade and China's human rights.

Murkowski said the initial tense exchange between the two sides, with news media present on Thursday, may have been partly for show. The doors at the hotel's ground floor conference were closed for some 10 hours of private discussion on Thursday and early Friday.

Blinken and Jake Sullivan suggested that Alaska, midway between Beijing and Washington, D.C, could be the site of future diplomatic meetings involving Asian nations, Sullivan said. No promises were made for a follow-up meeting between the U.S. and China, Murkowski said.

Murkowski said the meeting helped highlight Alaska's critical global location and potential role in future geopolitical affairs.

After their talks with the Chinese came to a close, Blinken and Jake Sullivan took no questions from reporters about the substance of the meeting.

But Blinken, as security personnel ushered him out of the Captain Cook hotel to a waiting SUV, told a reporter that his trip to Alaska was "wonderful."

"It was great," he said.

Correction: This article has been updated to say Alaska is midway between Beijing and Washington, D.C. The article originally said Alaska is midway between Beijing and China.
5 MHz Exercise Blue Ham March 20-21

During this weekend March 20-21, the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), CCF, ACF and SCC Callsigns look forward to operating on 5 MHz with as many Radio Amateur Stations as possible during Exercise Blue Ham



Exercise Blue Ham is a military style national radio exercise, one of several events RAFAC will be holding to mark the 80th Anniversary of Formation of the Air Training Corps in 1941.



UK and European Amateur Radio Operators are invited to take part and make this the biggest Cadet  Amateur radio exercise RAFAC has been involved in.



The exercise will take place on the UK MoD 5MHz (60 Meters) Shared Band and a significant part of the exercise will be on the section of the band that amateurs are authorised to operate.



The Cadet stations will operate using Voice and Data modes PSK31, Olivia 16-500 and JS8call from early on March 20 until late on March 21 on specific frequencies within the band.



The active frequencies will be displayed under Comcen Status button on the exercise Blue Ham web page as the exercise is in progress. Amateur Operators can follow the exercise, check the Exercise Logs and active frequencies and find details of how to earn a special Anniversary Certificate at:

https://alphacharlie.org.uk/exercise-blue-ham
Kriti Sanon Calls 2020 The Worst Year Of Her Life, Opens Up About How She Dealt With Negativity And Insensitivity

For Kriti Sanon, the year 2020 was like a nightmare. The year did begin for the Bachchan Pandey actress on a promising note, but went from worse to worst in a matter of few months. This had been the year that tested her, and also the year that the actress was forced to introspect and took to journaling her thoughts.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

In an interview with TOI, Kriti revealed, Honestly, 2020 is probably the worst year of my life. I would just delete the year had it been in my hands. The year began with me being busy with film shoots, post which the lockdown was announced. I was glad that I was in the company of my parents through that phase. They were visiting me in Mumbai for a week, but they ended up staying for nearly a year due to the lockdown. It would have been tough to be alone at home. It is only later that I disconnected and was only active on social media.

This is also the year that she, and the nation lost Sushant Singh Rajput after he ended his life. Kriti, who was rumoured to be dating the actor back at the time when they shot Raabta, faced much negativity and saw the insensitive side of people. She said, At one point, there was so much noise around that I didnt want to be a part of it. It reached a point where people stopped being sensitive, and there was too much negativity around. I didnt want to be a part of that negativity. I knew what I felt about the situation and I wanted to keep that to myself. I didnt feel the need to talk to anyone about anything that I was feeling. Also, what you want to say, you can always say it on social media. You can write and express yourself instead of talking out loud.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

The actress also contracted the coronavirus in December. She is glad that it happened after she had finished shoot, but she also revealed that being locked up in one room was the toughest part. 2020 also became the year when she began to journal her thoughts and started maintaining a gratitude journal.  It will be interesting to look back next year and read what happened last year on a particular day. Its a nice way to record your memories, she quipped.

Kriti Sanon has quite a few films lined up for release. She would be seen in Mimi and Bachchan Pandey, and is currently busy shooting for Bhediya. She has also been roped in to play Sita in Om Raut's Adipurush opposite Prabhas and will reunite with her Heropanti co-star Tiger Shroff for Ganapath.
Prime Minister is slated to address mega rallies in West Bengal's Kharagpur and Assam's Chabua on Saturday.

Earlier in a tweet, the Prime Minister had said that he will elaborate on BJP's development agenda in his speeches.

"Will be in Assam and West Bengal tomorrow and the day after. Tomorrow, March 20, I would be speaking at rallies in Kharagpur (WB) and Chabua (Assam). Will elaborate on BJP's development agenda during my speeches. It is clear both states want to elect NDA in the upcoming polls," he said.

Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister had addressed a rally in West Bengal's Purulia where he accused the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government of crime, violence and corruption. The Prime Minister assured the people of the poll-bound state that the rule of law will be re-established in the state as soon as the BJP government is elected to power.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to unveil its manifesto for West Bengal polls on Sunday.

PM Modi also addressed a rally in Assam's Karimganj earlier, where he said that Congress Party neglected the north-east for decades but the NDA Government has been focussing on connectivity and social empowerment.

Polling for the 126-member Assam assembly will be held on March 27, April 1 and April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

to the 294-member West Bengal state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. .

(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.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20)  A group of nurses called on the government to come up with a pandemic plan that is caring, not just scientific and adequate, as more health workers get infected with the coronavirus.

In a statement on Saturday, the Filipino Nurses United said two more medical frontliners recently died of COVID-19. Latest data from the Department of Health show 82 deaths among a total of 15,346 health workers who contracted the coronavirus more than a year into the local outbreak. Some 376 are active cases.

We are undeniably facing a heightened public health disaster, the Filipino Nurses United said, noting the surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide.

On Friday, the country recorded an all-time high 7,103 new COVID-19 cases, beating the 6,968 infections added on August 10, 2020. From mid-October until early March, the country was confirming around 1,000 to over 2,000 cases daily.

As of last count, 105 hospitals are under critical occupancy. In Metro Manila alone, six more facilities were added to the category in a day  from 23 on Thursday to 29 on Friday.

Nurses in government and private hospitals handle patients and assume workload that have stretched their bodies, brains and emotions to the limits. Health workers work for hours more than the law allows and has therefore led to a neglect of their work-life balance, the Filipino Nurses United said.

We refuse to be sacrificial lambs to this pandemic. We are humans and we need to be cared for. We should be saved from this national calamity and public health disaster, the group added.

What needs to be done

Billions of pesos were allotted for the COVID-19 response on top of loans for vaccine procurement, and this should be felt by health workers in public and private facilities, the group said.

It called on the government to address the perennial problem of understaffing through the hiring of additional nurses. Health workers in the frontline against COVID-19 should be provided with accommodation, transportation, and other benefits, including hazard pay and medical assistance. There should be subsidy for nurses in the private sector so they too can have a chance at salary increase and paid leaves, the group said, adding that contractual workers should be regularized as they face the same life-threatening risks endured by regular employees.

It also sought free mandatory testing and "guaranteed" personal protective equipment for the health workers.

After more than one year, we need a serious evaluation of the COVID-19 response to ensure a scientific, more adequate and caring national strategy not only for our health workers but most especially for our people, the group said.

It reiterated calls for free mass testing, better contact tracing, and improved quarantine services for all.

Medical experts should be leading the fight against COVID-19 and not the uniformed personnel, the group said. It also sought a more competent leader as it again called on Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to resign.

The country is racing against time to vaccinate more people against COVID-19 but supply has been limited, with only 1.125 million doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines available to date. All are allotted for medical frontliners.

Amid the delayed inoculation drive, the country is dealing with three new COVID-19 variants that may be a factor in the dramatic rise in infections  the ones first discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil which are associated with higher transmissibility, less vaccine efficacy, and negative impact on the ability of antibodies generated through previous infection, respectively.